Week-long lockdown begins in Nagpur, top cop visits main roads
Nagpur: A week-long lockdown with strict curbs came into force in Nagpur on Monday to contain the rise in COVID-19 cases and officials warned of stern action against those violating the protocols here in Maharashtra.
Nagpur Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar visited some of the main roads here in the morning and reviewed the implementation of the lockdown, which will remain in force till March 21.
According to the district administration, unnecessary movement of people will not be allowed on streets.
Kumar said there are 99 check points across Nagpur and eight on the city's border.
Besides, 99 mobile patrolling vehicles, two companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), sixplatoons of the RCP (riot control police) and 500 Home Guards were deployed for proper implementation of the lockdown, he said.
The official said during the lockdown, only one person would be allowed to travel on a two-wheeler and two persons in a four-wheeler.
However, two persons will be permitted on a two- wheeler only if they have to go to a hospital or for vaccination, he said. Residents of Nagpur were being allowed to travel to other cities as per guidelines laid down by the district administration.
Passenger and goods vehicles going out or passing through Nagpur were allowed to move via the Outer Ring Road, according to police. In view of the curbs, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court will hear matters through video-conferencing from Monday till March 21.
Nagpur Guardian Minister Nitin Raut on Thursday announced the week-long "strict lockdown" in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases here.
On Sunday, the district reported 2,252 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths to the disease.
The COVID-19 tally in the district stood at 1,70,502, as per official data.
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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.
