Seeks EC action, CAPF deployment; administration orders verification
With polling for the 28 Koridang Assembly by-election scheduled on April 9, the National People’s Party (NPP) has submitted an urgent complaint to the Election Commission of India alleging impersonation of security personnel in parts of the constituency and seeking immediate intervention.
In a complaint addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, NPP National Secretary Saidul Khan stated that “credible ground inputs indicate that anti-social elements are allegedly impersonating personnel of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Nagaland” in Chungtia, Longkhum, and Mangmetong villages.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer of Mokokchung, Ajit Kumar Verma IAS told MT that the complaint has been received from the Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer’s office and that sector commanders have been instructed to verify the identities of deployed personnel under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung.
In the complaint, the NPP stated that these alleged impostors, “under the guise of security personnel,” are “exercising unauthorized control over movement of villagers,” “creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation,” and “potentially influencing or suppressing free voter participation.”
Describing the situation as a “direct and grave threat to the integrity of the electoral process,” the party warned that the presence of “unverified armed personnel or impersonators” ahead of polling raises risks of “voter intimidation and suppression,” “booth capture or coercive influence,” and “disruption of law and order.”
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Citing violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Election Commission guidelines, and provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to “impersonation of public servants and electoral interference,” the party sought immediate verification of all IRB personnel, removal of any “unverified or impersonating individuals,” and replacement with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). It also called for deployment of central observers in the identified villages and measures to ensure “no intimidation or restriction of voter movement.”
When contacted for further clarification and supporting evidence, the NPP declined to comment.
