Polling officer arrested for negligence of poll duty
GUWAHATI, April 22: One Polling Officer (PO), Pradip Roy who is a lecturer of Assam Engineering College, was arrested by the City Police today on the charge of negligence of election duty. The arrest of the polling officer was made following a complaint from Guwahati Returning Officer (RO) RC Jain. Suspension of the polling officer is inevitable, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Guwahati RO said such actions will be taken against officials in the event of negligence of election duty. He said all poll officials and central poll observers of Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency reached their respective destinations safely. Security arrangement in the State has been tightened to ensure free and fair polls tomorrow. All international and inter-State borders have been kept under strict vigil. THE SENTINEL
CM seeks Almighty’s help
JORHAT, April 22: Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today visited the historic Dhekiakhowa Borna-mghar seeking God’s blessing for the ongoing general elections, 2009. After participating in three election rallies at Mariani, Amguri and Dergaon in support of Union minister Bijoy Krishna Handique and his younger brother Dip Gogoi, Gogoi will cast his vote at Jorhat tomorrow. THE SENTINEL
PM to cast vote today
GUWAHATI, April 22: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife will arrive in Guwahati tomorrow and cast their vote at Dispur HS School. This is the first time that a Prime Minister will cast his vote in Asom. Dr Singh will land in a special helicopter at Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport from where he will be taken to the Veterinary College field at Khanapara where a temporary helipad has been constructed. He will go by road to cast his vote at Dispur Government H S School. Meanwhile, the Sorumotoria residence of the Prime Minister has been decorated today. THE SENTINEL
EVMs kept in strong room
DIBRUGARH, April 22: The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) that will be used during the polls are presently being kept in the strong room for the purpose after being sealed in the presence of the observers, returning officer and agents of the candidates.
One thousand vehicles have been requisitioned for use during the election. Twenty one task forces have been pressed into service to observe and ensure smooth conduct of the polls. Four hundred forty three micro observers appointed to observe and report on polling activities will leave for their polling stations tomorrow. The election material for polling in ten remote stations was handed over yesterday. Ten digital cameras have been issued to competent officers for detailed coverage of polling in these stations. A video camera each for the fourteen critical polling stations has already been entrusted to respective officials. One hundred fifty polling stations are being covered by CPMF. SSB and CRPF personnel are already stationed at the various polling stations and have brought the respective areas under the security domain.
Meanwhile, all liquor shops have been ordered to remain closed till April 23. The police administration said that preliminary investigation into the death of nine persons at Lakribaam tea estate in Tingkhong on Sunday has revealed that they died after drinking home made brew. They further informed that the two persons admitted to the Assam Medical College Hospital are recuperating. THE SENTINEL
670 vehicles, 3,108 polling personnel engaged for Jorhat HPC
JORHAT, April 22: For the second and last phase of General election 2009, to be held tomorrow as many as 3,108 polling personnel including 10 per cent reserved have fitted into places for Jorhat election district. The Jorhat election district comprising five Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) namely– 97 no. Dergaon, 98 no. Jorhat, 100 no. Titabor, 101 no. Mariani and 102 no. Teok of 12 no. Jorhat House of People Constituency (HPC) and 11 no. Kaliabor HPC is all set to carry out a free and fair election process with the aforesaid requirements. Jorhat HPC returning officer LS Changsan informed that, for Dergaon LAC- 595, Jorhat LAC- 679, Titabor- 549, Moriani- 490, Teok- 510 polling personnel have already been sent to the concerned polling stations this morning.
Apart from it, a total number of 670 various modes of public transports were engaged by the district administration in view of the Lok Sabha polls throughout the district. When contacted, A Borbora, Jorhat District Transport Officer informed that, they have requisite 652 private vehicles including light motor vehicles for the election purpose.
It may be mentioned here that, as well as the various government departments, the public transport system also literarily coming to a standstill, thanks to the requirements and requisition of transport by district administration. The commuters have faced an acute shortage of transports these days and it will be continue till the buses would be finally released on April 24. THE SENTINEL
Polling officials leave for polling booths
JORHAT, April 22: In an orderly manner bus loads of polling officials were driven to different polling booths, some remote and far flung, here today. Sources said that a number of booths were located in areas which had to be reached by crossing waterbodies by boats. These were in the Jhanjimukh and Disangmukh areas.
Sources further said that arrangements for the polling officials was far more systematic than in previous years. Each poll official was told to hold up a placard on which the booth number was written so that presiding officers and other officers attached to that booth could easily form their own group without the chaos witnessed in previous elections. Earlier the method was to hand out a list to each official stating the members of the group attached to a particular booth and then began the merry go round to identify your partners among hundreds of polling officials. THE SENTINEL
Officals leave for polling stations
DIBRUGARH, April 22: The micro observers and officers left for their respective polling stations in Dibrugarh Parliamentary Constituency today. The Chowkidinghee playground wore a festive look with officials leaving for their destinations with electronic voting machines since morning.
The fate of the candidates will be decided by 11,14,107 voters of the district. In the last Lok Sabha election, Sarbananda Sonowal of AGP caused an upset by defeating the four-time winner, Paban Singh Ghatowar of Congress. He polled 2,20,878 votes. Kamakhya Prasad Tassa of BJP, who is presently contesting from Jorhat constituency, captured the second highest votes with 2,02,361 while Ghatowar was in the third spot with 1,70,581 votes.
There are more than one and a half lakh voters in the district. The recent drive to raise awareness about the need to vote seems to have had a marked effect on the younger generation. It remains to be seen which candidate has managed to evoke interest among the youths. THE SENTINEL
Rainfall causes poor turnout of voters
From our Correspondent
JORHAT, April 22: The continuous rainfall for the last 10 days may result in a poor turnout of voters at polling booths tomorrow. The response of the electorate to the election campaigns by various political parties can at the best be described as lackadaisical. Most of the people, this correspondent spoke to seemed to be undecided as to whom they will cast their vote. Unlike other elections, there in no perceptible wave or even a liking or disliking for any particular candidate.
However, the general perception is that the Congress will benefit if the weather turns inclement tomorrow. Many people will not be bothered to stand in the rain and vote for either the CPI or BJP candidate. On the other hand, in many villages which have a strong Congress following, cars have been arranged to take the voters to the booths.
Moreover, the AGP-BJP combine in the state has had a negative repercussion to a certain extent. AGP supporters here are ambivalent about whether the BJP candidate wins or loses. Likewise, BJP supporters are not very keen on the combination.
“Had Tasa only represented the BJP instead of the AGP-BJP combine, my vote would have gone to him, but now the Congress will benefit”, AB Neog said. THE SENTINEL
Poll officials heading for Honjugaon
From our Staff Reporter
DIBRUGARH, April 22: A long walk awaited poll officials heading for Honjugaon under Margherita LAC today.
Honjugaon is a village on the Tipong hill and is populated by the Tangsas. Thirty two voters will exercise their adult franchise in the polling station set up at community hall there. The officials responsible to oversee the election process there tracked through forests for more than three hours from Tipong, which is around 20 kilometres from Margherita.
Meanwhile, nine zonal officers, twenty seven sector officers and forty one micro observers will supervise the election process in the Margherita LAC. A team of five hundred and thirty polling personnel has been deputed to 164 polling stations in which 1,58,691 voters will cast their votes. The Election Observer, CV Subbarao, is himself administering the election process here.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, 62.60 per cent voters exercised their voting rights. Kamakhya Prasad Tassa of the BJP had captured 31,881 votes, the highest among the seven candidates fighting the polls then. Ghatowar of Congress got 29,398 votes while 19,870 voters went in favour of Sonowal.THE SENTINEL
Body recovered in Kokrajhar
From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, April 22: The body of one Paresh Ray, a BPF supporter who was taken away by suspected NDFB on April 6, from Patgaon was recovered by police today from Bashbari under Bismuri outpost in the district. Although the body was found decomposed, the family members identified from the dresses.
Meanwhile, at least twelve peoples have lost lives in election related incidents directly or indirectly in Kokrajhar district alone. The killings started from February 10, where the Chowkidar of Mainao Swrang School, Simbargao Udaywary was killed by BPF activists. Besides, the district witnessed the ever worst clashes, violence and killings than earlier elections where most of the supporters of BPF and BPPF got injured or hospitalized in group clashes and attacks. The matter becomes a serious concern for all. THE SENTINEL
Bus meets with accident while on election duty
TEZPUR, April 22: With buses being plied for election duty by all the district administrations, a tragic incident refuted anger and protest from the bus drivers association as a bus bearing registration number AS-12-9307 met with an accident with a truck killing the handy man and seriously injuring the driver.
The incident took place at NH-52 at Nagsankar under Sootia police station of Sonitpur when the bus collided with a truck that was heading from the opposite direction.
The bus was on election duty and was going to the Sootia police station to collect security personnel for the polling booths.
The driver Suren Das (42) and the handyman Moinul Hauqe (21) were seriously injured in the accident and were rushed to the Tezpur Kanak Lata Civil Hospital where Moinul Hauque succumbed to his injuries while driver Suren Das was sent to GMCH for better treatment.
The news of death of Moinul spread among his colleagues like wild fire and the agitated drivers and handy men gathered in front of the police station and demonstrated their point as no official from the District Administration had till now visited the victims. Moreover, the bus was on election duty when the incident occured.
The mob also accused that Moinul died because of the negligence of the doctors.
The demonstration was prohibited from agitating further by the administration official who assured that proper compensation will be given by the government to the family of the deceased and the cost of the injured driver.
After postmortem, Moinul Hauqe’s body was handed over to his nearest kin, said Traffic Branch Tezpur PS ASI Manik Burmudai.THE SENTINEL
Polling personnel on their way to polling stations
From a Correspondent
HAISINGIMARI, April 22: All polling personnels left for the Hatsingimmari subdivisional head quarters today along with polling materials for their allotted polling stations in South Salmara LAC segment under south Salmara Mankachar Suldivision of Dhubri LS constituency scheduled for the second phase of parliamentary polls on April 23.
Adequate security personnel and vehicles have been provided for the polling personnel. It may be mentioned here that the polling personnel for Mankachar LAC segment will have to collect poll materials and leave for their allotted polling stations on April 22 which was scheduled by the election authority for smooth and sincere conduct of the polling. THE SENTINEL
Election code of conduct strictly enforced on political parties
From our Correspondent
BARPETA, April 22: With election preparations gearing up its pace, election observers seem to be strictly enforcing the election code of conduct. In one such incident, central election observer of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency was reported top have visited various areas and seized four mike-sets of different political parties as no permission documents were available with them.
It was reported that a political party’s eletioneering offices at Barbala Bazar near Kaljhar under Sarukshetri LAC and Garemari Bazar under Barpeta LAC were evicted recently as the offices were standing on government land. Election hoardings put up by political parties illegally in public places were causing inconvenience to the public at Howly Jain Bazar, under Barpeta LAC were also removed.
The Deputy Commissioner has urged the political parties to strictly follow the model code of conduct so that he is not forced to take any panel action against them. THE SENTINEL
GUWAHATI, April 22: One Polling Officer (PO), Pradip Roy who is a lecturer of Assam Engineering College, was arrested by the City Police today on the charge of negligence of election duty. The arrest of the polling officer was made following a complaint from Guwahati Returning Officer (RO) RC Jain. Suspension of the polling officer is inevitable, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Guwahati RO said such actions will be taken against officials in the event of negligence of election duty. He said all poll officials and central poll observers of Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency reached their respective destinations safely. Security arrangement in the State has been tightened to ensure free and fair polls tomorrow. All international and inter-State borders have been kept under strict vigil. THE SENTINEL
CM seeks Almighty’s help
JORHAT, April 22: Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today visited the historic Dhekiakhowa Borna-mghar seeking God’s blessing for the ongoing general elections, 2009. After participating in three election rallies at Mariani, Amguri and Dergaon in support of Union minister Bijoy Krishna Handique and his younger brother Dip Gogoi, Gogoi will cast his vote at Jorhat tomorrow. THE SENTINEL
PM to cast vote today
GUWAHATI, April 22: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife will arrive in Guwahati tomorrow and cast their vote at Dispur HS School. This is the first time that a Prime Minister will cast his vote in Asom. Dr Singh will land in a special helicopter at Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport from where he will be taken to the Veterinary College field at Khanapara where a temporary helipad has been constructed. He will go by road to cast his vote at Dispur Government H S School. Meanwhile, the Sorumotoria residence of the Prime Minister has been decorated today. THE SENTINEL
EVMs kept in strong room
DIBRUGARH, April 22: The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) that will be used during the polls are presently being kept in the strong room for the purpose after being sealed in the presence of the observers, returning officer and agents of the candidates.
One thousand vehicles have been requisitioned for use during the election. Twenty one task forces have been pressed into service to observe and ensure smooth conduct of the polls. Four hundred forty three micro observers appointed to observe and report on polling activities will leave for their polling stations tomorrow. The election material for polling in ten remote stations was handed over yesterday. Ten digital cameras have been issued to competent officers for detailed coverage of polling in these stations. A video camera each for the fourteen critical polling stations has already been entrusted to respective officials. One hundred fifty polling stations are being covered by CPMF. SSB and CRPF personnel are already stationed at the various polling stations and have brought the respective areas under the security domain.
Meanwhile, all liquor shops have been ordered to remain closed till April 23. The police administration said that preliminary investigation into the death of nine persons at Lakribaam tea estate in Tingkhong on Sunday has revealed that they died after drinking home made brew. They further informed that the two persons admitted to the Assam Medical College Hospital are recuperating. THE SENTINEL
670 vehicles, 3,108 polling personnel engaged for Jorhat HPC
JORHAT, April 22: For the second and last phase of General election 2009, to be held tomorrow as many as 3,108 polling personnel including 10 per cent reserved have fitted into places for Jorhat election district. The Jorhat election district comprising five Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) namely– 97 no. Dergaon, 98 no. Jorhat, 100 no. Titabor, 101 no. Mariani and 102 no. Teok of 12 no. Jorhat House of People Constituency (HPC) and 11 no. Kaliabor HPC is all set to carry out a free and fair election process with the aforesaid requirements. Jorhat HPC returning officer LS Changsan informed that, for Dergaon LAC- 595, Jorhat LAC- 679, Titabor- 549, Moriani- 490, Teok- 510 polling personnel have already been sent to the concerned polling stations this morning.
Apart from it, a total number of 670 various modes of public transports were engaged by the district administration in view of the Lok Sabha polls throughout the district. When contacted, A Borbora, Jorhat District Transport Officer informed that, they have requisite 652 private vehicles including light motor vehicles for the election purpose.
It may be mentioned here that, as well as the various government departments, the public transport system also literarily coming to a standstill, thanks to the requirements and requisition of transport by district administration. The commuters have faced an acute shortage of transports these days and it will be continue till the buses would be finally released on April 24. THE SENTINEL
Polling officials leave for polling booths
JORHAT, April 22: In an orderly manner bus loads of polling officials were driven to different polling booths, some remote and far flung, here today. Sources said that a number of booths were located in areas which had to be reached by crossing waterbodies by boats. These were in the Jhanjimukh and Disangmukh areas.
Sources further said that arrangements for the polling officials was far more systematic than in previous years. Each poll official was told to hold up a placard on which the booth number was written so that presiding officers and other officers attached to that booth could easily form their own group without the chaos witnessed in previous elections. Earlier the method was to hand out a list to each official stating the members of the group attached to a particular booth and then began the merry go round to identify your partners among hundreds of polling officials. THE SENTINEL
Officals leave for polling stations
DIBRUGARH, April 22: The micro observers and officers left for their respective polling stations in Dibrugarh Parliamentary Constituency today. The Chowkidinghee playground wore a festive look with officials leaving for their destinations with electronic voting machines since morning.
The fate of the candidates will be decided by 11,14,107 voters of the district. In the last Lok Sabha election, Sarbananda Sonowal of AGP caused an upset by defeating the four-time winner, Paban Singh Ghatowar of Congress. He polled 2,20,878 votes. Kamakhya Prasad Tassa of BJP, who is presently contesting from Jorhat constituency, captured the second highest votes with 2,02,361 while Ghatowar was in the third spot with 1,70,581 votes.
There are more than one and a half lakh voters in the district. The recent drive to raise awareness about the need to vote seems to have had a marked effect on the younger generation. It remains to be seen which candidate has managed to evoke interest among the youths. THE SENTINEL
Rainfall causes poor turnout of voters
From our Correspondent
JORHAT, April 22: The continuous rainfall for the last 10 days may result in a poor turnout of voters at polling booths tomorrow. The response of the electorate to the election campaigns by various political parties can at the best be described as lackadaisical. Most of the people, this correspondent spoke to seemed to be undecided as to whom they will cast their vote. Unlike other elections, there in no perceptible wave or even a liking or disliking for any particular candidate.
However, the general perception is that the Congress will benefit if the weather turns inclement tomorrow. Many people will not be bothered to stand in the rain and vote for either the CPI or BJP candidate. On the other hand, in many villages which have a strong Congress following, cars have been arranged to take the voters to the booths.
Moreover, the AGP-BJP combine in the state has had a negative repercussion to a certain extent. AGP supporters here are ambivalent about whether the BJP candidate wins or loses. Likewise, BJP supporters are not very keen on the combination.
“Had Tasa only represented the BJP instead of the AGP-BJP combine, my vote would have gone to him, but now the Congress will benefit”, AB Neog said. THE SENTINEL
Poll officials heading for Honjugaon
From our Staff Reporter
DIBRUGARH, April 22: A long walk awaited poll officials heading for Honjugaon under Margherita LAC today.
Honjugaon is a village on the Tipong hill and is populated by the Tangsas. Thirty two voters will exercise their adult franchise in the polling station set up at community hall there. The officials responsible to oversee the election process there tracked through forests for more than three hours from Tipong, which is around 20 kilometres from Margherita.
Meanwhile, nine zonal officers, twenty seven sector officers and forty one micro observers will supervise the election process in the Margherita LAC. A team of five hundred and thirty polling personnel has been deputed to 164 polling stations in which 1,58,691 voters will cast their votes. The Election Observer, CV Subbarao, is himself administering the election process here.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, 62.60 per cent voters exercised their voting rights. Kamakhya Prasad Tassa of the BJP had captured 31,881 votes, the highest among the seven candidates fighting the polls then. Ghatowar of Congress got 29,398 votes while 19,870 voters went in favour of Sonowal.THE SENTINEL
Body recovered in Kokrajhar
From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, April 22: The body of one Paresh Ray, a BPF supporter who was taken away by suspected NDFB on April 6, from Patgaon was recovered by police today from Bashbari under Bismuri outpost in the district. Although the body was found decomposed, the family members identified from the dresses.
Meanwhile, at least twelve peoples have lost lives in election related incidents directly or indirectly in Kokrajhar district alone. The killings started from February 10, where the Chowkidar of Mainao Swrang School, Simbargao Udaywary was killed by BPF activists. Besides, the district witnessed the ever worst clashes, violence and killings than earlier elections where most of the supporters of BPF and BPPF got injured or hospitalized in group clashes and attacks. The matter becomes a serious concern for all. THE SENTINEL
Bus meets with accident while on election duty
TEZPUR, April 22: With buses being plied for election duty by all the district administrations, a tragic incident refuted anger and protest from the bus drivers association as a bus bearing registration number AS-12-9307 met with an accident with a truck killing the handy man and seriously injuring the driver.
The incident took place at NH-52 at Nagsankar under Sootia police station of Sonitpur when the bus collided with a truck that was heading from the opposite direction.
The bus was on election duty and was going to the Sootia police station to collect security personnel for the polling booths.
The driver Suren Das (42) and the handyman Moinul Hauqe (21) were seriously injured in the accident and were rushed to the Tezpur Kanak Lata Civil Hospital where Moinul Hauque succumbed to his injuries while driver Suren Das was sent to GMCH for better treatment.
The news of death of Moinul spread among his colleagues like wild fire and the agitated drivers and handy men gathered in front of the police station and demonstrated their point as no official from the District Administration had till now visited the victims. Moreover, the bus was on election duty when the incident occured.
The mob also accused that Moinul died because of the negligence of the doctors.
The demonstration was prohibited from agitating further by the administration official who assured that proper compensation will be given by the government to the family of the deceased and the cost of the injured driver.
After postmortem, Moinul Hauqe’s body was handed over to his nearest kin, said Traffic Branch Tezpur PS ASI Manik Burmudai.THE SENTINEL
Polling personnel on their way to polling stations
From a Correspondent
HAISINGIMARI, April 22: All polling personnels left for the Hatsingimmari subdivisional head quarters today along with polling materials for their allotted polling stations in South Salmara LAC segment under south Salmara Mankachar Suldivision of Dhubri LS constituency scheduled for the second phase of parliamentary polls on April 23.
Adequate security personnel and vehicles have been provided for the polling personnel. It may be mentioned here that the polling personnel for Mankachar LAC segment will have to collect poll materials and leave for their allotted polling stations on April 22 which was scheduled by the election authority for smooth and sincere conduct of the polling. THE SENTINEL
Election code of conduct strictly enforced on political parties
From our Correspondent
BARPETA, April 22: With election preparations gearing up its pace, election observers seem to be strictly enforcing the election code of conduct. In one such incident, central election observer of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency was reported top have visited various areas and seized four mike-sets of different political parties as no permission documents were available with them.
It was reported that a political party’s eletioneering offices at Barbala Bazar near Kaljhar under Sarukshetri LAC and Garemari Bazar under Barpeta LAC were evicted recently as the offices were standing on government land. Election hoardings put up by political parties illegally in public places were causing inconvenience to the public at Howly Jain Bazar, under Barpeta LAC were also removed.
The Deputy Commissioner has urged the political parties to strictly follow the model code of conduct so that he is not forced to take any panel action against them. THE SENTINEL
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