Criminal case against daily for wrong publication of symbol of ruling MNF

Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra Thursday said that the police would file a criminal case against a local vernacular daily for publication of wrong information about the symbol of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) Lok Sabha nominee C Lalrosanga. The CEO said that the show cause notice was issued to K Sapdanga, the publisher and editor of the daily 'Vanglaini', as well as the joint editor of the newspaper Lalnghinglova Hmar, who is also the common candidate of the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress party, combine.

Kundra said the deputy commissioner cum Returning Officer of lone Lok Sabha seat, Vanlalngaihsaka, was instructed to take up the matter with the police. The Returning Officer has already filed an FIR in the Aizawl Police Station in this regard, a police officer said.

'Vanglaini' published the names, party affiliations and symbols of the six contesting candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat being held Thursday in which the symbol of MNF nominee Lalrosanga was written as sun while the symbol is star. Though the publisher and editor K Saldana, who is also a top leader of the ZPM publicly issued a public apology as sought by the Returning officer, the election department decided to take action.

(With inputs from agencies.)