The National People’s Party (NPP) on Tuesday urged the authority concerned to put all the underground groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) in their respective designated camps while alleging that several outfits are exercising intimidation and abuse against the party and its candidates in different assembly constituencies of Manipur.
Some of the underground outfits have openly come out in blatant support of rival candidates from BJP and NPF, stated a release issued by media and communication cell of NPP, New Delhi.
It mentioned that some of the outfits are KNF-MC; KNF-Z; UKLF; KNA and HPC (D).
It alleged that in Tipaimukh assembly constituency, the cadres of militant outfits HPC (D) is moving around with arms, intimidating the voters and village chiefs to vote for BJP candidates.
The underground group like KNA and UKLF under Suspension of Operation (SoO) is threatening NPP party workers and village chief to support BJP candidate Letpao Haokip at Tengnoupal assembly constituency, NPP alleged.
At Tamenglong assembly constituency, outfits under SoO are campaigning strongly for NPF and BJP candidates, it further stated, adding, “The outfit has warned our party workers with dire consequences.”
It mentioned that on February 6, the alleged KNF-MC and KNF-Z leaders Paokholen Haokip, Jangkhonlum Haokip and Lunmang Haokip threatened NPP workers and village chief to vote for BJP candidate Letzamang Haokip of Henglep assembly constituency.
The outfit members halted six women NPP workers and two drivers at Lamden Kuki village and threaten to shoot them if they campaign for NPP candidate, it further alleged.
The NPP had complained about the incidents of attacks and threats issued to the NPP candidates to chief electoral officer, Manipur state and to the Election Commission of India (ECI), it stated. The ongoing situation is an attempt to jeopardise the conduct of peaceful, free and fair election in Manipur, it added.
If the ongoing situation is allowed to prevail, where militant and underground outfits are moving around openly with arms, the electorates will fear and would not come out to vote, which will directly hamper the conduct of elections, it stated.
NPP further urged to declare ‘most sensitive’ assembly constituencies which have the presences of UGs and to provide additional security in the assembly constituencies for conduct of fair election process.
Further, it stated that NPP also urge that adequate security cover is provided to party candidates, who are contesting the election from different parts of the state. It also demanded for enough security for NPP candidate Y Erabot of Wangkhei assembly constituency as it has been reduced.
