According to details, the proposed 760-kilometer-long bullet train project will pass through major cities, including Buxar, Ara, Patna, Gaya, Dhanbad, Asansol, Durgapur, and Burdwan, covering the distance in just two hours.
Tension flares in WB during Ram Navami as arms brandished in rallies; BJP, TMC trade barbs
KOLKATA: Amidst heightened security, Ram Navami celebrations were marked by political tension and instances of open display of arms in parts of West Bengal, sparking a fresh war of words between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress. In Kolkata alone, more than 70 rallies were planned, prompting the deployment of nearly 4,000 to 5,000 police personnel. Drones and CCTV surveillance were used extensively to monitor the situation. Quick response teams were stationed in sensitive areas such as Entally, Cossipore, Khidderpore, and Chitpore. Celebrations began across the state on Sunday morning with vibrant processions, devotional music, saffron flags, and tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayana, as devotees thronged the streets chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. However, several rallies reported open display of weapons. In Malda, a large procession started from Ramakrishna Palli Maidan with participants openly brandishing swords and other arms. Similar scenes were reported from Sankrail in Howrah, where organisers allegedly did not have official permission to carry weapons. Police sources confirmed that legal action is likely to be taken for violating the events terms. Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stirred controversy during the celebrations by defending the presence of arms at religious processions. Whats wrong if someone carries a weapon? he said. Targeting Jadavpur University, Ghosh added, If slogans like Bharat tere tukde honge can be tolerated, whats the problem with chanting Jai Shri Ram in Jadavpur? Meanwhile, BJP state president Sukanta Majumder said, Lakhs of Hindus are expected to hit the roads on Ram Navami. I would urge the state government to take steps so that it can be celebrated peacefully. Any attempts to forcefully halt the celebrations wont be tolerated. Ram Navami celebrations will be held, no matter what you do. In New Town, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee claimed her Ram Navami rally was stopped by police, prompting a change in route. She was seen engaging in a heated argument with police personnel after the procession was halted near Keshtopur on the citys northern fringes. Police said barricades had been placed at the Keshtopur crossing near VIP Road after the rally attempted to enter Salt Lake. Chatterjee later walked past the barricades and instructed participants to take an alternative route to avoid further confrontation. She was seen riding a two-wheeler at the beginning of the rally from a Ram temple in New Town, joined briefly by party leader Arjun Singh. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, after laying the foundation stone of a Ram Mandir in his Nandigram assembly constituency in East Midnapore, said, The TMC is afraid of Hindus and that is why in various parts of the state they are trying to create unrest. The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of trying to communalise the religious occasion. The BJP is trying to turn Ram Navami into a political event. They are not into the politics of development. They want politics over religion and create some sort of disturbance. Bengal will not tolerate this, said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. In the districts, senior IPS officers were deployed to oversee the celebrations in Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Burdwan, Malda, Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri to ensure peaceful conduct of events. This years Ram Navami celebrations are being held against the backdrop of recent incidents of violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh and the politically charged run-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Rain, hailstorms likely in several South Bengal districts on Thursday, Friday
KOLKATA: The India Meteorological Department has forecast thundersqualls with gusty winds and hailstorms in several districts of South Bengal on Thursday and Friday, due to a developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal. According to a bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata, thundersqualls with gusty winds (50-60 kmph) accompanied by lightning and hail are likely to occur at one or two places over Jhargram, Bankura, West Midnapore, East Midnapore and Hooghly districts on Thursday. For Kolkata and neighbouring areas, Thursday's forecast is for ain or thundershowers with strong gusty winds, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 34 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively. The weather system will intensify on Friday, extending to more districts in gangetic West Bengal, the IMD said. Thundersqualls with gusty winds (50-60 kmph) and lightning accompanied with hail are likely over East Burdwan, Howrah, Jhargram, Bankura, West Midnapore, East Midnapore and Hooghly districts, while other districts in South Bengal could experience thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 kmph), it said. Rain or thundershowers with strong gusty winds are likely in the metropolis on Friday, with temperatures expected to drop to between 32 deg Celsius and 22 deg Celsius, the bulletin said. North Bengal will largely remain dry on Thursday, with light rain or thunder expected only in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. By Friday, thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) and lightning are likely at one or two places across Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, it said. The IMD has also warned of potential damage to standing crops, vegetables and horticulture, as well as loose structures.
KOLKATA: Clashes erupted between activists of various Leftist student bodies and Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) across West Bengal on Monday during a strike called by CPI(M)'s student wing SFI on university campuses across the state demanding the resignation of Education Minister Bratya Basu. Clashes were reported between members of the TMC's students' wing and Leftist activists of AIDSO and SFI in Medinipur town in Paschim Medinipur district, Siliguri in Darjeeling district, Cooch Behar district and Panskura in Purba Medinipur district. Campuses of Jadavpur and Presidency universities in Kolkata wore a deserted look as common students, faculty members and other staffers stayed away while Students' Federation of India (SFI) members gathered on the campuses to enforce the day-long strike that began at 10 am. Campuses of other higher educational institutions such as Calcutta University, Rabindra Bharati University, North Bengal University and Burdwan University were partially affected as some classes were not held even though semester examinations were conducted, officials said. However, fewer SFI activists were seen on these campuses, unlike at JU and Presidency University. Activists of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the students' wing of the ruling TMC, were also seen on the campuses. The strike did not affect vehicular movement so far as the SFI activists did not cause any disruption to road traffic and candidates proceeded smoothly to various examination centres across the state since the morning hours. West Bengal board class 12 examinations also began on Monday. Two students were injured when a car in the convoy of Basu grazed past them during a melee in Jadavpur University on March 1 as Leftists students tried to prevent the minister from leaving the campus, demanding a discussion on the conduct of student union polls. Basu sustained injuries as the windshield of his car was damaged by the protesters. The incident took place when Basu was leaving the premises after attending the AGM of West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA) as the chairman of the TMC-aligned teachers' body. Outsiders sheltered by the TMC had instigated the violence and vandalism on the Jadavpur University campus on Saturday during the AGM of WBCUPA in the presence of Basu, SFI state committee member Shuvajit Sarkar alleged. Tracing the chain of events on the Jadavpur University campus on March 1, Sarkar told PTI, The students only wanted to have a discussion with the education minister in the presence of vice-chancellor but he behaved in a high-handed manner with them and tried to leave the campus in a huff. Despite the students demanding an audience with the minister, he, accompanied by TMC musclemen and outsiders, boarded his car and his driver accelerated the vehicle without concern about the safety of the students who were protesting near the vehicle. His car injured two students, one of them seriously, and he did not bother to look back but sped away, Sarkar alleged. Basu is responsible for the injuries to the two students and we demand his resignation from the state cabinet and police action against him for fuelling fire on Jadavpur University campus, he said. The SFI will extend its help to the smooth conduct of the higher secondary examinations, which began on Monday, and will organise camps near examination centres to assist the candidates, he added.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly's convoy meets with accident, none injured
KOLKATA: Former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly's convoy met with an accident in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district but none were injured in the incident, police said on Friday. The accident took place on Thursday near Dantanpur on Durgapur Expressway when Ganguly was travelling in a car and a speeding lorry overtook it, they said. In the sudden movement of the lorry, the driver of Ganguly's car had to apply a sudden brake which led to a collision with vehicles in his convoy following him, a police officer of West Bengal Police said. One vehicle even hit the car in which the former cricketer was travelling. Two vehicles in his convoy sustained minor damages, he said. The former cricketer was travelling to attend a programme organised by Burdwan University, the officer said. He (Ganguly) attended the programme later on. It went smoothly, the policeman said.
Sourav Ganguly's car crashed into a speeding lorry while he was travelling to Burdwan for a university event.
Organisers of the rally, which RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to address, had moved court after the State police denied permission.
Cal HC allows RSS rally in Burdwan, sets aside Bengal govt objection
The Calcutta High Court has conditionally allowed the RSS to hold a rally in Burdwan on February 16, despite the West Bengal government's objections. The court's decision requires organizers to manage the crowd size and loudspeaker volume to prevent disturbance during ongoing exams. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is slated to address the rally.
Mohan Bhagwat's meeting in West Bengal faces legal hurdles amid Madhyamik exam restrictions
The Calcutta High Court is set to hear a case regarding the denial of police permission for an RSS meeting in Burdwan, West Bengal, citing the ongoing Madhyamik examinations. RSS officials claim the administration's decision is politically motivated and that the event won't disrupt exams.
Bhagwat on 10-day visit to Bengal from Feb 7, to firm up RSS programmes
KOLKATA: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will begin his 10-day visit to West Bengal from February 7 to discuss expansion of the organisation with leaders at various levels. During the first five days in Kolkata, Bhagwat will hold meetings with RSS leaders and local influencers with a focus on strengthening the organisations framework and ensuring its operational success, leaders said. On February 11, Bhagwat will take a break before resuming his tour of south Bengal districts. Bhagwat will visit several districts, including Burdwan, where he is expected to hold his only public rally on February 16. He will also meet regional RSS leaders, local activists, and prominent figures from Burdwan and surrounding areas, an RSS leader said. These engagements are expected to focus on organisational growth, community outreach, and strengthening ties between RSS leadership and local stakeholders, he added. The visit takes place amid tensions between India and Bangladesh, with concern over the rise of radical elements in the neighbouring country. Although no direct reference has been made to the Bangladesh situation, Bhagwats visit occurs at a time when regional dynamics are under scrutiny. The RSSs role in addressing social and political issues in the state may come up in the discussions, although specific objectives regarding Bangladesh are not publicly stated, another RSS leader said. Bhagwat will also assess the performance of RSS in the state in both urban and rural areas. Political analysts say the RSS has been a key player in BJPs electoral strategies, and Bhagwats visit is to be seen in the context of the upcoming assembly elections.
JMB's India head gets 7-yr RI for training gullible youths
An anti-terrorism court in Bengaluru convicted Jahidul Islam, the JMB India head, for training youths in Bengal and Assam for jehad. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs 57,000. Jahidul, involved in blasts in Burdwan and Bodhgaya, committed dacoities to fund terrorist activities, and NIA seized explosive materials during raids.
