Violence mars Manipur phase 1 polls, turnout over 78%

Violence marred the first phase of elections to 38 of Manipur’s 60 Assembly constituencies on Monday as 78.03% of about 12.09 lakh voters exercised their franchise by 5 p.m. Election officials said the figure was likely to increase after reports from all remote polling stations come in. Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agarwal said a policeman, identified as Naorem Ibochouba, died in “suspected accidental firing” from his service rifle while on poll duty in Churachandpur district’s Tipaimukh constituency. Alleged Congress workers vandalised a BJP polling booth in Kakwa area in Langthabal constituency in the Imphal West district while a vehicle of a National People’s Party candidate was damaged by supporters of a rival group in the Keirao seat. Hours before voting started at 7 a.m. across 1,721 polling stations amid tight security and adherence to COVID-19 protocols, some masked miscreants, armed with machetes, seriously injured three people in Thoubal district’s Wangjing Tentha constituency. Apart from the Chief Minister, the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase are Deputy Chief Minister and NPP candidate Yumnam Joykumar, senior Minister Thongam Biswajit, Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand and Manipur Congress president Nameirakpam Loken.