Aghunaqa area threatens to boycott Lok Sabha polls

Various organizations under Aghunaqa Kukami Kuqhakulu (AKK) having more than ten thousand (10,000) voters have threatened to boycott the ensuing polls for the Lok Sabha on April 9, as voters including the aged have to travel between 20 Km to 40 Km from their villages to Kiyezu village under Niuland sub-division to cast their votes owing to absence of any polling station in the area under dispute with Assam. AKK area comprises of 38 government recognized villages under 4 Ghaspani-I.
This was informed to media persons here at Hotel Saramati Tuesday by AKK president Mughavi Awomi who said that representatives from different organizations under AKK – Aghunaqa Area Students’ Union (AASU), Aghunaqa Sümi Totimi Hoho (ASTH), Aghunaqa Area Sports Association (AASA), Aghunaqa VDB Block , Kighoto Aye, and other political leaders from the area adopted the resolution. The AKK has claimed that, on the other hand, the Assam government had provided eight polling stations within the same belt or area—Shantipur, Amguri, M.V. Chungajan, Naukhuti, Salupathar, Panjan, Horipur and Dubguri.
AKK sources regretted that despite representations addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi on April 4, 2012 and also to the DC Dimapur on July 26,2013 and to the Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland on February 18,2014, there has been no response. In view of the non-response, the AKK leaders said it showed a “step-motherly” treatment to the Nagas living in the border areas as if they were “foreign origin” instead of applying same yardstick to guarantee equality and rights to all its citizens as per the constitution of India.
They also pointed out that the old and infirm cannot travel 20 Km to 40 Km on polling day since transportation is restricted as per the election law 48 hours ahead of polling. The low turn out only encouraged blatant proxy voting in the area, they said.
They said in some, instances 144 CrPc was imposed where movements were also restricted.
In view of the problem of long distances, the AKK leaders demanded setting up of polling stations within two kilometers of the area before the Lok Sabha polling so that voters could exercise their franchise.
They have also urged the authority to address the grievances by providing polling stations at Homeland GMS, Khehuto GMS, Nitozu GMS, Tohoi GPS, P.Vihoto GPS, Aghunaqa HS, Yetoho GPS, Zhekishe GPS, and Nikihe GMS.