Meghalaya: Exit polls banned, silence period from Saturday 4 pm, says CEO
Shillong, Feb 24: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has banned exit polls in Meghalaya from 7 am on Friday to 7 pm on February 27, the day of polling.
Besides, the ECI declared that no campaigning is allowed from 4 pm on Saturday, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said.
The ECI also issued an advisory saying that mobile phones cannot be taken inside voting compartments of polling booths across the state.
"As per ECI protocols, exit polls are banned in the state from 7 am on February 24 till 7 pm on February 27. The silence period for campaigning will begin from 4 pm tomorrow (February 25)," Kharkongor told PTI.
According to the CEO, of the 3,419 polling booths of the state, 640 are identified as 'vulnerable', 323 are critical' and 84 are both.
As many as 119 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed across the state ahead of the February 27 assembly elections. Votes will be counted on March 2.
A total of 53 observers 20 general observers, 21 expenditure observers and 12 police observers - are on the job to ensure that the elections are free, fair and peaceful, the CEO said.
Over 21 lakh people will be eligible to elect their representatives from 369 candidates including 36 women.
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Man allegedly arrives with deadly weapon to attack another, caught by public in Jokatte
Panambur: A man who allegedly came armed to attack another person was caught by members of the public and later handed over to police in Jokatte late on Friday night.
The accused has been identified as Naveen Poojari, originally from Vamanjoor and presently residing in Jokatte.
According to police sources, Naveen was married and has an eight-year-old son. The couple are now divorced.
Police said Naveen suspected that his former wife, who is employed at a showroom in Padil, was moving closely with Devi Prasad Acharya, a mechanic working there.
Based on this suspicion, Naveen allegedly went to the house of Devi Prasad Acharya on Friday night carrying a deadly weapon, created a scene and issued threats.
During the incident, Devi Prasad Acharya reportedly contacted the 112 emergency helpline, following which Naveen fled from the spot.
While escaping, Naveen is said to have fallen from his two-wheeler near the Jokatte Panchayat area. Local residents who rushed to help noticed a deadly weapon on the vehicle and immediately alerted police.
Officials from Panambur Police Station rushed to the spot, took Naveen into custody and brought him to the station.
A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by Devi Prasad Acharya, and further action is under way.
