7 months ago
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Kannur witnessed wide allegations of violence, bogus voting and intimidation during Thursday’s section assemblage elections, with leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of orchestrating systematic disruption crossed the district. The CPI(M), however, rejected the charges, counter-alleging that the UDF was resorting to mendacious propaganda “in fearfulness of impending defeat.”
District Congress Committee president Martin George claimed that large-scale bogus voting and attacks took spot successful CPI(M)-dominated regions, including Anthoor, Malapattam, Kuttur, Mathamangalam, Vellur, Malur and Payyannur. He claimed that UDF booth agents were threatened and expelled from aggregate booths aboriginal successful the day.
According to him, women candidates were among those assaulted and urged the State Election Commission to instrumentality strict enactment against officials who allegedly supported these irregularities.
Incidents of unit were reported from Chengalayi, Cheruthazaham, Kokkad, Kottiyoor, Mankunnu, Kadirur, Malur, Muzhakkunnu and Anthoor. At Chengalayi’s ward 1, 2 UDF polling agents were allegedly assaulted and denied passes. At Cheruthazham’s ward 16, a UDF booth cause was allegedly beaten wrong the Mandur L.P School booth. In Kadirur, UDF person K. Lathika, the Panur artifact UDF candidate, was attacked wrong the booth astatine Vetummal Mappila LP school, her elector database was allegedly snatched and she was pushed and abused earlier being admitted to a infirmary astatine Thalassery.
In Malur panchayat, UDF campaigner Amala and Youth Congress territory caput Rahul Mekkilery were allegedly assaulted aft they reportedly questioned attempts astatine bogus voting. At Muzhakkunnu, territory panchayat campaigner Sajitha Mohan and 2 others were allegedly attacked erstwhile they reportedly tried to forestall impersonation. The constabulary resorted to lathicharging to disperse a gathering extracurricular the booth. More incidents of assaults were reported from Anthoor, wherever Congress constituency president Prajosh was allegedly beaten wrong a booth.
Several injured persons were admitted to hospitals successful Payyannur, Thalassery and Kannur. At Kottiyoor, UDF idiosyncratic K. Aslam was allegedly beaten connected his mode to voting and was aboriginal hospitalised with superior injuries.
IUML territory leaders Abdul Kareem Cheleri and K.T. Sahadulla accused the CPI(M) of “fearing antiauthoritarian resistance.” They alleged wide deletion of voters from the last rolls, forced unfastened voting, intimidation of officials and wide bogus voting successful CPI(M) stronghold booths, including aboriginal greeting expulsion of UDF agents.
BJP Kannur South territory president Biju Elakkuzhi alleged that implicit 150 unfastened votes were forced successful immoderate booths and demanded an Election Commission probe. He alleged that the CPI(M), “unable to spot adjacent its cadre, relied connected extended impersonation and coercion.”
Other isolated incidents included the vandalism of a BJP booth convenor’s scooter astatine Punnol Kurichiyil and UDF campaigner N Abdul Rahman’s allegation of bogus voting astatine Panoth ward, wherever his girl and booth cause was allegedly obstructed astatine Kankol LP School.
CPI(M) rejects charges
CPI(M) territory caput K.K. Ragesh dismissed each allegations arsenic the UDF’s “attempt to disguise its humiliating weakness”.
He alleged the UDF lacked candidates successful respective wards and had faced constabulary cases for forged nominations. He claimed that LDF workers were themselves attacked successful places specified arsenic Taliparamba and Pariyaram and said “Saturday’s effect would present different setback to the UDF.”
