2 killed in Manipur polls, 77 per cent turnout in final phase

Voters holding their identification cards stand in a queue to cast their votes for the second phase of Manipur Assembly elections. Pic/PTI

At least two persons were killed and few others were injured in Manipur as over 77 per cent of the 8,38,730 voters exercised their franchise in 22 of the 60 constituencies that went to the polls in the second and final phase of Assembly elections on Saturday, officials said.

The voter turnout in 2017 Assembly elections was 86.36 per cent, while it was 82.78 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The police said that one person was killed while another was injured in police firing at Karong in Senapati district, while a BJP activist succumbed to his injuries in Thoubal district.

An officer said that the police had to open fire at Karong after some people tried to snatch an EVM from a polling station after thrashing the polling staff. In another incident in Thoubal district, some BJP workers went to the residence of a rival party worker late on Friday night. After an altercation, the rival party worker reportedly fired at the BJP activists, resulting in one person's death.

While political parties have accused each other of disturbing free and fair elections, Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that in the hill districts, 12 incidents of damage to EVMs by miscreants were reported, and FIRs have been registered in each case.

86
Percentage of voter turnout in 2017 assembly polls

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever