One of its candidates in Manipur was prevented from filing his nomination papers while at least four others have not been able to campaign because of threats from extremist groups, the National People’s Party (NPP) has said.
In a petition to the Election Commission, the NPP has sought adequate security cover for its Manipur poll candidates as they were being intimidated by some armed groups in peace mode. These groups cater to the sub-nationalism of the Kuki-Zomi community.
Such has been the reign of terror in the Churachandpur and Tengnoupal districts that many candidates have been forced to stay indoors, an NPP leader said on condition of anonymity.“Our candidate for the Singhat seat could not file his nomination as some militants, posted outside his house for a week until February 8 [last date of submitting papers for the first phase of elections on February 27], threatened to shoot him if he ventured out. He was forced to remain incommunicado too,” the NPP leader said.
