Amid intimidation and threats, fear kept several locals away from voting and their homes in violence-hit Wangjing Tentha constituency under Thoubal district during the second phase Manipur Assembly Elections 2022 on Saturday. Amid the volatile situation in the constituency where voters were even threatened against exercising their franchise, a Congress worker, Haobam Rajen from Wangjing Wangkhei under the said constituency has drawn the attention of authorities concerned to provide better security, citing their homes are no more safe to live.
During a press conference at the Manipur Press Club on Saturday, Haoban Rajen said that over the last couple of days, a group of people, suspected to be BJP workers, have been threatening Congress workers not to cast their votes. Such threat also occurred last night wherein the group vandalised two cars (i10 and Maruti 800) and set ablaze his garage and one rice mill. After that, they fired several rounds where one member of their team was injured, Rajen stated.
The Congress worker stated that he along with his family members were shifted from their residence Friday night by Fire Brigade personnel under Yairipok Police Station. As the present scenario is unsafe to stay at home, he is taking shelter at his relative’s house, the Congress worker said.
With regards to Saturday’s election, he stated that a group of people announced in a loudspeaker in the morning, threatening people not to come out for voting. In fear of this, he (Rajen) himself did not cast his vote and that many did not turn up to cast their vote too, he added.
Pointing out that the situation is getting intense in Wangjing as they even warned to kill if they come out for voting, he appealed to the authorities concerned to address the issue of insecurity and fear that has gripped the people in the state.
Early Saturday, armed miscreants reportedly shot a BJP worker at Wangjing Wangkhei. The victim was 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 shifted to Raj Medicity, Imphal, but succumbed to his injuries around 6 am, sources said.
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.
