Aizawl/Agartala, April 5 (IANS) Six NGOs and students' groups have called for a boycott of the April 9 Lok Sabha polls in Mizoram to protest the Election Commission's decision to allow tribal refugees' living in Tripura's relief camps vote for the lone seat in Mizoram.
Leaders of the six NGOs and students' bodies led by Young Mizo Association (YMA) held an emergency meeting in Aizawl Friday night and decided to urge people to boycott the polls.
"We have also decided to observe a 72-hour statewide strike from April 7," YMA spokesman J. Lalsailova told reporters in Aizawl Saturday.
Out of over 36,000 Reang tribal refugees, living in seven camps in northern Tripura for the past 17 years after fleeing their villages in western Mizoram, 11,500 were on electoral rolls in Mizoram and 71 percent of these have voted through postal ballots in three days - Tuesday to Thursday.
The postal balloting was held under the close supervision of seven observers of Election Commission. Seven officials from Mizoram also came to the camps to assist the electoral process.
"In view of the threat given by local NGOs in Mizoram to obstruct counting of postal ballot papers in Aizawl, the Election Commission has decided to count the postal ballots in Kanchanpur (north Tripura) May 16. An Election Commission observer would also be present on the day of counting," Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nantu Das told IANS.
The NGOs and youth organisations, led by YMA, have been organising protests in Aizawl and other places of Mizoram since last week demanding to revoke poll panel decision to take the refugees' votes by postal ballot.
The Reang tribals, locally known as 'Bru', had fled their villages in Mizoram and took shelter in Tripura in October 1997 after an ethnic conflict broke out with the majority Mizos over the killing of a Mizo forest official.
Action has started against people who support the Taliban in India. Assam Police has arrested 14
Why do some people see side effects after getting the corona vaccine? read answer here
After getting any vaccine, its temporary side effects are seen in the body such as headache, fati
The power crisis in the country is deepening. Alam has become that due to shortage of coal in man
Is Nepal going to turn again? Questions are also being raised on India
In Kamalpokhari in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, hundreds of people from the mass movement gathered
Modi's next radio address to be on farmers
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he will address farmer
Because of the fear of the third wave of Corona, the central government has come into alert mode.
Emergency in Sri Lanka: Entire cabinet resigns amid emergency, PM's son Namal also left all posts
The political upheaval in Sri Lanka has intensified amid the Emergency. The entire cabinet of the
Ayushmann Khurrana plays 'Money Heist' song 'Bella Ciao' on piano reminding us of 'Andhadhun'
मनी हीस्ट लेटेस्ट सीज़न ने प्रशंसको
Ind vs WI T20: India looking to win T20 series after ODI against West Indies
In the first T20 match against West Indies, Team India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharm
Sourav Ganguly hospitalized in Kolkata after deteriorating health
Sourav Ganguly, president of BCCI and former captain of the Indian cricket team, has been admitte
