Violence erupted in Sohra, Mowkaiaw and Mairang today following the counting of votes in these three places.
In Saitsohpen area of Sohra, supporters of NPP candidate from Shella constituency, Grace Mary Kharpuri turned berserk after she lost the election to sitting MLA Balajied Kupar Synrem.
Balajied Kupar Synrem retained the Shella seat by a margin of 434 votes. While he secured 13,274 votes, Kharpuri got 12,840 votes.
Hundreds of NPP supporters were demanding a recount of votes. They marched to the office of the Sohra Civil Sub-Division and pressed for their demand.
Sub-Divisional Officer Hema Nayak had a talk with the crowd and rejected their demand for a recount.
The angry crowd pelted stones at the SDO office and the court building besides torching the grass in the area. Police and CRPF personnel who tried to control the mob were also pelted with stones.
Later, the police personnel had to use water cannons, lathi charge and tear gas to tame the crowd. Section 144 CrPC was also imposed prohibiting assembly of people in the area.
In Mowkaiaw constituency of West Jaintia Hills, NPP supporters pelted stones at the houses of UDP supporters at Sahsniang village.
The NPP supporters were angry over the victory of sitting MLA Nujorki Sungoh of UDP.
Reports said that many UDP supporters from the village had to flee for their own safety.
West Jaintia Hills District Magistrate Batlang S. Sohliya has imposed curfew in the village and prohibited assembly of people.
In Mairang, police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the thousands of Congress supporters who tried to storm the Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding for a recount of votes. The crowd also torched a government vehicle.
The situation in Mairang is still tense but under control.
