Guwahati: At least two people were killed and a few others were injured in clashes during the second round of the Assembly elections in Manipur on Saturday.
According to reports, one person was killed and another was injured in police firing at Karong in Senapati distric while a BJP activist died from his injuries in Thoubal district.
A police official said that police had to open fire at Karong when some persons tried to seize an EVM from a polling station, assaulting polling personnel.
In a separate incident in Thoubal district, some BJP activists went to the home of a Congress worker late on Friday night and after an altercation, the Congress worker allegedly fired at the BJP activists injuring a few of them. They were taken to the hospital where one person died from his injuries on Saturday.
According to election and police officials, activists from various political parties battled in Mao, Moreh, and other locations briefly suspending voting.
In many locations, political parties are accusing one other of interfering with free and fair elections. However, more information on these instances is expected.
Men, women, and first-time voters lined up in significant numbers in front of polling places in six electoral districts well before voting began at 7 a.m.
In the 22 assembly constituencies where polling will continue until 4 p.m. without interruption, over 68 percent of voters have voted until 3 p.m., according to election officials.
In the second phase, more than 20,000 Central paramilitary force troops have been deployed in the six electoral districts of Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, and Tamenglong, according to officials.
According to the election official, 17 of the 92 candidates have criminal records.