Imphal, April 22: About 62 per cent of 802,000 voters on Wednesday cast their votes in prestigious Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency for the second phase Lok Sabha polls, the election office stated.

The polls, which saw no untoward incident today, were held amid tight security in all 970 polling stations spread across four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur.

Tousem (Imphal), April 22: Over 600 Zemei sub-tribe of the Zeliangrong community have moved out of North Cachar Hills in Assam since mid-March following threats from the Dima Halam Daogah militant outfit.

These people have taken shelter in the adjoining Tousem, a sub-division in Tamenglong district of Manipur, located around 260 kilometres away from Imphal.

A majority of those who fled their homes are children under 12 years of age and women. There is a constant increase in the number of villages arriving in camps.

Imphal, Apr 22: The ten-day long Manipur Tourism Festival 2009, organised by the state''s tourism department, witnessed a significant participation of visitors from across the country and abroad.

The festival, which concluded on Tuesday, was aimed at highlighting the art and culture of northeast Manipur state.

Visitors from Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam and Myanmar expressed great enthusiasm and contributed actively to the festival.

Jim Csuthathip Thavesuk, a stall owner from Thailand hoped that she would get a good response in this festival.

Imphal, Apr 22 : About 35 per cent of the electorates exercised their franchise by noon in the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency in the second phase Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday.

About 40 per cent votes were cast by noon in Thoubal district from where Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh hails, 30 per cent in Bishenpur, 35 per cent in Imphal East and Imphal west district each.

According to sources, polling is underway in all 970 polling booths spread across the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur.

Imphal, apr 22 : Polling for the Inner Manipur (valley districts) Lok Sabha seat constituency began today amidst tight security.

The polling will decide the fate of seven candidates. The main contest is between M Nara of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Th Chaoba of the Manipur People''s Party and Th Meinya of the Congress.

Other candidates are W Nipamacha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), A Rahaman (Independent), Nongmaithem Homendro (Independent) and lone woman candidate L Khetrani of the Bahujan Congress Party.

A total of 8.25 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes.

Imphal, April 13: The unabated violent incidents by various militant groups in Manipur are creating uncertainty in people's lives.

Various women vendors staged a sit-in protest at a blast site to protest and express anguish against the recent grenade attack at Mayang Imphal Bazar, which wounded eight persons.

The incident occurred after some unidentified persons threw a grenade inside a grocery shop at Mayang Imphal Bazar.