The State Election Commission has ordered repolls in 39 polling stations in the state, where polling activities were disrupted during the panchayat and zilla parishad elections held on Wednesday. According to officials, clashes between supporters of rival candidates had led to polling being called off at these stations. In Sadar Hills, where a bandh was in place on polling day, suspected supporters of the District Demand Committee torched several houses in the Nepali pocket of Char Hajare in Senapati district. According to reports, the local residents have left their homes, even as police have moved into the area and security has been increased. In the week preceding the elections, a saw mill and a car belonging to candidate burnt by miscreants, also suspected to be Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) supporters. The SHDDC is opposing the panchayat elections in the Sadar Hills area of Senapati district on the grounds that the area comes under the Autonomous District Council. The SHDDC has been demanding that the area be upgraded to full revenue district status.
