Koridang by-poll: NPP alleges fake IRB personnel, seeks CAPF deployment

DIMAPUR — With only a few hours remaining for the 28-Koridang (ST) Assembly Constituency by-election, the National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday alleged that anti-social elements are impersonating India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel in the constituency and has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking immediate deployment of central paramilitary forces.

The party claimed that, based on “credible ground inputs”, anti-social elements are allegedly posing as personnel of IRB Nagaland, and are currently stationed in Chungtia, Longkhum and Mangmetong.

It further alleged that “these individuals, under the guise of security personnel, are exercising unauthorised control over the movement of villagers, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, potentially influencing or suppressing free voter participation.”

Such impersonation, the party stated, poses a direct and serious threat to the integrity of the electoral process.

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“With polling scheduled on April 9, the presence of unverified armed personnel or impersonators in sensitive locations raises the risk of voter intimidation and suppression, booth capture or coercive influence, and disruption of law and order on polling day,” it added.

Highlighting legal and electoral concerns, the party urged the ECI to: immediately verify all IRB personnel deployed in the Koridang by-election area; remove any unverified or impersonating individuals posing as security personnel; replace IRB deployment with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to ensure neutrality; deploy central observers or micro-observers in Chungtia, Longkhum and Mangmetong; and issue strict directions to prevent intimidation or restriction of voter movement.