NGO Coordination Committee, a conglomerate of major civil society and student bodies in Mizoram, has called an indefinite statewide strike from April 8 to protest against the Election Commission’s decision to set up special polling stations for Tripura Bru voters at Kanhmun village on the Mizoram-Tripura border.

The committee has been demanding that special arrangements be made to facilitate Bru voters lodged at six relief camps in Tripura to cast their votes in their respective polling stations in Mizoram.

The committee had earlier threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha polls if special polling stations are set up at Kanhmun for Bru voters.

Election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram will be held simultaneously with the Assembly byelection to Aizawl West-I seat on April 11.

The decision to boycott both the polls was taken at the meeting of NGO Coordination Committee at Central Young Mizo Association office here on Monday.

Committee chairman Vanlalruata said all polling officials would be prevented from proceeding to their polling areas with EVMs.

He said that the meeting unanimously decided to stage an indefinite strike across the state from April 8 to ensure that the demand to facilitate Bru voters to cast their votes in their respective polling stations is met.

Vanlalruata said that the committee has strongly opposed to the Election Commission’s decision to set up special polling stations for Bru voters at Kanhmun.

He said that they will re-consider their decision if the Election Commission and government give positive response before the strike.

The committee has asked all commercial vehicles and private vehicles hired by election commission for not to venture out or letting the government to use vehicles for election-related purposes and ferrying security forces.

Terming the NGOs decision “unfortunate,” state chief electoral officer Ashish Kundra said it is regrettable that the NGOs “made decisions which prejudice democracy”. He appealed to the civil society groups to re-consider their decision in the larger interest of democracy. He will apprise the Election Commission for necessary action.