Dimapur, March 1 (MExN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate for 9 Kohima Town A/C Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire has sought “immediate disqualification” of the rival Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) candidate Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso for “carrying out criminal acts” on the Election day.
Kire demanded the same in a complaint letter addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer; District Electoral Officer, Kohima; Returning Officer, 9th Kohima Town A/C; and General Observer 9th Kohima Town A/C.
Among others, the letter alleged that Dr. Rhutso has committed the “highest degree of electioneering offence by producing mass fabrication of the voter slips and forging the signature of the issuing authority.”
They were used on the day of polling on February 27 and voters were sent to cast their votes in his favour, Kire further accused.
“The fabrication of the voter slips were of such nature that it was identical to the originals.”
According the complaint letter, the incident came to light when the NPF agents were allegedly “caught red handed with booklets containing the fabricated/forged photo voter slips at Polling Station Nos. 29 (AG Colony, Upper-I) and 41(Jail Colony).”
While the booklets were seized and submitted to the Police and the Returning Officer, such trait was also being practiced in almost all the Polling Stations since the duplicate photo voter slips were recovered in those areas, Kire added.
He further alleged that the rival candidate “entered the Polling Booth at Polling Station No. 41, Jail Colony Panchayat Hall and started intimidating the voters to the extent of directing the Presiding/Polling Officers to tear the voter slips which was accordingly followed.” “The incident took place between 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. CCTV/video coverage would prove the above,” he maintained.
Stating that the Candidate is liable to be disqualified, Kire said that if the case is overlooked, “it would lead to grave infirmity into our Constitutional Rights and the Government machinery” and meanwhile, 9 Kohima Town A/C unit of NDPP filed a complaint against the NPF Candidate at the Office-in-Charge, South Police Station, Kohima for allegedly entering “polling booth No. 41 and started intimidating the peaceful voters by challenging them and even forcefully snatched away the voter’s slips and tore them.”
The Media Cell, NDPP 9 Kohima Town A/C in a separate release also condemned the unwarranted physical and verbal assault meted to the supporters and local residents at polling station 16 (Upper Chandmari III) by a “gang of outsiders” in an attempt to “secure a favourable outcome for the NPF Party Candidate.”
The gang showered verbal abuse and severe threats upon many bonafide residents, it said.
"Such actions demands prompt and appropriate response to create a sense of safety amongst the residents of the colony and a sense of trust and confidence upon the institutions working to uphold the democratic principle sand restore the trust of the citizens upon these institutions," it said. Calling upon the concerned authorities to take prompt necessary action against the individuals involved, it further urged all right thinking Citizens to voice out against such despicable acts.
