Kandep by-election proceeds smoothly

POLLING in the Kandep by-election proceeded as planned yesterday despite a sit-in protest by some candidates and their supporters on Sunday at Kandep station.
The candidates and their supporters sat in front of the gate of the electoral office alleging that some polling officials involved in the 2007 general election were again engaged in the by-election and they called for their removal.
The matter was later resolved and yesterday morning around 10, the polling teams were deployed to the respective rest houses under tight police escorts.
Two helicopters were used to airlift the polling teams and security forces to polling areas not accessible by roads.
Out of the 74 rest houses, a total of 45 polling areas were completed yesterday and ballot boxes were transported back to Kandep and locked up in the police station.
Assistant returning officer looking after Kandep local level government area, Kila Ralai, said polling would continue today in the 29 remaining polling areas.
Polling is being conducted under the watchful eyes of about 300 police personnel deployed for this exercise.