EVENING NEWS

4^TH JAN 2013.

1920 HRS

THE HEADLINES

·        The full bench of Election Commission reviews poll preparedness in Nagaland; political parties told assembly election in state as per schedule.

·        Chief Minister releases a booklet on the achievements of DAN Government during last five years.

·        Home Ministry convenes a conference of all chief secretaries and DGPs to discuss the crimes against women; Delhi police files charge sheet in court on horrific gang-rape case.

·        Nagaland Women Commission re-constituted, Dr Temsula Ao appointed as new chairperson.

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Ahead of assembly election in Nagaland, the full bench of Election Commission reviewed poll preparedness during its two-day visit to the state. Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath while interacting with media at Dimapur, has said a free and fair general election will be held in Nagaland soon before the tenure of assembly is expired in the 18^th of March this year. He said, the date of poll will be announced without delay, adding, the Commission is satisfied with the preparedness of the state for conduct of election. The Election Commission has directed the district magistrates, police and polling officers to deliver transparent and free and fair election and cautioned them that no negligence will be tolerated. He said Photo ID slips and other details will also be given to voters. The CEC also directed the transport commissioner to ensure that election vehicles are available particularly for the deficit districts.  He said there will not be any bogus voters but principle of one person-one vote will be applied strictly. Mr.Sampath said all the political parties and other stakeholders have assured full cooperation to the Election Commission during the separate discussions yesterday. He said training will be given to polling officers, and sensitization workshop on election expenditures will also be conducted for candidates and agents. The last assembly election was held on March 5, 2008. Besides the CEC, two other election commissioners H S Brahma and Sayed Nasim also attended the meetings.   

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A booklet on the achievements of the Nagaland government during 2008 to 2012, published by IPR Department, was released today by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the DAN Government could come to this stage because of the God’s mercies, the people’s support and the government officials. He also expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for generous funding to the State. Rio said as per the government’s policies, agri and allied sectors, infrastructure, communication and connectivity were the main focus of his government. The Chief Minister also termed the occasion as a modest farewell programme for the legislators, saying that their term will come to an end after few months and thanked his colleagues and coalition partners for their unstinted support in running the affairs of the state. Former Chief Secretary Lalthara also highlighted various achievements of the DAN government during the past five years.                                                       

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Eighteen days after the horrific gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl, Delhi Police filed charge sheet in a Metropolitan Magistrate court in New Delhi against five men arrested in the case. Police slapped murder, rape, kidnapping and other charges under IPC on the accused. The sixth accused is a juvenile and proceedings against him will be conducted by the Juvenile Justice Board. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today declined to hear a plea for disqualification of MPs and MLAs charge sheeted for crime against women. But the Apex Court agreed to go into issues of fast-track trial of rape cases and implementation of laws for safety of women. Hearing two PILs, a SC bench said that the issue of disqualification of MPs and MLAs is not in its jurisdiction. However, the Court maintained that without going into the status of a person in life, they should be put on fast-track trial. The PIL told the Supreme Court that out of 4,835 MPs and MLAs in the country, 1,448 are facing criminal cases. Hearing another case, the Supreme Court said that there has been a phenomenal rise in the crimes against women in society and it can be curbed only when the authorities are sensitized towards women’s problems. The court strongly disapproved of a trial court’s order which had held that wife beating is a normal facet of married life and termed the judgement as perverse.             

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A conference of chief secretaries and DGPs of all states was today convened in New Delhi to discuss the scenario of crimes against women. Speaking at the conference, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde called for introspections by all authorities concerned, particularly the Police officers, to see why the crimes against women are on the rise. He stressed that prompt actions against criminals can alone bring about respect for law. Shinde asked the Chief Secretaries and DGPs to identify barriers in implementation of law, suggest modifications in legislations and procedures and methodology of investigation so that the trial concludes early and guilty are punished in a time bound manner. Minister of Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath advocated for strong actions against the culprits involved in crimes against women and children. She suggested that outraging modesty of women in any form should be made a non-bailable offence. Regretting that the scourge of untouchablility still exists in the society, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja called for making the administrative and police system more responsive to prevent recurrence of crimes against weaker sections of the society. Home Secretary R.K. Singh emphasised on the need for posting more woman police personnel at police stations. Earlier, the Home Minister launched a pilot project of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems, CCTNS. The system aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing.  The project will create nation-wide network to share real time and criminal information across 15,000 police stations and 6,000 higher offices. Shinde urged all the states to adopt the CCTNS project immediately without any complacency. Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh underlined the need for police reforms and technological infusion in policing.     

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The Nagaland Women Commission has been re-constituted by appointing new members of the panel. As per an official notification, the Governor Nikhil Kumar appointed Dr Temsula as chairperson and Kakheli Jakhalu and Athrongla Sangtam as members of the State Commission for Women with immediate effect. The members of the Commission are appointed for a period of three years. Through another notification, the Governor also appointed Dr Atha Vizol as the State Disability Commissioner under provisions of the Persons with Disability Act, 1995. The Commissioner shall function as the head of the State Disability Commission for a period of 6 years or till he attains the age of 62 years. He is the son of former chief minister late Vizol from Viswema Village under Kohima District.                                                 

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In Assam, police yesterday arrested a Congress leader for allegedly raping a woman at Shantipur in Chirang district. Police said Bikram Singh Brahma was arrested on the basis of a FIR lodged by the husband of the victim. Brahma, who is the coordinator of the Congress party in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, was also beaten up by irate women. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee suspended him from the party.