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Arunachal records high voters turn out amidst Chinese claims, fresh poll in 23 stations

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: Approximate 72% voters turn out was recorded today in Arunachal Legislative Assembly Polls amidst Chinese outburst that the state is a disputed region. However, this figure may go up as reports from interior places are still being awaited.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, by and large, polling in entire State was peaceful. There would be fresh poll or re-poll in 23 stations across nine assembly segments. The Polling was stalled because of obstruction to poll process and damages to EVMs. The stations are: Chayangtajo: Kapu Dada & Doka, Ziro-Hapoli: Hija-1 & Hari C, Palin: Kamrung, Songo, Raiga & Belo Happa, Nyapin: Hiba, Nacho: Taying Muri & Jenesing, Daporijo: Dignium & Dolum, Raga: Yukar, Pelmilli, Raga 1 & Dakpe, Dumporijo: Taba Rijo, Maro, Ara- Nalo & Yudik, Mebo: Mottum & Borguli.

Polled EVMs will start reaching at Receiving Centers by tonight itself. Lifting of polled EVMs from interior locations will be started from tomorrow by helicopter sorties. However the retrieval is likely to continue up to Oct 16.

Governor of Arunachal Pradesh General (Retd) J J Singh was among those who voted early. He voted at P-Sector ME School, Itanagar. While congratulating the people for coming out and voting, Gen Singh said election not only strengthens the pillar of democracy but it also gives mandate to the people to be part of the democratic process.

Papum Pare records 60%

In Papum Pare district, amidst heavy security arrangement, poll passed off peacefully. According to early report 60% voters turn out was recorded in the district. Papum Pare DEO Bidol Tayeng said that picture will be clearer by noon tomorrow when poll personnel reports.

Voting concludes peacefully in Tirap

KHONSA: Barring a few minor skirmishes between opposite groups, voting concluded peacefully in all the seven constituencies of the sensitive Tirap District.

Kanubari sub-division, where the law and order situation had been portrayed as very volatile also registered peaceful polling. The voter turn-out is likely to be higher than the State average and will cross 75% in all probability.

All eyes in the State Headquarters were set on Tirap which had once again faced a very tough run-up to the poll day. However, tough and foolproof security arrangements made by the District Administration and Police prevented any untoward incident. District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police extended special thanks to 19 Assam Rifles and 19 Kumaon Battalion of the Indian army for providing excellent back-up support in the form of area domination and patrolling. The apprehension of several hardcore UG cadres by 19 AR in the last two weeks (alongwith 2 arrests on the day of the poll) helped instill a sense of confidence amongst the populace which was evident in the high voter turnout today.

SP Tirap also thanked the 36 Bn, 93 Bn and 169 Bn of CRPF for providing polling station security.

Deputy Commissioner, Tirap congratulated all the administrative officers and other officials on Election Duty for putting duty before self and conducting the Elections amidst troubled law and order situation. He had a special word of praise for the Central Election Observers A. K. Awasthi Neeraj Kumar and L. B. Yadav.

Polling from a few polling stations was telecast live over the internet through the District website. The DIO Tirap received praise from all quarters for making this happen.

57.75 % poll in West Kameng

BOMDILA: Polling in all the 152 stations of the district ended peacefully and the live coverage of the vulnerable polling stations in the district selected on the basis of broadband connectivity available at those places and also to serve as a deterrent for any element that wants to disrupt the poll activity; was a success. The efforts put in by the District Election Machinery and the personnel involved in election duty paid-off and the poll process passed-off smoothly.

Total percentage of votes polled in the district was recorded as 57.75%.

46.78% was recorded in Dirang, 74.69% in Kalaktang, 50.96% in Thrizino-Buragoan and 58.59% in Bomdila have been recorded. No incidents of booth capturing, violence, non-functioning of EVMs, arrests, casualty / death and boycott of poll have been reported.

Based on reports of post-poll disturbances or violence in the area falling under 4-Dirang (ST) Assembly Constituency, the Deputy Commissioner cum District Magistrate, West Kameng district, as a precautionary measure to curb any untoward incident and in order to preserve normalcy of law and order situation, peace and tranquility, have promulgated the prohibitory orders today banning unlawful assembly of 5 (five) or more than 5 (five) persons in the area falling under 4-Dirang Assembly Constituency immediately after the time fixed for completion of poll, prohibiting any rally or procession and banning display or carrying of any kind of weapon including firearms etc for a period of 5 days.

More than 80% turnout in Dibang valley

ANINI: Voting ended peacefully in Dibang Valley district. The poll process which began at 7 AM and closed at 4.15 pm due to huge turn out of voters.

Punli, Etabe, Emuli, Brayanli, Atali, Anelih with numbers ranging from 3 to 28 voters recorded 100% turnout by 9 AM!

Despite the winter chills, voters came out in large numbers at Anini polling station of the Valley to elect their representative. Till the filing of this report ( i.e 4.15 p.m), 80.30 percent voter turnout was recorded in the entire valley.

Reports from Adane, Cheppe, Kronli, Mrombo polling stations are still awaited though. Deputy Commissioner, Tayor Jempen informed that special runners have been placed in services at these remote polling stations to collect information. The polling parties will be airlifted on Oct15 next by IAF Chopper.

Changlang: The Assembly Election 2009 passed off peacefully and no report of any untoward incident has been received so far from any of the five constituencies in the district. In 177 numbers of polling stations in five constituencies with 55, 711 voters in district, the turn out of the voters were reported to be moderate. The percentage of poll as per the report received so far from 49-Bordumsa is 80 %, 50-Miao 81 % , 52-Changlang South 59.65 % and 53-Changlang North is 73.76 % though reports from some of the interior polling station is yet to be received.

The polling teams from the nearby polling station have arrived along with their respective Sector Magistrates and deposited the EVMs and other poll materials to the receiving centre.

Tezu records more rhan 80 % poll

TEZU: The 44 Tezu-Sunpura (ST) Assembly constituency recorded more than 80% poll which dispelled all apprehensions that voters turnout would be less this time due to unwanted incident of law and order during the run-up to the assembly election. Government HS School , Middle School west and Shisu Niketan witnessed large turnout and voting went far beyond the scheduled time set by the Election Commission .

East Kameng witnesses some disturbances

SEPPA: Poll process passed off peacefully in East Kameng District was by and large peaceful. However there are reports of EVMs being destroyed by miscreants while the polling process were going on at Sangbia under Bameng Constituency and Kapu Dada, Doka under Chayang Tajo. However, no further damage to Govt. property or physical handling to polling & security personnel has been reported.

The polling team from five constituencies has started arriving here at receiving centre. At least 52 polling teams has so far arrived while rest are expected to reach on tomorrow while the interior polling teams are expected to arrive by Oct 15.

Lower Dibang Valley records high turn out

ROING: The Assembly Poll in 42-Dambuk and 43-Roing Assembly Constituency passed off smoothly and peacefully. In some Polling Stations, the Poll started slowly at the beginnings as the Presiding and Polling Officers were novice in the job but later picked up speedily at full momentum. The Polling at Cheta I & II, Roing having the highest numbers of 1278 voters continued up to 08:00 PM with around 500 voters in the queue from 03:00 PM. The Polling team from nearby Polling Stations started reaching the Receiving Centre at 04:30 PM onwards and till 8:30 PM 32 Polling Teams have reported to the District Headquarter. Around 90.38% and 70.72% voters turn out have been reported from 42-Dambuk and 43-Roing respectively. However, exact polling percentage is yet to be calculated as reports from far flung Polling Stations are still awaited.

54.3 pc turnout in East Siang

PASIGHAT: The polling was by and large peaceful in East Siang except at 39 Mebo, informed DEO Onit Panyang.

According to information received from election sources at 9pm, out of 63,096 voters, 54.3% exercised their franchise but the poll percentage is expected to increase after receive of polling report from inaccessible booths.

Female voters outnumbered male during this election.

However, violence have been reported from Motum and Borguli polling stations under 39-Mebo assembly constituency, where EVMs have been damaged. Meanwhile, the SSP D. Srivastava provided sufficient police force at Mebo ADC office where polled EVMs would be stored tonight.

Till filing of the report all the polling teams are reaching and depositing polled EVMs in the DCs Conference Hall, which has been transformed into Strong Room with foolproof security and fire protection. Office and business establishments were closed during the day.

Do not poke into our internal affairs: Khandu retorts

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: The Chinese sure knows how to play mind game. On the day when Arunachal is voting, China today said that India should not trigger disturbances in the disputed region referring to visit of the Indian Prime Minister on Oct 3.

The comments which are posted on the Chinese Foreign ministry website comes a good ten days after the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Pasighat, to campaign for Congress party.

``We demand the Indian side address China's serious and just concerns and not trigger disturbances in the disputed region so as to facilitate the healthy development of China-India relations,'' China's foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to Arunachal Pradesh to woo voters ahead of Monday's assembly elections came despite Beijing's serious concerns, the statement said.

Today’s statement was the most recent in series of Chinese outburst.

Last month, China also protested a proposed visit to Arunachal in November by the His Holiness Dalai Lama.

Reacting to Beijing's comments, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today said in strong words that China has no business to poke in the internal affairs of this border State as Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

All Arunachalees are citizen of India and overwhelming number are participating in democratic process to elect their new representative to the State Assembly.

China should refrain from making any further claim on the territory of this State, which graduated to electoral democracy in 1975, Khandu said adding the State has a constitutionally elected Government and is represented by three MPs in the Parliament.

The Arunachalees want good relation with their nieghbour across the international border. Both sides should make efforts to reopen border trade through traditional routes for mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence, Khandu added.

Reacting to the Chinese statement External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said "China is well aware of India's position on Arunachal Pradesh. India's position has been articulated many times. China may have its view, but India's position is clear."

"No matter what others say, it's the government of India's stated position that Arunachal is an integral part of India, he said."

BJP lauds huge turn out of voters

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: While extending deep sense of gratitude to the voters for exercising their franchise with enthusiasm, Bharatiya Janata Party Arunachal Pradesh today appreciated the Election Commission for improved law and order situation during this election. Improved law and order paved the way for higher turn up of voters except some sporadic incidents, it said.

The party also lauded the measures taken by the Itanagar Capital district and Papum Pare district administrations and commitments shown by the para military, police forces, officials concerned with public support which resulted in peaceful polling in the Itanagar Assembly constituency.

However, the party today alleged that its 48-Lekang assembly constituency candidate Sotai Kri’s vehicle was damaged and his three accomplices were injured by the Congress workers in Mahadevpur when they were returning to Lekang segment yesterday evening. At Keok village under Liromoba constituency, the vehicle of the BJP candidate Bai Gadi, who was contesting against Home minister, was also damaged by the Congress workers, the party further said. While condemning such incidents, the party in a release said that such incidents had exposed the misuse of public office by the Congress and Home Minister for their vested interests.

Observing the increased turn out of the voters, the party however, claimed that sacrifices and hard efforts of the BJP in the state have started giving output in different forms.

Businessman with huge cash catches Police attention

ITANAGAR, Oct. 14: A Businessman carrying cash of around seven lakh rupees was held by police official during poll day. The businessmen who was on his way to Yazali was taken to police station after official found cash in his vehicle during the search at Pappu Nallah, where they had put up barricade to

monitor movement of suspicious vehicles. According to an official from Naharlagun police station during the course of investigation, he was found innocent as cash carried by him was for personal use and not for any election related matter. Later he was let off by official after proper verification.

Two NSCN cadres picked on Poll day

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: In a co-ordinated effort for over a period one month, 19 Assam Rifles apprehended five active hardcore cadres and four over ground workers of NSCN. The latest success came on the day of polling today with arrest of two NSCN (IM) cadres.

On 12 October, input was received regarding presence of 6 to 7 NSCN (IM) cadres in Khonsa Basti intending to influence polling. Based on the tip off, a party comprising of 25 personnel of 19 Assam Rifles along with district Police was launched for search of the suspected houses. On the spot questioning of people in the suspected houses revealed movement of the NSCN(IM) cadres towards Kheti village.

As a follow up on this information, another party of 19 Assam Rifles along with Police personnel was launched in wee hours today 13 October for search. The party got hold of Wanglet Wancha of Laju, who, Assam Rifles says is an active cadre of NSCN (IM).

On search, one hand grenade was recovered from the apprehended person and it was destroyed in Situ. He was moving in the area with an intent to influence the voters on the Polling day.

Another information was received regarding presence of NSCN (K) cadres in general area between Thincha and Sanliam villages. A party was launched from Noglo company of 19 Assam Rifles along with district Police. At around 1100 hours during the search, a suspicious looking person was apprehended.

Another team of Assam Rifles and District police nabbed Yangsen Janchan of Laju, district Tirap. The Army says, he is also an active cadre of NSCN (K). The cadre told that he has kept his weapon and uniform with his party commander.

Yanglei Homthok, ZPM of Noglo Village was also picked up as he was trying to influence voting in connivance with 4 -5 cadres of NSCN (IM).

Noglo Company Commander of 19 Assam Rifles immediately launched a party and the ZPM was apprehended in the outskirts of Noglo village. It is pertinent here to mention that Noglo is situated in the shadow of the Patkai Ridge on the Indo - Myanmar border.

NSCN (IM) cadres however fled across the border into the Myanmar territory on noticing the 19 Assam Rifles party, a Army Release said.

IT bug infects Tirap and West Kameng

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: In a state, where lack of connectivity is a legend in itself, two districts proved that it’s not as bad, if some extra hours of hard work are put in. Tirap and West Kameng beat all odds to webcast the poll proceedings from select stations. In West Kameng 13 cameras were installed at the entrance of the 13 hyper-sensative polling stations across the district.

The District Election Office led by a young IAS officer Swati Sharma had a trial during the counting process of the last Parliamentary elections. The idea took off from there. Sharma said that critical and hypersensitive polling booths were webcast.

Even if anyone had an intention to disrupt the poll process, they were discouraged by the cameras which were feeding it live across the world.

Posted in a district which has been in news for all the wrong reasons, Tirap DC Ankur Garg made use of electronic connectivity to compensate for lack of road connectivity, literally.

The webcast was for hyper sensitive stations which had a history related to crowd control. Thanks to webcast, there was no repeat of history.

The voters were exceptionally well behaved, and in certain cases even very well dressed since they knew they were being telecast all over the world, quipped Garg.

In a state, where transparency is forgotten most of the time, Webcast was good reminder. The entire polling process was for all to see.

The state could take a que from these two young IAS officers and Officers and staff of District Informatics Office. It is possible to bridge digital gap even in a state with gaps everywhere!

Young Arunachalis come out in full force

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, Oct. 14: In the past very often during polling day, it was men and women who could turn out in large number to vote. There was a general belief that youngsters are not really interested in election process. But this election saw, a sea change as large number of youngsters made beeline to vote in various polling stations across the capital complex area. Of them many were first time voters and seemingly excited to exercise their voting right.

During visit to many poll stations in the capital complex, this reporter found many youngsters in Jeans, T-shirt and in football jersey waiting patiently to cast their vote. All of them had something in their mind and were confident that they were voting for the right person. The youngsters of state seems to have taken cue from rest of countrymen and participating in the democratic process. Many of these youngsters are student studying in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and had specially flown in to exercise their fundamental right of voting. While talking to this Daily, they shared their dream of what they expect from our politicians. “I have specially come to vote as I realized that even one vote counts in choosing the best candidate. Also being the student of Delhi University I know how important it is to participate in such kind of democratic process,” said a young boy Tashi Tsering who was standing in queue to vote at polling booth near Mithun Gate.

For some youngsters it is the development and education issue which made them to cast vote. “Am student of Dera Natung Govt. college and I feel our college has lot of scope for further development. Despite honest effort by people involved in running the college, we are still lacking behind in many field. So, I hope the person whom I will vote for could bring changes in our education sector,” told Techi Nana, a 19 year old girl who was voting for the first time at a polling booth in Naharlagun.

On the day when China again raised the issue of Arunachal Pradesh, the large voter turnout and participating of generation next in democratic process have shown that people of this state are ready to be part of new India.

Voters get a taste of Admin’s bitter dose in Capital region

Itanagar, Oct 13 For more than 500 voters of Itanagar, Doimukh and Sagalee constituencies in Papum Pare district, the district administration came as their biggest impediment while exercising their electoral rights today.

These people had to travel nearly 25 km on foot beating the autumn heat to cast their votes as the district administration prohibited plying of any private vehicle as a measure to ensure free and fair polling.

''Restriction in movement of vehicles has greatly affected the voter turnout as people are not in a mood to cast votes without any mode of transportation to ferry them,'' commented Nabam Talo, a youth who walked five km to exercise his franchise at Midpu polling stations under Doimukh constituency bordering Assam.

The district administration should have arranged other alternatives to enable voters to cast their ballots, he said adding, ''Our democratic rights have been curtailed.'' ''We have been waiting for the last five years for this day but there is hardly any chance for us to go and vote without any mode of communication,'' said H Tara, a local from Gumto village under Doimukh, who along with a few of his friends was waiting since morning for a vehicle to go to the booth situated ten km ahead of their village. Police today seized a large number of motorcycles and vehicles without registration numbers and cash from vehicles of contesting candidates.

Capital DC-cum-returning officer Padmini Singla seized a vehicle of NCP candidate from Itanagar Techi Kasso for allegedly displaying an authority letter with forged signature.

Personnel from Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) also seized Rs 1.53 lakh from a car belonging to the wife of Congress candidate from Itanagar Kipa Babu near Naharlagun when she was on her way to a particular booth, police informed. Police also seized two vehicles of BJP nominee Lechi Legi from Itanagar for not bearing any registration number.

Yesterday, the police had seized 494 unregistered bikes and 255 vehicles allegedly distributed by contesting candidates to voters.

The seized vehicles and the cash would be released after 1900 hours, sources added. UNI

National Seminar on Spices

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: Central Institute of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Medziphema along with Indian Society for Spices, Calicut, Kerala and Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Calicut, Kerala is organizing 2 days National Seminar on “Harnessing the Potential of North Eastern States for Spices Production Through Technological Interventions” on Oct 30-31 at Dimapur, Nagaland.

The main focus of this seminar is to discuss and bring out strategies for promoting spice production in the North East region. The Government officials, entrepreneurs, progressive farmers and the stakeholders from different parts of North East are expected to participate in this seminar.

BJP candidate bereaved

ITANAGAR, Oct 13: BJP’s candidate for Hayuliang constituency Banim Kri lost his mother Anenysi Kri on Oct 11.

She passed away at Hayuliang after a brief illness, aged about 65.

Bhartiya Janata Party, Arunachal Pradesh mourned the sadden demise Late Kri. In a condolence meeting organized at State BJP Headquarters here at Itanagar, the rank and file of party observed two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.