As campaigning for the upcoming election reaches feverish pitch, poll related violence are reported almost every day from different parts of the state.
TFM Report
As campaigning for the upcoming election reaches feverish pitch, many leaders are flocking the state to campaign for their respective parties. Along with this, poll related violent incidents have also been hitting north as poll dates draw closer.
On Monday night, two separate incidents marred the campaigning, which has been going on peacefully so far, in the Yaiskul assembly constituency, in the heart of the capital of the state.
A booth office of JD (U) candidate, Thounaojam Brinda at Ningthem Pukhri Mapal was vandalised by unknown miscreants. Brinda has condemned the incident, stating that it was a cowardice act.
“Apart from vandalising the booth office of 14/6 of Yaiskul AC, the flag (of JD (U)) is also missing. Five rounds of gunshots were also heard by the locality yesterday,” she said addressing media persons at her residence at Yaiskul Janmasthan on Tuesday.
Brinda further said that there have been several incidents of intimidation to her supporters. On February 17, one of her supporters from Yumnam Leikai Lairembi Maning was allegedly threatened by some individuals, brandishing a gun, to quit supporting her and instead support the BJP candidate.
“But my supporter asserted that he will continue supporting her. Only then, the individuals left from his home in an olive green gypsy,” Brinda added.
Appealing to the rival candidates not to repeat such acts in the future, she also appealed for smooth and peaceful campaigning.
On the other hand, some unknown miscreants fired several rounds from a car in the air in front of the NPP candidate of Yaiskul AC, Huidrom Vikram Singh at around 10:30 pm Monday.
A sit-in was staged by womenfolk who are supporting Vikram in front of the candidate’s residence at Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai.
According to NPP Yaiskul women unit president Thangjam Keinatombi, few cars followed the women supporters returning from campaigning, which included the wife of Vikram. And when they reached the gate of the candidate, gunshots were fired from inside a white sedan. The incident was recorded in a CCTV camera and a police complaint has also been made, she added.
Asserting that the supporters of Vikram will be undeterred by such incidents, she maintained that it was unfortunate that such incidents have occurred in an AC which many consider a literate one.
“Although many poll related violent incidents have been reported in other assembly constituencies, such incidents have not happened in the past elections in Yaiskul AC,” she said.
Calling for a peaceful election, Keinatombi said that the workers of the candidates should work towards letting the voters choose the candidate of their choice.
The protestors held placards against gun culture and violence in elections.
Along with the incumbent BJP MLA Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Huidrom Vikramjit Singh (NPP),
Thounaojam Brinda JD (U), Ningombam Helendro Singh (INC), and Rajkumar Suraj Singh (Shiv Sena) are in the fray for Yaiskul AC, which goes to poll on February 28.