Imphal, Sept. 21: Repolling was held at 49 polling stations in four districts of Manipur today under unprecedented security measures.

The state election commissioner Ningombam Angou Singh ordered the repoll after violence disrupted polling to elect zilla parishad members, pradhans and panchayat members on Wednesday.

Repolling was held at four polling stations at Charhazari (Sadar Hills) in Senapati district with adequate police personnel, under the supervision of inspector general of police, A. Romenkumar Singh.

Supporters of Sadar Hills District Demand Committee and Kuki Students’ Organisation, which are boycotting the election, damaged buildings where the four polling booths were opened on Wednesday.

The committee and students union opposed the election saying that Sadar Hills already has an Autonomous District Council.

The rural development minister Md Allauddin Khan, however, said though Charhazari is within Sadar Hills, it was not included under the administrative purview of the district council.

However, despite the tight security members of Kuki community today destroyed the polling material and burnt down the ballot paper and other documents including some shops in an area owned by members of other communities. No voters turned up at two of the four polling stations.

The other polling stations recorded a low turnout. Only 12 votes were polled at one polling booth while another booth polled only 32 votes by 1pm. Sources said many voters did not turn up fearing a backlash from the two organisations.

Supporters of the two Kuki organisations burnt at least five kiosks and attempted to burn a house on the day of the polls.

The Okram Ibobi Singh government today provided 10 armed police personnel for each polling station in the valley, while 20 armed personnel were provided for the Sadar Hills polling booths.

A large number of armed police personnel were deployed around the polling stations to prevent trouble.

Counting of votes will take place on Sunday.

Angou Singh attributed the largescale violence on Wednesday to the lack of security personnel at the polling stations. Only five unarmed police personnel were deployed in each of the polling booths in the valley while 10 armed personnel were deployed at each of the hill booths.