BJP demands re-poll at polling station 28, Changchor village under Seyochung Sitimi

March 1, 2023 21 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, March 1 (MExN): The BJP has demanded for a re-poll at Polling Station number 28 at Changchor village under Seyochung Sitimi Assembly Constituency, Kiphire district.

In a letter to the Returning Officer, Kiphire, the BJP 59 Mandal, Seyochung Sitimi alleged that voter slips were issued at Changchor Village with a total of 1,006 voters on February 24 by the BLO without informing the BJP having around 380 voters.

“On hearing this, the BJP members approached the BLO and found out that voter slips of 63 BJP electors were distributed to the NPP voters,” it alleged. Further, the BJP claimed that on filing a verbal complaint with the BLO, the NPP voters handed over some voter slips and kept the rest with them, assuring the BJP that the remaining voter slips will be issued to them on the morning of poll day i.e. February 27.

The party also enclosed the list of voters who were allegedly denied voters slips by the BLO. “The BLO hailing from the same village, as can be verified from the villagers, is a staunch supporter of the NPP candidate,” the BJP alleged.

It further claimed that on the poll day, when asked for the voter slips in the presence of the Presiding Officer, “the BJP polling agents were given life threat and forced to leave the polling booth in the presence of polling personnel.” “In the midst of commotion that ensued, the majority NPP voters pounced on the polling agent,” it further alleged.

The BJP added that there was no adequate security in the polling premises with only a handful of security personnel numbering to six present and therefore the BJP voters fled the scene “with more than 100 voters unable to exercise their franchise.”

It claimed that 2 BJP polling agents who are bonafide registered voter in the same polling station were also unable to cast their votes. It further provided the registered serial numbers of the voters and said that “they can be produced for physical verification anytime.”

Meanwhile, the BJP informed that their polling agents then rushed to Kiphire to report the incident with a written complaint to the Returning Officer (RO). However, it said that no action has been initiated from the RO.

The BJP also alleged that even after the normal poll period was over at 4:00 PM, “tokens were issued and rampant proxy voting in the form of booth capture continued unabated with no sign of voters’ identity being verified by any of the polling officers.” The BJP said that footage from the web casting can be viewed as evidence.

It demanded that an enquiry be initiated against the BLO in the distribution process of voters slip in Changchor village and the entire webcasting poll process be reviewed against polling station number 28 Changchor village and a re-poll be declared.

Mobile internet suspended in Kiphire

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 28 (MExN): Mobile internet services in Kiphire district was suspended on February 28 following apprehension of “grave law and order problems and post poll violence” in the district.

A notice issued by the Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha informed that messaging services like SMS, WhatsApp and other social media platforms could be used for spreading of rumours, false information, and for circulating inflammatory texts, pictures, videos etc which may exacerbate the law and order situation.

“In order to prevent the misuse of the abovementioned media from flaring up tension in the district, and in order to prevent breach of the public peace and tranquility, I, Abhijit Sinha, Home Commissioner, Nagaland hereby promulgate this notification under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to prohibit mobile internet/data service of all the service providers in the entire area of Kiphire district with immediate effect till further orders,” the notice stated.

“Any violation of this promulgation shall be punishable under Section 188 of the CrPC, and also under the relevant sections of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885,” it added.