EVMs vandalised at 2 Manipur polling stations, Congress seeks re-poll

Miscreants vandalised EVMs and VVPAT machines at two polling stations in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Friday. The incident occurred when polling in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat was going on.

Kajalai Gangmei, Assistant Returning Officer, Ukhrul, informed the Returning Officer that miscreants had destroyed EVMs and VVPAT machines at polling stations 44/36 and 44/41 around 3:40 pm.

Engineers were called to the polling stations to examine the damage caused to the EVMs.

In the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat, Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate K Timothy Zimik is pitted against Congress's Alfred Kanngam S Arthur. The BJP has extended support to the NPF.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Congress has submitted urgent requests for re-polling in multiple polling stations across the state, alleging widespread irregularities and disturbances during polling.

In a formal letter addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur on Friday, the Manipur Congress detailed alarming incidents of EVM destruction, booth capturing, rigging, and forced voting allegedly by unidentified armed individuals.

These incidents were reported to have occurred in Phungyar and Ukhrul during the polling held on the same day when polling was happening for the Outer Manipur seat. The constituency reported a voter turnout of 76.06 per cent till 5 pm on Friday.

According to the Manipur Congress, several polling stations were attacked. The party highlighted incidents such as the destruction of EVMs at polling station No. 43/19 - Shingkap, Shingkap Government High School, and booth capturing and rigging at polling station No. 43/46 - Nambashi Khullen, Nambashi Kullen Government High School, among others.

The party said that polling agents of the Congress candidate, Alfred Kanngam S Arthur, were allegedly prevented from carrying out their duties.

The Manipur Congress also cited similar disturbances in the 44-Ukhrul (ST) Assembly Constituency, where EVM machines were reportedly destroyed in three polling stations, namely 44/36 - Ukhrul, Ukhrul Model High School, 44/41 - Ukhrul, Greenland Primary School, and 44/50 - Ukhrul, KK Leishiphanit Junior High School.

The party urged the Chief Electoral Officer to take immediate and necessary action to address the reported irregularities and ensure a fair electoral process. It also stressed the importance of re-polling or conducting fresh polls in the affected areas.

Earlier, fresh polling was held at 11 stations in Manipur after the Election Commission declared polls at these sites in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls null and void due to violence and vandalism.

Violence was reported during polling in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat on April 19.

The state has been witnessing sporadic violence since ethnic clashes broke out between Meiteis and Kukis on May 3 last year. Over 200 people have died in the violence so far.