More than 5000 postal voting in DK: DC
Mangaluru, May 10: Deputy Commissioner Sasikumar Senthil said that postal ballot papers were sent to polling officers, police officers and other staff deputed for election duty and more than 5000 voters would cast their votes through postal ballots in the district.
Speaking in a joint press conference in the city on Thursday, the DC said that total 12,837 polling officers, 1295 police officers and staff, 43 persons vehicle drivers and cleaners were sent postal ballots. Already, they have received total 5900 postal ballots from them, he said.
Keeping vigil on social media campaign
The Election Commission is keeping vigil on the social media against posting comments against any candidates or political parties or campaigning on any person or parties. Steps have been taken to trace such persons who engage in such activities in social media and they could be jailed if the charges are proved, he warned.
13,176 polling officers appointed
Total 13,176 polling officers were appointed in eight assembly constituencies in the district. Along with them, total 648 vehicles were pressed into election duty to ferry polling officers and staff. The KSRTC will provide special bus service to 33 places where bus facility is not available. In order to ferry polling staff and EVMs to Sullia, Belthangadi and Puttur, total 160 buses were deputed, he said.
Polling agents who enter polling stations on the polling day could be changed before 3 pm. After 3 pm, no party should change their polling agents. All people who will come to polling booths would be allowed to exercise their votes till 6 pm. The district has total 17,11,848 voters including 8,70,675 women voters, he said.
The election commission has restricted to conduct survey from 7 am to 6.30 pm on the day of voting and conducting exit poll was also banned before 48 hours of the voting. Political parties and candidates should get the permission either from the district or state election committees for publishing the advertisements to be published on May 11 and 12, he said.
ZP CEO Dr MR Ravi, ADC Vaishaly, DCP Hanumantaraya and others were present at the press conference.
Action against those who disturb voting: Commissioner
In order to ensure smooth and fair election, the police department has taken all precautionary measures. The department would take action against those who indulge in any kind of anti-social activities to disturb polling, said Police Commissioner Vipul Kumar and SP Dr Ravikante Gowda.
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Crew of Iraqi cargo vessel denied entry at Karwar port as per instructions from Centre: Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): The Crew of an Iraqi cargo vessel were denied permission to disembark at Karwar port in Karnataka by the coastal security authorities as per special instructions given by the central government "after the Pakistan incident", Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday.
According to a senior port official, permission was not given for the crew of an Iraqi cargo vessel to disembark at Karwar port due to the presence of Pakistan and Syrian nationals among them. They were repatriated, he said on Wednesday.
Reacting to this development, Parameshwara told reporters here, "After this Pakistan incident, special instructions have been given by the Government of India to all the armed forces and the state departments. So, we as a state, have a coastal survey force.... they have stopped (the crew of an Iraqi cargo vessel from disembarking at Karwar port). Naturally, every vessel will be scrutinised before letting it into our water. So they have done a good job. I think whatever the instructions have been given to them, they have done a good job," he told reporters here.
According to senior port officials, the ship, which had departed from Al Zubair, Iraq, was carrying bitumen and docked at Karwar with a crew comprising 15 Indian nationals, one Pakistani, and two Syrians.
Following standard inspection protocols and heightened vigilance, the presence of Pakistani and Syrian nationals aboard the vessel prompted a security response from port authorities and the Coastal Security Police, he said.
Their mobile phones were confiscated through the ship's captain to restrict communication, and they remained confined on board for two days while the cargo was unloaded.
The vessel has since left Indian waters with the individuals on board, as per directives, the port official had said.
