The Pillayan-led TMVP has practically seized control of Batticaloa in areas outside the municipality and was engaged in large-scale vote rigging, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections says.
The group had threatened voters and snatched official poll cards of several voters at Kiliveddi and was forcibly bringing voters to polling centres in Pattirippu, CAFFE said.
The local poll monitor said the law enforcement authorities have not taken any measure to prevent these incidents.
The TMVP has also threatened a senior election official at Kalladi, and ordered him against allowing any voting from taking place after noon.
Meanwhile, the LTTE-controlled Panduwankeri has so far reported only 15 people exercising their franchise, CAFFE said.
In most polling centres of Batticaloa, the UNP had no representation, after 14 of the agents were arrested and are being detained by the Kattankudi Police.
The reason for their arrest has not been made known, Nizbar Saffar of the UNP lawyers association said.
The UPFA's Batticaloa coordinator Siripala Amarasinghe told 'Lanka Dissent' that the district has reported no violent incidents today, with voting underway peacefully and a 50 per cent turnout.
By 2.00 pm, nearly 35 pc voted within the municipality area, while the outstations reported the figure to be more than 50 pc, UNP MP Sagala Ratnayake said.
Contacted by 'Lanka Dissent' he said no serious violent incidents have been reported from Batticaloa.
However, massive vote rigging was taking place outside the municipality area, he added.
1 comment:
first we have to eliminate traitors;we can deal with our enemies later!
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