Glare on Bhaichung meet for code flout

TT, Islampur, March 19: The North Dinajpur district administration has filed a complaint with Chopra police alleging that a Trinamul Congress workers’ meet in support of its Darjeeling candidate Bhaichung Bhutia here yesterday had violated the ban on the use of loudspeakers in the exam season.

The party workers’ meeting at Chopra football grounds was organised by the Trinamul Congress Chopra block committee. Bhaichung was present at the event.

The Assembly segment of Chopra in North Dinajpur is part of the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency.

District administration sources said the model code of conduct squad set up by the Election Commission to record all poll rallies had reported that speakers had been used at the meeting although there was a ban on the use of loudspeakers because of the Higher Secondary exams. The police complaint was lodged on the basis of the observation.

Police sources said Chopra block development officer Atanu Mondal had filed the complaint naming Chopra block Trinamul president Chittaranjan Roy and “others”. The charges have been brought under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC and Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act for violating noise pollution norms.

Chopra MLA and Trinamul leader Hamidul Rehman said: “We were holding a party workers’ convention on Tuesday. There was a large crowd and we were forced to use speakers inside a pandal. The volume was low. I am surprised that the administration has lodged a complaint.”

The CPM said Trinamul had also used loudspeakers while campaigning in Chopra yesterday.

“Trinamul workers used loudspeakers to campaign at a time the Higher Secondary exams were on. The administration did the right thing by lodging the complaint,” said Anaurul Haq, the CPM’s Chopra zonal committee secretary.

North Dinajpur district magistrate Smita Pandey confirmed that a police complaint had been lodged. “There has been a complaint regarding an election rally held in Chopra on Tuesday and a case has been registered,” she said.

Sikkim candidates

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha today announced the names of four candidates for the Assembly election in the state.

Both Parliamentary and Assembly polls in Sikkim are scheduled for April 12.

The candidates who were named today are Gopal Baraily from West Pendam (East Sikkim), Mingma Norbu Sherpa from Daramdin (West), Lalit Sharma Adhikari from Temi Namphing (South) and Ugen Nedup Bhutia from Kabi-Lungchok (North).

“We will announce the names of the other 28 candidates along with the Lok Sabha nominee at a press conference in Gangtok on Thursday,” said SKM chief P.S. Golay.

The Sikkim Democratic Front released its manifesto in Gangtok today.