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Polling in Manipur takes place under heavy security

Nitin Gogoi in Manipur

Army and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength to prevent violence in the 28 constituencies spread over five Naga-dominated hill districts of Manipur that voted for their new assembly representatives today.

These districts, inhabited mainly by Naga tribes, witnessed very little campaigning in view of the boycott call given by the underground National Socialist Council of Nagaland.

At least three brigades of the army that took part in the Kargil conflict last summer were deployed in the five districts -- Tamenglong, Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul and Churachandpur. According to Brigadier N S Brar, commander of the 44 Mountain Brigade, the army was brought in for "area domination."

"Our responsibility was to provide environmental security and to control the overall situation in the Naga-dominated areas," Brig. Brar said.

The Army was brought in as a last resort following the refusal of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) group to withdraw the boycott. The underground outfit, whose general secretary Th. Muivah was arrested in Thailand last month, wants a solution to the five-decades old Naga problem before any elections are held in the area.

However, all the Naga-majority districts where the NSCN had called for a boycott fall under neighbouring Manipur and not Nagaland.

Troops also moved into interiors in the districts to reassure the voters that they could exercise their right to franchise without fear.

"We were very clear...if there were any attempt to disrupt the polls we would do whatever was possible to allow the constitutional process to go on without any disturbance," Brig. Brar said.

While the army was be in-charge of "area domination", Manipur Rifles, the armed branch of the state police and para-military forces like the Central Reserve Police Force and the Assam Rifles were deployed at the polling stations, to escort ballot boxes and guard polling material and personnel, besides maintaining law and order, the state's Director General of Police, L. Jugeshwar Singh said.

Many voters took part in the elections despite a stern warning from the NSCN which had imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 on each individual who went to vote.

Although there was no overt campaigning in the hill districts this time, most candidates say they managed to reach the voters through a door-to-door effort and by word of mouth.

Assembly Election 2000

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