Incidents of firing, intimidation reported from few places in Manipur, no injuries
Imphal, Apr 19: Incidents of intimidation and firing were reported from at least two places in Inner Manipur constituency where voting for the Lok Sabha polls is currently underway, officials said on Friday.
At Thamnapokpi under Moirang constituency in Bishnupur district, armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth prompting voters to flee, police said on Friday, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation.
Unidentified armed men also intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places and asked them to leave the polling stations, they said.
At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the premises of polling stations, an official said.
"Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed elections materials and equipment," the official said.
At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated Congress polling agents.
Earlier in the morning, at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men leading to damage of EVMs.
Meanwhile, several areas in Kuki-dominated assembly segments in Outer Manipur recorded a thin turnout till 1pm.
Saitu and Saikul constituencies in Kangpokpi district recorded a turnout of 13.22 per cent and 8.58 per cent, respectively, officials said.
Henglep in Churachandpur district recorded the highest turnout in all Kuki-dominated assembly segments with 49 per cent.
Churachandpur assembly segment on the other hand recorded 43.67 per cent turnout.
Chandel constituency, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded a turnout of 68.63 per cent.
Meitei dominated assembly segments in Outer Manipur, however, recorded a slightly higher turnout than Kuki areas.
Khangabok in Thoubal district recorded 52.68 per cent voting, officials said.
Polling is underway in 15 assembly segments of the total 28 constituencies of Outer Manipur on Friday.
Inner Manipur Constituency
— Tamal Saha (@Tamal0401) April 19, 2024
This is what has happened at the polling booth in Moirangkampu Sajeb in #Manipur. Miscreants came and opened firing. One 65 year old man injured and now hospitalised. All election papers burnt down. One evm machine destroyed and set ablaze. Locals say… pic.twitter.com/mpUKEYeCCm
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Beejadi beach: Fishing vessel stranded on shore rescued in prompt operation
Udupi (Karnataka), May 2: A fishing expedition turned into a harrowing ordeal as a vessel, setting sail from Malpe fishing port in Udupi, veered off course and became marooned on a beach 30 kilometres from its place of origin and a few nautical miles off the intended route.
The fishermen who were part of the rescue operation said, the incident unfolded when the vessel, manned by a crew of seven seasoned fishermen, embarked from Malpe port at the stroke of midnight on April 30. Tragically, the helmsman succumbed to exhaustion, inadvertently causing a critical navigational lapse that sent the boat adrift from its intended trajectory.
Initial reports indicated that fatigue gripped the entire crew shortly after their departure from Malpe. By the break of dawn on May 1, the vessel had unexpectedly run aground at Beejadi beach, approximately 30 kilometres north of its departure point, startling both locals and passersby.
ALSO READ: Malpe: 12-year-old boy rescued from drowning
Subsequent analysis showed that the owner of the vessel was a resident of Kodibengre who had partnered with six or seven other people. There was conjecture that bad weather, marked by strong gusts, had something to do with the ship's veering off course.
Udupi fishermen’s association members who were a part of the rescue team told PTI that, luckily for the fishermen, the sea was calm, that the vessel did not veer away into deeper sea and the engine was in good condition.
