Sporadic incidents of violence marked the second phase polling for the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency on Thursday.
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As many as 12 persons including two polling officials were injured as violent incidents were reported in some polling stations where voting for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency was held on Thursday.
According to reports, incidents of ransacking a polling station and clashes among the workers of BJP and Congress were reported in some polling stations in Imphal East district.
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In a polling station at Kiyamgei Leikai under Thongju Assembly segment of Imphal East district, security personnel guarding the polling station had to resort to blank fire after a large number of people stormed and ransacked the polling booth including the EVMs.
The mob reportedly stormed the station after male security personnel allegedly frisked women voters while entering for casting their ballot.
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However, the poll officials while denying that nothing as such had happened further allged that a group people supporting a particular candidate ransacked the EVMs after the officials prohibited them from indulging in proxy voting.
In a bid to put the situation under control, the security force fired some rounds in the air. They also baton-charged before an additional police team rushed in to take control of the situation. In the melee, two polling officials sustained injuries, reports said.
Outside the same polling station, workers of BJP clashed with Congress supporters, injuring at least six persons. They were rushed to a government Primary Health Centre nearby for medical treatment.
Tensions were also reported in as many as six polling stations in Andro Assembly constituency of Imphal East district after supporters of a particular candidate prevented election agents of other candidates from sitting in the polling stations.
Following the incident, a clash broke out between Congress and BJP workers resulting in the injuries of three persons including a former Gram Panchayat Pradhan.
Meanwhile, the state chief electoral officer (CEO) office put the preliminary overall voter turnout at 80.80 per cent.
