In a bid to ensure a conducive environment for free and fair polling, District Magistrate Thoubal has issued restrictions for the last 72 hours period up to the close of poll within the jurisdiction of Thoubal district.
As per the latest order issued by Thoubal District Magistrate, A Subhash Singh on Tuesday, there will be a complete ban on public meetings and use of loudspeakers after 4 pm on April 17, within the jurisdiction of the district.
The statement also said that there will be no assembly of more than 5 persons during the said period at any location within the jurisdiction of the district. No Political functionary/party worker who is not a voter of 2 Parliamentary Constituencies of Manipur will continue to remain present in the district after 4 pm on April 17 after campaigning period is over, it maintained.
It further briefed a list of restrictions on Poll day stating that one vehicle for candidates, one vehicle for election agents and one vehicle for the agent/party worker will be allowed to be used by any leader and a maximum of five persons including driver will be allowed for movement on the poll day.
It stated that the permits will be displayed on the windscreen of the vehicles and no other vehicles will be allowed to be used by the leaders of the political parties. Providing free conveyance to voters to and from the polling station by the candidates/political party will be strictly forbidden as per the ECI guidelines, it asserted.
It maintained that no canvassing within the polling station or public or private places within a perimeter or 100 meters of polling station will be allowed by the concerned ARO. It added that all the ARO’s of Thoubal District will ensure strict compliance of the restriction imposed as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India especially SOP for last 72 hours issued by the ECI dated December, 2016 and subsequent updates thereof.
This order does not apply to purely religious functions, marriages, funerals and inside the polling booth premises for voting purposes, it mentioned. The emergent nature of case and circumstances do not permit serving of notice to the concerned in due time and hence this order is passed ex-parte under section 144(2) of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, it added.
The order is issued conforming with the Provision of Section 126 and 130 of Representation of People’s Act 1951 and various guidelines and restrictions issued by ECI during election period, it stated. It further stated that the order will remain in force till April 20.
