S P O T L I G H T

Replace Poonch DC, EC tells J&K
New Delhi, August 14
Irked over the non-compliance of its directions, the Election Commission today asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to immediately replace Mr Ejaz Iqbal, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. In a communication to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary S.S. Malhi today, the commission asked him to replace Mr Iqbal and inform it about compliance with the direction. The commission’s decision in this regard comes a day after it thoroughly reviewed the poll preparations in Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources, the commission was unhappy over the non-implementation of its directions, especially pertaining to the issuance of “high-security” voter photo identity cards and voter slips. It is the first such direction from the commission since it announced poll in Jammu and Kashmir on August 2. TNS

BJP’s plea to Mamata
New Delhi, August 14
The BJP today appealed to the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, to reconsider her decision of pulling out of the NDA on the issue of bifurcation of Eastern Railway. "We appeal to her to reconsider her decision to pull out of the NDA. The BJP is absolutely clear that she rethink her decision," party spokesman Sunil Shastri told newspersons here. To a question that the party units in Bihar and West Bengal do not want the Trinamool Congress to be readmitted into the NDA, he said "We are always for sorting out issues." TNS

Threat to attack house
New Delhi, August 14
An intercept about terrorist threat to attack Assembly Hall in the National Capital has sent alarm bells ringing among the police and other security agencies who are already on high alert for the Independence Day tomorrow. The intercept, received by the security agencies today, however, did not identify the specific target, police sources said. The intercept is the latest in the series of such threats which included the possibility of attack on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). PTI