IMPHAL, Aug 5 � An Election Commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi arrived in the Manipur State capital today to assess the situation in connection with the forthcoming State Assembly elections due in February next, official sources said, reports PTI.
The team which included election commissioners V S Sampat, H Verman and deputy election commissioner J P Prakash arrived at around 11 am and will meet representatives of various political parties at the State Secretariat.
They will also hold meetings with civil societies before holding talks with chief secretary D S Punia, Director General of Police Y Joykumar and senior officials.
State Election office sources said next Assembly elections in Manipur might be preponed in view of Assembly elections in some States next year but a final decision would be taken by the Election Commission.
The Election Commission was to leave Imphal today afternoon but they would leave for Delhi tomorrow as they would meet representatives of various social groups.
The term of the present Congress-led Secular Progressive Front Ministry which includes CPI as a junior partner ends in February.
Our Correspondent adds: More than 500 Imphal-bound passengers were stranded at Senapati district headquarter, 60 km north of here due to the imposition of indefinite bandh in the Sadar Hills area since Tuesday.
Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) had imposed an indefinite bandh on Sadar Hills sector of the two National Highways 39 and 53 since Tuesday after three women were killed during their week-long economic blockade on the highways. SHDDC has been demanding creation of Sadar Hills area under Senapati district into a full-fledged revenue district.
Three more government offices and one road levelling machine were burnt down on the fifth day of the week-long SHDDC sponsored economic blockade.
The offices burnt down by suspected blockade supporters include an Anganwadi centre, Social Welfare department�s project officer�s office and a Public Health Centre in Sadar Hills, police sources said. A public rally was taken out by the agitators at Saikul sub-divisional headquarter on Friday.
