Koms say they were barred from voting during 1st phase polls

IMPHAL, June 2(IFP): Kom electorates of 20/3 Saiton and 20/8 Dampi polling station in Churachandpur district have strongly alleged that Kom electorates were barred from exercising their franchise during the poll on May 26 and also during repoll held on May 31.

A press statement issued by Kom electorates of the constituency said on the intervening night of May 25 & 26, when the voters of 6 Kom villages reached the 20/8 Dampi Polling Station at 6 am, the polling agents checked the ballot boxes as per the procedure and found that the Ballot Box was already sealed. On opening the boxes, they found more than 500 ballot papers already stamped in favor of independent candidate Tongminthang. Due to the same reason, a repoll was recommended by the polling officer and fixed for May 31.

The voters then turned up from the nearby villages of Kom at 6am on May 31 for repoll, and found the road well fenced at three stages where the supporters of Tongminthang barricaded the Kom voters with the help of some UGs. The agents of INC, NCP and CPI were also disallowed to enter the said polling station, the statement said.

It further said none of the polling officials, including the presiding officer and the polling security officer intervened to help in the situation. The Duty Magistrate reportedly didn't even turn up as required for any repoll.

Regarding the 20/3 Saiton Khullen, the press statement said the Kom voters were disallowed to cast their votes during repoll held on May 31 as supporters of Tongminthang blocked entry of Kom electorates into the polling station.

UCM stands up for polling rights of Koms

IMPHAL, June 2(IFP): The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has strongly condemned the act of depriving the voting rights of the people belonging to the Kom community of Sagang area under Churachandpur district in the first phase of autonomous district council elections held on May 26.

A statement from the UCM maintained that the people should have full access to their rights in a democratic country and it is also the democratic right of the people to elect their representatives by exercising their franchise in elections.

However, the first phase of ADC elections held recently on May 26 proved to be disastrous for the Kom people of Sagang area, who were denied the right to cast their votes in the election by the majority Kuki people, it said.

The statement further mentioned that this act of discrimination against a particular section of people by a major community may create communal tension among the people and hence the democratic rights of the people should not be curtailed in any circumstance.

The UCM also drew the attention of the state government to take up stern action against all those persons who had violated the election code of conduct and defied the democratic rules of the country. It further demanded the government to call for election reports from the presiding officer and security officers of the polling station where the Kom people were not allowed to cast their votes.

UKLF blasts KNO for threats during ADC polls

IMPHAL, Jun 2(IFP): The UKLF has expressed its gravest concern at the reported threats and intimidations used by the KNO and its cohorts yet again in the recently concluded first phase of ADC Election.

The ill-consequences of their involvement against the provisions of SoO ground rules resulted in the denial of a particular tribe viz. the Koms to franchise their democratic rights in Sagang area and suppression of the popular voices of the people by force in Tuibuong area and in Moreh area just to name a few, the UKLF has said in a release.

It may be recalled that in the last state assembly election, KNA leaders were paid a huge amount of rupees for their active service on election duty though badly defeated and chased out from Saitu, Saikul and other constituencies, it said.

The concerned authorities ought to take up immediate appropriate action against those violators of SoO ground rules and democratic rights of the people, the release said.

Since its inception, the UKLF in its struggle for the cause of the Kuki Nation has selflessly pursued the policy of Re-Unification of the kindred tribes who traced their origin to a mythical cave commonly called Khul or Khur. Therefore, the UKLF in all its activities, policies and programmes always abide and uphold the oneness and brotherhood of all Khulmis, it was mentioned in the release.

Today, though we may live in an era of globalisation yet the cultural and historical bonds shaped and shared by our forefathers could not be simply ignored or suppressed by threats and intimidations, according to the UKLF.

Against all odds and the divisive forces hovering around, the UKLF will altruistically strive towards Re-Unification of the Kuki people. While deploring such anti-people activities of the KNA/KNO in the strongest terms, the UKLF called upon the people in general and the Kukis in particular to stand up in unison and be more alert and bold enough to weed out, reject and abstain from the clutches of KNO, it said.