Over 80 per cent turnout in NC Hills council polls

Haflong, Dec 1 (UNI) An unprecedented 80 per cent voting was registered in the two-phase North Cachar Hills District Autonomous Council (NCHDAC).

Electioneering was held amidst tight security and no untoward incident was reported during the polling in both phases, police informed.

After the peaceful conduct of the first phase on November 26 with 82 per cent turnout, 80 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in the second and last phase today.

Gunning down of ten saw mill workers by Dimasa militants on Tuesday night, after peaceful first phase polling, had cast apprehension over participation in the second phase as well as its peaceful conduct.

Altogether, 12 constituencies of the 28-member NCHDAC went to the polls today.

As many as 51,193 voters sealed the fate of 31 candidates in the second phase.

Of the total 67 polling stations in this phase, 15 were identified as very sensitive and 30 as sensitive stations.

In the first phase, 15 constituencies went to the hustings with 57,511 voters deciding the fate of 47 candidates.

Of the total 86 polling stations in the first phase, 41 were identified very sensitive and 23 sensitive stations. Counting of votes will take place on December 4 here.

The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the Council would take place on December 7.

Election to Lower Khartong seat, slated to be held in the first phase, was countermanded following the killing of the Congress candidate by militants.

The bloody run-up to the polls, including death of the candidate and several other security personnel by Dimasa militants, had made the administration to ensure complete and high security cover in all the pol-bound constituencies and also plan out the election in two phases.

The main contest was between the Congress, who held power in the outgoing Council, and the combination of the ASDC and BJP.

UNI