Imphal: The second phase of polls in Manipur was marred by violence, with two people dead and one injured in separate incidents across the state.
On Saturday, a Congress worker allegedly gunned down a BJP supporter. L Amuba Singh, 25, succumbed to bullet injuries early on Saturday at a hospital in Imphal, a police officer said.
Singh, along with other BJP activists, had gone to the residence of the Congress worker in the early hours in Thoubal district to tell him to stop campaigning as the stipulated time for it was over, the officer said.
During an altercation over the issue, he allegedly fired at Singh, who was first taken to a hospital in the district and later referred to another health facility in Imphal, the officer said.
The Congress activist, who is yet to be arrested, was also injured after the visiting BJP workers hurled stones at him when Singh was shot, he added.
In another incident from the Senapati district, one person was reportedly killed and another injured by security forces deployed for election duty at the polling station at Ngamju village in the Karong constituency.
In a letter written to the returning officer of Karong AC by Ngaoni R James, the election agent to the BJP candidate, due to a gunshot, K Longvao, son of T Kah lost his life, whereas V Saope, son of S Vane was severely injured and battling for his life, he stated.
According to the statement, the civilians were shot without giving proper reason or warning by the security forces deployed at the polling station in the ongoing second phase of polls.
However, the actual reason behind the incident is yet to be confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Violence also erupted in the Tobumai polling station under Mao constituency in the Senapati district, following a clash between supporters of both the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and an independent candidate.
Polling for the second and last phase of assembly elections in Manipur began at 7 am in 22 constituencies across six districts.
