IMPHAL, May 20 � Two independent candidates of forthcoming elections to autonomous district councils in Manipur hill districts have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen, official reports said here today.
The gunmen abducted ST Bechun and another independent candidate of Chandel district autonomous district council yesterday.
The council goes to polls on June 2 next.
The All Naga Students� Association of Manipur and United Naga Council are opposing the elections saying that enough monetary power was not given to the district councils, a charge denied by the State government.
Tangkhul Naga organisation, Tangkhul Naga Katamnao, in a statement today said that if any Tangkhul Naga contested the forthcoming district council elections in Ukhrul district, he or she would be driven out of his or her respective village.
It said the candidate would also not be allowed to stay in his or her village and house would be dismantled. Besides the candidate would be ostracized in Tangkhul community.
It said that the umbrella Naga organisation, United Naga Council UNC had rejected the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act of 2008 under which the elections were being held. � PTI
