Arunachal’s smallest polling station has only two voters
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh has set up a polling station for only two voters at Malogaon under Hayuliang division in the newly created Anjaw district. Besides, there are eight polling stations for less than 10 voters, 20 for less than 20 voters and 105 for less than 50 electors in different areas of the largest northeastern state, election office sources said here. The ‘C Sector’ polling station at Itanagar has the highest number of 1650 voters in the state having 7,53,170 electorate. In all, the state has 2,158 polling stations of which 664 have been set up in almost inaccessible areas, the sources said. The state goes to poll for two Lok Sabha seats and 60-member Assembly on April 9. (PTI)
Arunachal media complains Cong offers money to journalists
Itanagar: The media fraternity in Arunachal Pradesh has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress accusing it of offering money to journalists. The Arunachal Press Club and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalist in their complaint yesterday alleged that Congress had offered cash to media persons during the release of party’s manifesto at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan here on March 27 last. According to the media persons who attended the function, cash was offered in a sealed envelope. When one journalist enquired about the content, it was found that those contained cash and they were returned immediately. When they lodged complaint with the APCC President Mukut Mithi and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, both expressed ignorance about the incident, the mediamen alleged. Taking suo motu cognizance of press reports on the matter, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Chandra Bhusan Kumar has sought a reply from the party. “We have asked for a written reply from the party on the report and within two days the reply will be forwarded to the Election Commission in Delhi,” the CEO said . (PTI)
Militant hideout unearthed, arms seized
Imphal: A joint team of police commandos and central paramilitary forces unearthed a militant hideout and seized a large number of sophisticated arms in interior Thoubal district of Manipur, police said on Saturday. Commandos attached to Thoubal police station and personnel of 22nd battalion of Assam Rifles launched a massive search operation at Khoidum lake area in the district following reports of movement of militants. They busted a hideout of militants in the area Friday evening, they said, adding that the militants fled before the forces reached the spot. Sources said the forces seized one lethod gun, one AK 56 rifle, one M 16 rifle, several explosive materials including about 100 detonators, over 10 magazines of different weapons, several rounds of ammunitions of different rifles and one radio set. Search was continuing in the area and attempts were being made to track down the militants. Meanwhile, commandos attached to Imphal West district police station on Friday arrested three militants of Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) Sagolband in the district. They were identified as Thangjam Basanta (46), Haobam Sunil (52) and Tongbram Gitkumar (44), they said, adding that they have been handed over to the police station for further interrogation. (PTI)
Two persons receive burn injuries after LPG cylinders burst
Karimganj: Two persons received burns when cooking LPG cylinders burst at Baithakhal near Patherkandi in Assam’s Karimganj district on Saturday. Police sources said that the two persons were sleeping in a shop stocked with gas cylinders, when five of them exploded injuring them. The two were admitted to the Silchar Medical College Hospital with 80 per cent burns, they added. (PTI)
Two NLFT ultras surrender
Agartala: Two insurgents of outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have surrendered to BSF at Acherjeepara border outpost in North Tripura district, official sources said on Saturday. “Amrita Debbarma, a self –styled warrant officer and Jugal Debbarma, a self-styled sergeant surrendered to BSF at Acherjeepara BOP after fleeing from their camps in Bangladesh on Friday last”, BSF DIG B S Rawat told reporters. He said wife and two children of Amrit Debbarma also surrendered along with them. (PTI)