Assam Election
Police in action after EC warning
GUWAHATI, April 18: In the last one month the Assam Police arrested as many as 6,000 accused who were issued non-bailable arrest warrants but moving scot-free in the State. The State had 18,175 accused with non-bailable arrest warrants absconding till a month back. The police force also seized 45 illegal arms, 346 cartridges and nine magazines during the one-month period. Till yesterday, as many as 1,868 legal arms were also deposited in the State.
This sudden agility on the part of the State police force is the fallout of the recent stern directive issued by Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla who had warned some of the superintendents of police and a DIG of immediate transfer if they failed to act promptly to arrest the absconding accused. After the directive from the Election Commission, the SPs have to send their daily reports to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State who, on his part, has to send daily reports to the Election Commission of India.
The questions that arise now are: Was it not negligence on the part of the State police force to allow over 18,000 accused with non-bailable arrest warrants to move scot-free? What about absconding MLAs Jiten Gogoi and Kushal Duori? If the State police force can arrest 6,000 absconding accused in a month, they can obviously do so even when there is no election. If the warning from the Election Commission is enough to energize the State police force to arrest accused people, why don’t they do so as their duty always? Doesn’t the State police force encourage crime by allowing accused to move scot-free?
There are also allegations that in most of the cases the police officials take cash from accused and allow them to move scot-free even when they are spotted.
A police official, on the other hand, said manpower shortage continues to haunt the State police force. “Under pressure from the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha polls, our people engaged in other forms of works have been put into service to maintain law and order and arrest the absconding accused, but this can’t be continued forever, because that will hamper other areas of policing,” he added. THE SENTINEL
Low-key campaigning by political parties in Majuli
JORHAT, April 18: Campaigning by political parties in Majuli for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat has been a low key if not a total wash of Congress candidate Ranee Narah who did a round at the island yesterday, was not able to pull in the crowds at the seven sites where she addressed the election meetings.
‘‘The people are fed up with all the false promises made by the politicians during election time. We will vote no doubt but are not bothered to waste time at such meetings where politicians inevitably mouth inane platitudes or indulge in mudslinging’’, said Ramesh Pegu.
Another islander was more vocal against Rani Narah’s non-delivery when she had been voted to power in 2001 as Lakhimpur MP. ‘‘Rani boldly opened her mouth only once in Parliament, the last time she had been voted to power and that was to request a person to open a door’’, he said. ‘‘We cannot repose confidence in her again, going by her past record’’, he further said
‘‘AGP candidate Arun Sharma, who was the sitting MP, also has not done anything much to decrease the erosion problem’’, the islander said.
The residents are facing flood problem, massive erosion, subsequent displacement of people and loss of property not to mention the deep rooted poverty, Palash Kolita said.
So if the people were disenchanted with both Arun Sarma and Rani Narah, was Ranoz Pegu of the Sanmilita Gana Sharti, the ultimate choice? However, his name too did not elicit much response. He is too much into communal politics and has a strong hold among the Misings, here, a source said.
The source said that, if he came to power, Majuli would be divided on ethnic lines. His candidature will affect the prospects of Rani Narah who also has a support base among the Misings, the dominant population on Majuli, he said.
Barring a few fluttering posters in the wind of the three political parties, electioneering on Majuli has more or less been a damp squib. THE SENTINEL
Additional forces sent to Jorhat
JORHAT, April 18: Two additional companies of paramilitary forces have been sent to Jorhat district for reinforcement at Booths pinpointed as sensitive.
Additional SP Subodh Sonowal said that 104 booths in the district including Majuli had been identified as very sensitive and 166 as sensitive. Booths along the Asom-Nagaland Border were under tight security and the police did not apprehend trouble from the neighbouring state.
As both the areas will be going to the polls on the same day, police on either side will be maintaining a strong vigil, the Additional SP said. THE SENTINEL
Poll observers’ training today
From our Correspondent
JORHAT, April 18: The Jorhat district administration organizes a training camp for poll observers at the premises of Jorhat District Library here tomorrow. As many as 128 poll observers to be participated at the camp held from 11 am. The camp will be held for 12 no. Jorhat HPC and Dergaon LAC of 11 no. Kaliabor HPC. The Jorhat Returning officer LS Changsan urged those concerned to confirmed their participation in the camp. THE SENTINEL
Review meeting on election expenditure held
BARPETA, April 18: A review meeting regarding the submission of election expenditure of the candidates of various political parties of Barpeta Loksabha constituency was held at the Barpeta Circuit House yesterday. Discussion regarding submission of incomplete expenditure made by the candidates and the violation of election code of conduct took place in the meeting.Returning officer Phanidhar Kalita informed in a press release that another such review meeting is scheduled to be held April 20 next. The meeting was attended by central observers Kabita Gupta, DK Srinivas and Sanjeev Kr Mittal that were appointed by the Election Commission of India. Barpeta returning officer Phanidhar Kalita was also present in the meeting. Barpeta Sadar and I/C Election code and conduct cell SDO Gitanjali S Bhattacharjya and Sailen Das were also present in the meeting. THE SENTINEL
Barpeta election observer enforces election code of conduct strictly
From our Correspondent
BARPETA, April 18: Barpeta Loksabha constituency central election observer Kabita Gupta is strictly observing the election code of conduct in the area, sources said. It was also informed that she has expressed deep regret that some of the political parties have not followed the election code of conduct.
In the process, she even seized a Maruti 800 car (no AS-25 B-6110) and a mike set belonging to the Congress party on April 16 which was moving without administration permission. Election observer Kabita Gupta also visited many Sar areas today to observe the election scenario. THE SENTINEL
Police in action after EC warning
GUWAHATI, April 18: In the last one month the Assam Police arrested as many as 6,000 accused who were issued non-bailable arrest warrants but moving scot-free in the State. The State had 18,175 accused with non-bailable arrest warrants absconding till a month back. The police force also seized 45 illegal arms, 346 cartridges and nine magazines during the one-month period. Till yesterday, as many as 1,868 legal arms were also deposited in the State.
This sudden agility on the part of the State police force is the fallout of the recent stern directive issued by Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla who had warned some of the superintendents of police and a DIG of immediate transfer if they failed to act promptly to arrest the absconding accused. After the directive from the Election Commission, the SPs have to send their daily reports to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State who, on his part, has to send daily reports to the Election Commission of India.
The questions that arise now are: Was it not negligence on the part of the State police force to allow over 18,000 accused with non-bailable arrest warrants to move scot-free? What about absconding MLAs Jiten Gogoi and Kushal Duori? If the State police force can arrest 6,000 absconding accused in a month, they can obviously do so even when there is no election. If the warning from the Election Commission is enough to energize the State police force to arrest accused people, why don’t they do so as their duty always? Doesn’t the State police force encourage crime by allowing accused to move scot-free?
There are also allegations that in most of the cases the police officials take cash from accused and allow them to move scot-free even when they are spotted.
A police official, on the other hand, said manpower shortage continues to haunt the State police force. “Under pressure from the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha polls, our people engaged in other forms of works have been put into service to maintain law and order and arrest the absconding accused, but this can’t be continued forever, because that will hamper other areas of policing,” he added. THE SENTINEL
Low-key campaigning by political parties in Majuli
JORHAT, April 18: Campaigning by political parties in Majuli for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat has been a low key if not a total wash of Congress candidate Ranee Narah who did a round at the island yesterday, was not able to pull in the crowds at the seven sites where she addressed the election meetings.
‘‘The people are fed up with all the false promises made by the politicians during election time. We will vote no doubt but are not bothered to waste time at such meetings where politicians inevitably mouth inane platitudes or indulge in mudslinging’’, said Ramesh Pegu.
Another islander was more vocal against Rani Narah’s non-delivery when she had been voted to power in 2001 as Lakhimpur MP. ‘‘Rani boldly opened her mouth only once in Parliament, the last time she had been voted to power and that was to request a person to open a door’’, he said. ‘‘We cannot repose confidence in her again, going by her past record’’, he further said
‘‘AGP candidate Arun Sharma, who was the sitting MP, also has not done anything much to decrease the erosion problem’’, the islander said.
The residents are facing flood problem, massive erosion, subsequent displacement of people and loss of property not to mention the deep rooted poverty, Palash Kolita said.
So if the people were disenchanted with both Arun Sarma and Rani Narah, was Ranoz Pegu of the Sanmilita Gana Sharti, the ultimate choice? However, his name too did not elicit much response. He is too much into communal politics and has a strong hold among the Misings, here, a source said.
The source said that, if he came to power, Majuli would be divided on ethnic lines. His candidature will affect the prospects of Rani Narah who also has a support base among the Misings, the dominant population on Majuli, he said.
Barring a few fluttering posters in the wind of the three political parties, electioneering on Majuli has more or less been a damp squib. THE SENTINEL
Additional forces sent to Jorhat
JORHAT, April 18: Two additional companies of paramilitary forces have been sent to Jorhat district for reinforcement at Booths pinpointed as sensitive.
Additional SP Subodh Sonowal said that 104 booths in the district including Majuli had been identified as very sensitive and 166 as sensitive. Booths along the Asom-Nagaland Border were under tight security and the police did not apprehend trouble from the neighbouring state.
As both the areas will be going to the polls on the same day, police on either side will be maintaining a strong vigil, the Additional SP said. THE SENTINEL
Poll observers’ training today
From our Correspondent
JORHAT, April 18: The Jorhat district administration organizes a training camp for poll observers at the premises of Jorhat District Library here tomorrow. As many as 128 poll observers to be participated at the camp held from 11 am. The camp will be held for 12 no. Jorhat HPC and Dergaon LAC of 11 no. Kaliabor HPC. The Jorhat Returning officer LS Changsan urged those concerned to confirmed their participation in the camp. THE SENTINEL
Review meeting on election expenditure held
BARPETA, April 18: A review meeting regarding the submission of election expenditure of the candidates of various political parties of Barpeta Loksabha constituency was held at the Barpeta Circuit House yesterday. Discussion regarding submission of incomplete expenditure made by the candidates and the violation of election code of conduct took place in the meeting.Returning officer Phanidhar Kalita informed in a press release that another such review meeting is scheduled to be held April 20 next. The meeting was attended by central observers Kabita Gupta, DK Srinivas and Sanjeev Kr Mittal that were appointed by the Election Commission of India. Barpeta returning officer Phanidhar Kalita was also present in the meeting. Barpeta Sadar and I/C Election code and conduct cell SDO Gitanjali S Bhattacharjya and Sailen Das were also present in the meeting. THE SENTINEL
Barpeta election observer enforces election code of conduct strictly
From our Correspondent
BARPETA, April 18: Barpeta Loksabha constituency central election observer Kabita Gupta is strictly observing the election code of conduct in the area, sources said. It was also informed that she has expressed deep regret that some of the political parties have not followed the election code of conduct.
In the process, she even seized a Maruti 800 car (no AS-25 B-6110) and a mike set belonging to the Congress party on April 16 which was moving without administration permission. Election observer Kabita Gupta also visited many Sar areas today to observe the election scenario. THE SENTINEL
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