Kohima: Angry personnel of the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) stormed the office of the deputy commissioner (DC) in Zunheboto district headquarters town smashed furniture and windowpanes and damaged vehicles, official sources said on February 25.

About 100 men of the 8th NAP battalion stationed at Naltoga on the outskirts of the town gheraoed (storm) the DC's office on February 24 night on suspicion that their postal ballots for the state Assembly polls tomorrow were being tampered with, the sources said.

They detained 20 staff members for about eight hours over the inadequate number of postal ballots prepared by the district election office.

The sources said, when the preparation for postal ballots was nearing completion, the police personnel ransacked the office premises damaging furniture, windows, vehicles and poll-related materials.

Communication lines between the office of the DC, who is also the election officer in the district and the Chief Electoral Officer were disrupted, the sources said.

Paramilitary forces later brought the situation under control, the sources said.

PTI