Achi news desk-
Ahead of the polls, the BJP leader was abducted in Arunachal
Itenger: A gram panchayat chairman and BJP leader in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district was abducted by suspected militants on Wednesday, two days ahead of the state’s April 19 simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Police said Sangam Wangsu, 50, was kidnapped at gunpoint from his home in Longkao in Longding.
Soon after the incident, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Pawan Kumar Sain said interference in the polling process by underground elements would not be tolerated and security forces would take strict action against such activities.
A police official said police and paramilitary forces are working to trace the BJP leader.
The incident occurred amid reports that a militant outfit had allegedly threatened voters to support candidates of a particular political party contesting the April 19 assembly elections.
Simultaneous polls for the two Lok Sabha seats – Arunachal West and Arunachal East parliamentary constituencies – along with 50 assembly seats will be held on April 19, as the ruling BJP has already won 10 seats in the 60-member assembly without resistance.
Election officials said that since the election commission’s schedule was published on March 16, there have been no fewer than 36 incidents in which one person died and 34 people were injured.
