VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"$#$%T utqBVQWBuxy( 6 . ?6 ) #$@ $#$@ @ 12/'1.&345 84% -/0 011.11 85 " ! 5 ) 124" 1$5, * / 12# 3 ! " '75&!""56;5&%!6 !%3,,35%%!4!75!'&6'5=" "&7'"!7"395%! ""#!$ $ **7'&'4365: $$%$ &%4!57%!&7'9<!" 53"!%37<73/.>7!37 $&$" '(&! 6 % # 6*7# 85 * *, !" # ! "! # *34*55 #$! % & iolence peaked in the Vfourth round of 8-phase & Bengal elections claiming five lives in a blood-splattered &!/6!4.' # &!/6!4.' polling, but a resolute elec- torate fought off terror in fter a request from the or the first time on Saturday, their own way with more than AElection Commission of FIndia recorded more than 76 per cent of them casting India (ECI), the Union Home 1.5 lakh Covid-19 cases as the their votes when reports last Ministry on Saturday decided pandemic marched unchecked came in at 5.30 pm. to deploy additional 71 com- across the country. While While polling percentage panies (7,100) personnel) of the Maharashtra seemed to sta- for Hooghly was 76.02, it was Central paramilitary forces for bilise in the range of below 75.03 for Howrah. In South 24 the conduct of the Assembly 60,000 Covid-19 cases per day, Parganas 75.49 per cent of vot- polls in West Bengal, with several other States, particularly ers cast their votes whereas in immediate effect. As many as Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, * +, - %.$ Alipurduar the rate was 73.65 1,000 companies of the Central Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi % * . / #$% per cent. In Cooch Behar that- paramilitary forces are already $. 0 1 / are recording newer peaks saw maximum violence the deployed there for the conduct every day. Speaking at an all-party From 9,695 cases a day ear- polling rate was 79.73 per cent. ! " of the elections in the State. 2 India on Saturday logged meeting called to evolve a lier, India’s most populous State Five people on Saturday #$% “The ECI has requested to 3 " 1,52,397 cases with strategy to tide over the Covid- Uttar Pradesh on Saturday lost their lives to Central deploy additional 71 companies " #$% Maharashtra registering 55,000 19 crisis in the State, the CM reported huge jump in infec- Forces firing and violence per- the Central Forces opened people, particularly the of CAPFs (Central Armed plus cases and 309 deaths, said, “Our first priority is to tions to touch 12,787 mark, its petrated by alleged hooligans fire to disperse a crowd of 300- women to enforce their voting Police Forces)/SAPs (State additional deployments of the Chhattisgarh 14,098 cases and save lives. In a health emer- highest single-day spike of of the Trinamool Congress, 400 villagers that had attacked rights by gheraoing the Armed Police)/IRs (India Central paramilitary forces will 81 deaths, and Uttar Pradesh gency like the one we are pass- coronavirus infections since police said. While violence booth number 126, following Central Forces. Reserve) Bns (Battalions in include 12 companies of the 12,748 cases and 46 deaths. ing through, our priorities are the outbreak. was recorded too in other rumours that a child had been Turn on Page 4 West Bengal for AE-2021 relat- Central Reserve Police (CRPF), Kerala (6,194 new cases), the health and lives of the cit- Though the Union parts of the 44 seats in five dis- beaten to death by the CISF ed duties. In pursuance of the 33 companies of the Border Karnataka (6,955) Tamil Nadu izens.” Ministry has remained evasive tricts that went to polls on personnel. Five others too R recommendations of the ECI Security Force (BSF), 13 com- (5,989) and poll-bound West “We may continue our war on the query if Mahakumbh Saturday all the incidents of were injured in the firing and vide order dated April 10, it has panies of Indo-Tibetan Border Bengal reported 4,043 new against Covid-19, but the can be a “super spreader”, death took place in Sitalkuchi had been admitted to the local been decided to deploy addi- Police (ITBP), four companies of cases during the last 24 hours. immediate task is to arrest the health experts have not ruled block of Cooch Behar district hospital, sources said. tional 71 coys (companies) of Central Industrial Security Force Meanwhile, stopping short rapid spread of the pandemic. out further spike in the virus in of North Bengal bordering A fifth person, a first- ) CAPFs…..immediately in the (CISF) and nine companies of of announcing a full-fledged During last year’s lockdown, the State. Meanwhile, with the Bangladesh, Bhutan and time voter Ananda Barman State of West Bengal for Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). lockdown in worst Covid 19- people were confined to their total number of Covid-19 vac- Assam. was shot dead outside a neigh- New Delhi: The ECI on Assembly Election-2021 relat- With the deployment of hit Maharashtra, Chief homes and it was easy for us to cine doses administered in the As the ruling Trinamool bouring booth also at Saturday banned leaders of all ed duties,” reads a Union Home the 71 companies of CAPFs, a Minister Uddhav Thackeray trace the patients and their con- country crossing 10 crore, the Congress struggling hard to Sitalkuchi by an alleged political parties from entering Ministry letter faxed on total of 1,071 companies said the State Government tacts. Now when everything is Union Health Ministry on retain power in the face of Trinamool Congress man a Cooch Behar for the next 72 Saturday to the Chief Secretary, CAPFs, SAPs and IR Battalions would have no alternative but open and we are facing practi- Saturday said India is the fastest rampant corruption and crim- panchayat member, sources hours. The order will be imple- Home Secretary and Director will be available in West Bengal to resort to stern restrictions to cal difficulties, a fact that the nation to administer 100 million inalisation blamed the Central said. mented by the State Chief General of Police of the State. for election-related duties. break the chain of transmission Union Government should doses in 85 days. Forces and the BJP for the Incidentally this is the Secretary and Director General The composition of the Turn on Page 4 of the virus in the State. take note of,” he said. Turn on Page 4 Satruday’s loss of lives, the offi- same block where the convoy of Police, the poll panel said cial reports coming from the of Bengal BJP president Dilip directing as well that all cam- Election Commission said the Ghosh was attacked with paigning ahead of the fifth Central Forces opened fire in bombs, brickbats and rods a phase of elections on April 17 &' self-defence. couple of days ago barely an would end in 72 hours — Four persons Hamidul, hour after a meeting addressed instead of 48 hours — before the Manirul and Samilul (three of by Chief Minister Mamata polling started. the same family) died when Banerjee where she asked the Turn on Page 4 () # &!/6!4.' fter polls in four of the five AStates are over, the Election Commission has # &!/6!4.' woken up to the threat of coronavirus. Taking a serious mid a surge in the fourth view of laxity on part of some Awave of the Covid-19 cases political leaders in maintaining in the national Capital, the O! $! ( including Afghanistan, Covid-19 safety norms, partic- Delhi Government on Saturday " # Bahrain, Canada, France, ularly not wearing face masks, announced stricter curbs, $ Germany, Iraq, Japan, the saying candidates and star cam- allowing Delhi Metro and DTC Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the paigners can be banned from Covid-19 cases, the EC said Covid guidelines are adhered to buses to operate only at 50 per % & # UAE, the UK and the USA. holding campaign rallies if instances had come to its notice by all the participants includ- cent capacity and limiting the )* ! Under an air bubble pact Covid guidelines issued by it where norms of social distanc- ing organisers in the election- number of guests at weedings ! " !# between two countries, special last year are breached. ing, wearing of masks, etc., have eering. at 50, officials said. $% % + international passenger flights The Commission has been flouted in disregard to the In cases of breach, the EC The city Government also &'() ' can be operated by their airlines advised political leaders to set Commission’s guidelines dated said it will “not hesitate in ban- prohibited all social, political, % O # &!/6!4.' into each other’s territories an example by maintaining August 21, 2020, on Covid-19 - ning public meetings, rallies of sports, entertainment, cultur- closed in Delhi. Not more than ( under restrictive conditions. social distancing, wearing safe poll campaigning. defaulting candidates, star cam- al and religious gatherings in 20 people are allowed in funer- $ " ndia has formed an air bub- “India has finalised an air masks, etc., and exhorting all “Instances of star cam- paigners or political leaders view of the rise in Covid-19 al gatherings and up to 50 in ) * J, J Ible with Sri Lanka, opening bubble agreement with Sri the local formations who attend paigners/political leaders/can- without any further reference”. cases. Negative RT-PCR report weddings, it said. Swimming . # yet another overseas tourist Lanka, making it the 6th such their campaign programmes to didates not observing Covid The poll panel said it has taken will be required for travellers pools will also remain closed destination for those itching to arrangement in SAARC follow Covid-19 protocol. protocols including non-wear- a “serious view of the laxity” in arriving in the national Capital except for training of sportsper- **!+" , travel after a year of being at region and the 28th in total,” In a letter to leaders of all ing of masks themselves at the following norms, particularly from Maharashtra by air, the sons participating in national - % home.