Port Blair, October 01: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), has congratulated Smt Minati Biswas, newly elected Adhyaksha and Shri Subir Chander, Up-Adhyaksh of the Zilla Parishad South Andaman.
He has also congratulated Smt Prabhabati Biswas, newly elected Adhyaksha and Shri A Tirupati Rao, Up-Adhyaksh of the North & Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad.
In a message, he has conveyed his best wishes to them and has hoped that they will commit themselves to the welfare of the people and work for the overall development of the A&N Islands.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 30: The crew of passenger vessel MV Campbell Bay have accused the CISF personnel posted at Haddo Wharf of rude behaviour and manhandling ship staff.
Citing an incident on last Monday (28 September), the crew members alleged that a CISF Constable namely Mahavir Singh manhandled the 3rd Officer of MV Campbell Bay, Mr Kuldeep SIngh at about 11 PM.
“There have been numerous allegations in the past about CISF harassing inter-island passengers and ship staffs while entering the port area particularly during night,” the crew members claimed in a letter submitted to the Lt. Governor.
“Vessels are normally berthed at Haddo-I and ship staffs are required to enter the Wharf after 2300 hrs through Gate no. 4. For unexplained reasons, the CISF personnel have prohibited entry of ship staff through Gate No. 1. There is no official communication either from the CISF authorities or PMB that ship staff cannot enter through Gate No.1 after 2300 hrs. As such, the conduct of some CISF personnel is totally unlawful,” said the vessel’s crew members requesting the intervention of the Lt. Governor to ensure safety of the ship staff.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, a senior authority of CISF on the condition of anonymity said that on 28th September 2015 at 11:25 am three staffs of MV Campbell Bay came at Haddo Jetty Gate number 1 to enter inside, when asked for the pass by the CISF constable two staffs of MV Campbell Bay verified their pass but the third staff namely, Mr. Kuldeep Singh, failed to do so.
Further he put counter allegation that Mr Kuldeep was completely under influence of liquor and started misbehaving with CISF constable, which resulted in a big issue.

Port Blair, Sept 28: Air India has confirmed to operate increased frequency of chartered flights on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai Sector on every Wednesdays (Maximum 04 flights per month) from October to December 2015. As per the schedule the services will be available on 7th October-2015, 14th October-2015, 21st October-2015, 28th October-2015, 4th November-2015, 11th November-2015, 18th November-2015, 25th November-2015, 2nd December-2015, 9th December-2015, 16th December-2015 and 23rd December-2015
The tickets cost for the Islanders and for Non-Islanders for traveling on dates during peak season (October to December 2015) has been revised to Rs 5000/- one way for Islanders and Rs 9000/- one way for Non-Islanders.
The passengers intending to travel from Port Blair to Chennai and from Chennai to Port Blair on above flights can book their tickets in advance at the Inter-Island Helicopter terminal, VIP Road, Port Blair between 09 AM to 4 PM on all working days from 30th September, 2015 onwards. Tickets for sector Chennai to Port Blair can also be booked at the Directorate of Shipping Services counter at Chennai, No.5 Rajaji Salai, near custom House, Chennai.

Sanjith Das & Giri
Port Blair, September 22: Telugu Desam Party supporters of Dairy Farm area today sat on a strike in front of Aberdeen Police Station and demanded justice against alleged misbehaviour of Bharthiya Janta Party.
As per allegation the supporters of BJP while celebrating the victory of BJP candidate C H Babu allegedly damaged a bike of TDP worker and allegedly have thrown colour on the wife of the losing candidate Mr Padmanathan of TDP.
According to TDP workers, when the Police was informed instead of picking up the workers of BJP, Police allegedly arrested eight TDP workers including Mr Padmanaban. A case has also been registered against TDP workers it is learnt.
When the last report poured in more than 500 people were sitting on Dharna infront of Aberdeen Police Station and were demanding justice.
Report of clashes between Congress and BJP workers are also pouring in from Shoal Bay 11. It has been learnt that police have arrested one person from Shoal Bay area.

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Sept 21: Even as the local office for the Municipal and Panchayat elections claimed to have conducted the elections peacefully on Sunday, reports of resentment have surfaced from a couple of constituencies in the city. Independent Candidate contesting from Ward no. 23 of Municipal Council, Mr Sanjay Meshack has alleged irregularities in the conduct of polls in his constituency.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr Meshack claimed that voters were puzzled on Sunday during voting due to discrepancy in the election symbol in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). “Voters cross-voted during the polls as the election symbol on the EVM lacked clarity. My election symbol was Torchlight without illumination. But the symbol displayed on the EVMs in Ward no. 23 carried the symbol of an illuminated Torchlight in total contrast of the actual symbol. Voters recorded their votes in favour of others due to the confusion,” Mr Meshack claimed.
He also said that the Director of Municipal and Panchayat election has been apprised of the irregularity. “Though the Director of Municipal and Panchayat Election admitted the fault, no official action has been initiated in the matter,” he informed.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Sept 20: Lakhs of rupees have been spent for spreading awareness among the voters to exercise their franchise but due to clash of CTET exam and election dates, hundreds of youths and many of their parents could not cast their votes in today’s Panchayat and Municipal Elections.
Since Friday hundreds and hundreds of youths started reaching Port Blair from different remote Islands to appear in CTET exam on 20th September, which was also the date for Municipal and Panchayat Election.
For these youths it was impossible to go back to the respective Islands to cast their votes and hence they had to make a choice between vote and CTET exam. Obviously youths opted for CTET exam as the crucial exam is directly connected to their future.
Not only this, hundreds of parents, who reached Port Blair with their kids’ CTET exam also failed to cast their vote.
Since the declaration of election dates several political parties and media had pointed out that such clash of dates would reduce the polling percentage but no one paid any heed.
“I have two papers today and don’t even have time for lunch. How can I go for casting votes, although want to cast my vote,” said a candidate.
Adding to the pain many candidates, who are already government servant and wanted to appear in CTET exam could not come to Port Blair for CTET exam due to election duties.

Port Blair, September 18: Following a tip off, a team of PS Aberdeen raided hotel Sun Palace at Dairy Farm and found that a DMK leader is distributing liquor among party workers.
As today was dry day a case has been registered against the DMK leader.