Karnataka bans voters from carrying mobile phones to polling stations
Bengaluru: Abiding by the order of Election Commission on India that was issued in 2007, banning mobile phones inside polling booths, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed that the order will be ‘strictly implemented’ this time in the state during both phases of polling on April 18 and 23 in Karnataka.
“Though the standing order was issued by Election Commission of India way back in 2007, it will be implemented strictly this time” Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, Sanjiv Kumar said while speaking to media.
“This year the security officials and presiding officers have been strictly instructed to prevent electors from carrying mobile phones inside the polling booth. In fact they will have to leave it 100 meters away from the polling stations. The ECI cannot arrange the facility for storage of Mobile phones hence it is on electors to not carry mobile phones or cameras with them” Kumar said.
Another poll official admitted that though the Model Code of Conduct has had the ban provision since 2007, it was not implemented during the previous elections for reasons such as shortage of manpower among others.
Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits electronic devices at polling stations. The Act also mandates maintenance of secrecy at polling booths, which the officials afraid is compromised with voters carrying mobile phones.
However, polling officials, security personnel, presiding officers and agents of candidates will be allowed to carry and use mobile phones at polling station.
Karnataka has 58,186 polling booths for 28 seats this year where about 5.11 crore people will cast their votes including 2.6 crore males and 2.5 crores females and 4661 other voters.
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Fire breaks out in five-storey guest house in Gurugram, four people rescued
Gurugram (PTI): A massive fire broke out at a five-storey guest house in the Sector 28 area here on Friday afternoon, creating panic and chaos.
Police, firefighters, Haryana State Disaster Response Force (HSDRF) and locals rescued four people, including three women, who were trapped in the building. They managed to douse the fire after an hour's struggle.
According to a fire officer, the blaze originated from an electrical panel on the ground floor of the guest house. It was initially believed to have been caused by a short circuit.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Gaurav Rajpurohit and Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Vikas Kaushik were present at the spot, the officer said.
He said fire department officials received a call around 1.29 pm stating that a five-storey building (No 3401) in Sector 28 had caught fire, with four people trapped inside.
Four fire engines and an HSDRF team were immediately dispatched to the spot.
A senior police officer said the fire erupted near the main entrance of the building and smoke spread inside.
Heavy smoke made it impossible to climb up the building from the front, but police personnel and the fire brigade demonstrated courage, reached the first floor using the building's side railings and set the rescue operation in motion. They then used ropes, grills and stairs from the rear of the building to reach the top floor and rescued the trapped people.
"Acting promptly and bravely, the rescue team safely evacuated women and other residents from the burning guest house. Due to their swift action, a major tragedy was averted, and the fire was brought under control in time," he added.
The building, rented by a company, has five floors, with four one-BHK units on each. The rooms were fully occupied at the time, they said.
"The situation was brought under control by around 2.40 pm. The fire was on the ground floor, but the flames had begun spreading to the second floor, raising fears of a major disaster. But our firefighters brought it under control in time. Refrigerators, air conditioners and other items on the ground floor were destroyed in the incident. The trapped people were rescued," said another fire officer.
A Gurugram Police spokesperson said, "The DCP (East) will give commendation letters to the police personnel, the fire brigade team and common people who saved lives by entering the burning building."
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