Three poll officials found drunk, removed from duty in Mizoram
Aizawl, Nov 28 : Three polling officials, including two presiding officers, in Mizoram's Lunglei district were removed from their duties after they were allegedly found in an inebriated state, attempting to assault other officials.
The three persons were removed from the election duties with immediate effect and authorities concerned were asked to initiate departmental enquiries against them, a senior official at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.
Those who faced action include James RT Khuma, an Associate Professor at Government J Buana College, who was the presiding officer at a polling station in Lunglei South assembly seat.
"He was found to be intoxicated in the DC office premises, was behaving in an extremely unruly manner and attempted to physically assault a senior officer in the presence of others," Lunglei Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Returning Officer Ankita Chakravarty said in an order.
She ordered the principal of Government J Buana College to immediately initiate disciplinary proceedings against Khuma considering it to be "serious misconduct".
Lalramhluna, an Executive Engineer (Highways) of PWD, the presiding officer at Sachan polling station in Thorang seat came to collect polling materials at Saikuti Hall after consuming alcohol.
"While on poll day, this is a serious breach of official duty," Chakravarty said and asked the PWD's Lunglei Superintending Engineer to initiate departmental proceedings against the officer.
S Lalrinthanga, the Headmaster of Government Primary School at Rualalung, the third polling officer at Phairuangchhuah polling station in West Tuipui Assembly constituency also reported for duty in a drunken state and later could not be found at the despatch centre.
"This is a breach of election duty and amounts to serious misconduct. You are hence directed to suspend him with immediate effect," Chakravarty said in her order to Sub-Divisional Education Officer of Lunglei South.
Voting in Mizoram is underway to elect representatives from 40 Assembly constituencies, where a total of 7,70,395 voters, including 3,94,897 women and 32,545 first time voters, will decide the fate of 209 candidates.
Around 29 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the state, Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said.
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Married woman stabbed to death by stalker for refusing his advances in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A 34-year-old married woman was stabbed to death here allegedly by a man who had been stalking her after she repeatedly refused his advances, police said on Friday.
The victim, Firdos Banu, a resident of Gangondanahalli, worked as a house help, they said.
The accused, identified as Hafiz, a mechanic, has been arrested in connection with the incident, which took place on the afternoon of March 19.
According to police, Banu was returning home from work when the accused intercepted her behind a school in the Gangondanahalli area and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her seriously injured.
Locals informed her family, and she was taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries later in the evening, a senior police officer said.
A case of murder has been registered at Chandra Layout police station and the accused has been arrested, he added.
Police said Banu was married to Altaf Pasha, an autorickshaw driver, for around 15 years. She is survived by her husband and three minor sons.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Hafiz, who is unmarried, had been stalking Banu for some time and continued to harass her despite her repeated refusals, they added.
