Cell phones banned in polling arenas in northeast

Agartala, Feb 8: Use of mobile phones in and around the polling stations in the three elections bound northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland - has been banned, an official said here Friday.

"The Election Commission (EC) in an order has prohibited use of mobile phones within a 100-metre radius of a polling station in the three northeastern states," an EC official said.

He, however, said EC observers, micro observers and presiding officers were entitled to use mobile phones anywhere, while police personnel would be allowed to use cell phones outside the polling station but within the 100-metre radius.

Tripura will elect a new assembly Feb 14. Meghalaya and Nagaland will see elections Feb 23.

Votes will be counted Feb 28 in all the three states, each having 60-seat assemblies.

IANS