Security beefed up across Jharkhand for Eid, Ram Navami
Ranchi, Mar 20 (PTI): Security was beefed up across Jharkhand in view of Eid, Sarhul, and Ram Navami, officials said on Friday.
CCTV cameras, drones, and security personnel equipped with video cameras are being deployed at key locations to monitor gatherings, they said.
Eid al-Fitr and the tribal festival Sarhul will be celebrated on Saturday, while Ram Navami will be celebrated on March 27.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, during a high-level meeting with senior officials, asked them to ensure that all festivals are celebrated peacefully. The CM directed the officials to take action against any attempt to disrupt law and order during these festivals.
Manjunath Bhajantri, Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, said, "In light of the instructions given by Chief Minister Hemant Soren to strengthen law and order and security arrangements during the upcoming festivals, a meeting was organised. All officials have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the instructions to maintain adequate preparedness in advance to handle any situation."
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"I have directed the officials to identify sensitive and crowded areas, and special vigilance should be exercised there, with the deployment of sufficient magistrates and police personnel," the DC said.
"To ensure strict compliance with the directives, officials have been directed to conduct physical verification of the routes for processions and shobha yatras. In addition, they have been ordered to keep special monitoring of social media and other digital platforms to counter any provocative, objectionable, or rumour-spreading posts, videos, or messages," said SSP Ranchi Rakesh Ranjan.
In Dhanbad, more than 30 sensitive places have been identified. To counter any untoward incidents during the processions and shobha yatras, Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed at these places, said Dhanbad City SP Ritvik Shrivastav.
"I have appealed to everyone to celebrate the festival while maintaining mutual brotherhood and social harmony, and not to pay attention to any kind of rumours. Immediately inform the administration about any suspicious activity," said Deputy Commissioner East Singhbhum Karn Satyarthi.
City SP Jamshedpur Kumar Shivashish stated that Adequate police deployment is being put in place, and anti-social elements will be kept under surveillance. Participation in processions under the influence of intoxicants will be prevented, and the administration will deal strictly with those attempting to spoil the communal atmosphere.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
