Dehradun, May 14
Many voters in the state did not get the opportunity to exercise their franchise yesterday as the presiding officers at a majority of polling booths were not aware of Rule 49-O under the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961(1) of India. At some booths, where the officers knew about the provision, no Form 17-A form was provided under the Act.

Under Rule 49-O, the voter can register his vote and yet reject all candidates in the poll fray. The electors, who wished to exercise this right, were forced to go back without casting their vote.

Bhagwan Rawat, a student union leader in Haldwani, complained that he wanted to reject all candidates contesting from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency but there was no Form 17-A at the polling booth.

Likewise, B Gangoupadhaya and Jayant Sahni also met the same fate at the polling booths in Pantnagar and Pitthoragarh respectively. Officials at the polling booths in Almora (SC) constituency were not aware of the rule. The electors in Dehradun also faced a similar problem. Amitab Srivastava and his wife also complained that they were deprived of exercising their right to reject all candidates.

Meanwhile, as per the figures given by the Election Commission, the second parliamentary elections after Uttarakhand became a separate state witnessed an increase in polling turnout by almost four per cent.

While the voting percentage in the 2004 general elections could not cross 50, this time there was better turnout and the state recorded 52.24 per cent voting.

The figures for the parliamentary constituency wise voting percentage were released today. Tehri Garhwal recorded voting percentage of 50.16, whereas in 2004, the poll turnout for this constituency stood at 45.86 per cent.

Likewise, Pauri Garhwal registered an increase of almost two per cent compared to the last elections. As many as 49.44 per cent votes were polled, whereas in 2004, the voting percentage was 47.32.

Haridwar recorded an increase of four per cent votes as compared to the last general elections. Against 53.27 per cent voting turnout in 2004, this time the constituency recorded 57.81 per cent voting.

Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency registered the maximum increase. While in 2004, 48.89 per cent electors exercised their right to vote, this time the voting percentage touched 57.82.

While four constituencies registered an increase in voting, the Almora (SC) constituency witnessed less number of voters as compared to 2004 elections. A total of 46.45 per cent polling turnout was recorded in Almora (SC) yesterday, whereas last time, the poll percentage was around 49.63.

Dehradun, May 14
After polling, the electronic voting machines (EMVs) of Tehri and Haridwar constituencies have been kept in tight security here. The EVMs from all polling stations have been received while those from the remote areas of Chakrata Assembly constituency are expected to reach here this evening.

The Tehri constituency includes parts of Dehradun, Tehri and Uttarakashi districts. The EVMs from Assembly segments of Tehri and Uttarkashi districts, which are part of the Tehri constituency, are being kept at both district headquarter towns.

Four Assembly segments of Tehri district, three segments of Uttarkashi district and seven segments of Dehradun district comprise Tehri parliamentary constituency.

District Returning Officer Amit Singh Negi said that the premises of the Mandi Parishad in Niranjanpur area in Dehradun where all EVMs have been kept, was sealed. The IRB, women wing of PAC, district and traffic police have been deployed in and around the premises to keep a strict watch.

The security of the strong room is under the command of SP City, SP Traffic and COs of Sadar and Dalanwala police stations.

Since Doiwala, Dharampur and Rishikesh Assembly constituencies of Haridwar parliamentary seat come under Dehradun district, the EVMs of these areas have also been kept here. A total of 1,323 EVMs were used in areas of Tehri and Haridwar districts coming under Dehradun district.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on May 16, said District Returning Officer Amit Singh Negi.

Haridwar, May 14
Polling in the Haridwar district was incident free and much can be attributed to the adequate security measures in the polling centres and in the whole district.

For the successful and peaceful completion of election in the constituency, the onus was on 6,000 security personnels in Haridwar district alone. There were 1,391 polling booths and 644 polling centres.

Apart from the local police, services of 10 companies of BSF, CISF, PAC and ITBP were utilised. PRD constables and local ‘chowkidaars’ were also used.

At sensitive centres, special mobile commandos were placed with crowd control team to specially monitor every assembly segment the whole day.

SSP Sanjay Gunjiyal said that due to all these security measures, trouble-free polling was conducted in the district. Today, most of the platoons of the para-military forces left to their respective company centres and were seen boarding trains at Haridwar railway station.

Meanwhile, intense security measures at the Roshanabad district headquarters are in place to safeguard the electronic voting machines.

Apart from CCTV vigilance, 42 armed policemen in three-tier security are overseeing the security of the strong room round the clock.

Paramilitary personnel and mobile police vans are guarding the area and intense checking and monitoring is being done. Without identification and registration of name and signature, no person is being allowed to enter the premises.

Dehradun, May 14
With polling for the parliamentary elections over, it was time to relax for the candidates.

It was almost after a hectic one-and-half month that candidates of the Congress, BJP and BSP got some respite from daily meetings and functions.

For the BJP candidate from Tehri parliamentary constituency, ace shooter Jaspal Rana, it was time to play cricket.

Rana enjoyed playing some cricketing shots at the shooting academy being run by his father Narain Singh Rana on the outskirts of Dehradun.

A visibly relaxed Rana said that he was contesting the election for the first time and it was a wonderful experience for him.

“We have done our best and now May 16 will decided my fate.

“But I am really enjoying these moments of relaxation,” he said.

Congress candidate from Tehri constituency Vijay Bahuguna preferred to stay at home with his family.

Besides doing meditation, Bahuguna also enjoyed sound sleep in the afternoon.

For the rest of the day, it was time to share some jokes with family and friends.

Munna Singh Chauhan, the BSP candidate, however, remained busy in making calculations about yesterday’s polling.

When The Tribune team went to his Vasant Vihar residence, he was having a cup of tea and the post-poll analysis was on.

Haridwar, May 14
The month-old case of a missing girl is fast turning into a major issue as the police has been unable to solve the riddle and nor has it arrested any person.

Family members and locals have termed it as the inefficiency of the police and questioned the integrity of the police administration. They say that it was a clear case of kidnapping.

They have decided to go on indefinite protest until something substantial is done by the police.

On April 12, Anju, a resident of Bhimgoda area, left home for her factory in SIDCUL. As her two-wheeler got punctured, she boarded a ‘vikram’ plying on the route. But she didn’t return home that evening.

Late that night, her father Balmiki Indara Gaud went to police station to file a complaint but the police personnel didn’t register his complaint saying that his daughter would return soon.

After the passage of more than three weeks, it was only after pressure from some local social organisations that eventually the local police filed the complaint and started investigations.

Anju’s father has accused three of his neighbours - Meenakshi, Manisha and Nam Charan Shah - of having a hand in his daughter’s abduction.

Some social organisations have come forward in support of the girl’s family. Under the banner of Uttarakhand Kranti Manch, family members and locals today started an indefinite protest in front of City Magistrate’s office and have demanded time-bound police action.

JP Pandey of Corruption Eradication Organisation (CEO) accused the police of delaying the complaint. “Initially, the police was not filing the complaint. It was only when we went to SP City Asim Srivastav that the report was registered exactly 23 days after the incident,” said Pandey.

‘Khokha-Patti Sangarsh Samiti’ (KPSS) state chief Rajveer Kamboj termed the incident as oppression of weaker section by the police. “The state police poses to be ‘mitr police’ (friendly police) but their actions appear to be of ‘gair-mitr police’ (non-friendly police),”said Kamboj.

Police officials at Kharkhari police station, where the complaint has been lodged, said that the police is trying its level best and has gathered some clues about Anju’s whereabouts.

The officials refuted allegations by Anju’s father of not registering his complaint on time and misbehaving with him. They said that Anju’s kin came late with the complaint and they filed it on the same day.

Those present at the agitation were Chandravati Gaud, Krishna Saini, Dharam Pal Bharti, Nawab Ali, Tejpal Singh, Krishna Saini, Badri Pratap, Sunil Rajor, Ramesh Chacha, Kamlesh, Shobha Rani, Ram Kali, Geeta Devi, Savita, Santi Devi among others.

Dehradun, May 14
Student of various schools participated in the first Shri Devi Singh Memorial Art Competition held today Dehradun in memory of the renowned artist.

Devi Singh was awarded Doon Ratan and Basant Shri for his contribution to art. He was the founder of Chitrakutir.

Abhay Pant, publisher of Swyambhu World magazine for children, said intended to organise this art competition at other places as well.

He said the competition would help children exhibit their creative abilities on canvas. “We plan to organise such competitions in other districts to encourage art at the school level and select promising artists from various places for the final competition later this year,” he explained.

The competition was held in three age categories. In the 5-7 category, the theme of the competition was ‘My Dream’ in the 8-10 category ‘Indian Villages’ and 11-12 category ‘Non-Pollution’. The participation of special children of Nanhi Duniya made the event a memorable one.

Kiran Ulfat Goel of Nanhi Duniya was the chief guest while the judge of the competition was Nandini Devi Singh of Chitrakutir.