Parties call for removal of Tripura CEO
Agartala: Four opposition parties including Congress have demanded removal of Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal for his alleged partisan role in the Lok Sabha elections in the state. While a delegation of Congress met Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath in Delhi and demanded removal of Jindal on Wednesday, Trinamool Congress, BJP and Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress (TPGC), a breakaway faction of Congress, have also made the same demand. President of Tripura unit of BJP, Sudhindra Dasgupta said they demanded removal of Jindal for his “partisan” role in the elections and demanded repolling due to large-scale rigging allegedly by CPI(M). Chairman of Trinamool Congress in Tripura Ratan Chakraborty said his party has also demanded removal of Jindal. Dismissing the allegations, CPI(M) said it was a move to divert people’s attention as they would face defeat. BJP and TGPC have called a dawn-to-dusk strike on May 12 on the same issue. (PTI)
Cong demands repoll at 1,344 polling station in Nagaland
Kohima: The Congress on Thursday reiterated that repolling should be held in all 1,344 polling stations where more than 90 per cent votes were cast on April 9 and not just in two booths. Reacting to the Election Commission’s order to conduct repolling in two polling stations under 33 Suruhoto Assembly constituency in Zunheboto district, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) general secretary Medokul Sophie said Congress strongly reasserts that repolling should be held in all 1,344 polling stations where polling percentage had exceeded 90 per cent. In a representation submitted to the EC on April 25 the party had highlighted that massive malpractice marred the April 9 polls in the state, because of which over 1,300 polling stations had exceeded 90 per cent voting. Further, the NPCC demanded repolling at 49 Ladigarh under Tamlu Assembly constituency at Ladigarh government primary school. (PTI)
Eastern Swamp Deer census begins in Kaziranga
Kaziranga (Assam): The seventh census of Eastern swamp deer began on Thursday in the four ranges of Kaziranga National Park. Altogether 50 officials, forest guards and other employees of the Park along with 25 elephants have been engaged for the census which is held twice a year, Park Research Officer Robindra Sarma said. Besides the Park authorities and forest department, the census would be conducted with the joint assistance of Wildlife Trust of India and the ONGC. The eastern swamp deer, is one of the three endangered deer species existing in the world, and is found only in Kaziranga. According to the census of December 2013, 836 swamp deers were found in the Park. The census would be conducted in the Park’s four ranges — Agaratoli, Kohora, Bagori and Burapahar ranges and these have been further divided into 20 compartments with 10 compartments for Kohora, four each for Agratoli and Bagori and two compartments for Burapahar range. It will also be conducted in the additional areas of the northern bank range also this time. The census of the Eastern Swamp Deer began in 2011 and is held twice a year — once before mating and again after the mating season is over. (PTI)
Rhino carcass recovered in Pobitora
Morigaon (Assam): The carcass of an old male rhino was recovered in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in central Assam’s Morigaon district on Thursday, said forest official sources. Stating natural death had occurred to the rhino, the officials said the carcass was recovered at Pipoliapi camp. The horn of the rhino was intact, they said. The 38.80 sq km sanctuary located about 30 km east of Guwahati has a very density of over 90 rhinos in its 16 sq km effective habitat. (PTI) \
Lightning kills 3 in Assam
Guwahati: At least three people, including a child were killed and as many injured in lightning incidents in the Assam since on Wednesday night. Local reports said two people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed and another person injured when lightning struck their house in Bengnaputa in Nalbari. Another woman was killed and two others hurt by lightning in Bilasipara in Dhubri district. Lightning, thunderstorm and heavy rains have lashed the state since the last couple of days. The pre-monsoon showers have also lashed the main city Guwahati, which witnessed artificial floods due to the perennial rains. (UNI)
Arunachal min dies of heart attack
Itanagar: Former social welfare, woman and child development minister Newlai Tingkhatra died at a hospital in Haryana’s Gurgaon district following a massive heart attack, family sources said here on Thursday. He was 56 and is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.Tingkhatra passed away last night after he was admitted in a critical condition at a private hospital at Gurgaon on April 25. He suffered a stroke on the previous day and was kept on life-support system in the ICU ward of the hospital. He was reportedly in coma after a massive heart attack causing brain hemorrhage. His body was brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi this morning where his well wishers including Chief Minister Nabam Tuki paid his last respect. His body would be taken to his native village at Kanubari in Longding district tomorrow for performing the last rites, sources said. Tingkhatra had contested the April 9 Assembly elections in the state from Kanubari constituency on Congress ticket. A three-term cabinet minister under various capacities including the last government under Nabam Tuki, Tingkhatra won Kanubari seat for three consecutive terms since 1999. He is a famous tea planter in the state. (Agencies)
N’land observes World Red Cross Day
Kohima: Alongwith the rest of the world, the Indian Red Cross Society of Nagaland observed the World Red Cross Day under the theme ‘My Red Cross Story’ at the Red Cross Complex in Kohima on Thursday. Nagaland Minister of School Education C M Chang said that the Red Cross Movement founded by Henry Dunant with a desire to improved care for wounded soldier in wartime has now resulted in rendering humanitarian service worldwide drawing millions of volunteers and members to carry out its mission and programmes. He also stated that the Red Cross has always been in the forefront in rendering relief promptly and speedily wherever and whatever disaster strikes, transcending all barriers of nationality, race, religion and language. (Agencies)
