Terror attack: Nagaland NCP candidate killed
Shillong: Four people, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathon Nengminza Sangma, were killed while three others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in poll-bound Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district on Sunday, an official said.
The incident took place around 7.30 p.m. at Sawilgre village, about 14 km from Samanda Block, when the candidate was returning to Williamnagar, the district headquarters of East Garo Hills from poll campaigning.
Sangma, 43, was contesting the Assembly election from Williamnagar which he had unsuccessfully contested as an Independent candidate in 2013. He lost the elections to the incumbent Education Minister and senior Congress leader Deborah C. Marak.
The incident was preceded by posters appearing in certain areas of Williamnagar constituency saying anyone who votes for the NCP candidate Jonathon Sangma would get bullets from "AK-17 and pistol".
Incidentally, Sangma had filed a case in 2013 against Deborah, alleging that she had sought the help of terrorist outfit Garo National Liberation Army to intimidate people to seek votes.
Deborah had won the seat in 2013 securing 8,402 votes while Sangma had garnered 5,525 votes.
A year later, Meghalaya Police filed a charge sheet against Deborah Marak and her aide Tennydard Marak for "hatching a criminal conspiracy" with the GNLA to garner votes in the February 2013 Assembly election.
Voicing "serious concern" on the blast, the Meghalaya Bharatiya Janata Party tweeted: "Our thoughts are with the near and dear ones of NCP candidate Shri Jonathan N Sangma and those traveling with him. The news that he was shot dead...comes as a serious concern on the eve of elections."
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Mangaluru: Special trains to Chennai for Vishu festival
Mangaluru: To clear extra passenger rush during the Vishu festival, the Southern Railway has announced special train services between Mangaluru Central and Chennai Egmore.
According to an official release, Train No. 06126 Mangaluru Central-Chennai Egmore Special will depart Mangaluru Central at 4:00 pm on April 6 and 13, reaching Chennai Egmore at 10:30 a.m the next day.
In the return direction, Train No. 06125 Chennai Egmore-Mangaluru Central Special will leave Chennai Egmore at 2:00 pm on April 7 and 14 and arrive at Mangaluru Central at 6:50 am the following day.
The train will have two AC two-tier, eight AC three-tier, six sleeper class, four general second class coaches, one Divyangjan-friendly coach, and one luggage-cum-brake van.
In a seperate announcement, the southern railway also announced special service between between Bengaluru Cantonment and Dr. MGR Chennai Central to manage the extra rush of passengers.
Train No. 06545 will depart from Bengaluru Cantonment at 08:05 am on Thursday, 9th April and is scheduled to reach Chennai Central at 3:00 pm on the same day. The return service, Train No. 06546, will leave Chennai Central at 4:45 pm on the same day and reach Bengaluru Cantonment at 11:00 pm.
