Indian rebels kill five in Manipur poll violence

[xizhimen]

Indian rebels kill five in Manipur poll violence
AFPAFP – 3 hrs ago

Map locating the remote northeastern state of Manipur. Indian police say separatist rebels have shot dead five people at a polling station in Manipur during local electionsEnlarge Photo

Separatist rebels shot dead five people at a polling station in India's remote northeastern state of Manipur during local elections on Saturday, police said.

The heavily armed rebels killed three polling station officials and two others as they sprayed the station with bullets in Thangpi, a village south of the state capital Imphal, authorities said.

"The militants opened random fire at the voting centre, killing three polling centre officials, a paramilitary trooper and a civilian," police chief Priya Singh told AFP.

Two others were hurt in the attack, Singh said, adding the militants fled the scene.

The attack came as heavy security was in place across the impoverished state of around 2.7 million people in an attempt to thwart militant attacks during elections for a new legislative assembly.

The rebels who staged the attack were believed to be from the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), police said, but added that no group has yet claimed responsibility.

There were five explosions in the run-up to the polls in the insurgency-hit state in which two people were killed and about a dozen injured, police said.

The voting in Manipur kicked off a string of five state assembly elections across the country that are seen as a test of popularity for the embattled national Congress government which began a second term in office in 2009.

At least 30 rebel groups have been waging violent campaigns for decades in highly militarised Manipur that have claimed thousands of lives.

At least seven influential militant groups had called for a boycott of the elections in Manipur in which the Congress party, which heads the national ruling coalition, is expected to be returned to power.

Voting in the states of Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa is being staggered throughout February and early March with the results to be announced on March 6.

India has been wracked by separatist conflicts since its independence in 1947, with deadly insurgencies in the northeast, which borders Bangladesh, China and Myanmar, as well as in its northwestern Kashmir region.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hhB699ffb7FYa6ntRIwJOuyZRCzw?docId=CNG.1e1deb6f2b7d184453e7a7321dc2fe0f.111

 

[KRAIT]

Even then 82% turnout.
Kudos to brave people of manipur and their faith in democracy.

82% turnout in Manipur poll, 5 killed by militants - Hindustan Times

 

[xizhimen]

India has those many insurgent groups alway fighting the government,that will greatly hinder local economic development,India should really do something to fix those groups.

 

[KRAIT]

India has those many insurgent groups alway fighting the government,that will greatly hinder local economic development,India should really do something to fix those groups.

A huge progress has been made in this regard. But you cant always prevent every attack no matter how great your security is. 10 years ago the state of NE of india was bloody, now all you will see their is economic growth. State government has seriously taken these problems and worked on it.

Cheers

 

[Relucent]

I totally agree these groups(whatever is remaining of em) have to be mopped up ...and the state should be given an opportunity todevelop unhindered.Its time we get our act right and make sure that the growth chart only goes up!

 

[SinoChallenger]

They're not indian rebels. They're Manipuri freedom fighters!

 

[Tshering22]

They're not indian rebels. They're Manipuri freedom fighters!

They are terrorists who are killing innocent people to capture voting polls. Unlike Tibetan freedom fighters.