2 kids drowned

COOCH BEHAR, April 11: Two eight-year-old boys of Purba Khaterbari village under Mathabhanga police station drowned in Mansai river on Friday noon. The two neighbouring children of the village went to take a bath in the river but failed to comeback. They were identified as Sudhir Barman and Nepal Mandal. []

 

Armed forces in ninety percent booths

COOCH BEHAR, April 11: Armed forces will be deployed at ninety percent polling booths in Cooch Behar district during the panchayat elections according to the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha. Number of sensitive booths will be declared after identifying them, the DM added. Additional police forces may be needed to maintain peace during the polls but the requirement is yet to be determined, he said.

 

In the Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad, the outgoing sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda have no chance to occupy the chair again because it was declared reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate. In the ZP tier 15 seats out of 29 seats were kept reserved for SC candidates, 10 seats for women candidates and 5 seats for SC/ST women candidates according to the district magistrate.

 

In 353 seats in the 12 Panchayat Samities, 198 are kept reserved for SC candidates, 119 for women and 70 for SC/ST women candidates. There will be total 1875 polling stations for 14,81,019 voters of the district.

 

Though Elector's Photo Identity Card is compulsory for casting votes the voters will get chance to vote if they can produce any one of the 14 scheduled documents, Mr Sinha said. []

 

PHOTO : District magistrate of Cooch behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha declares rural poll schedule at Lansdowne Hall in Cooch Behar on Friday. – DEBASHIS BHAUMIK.