Court issues production warrant against Irom Sharmila
New Delhi: A Delhi court has issued production warrant for May 28 against rights activist Irom Sharmila after she did not appear before it in connection with a case lodged against her for allegedly attempting suicide during her fast-unto-death here in 2006. The Manipuri activist, who is on a fast for over 12 years demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in her home state, failed to turn up before the court despite its direction on January 30. “Issue fresh production warrants against the accused in terms of previous order for May 28,” Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain said. The court is scheduled to record statement of prosecution witnesses in the case. On March 4, last year, the court had put 40-year-old Sharmila on trial after she had refused to plead guilty for the offence of attempting to commit suicide (section 309 IPC). If convicted, Sharmila, who is out on bail in this case, faces a maximum jail term of one year. Popularly known as the ‘Iron Lady’, Sharmila, who has been on fast since 2000 and is fed through a nasal tube, had earlier told the court that her protest was non-violent. She had also rejected the charge that she had attempted suicide in 2006. While framing charges against her, the court had said, “It is alleged against you (Sharmila)…that you on October 4, 2006 at about 8 PM sat at Jantar Mantar on a fast unto death uptil 11.30 PM on October 6, 2006 and refused to get your medical check up done and thereby, committed an act with an intention or knowledge that under such circumstances death may be caused and thereby, committed an offence under Section 309 of IPC.” (PTI)
Congress files FIR against provocative SMS
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) General Secretary T C Tok has lodged an FIR with the police against a communally provocative SMS. The SMS, being circulated from an unknown mobile number, urge the voters to vote for a candidate from a particular community for the Western Parliamentary seat. “It is clearly the work of some people with vested political interests seeking to create communal tension and divide the society,” Tok said. (PTI)
Awareness vehicle to aware voters
Itanagar: As a part of initiative for voter awareness, District Election Officer (DEO) in Lohit district will flag off Jagrati Rath, a voter awareness vehicle from Tezu, the district headquarters on April 5. As a part of awareness campaign posters, banners, pamphlets, leaflets etc will distributed to voters and across all important public locations, official sources said here today. A total of 30,000 leaflets, 1000 posters and 20 hoardings will be used for awareness campaign by the district administration. A Mock Polling Station and Voter Awareness for voters at four locations for the voters of East Arunachal Parliamentary have also been chalked out. On April 3 next, a Mock on familiarization on EVMs for the voters has been fixed, sources said. The main purpose of the mock exercises is to bring awareness of polling processes to the voters and to educate the voters not to indulge themselves in allurements or influence of any kind and to exercise their right to vote as free and fearlessly. (PTI)