Aizawl, Nov 21: Out of 4,266 Bru voters enrolled in Mizoram voter's lists, only 14.93 per cent voters exercised franchise at seventeen special polling booths set up for them in two villages on the Tripura border, state Chief Electoral Officer Lalmalsawma said. Lalmalsawma said that 462 Bru voters cast their votes at Tuipuibari yesterday where ten special polling booths were set up while 175 votes were cast at Kanhmun where seven polling booths were set up following Election Commission's instructions.
Bru voters were brought to the special polling booths from six refugee camps in neighbouring North Tripura district by 200 vehicles and escorted by at least six platoons of border security force (BSF) personnel.
Polling in the special booths was peaceful even as some local people gathered there to prevent the Brus from exercising their franchise. Security personnel managed to persuade the local people to disperse without any incident, police said.
Save Mizoram Committee, an umbrella organisation of all the major political parties and NGOs said that the inclusion of Bru voters, now residing in another state, in the state voters' list would again be challenged in the court of law.
Bureau Report