Home WebMail
| Calgary
Regions Advertise Login Contact
Action News Action News
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
  • Canada
  • US
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Breaking
  • Featured
  • Live
  • LIVE
  • Breaking
  • Latest
  • Featured
  • Live
  • LIVE
  • US VP JD Vance says Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran ceasefire
  • Iran war live: Lebanon mourns as Israel raids shake Trump, Tehran ceasefire
  • ‘Israel must be restrained for US-Iran ceasefire to hold’
  • Woman given 15 years for role supplying drugs linked to Matthew Perry death
  • Americans question Trump’s instinct on Iran war
  • JD Vance says Iran would be ‘dumb’ to let talks collapse over Lebanon
  • Prosecutors move to subpoena Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records
  • Trump administration signals it is mulling NATO withdrawal after Iran war
  • Macron welcomes US-Iran ceasefire and urges Lebanon’s inclusion
  • Trump threatens 50% tariffs on countries that supply Iran with weapons
  • Devastation in Beirut after Israeli strikes reduce homes to rubble
  • Atletico Madrid shock 10-man Barcelona 2-0 in Champions League quarterfinal
  • What to know about Israel’s strikes on Lebanon amid US-Iran ceasefire
  • Trump has found his Iran off-ramp – but at what cost?
  • PSG beat Liverpool as Champions League defence maintains pace
  • ‘People are afraid’: Lebanese reeling after Israel’s devastating attacks
  • ‘Heinous crime’: Al Jazeera condemns Israeli killing of journalist
  • Netanyahu: A ‘ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah’
  • NASA releases picture of ‘Earthset’ shot by Artemis crew
  • World reacts to ‘brutal’ Israeli attacks on Lebanon after US-Iran truce
  • Iranians breathe a ‘ceasefire’ sigh of relief as all sides claim victory
  • White House says Trump’s ‘red line’ against Iran nuclear enrichment remains
  • JD Vance slams Zelenskyy comments on Orban ahead of Hungary election
  • Trump backs Israel, says Lebanon a ‘separate skirmish’ after ceasefire
  • How Trump’s promise to ‘wipe out’ Iran could backfire on US power
  • US VP JD Vance says Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran ceasefire
  • Iran war live: Lebanon mourns as Israel raids shake Trump, Tehran ceasefire
  • ‘Israel must be restrained for US-Iran ceasefire to hold’
  • Woman given 15 years for role supplying drugs linked to Matthew Perry death
  • Americans question Trump’s instinct on Iran war
  • JD Vance says Iran would be ‘dumb’ to let talks collapse over Lebanon
  • Prosecutors move to subpoena Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records
  • Trump administration signals it is mulling NATO withdrawal after Iran war
  • Macron welcomes US-Iran ceasefire and urges Lebanon’s inclusion
  • Trump threatens 50% tariffs on countries that supply Iran with weapons
  • Devastation in Beirut after Israeli strikes reduce homes to rubble
  • Atletico Madrid shock 10-man Barcelona 2-0 in Champions League quarterfinal
  • What to know about Israel’s strikes on Lebanon amid US-Iran ceasefire
  • Trump has found his Iran off-ramp – but at what cost?
  • PSG beat Liverpool as Champions League defence maintains pace
  • ‘People are afraid’: Lebanese reeling after Israel’s devastating attacks
  • ‘Heinous crime’: Al Jazeera condemns Israeli killing of journalist
  • Netanyahu: A ‘ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah’
  • NASA releases picture of ‘Earthset’ shot by Artemis crew
  • World reacts to ‘brutal’ Israeli attacks on Lebanon after US-Iran truce
  • Iranians breathe a ‘ceasefire’ sigh of relief as all sides claim victory
  • White House says Trump’s ‘red line’ against Iran nuclear enrichment remains
  • JD Vance slams Zelenskyy comments on Orban ahead of Hungary election
  • Trump backs Israel, says Lebanon a ‘separate skirmish’ after ceasefire
  • How Trump’s promise to ‘wipe out’ Iran could backfire on US power
Photos: Lone Indian voter casts ballot in special forest booth

Photos: Lone Indian voter casts ballot in special forest booth

Polling officers in Gujarat make a two-day trip by bus on bumpy roads to ensure a Hindu monk could vote.

By Al Jazeera Published 2024-05-08 00:55 Updated 2024-05-08 01:01 2 min read Source: Al Jazeera
Explained Human Rights Science & Technology India Election 2024

Deep inside a protected Indian forest, a Hindu monk casts his ballot, ensuring a 100 percent turnout at the polling station where he is the sole registered voter.

India is in the midst of the largest democratic exercise in human history and the country pledges to reach every voter, no matter where they live.

That required polling officials to traverse through the Gir forest in Gujarat state, the last remaining natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion, to set up a voting booth on Tuesday in Banej, where Mahant Haridas Udaseen is the sole resident.

Nearly 969 million people are eligible to vote this year, and electoral laws demand that each voter is no more than 2km (1.2 miles) away from a polling booth.

For polling officers in Gujarat, that meant a two-day trip, including a long and bumpy journey by bus on unpaved forest roads, to ensure the monk could participate.

Udaseen, clad in a saffron robe and his face smeared with sandalwood, arrived at the booth before lunch. But Election Commission rules mean the booth must stay operational until the evening, even without another human for miles around.

The law also requires each polling booth to be helmed by at least six polling staff and two police officers.

Udaseen is the custodian of a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, sitting deep in the Gir forest next to a stream infested with crocodiles, moving there in 2019 after the death of his predecessor.

More than half a million people visit the forest each year, riding in open-top jeeps as they try to spot prowling leopards, jackals and hyenas.

But the main attraction is the Asiatic lion, of which there are only about 700.

Share this page

  • 𝕏 X/Twitter
  • 🔗 LinkedIn
  • 📘 Facebook
  • 💬 WhatsApp
  • ✉️ Email
Action News logo

Action News

A division of WestNet Continental Broadcasting

About

Part of WestNet N.A.

Action.News

Network

  • WestNet News
  • Advertise With Us
  • RSS Feed
  • Atom Feed

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Action News Code of Ethics
  • Editorial Policies
  • Corrections Policy

Connect

  • Facebook.com/ActionNews
  • YouTube
  • Twitch
  • WhatsApp
  • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact the Newsroom

© 2026 WestNet-HD, A Division of WN Continental Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved.

Action News™ and WestNet News are registered trademarks of WN Continental Broadcasting in the United States and Canada. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Home Breaking Canada Sports Search
🔴 LIVE
Action News Live ✖
🔊 Click to unmute