“Hello honey” to go missing

SHILLONG, FEB 8: It is bad news for mobile phone addicts, especially those who have been requisitioned for election duty and have to be present in different polling stations. On February 23 these officials, candidates, candidate’s agents and even the electors are banned by the Election Commission of India from using the mobile phones inside polling stations.

So those of you, who directly or indirectly will be inside the polling stations on February 23, the polling day, will have to be prepared to miss their favourite mobile ring tone “You are my pumkin, pumkin, hello honey bunny….” or even receiving and sending smses.

The Election Commission of India vide its letter no.464/MEG/2008, dated 30.1.2008 has issued an instruction to all the district election officers in the state preventing the use of cellular phones inside polling stations.

However, there is an exemption to all the presiding officers, commission’s observers, sector officers, micro static observers or other officers specially authorised by the Returning Officer from this ban as they are permitted to carry a cellular phone inside the polling station for emergency official use only.-By Our Reporter