One of the protestors told the media that a total of 260 state police personnel are engaged for the 2nd phase election in Tamenglong district which is a conflict zone. Unfortunately, as many as 197 of the total police personnel engaged for duties at the said district belong to the Meitei community, he said.

Since the violence erupted, the Meitei police personnel as well as Kuki police personnel were shifted to their respective dominant inhabited areas, he said. During the 1st phase of Lok Sabha election, no personnel from the Kuki community were deployed in the valley areas where the Meitei community is dominant, he added.

He said the personnel are not against engaging in any duty related to the electoral process but the authority concerned and senior police officers should reconsider the posting locations for their respective election duties.

Another protestor said that the government can deploy the total number of security personnel with tight security to Tamenglong. However, at the time of discharging their election duty, the personnel are to be divided with a minimum number for different polling stations which becomes highly risky, he added.

They urged the authorities concerned to post them at an alternative place for discharging their election duty.

The 197 police personnel took a unanimous decision, stating that they will not cooperate and will not go for election duty if the senior officer or authority concerned forcibly sends them into conflict areas without considering the risks. However, the same police personnel are ready to get engaged for election duty at alternate areas which are not conflict zones in connection with the present crisis.