Five killed in poll-related violence in Manipur; 48 pc votes cast till 2 p m

Imphal, Jan.28 (ANI): Five persons have reportedly been killed in poll-related violence in Manipur's Chandel District.

Media reports said that three poll officials,a women and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed at booths in the Tamti area of the district, even as the state has sofar registered a 48 per cent voter turnout till 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

The state has 17.40 lakh voters.

The state election office said voting has been by and large peaceful. Ukhrul District recorded 39 per cent polling, while Thoubal, from where Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is contesting, recorded 38 per cent voter turnout, followed by Tamenglong 37 per cent, Imphal East 35 per cent, Imphal West and Chandel both recorded 30 per cent, Senapati and Bishenpur both 28 per cent and Churchandpur 25 per cent.

Bombs suspected to have been planted by militants were seized and defused before the start of polling in Khurai Chingangbam area, Sawombung High School, Khomidok in Imphal East district and Naoremthong High School area in Imphal West district, the sources said.

Two CRPF personnel on poll duty were killed in an ambush by militants in Ukhrul district on Friday, they said. A helicopter was kept on standby for any emergency situation while para-military forces were deployed at polling stations.

There were long queues before many polling booths across the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur. Polling at some booths in some interior hill districts was low because of cold, reports said.

Altogether 279 candidates are in the fray for the 60-member House with the Chief Minister (Thoubal), Forest minister and senior Congress leader Th Debendra (Jiribam) and Congress nominee and Speaker I Hemochandra Singh (Shingjamei) being the key contenders.

Others in the fray are former chief minister and NCP chief Radhabinod Koijam (Thangmeiband), senior Manipur people's party (MPP) leader and former deputy chief minister L Chandramani Singh (Patsoi), senior MPP leader and opposition leader O Joy (Langthabal), MPP president and former minister Nimaichand Luwang (Wangkhem) besides deputy chairman of the state Planning Board Bijoy Koijam (Thongju). (ANI)