In the wake of recent ethnic violence in Manipur that resulted in casualties and forced displacement, efforts are underway to ensure that affected citizens can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The tragic events left many families uprooted and seeking refuge in temporary camps, with memories of the violence still haunting their minds.
Responding to the urgent need to facilitate voting for these displaced individuals, authorities have taken proactive measures by establishing 29 special polling stations across Manipur. These stations are specifically designated to accommodate approximately 5,000 voters currently residing in various relief camps scattered throughout the region.
The decision to set up these specialised polling stations underscores the commitment of the electoral authorities to uphold democratic principles and ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, regardless of their circumstances. By providing access to voting facilities within close proximity to the temporary shelters, authorities aim to eliminate barriers that may prevent displaced individuals from casting their votes..
All arrangements to enable displaced people to vote have been made in accordance with the guidance received from the central government, polling officials told ANI.
Speaking to ANI on Friday, April 12, Imphal West Deputy Commissioner Kiran Kumar said, “Considering the vioence and the displacement caused by the ethnic clashes, we have arranged special polling stations to enable the internally displaced people to vote. Twenty nine such polling stations have been opened ahead of the general elections.”
“The people displaced within the district will cast their votes at their designated polling stations. There is no specific arrangement for them apart from the transportation services that we will provide. For people from other parliamentary constituencies, who were shifted to Imphal West in light of the violence, we have opened special polling stations. For Inner Manipur, we have arranged for 29 such polling stations. There are about 5,000 internally displaced people,” he added.
In an interview with ANI, the officer said some polling stations are also in the process of being opened at relief camps for the displaced people. “Everyone will be given the opportunity to cast their votes,” he said.The deputy commissioner added that over the last one or two months, peace has returned to the restive Northeast state following dead clashes over several months.
“We have stepped up security measures and are hopeful that the elections will pass off peacefully. We have identified vulnerable polling stations, which are to be manned by the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel. The total number of such polling stations is increasing, considering the prevailing situation in the state. Every movement and activity is being solidly watched and monitored,” he added.
The official informed us further that they were also tracking social media posts closely, and necessary action to take down offensive, misleading, or mischievous posts would be taken as and when necessary.
Ethnic clashes erupted in the Northeast state in May, last year, after a tribal solidarity march organised to protest against an order of the Manipur High Court, asking the state government to consider including the majority community in the state in the list of Scheduled Tribes, took a violent turn.
In a statement on September 15, last year, Manipur Police informed that the violence claimed 175 lives, while another 1,138 were injured and 33 people were reported missing.
In another grim fallout of the violence, scores were displaced after their houses were set ablaze during the ethnic clashes. In January this year, after reports of fresh violence in the state, a three-member team from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), headed by advisor AK Mishra, was sent to Imphal to assess the situation in the violence-hit state.
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