Magical Mayhem in Manipur Polls

By K Sarojkumar Sharma

Imphal, Jan 12 : The closest tryst black magic has ever had with the administration was the Salem witch trials of the 17th century, which prosecuted and convicted people accused of witchcraft, even hanging 19 of them.

Now, dark magic's rendezvous with politics gets a modern twist in Manipur, where candidates contesting the civic polls are accusing their rivals of resorting to witchcraft to win the election.

The air in Lamlai nagar panchayat ward no 9 in Imphal East district is rife with spells and counter-spells.

The supporters of defeated Congress nominee I Ibemcha alleged that CPI candidate T Ibeyaima collected urine from seven bachelors and seven maidens and sprinkled it at Ibemcha's house. The parents of some of the bachelors corroborated the allegation that Ibeyaima collected the urine, but no witnesses have come forward to affirm that she sprinkled it at her rival's residence.

In retaliation, Ibemcha prepared small effigies of seven bachelors and as many maidens and burnt them as per sorcery rituals to counter Ibeyaima's spell.

CPI candidate T Ibeyaima defeated Congress nominee I Ibemcha in a keen contest in the ward. Tension gripped Lamlai and Wangoi villages here after the workers of the two candidates clashed, accusing each other of practising sorcery to ensure their victory. A scuffle broke out at Lamlai between the two parties.

Irate villagers, meanwhile, convened a meeting on Monday and decided to ostracize Ibeyaima and her family from the locality if they do not tender an apology by Wednesday.

Election to eight municipal councils and 18 nagar panchayats in the four valley districts were held on January 3 and the poll process, including counting, ended on Monday.

The Purnimashi, who is a neighbour of the defeated Congress candidate K Robindro in Wangoi nagar panchayat ward no 5 in Imphal West district, was humiliated before the public by the latter's supporters on charges of practising black magic against Robindro at his flag-hoisting ceremony on December 25 last.

Robindro lost the election to Longjam Babita Chanu, an independent candidate. Purnimashi (55), who flatly denied the charge, said although she has lodged a complaint with the police against the miscreants for humiliating her, no action has been taken as yet. She was paraded and caned at Wangoi bazaar by some people, mostly Congress workers, on Saturday, Purnimashi said, while urging the people and authorities concerned to punish the guilty.

In protest against the cops' failure to arrest the miscreants who disgraced Purnimashi socially, a large number of people, mostly women, stormed Wangoi police station on Tuesday. The irate locals also formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the incident. Police sources said the miscreants would be arrested soon.