Lok Sabha polls: Polling ends in Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal

KOHIMA/IMPHAL/SHILLONG/ITANAGAR: Polling was held today for six Lok Sabha seats in the four northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya besides Arunachal Pradesh where Assembly elections to the 60-member House were also held.

Nagaland registered 81.47 per cent polling, Manipur 80 per cent, Meghalaya 71 per cent and Arunachal Pradesh 55 per cent, according to election office sources.

Congress candidate in Konsa (W) Assembly constituency in troubled Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh was kidnapped by suspected militants, but was released unharmed later.

Polling was not held in a disputed area in Longleng district of Nagaland bordering Assam.

Longleng Superintendent of Police James said armed Assam Police and CRPF personnel prohibited the entry of polling officials at Ladaigarh Polling Station (PS) No. 1 under Tamlu Assembly constituency in the district.

A mob prevented setting up of standby polling station other than the designated one.

In Meghalaya, defying a 12-hour bandh called by a banned separatist group in the Khasi Jaintia hills, voters turned out in large numbers in urban areas, state Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said.