Viral Video Manipur Election 2024 Violence: Manipur Election 2024 Records 67.46% Turnout Amid Shooting

The first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the inner Manipur constituency on Friday, April 19, witnessed violence incidents that affected the electoral process. At a polling station in Thamanpokpi, under the Moirang Assembly segment, miscreants opened fire, resulting in three reported deaths. Following these incidents, stringent security measures were swiftly reinforced in the area.

Additionally, vandalism occurred at a polling station under the Thongju Assembly seat in Imphal East district, where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reportedly destroyed in Bhamon Kampu, as reported by Times Now. Sources indicated that miscreants specifically demanded the presence of only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) agents inside the polling station. Videos showing police personnel reinforcing security measures at the affected polling booth were shared online.

By 11 am on Friday, approximately 28.19 per cent of the total 15.44 lakh voters had exercised their franchise for the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur. The Inner Manipur constituency recorded a polling rate of 29.40 per cent, while the turnout in Outer Manipur was 26.02 per cent within the first four hours of voting. Polling continued for the Inner Manipur and parts of Outer Manipur seats amid tight security arrangements, reported by PTI.

While overall polling progressed, stray incidents of unrest were reported from a few locations, as confirmed by a police officer. An altercation also occurred between locals and unidentified miscreants in the Thongju assembly constituency under the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

The elections for the Lok Sabha seats in Inner Manipur and parts of Outer Manipur were conducted under stringent security measures, with voting commencing at 7 am across 2,107 polling stations. Over 15.44 lakh voters participated in the first phase of elections, including 8,02,577 women and 246 transgender electors, reported by PTI.

Inner Manipur consists of 32 assembly segments, while Outer Manipur has 15 segments. A total of 18,091 internally displaced people exercised their franchise across 85 special polling stations. In total, 8,000 polling personnel were deployed, and security measures were intensified across the state in anticipation of the elections.

Manipur Election 2024 Records 67.46% Turnout Amid Shooting

Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 67.46 per cent till 5 pm amid incidents of shooting and intimidation, officials said. The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 assembly segments in the state, recorded 71.01 per cent turnout, while 15 of the 28 assembly segments of Outer Manipur that went to polls during the day registered a turnout of 61.12 per cent.

Wangkhem in Thoubal district recorded the highest turnout among the 32 assembly constituencies under Inner Manipur at 82.41 per cent. In Outer Manipur, Chandel, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded the highest turnout at 85.54 per cent. Incidents of shooting and intimidation were reported from several places in Inner Manipur seat, officials said.

A 65-year-old man was shot at by unidentified armed men at Moirangkampu Sajeb in Khurai constituency in Imphal East district, police said. The man was standing near a polling station when the armed assailants opened fire, they said, adding he has been taken to a hospital in Imphal for treatment.

Armed men also fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth in Thamnapokpi under Moirang assembly constituency in Bishnupur district, prompting voters to flee, police said, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation. Unidentified armed men also intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places and asked them to leave the polling stations, they said.

At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the premises of polling stations, an official said. "Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed elections materials and equipment," the official said.

At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated Congress polling agents. Earlier in the morning, at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men leading to damage of EVMs.