EC replaces DEO after E Kameng violence
Itanagar: Election Commission has replaced East Kameng district election officer (DEO) Tarin Dakpe and appointed election officer Sandeep Kumar Singh in his place following post-poll violence there.
Dakpe was replaced on Saturday after he himself pleaded to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for his replacement on Friday, election office sources said here on Sunday.
IGP (Law and order) Satyendra Garg who air-dashed to Seppa here with Singh on Saturday, reviewed the law and order situation and advised Singh to discharge his duties impartially.
Garg on Sunday said the situation in the district headquarters worsened following the attack on district’s DRDA project director Kego Jelien in front of the DEO officer on Friday and the administration failed to tackle it.
While Jilen was airlifted in a critical condition to Itanagar for treatment in the late afternoon, additional forces have been sent to the district for preventing escalation of law and order problems.
Meanwhile, the electronics voting machines (EVMs) from various polling booths were received and sealed in 17 strong rooms on Saturday.
The retrieval of EVMs of Kurung Kumey district depended on materialization of air sorties, Nirvachan Bhawan sources said. Reports received so far indicated that re-polling is likely in about 24 polling stations in East Kameng, Upper Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, West and East Siang districts, the sources added. (PTI)
Palm Sunday celebrated in Mizoram
Aizawl: Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as king, was celebrated with religious fervour in Christian-dominated Mizoram on Sunday. Sunday School students and the teachers took out Palm Sunday procession early morning in each village and locality across the state carrying palm leaves chanting Bible verses, singing hymns and shouting ‘Hosanna in the highest, let he who comes in the name of the Lord be praised’. Church services were also dominated by Bible verses dealing with the procession of Christ and his followers to Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is celebrated in the last Sunday before Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified. (PTI)
Nagaland NSF condemns rebel attack on ACAUT member
Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has ‘vehemently condemned’ the assault on the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland member, Abe Mero, another resident and some labourers on April 9 at Jail gate, Kohima by ‘some armed miscreants.’ In a press release from NSF Vice President Joseph Ngouri and Assistant General Secretary Kesosul Christopher, has termed the act as ‘barbaric which has created an unlawful atmosphere by resorting to blank firing, traumatizing the general public.’ The NSF also called the act unjustifiable ‘in the midst for expediting peace and reconciliation in the Naga society.’ The Federation has appealed to the law enforcing agency to book the culprits and award ‘stern action as per the law’ so that ‘such inhuman acts does not perpetrate on innocent civilians in the near future.’ (UNI)
Two militants killed in encounter
Imphal: Two militants, suspected to be members of major insurgent outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA), were killed in an encounter with personnel of central para military forces in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, police sources said on Sunday. Personnel of 44th Assam Rifles were combing Chatrik Nampisha area yesterday in the district bordering Myanmar when they were fired upon by the insurgents. In the ensuing exchange of fire, two insurgents were killed, sources said adding that the bodies have been to district hospital for post-mortem. (PTI)
Dikoi village of Nagaland alleges firing by Assam Police
Kohima: The Dikoi Village Council (DVC) under Dimapur district of Nagaland has alleged that Assam Police personnel in ‘civvies’ came to the village and opened blank fire at areas adjoining Rangapahar military cantonment. In a statement issued by the Dikoi Village Council secretary Veshekko Cho-o informed that around 10 to 15 Assam Police personnel fired some 20 to 30 rounds in the air. Meanwhile, DVC has appealed to the administration to take action before ‘anything happen to the innocent villagers’. Earlier, on April 1 Assam police patrolling party reportedly opened fire on Dikoi villagers. Dimapur police also recovered around 30 empty shells of AK-47 and INSAS rifles near the village. Meanwhile, the United Naga Tribes Association (UNTA), a conglomeration of various Naga tribes has cautioned any individuals, group(s), village(s) or any Government officials to refrain from indulging in forceful occupation of land already acquired by member groups of UNTA adjacent to Rilan, Indisen, Ao Yimkum and Dikoi villages at Nagaland- Assam border. (UNI)
Election Observer dead
Imphal: Manipur election observer Chandra Bhanu, an IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has died of cardiac arrest, officials said. A 1993 batch officer, Bhanu, who was sent by the Election Commission as an observer of Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, died while returning to the state capital from border town of Moreh on Saturday. He was 50.Saurath Bhauthuri, a West Bengal cadre IAS officer, will replace him. Officials said post-mortem has been conducted on Bhanu’s body which will later be sent to his home state. Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency will go to polls on April 17. The state has two parliamentary constituencies – Inner Manipur (Valley districts) and Outer Manipur (Hill districts). Election to Outer Manipur was held on April 9. (PTI)