Insurgents attack booth in Manipur

Insurgents attacked a polling station in the interior Manipur LS seat where a very thin voter turnout was reported in first three hours of polling.

Insurgents attacked a polling station in the interior Bishenpur district of Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat where a very thin voter turnout was reported in the first three hours of polling which began in the shadow of a boycott call by the banned UNLF and overnight explosions triggered by the ultras.

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Official sources said heavily armed insurgents attacked a polling station in Keinou area in Bishenpur district. The India Reserve Battalion personnel retaliated and the heavy exchange of fire lasted for about half an hour but no casualty was reported.

The insurgents fled to nearby hilly area where security forces were continuing the combing operation.

Polling was suspended for sometime but later resumed with more security reinforcements, the sources said.

Manipur went to hustings amidst a poll boycott call and a bandh call by separatist insurgent outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF).

Reports from the districts said voter turn was thin at various places as most parts of the Inner Manipur constituency wore a deserted look due to the 17-hour bandh call and vote boycott call.

Very few votes were cast at many polling stations in the first three hours, reports said adding moderate turn out was reported at some polling stations at Patsoi area from where Federal Party of Manipur candidate L Chandramani Singh is contesting.

There was also good turn out at Konthoujam area.