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Guns and violence in Manipur elections

IFP Editorial: Series of violent incidents and unlawful activities before and during the election day indicate serious threat to the so-called people’s mandate.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 8 Mar 2022, 6:15 pm

(Photo: IFP)
(Photo: IFP)

Everyone was expecting violence in Andro and Heirok constituency, as many incidents had occurred in the run-up to the election. In Heirok, a student was shot dead by supporters of rival candidate and injured three others. Police found several empty shells of bullet rounds fired during the night lying around in the streets of Heirok bazar. District police had to call in reinforcements from other districts to control the developing situation which at any time may explode or implode.

In Andro constituency, at least six persons were injured in a clash that broke out between two groups belonging to rival candidates of Andro assembly constituency in October. The father of NPP candidate also shot at. Bullets from single or double barrel guns, licensed or unlicensed, were flying around and injuring even bystanders. It seems the violence had moved elsewhere in Thoubal district and in the hill districts of Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati, this time around.

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Violence related to election campaign has never been like this serious. This time, a candidate in Khetrigao constituency was shot at by unidentified persons. Incidents of violence at several constituencies across six districts marred the second phase of Manipur Assembly Elections 2022 on Saturday, March 5 and claimed two lives despite the heavy deployment of security personnel in all polling stations of the 22 constituencies.

A total of 4,988 polling personnel were deployed in all polling stations. While one BJP worker was allegedly shot dead by unknown person in Wangjing-Tentha AC of Thoubal district, one person in Karong constituency under Senapati district was also gunned down allegedly by the security forces.

In another incident, armed miscreants shot a BJP worker early Saturday morning at Wangjing Wangkhei situated in Wangjing-Tentha constituency. The victim has been identified as one Leimapokpam Amuba Singh, 25, son of L Binoy of Wangjing Hodamba Maning Leikai. Amuba Singh sustained three bullets on his belly. He was evacuated to Raj Medicity, Imphal, but succumbed to his injuries around 6 am.

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In a separate incident, unknown persons burnt down the house of one Rakesh Naorem at Tentha which also falls under Wangjing-Tentha constituency. The incident occurred in the intervening night of March 4 and 5. Poll violence was also reported from Tengnoupal AC. Stray incidents of poll violence were reported at polling station of Khudei Khunou. There were also reports of intimidation of voters and villagers by armed groups while proxy voting was rampant in the hill districts.

We had earlier opined that there should not be any exemptions in the collection of licensed guns except for those under serious threat. It was the duty and responsibility of the state to ensure a secure environment for a free and fair poll, and for the Election Commission of India to conduct the poll fairly with the minimum of violence. Sad, it has not happened and inspite of the heavy deployment of security personnel on poll day, bullets from both licensed and unlicensed guns were flying around. Amid intimidation and threats, fear kept several locals away from voting and houses of supporters of rival candidates were burnt down in violence-hit Wangjing Tentha constituency.

There were incidents of booth rigging and destroying of EVM machines. If this is the norm in present day elections, the so-called people’s mandate has come under serious threat.

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attackviolencemanipur electionsgunsmanipur polls 2022

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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