Blasts rock Manipur
IMPHAL, April 13 (NNN): Two blasts rocked Manipur today but there were no casualties in both cases. At around 4:30 am, a Chinese hand grenade exploded in the residence of one Thanpao (60), s/o Chungkholun of Moreh Ward Number 2 in Chandel district, damaging a vehicle partially. The attack was suspected to be related to monetary demand. It was not clear which group could have been behind the attack. In the second incident, a powerful IED exploded at around 2:30 in Imphal East district damaging a small shop and a wooden house partially. Reports said the IED exploded at Wangkhei Keithel Asangbi under Porimpat police station, Imphal East district. The reports also said a meeting of the Congress party was held in the community hall of Keithel Asangbi last evening. However, it was not certain whether the explosion was related to the election reason.
NE election roundup
Agartala, April 13 (IANS): A staggering 85 percent of the electorate voted in Tripura in the two-phase Lok Sabha election, officials said Sunday. This is the highest voter turnout in any state so far in the ongoing parliamentary election. In 2009, the voter turnout was 84.45 percent and 67.39 percent in 2004 in Tripura, which is ruled by the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Nagaland recorded 82 percent polling for its only Lok Sabha seat last week. Over 86 percent of the 1.2 million electorate voted in the West Tripura constituency and 84 percent of the 1.13 million electorate in East Tripura, state Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal told IANS. Tripura created electoral history in the 2013 assembly polls when a record 93.57 percent ballots were cast. The state recorded 92 percent polling in the 2008 assembly elections.
No division of Darjeeling Hills: Mamata
DARJEELING, APRIL 13 (PTI): Asserting that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal will not allow any division of Darjeeling, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said it is bringing in development in the hills with special packages. “We will not allow any division of the Hills,” Ms. Banerjee reiterated at a poll rally in Darjeeling, while emphasising that her government has effected various development projects in the hills. She said her government okayed the setting up of ITI, engineering college and projects related with electricity and drinking water. Coming down on the ‘bandhs’ (shutdowns), Ms. Banerjee said those who call for strikes, close businesses, hotels and shops, their children go outside the hills and have fun. “We are all for development of the hills,” the Chief Minister said and promised the elections would be held in a free and fair manner this time.
Two Militants Killed in Manipur Encounter
IMPHAL, April 13 (PTI): Two militants, suspected to be members of major insurgent outfit People's Liberation Army (PLA), were killed in an encounter with personnel of central paramilitary forces in Manipur's Ukhrul district, police sources said today. 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.
Palm Sunday celebrated in Mizoram
Aizawl, April 13 (PTI): 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.
EC replaces DEO after E Kameng violence
ITANAGAR, April 13 (PTI): 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 yesterday after he himself pleaded to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for his replacement on Friday, election office sources said here today.
IMPHAL, April 13 (NNN): Two blasts rocked Manipur today but there were no casualties in both cases. At around 4:30 am, a Chinese hand grenade exploded in the residence of one Thanpao (60), s/o Chungkholun of Moreh Ward Number 2 in Chandel district, damaging a vehicle partially. The attack was suspected to be related to monetary demand. It was not clear which group could have been behind the attack. In the second incident, a powerful IED exploded at around 2:30 in Imphal East district damaging a small shop and a wooden house partially. Reports said the IED exploded at Wangkhei Keithel Asangbi under Porimpat police station, Imphal East district. The reports also said a meeting of the Congress party was held in the community hall of Keithel Asangbi last evening. However, it was not certain whether the explosion was related to the election reason.
NE election roundup
Agartala, April 13 (IANS): A staggering 85 percent of the electorate voted in Tripura in the two-phase Lok Sabha election, officials said Sunday. This is the highest voter turnout in any state so far in the ongoing parliamentary election. In 2009, the voter turnout was 84.45 percent and 67.39 percent in 2004 in Tripura, which is ruled by the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Nagaland recorded 82 percent polling for its only Lok Sabha seat last week. Over 86 percent of the 1.2 million electorate voted in the West Tripura constituency and 84 percent of the 1.13 million electorate in East Tripura, state Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal told IANS. Tripura created electoral history in the 2013 assembly polls when a record 93.57 percent ballots were cast. The state recorded 92 percent polling in the 2008 assembly elections.
No division of Darjeeling Hills: Mamata
DARJEELING, APRIL 13 (PTI): Asserting that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal will not allow any division of Darjeeling, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said it is bringing in development in the hills with special packages. “We will not allow any division of the Hills,” Ms. Banerjee reiterated at a poll rally in Darjeeling, while emphasising that her government has effected various development projects in the hills. She said her government okayed the setting up of ITI, engineering college and projects related with electricity and drinking water. Coming down on the ‘bandhs’ (shutdowns), Ms. Banerjee said those who call for strikes, close businesses, hotels and shops, their children go outside the hills and have fun. “We are all for development of the hills,” the Chief Minister said and promised the elections would be held in a free and fair manner this time.
Two Militants Killed in Manipur Encounter
IMPHAL, April 13 (PTI): Two militants, suspected to be members of major insurgent outfit People's Liberation Army (PLA), were killed in an encounter with personnel of central paramilitary forces in Manipur's Ukhrul district, police sources said today. 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.
Palm Sunday celebrated in Mizoram
Aizawl, April 13 (PTI): 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.
EC replaces DEO after E Kameng violence
ITANAGAR, April 13 (PTI): 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 yesterday after he himself pleaded to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for his replacement on Friday, election office sources said here today.
