Sohiong assembly polls: Order on deposition of arms, ammunition

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 30: The East Khasi Hills district administration has directed all license holders to deposit their arms and ammunition without fail in the nearest police station, outpost and beat house during the ongoing model code of conduct enforced on account of the ensuing election to the adjourned poll to the Sohiong assembly constituency.

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Non-compliance will result in the imposition of penalties prescribed under Section 25, IB, (h) which reads that failure to deposit arms or ammunition as required by Sub Section (l) of Section 21 “shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than (one year) but which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine”, the order said.

‘All measures in place ahead of Sohiong Assembly Polls on May 10’, informs DEO

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 30: The East Khasi Hills district administration has kept all measures in place to ensure peaceful conduct of the adjourned poll to the Sohiong constituency by implementing the code of conduct and prevention of defacement of public and private properties by all contesting candidates or political parties within the district.

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The election will be held on May 10 and counting will be on May 13.

The order issued by the District Election Officer (DEO) has prohibited all contesting candidates, agents and political parties from wall writing, pasting of posters or papers or defacement in any other form or erecting or displaying of cut-outs, hoardings, banners etc on any public property or premises.

It said no political parties or candidates will be allowed to put up banners on all roads or thoroughfares, No wall writing, pasting of posters or papers or defacement in any other form or erecting or displaying of cut-outs, hoardings, banners etc, shall be permitted on any private property, private walls without written permission from the house-owners and final approval from the office of the undersigned.

No election meeting would be allowed without taking permission from the office of the undersigned and subsequently local headmen regarding the venue of the meeting. No PA system will be allowed to be used between 10 pm to 6 am.

In case of PA systems or loudspeakers which are used without permission from the undersigned, the same would be seized immediately by the local authorities. No rallies and processions will be allowed without permission from the undersigned.

Meanwhile, the district administration has also prohibited any person or group of persons from carrying money above Rs 50,000 only, in East Khasi Hills District.

It said that information was received that some persons are likely to carry a large amount of hard cash to bribe the voters for casting their votes in favour of a particular candidate

That such action, if allowed, would affect the conduct of a free and fair election of the adjourned poll to the Sohiong constituency and is likely to cause frustration, quarrel and fights between members of the public, leading to law and order problems, breach of peace and tranquillity ultimately resulting to loss of life and property, the order said.

Opposition Congress legislator Dr Celestine flays Meghalaya govt over illegal coal trucks

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 21: Opposition Congress legislator from Umsning Dr Celestine Lyngdoh questioned the failure of the state police to detect illegal coal trucks.

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“If our police are so efficient in detecting small amounts of drugs I fail to understand why they fail to detect a 16-wheeler truck (carrying illegal coal),” Lyngdoh told the Assembly.

“Can we ask do the police want to be selective (as in which area they want to be efficient)? If they are efficient in every area they are posted, I still fail to understand why big trucks cannot be detected?” he said.

Lyngdoh also sought to know the revenue collected from coal during the last year and said, “I urge the government to start scientific mining of coal in the interest of the state.”

Stating that he is not against the coal merchants, the Congress leader said, “I salute them. At a time when the state is facing a lot of employment issues, we are happy that certain groups of people managed to do some mining activities and provide some sort of employment but then the question has to be answered can we continue this, can we allow a group of people do illegal business at the cost of the state?”

Citing that his constituency is located along the national highway, Lyngdoh said, “If the government say there is no illegal mining it will be very difficult for me and my people to say there is no transportation of coal as we see it every day. But the question is how many of those trucks are illegal and how many are legal.”

With regards to the border issue, Lyngdoh said there are six more remaining areas of difference.

He said that much has been learned from the first phase of border talks while alleging that the government had given a fish pond at Maikhuli which was never an area of difference, to Assam.

Lyngdoh sad, therefore, the government should exchange only areas of difference but not to land which are never under dispute.

Meanwhile, the Congress leader urged the Speaker not to allow such incidents as yesterday to take place in the House where four legislators of the VPP had to stage of a walkout in protest against the Governor for addressing in Hindi.

“Since the BJP is in the union government, I request through you that when they appoint a governor, he should have a working knowledge of English when posted in Meghalaya,” he added.