KOLKATA, Feb 26 – Seven persons, including five BSF personnel, were killed, three injured and a number of electronic voting machines were damaged in stray violence during polling for 60-member assemblies in the three northeastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya today, reports PTI. The turnout in Tripura was the highest – between 75 to 80 per cent, followed by 60 to 70 per cent in Nagaland and 55 per cent in Meghalaya. Taking into account the 50 per cent turnout in Himachal Pradesh the total turnout in the four states is 60 per cent, Election Commission sources said.
Five BSF personnel and their civilian driver were shot dead and three other jawans injured by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura militants, when the border guards were returning from poll duty, at Snatarampara in West Tripura district. In Nagaland, one person was killed when activists of rival parties clashed at Changtongia town in Mokokchung district, home to Chief Minister SC Jamir. Suspected militants also fired in the air to scare away voters in the same town. Officials in Kohima said that although there were reports of clashes among workers of rival political parties, firing in the air by underground groups and damages to EVMs in certain areas, this did not adversely affect the polling process in the state.
Our Agartala Correspondent adds : Suspected UTNLF militants ambushed a polling party this evening when they were returning from the interior Mandai constituency killing 6 jawans and one civilian and injuring several others around 6.35 this evening. The militants also snatched away some arms from the slain BSF men.
Our Special Correspondent adds from Shillong : An otherwise ‘very peaceful’ polling to the assembly elections in Meghalaya was marred by an incident of snatching of electoral rolls and damage to some property at a polling booth in Jaintia Hills by unidentified miscreants.
State Chief Electoral Officer PS Thangkhiew told newsmen this evening, the Presiding Officer of the polling station under Nongtalang police station in War-Jaintia area has adjourned the polls. A detailed report is a awaited. The election commission has also ordered a re-poll in a polling booth in Madan Riting locality under Malki-Nongthynmai constituency there. He said there was problem in the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines which were used all over the state for the first time.
With the information about polling coming in very slowly, the CEO disclosed that the polling was about 65 to 70 per cent till this evening. Asked about the reason, the CEO cryptically said ‘may be because the people are fed-up... and compulsory identification of voters enforced by the Election Commission.’ According to information received from Garo Hills, the polling passed off peacefully except an incident at Sidakandi under Rajabala constituency where a group clash took place. One person was assaulted by Congress workers after he was caught red-handed bribing voters with money.
The counting of votes would be taken up on March 1 and results to all the 60 constituencies are expected by early evening the same day as introduction of EVMs will accelerate the counting process.