Arunachal | Polling team allegedly attacked by NPP supporters in Nampe

Itanagar, May 21, 2019:

A polling team was allegedly attacked by over 500 National People’s Party (NPP) supporters near Langbang on Sunday afternoon while they were on their way to the Nampe polling station in Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to sources, the police in Koloriang confirmed the incident and said more than 500 masked men with swords, sticks and AK-47 assault rifles, attacked the polling team near Langbang and snatched the electronic voting machines (EVM) and other poll equipment.

As per reports, Nampe sector magistrate Rido Tarak had lodged an FIR at the Koloriang police station, alleging that the polling team was attacked in the above-mentioned place at around 5 pm by NPP supporters. He also mentioned that the miscreants randomly fired several rounds of bullets with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles. He further mentioned that the paramilitary force accompanying the polling team did not resort to retaliatory firing in the apprehension of deaths and casualties on both sides.

Meanwhile, the police officer from Koloriang informed that the poll team along with a platoon of CRPF and two sections of IRBn who were escorting the polling equipment had surrendered the EVMs to the outnumbered miscreants.

As per reports, the poll team returned safely to Koloriang from Langbang, while the police are investigating the matter.

It is to be mentioned that there was fresh poll scheduled on Tuesday as notified by the Election Commission of India and the DEO mentioned that despite the attack and other mischiefs, the team is determined to conduct the fresh poll under any circumstances. He also added that an alternative team has been sent to Nampe through a different route, and they might have already reached the polling station.

On the other hand, the district administration and the police have reportedly tightened the security measures to ensure the successful conduct of the fresh poll in Nampe.