EVMs were vandalised by miscreants at seven polling stations across Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts which have been earmarked as ‘hyper sensitive’, as the first phase of the Manipur Assembly elections 2022 was held on Monday, February 28, official sources said.
The office of the chief electoral officer Manipur cconfirmed the damage to the EVMs by miscreants, and said in a release that FIRs have been registered in all the cases.
The seven polling stations are 46/54 -Leplen under Saikul assembly constituency; 51/46-New Keithelmanbi under Saitu assembly constituency; 56/10-Maite and 56/19-Tinsuong under Thanlon assembly constituency; 57/49 - Leinom under Henglep assembly constituency; 60/10-MT Geltam and 60/43-Maukot under Singhat assembly constituency.
The CEO informed that the Polling for 60/10-MT Geltam under Singhat assembly constituency and 46/54- Leplen under Saikul assembly constituency continued with new sets of machines.
The decision of re-poll will be taken on March 1 after the scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents (complaints by candidates and political parties) by the returning officers in presence of general observers, the release mentioned.
Informing that the polling percentages as per reports available till 5 pm are recorded at 78.03 per cent, it highlighted that Imphal East reported 76.64 per cent voter turnout while Imphal West and Kangpokpi recorded 82.19 per cent. Bishnupur recorded 73.44 per cent while Churachandpur 74.45 per cent, it stated.
The final polling percentage will be available after the return of the polling parties, it further stated.
The chief electoral officer also expressed his condolences over the demise of a polling personnel and one police personnel who were detailed for duty at polling station 55/1 Chingmun under Tipaimukh assembly constituency and 55/37 Senvon (C) Tipaimukh assembly constituency.
The polling personnel died of BP stroke while the police personnel is suspected to have died by accidental firing from his service weapon, it added.
Also Read: Manipur Assembly Elections 2022: First phase of polls held across 38 constituencies
