An estimated 82 per cent of the electorate voted on Saturday in the Manipur Assembly elections, which were marred by militant violence that claimed six lives, including that of a militant.

Chief Electoral Officer P.C. Lawmkunga said that according to preliminary official reports, 82 per cent of the 17.50-lakh voters exercised their franchise.

Details from the nine districts of the State were awaited.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla said in New Delhi that a person, posing as a voter, entered a booth in an interior area in the Sugnu constituency in Chandel district around 12.30 p.m. and started firing indiscriminately, killing a CRPF jawan, three polling staff and a voter.

The injured voter, who was taken to Imphal in a helicopter, died of injuries.

The assailant, who was yet to be identified, was gunned down by CRPF personnel posted at the booth.

Bombs suspected to have been planted by militants were seized and defused before polling started at Khurai Chingangbam, Sawombung High School, Khomidok in Imphal East district and Naoremthong High School in Imphal West district, official sources said.

There were also reports from six other places, where mobs damaged Electronic Voting Machines.

In another incident, miscreants snatched an EVM, Mr. Shukla said.

PTI