India
Oi-Soumya Joshi
The first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the Interior Manipur constituency witnessed incidents of violence on Friday, April 19, disrupting the electoral process. Three people were reported dead as miscreants opened fire at a polling booth in Thamanpokpi under Moirang assembly constituency. Following these incidents, strict security measures were rapidly increased in the area.
Additionally, according to Times Now report, vandalism took place at a polling booth under Thongju assembly seat in Imphal East district, where electronic voting machines (EVMs) were allegedly destroyed in Bhamon Kampu. Sources indicated that the miscreants specifically demanded the presence of only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) agents inside the polling booth. Videos were shared online showing police personnel tightening security measures at the affected polling station.
Disturbing scenes during the election process
#Manipur
Valley increased concernReportedly some people are also claiming that their votes had already been cast before they reached the polling station.
⚠️Where is the law and order?
⚠️Where are the free and fair elections?
pic.twitter.com/iJbIFsnovM– Bhaipal (@RayiCis)
19 April 2024
Till 11 am on Friday, about 28.19 per cent of the total 15.44 lakh voters had exercised their franchise for the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur. Within the first four hours of voting, the voting rate in Inner Manipur constituency was recorded at 29.40 per cent, while in Outer Manipur the voting percentage was 26.02 per cent. According to PTI report, voting is going on for some seats in Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur amid tight security arrangements.
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Manipur: Firing at Manipur polling station, voters started running to escape. One India
Overall, while polling was underway, sporadic incidents of unrest were reported from some places, which was confirmed by a police officer. A dispute also broke out between local people and unidentified miscreants in Thongju assembly constituency under Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
Elections for Lok Sabha seats in Inner Manipur and parts of Outer Manipur were held under tight security measures, with voting beginning at 7 am across 2,107 polling stations. More than 15.44 lakh voters participated in the first phase of elections, including 8,02,577 women and 246 transgender voters, PTI reported.
Inner Manipur has 32 assembly constituencies, while Outer Manipur has 15 segments. A total of 18,091 internally displaced people exercised their franchise at 85 special polling stations. In total, 8,000 polling personnel were deployed, and security measures were increased across the state in anticipation of the elections.
Manipur Elections 2024 sees record 67.46% voting amid gunfire
Amid incidents of firing and intimidation, Manipur recorded 67.46 percent voting till 5 pm, officials said. The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 assembly constituencies in the state, witnessed 71.01 per cent voting, while 15 of the 28 assembly constituencies in Outer Manipur witnessed 61.12 per cent voting during the day.
Wangkhem in Thoubal district recorded the highest turnout of 82.41 per cent among the 32 assembly constituencies under Inner Manipur. In outer Manipur, Chandel, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded the highest turnout at 85.54 per cent. Officials said incidents of firing and threats were reported from several places in Inner Manipur seat.
A 65-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified armed men at Moirangkampu Sajeb in Khurai constituency of Imphal East district, police said. He said the man was standing near a polling station when armed attackers opened fire. He said that he has been taken to a hospital in Imphal for treatment.
Armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth at Thamnapokpi under Moirang assembly constituency in Bishnupur district, prompting voters to flee, police said, adding that they rushed additional security personnel to the spot to control the situation. Went. He said that unidentified armed men also threatened election agents of a particular political party at various places and asked them to leave the polling station.
At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the polling booth premises, an official said. “Enraged by the threat, Iroishemba voters forcefully entered the polling stations and destroyed election material and equipment,” the official said.
At Kiyamgei in Kirao constituency of Imphal East district, armed men fired blank bullets and intimidated Congress polling agents. Earlier in the morning, an argument broke out between voters and unidentified people in Khongman Zone 4 of Imphal East district, resulting in damage to the EVMs.