Imphal: One hundred and ninety state police personnel demonstrated protest in front of GP Women’s college, here demanding to provide their 2nd phase election duty at free conflict zones.
As per official order issued for discharging election duty the officials concerned instructed 260 state police personnel to engage in 2nd phase election duty at Tamenglong district.
The 2nd phase election was scheduled on Friday.
One of the protestor told reporters that they are engaged for 2nd phase election at Tamenglong district, which is a conflict zone. Unfortunately, out of the total personnel there are 197 police personnel belonging to Meitei community.
Since the violence had erupted Meitei police personnel as well as Kuki police personnel were shifted to their respective dominant inhabited areas. During the 1st phase of Lok Sabha election no personnel from Kuki community were deployed in the valley area where Meitei community is dominant, he complained.
He said the personnel are not against engaging in election duty, but the authority concerned need to reconsider in posting them on election duties.
Another protestor said the government can deploy the total security personnel with tight security measures till Tamenglong. But at the time of discharging election duty the personnel are divided in minimum numbers for different polling station which is risky, he added.
The 197 police personnel, taking a unanimous decision, said they will not cooperate and will not go for election duty if the authority concerned forcibly send them at conflict areas without considering the risk of their lives.
Manipur has been experiencing Meitei-Kuki conflict since May last year. Admist the chaos the 18th Lok Sabha Elections has been conducted.
Sections of people have demanded not to conduct elections untill the issue is neutralised.
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