Barring couple of incidents, Manipur polls went off peacefully: EC

New Delhi [India], Mar. 8 (ANI): The second and last phase of the two-phased Manipur Assembly Elections on Wednesday was conducted peacefully without any incidents of violence being reported. While informing about the difficulties faced to conduct the election due to volatile conditions in the state, the Election Commission (EC), however, said barring a couple of incidents, the process was carried out peacefully. "Second phase by far was far tougher than the first phase due to extremely volatile conditions as well as the very difficult terrain. The difficult geography can be gauged from the fact that 24 polling teams had to be dispatched 3 days in advance and 211 teams had to be dispatched two days in advance," director general of the Election Commission Sudeep Jain briefed the media. "The election went on very peacefully today barring a couple of stray incidents," he further said. No poll boycott was witnessed anywhere. Cash worth Rs. 31.40 lakh, 14,376 litres of liquor worth Rs. 22.85 lakh and 252 kilogram drugs worth Rs. 2.46 crore were also seized. The official also told about the loss of life of a booth level officer (BLO) in a bomb blast that took place yesterday. "However, yesterday in an assembly constituency of Ukhrool district, one BLO sacrificed his life along with one civilian in a bomb blast while guiding polling parties. Commission has conveyed its deepest condolences and an ex-gratia of Rs. 20 lakhs has been released to the kin. Voters did not come out in that village to vote out," he said. The Election Commission congratulated the people of Manipur for their active participation and enthusiasm. "I would like to compliment and congratulate the people of Manipur for their very active participation and enthusiasm, the chief electoral officer of Manipur and his entire team of officers and officials, including police officials deployed for conduct of elections," Jain said. 86 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5 p.m. in the last phase of the Manipur Assembly polls on Wednesday. Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling. The electoral fate of several stalwarts including Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and human rights activist-turned-politician Irom Chanu Sharmila will be decided in this phase. A total of about eight lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 98 candidates at 1,151 polling stations in the second and last phase of polling. The results will be announced on Saturday. (ANI)