Mediapersons were denied entry at the home polling of the BJP candidate of Chandel AC during the 12th Manipur State Assembly election 2020 phase-2, following minor scuffle that took place between alleged supporters of BJP and NPF. Polling agents of NPF candidates were also prevented from discharging their duty in six polling stations by alleged BJP supporters.
When media persons tried to verify the report of scuffle between alleged supporters of BJP and NPF by visiting the home polling of the BJP candidate, they were denied entry to the village by the locals and denied meeting the BJP candidate, even after showing their identity cards issued by the DIPR and the authority letter of ECI.
The locals, who denied entry after talking on the phone, told the media, “Media had come thrice. You guys cannot enter the village.”
The polling stations are 41/26-Mantri Pantha (home polling of the BJP candidate), 41/3-Wangparal, 41/2 Purum Khullen, 41/1 Purum Pantha, 41/10 Betuk Segrang and 41/32 Tonsen.
Speaking to the media, those polling agents claimed that they were threatened and stopped from discharging their duties.
Former Chandel MLA ST Victor Nunghlung, who is also a supporter of the NPF candidate, was allegedly assaulted by some miscreants when he visited the 41/3 Wangparal polling station at around 9:00 am.
In regards to it, former MLA lodged a complaint to Chandel police station to initiate legal action against the miscreants.
DEO of Chandel electoral district Mayanglembam Rajkumar, while speaking to the media, said that the election process in Chandel and Tengnoupal ACs went off smoothly. Sector officers, security personnel and other officials are observing and monitoring all the election process for immediate response of any needs, he added.
Admitting that a minor scuffle took place in 42/29 polling station in Tengnoupal AC at around 9 am, the DEO said that the matter has been settled peacefully and the election process was restored.
Regarding the alleged restriction of entry at some polling stations, the DEO said, “We have not received any official complaint of such an incident”.
“There might have been some villages which prevented the entry of outsiders as self protective measures to prevent any unwanted incident,” he added.
So far, there is no report of any poll violence in the remaining 74 polling stations of Chandel AC, the DEO said. Only two candidates contested for the MLA seat of Chandel AC; they are SS Olish of BJP and Langhu Paulhring Anal of NPF.
