Mumbai Beat

PCI says no to exit pollsThe Press Council of India PCI today said newspapers should not publish exit poll surveys till the completion of ...

PCI says no to exit polls

The Press Council of India PCI today said newspapers should not publish exit poll surveys till the completion of election process to ensure free and fair polls.

Issuing the guidelines regarding publishing of items in connection with the forthcoming mid-term polls, PCI said newspapers should be cautious while publishing pre-poll surveys.

Organisations and persons conducting the surveys and nature of sampling and sampling methods should be scrutinised, according to an official release here. PCI said newspapers should not take part in the campaigning and be objective during election coverage. Newspapers should avoid publishing articles that would whip up communal passions, it said. Important issues raised by the candidates should not be ignored by the newspapers, PCI said adding that newsmen should not accept any favours from the political parties.

5 hurt in truck mishap

Five persons were injured when a truck in which they were travelling turned turtle after the driver lost control. According to fire brigade sources, the truck MHS 5145 loaded with bags of cement skidded off the Ghatkopar-Panvel link road near the check-post at Vashi naka in Navi Mumbai. The injured have ben admitted to a local hospital and are reported to be out of danger.

Housewife commits suicide

A 21-year-old housewife from Chembur in north-east Mumbai committed suicide recently following alleged harassment by her father-in-law. According to a police press note, the deceased Rekha Bhima Kamble was married to Bhima Kamble a couple of years ago. However, she was allegedly harassed by her father-in-law. On January seven she consumed poison and died the same day after being admitted to a local hospital. The Tilak Nagar police station has registered a case and is looking for the absconding husband, father-in-law Mahasi Kamble, brother-in-law Rohidas Kamble and sister-in-law Nirmala Kamble.