ED raids four places in Bengal in Rs 280 crore bank fraud case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 30 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday was conducting search operations at multiple locations in West Bengal, in a bank fraud case worth Rs 280 crore. It is alleged that money from a power plant in Jharkhand was laundered to Kolkata. ED had taken note of a chartered accountant in the Lake Town area in north Kolkata for allegedly opening shell companies and committing corruption worth crores of rupees. Besides Kolkata, the raid is also underway in Uttarpara in Hooghly district, Asansol in West Burdwan district and in Howrah. ED officials entered the house of Sudipto Ghosh, a resident of Shibtala Street in Uttarpara, this morning. The ED investigation team was accompanied by central forces personnel. Sudipto Ghosh is a chartered accountant by profession. The family is being questioned, and their house is being searched. Ghosh, however, has said that he has no connection with the corruption case. The investigators have taken permission for the probe, and he is cooperating with the central investigation agency. ED officials have also raided the house of Chartered Accountant (CA) Ashok Sarathi in the elite Avni Oxford (Phase 1) housing complex in Lake Town. A vigorous search operation and interrogation were being conducted there since morning under the strict guard of the central forces. According to sources in the investigating agency, the search is being conducted on charges of embezzlement and money laundering of money taken from the bank in the name of building a power project or power plant in Jharkhand. The name of the main private company under investigation is Kohinoor Power Private Limited (KPPL). The CA is accused of taking a loan from the bank on the pretext of setting up a 66 MW power plant in Jharkhand. The amount of this loan taken from the bank consortium was about Rs 280 crore. It has been alleged that the money taken in the name of building a power plant was not used for the project but was embezzled through a web of shell companies. The officials believe that chartered accountant Ashok Sarathi has a major role in this financial scam. Currently, in addition to questioning the chartered accountant inside the residence, the ED officials are searching for digital documents, bank accounts and various suspicious papers. It remains to be seen what other information comes to light at the end of the investigation. According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of the complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) before the Ld. 2nd Special Court, Kolkata, in respect of the affairs of Kohinoor Power Private Limited (KPPL) and others. An investigation into the affairs of the company was ordered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) pursuant to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) forwarding a list of companies in respect of which the Resolution Professional (RP) had filed applications before the NCLT concerning avoidance transactions.
Bengal: Revenue Inspector arrested in Aushgram bribery case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS) Investigators from the West Bengal Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a state government revenue inspector on Wednesday evening for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 to issue an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate in East Burdwan district, an official confirmed on Thursday. The accused official, posted at the Land and Land Reforms Office in Aushgram, was apprehended during a trap operation following persistent complaints from residents regarding illicit extortion and bribery at the office. According to ACB officials, the agency launched an investigation after receiving a specific complaint detailing that the revenue inspector had demanded Rs 4,000 as a bribe to process an official EWS certificate. Acting on the complaint, a special team of the Anti-Corruption Bureau laid a trap at the Aushgram Land and Land Reforms Office on Wednesday evening. ACB officers executed a sudden raid on the premises and caught the official red-handed at the exact moment he accepted the bribe money from the complainant. The surprise raid caused brief commotion across the government facility. The ACB has initiated formal legal proceedings under specific sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the arrested employee. Investigators are currently probing whether other officials or network links within the department are involved in similar corrupt practices. Underlining its zero-tolerance stance against public sector extortion, the ACB issued a statement affirming that strict enforcement measures will be intensified across state departments to ensure transparent, bribe-free government service delivery for citizens.
Heavy rain warning for south Bengal as cyclone Arnab disrupts air travel, several flights cancelled
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 28 (IANS) Even as Cyclone Arnab is making landfall in Andhra Pradesh, its impact on West Bengal has remained limited so far. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of south Bengal over the next two days and warned of thunderstorms across several districts. According to the weather office, heavy rain is likely on Wednesday in four south Bengal districts -- South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in the remaining districts. Gusty winds with speeds of 30-40 km per hour may affect most south Bengal districts, including Kolkata. Thunderstorms have also been forecast across all south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, on Thursday. While weather conditions are expected to improve from Friday, a yellow alert for thunderstorms remains in place for East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia districts. The cyclonic system has also affected flight operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Three IndiGo flights arriving in the city and two departing flights were cancelled due to Cyclone Arnab. In East Midnapore district, scattered heavy rainfall was recorded on Tuesday afternoon. Strong winds have been reported from coastal areas, including Contai and Ramnagar, since Wednesday morning. The tidal surge in the Bay of Bengal has remained significantly above normal levels, prompting authorities to step up precautionary measures. Announcements are being made through public address systems in coastal areas near Tajpur and Shankarpur, while sea bathing has been prohibited as a safety measure. Meanwhile, north Bengal is also expected to witness adverse weather conditions. Heavy rainfall has been forecast in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts on Thursday and Friday. A yellow alert for thunderstorms has been issued for the remaining north Bengal districts. The Meteorological Department has cautioned that persistent rainfall could trigger landslides in the hill areas of north Bengal.
Gujarat: JP Nadda targets Congress over appointments linked to poll body
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Oct 27 (IANS) Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday accused the Congress of attempting to influence the Election Commission through appointments to public offices during its tenure in power, while defending the poll body's functioning amid the Opposition's criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the BJP's Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy rally in Ahmedabad, attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Nadda cited several former election officials who, he alleged, had subsequently received positions in government or public institutions under Congress administrations. He referred to former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, who contested against BJP veteran L.K. Advani from Gandhinagar on a Congress ticket, and former Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and later served as Union Sports Minister. Nadda also cited former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's alleged allotment of six acres of land to Naveen Chawla for an educational trust. He referred to the appointments of former Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen as vice-chancellor of Burdwan University, K.V.K. Sundaram as an adviser to the Union Home Minister, and Nagendra Singh as India's representative to the United Nations General Assembly. He further cited V.S. Ramadevi's appointments as Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, arguing that he Congress had attempted to bring the poll body under its influence through such appointments. Defending the BJP-led government's changes to the appointment process, Nadda said: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in accordance with a Supreme Court judgment, included the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha in the process of selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The Union minister accused the Congress of questioning constitutional institutions whenever their decisions went against it. The party's criticism of the Election Commission is part of a broader pattern of challenging institutions, including the judiciary and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), he said. Referring to the Congress-led government's handling of the 2G spectrum and coal allocation controversies, Nadda alleged that the party had threatened the CAG and its officials over their reports. He also recalled former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's reported description of the Planning Commission as a group of buffoons, noting that Manmohan Singh was its chairman at the time. Nadda accused the Congress of undermining constitutional authority through the establishment of the National Advisory Council (NAC), which he said had been placed on a footing comparable to the Prime Minister's Office. He also referred to Rahul Gandhi publicly tearing up an ordinance brought by the Manmohan Singh government. The minister cited the dismissal of elected state governments under Article 356 of the Constitution as another example of what he described as the Congress's record on democratic institutions. Congress governments had dismissed elected governments on 100 occasions, with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi responsible for 50 of those instances, he said. Nadda also invoked the Emergency, alleging that around 1.3 lakh people had been imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act and the Defence of India Rules without trial for prolonged periods. He questioned the Congress's present claims to defend democracy in light of that period. The BJP leader said, The Congress should reflect on its electoral performance instead of blaming the Election Commission and electronic voting machines for defeats. He argued that elections were decided by voters and not by rallies or protests, and asserted that the BJP would seek another mandate under PM Modi in 2029. The rally was part of the BJP's nationwide campaign against what it describes as attempts by the Congress and the INDIA bloc to undermine democratic institutions.
No direct impact of Cyclone 'Arnab' in Bengal, says weather office
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 25 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata on Sunday said there would be no direct impact of Cyclone 'Arnab' in West Bengal. However, under its influence, scattered rain along with thunderstorms will occur from October 27 to 30. The Meteorological Office said the depression that has formed over the east-central and adjacent southeast Bay of Bengal is moving southeast at a speed of eight kilometres per hour. By 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, its position was 470 kilometres north-northwest of Srivijayapuram in Andaman, 860 kilometres east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, 950 kilometres east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,060 kilometres east of Machilipatnam and 1,130 kilometres east of Bapatla. On Sunday, it will gradually move southwards and turn west-north-westwards over the east-central Bay of Bengal. After that, it will move in that direction and turn into a cyclone by Monday morning. If the cyclone forms, it will be named 'Arnab' and is going to gather more strength over the sea and turn into a severe cyclone by Tuesday morning. The severe cyclone may gradually move north-westwards and take the form of a very severe cyclone. It will reach the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning. The cyclone is going to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Vapatala and Visakhapatnam in an 'extremely severe' form by Wednesday afternoon. At that time, the storm speed will be 115 to 125 kilometres per hour, and may reach 140 kilometres per hour. Due to the influence of the low-pressure system and cyclone, strong winds will blow over the east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal. The wind speed has started increasing over the sea since Sunday. An alert has been issued on the coast of West Bengal from Tuesday, and fishermen have been asked to stay away from the sea after Tuesday. Those who are there have been asked to return by Tuesday. The wind speed will be 35 to 55 kilometres per hour from Tuesday on the coast of West Bengal. The sea will be rough due to the influence of the low-pressure system and the cyclone. Heavy rain will occur in some districts of South Bengal due to the influence of the Cyclone. Heavy rain is likely in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram districts on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from this, heavy rain is likely in Purulia and Bankura on Thursday. Scattered rain, thunderstorms and lightning are likely in Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly on Wednesday and Thursday. It will continue in North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia districts from Wednesday to Saturday. In North Bengal, heavy rain is likely in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts from Thursday. Scattered rain with thunderstorms and lightning will occur in the remaining North districts. There will be no major change in the temperature in West Bengal for the next three days. After that, the mercury may drop by two to three degrees. The minimum temperature in Kolkata on Sunday morning was 23.4 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature in the city on Saturday was 31.2 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees below normal.
Cyclone threat looms over Bay of Bengal, heavy rain alert for south Bengal from Wednesday
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 24 (IANS) A cyclone is likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal in the coming days, raising the prospect of heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several districts of West Bengal from Wednesday, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata said on Saturday. The developing system is likely to bring heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across large parts of south Bengal over the coming week, prompting the meteorological department to issue an advance weather warning. The meteorological office said a low-pressure area formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday, accompanied by a cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. The system is expected to intensify into a depression on Saturday and move west-northwestwards. It may further strengthen into a deep depression on Sunday, with the possibility of developing into a cyclone over the sea by Monday morning. The system is likely to gain strength over the following two days and move towards the coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha. Its influence may bring thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to several parts of south Bengal from Wednesday. Kolkata is likely to experience scattered light rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds from Wednesday to Friday. Wind speeds may reach 30 to 40 kmph during this period. Similar conditions are forecast for Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia districts. Heavy rainfall is also likely in several districts of south Bengal. South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore may experience continuous heavy rain from Wednesday to Friday. Purulia and Bankura are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Scattered rain is forecast in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore on Tuesday. There is no weather warning for the West Bengal coast until Monday. However, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea from Tuesday, when a red warning will come into effect. Wind speeds along the coast are expected to range between 40 and 50 kmph, with gusts reaching 60 kmph. The sea is likely to remain rough. North Bengal may also witness unsettled weather later in the week. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Other northern districts may experience scattered rain and gusty winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph on both days. Meanwhile, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 23.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning, 0.1 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature on Friday stood at 32.2 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees above normal.
Five killed in two separate road accidents in Bengal
Five killed in two separate road accidents in Bengals Durgapur Kolkata: Five people were killed and five others critically injured in two separate road accidents in West Burdwan districts Durgapur on Sunday, police said. The two accidents took place on National Highway 19 in Durgapur. DCP, East, of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Raspreet Singh said, Five [] The post Five killed in two separate road accidents in Bengals Durgapur appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Rainbow Paint Off The Roads, Flyovers In WB After Mishap
The locations were Gariahat Flyover in south Kolkata and a road at Shahid Bhagat Singh More in Asansol in Burdwan West.
Dengue surge in Bengal hotspots raises concern ahead of Durga Puja
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 10 (IANS) A sudden rise in dengue cases in pockets of rural and urban West Bengal over the past month has raised concern in the administration ahead of the forthcoming Durga Puja festival. A state health department official said 14 gram panchayats and eight urban civic bodies, including three municipal corporations and five municipalities, had been identified as dengue hotspots following a sharp increase in cases in specific areas over the past month. Most of the 14 gram panchayats identified as dengue hotspots are in Murshidabad district. The others are in South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum and Hooghly districts, the official said. The three municipal corporations reporting a similar trend in certain wards are the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in North 24 Parganas district and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) in Howrah district, adjoining Kolkata. According to the official, six wards in the KMC, three in the HMC and four in the BMC have been identified as pockets witnessing a sudden rise in new dengue cases over the past month. Among the municipalities identified as sensitive zones are Chakdaha in Nadia district and Dumdum, South Dumdum, Kamarhati and Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district. During the current calendar year, the highest numbers of dengue cases have been reported from nine districts, namely Murshidabad, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, Malda and East Burdwan. However, state health department figures show that the overall number of dengue cases reported so far in 2026 remains marginally lower than the corresponding figure for 2025. Till October 7, 2025, West Bengal had recorded 12,652 dengue cases, compared with 10,177 cases during the same period in 2026. Despite the lower cumulative tally, the recent rise in infections has emerged as a cause for concern. The health department official said 3,948 new cases were reported during September, while nearly 1,100 cases were recorded in the first week of October alone. Despite the lower overall number of cases this year, the worrying aspect is the recent rise in infections. While 3,948 new dengue cases were reported in September, nearly 1,100 cases were recorded in the first week of October alone, the official said.
Seva Setu camps draw over 10 lakh registrations on Day 1 across Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 3 (IANS) More than 10 lakh people registered on the first day on Saturday of the three-day Seva Setu Abhiyan camps launched by the West Bengal government on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to help people access various welfare schemes of both the Centre and the state. According to state government data, 10,68,033 people had registered at the camps by 8 p.m. on Friday. Of them, 5,47,965 were male applicants, 5,17,546 were female applicants, and 2,522 belonged to other genders. The highest number of registrations was reported from Burdwan, Malda, Cooch Behar and Jhargram districts, according to the state government. The government expects a similar response on Saturday and Sunday, the second and third days of the campaign. A senior state government official said the initiative was designed as a single-window system to help people access welfare schemes without having to make repeated visits to different offices. The state government has taken this initiative to bring various people-oriented schemes of the Central and State governments to the doorsteps of the people. Basically, this camp has been organised in every district of the state to provide benefits of all the schemes under one umbrella, instant enrolment, verification of documents and listening to complaints of people, the official said. The Bengal government has set a target of conducting 3,251 Seva Setu Abhiyan camps during the three-day programme. On Friday, the first day, 1,081 camps were held across the state. The remaining 2,170 camps will be organised over the next two days, the official said. Among the key schemes covered at the camps are Annapurna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Shiksha Shree, Joy Johar, PM Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan Svanidhi. New forms for applying for widow allowance, old age allowance and disability allowance are also being distributed from these camps. Apart from this, the status of Annapurna Yojana and Ayushman Card can also be enquired at these camps, the official said. In Kolkata, one Seva Setu Abhiyan camp has been arranged for every two adjacent wards. The state government has also opened a dedicated helpline to guide residents to the camp nearest to their homes.
Primary teacher recruitment to be completed soon: Bengal Education Minister
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 1 (IANS) State School Education Minister Deepak Barman on Thursday said the stalled primary school teacher recruitment process would be completed soon. He made the remarks at a press conference at Bikash Bhaban. The Minister also said the next recruitment process would begin once the current process was completed. He said, The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) will be held every year like Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja. The last Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for recruiting primary school teachers was held in 2022. That recruitment process has not yet been completed. Under pressure from several movements, the Trinamool Congress government published the recruitment notification for candidates who passed the TET in 2022 on September 25, 2025. However, even after a year, the recruitment process could not be started. After the notification was published in September 2025, interviews started on December 31. District-wise interviews began in phases from December last year to recruit 13,421 people. The first four rounds of interviews were conducted. Thereafter, on February 27, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) issued a notification, and interviews for Nadia, Purulia, Bankura, Alipurduar, South Dinajpur, Malda, West Burdwan and Birbhum districts started in the fifth to tenth phases. Meanwhile, interviews for Nadia district in the fifth phase ended on March 19. Although interviews for Purulia district in the sixth phase started on March 23, the Assembly election schedule had already been announced. As a result, questions arose over whether interviews could be conducted during that period. Subsequently, in April, the WBBPE said the Election Commission had written to the School Education Department on March 27 seeking information on the interview process for recruiting primary school teachers. That letter reached the board on March 30, and the board provided the details on the same day. It also explained that the interview process continued even after the election had been announced. However, the primary education board suspended the interview process on April 1. Thereafter, the Assembly elections were held, and a new government was formed. However, the interviews have not resumed yet, triggering fresh debate. When asked about the issue, the Minister said the primary recruitment process underway would be completed quickly and that the government would move on to the next recruitment exercise. Once this recruitment is completed, the TET will be held again based on the vacancies that are created. I have said many times, and I am saying again, TET will be held every year like Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja, he said. Meanwhile, the State Minister said mid-day meals should not be discontinued in any school in the state. A few days ago, reports emerged that mid-day meals had been stopped at a school in the Garia area on the outskirts of Kolkata. Allegations suggested the scheme had been halted due to a lack of funds. Thereafter, the administration intervened and immediately arranged mid-day meals through the district administration. However, several schools in the state still face allegations of various problems related to mid-day meals. Deepak Barman said, We have allocated the funds. The West Bengal government is giving great importance to the PM Poshan scheme.
NIA arrests three more in Bengal for suspected terror links, tally rises to four (Ld)
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested three more persons from West Bengal for suspected terror links in connection with its probe into suspected terror links, taking the total number of arrests during the day to four. Earlier in the day, the central agency had arrested Piar Mohammad Sheikh, an Imam attached to a mosque in Palishgram village under Mangalkot Police Station in East Burdwan district of West Bengal, as a suspect of having terror links. Later, information surfaced about the arrests of three more persons for suspected terror links. The other three arrested persons have been identified as Jumman Sheikh, Shahrul Purrkait and Abdul Rafiq. The NIA sleuths arrested Jumman Sheikh from Mithapukur, Shahrul Purrkait from Balarampur and Abdul Rafiq from Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas district. Jumman Sheikh worked as a tailor. Abdul Rafiq, originally from Barpeta in Assam, is an active member of a Bangladesh-based satellite terror group Purba Akash (Eastern Sky). The arrests followed coordinated raids by different teams of the NIA, which launched simultaneous raids and search operations at different locations in West Bengal on Tuesday morning in connection with its ongoing investigation to crack the sleeper cells of an underground Bangladeshi fundamentalist-cum-militant outfit, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), in the state. Tuesdays raid and search operations were related to a case registered in neighboring Assam, and the NIAs actions at five locations in West Bengal were based on specific information secured by the central agency sleuths. Last week, the NIA sleuths arrested a youth in Assam on suspicion of being a militant. The investigators found that the arrested youth was an active member of JMB. During interrogation, he admitted that a module of a Bangladesh-based militant organisation was active in West Bengal. His interrogation also revealed that JMB was working to create sleeper cells in West Bengal, where several youths from a particular community were being brainwashed to join that banned Bangladesh-based outfit. The documents seized by the NIA sleuths from the youth arrested in Assam revealed further details about the active JMB module. Armed with that information, the NIA sleuths conducted raids and search operations at different locations in West Bengal since Tuesday morning.
NIA arrests Imam in Bengal's East Burdwan for suspected terror links
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Tuesday, arrested an Imam of a mosque at Palishgram village under Mangalkot Police Station in East Burdwan district of West Bengal on suspicion of having links with terror networks. The arrested individual has been identified as Piar Mohammad Sheikh, who was serving as the Imam of a mosque in Palishgram village under the Mangalkot Police Station limits. He is originally a resident of Kulut village in the Monteswar area of the same district. According to sources, an NIA team, assisted by local police personnel, conducted an operation at the Palishgram Purbapara mosque on Tuesday morning and detained Sheikh from the premises. Investigators subsequently searched the room where he had been staying and seized a diary and a mobile phone. Sources aware of the development said that investigators found the numbers of several Bangladeshis in the diary. He was taken from the mosque to Mangalkot Police Station for interrogation. NIA sleuths are trying to extract as much information from him as possible. Local residents told media persons that Sheikh had been associated with the mosque for the last three years. His arrest took the villagers by surprise. They said they could not even think of his links with terrorist forces based out of Bangladesh. However, the mosque committee member Golam Mustafa and some villagers said that the arrested Imam used to go to Bangladesh frequently. Recently, too, he went to Bangladesh and spent almost six months there. He returned to Palishgram again a few months back, a local villager said. NIA officials are, however, tight-lipped over whether the arrest of the Imam is connected with the parallel raids and search operations conducted by separate teams of the central agency in five locations in different districts of West Bengal since Tuesday morning. NIA is probing alleged sleeper cells of the Bangladesh-based militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Tuesdays raid and search operations were in relation to a case registered in neighbouring Assam, and the NIAs actions in West Bengal were based on specific information secured by the central agency in the matter.
Land allotted for 33 new industrial projects worth Rs 60k crore: Bengal CM
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 25 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said the state government had completed land allotment for 33 industrial projects involving a total investment of Rs 60,000 crore. The Chief Minister announced this while addressing a public rally in Bardhaman, East Burdwan district, following an administrative review meeting held on Thursday. The process of handing over land allotment papers to 33 industrial units has already been completed. According to our estimates, the projects have a proposed investment of about Rs 60,000 crore and the potential for direct and indirect employment of about 62,000 people. The list of projects includes semiconductors, defence, solar power, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, steel, food processing, textiles, engineering and MSME, Adhikari said. He added that the state government was ensuring that work on these projects would not stall after land allotment. Conditions require work to begin within a specific time frame. At the review meeting, Adhikari announced a power subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for nearly four lakh farmers. He also said farmers would receive enhanced support of Rs 9,000 under the PM-Kisan Sanman Nidhi scheme, up from Rs 6,000. The Chief Minister further said the government would procure all paddy that farmers wished to sell and ensure the minimum support price of Rs 2,700 per quintal. Issuing a warning against corruption, Adhikari said: Each person involved in such corruption will be tracked, the money will be recovered from them, and they will be sent behind bars.
Heavy rain likely in south Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, says Met Department
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in various parts of West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday due to the influence of a low-pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. According to a Met Department official, a cyclone strengthened in the north Andaman Sea and turned into a clear depression on Sunday. Its direction is west and northwest. It is likely to turn into a deep depression in the east-central Bay of Bengal on Monday. As a result, there is a possibility of scattered rain and thundershowers in south Bengal, and the possibility of rain will increase from Tuesday, the official said. There is a possibility of heavy rain in most districts of south Bengal from Wednesday to Friday. On the other hand, there is no possibility of heavy rain in north Bengal for now. The possibility of rain will be low until Wednesday. However, heavy rain is predicted again in the northern districts, i.e. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar on Thursday. Fishermen have been prohibited from going deep into the central and north Bay of Bengal on Monday. There is a ban on going into the central and north Bay of Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, while fishermen have been banned from going to sea off the coast of Bangladesh, Odisha and West Bengal from Wednesday to Friday. According to the forecast, rain will increase in the districts of south Bengal from Tuesday. Thunderstorms with lightning will occur in all districts, along with rain accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in East Midnapore, and some parts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts. Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram districts on Wednesday. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour are likely to occur in coastal districts, i.e., South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. Light to moderate rains with gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are expected in some parts of all the remaining districts. The rainfall will increase slightly on Thursday. A Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts today. A Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in seven districts - North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia, and East Burdwan - on Friday. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph are likely in coastal parts of North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. Light to moderate rain with gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour is expected in some parts of all the remaining districts. Rain will increase in north Bengal from Wednesday. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is likely in all districts today. There is a Yellow alert for heavy rain in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on Thursday. A Yellow alert will be in effect in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur districts on Friday as well. There are fewer chances of rain in Kolkata on Monday, while the chances will increase from Tuesday. There will be a higher chance from Wednesday to Friday. On Sunday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata and its surrounding areas was 29.02 degrees Celsius, which is 3.06 degrees Celsius below normal. The minimum temperature was 24.06 degrees Celsius, which is 1.07 degrees below normal. The relative humidity was at a maximum of 98 and a minimum of 79 per cent.
Doctors and Nurses Strike After Violent Incident at East Burdwan Hospital
Following a violent incident at Manakar Rural Hospital, doctors and nurses have gone on strike, demanding better security measures. Doctors and Nurses Strike After Violent Incident at East Burdwan Hospital
Bengal: Doctors, nurses strike after attack at East Burdwan hospital
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Relatives of a deceased patient vandalised Mankar Rural Hospital in the Budbud police station area of East Burdwan district on Sunday, alleging that improper treatment led to the death. They also allegedly assaulted nurses and health workers, triggering tension across the hospital premises. Doctors, nurses, and health workers have since launched a strike demanding security. According to reports, Budhan Bauri, a resident of Mankar, fell ill on Saturday night and was taken to the hospital. After initial treatment, he was kept under observation. Doctors later advised his family to take him home as his condition appeared better. However, Budhan reportedly fell ill again on the way home and died. His relatives then stormed the hospital, vandalising equipment and furniture in the emergency department. Eyewitnesses said the crowd broke into a room where nurses and health workers had taken shelter and assaulted them, including female staff. Police from Budbud station rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control, and recovered Budhans body, which was sent for autopsy on Sunday morning. Authorities said efforts are underway to identify those involved in the violence. Following the incident, hospital staff expressed concern for their safety. They have been protesting outside the main gate since Sunday morning, demanding written assurances and specific security measures. If our lives are in danger at work, how will we provide services? Until the administration gives us written assurances and security, our protest will continue, a doctor said. Except for the emergency department, all other hospital services have been suspended.
BJP Bengal chief seeks RRTS network linking Kolkata with South Bengal towns
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 19 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) West Bengal president and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya has urged Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to consider developing a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) network connecting Kolkata with important townships across South Bengal. In a letter to Khattar, Bhattacharya said a well-researched preliminary feasibility proposal for a West Bengal Regional Rapid Transit System (VVB-RRTS) had been prepared. He said the proposal merited detailed examination by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, given that connectivity between Kolkata and several industrial and tourism hubs was largely dependent on conventional railway routes and highways. Bhattacharya said these conventional transport routes were often congested and, therefore, ill-suited for high-frequency commuter travel. An RRTS network on the lines of NCRTC's Namo Bharat corridors can address this gap through metro-like, high-speed regional connectivity, Bhattacharya pointed out in his letter. The VVB-RRTS proposal, according to him, envisages connecting Kolkata with important townships including Kalyani, Krishnanagar and Mayapur in Nadia district, Bardhaman in East Burdwan district, Durgapur and Asansol in West Burdwan district, Falta and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district, and Haldia in East Midnapore district, among others. The proposal is designed to minimise land acquisition by aligning corridors along existing highways and railway corridors. It also recommends a special purpose vehicle, the West Bengal Rapid Transit Corporation (WBRTC), on the lines of NCRTC, with joint ownership between the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal, Bhattacharya pointed out in his letter. The proposed network is intended to improve mobility, strengthen links with industrial centres and tourism destinations, and ease pressure on transport infrastructure. He requested Khattar to examine the proposal and, if found suitable, direct a detailed feasibility study covering engineering, demand forecasting and financial analysis in coordination with the West Bengal government. I would be glad to facilitate an interaction with the report's authors, should that be of assistance, and trust this proposal will receive your kind and favourable consideration, Bhattacharya said.
School guard shot while foiling robbery attempt in West Bengal's Asansol
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) A night guard at a school in West Bengal's Asansol sustained serious injuries when he was shot by robbers as he fought back against them, police said on Sunday. The robbers intercepted the motorcycle-riding guard, identified as Haridas Layek, on a deserted road under the cover of darkness last night. However, he resisted their attempts, leading to a brief scuffle. Unable to overpower him, the robbers fired multiple shots at him before fleeing the scene. Layek has been admitted to a hospital, and his condition is said to be stable. According to the police, Layek works as a night guard at Srihari Global School in Asansol in West Burdwan district. He hails from Dhaguri village under the Alladi Panchayat in Salanpur area and comes to work on a motorcycle every night. He had set out from home as usual on Saturday night, and while he was travelling along National Highway 19, a group of masked robbers intercepted him. After forcing him to stop, the robbers brandished weapons and attempted to take away his valuables. When he resisted, they fired two rounds in quick succession, hitting him in the leg. Despite the injury, the young man continued to fight back against the attackers. Eventually, the robbers abandoned Haridas on the road and fled. Upon receiving the news, officers from Salanpur Police Station arrived at the scene. The guard was rescued in a bloodied state and taken to Asansol District Hospital, where doctors performed surgery on his leg that same night. On Sunday morning, the police recovered an empty cartridge casing from the scene. A search operation is underway to locate the miscreants, and 'naka' checks are being conducted in the area. CCTV footage from the vicinity is also being examined to nab the miscreants. Senior police officials, including Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar, DC (West) Sana Akhtar, and DC (Central) Dhruba Das, visited the scene. The attempted robbery on a deserted road at night has sparked panic in the area. --IANS
Bengal: CBI arrests ECL worker in West Burdwan on charges of taking bribe
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 10 (IANS) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested an Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) worker from Pandabeswar in West Bengals West Burdwan district on charges of taking a bribe. The arrested man was produced before the special CBI court in Asansol on Thursday. The judge ordered his 14-day jail custody. According to the central investigation agency, the arrested person's name is Shankarlal Harijan. He lives in the South Shyamala Colliery area of the Pandabeswar Assembly constituency. He was actively associated with the Trinamool Congress-affiliated ECL workers' organisation. A three-member CBI team raided the South Shyamala Colliery on Wednesday night. At first, he was not found in his home. He had disappeared. The CBI officers detained his son Pankaj Harijan and questioned him about his father. Later, they caught Shankar red-handed at that time. Allegedly, he was taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 by promising to transfer a worker. The worker was unable to work inside the mine due to illness. The search began immediately after Shankarlal was caught. CBI officials raided everywhere from the colliery office to his house. Sources claimed that the search operation continued throughout the night. Several important documents and files were seized from the house. A section of ECL workers claimed that the leader had been taking money for a long time in the name of providing special benefits at work. It is initially believed that this operation was based on that allegation. CBI officers said that the seized documents are being examined. Investigators are also investigating whether a bigger ring is active behind the scenes. According to the central investigation agency, a colliery worker had applied for light duty due to his physical illness. Allegedly, using that opportunity, Sankarlal Harijan demanded a bribe from the sick worker in the name of arranging work. As soon as the matter came to light, the central intelligence agency launched an investigation. To verify the truth of the complaint and collect evidence, raids were conducted simultaneously at two places - Sankarlal Harijan's residence and the local ECL office. The officers are probing whether there are any other dishonest transactions, like taking bribes in exchange for providing work opportunities and whether any other senior officer of ECL was involved in this illegal practice.
Bengal college tense after student clash over Vishwakarma Puja
An educational institute in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district has been shut indefinitely and its hostel vacated following a violent clash between two student groups over organising Vishwakarma Puja. The incident at the University Institute of Technology, Burdwan University, led to injuries, property damage, and allegations of outsider involvement, prompting police intervention and an ongoing investigation.
CBI raids Eastern Coalfields employees house, office in Bengal; son detained, documents seized
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 10 (IANS) The son of an Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) employee was detained, and several documents were seized during raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at his residence and office in West Bengal following complaints of bribery and irregularities against him, agency officials said on Thursday. The CBI sleuths conducted simultaneous searches at the residence and office of the ECL employee, Sankarman Harijan, in Pandabeswar, West Burdwan district, late on Wednesday night. Harijan is an employee of South Shyamala Colliery, which falls under the Pandabeswar police station limits. He was reportedly not present when the CBI team reached his residence. His son, Pankaj Harijan, was detained for questioning during the operation. The CBI recovered several documents from the employees residence and the local ECL office as part of its investigation into alleged bribery and irregularities involving workers at the colliery. According to sources, the case relates to a complaint by a colliery worker who had sought light duty because of a physical illness. Harijan allegedly demanded money from the worker, claiming that he could arrange the change in duty in exchange for a bribe. Following the complaint, the central agency initiated a probe to verify the allegations and collect evidence. The CBI subsequently carried out simultaneous searches at Harijans residence and his office at South Shyamala Colliery. The searches continued for several hours as investigators examined documents and other material available at both locations. However, Harijan was not found during the operation. His son was taken into custody for questioning as investigators sought to gather information about the alleged transactions and the employees activities. A local resident said the CBI team conducted a detailed search of the house and examined various documents. The resident added that since Harijan was absent, his son was taken away by the investigators for questioning. The CBI is now examining the documents seized during the raids to determine whether Harijan was allegedly involved in other instances of accepting bribes in exchange for arranging work-related benefits for employees. Investigators are also looking into whether other ECL officials or employees were involved in the alleged arrangement. The agency is questioning Pankaj Harijan and analysing the recovered documents as part of its ongoing investigation.
Bengal STF recovers huge cache of arms, ammunition from abandoned ECL quarters
Kolkata, Aug 9 (IANS) Following night-long raids and search operations, the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police have recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Andal near the steel-cum-industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district. The raids started on Saturday night and continued till early Sunday morning, said officials. []
Woman Held In Honeytrap Plot Against BJP Leaders
Arpita Sarkar was arrested from Sahebganj in Jharkhand early on Saturday. She is a close associate of Hamim Mondal, who was picked up from a housing complex near Durgapur Expressway in Burdwan on Friday
West Bengal Chief Minister Claims Threat from Jaish-e-Mohammed
Kolkata, July 31: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated on Friday that he, along with another member of the West Bengal Cabinet, is under threat from the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). His comments came in response to the arrest of a suspected JeM member, Hamim Mandal, in Burdwan city, located in the East Bardhaman ... Read more West Bengal Chief Minister Claims Threat from Jaish-e-Mohammed
