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.

NextGen Democracy representatives at NEHU, Shillong for mutual learning

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: Under the aegis of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) a delegation of 38 youth leaders from eight countries such as Chile, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico, Suriname, New Zealand, Nigeria visited North-Eastern Hill University with a purpose of mutual learning and interaction with NEHU faculty and students.

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The Office of International Affairs (OIA) of NEHU held the meeting cum interaction to felicitate these foreign delegates from eight different countries who are part of a mission called “NextGen Democracy” and paid a state visit to NEHU to share their experience of democratic processes and struggles in their respective countries with NEHU fraternity.

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The Vice-Chancellor presided over the programme and felicitated the visiting dignitaries. Dignitaries included Member of Parliament from Suriname, Kanafe Josafat Obed who represents African origin people in Suriname parliament and expressed his pleasure at NEHU’s hospitality and the level of discussion. Another prominent public figure included Norbert Andrew Ouma of Kenya, who is a grassroot politician shared his rich experience of being a footballer and a grassroot level party builder. Another significant voice from Chile, Maite Estay, who is the spokesperson of Chilean Confederation of Students showed her solidarity and empathy for women’s role in public life in a democracy as well as in leading the university in research and studies. Another noted political personae from City administration of Cuenca Under the provincial government of Azuay of Ecuador expressed her desire to explore Shillong and Meghalaya and found quite a few learnable things in her brief visit to NEHU. In a similar vein, Aryana Nafissi, a prominent opposition leader and tax consultant from New Zealand expressed her deep interest in India’s democratic processes and exhorted NEHU in making rapid strides in understanding global democratic scenario by way of creating leadership.

Deans of Schools such as Prof. Erwa Jyrwa, Prof. Lucy Zehol, Prof. Vanlalnghak, Prof. A.K. Chandra, Prof. N. Saha, Prof. Iftekar Hussain felicitated visiting dignitaries and exhorted them for a future collaboration and trust building. Prof. Debendra K. Nayak, seniormost Professor of NEHU felicitated dignitaries from Nigeria and Mexico and expressed his deep interest in academic and cultural bonds that exist between India and visiting dignitaries. Prof. Don Syiem too felicitated visiting Nigerain dignitary and exhorted the need for building trust and partnership.

The Vice-Chancellor of NEHU appreciated the role of Government of India under the able leadership of Narendra Modi in exposing youth to democratic processes across the globe and he expressed the hope that NEHU and Northeastern region shall be able to make the best of such cultural exchanges.

In his response, Purav Kumar Bhailal Panchal, an Indian origin Swiss citizen and educationist wanted to know about NEHU’s curriculum in Educational Sciences and sough collaboration in educational research from Govt. of India and Govt. of Switzerland. Some other foreign delegates wanted to know NEHU’s facilities on studying music and performance, to which Prof. Desmond Kharmawphlang responded positively and implored the interested foreign students to join NEHU’s programmes of study.

Prof. Prasenjit Biswas, on behalf of Office of International Affairs thanked profusely the delegates from eight countries and impressed upon them NEHU’s advantage in highest standard of research and learning at very low cost and invited students and researchers from Latin America, Africa, Europe to join NEHU in large numbers.

The visiting team left for Mawsynram and Sohra after completion of their visit to NEHU.