----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 2:11
PM
Subject: [Assam] 70 % cast votes in Assam
- AT
It seems at least (overall average) 70 % cast
votes in the elections in Assam. That really tells us that people still have
faith in the Indian democracy :)
--Ram
70 pc cast votes in final
phase
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI,
April 10 – About 70 per cent of the 82.27-lakh voters exercised their
franchise in 61 Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs) of the State during
the second phase of Assembly polls in the State, as per the provisional
information available with the Election Commission (EC) office at New Delhi,
reported Our New Delhi Staff Correspondent. There is every likelihood that the
poll percentage may go up further with information of polling from many areas
still pouring in, our Staff Correspondent said quoting EC spokesman RR
Bhattacharya.
Barring a few minor incidents of violence, the polling
was by and large peaceful.
Though election in these constituencies was
by and large peaceful, EC sources told our Staff Correspondent that one CRPF
jawan at Diphu in Karbi Anglong was abducted by some unidentified miscreants
while he went to respond to nature's call around 5 in the morning.
A
polling party was attacked while it was returning from Bokajan this evening
and it resulted in injury to a CRPF personnel. One IED was also burst at
Bulajan village near Bokajan this evening and it was aimed at a polling party
returning from a polling station, said the EC spokesman.
Bhattacharya
also told our Staff Correspondent that 32 visually handicapped voters
exercised their franchise at Barhampur today using the Braille machine
provided by the EC for the first time in the State.
EC also turned down
the BJP allegation that the Prime Minister violated its model code of conduct,
Bhattacharya told our Staff Correspondent.
The sector officer of 18
Borlangfar sector under Diphu LAC Hiteswar Phangsho, who is also a forest
range officer, died of heart attack at Borlangfar while on poll duty this
morning, said State Election office sources here this evening.
Our
Correspondents add:
Haflong: Despite being little bit slow,
polling was by and large peaceful in Haflong (ST) constituency amidst tight
security and a cloudy weather. In all, 76.56 per cent of the voters cast their
votes in the district.
Congress candidate Minister GC Langthasa, AGP
candidate Arun Chandra Haflongbar and Prakanta Warisa, a former MP and the
ASDC candidate for the constituency cast their votes in their respective
polling stations in the first hour.
District administration sources
here said that altogether 25 companies of paramilitary and Central forces were
deployed to ensure free and fair election.
Members of the militant
outfit Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) exercised their franchise for the first time
after a gap of 15 years and according to the outfit sources, 47 of its cadres,
including its supremo Dilip Nunisa, exercised their franchise. Talking to this
correspondent after casting his vote Nunisa said that he felt that he was the
son of the soil after exercising his right to vote.
Nalbari:
The six Assembly constituencies under the district, including the one now in
the newly carved out Baksa district, recorded an overall voting percentage of
77 today. However, the polling percentage may go up further with the reports
from the char areas of Barkshetri and remote areas of Chapaguri are yet to be
received. As per information with the District Election Office here, Barkhetri
recorded a polling percentage of 78 per cent, Nalbari recorded a polling
percentage of 74 per cent, Dharmapur recorded a polling percentage of 70,
Barama recorded a polling percentage of 77, Tamulpur recorded a polling
percentage of 78 and Chapaguri recorded a polling percentage of 75.
However, polling in three polling stations number 50 of Nalbari LAC,
number 82 of Tamulpur LAC and number 7 of Barama LAC could not be held due to
the technical snags in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Though
rains since last night lowered the voting rates in the morning hours today,
voters started thronging the polling stations in big numbers braving the
inclement weather as the day progressed. It is also noticed that women voters
turned out in large number and with great enthusiasm to exercise their right
to franchise all over the district.
Diphu: Despite some
sporadic incidents of violence, Diphu, Bokajan, Howraghat and Baithalangsho
constituencies in Karbi Anglong recorded overall percentage of 68 per cent
polling. Two CRPF personnel were injured in an IED blast by suspected KLNLF
militants at Bulajan while, the BSF personnel were on their way to Bhelughat
under Howraghat police station, police sources here said. Suspected KLNLF
militants also sprayed bullets on a polling party while it was returning from
polling station number 33 at Sarthey LP school at Barpur under Bokajan PS. Two
CRPF jawans sustained bullet injuries in the incident. Suspected KLNLF
militants abducted Mushakhanda, a Havildar of CRPF from Longparpan polling
station near Longnit this morning.
Baithalangsho registered the
highest polling of 75 per cent, while, Diphu recorded 71 per cent polling,
Howraghat 74 per cent and Bokajan recorded 68 per cent
polling.
Kokrajhar: Barring an incident of beheading of one
Loithan Borgoyary (42) , head teacher of Joynari High Schoolo near Simbargaon
under Kokrajhar PS, last night by some miscreants, no other major incident of
violence was reported from any part of the district till filing of this
report. The Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar, H Sarma here claimed that the
election passed off peacefully in all the constituencies of the district.
About 70 per cent of the voters cast their votes in the district. SP,
Kokrajhar HC Nath claimed that except a few minor incidents , polling was by
and large peaceful. A few persons were picked up suspecting them to be
vitiating the atmosphere. Chief of the BTC, Hagrama Mahilary , who is the
president of the BPPF(H), thanked the EC, civil and police administration of
BTAD for holding the election in a peaceful atmosphere. He also predicted that
the candidates of his party would win all the 12 seats under BTAD and denied
the allegation that his party supporters were involved in the killing of
Loithan Borgoyary. Participation of women voters in the election was
remarkably high in the remote areas.
Nagaon: Voting in eight
constituencies in the district passed off peacefully barring a few sporadic
incidents. Going by the trend of polling, it is expected that the poll
percentage may touch 65 in the district. In Samaguri constituency, about 20
persons sustained minor injuries in poll related violence between AGP and
Congress supporters. At Penai, security personnel had to resort to lathicharge
at polling stations 39 and 40 located at the Moktab school to disperse the
clashing mob.
Udalguri: In Paneri constituency, 64 per cent of
the voters exercised their franchise while, the turnout of voters in Udalguri
was 65 per cent and it was 69 percent in Majbat.
Hatsingimari:
Group clash and attack on polling station resulted in a tense situation in
Mankachar and the sub- divisional electoral officer was compelled to suspend
polling in three polling stations. Though initially polling started
peacefully, a misunderstanding between the polling officers and polling agents
led to an untoward situation in polling stations number 94 and 96 at
Chomrasaly LP school with the supporters of a political party attacking the
polling officers of both the polling stations. Four persons including
constable Awal Hussain , first polling officer Abdul Hamid Miah and two
members of the public Abul Kalam and Abdur Rahim sustained serious injuries.
They were shifted to nearby Baghapara hospital. The polling authorities
suspended polling there. At poolling station number 72, which was located at
Aber Ali ME school, a similar incident took place and polling was suspended.
The polling officer of Kakripara polling station was badly beaten up by the
voters for allegedly showing inclination to some particular parties. A
constable posted at polling station number 115 fled the scene after he was
roughed up by voters for alleged negligence of duty.
Meanwhile,
peaceful polling was reported by our correspondents from Mangaldoi,
Patacharkuchi, Sipajhar, Gauripur, Duni, Bijni, Dudhnoi, Baksa and Jalah.
Our Barpeta Road Correspondent adds: Polling passed off
peacefullly in Barpeta division barring some incidents of rigging and
lathicharge in some places.
_______________________________________________
assam mailing
list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
