EC asks Mizoram poll depat to use VVPAT
EC asks Mizoram poll depat to use VVPAT
Aizawl: The Election Commission asked the Mizoram election department to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system in 385 polling stations out of the 1,126 total polling stations in the election to the lone state Lok Sabha seat to be held on April 9. State Joint Chief Electoral Officer H. Lalengmawia told PTI on Thursday that VVPAT would be used within the limits of capital, all the other seven district headquarters and other bigger towns – Vairengte, Khawzawl, Saitual, Thenzawl and Hnahthial. Lalengmawia said that though the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) sent 1,500 VVPATs for use in the polls, the EC’s instructions would be followed. VVPATs were used in the state assembly polls held on November 25 last year and it was the first time the new system of EVM was used in the general elections. Meanwhile, the four major opposition parties in the state appealed to the ECI for the use of VVPAT in the whole of the state. (PTI)
2 held, 47g heroin seized in Mizoram
Aizawl: The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department officials seized 47g of heroin from two different places in Aizawl on Wednesday, officials said. Two persons were arrested in this connection and were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985, they added. Drug trafficking, especially from Myanmar, with which Mizoram shares a 404-km-long porous international border, increased immensely during the past six months, they said. Maiden smuggling of Methamphetamine from that country further worried the officials as the dreaded drug, manufactured from pseudo-ephedrine, was highly addictive and extremely dangerous, the officials said. (PTI)
EC asks Nagaland CM to clarify statement
Imphal: The Election Commission has asked Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to clarify his reported statement criticising Manipur government as “Anti-Naga Administration”. The reply of Rio would be forwarded to the Election Commission of India, state Chief Electoral Officer O Nabakishore told reporters here on Wednesday. It has been reported from Senapati and Tamenglong districts in Manipur that Rio, during a recent election campaign in these districts to support Naga People’s Front candidate Sosho Lorho, had blamed the state government for “division of the Nagas and acting as anti-Naga administration.” Nabakishore said concerned deputy commissioners of the districts had also been asked to submit their reports on Rio’s speeches. Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said Rio’s visit to the state did not follow rules as no such prior information had been given to the state government. Although Ibobi Singh did not react to Rio’s reported statement, but Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said Rio will not succeed in breaking up Manipur. Manipur NCP unit President Laishom Ibomcha said his party would complain to the Election Commission of India against Rio for violating Model Code of Conduct. (PTI)
N’land JAC condemns Assam Police firing
Kohima: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising members from border villages in Dimapur-Karbi Anglong border areas expressed outright condemnation at Tuesday’s ‘indiscriminate’ firing on Dikoi villagers, including women and children, by ‘Assam Police disguised in civvies’ where one woman’s hands were ‘deeply lacerated’ by barbed wire while she attempted to flee the scene. In a statement on Thursday, the JAC has cautioned that the ‘constant harassment of innocent Nagas’ by the highhandedness of Assam Police should end ‘once and for all’ otherwise the situation could worsen. It reaffirmed its earlier statement that unless the problem was tackled with a right perspective, the Karbi Anglong and Dimapur disputed border would remain a problem. (UNI)
EC releases final voters list in Manipur
Imphal: The Election Commission has released the final electoral roll of Manipur on completion of its special drive on March 29. The total number of voters now stands at 17,64,768 including the new 25,763 voters enrolled during the special drive, state election department officials said on Thursday. Manipur goes to poll for its two parliamentary constituencies – Outer Manipur and Inner Manipur – to decide the fate of 18 candidates on April 9 and April 17. The number of female voters in Inner Manipur is 4,37,755 and Outer Manipur 4,63,068, they said. (PTI)
New weekly launched in Manipur
Imphal: A bi-lingual weekly in Manipuri and English ‘Manipur This Week’ and a sister publication of popular English daily ‘Sangai Express’ have been launched here. The news magazine was launched with the objecive of giving a new taste of journalism to the people, Editor of the weekly A Mobi said at Thouda Bhavok Leikai in Imphal West district on Wednesday. (PTI)
