Candidates threatened, one abducted

There have been as many as ten abductions in Manipur in the week between the second and third phase of polling in the state.

There have been as many as ten abductions in Manipur in the week between the second and third phase of polling in the state. Add to this, the BJP candidate who has gone into hiding after receiving threats.

An Independent from Tamenglong was abducted by the NSCN (I-M) and released after intervention from the Centre, a BJP candidate from Churachandpur has gone into hiding after threats from suspected Kuki militants, and nine civil society organisation leaders—all women—abducted by suspected NSCN (I-M) cadres in Chandel are yet to be released.

These apart, the several complaints of intimidation by candidates as well as voters, mass rallies in Tamenglong and Chandel demanding “free and fair polls”, are pointers that Manipur is entering the most volatile phase of the 2007 elections.

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Ngamkholun Haokip, BJP candidate from Saikot Assembly constituency in Churachandpur district, is hiding somewhere in the Imphal valley. Haokip went missing on the night of February 16.

Haokip said he had escaped his hometown to save his family from “harassment”. Haokip, and 75 other candidates, are in the fray for the last 12 seats as the hill districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel, and Jiribam subdivision of Imphal (East) district go to the polls on February 23 in the third and final phase of the Manipur Assembly elections.

“Armed goons came to my residence and entered the room where my party members were having dinner. I was lucky not to be in the room. I hid for a day in my neighbour’s house, and then escaped from Churachandpur. They have probably been hired by by opponents and are trying to scare me into not contesting the elections. But enforced democracy is the worst form of dictatorship, and I will definitely contest the elections on Friday,” said the BJP candidate.

Haokip alleges this is the handiwork of the Congress. “This is the work of the Congress. To prevent someone from contesting elections at gunpoint is cowardice. But this threat will only work against them. People in my constituency know what I’m going through, and I’m sure they will support me. I will go to cast my vote, if necessary under security cover. The DC and SP have been asking me to return, but the women at my home feel very tense if I’m at home,” says Haokip, from the small room where he is taking refuge.

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His family is at their wit’s end, but put up a brave front nevertheless. “If it was up to us, we would ask our father not to contest. But in the end, it is his decision, and we will support him. We were all so busy with the campaigning. This incident has disturbed everything,” said Thiencha, Haokip’s younger daughter.

In the Naga districts of Tamenglong and Chandel, NGOs took out a rally demanding the release of the nine women leaders, gheraoed MP Mani Charenamai and imposed a bandh in the Chandel district headquarters asking for “free and fair polls”. The CPI has submitted a memorandum to Governor SS Sidhu, alleging that two of its candidates from Chandel have been forced to withdraw from the elections by militants.

In Tamenglong, Independent candidate Khanthuanang Panmei has withdrawn from the elections after being released. He has issued a statement to the local media, apologising for “assaulting a Kilonser (minister) of the NSCN (I-M)”. Tamenglong residents had come out in a show of protest against Panmei’s kidnapping.

In Churachandpur district, Saikot AC’s sitting MLA and minister for Information and Public Relations TN Haokip has been accused by his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) opponent of using Kuki National Army (KNA) cadres to intimidate voters and opposition party workers. Singhat AC’s sitting MLA Thangso Baite has complained that several of his workers were detained and harassed by miscreants.