New Delhi, May 7, 2009
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Poll violence in Bengal, Rajasthan, J-K, UP: Three killed
Kolkata/Jaipur/Srinagar/Mathura: Several incidents
of violence were reported from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu
and Kashmir during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election on Thursday. In West
Bengal, one CPM worker was reportedly killed in the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency
from where incumbent External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is contesting.
According to reports, activists of the CPI-M and the Congress clashed in West
Bengal 's Murshidabad district. There has been a report of a street explosion
as well as sporadic incidents of stone pelting. Earlier, at least one activist
of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) was killed and two Communist
Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) activists were injured in clashes outside a polling
booth in Nandigram. Police confirmed incidents of bomb throwing, ransacking and
looting.
In Rajasthan one person
was killed in police firing after an attempt to capture a booth at Olwara village
in Sawai Madhopur District. An independent candidate received minor injuries when
some unidentified persons pelted stones at his convoy near Bhadarej village polling
booth, 15 kms from Dausa district headquarter. In Jammu and Kashmir , scores of
protesters clashed with government troops in Srinagar . The protesters chanted
slogans against the elections. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse at least
one group of rock-throwing protesters.
Agitated
voters from a village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh smashed windowpanes of several
cars belonging to the relatives of a poll candidate who were allegedly distributing
money and solicit votes. The villagers alleged that relations and supporters of
Shyam Sundar Sharma, a candidate of the Bahujan Samajvadi Party (BSP), were trying
to bribe the electorates with money. Expressing their anguish, the villagers damaged
windowpanes of the cars in which the public figures and others had arrived. Policemen
reached the spot and dispersed the mob and took candidates' brother and other
supporters to a safer place.
Fourth
phase of Lok Sabha election records 57 pc polling Top
New
Delhi: The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections held for 85 constituencies
spread across seven States witnessed 57 per cent voting of the total 9.46 crore
eligible votes here on Thursday. According to the Election Commission, the tentative
percentage of votes in the fourth phase of elections witnessed in Bihar (37%),
West Bengal ( around 75 % till evening), Haryana( 63 %), Jammu and Kashmir(24%),
Punjab(65 %), Uttar Pradesh (around 50 %) and Delhi (50 %). However, some incidents
of poll violence were also reported from some States, particularly from West Bengal
. “The fourth phase of elections, however, also witnessed an incident involving
bomb throwing at one place in Murshidabad, EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) snatching
in Howrah, and forcible voting. However, particularly, in Jammu and Kashmir the
polling remained absolutely peaceful. The J & K witnessed 24 % voting today. It
was 18.7% in 2004,” said R. Balakrishan, the Deputy Election Commissioner. Meanwhile,
polling was held at 129,000 booths for this phase of election. A total of 1,315
candidates, including 119 women, were in fray in the fourth phase of the five-phased
elections. Polling for all 25 seats in Rajasthan, 10 in Haryana and seven in Delhi
was completed in one-go. Prominent among the candidates were BJP President Rajnath
Singh contesting from the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency, Congress' Pranab Mukherjee
from Jangipura, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri (Uttar
Pradesh) and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad from Saran and Pataliputra
(Bihar). The other prominent candidates included National Conference's Farooq
Abdullah (Srinagar), Congress' Kapil Sibal (Chandni Chowk), Sachin Pilot (Ajmer),
Shekar Suman (Patna Saheb), BJP's Shatrugan Sinha (Patna Saheb) and HJC's Bhajan
Lal (Hisar). Meanwhile, the first, second and third phases of polling were held
on April 16, 23 and 30 respectively. The polling was held amid tight security.
The counting of votes will take place on May 16. The 543-member House will be
constituted before June 2.
Residents
defy boycott call to cast votes in Kashmir Top
Srinagar:
Defying the boycott call given by the separatists, residents came out in large
numbers to cast their votes in Kashmir on Thursday. Defying the boycott call,
a large number of men and women stood outside the polling station waiting for
their turn to cast their votes. The voters termed the poll boycott as wrong and
said everybody should cast their votes. "It is wrong to boycott the polls. They
are beneficial for us. Everybody should cast their votes and elect the government,"
said Irfan, a voter. Gun toting policemen kept a hawk eye as they stood guard
on the polling station. The security personnel frisked voters before allowing
them to enter the polling station. The appeal by the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom)
Conference to stay away from the vote in Srinagar, is seen as an attempt to deny
New Delhi any credit for holding elections in the Himalayan region. Kashmir's
separatist leaders are struggling to win back popular support, and are hoping
that a boycott of Thursday's election may yet breathe new life. The separatists
have had to suffer a major setback after residents defied a boycott call given
by the Hurriyat during the State Assembly polls held in November 2008 and came
out in large numbers to cast their votes. A prominent Kashmiri separatist leader,
Sajjad Lone, who had given a call for poll boycott during the state elections,
has decided to contest during these general elections and raise the voices of
Kashmiris in Parliament.
Mumbai
encounter specialist Sharma reinstated after eight months Top
Mumbai:
Mumbai encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma was reinstated in service on Thursday
nearly eight months after being dismissed for his alleged links with the underworld.
The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal asked the State Government to reinstate
him with immediate effect with back wages. The court also said Sharma’s dismissal
should not be included in his confidential record. In August last year, Sharma
was accused of amassing up to Rs.3, 000 crore in illegal wealth. Sharma joined
the Mumbai police in 1983 as a sub inspector and gradually acquired a reputation
of being Mumbai Police's Dirty Harry. He has 112 “encounter killings” to his credit.
Reacting to his reinstatement, Sharma said: “I was a victim of previous administration
but I have no grudges against anyone. I respect judiciary have full faith in God.”
UML set to choose
Madhav Kumar Nepal as coalition leader Top
Kathmandu: The CPN
(UML) is all set to choose Madhav Kumar Nepal as the leader of the next coalition
that will form the government. UML Vice-Chairperson Bidhya Devi Bhandari here
on Wednesday said, "Madhav Kumar Nepal has the ability to bring together different
parties. UML is going to pick him unanimously as the leader of the next coalition."
Bhandari claimed that a government of national consensus would be formed under
the UML's leadership. Bhandari further said even as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal
Dahal Prachanda's resignation was a democratic act, his party, Unified CPN (Maoist),
is showing undemocratic behavior by obstructing the parliament. Meanwhile, Maoist
secretariat member Barshaman Pun said his party would not allow parliamentary
proceedings if President Ram Baran Yadav does not rectify his "unconstitutional
move". Nepali Congress leader Ram Saran Mahat said the President's move averted
a dangerous situation as the Maoists were preparing to capture power by taking
Nepal Army under political control. "The Maoists are still possessing arms, which
is a problem. They should be disarmed completely," Nepalnews quoted him as, saying.
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