Meghalaya: Crossing rivers, trekking for hours election officials reach polling booths
Shillong (PTI): Election officials started reaching the booths across Meghalaya, trekking steep mountainous paths, crossing muddy rivers and walking for hours as the state prepares for the February 27 polls.
A total of 3,419 polling teams have been deployed for the elections to the 59 assembly seats, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor told PTI.
"Total 974 teams left for their polling booths on Saturday. Till 9.30 pm, braving unfriendly terrains and water bodies, 893 polling teams reported that they reached their destinations," he said.
The polling teams are trekking steep mountain paths, crossing muddy rivers, transcending difficult terrains -- in some areas through ropeways, to reach their destinations, he said.
Election officials had to row a boat to reach the Amlarem constituency's Kamsing polling station which has only 35 voters, Kharkongor said.
Some teams even used traditional Khasi basket 'khoh' to carry the EVMs and other polling materials to ensure that "no voter is left behind", he said.
The election officials sent to the Rongcheng polling station in Rongara Siju constituency in South Garo Hills had to trek for eight hours to reach. Some other teams also trekked for around four hours to reach their destination, he said.
The remaining 2,445 polling teams will be leaving for their booths on Sunday, a day before the voting, he added.
The Meghalaya assembly has 60 seats, but polling for the Sohiong constituency in East Khasi Hills district was adjourned due to the death of UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh.
Of the total 3,419 booths, 640 have been identified as vulnerable. A total of 323 booths have been identified as critical while 84 booths are both critical and vulnerable.
A total of 369 candidates are contesting the elections, the votes for which will be counted on March 2.
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School headmaster arrested for beating student
Sultanpur (UP) (PTI): Police arrested a primary school headmaster on Saturday for allegedly beating a Class 1 student with a stick.
The incident took place on Friday at a primary school in Tikaria Pure Hela village under the Kudwar police station area in Sultanpur, police said.
The victim, identified as Shivansh, is a Class 1 student at the school.
According to the student, a dispute arose between him and his classmate Saurabh.
As the argument escalated, Saurabh called his mother to the school. Based on her complaint, the headmaster allegedly beat Shivansh with a stick in the afternoon, the student said.
Shivansh's father, Vikas Sharma, resides in Lucknow, and the child is currently living with his maternal grandparents in Tikaria village for his studies.
Circle Officer (City) Saurabh Samant said police registered a case against the accused headmaster following a complaint. "A case was lodged, and the accused has been arrested. Further legal proceedings are underway," he said.
