Ambasa, Jun 23, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Ambasa, June 23: Tussle broke out between Tipra Motha and the ruling party at Maharanipur, booth no. 43 of Surma Assembly Constituency at around 4 pm. Motilal Debabarma, a tribal leader of the ruling party, was injured in the attack and is presently undergoing treatment at Dhalai District Hospital. On the other hand, after getting the news of obstruction of voters by the youths outside Booth No. 59 and 60 of the assembly at Daluchhara SB School, a huge police force came and charged batons on the crowd including the outsiders. A situation of unrest was noticed in the entire area.

The by-polls at Surma Center No. 46, which started at 7 am, ended well without any minor disturbances. However, EVM machines have been disrupted in many polling stations. Out of 60 booths in the assembly, about 12 booths were reported to have EVM malfunctioning. Voting began 1 hr late at 59 no. east Duluchara School because of EVM disturbance. The presence of polling agents of all parties has been noticed in each booth. However, the ruling party had multiple booth offices within a certain distance of the polling booth where no other party office could be seen. The Tipra Motha group had camps outside the East and West Daluchhara, Dupichhara, Khaisapunji schools in the Salema block of the Surma Assembly. Female team members entirely managed the booth at Salema School. Although the presiding officer said voting process to be peaceful, but allegations of presence of large number of outside youths in many booths of Surma assembly constituency has been reported. As a result of their obstruction, some voters had to go home without voting.