Allen Park in Kolkata, located on Park Street,is known for its Christmas lights, carols and New Year celebrations. This year, the Park Street landmark is set to witness a very different festive gathering as it...
Young voices lead Sundarbans call to save tigers
Violence Erupts Between BJP Factions in West Bengal Over Extortion Claims
Two BJP leaders arrested in Kolkata after violent clashes over alleged extortion in the fish farming sector. Violence Erupts Between BJP Factions in West Bengal Over Extortion Claims
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across metro cities on October 6
Bengal to get rain for five more days as monsoon retreats, light showers likely during Puja
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 6 (IANS) Rain is likely to continue across West Bengal for the next five days as the southwest monsoon withdrawal remains underway, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata said on Tuesday. The weather office, however, ruled out the possibility of widespread heavy rainfall during this period. Light to moderate rain is expected at several places, with isolated heavy showers likely in parts of north Bengal. Eastern Regional Director of the RMC Habibur Rahman Biswas said a low-pressure area extending from Uttar Pradesh to Bangladesh in the lower levels of the atmosphere was influencing the weather over the state. A cyclonic circulation over Bihar is also contributing to the rainfall activity. Under its influence, light to moderate rain is likely in all districts of north Bengal, while heavy rain may occur at one or two places in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. The weather office has also warned of thundershowers in several areas. On Tuesday, partly cloudy skies and light to moderate rain were expected in the state. In south Bengal, districts including Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas may receive rain accompanied by thundershowers over the next few days. Several districts of south Bengal are likely to receive light to moderate rain with thundershowers until the weekend. Rainfall will also continue in north Bengal, with isolated heavy showers possible in one or two places. Kolkata is also likely to receive light to moderate rain on Tuesday. The city is expected to remain cloudy during the morning, with partly cloudy skies likely in the afternoon. The possibility of rain is expected to increase from Wednesday through Friday. The RMC said there was no forecast of heavy rain during Durga Puja, which begins on October 17. However, light to moderate rain may occur around Mahalaya on October 10. On Monday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 32.08 degrees Celsius, which was normal, while the minimum temperature was 26.06 degrees Celsius, 0.08 degrees above normal. Relative humidity ranged between 69 and 97 percent.
Why Bengal sculptors collect soil from Kolkatas red-light area for Durga idols
Kumartuli, an iconic neighborhood in Kolkata, showcases the unique tradition of crafting Durga idols from clay. A significant aspect of this practice involves gathering soil from the thresholds of sex workers, which holds sacred meaning in Bengali heritage. This inclusion reflects a profound connection between faith and societal acceptance, stirring dialogue about purity and respect for all communities, particularly those often sidelined during significant cultural events like Durga Puja.
Bengal bypolls: Cong candidate stages sit-in, seeks repolling at Rejinagar
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 6 (IANS) Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, the Congress candidate for bypolls in Rejinagar Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, accompanied by his associates, on Tuesday began a sit-in demonstration in front of the Rejinagar Police Station demanding total repolling in the constituency. Kafi alleged that BJP supporters were preventing voters from exercising their franchise at several booths, particularly targeting minority community voters. He also accused the police and central security forces of failing to intervene. The polling at Rejinagar has become a farcical exercise. So, our demand is its immediate cancellation and a total repolling in Rejinagar, Kafi told media persons. However, the BJPs state president in West Bengal and the partys Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya said the Congress candidate is raising such baseless allegations fearing his imminent landslide defeat. By-elections are underway in Rejinagar and Nandigram in East Midnapore district. BJP candidates will win from both the constituencies. Many people still cannot believe that BJP can win in minority-dominated areas. We are going to win by five times the margin of victory we won last time in Nandigram. Rejinagar is a minority-dominated area. We will win there too, Bhattacharya said. Meanwhile, after the first four hours of polling till 11 a.m., the average polling percentage at Nandigram and Rejinagar has been recorded at 41.33. While the percentage in Rejinagar till then is 38.71, the same had been higher at 43.95 in the case of Nandigram. Reports of sporadic tension have come from both the constituencies in the last two hours as well. The Congress candidate in Nandigram, Milan Pradhan, alleged that the BJP supporters started terrorising the voters in the constituency for the last two days and on Tuesday the ruling party activists crossed all limits. Everyone has the right to participate in elections. But there is no situation in Nandigram to exercise that democratic right. The pockets in Nandigram, which are known as anti-BJP pockets, are being specially targeted by the ruling party activists. We are updating the Election Commission of India of such instances, Pradhan said. A source in the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office said the majority of the complaints received by them since Tuesday morning had been from Congress.
WBPSC Clerkship Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for LDA/ LDC Posts
The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC) has released the Clerkship Examination, 2024 notification under Advertisement No. 12/2024 on 6 October 2026. The examination will fill Lower Division Assistant / Lower Division Clerk posts and similar posts in the Secretariat, Directorates, District offices and regional offices (including Kolkata) of the Government of West Bengal.
HC sets aside kidney transplant permission refusal, asks committee to reconsider patient's request
Kolkata, Oct 06: The Calcutta High Court on Monday set aside a kidney transplant permission refusal by the designated authorisation committee to a chronic renal ailment patient, directing it to reconsider the request of the petitioner. The court observed that unless there is definite material to establish financial dealings involving the parties, permission ought not to be withheld or rejected. If the donor states that out of love and affection, he/she is making the donation, in the absence of any credible reason, the averment should not be doubted, the court observed in its judgment. Justice Krishna Rao directed the state-level authorisation committee for organ donation and transplant to reconsider the petitioner patient's request and to take appropriate decision within two weeks, setting aside its refusal to allow the kidney donation by the wife of his driver. The court said the reasons the authorisation committee refused to recommend the petitioner's case for kidney transplantation were not in accordance with the statute, despite the fact that no commercial transaction was involved and the donor was willing to donate the organ out of love and affection, knowing the recipient for the last three to four years. The authorisation committee did not recommend the case of the petitioner with the reasons that the husband of the donor has not produced documents that he was working as a driver at a driver centre and has obtained driving licence only in the year 2024. Holding that the rules provide for scrutiny of application, the court said that if there is doubt, the applicants can be asked for an explanation, and verification can also be done through government officials. Observing that too much burden cannot be laid on the shoulders of the applicants unless there is definite material to establish that there are financial dealings involving the parties, Justice Rao observed, Permission ought not to be withheld or rejected. The court noted that in the present case, before making a decision, the authorisation committee examined the donor, the husband of the donor and the petitioner patient. Pointing out that the committee also called for a report from the police authorities to ascertain whether any commercial transaction or middlemen/touts were involved, the court noted that the police report certified that there was no commercial transaction or middlemen involved. The court noted from the statements of the donor, the donor's husband, and the recipient that they have known each other for the last three or four years. Furthermore, the donor's husband used to drive the recipient to the hospital, and the donor treated the recipient as her uncle. The court stated that if the donor is not a near relative, the requirement is that they must establish that the organ removal was authorised for transplantation into the recipient's body due to attachment or some special reason for donating the organ. Justice Rao observed that the purpose of enacting the statute shows that there cannot be any commercial element involved in organ donation.
Star-studded Uruguay ready to give India another test of character in Kolkata
Star-studded Uruguay ready to give India another test of character in Kolkata
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 6 (IANS) Veteran actor Raj Babbar recently visited Kolkata, where he reconnected with old friends and familiar faces from the Bengali film industry while soaking in the citys distinctive charm. Sharing his experience of being back in the City of Joy, Babbar said Kolkata will always have a special place in his heart. He spoke warmly about the citys unique character and its rich legacy of cinema, art and literature. Taking to Instagram, he posted his video and wrote, Back in Kolkata..The City of Joy that will always hold a special place in my heart I have always adored this city, which has a unique warmth & timeless charm and a rich legacy of cinema, art, and literature. The Nikaah actor said his stay in Kolkata was made memorable by the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and familiar faces from the Bengali film industry. My stay here is sure to be memorable as I reconnect with old friends and familiar faces from the Bengali film industry. For now, I am simply soaking in Kolkatas unique energy and the unmistakable vibe, he added. Babbars visit also reflected his longstanding affection for the city, which he described as a place with a distinctive cultural and artistic identity. In the video, the veteran actor could be seen travelling in a car and enjoying glimpses of the rain before arriving at his hotel, where he received a warm welcome. Although Raj Babbar is best known for his work in Hindi and Punjabi cinema, his association with Bengali cinema goes back several decades. The veteran actor also ventured into Bengali films with the 1992 family drama Anutap. Over the years, Babbar has developed a warm bond with the Bengali film fraternity and maintained friendships with several prominent names from Tollywood. He shares a good bond with several well-known names from the Bengali film industry, including Debashree Roy, Mithun Chakraborty, Rituparna Sengupta, Prosenjit Chatterjee and filmmaker Swapan Saha.
Author Jeffrey Archer, who has died at 86, had a particularly soft spot for India
The author (Lord) Jeffrey Archer, who has an especially devoted following in India, died suddenly on Monday at his home in the UK at the age of 86. He would have liked the fact that his end resembled one of the twists in his tales. He passed away after he had spent Sunday promoting what he had declared was his very last novel, Adam & Eve . This was formally published on Tuesday, October 6, by HarperCollins, who announced he died suddenly and peacefully at his home between writing sessions. Kate Elton, the HarperCollins UK chief executive, said: It has been one of the great privileges of my publishing life to have been Jeffrey Archers editor. He was the master storyteller and an editors dream phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible, and a true champion of the team nature of great publishing. When he set out to write Adam & Eve, he told me from the very beginning that it would be his final novel he was so excited about the scale of it and told me that if he could pull it off, it would equal anything hed previously written, on which basis he couldnt imagine embarking on any future novels. He did indeed pull it off and he was utterly thrilled by the early reader reactions. Were all devastated to have lost a writer who has brought joy to generations of readers and a true friend. Jeffrey Archer at Jaipur Literary Festival in 2019 Eastern Eye The phrase bestselling author doesnt do him justice. He was the ultimate story teller. He sold more than 300 million books in his five-decade writing career, including the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel , and often set the novels in his home town of Wellington, Somerset. His books sold in 119 countries in 49 languages. But he had a particularly soft spot for India, it became clear during my interviews with him. In September 2019, for example, I went to see him at his penthouse suite overlooking the Thames with a view of the Palace of Westminster. He reckoned he had visited 20 to 25 times over the years. He was taken aback to discover one young woman journalist in Kolkata knew his tales almost better than he did. But he did point out that his debut novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less , was published in 1975 when he was 35. Put simply, Indians appeared to adore Archer and Archer adored India. They are very kind to me, he summed up. On his phone was a picture of the crowd he had attracted at the Jaipur Literary Festival earlier that year. 7,500 people turned up to hear me in Jaipur. His wife, Dame Mary Archer, a distinguished scientist in her own right to whom he had then been married for 53 years, was moving around quietly in the background. A couple of months previously, a group of senior Indian businessmen had hosted a lavish dinner for the Archers in London. Mary was shocked, recounted Archer. It was truly remarkable every course was named after one of my books. On the menu, headed A Tribute to Jeffrey Archer, were such items as Mightier than the Sword (Lavash and Hummus), First Among Equals (Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad), Nothing Ventured (Podi Hoppers Corn and Kuttu Roti), Only Time Will Tell (Slow-cooked Kali Dal) and Kane and Abel (Celebration Cake). Jeffrey Archer part of the menu Amit Roy Since most Indian businessmen probably dont read anything other than their bank statements, clearly a researcher had been hard at work to make the menu a collectors item (Archer generously donated one of his three copies to Eastern Eye ). He added: I am always teased that the other author Indians love is P G Wodehouse. And you would think we couldnt be more different. He learnt that several schools in India look at Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less as a first novel and see the immaturity of someone writing a first novel. A headmistress told me recently that her school is studying the art of short storytelling because you have R K Narayan, one of the greatest story writers who has ever lived. I am a huge admirer and fan wish I had met him before he died. In fact, if he were to be cast on a desert island and allowed to take a handful of books, R K Narayans short story collection, Malgudi Days , would be in the mix, along with Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. He accepted that since his first novel came out in 1975, British society had changed beyond recognition and with it the standing of Indians. One has to be very careful what one says in this situation because we live in an age where prejudice is misunderstood but all I will say is the Indians work very hard, number one. And they are very bright, number two. And that is a good start. So, I am not surprised that Indians are doing well in this country. Everywhere I go I was in Qatar recently they seem to be running the place. I was in Dubai they seem to be running the place. Jeffrey Archer signing a book Amit Roy I think you are the most aspirational race on earth, possibly other than the Chinese who are also very aspirational. And I write aspirational books. As for his fan base in India and the enthusiastic welcome he received whenever he was in India, he commented: Its a mystery. Perhaps my love of India, (and) my love of cricket come through to the people both in the books and whenever I am on radio and television in India. He reckoned India should have won the ICC World Cup earlier that year you were the best team. His eyes lit up at the mention of Rahul Dravid. Oh, yes. Beautiful stroke player. Jeffrey Archer with Sharmila Tagore and her family at an auction dinner in London in 2013 Eastern Eye He went on: I always say that V V S Laxman and Rahul Dravid staying in all day against the Australians (at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 when India won after following on) was one of the great Test matches in history. He had met the then Indian skipper Virat Kohli three times. I heard him make a speech recently in your (Indian) high commission and he is a very measured, sensible, intelligent man, was his assessment. I am a great admirer, not just of his batting, but of his competitive attitude and indeed the way he conducts himself. But this has been true of the Indians for many years. In this ultra elite group, he included Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri. And he retained warm memories of the Nawab, a reference to Mansur Ali Khan Tiger Pataudi. I was at Oxford with the Nawab who was a friend and remained a dear friend through to his death. He was a great man and a great captain of India. He saw Tiger in action before his friend lost much of the vision in his right eye in a car accident. That was very, very sad. I am amazed that he went on to captain his country and remained a world class cricketer. Always in demand as an auctioneer at Indian charity functions, the author officiated at a dinner at the May Fair Hotel in London in 2013 to raise funds for the Pataudi 2020 organisation which helps people with sight problems. The occasion was attended by his wife Sharmila Tagore, son and daughter Saif and Soha and daughter-in-law Kareena. The auctions I love they are fun. And that was a particularly fun one because I was doing it in memory of someone I cared about. After many ups and downs in his life, Archer was glad he did not stay in politics or become mayor of London but made his mark as a storyteller. His style was deceptively simple. But he had the gift of being able to make the reader turn the page to find out what happened next. He told me he wanted to take his new protagonist, Detective Constable William Warwick, a bright, young recruit to Scotland Yards art and antiquities squad in his latest novel, Nothing Ventured (Macmillan; 20), through to Metropolitan Police Commissioner over the course of eight novels. Jeffrey Archer Amit Roy We chatted about Nothing Ventured , in which Warwick makes his debut starting out in Scotland Yards art and antiquities squad. One night while watching a suspects house from a car, said Archer, Warwick kept awake by remembering the top ten Test batting averages of all times Bradman 99.84, Pollock 60.97, Headley. Whether Warwick would get to the very top would depend on whether the author was around to complete the task, said Archer, who was due to turn 80 in 2020. However, the narrative trajectory changed, and the series formally concluded with the final book in the series, End Game . The book tracked Warwick at the rank of Commander during the 2012 London Olympics, leaving him just short of the top job. An editor had suggested I should get Jeffrey Archer to talk about Jofra Archer, then Englands exciting new fast bowler. Oh, yes, responded the author, who was very knowledgeable about cricket. He is clearly a great new talent and made the big decision whether he would play for the West Indies or for England. And luckily for us he chose England. Yes, very exciting indeed. As he is only 24 years old, we can hope to have him for 10 years. On a broader sociological point, no one made anything of the fact that Jofra was a black man playing for England and had become a national hero overnight. Cover of one of his books Eastern Eye Why should it? asked Archer. This is a natural evolution. Archer, himself once an athlete who ran the 400 metres, recalled: When I ran for England and for Britain, we had no black men in the team. That has changed now. It has changed to the extent that I read in The Times the other day that in the Olympic Games there wasnt a white man in the semi-final or the final. And thats fine. Thats a change. We live with it. Did he think that diversity, represented by the likes of Jofra Archer, had brought strength to modern Britain? Very much, enthused the author. Archer, who was given a peerage in 1992, retired from the House of Lords in 2024. He is survived by his wife Mary, to whom he was married for 60 years, two sons, James and William, and two granddaughters and three grandsons.
India vs Uruguay: Plenty for both sides to gain, and lose, in FIFA friendly
India take on Uruguay in an important FIFA friendly in Kolkata, with both sides looking to gain valuable experience and momentum. As the teams prepare for the clash, there is plenty at stake ahead of the highly anticipated international fixture.
Gold and silver prices today, 6 October: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
Bengal bypolls: Voting peacefully underway in Nandigram, Rejinagar
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 6 (IANS) Voting was underway in two Assembly constituencies in West Bengal -- Nandigram in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district -- under an unprecedented security cover. The polling process has been peaceful till the time the report was filed. The polling process started at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m. From the very first hour, enthusiasm was witnessed among voters in both seats, with long queues at the various polling booths in both constituencies. The results for the by-elections will be declared on October 9. With Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate from the former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Mamata All India Trinamool Congress at Nandigram, withdrawing her nomination at the last moment, political observers feel it will be a cakewalk victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Hasi Rani Rath. Dey is the mother of Late Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was assassinated on the road in Madhyamgram on May 6. A sympathy wave is likely to work in her favour. Nandigram is all set to witness a four-cornered contest among the BJP, Congress, Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress and the CPI. CM Adhikari, who is a voter in Nandigram, is expected to reach the concerned polling booth to exercise his mandate at around 10 a.m. The total number of candidates in Nandigram is 16. The number of voters in the by-election is 2,66,419 -- male voters 1,38,955; female voters 1,27,463; and one is a third gender voter. Of the 323 booths, the police have identified 85 as sensitive. A tough contest is expected in Rejinagar where over 65 per cent of the voters are from the minority community. Rejinagar is all set to witness a six-cornered contest this time involving the BJP, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), Congress, Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, Democratic Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). The total number of candidates in Rejinagar is 14. The total number of voters there is 2,56,546. There are 1,33,925 male voters, 1,22,616 female voters and five are third gender voters. A total of 71 companies will be deployed for the bypolls to the two Assembly constituencies -- 37 in Nandigram and the remaining 34 in Rejinagar. According to police sources, a total of about eight kilograms of explosives were found in their special operations in different areas of Rejinagar on Monday. A search is underway to find out who was involved in the incident. Apart from this, the police have filed 78 cases under non-bailable sections since the announcement of the elections. They have arrested 99 people as a precautionary measure. In the Assembly polls earlier this year, Suvendu Adhikari was elected simultaneously from Nandigram and Bhabanipur in South Kolkata. However, he decided to retain Bhabanipur, thus necessitating bypolls for Nandigram. On the other hand, the AJUP candidate Humayun Kabir won both the Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly seats in Murshidabad district. Later, he chose to retain Naoda, thus necessitating a bypoll for Rejinagar.
Voting begins in Bengal bypolls to Nandigram, Rejinagar seats
Kolkata: Polling began Tuesday, October 6, at 7 am for by-elections in the Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security arrangements, officials said. Altogether 71 companies of central forces have been deployed for the bypolls, they said. Polling will continue till 6 pm. The contests will give the BJP an early Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Test for BJP in Bengal, TVK in TN; bypolls in 5 assembly constituencies, 1 LS seat begins
Voting commenced at 7 am for multiple by-elections across West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry on Tuesday. In West Bengal, significant contests included Nandigram and Rejinagar with notable security. Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election also featured 19 candidates competing for votes. In Puducherry, the election for Thattanchavady Assembly witnessed a three-way contest among different political parties. Counting for these elections will occur on October 9 across all constituencies.
Narayana Hrudayalaya to operate and manage Mission of Mercy Hospital in Kolkata
The agreement is aimed at leveraging Narayana Hrudayalayas healthcare and hospital management expertise to support the facilitys long-term sustainability
Complex atlantoaxial stabilization surgery performed in high-risk patient at AIIMS Jammu
Jammu, Oct 5:All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu has successfully performed a complex atlantoaxial stabilization surgery on a high-risk patient from Kolkata suffering from atlantoaxial rotatory instability, marking another important milestone in the institutes growing expertise in complex spine surgery. The atlantoaxial joint, located between the first and second cervical vertebrae, is responsible for nearly half of the necks rotational movement. Instability at this level can lead to severe restriction of neck movements, spinal cord compression, progressive weakness, gait disturbances and other disabling neurological deficits, making timely diagnosis and specialized surgical management essential. The patient, according to AIIMS Jammu spokesperson, is recovering well and showing encouraging neurological improvement following the procedure. The patient had been experiencing progressive restriction of neck movements along with weakness of all four limbs and had previously sought treatment at multiple tertiary care centres across the country before presenting to AIIMS Jammu. Detailed clinical evaluation and advanced radiological assessment by the Department of Orthopaedics confirmed a complex atlantoaxial rotatory instability requiring definitive surgical stabilization. The surgery was successfully performed by Dr Tarsem Motten and Dr Rashid Anjum, Department of Orthopaedics, who carried out stabilization of the atlantoaxial junction to restore spinal stability, relieve neural compression and prevent further neurological deterioration. The procedure was uneventful and the patient is currently comfortable and improving steadily after surgery, the doctors stated. Dr Amit Thakur, Additional Professor and Officiating Head, Department of Orthopaedics, emphasised that upper cervical spine surgery required meticulous preoperative planning, precise instrumentation and a coordinated multidisciplinary approach because of the close proximity of the spinal cord, vertebral arteries, and vital neural structures. He also highlighted that the Department of Orthopaedics at AIIMS Jammu was regularly performing complex spine and spinal deformity surgeries, offering advanced treatment for challenging spinal disorders. The case received specialised anaesthesia support from Dr Slomi Gupta and Dr Shruti Sharma, Department of Anaesthesia. Anaesthetic management in atlantoaxial instability requires careful airway planning, minimal cervical movement during intubation, and continuous neurological vigilance to ensure safe surgery. Prof (Dr) Sanjeev Sinha, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Jammu, congratulated the multidisciplinary team and noted that the successful management of this technically demanding case reflected the institutes expanding capability in advanced spine and craniovertebral junction surgery. He emphasised that the availability of modern surgical technology, including intraoperative neuromonitoring and navigation, together with experienced multidisciplinary teams, was enabling AIIMS Jammu to deliver world-class complex spine care within the region. The successful outcome further strengthens the Department of Orthopaedics comprehensive spine services and reinforces AIIMS Jammus position as a referral centre for complex spine and spinal deformity surgery, it was stated.
A day after the BJPannounced candidature of former Trinamool Congress MP Rukmini Mallick alias Koel Mallick to Rajya Sabha, the actor turned politician on Monday formally joined the saffron party. Ms. Mallick filed her nomination papers for the Upper House in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari andState BJP president.
Four migrants detained in MP: Cal HC pulls up Bilaspur SP for parallel SIR-citizen exercise
After SRFTI mention, HC seeks info on student campus safety
Flyadeal looks to expand India network beyond Mumbai, Hyderabad
Flyadeal is considering expanding its operations in India to include additional cities like Lucknow and Kolkata. Currently, the airline has successfully established routes to Hyderabad and Mumbai. The airline's initial flights demonstrate strong passenger demand and high load factors on the existing routes. Challenges include rising fuel prices affecting fares and overall yields. The carrier aims to serve at least six Indian cities as it receives more aircraft.
Rain-guard action shifts to pandals across city
Over 1k hotels shut: KMC mulls 4-month window to upgrade fire safety measures
New Alipore factory of sweet shop to resume operations soon
Will reduce red tape, govt promises bars & restaurants
40-Year-Old Held For Assault On Civic Cop & Constable
Minister announces plan for textile hub in Bengal
Amit Shah will not attend Mahalaya event
Behala Flying Club revival hope after ministers push for flight training institute
Uruguay Match Ticket Price Nosedives From Rs 749 To Rs 199
Chief Minister to hand job letters to 5,000 new cops on Oct 11
Maids steal Rs 20L jewellery from Behala flat
Season of confusion returns for those on the ground
ED conducts searches in Kolkata to probe Rs 1,109 crore bank fraud
Bankshall lawyers strike work over assault, egg attack
112 helpline to cut down on police response time
Lawyers blockade, SFI stir bring C & N Kolkata traffic to a standstill
Kolkata to See Direct Flights to Europe as Central Minister Promises Initiatives
The Indian government plans to initiate direct flights from Kolkata to European cities, enhancing regional connectivity and infrastructure. Kolkata to See Direct Flights to Europe as Central Minister Promises Initiatives
Kolkata to Explore Direct Flights to Europe
Union Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu announces plans for direct flights from Kolkata to various European cities, enhancing connectivity. Kolkata to Explore Direct Flights to Europe
Let Milan contest: SC adjourns bail nix plea hearing to day after bypoll
They think they can beat us into submission, Neha Bora says in Kolkata
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Indian Statistical Institute, and Jadavpur University students join convention to speak out against crackdown on educational institutes, and the voter rights issue
Rejinagar bypoll: Babri rhetoric fades, development takes centre stage
Bengal must resist SIR, defend democratic rights: Neha Bora
SRFTI Assures Student Safety After Clashes With Protesters in Kolkata
Mamata Banerjees 2021 leg injury row: Dont dig too deep, Suvendu Adhikari Warns
Christian forum moves rights panels over Bengal attacks
Stone crushers: NGT flags Bengal data mismatch, seeks report
Eight decades on, Khulna woman traces roots to Krishnanagar
ED Conducts Major Raids in Kolkata and Odisha Over Bank Fraud Case
The Enforcement Directorate has launched extensive raids in Kolkata and Odisha linked to a 1,109 crore bank fraud case. ED Conducts Major Raids in Kolkata and Odisha Over Bank Fraud Case
flyadeal plans major India expansion, eyes Lucknow, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata
The proposed network would give flyadeal a wider presence across Indias major aviation markets, positioning the carrier to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding India-Saudi travel corridor.
Kolkata Warriors Clinch Title in Def Indian Premier League with Victory Over Bangalore Badshah
Kolkata Warriors won the Def Indian Premier League 2026 by defeating Bangalore Badshah by 14 runs in Tirupati. Kolkata Warriors Clinch Title in Def Indian Premier League with Victory Over Bangalore Badshah
Sleepless night after Brazil defeat, Akash Mishra looks ahead to Uruguay clash
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) Akash Mishra had a sleepless night after India lost to Brazil 0-4 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) a few days ago, and he now puts his focus on the upcoming clash against Uruguay on Tuesday. Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of their fixture against the former two-time champions, Akash revealed that he could not sleep the night India lost to Brazil on Saturday. I didnt sleep. I was watching the game all night. I slept in the morning, and then I had to wake up early and do my recovery, Mishra said in the presser. Mishra did not exchange shirts with any of the Brazilian players after the game, saying that he did not feel like doing it after the defeat. No. As I said, I was feeling really bad after the loss, so I didnt. Now, maybe (he would do it). But after the game, I was not feeling good, the left-back added. India have a shorter turnaround as compared to Uruguay for this fixture as the Blue Tigers played their game three days before the scheduled clash against the Diego Forlan-led side, while La Celeste have been in Kolkata for six days. However, Akash did not see this as an excuse. This is what the game demands from the players. We have to play whether it's two days or three days. We have to be ready to perform well. There is nothing like we were only prepared for Brazil. We know the capabilities of all the teams, and we have to perform at our best level. Two are done, one more to go, and we have to finish on a very, very good note, the 24-year-old added. Meanwhile, India coach Khalid Jamil also remains aware of the threat Uruguay bring to the table. As I said, they are physically strong, so we have to match them. Tactically also, they are good, Jamil said in the presser. One mistake will cost us very badly. We have to be very careful, he added.
Javed Akhtar says message attributed to him lashing out at Abhijeet Dipke are as fake as fake can be
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 5 (IANS) Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, has issued a clarification with regards to a recent fake message attributed to him. On Monday, the veteran writer took to his X, formerly Twitter, and penned a long note quashing the claims that he lashed out at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, and said that the message is fake. He wrote, I, Javed Akhtar want to tell every one that the fake message on the social media that I have criticised CJP and run down Abhijeet Dipke is as fake as fake can be. He further mentioned, I am surprised that those who are opposing Dipke and CJP need to borrow credibility from someone like me !! . Yeh Haalut hogayee hai ??? Sad. A fake message has circulated on social media, claiming that the veteran lyricist and screenwriter criticised Abhijeet Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The purported message described Dipke as a puppet of Arvind Kejriwal and accused the CJP of pursuing an anti-BJP agenda. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, has launched a fresh protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The agitation began in Mumbai on October 2, with hundreds of supporters gathering at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the demonstration. The CJP is protesting the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has alleged irregularities in the exercise. The Election Commission has said the revision is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters while retaining eligible voters. The CJP has announced that the campaign will expand to other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Dipke has also announced a return to Delhi, with a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if ECI does not resign. Delhi Police detained few protestors during a demonstration on October 4, 2026.
Bengal: Union minister assures push for direct Kolkata-Europe flights
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Monday said that his Ministry would shortly begin discussions with different airline companies to facilitate the introduction of direct flights connecting Kolkata with various European cities. Naidu was in Kolkata on Monday for the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal government for the development of four new airports in the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari requested Naidu to initiate the process for starting direct flights connecting Kolkata with various European cities, including London. Naidu assured the Chief Minister that the Ministry would shortly begin talks with different airline companies on the matter. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu also said that the Ministry's target was to establish a total of eight new airports in West Bengal, for four of which the MoUs were signed on Monday. The Union government will fully cooperate with the state government in this matter. The work of new airport development will be carried out in coordination between the Centre and the state. Attention will be paid to runway renovation and terminal buildings. The Central Government will look after the technical aspects of the airports, Naidu said. The four new regional airports for which the MoUs were signed on Monday will be located at Chharra in Purulia district, Balurghat in South Dinajpur district, Hasimara Civil Enclave in Alipurduar district, and Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district. Hasimara and Kalaikunda are also important bases of the Indian Air Force. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the development of the four new airports would further improve air connectivity infrastructure in the state. It is learnt that, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Union government, the state government will be responsible for providing the necessary land, connecting roads, power supply, water supply and basic security as per the agreement. The Union government, on the other hand, will create the core airport infrastructure. On the occasion of signing the MoUs, CM Adhikari also requested Naidu to establish a pilot training institute in West Bengal.
Forlan returns to Kolkata looking to instil his managerial philosophy
ED conducts raids in Kolkata in a bank fraud case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is active again in the bank fraud case as central agency investigators raided various addresses in Kolkata on Monday. They are conducting searches not only in Kolkata but also in Odisha. According to ED sources, searches are underway in a total of nine places. It is learned that a Bhubaneswar-based company was accused of corruption worth Rs 1,109 crore. Initially, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started investigating this case. Later, the ED took over the investigation of that case. Based on that information, they have been conducting searches in the Posta and Burrabazar areas of Kolkata since Monday morning. According to ED sources, the Bhubaneswar-based company took a loan of Rs 1,109 crore from the bank. Allegedly, that money has been embezzled. It is also alleged that money was laundered from Odisha to Kolkata through various means. The ED has started investigating the allegation of strategically diverting the loan money. Earlier, the CBI had conducted searches in the Posta and Burrabazar areas based on the information in this case. ED sources claimed that this search operation is to find out the source of money laundering. The central investigation agency said that the company had increased the stock price and commercial dues to get the loan and rigged the financial statements. It was further alleged that the company inflated the value of its stock and trade receivables to obtain loans and falsified its financial statements. A few days ago, the ED conducted searches at 15 places in Kolkata and adjoining areas on charges of financial irregularities in the sale of Durga Puja 'preview passes'. The raids were linked to former state minister Indranil Sen and his wife. In addition to his house and garden, the ED also raided the houses of his relatives and close friends. A marathon search was conducted. Later, Indranil Sen was summoned to the CGO Complex office of the ED based on the source of this case.
'Uruguay physically very strong, we have to match them': Jamil ahead of India's next test
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) India football head coach Khalid Jamil remains aware of the challenge former World Cup Champions Uruguay bring as the Blue Tigers gear up for their next test. Having held Panama 1-1 and lost to Brazil 0-4 earlier, India's run of facing World Cup teams reaches its conclusion with their clash against former two-time winners Uruguay at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday. As I said, they are physically strong, so we have to match them. Tactically also, they are good, India coach Jamil said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash. Jamil added that they have to be pretty careful against La Celeste. One mistake will cost us very badly. We have to be very careful, Jamil said. Uruguay have the likes of Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez and Lucas Torreira in their squad. They arrive in India on the back of an underwhelming World Cup 2026, where they were eliminated in the group stage without a win. Diego Forlan was named the coach after the World Cup, and his initiation has been mixed so far. Under him, Uruguay began with a 1-3 defeat to Japan before beating South Korea 4-1. Forlan reflected on the India clash, highlighting that they will look to put their best foot forward. Theres never an easy game in football, he said. We will try to do our best and enjoy our game tomorrow against India. Forlan also took note of India's 0-4 loss to Brazil as he sounded a warning to his players. You could see some combinations, some long balls, some good players, he said. If you give them time and space, they can damage you, and they can play well. So you have to respect everybody. Uruguay also have injury issues, as Federico Valverde is absent with his injury, and Emiliano Martnez was called up in his place. Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Sebastin Cceres have also flown back home due to their injuries, while Brian Rodrguez is unavailable. But even these absences leave India with a tough task awaiting them.
Trump corrects himself after referring to Brazil's presidential election as India's
Washington, Oct 5: President Donald Trump on Monday corrected an earlier post on social media in which he referred to Brazil's presidential election as India's to claim that the electoral process in the US was corrupt. In a glaring factual error, Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, claimed that 125 million people voted in Indias Presidential elections and the results came out shortly after the vote closed. Trump then used the faster counting example to target Democratic-run cities and states such as Detroit, Philadelphia and California. In Detroit, Philadelphia, California, and numerous other US Cities and States, the results, with much smaller numbers, will often take weeks to Rig, I mean, calculate, Trump said. Voting in America is CORRUPT, Trump said, referring to the weeks taken for the counting of votes in elections in US cities and states. Later, he corrected himself to say that 25 Million People voted today in the first round of Brazils Presidential Election. The results came out shortly after the vote closed, on the SAME DAY! Brazil, not India, went to the polls on Sunday for the first round of its presidential election. The South American country recorded 125.27 million valid votes, according to its electoral authority, while results started coming in from 5 pm, when voting closed, and were updated as ballots were counted. Brazil, alphabetically the first part of the acronym BRICS, attended a summit of the grouping in New Delhi last month and the two nations met each other in a FIFA international friendly football match in Kolkata on Saturday -- though neither fact could reliably be cited to explain the mix-up by the US President who handed over the sport's biggest prize in New Jersey in July. India's citizens do not directly vote for their President, who is elected by an electoral college formed by members of Parliament and state assemblies. The incumbent Droupadi Murmu assumed office in 2022. Brazil's election on Sunday featured incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. With neither candidate securing a majority, the two will face each other in a run-off on October 25.
Kolkata: SRFTI students seek security post-Hindutva protest
Kolkata: Police maintained a vigil at the gate of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, on Monday, October 5, as students continued their academic boycott, demanding security following a protest by members of the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Mancha on the campus a day earlier. SRFTI Students Union general secretary Nachiket told news agency Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Kolkata Warriors Crowned Champions Of Deaf Indian Premier League 2026
KVS Sports Park Cricket Ground: Kolkata Warriors were crowned the champions of the Deaf Indian Premier League 2026 after beating Bangalore Badshahs in the final by 14 runs at the KVS Sports Park Cricket Ground here. Kolkata Warriors made 121/5 in their 15 overs with their batters putting up a good show. The bowlers backed them really well and kept the lid on the Badshahs, restricting them to 107/9 and winning by 14 runs in the end. The championship took place at the KVS Sports Park Cricket Ground in Tirupati from October 1 to 4, 2026. It gave the deaf cricketers from across the country a national platform to demonstrate their sporting ability. Sumit Jain, President, Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), spoke at the conclusion of the tournament and appreciated the players, officials, partners and stakeholders for their contribution to the tournament. Several players were also honoured with awards for their performances in the tournament. Bangalore Badshahs' Aman Chouksey was named Player of the Series and also received the Best Bowler of the Series and Highest Wicket-Taker awards. Eight teams participated in the event: Deaf Hyderabad Eagles, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs, Deaf Lucknow Giants, Deaf Delhi Bulls, Deaf Mumbai Stars, Deaf Kolkata Warriors, Deaf Punjab Lions and Deaf Chennai Blasters, giving their all for the title. IDCA also acknowledged the support and cooperation of institutions and stakeholders associated with the development of deaf cricket, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Deaf International Cricket Council (DICC), Asian Deaf Cricket Association (ADCA), Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), Deaf Cricket Association of Andhra Pradesh (DCAAP) and Differently Abled Cricket Council of Andhra Pradesh (DACCAP). Here is the list of individual award winners from the tournament: Player of the Match Final: Jitan Nayak, Deaf Kolkata Warriors Best Batter of the Series: Krrish Manish Prajapati, Deaf Kolkata Warriors Best Bowler of the Series: Aman Chouksey, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs Player of the Series: Aman Chouksey, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs Super Sixes Award: Deepak Lamba, Deaf Mumbai Stars Best Wicketkeeper: Umar Ashraf, Deaf Kolkata Warriors Highest Wicket-Taker: Aman Chouksey, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs Best Fielder of the Series: Venu Siliveru, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs Highest Wicket-Taker: Aman Chouksey, Deaf Bangalore Badshahs Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Just Rs 199! India v Uruguay tickets slashed 90% after empty seats for Brazil game
In a bid to boost attendance at the upcoming friendly match between India and Uruguay, ticket prices have plummeted from Rs 1,999 to just Rs 199 for select seats. This move follows a lackluster turnout during the Brazil match, which left many seats empty. Furthermore, organisers will distribute around 22,000 complimentary tickets to spectators from a recent event, aiming for a more festive atmosphere at this crucial clash in Kolkata.
Lawyers Block Road Demanding Arrests Over Court Attack
Lawyers in Kolkata's Bankshall Court staged a protest march and road blockade, demanding the immediate arrest of individuals responsible for allegedly throwing eggs and attacking advocates on court premises last week. They also called for improved security measures within the court.
Hazaribag completes land acquisition for Varanasi-Kolkata expressway
First cargo vessel leaves Dibrugarh via river route to Bangladesh after Independence
Digital Desk | Dibrugarh (Assam), Oct 5 (IANS) A barge carrying 540 metric tons of methanol left from Bogibeel Terminal here on Monday for Bangladesh's Dhaka, marking the first cargo shipped from upper Assam to a foreign port since India's independence, nearly 70 years after the town's river ghat closed. The methanol, produced by state-owned Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. (APCL) at Namrup, is bound for Pangaon Port in Dhaka. The vessel will travel about 768 kilometres down National Waterway-2 on the Brahmaputra River in India to the Indo-Bangladesh border, then continue along the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR). The vessel will cover a total distance of 1,300 kms from Bogibeel, Dibrugarh to Narayanganj, Dhaka. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the vessel DLB Patkai, pushed by the tug Kushal Konwar, from Bogibeel. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the ceremony virtually. The voyage is being observed as a test of whether the Brahmaputra can serve as a commercially viable freight corridor linking the Northeast to overseas markets. Regular methanol shipments to Bangladesh are planned. The shipment became possible after customs and immigration complexes were set up at Bogibeel and Dhubri recently. Our grandparents grew up hearing the steamer whistle at Dibrugarh Ghat. For 70 years, that whistle fell silent, and the ships stopped coming, Sonowal said. Today, a ship leaves Dibrugarh for the world once again. The river never failed us. What it lacked for decades was the will to revive it. Sarma called it a proud day for Assam. Assam's own product, made in Namrup, is now travelling to an international market on Assam's own river. The Northeast is no longer a frontier. It is India's gateway to the East, he noted. Dibrugarh was once among the busiest river ports in eastern India. Government steamers reached the town from Calcutta, now Kolkata, by 1856. In 1882, the Dibru-Sadiya Railway began operating from the Dibrugarh steamer ghat. By 1913, steamers sailed up the Brahmaputra to the town daily, carrying tea, timber and passengers. The 1947 partition cut that route, forcing Assam's goods to pass through East Pakistan to reach Calcutta. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), cargo on India's national waterways rose from 18 million metric tons in fiscal 2013-14 to 218 million metric tons in 2025-26. More than Rs 68 billion (about $770 million) is being invested in waterways across the Northeast, including development of National Waterway-2, a ship repair facility at Pandu, and last-mile connectivity to Pandu Port. Every ton we move on the river means less fuel burnt and fewer trucks on the highway, Sonowal said. He added that India is working with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar on regional waterway links.
Kolkata High Court Orders Enhanced Security for University Students in West Bengal
The Kolkata High Court mandates West Bengal to improve security measures for university students amid rising campus incidents. Kolkata High Court Orders Enhanced Security for University Students in West Bengal
East Bengal vs NorthEast United IFA Shield Semi-Final LIVE Score Updates: East Bengal face off against NorthEast United in a blockbuster IFA Shield 2026 semi-final in Kolkata.
Mamata Banerjees TMC Moves Kolkata High Court Over Fund Access Ahead of Durga Puja
Mamata Banerjees faction of TMC seeks court intervention for fund access before Durga Puja amid ongoing legal disputes. Mamata Banerjees TMC Moves Kolkata High Court Over Fund Access Ahead of Durga Puja
Hours after joining BJP, actor Koel Mallick files RS nomination
Kolkata: Bengali film actor Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, on Monday, October 5, submitted her nomination as the BJP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the partys state president, Samik Bhattacharya. She joined the BJP at its state headquarters here hours Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Deaf Kolkata Warriors win IDCA 7th T20 Deaf Indian Premier League 2026
The News Mill
India housing market sees sharper divergence across cities, price band
India's residential property market exhibited stable sales during January-September when compared to the previous year. Major markets like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata demonstrated positive trends, while NCR faced a significant decline. Higher-ticket homes are increasingly preferred, with sales of properties priced above Rs 1 crore climbing sharply. Sales for lower-priced segments, however, experienced a downturn, reducing buyers' options.
Kota maternal deaths: Clean chit to suspended doctors raises fresh questions
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 5 (IANS) Questions are mounting over accountability in the Kota maternal deaths case after senior doctors, suspended following the deaths of several new mothers and kidney failure among other women, were reinstated. The doctors had faced action amid findings of serious treatment and protocol lapses, but enquiry committees set up by the Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma-led Rajasthan government, have now reportedly given them a clean chit, raising a crucial question: If there was no negligence, why were they suspended and if serious lapses did occur, who is responsible? The sequence has triggered a fundamental question in Rajasthan: If there was no medical negligence, why were senior doctors suspended in the first place and if serious lapses were identified, who is accountable for the deaths and debilitating complications suffered by the patients? The Kota maternal death case has once again come under scrutiny following the reinstatement of three senior doctors of Kota Medical College including Dr. B.L. Patidar, Dr. Khushbu Meena and Dr. Navneet Kumar. The three were suspended in May after the deaths of new mothers and reports of kidney failure among other post-delivery patients. Four enquiry committees from Kota, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Delhi have now reportedly found no medical negligence attributable to the doctors, paving the way for their reinstatement. However, the clean chit has opened more questions than it has closed. The government's initial response in May was unequivocal. Inspections and preliminary enquiries reportedly flagged failures in treatment protocols, absence of senior doctors in the post-gynaecology ward, problems inside the operation theatre, sanitation concerns and questions surrounding medicines and emergency facilities. On May 11, Medical Department Principal Secretary, Gayatri Rathore, reportedly acknowledged that a preliminary enquiry had found shortcomings in adherence to protocols in the operation theatre. Dr. B.L. Patidar and Dr. Khushbu Meena were suspended over alleged negligence in treatment and supervision. Action was also initiated against nursing staff and hospital officials. Now, months later, the doctors have been cleared. That is the question the government must answer publicly. The initial investigation had reportedly thrown up a disturbing list of issues. Excessive fluids and antibiotics were allegedly administered to women after childbirth. Dampness and fungal growth were found in the post-gynaecology ward and Operation Theatre. Questions were also raised over alleged fumigation before culture samples were collected. Culture samples from the ward and OT reportedly failed twice. On May 11, when the condition of a patient identified as Pinky deteriorated, an ambulance equipped with a ventilator was reportedly unavailable. Another inspection on May 17 reportedly found filth and fungal growth in the gynaecology ward. Then, on May 26, the Drug Department reportedly found an Oxytocin injection sample to be substandard. Yet the final outcome has now cleared the three suspended doctors of medical negligence. For the families of the five women who died, the controversy is not an administrative file. For women such as Ragini Meena, Aarti, Dhanni, Pinky and Sushila, who reportedly suffered kidney failure after childbirth, the consequences continue. The women have demanded that the government make the enquiry committee and forensic reports public and explain what caused their kidney failure. They reportedly remain dependent on dialysis and have described severe physical and psychological distress, including episodes of temporary vision loss. Their demand is simple: Tell them what happened and who is responsible. The investigation is not entirely over. Samples of nine medical devices from the new hospital were reportedly sent to a laboratory in Kolkata for testing. Their reports are still awaited. That makes the government's responsibility to maintain transparency even more important. Patients' relatives said that the government cannot allow the issue to end with the reinstatement of three doctors. If the doctors were wrongly suspended, the government must explain why such serious action was taken on the basis of the initial findings. If the initial findings were correct and there were genuine failures in treatment, hospital management, sanitation, medicines, emergency response or adherence to protocols, then who will be held accountable, they added. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas recently directed officials to strengthen emergency transportation arrangements for pregnant women, particularly those with high-risk pregnancies. Officials have been asked to improve coordination between maternal healthcare services and ambulance operations and regularly review ambulance utilisation. The measures are important, but they do not answer the central question arising from Kota. Five women died. Others were left facing prolonged kidney treatment. Doctors were suspended, then reinstated. Reports remain pending. The Rajasthan government now owes the patients, their families and the public a clear answer as relatives of new moms, who have left their kids orphaned due to system failure, ask who ultimately, is responsible for the maternal deaths.
Spider-Man from Kolkata spreads joy in dhoti-panjabi ahead of Durga Puja | WATCH
Kolkata is gearing up for Durga Puja, and amid the rush of preparations, an unexpected superhero has caught everyone's attention. A man dressed as Spider-Man was spotted at an idol-making workshop, bringing a fun and...
Calcutta HC asks Bengal govt to ensure students safety within university campuses
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Monday, directed the West Bengal government to ensure the safety of students on university campuses throughout the state. While hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking adequate security measures within the university campuses throughout the state, the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai, observed that mere installation of the CCTV cameras within the university campuses was not enough, and that the state government should play a more proactive role in ensuring students safety on the campuses. Several university authorities have already submitted their reports to the Calcutta High Court on the security measures adopted by them on campuses. Most of the reports mentioned that CCTV cameras have been installed within the campuses. Reacting to these reports, the Division Bench made the observation that mere CCTV installations were not enough to ensure students safety on campuses. The Division Bench also said that, besides ensuring students safety on the campus, proactive measures should be taken to maintain a proper academic ambience within the university campuses. The Division Bench also observed that the university should be strict about not allowing any anarchy on campus. In this regard, the court called for special security focus at the Diamond Harbour Women's University. There should be no lapses in the security arrangements there, the Chief Justice observed. On Monday, the Division Bench sought security-related reports from other universities, which have yet to submit these to the court. The next hearing on the matter will be on December 10. Recently, there have been allegations of attacks by outsiders at the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata. Clashes broke out on the SRFTI campus several times in a span of just a week. Earlier, there were clashes between the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) within the iconic Jadavpur University (JU) campus.
Four new airports to come up in West Bengal in two years: K Rammohan Naidu
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced the development of four new airports in West Bengal. These new airports will be located in Charra, Kalaikunda, Balurghat, and Hasimara. Naidu indicated there is a need for a second airport in Kolkata to meet demand. The UDAN scheme will see an investment of Rs 29,000 crore in the state over ten years.
ECI replaces Nandigram inspector-in-charge a day before high-stakes bypoll
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday ordered the immediate replacement of the inspector-in-charge (IC) of Nandigram Police Station in East Midnapore district of West Bengal, a day before the constituency votes in the Assembly bypoll on Tuesday. Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was serving as the IC of Nandigram Police Station, has been replaced by Debasish Sarkar, who was the IC of the traffic control room in East Midnapore district. In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the Commission directed that the transfer be implemented immediately and a compliance report be submitted to it by Monday evening. The ECI did not disclose the reason for the sudden change. The timing of Mishras removal, just a day before polling, has also drawn attention. The bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district will be held on Tuesday, with counting scheduled for October 9. The two constituencies will witness extensive security arrangements, with 71 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed for the elections. Of the 71 CAPF companies, 37 will be deployed in Nandigram and 34 in Rejinagar. A total of 15,119 state police personnel will also be deployed across the two constituencies, according to election authorities. Nearly 24 per cent of polling booths in both constituencies have been identified as sensitive, with 323 such booths in Nandigram and 315 in Rejinagar. The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in this years Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur and vacated the Nandigram seat. The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of slain Adhikari aide Chandranath Rath, as its Nandigram candidate. Chandranath Rath was killed in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on May 6. The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan, who returned to campaigning after securing interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in connection with cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation. The Rejinagar bypoll was necessitated after AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Naoda, chose to retain Naoda. --ANS
Legal notice sent to 3 doctors over ex-Bengal CM Banerjees medical reports being made public
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) Arka Kumar Nag, counsel of former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, sent a legal notice to three top doctors attached to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital and state-run Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, both in South Kolkata, over a particular medical report of the former Chief Minister being made public in violation of patient-doctor confidentiality. The notice was sent to the S.S.K.M. Director, Dr. Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, Bangur Institutes Medical Superintendent & Vice-Principal (MSVP), Dr. Pijush Kumar Roy, and the Head of the Department of Neurology at Bangur Institute, Dr Atanu Biswas. In the notice, a copy of which is available with the IANS, the counsel of Mamata Banerjee had stated that incomplete and biased details of the medical issues have been published on the basis of the reports that have been made public. In the two-page notice sent through email, Nag had also raised the question on whether Mamata Banerjees permission was sought before making the report public, in violation of patient-doctor confidentiality. In the notice, Nag had claimed that if this information was leaked without his client's permission or without following the due legal process, appropriate action should be initiated against the officials concerned. The legal notice was served amid an explosive allegation made by the current West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday, accusing his predecessor of making a false claim of her leg being fractured during the poll campaign at Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district for the 2021 state polls. While speaking to media persons in this matter on Saturday afternoon, CM Adhikari also allegedly quoted a radiodiagnosis report from the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences dated March 11, 2021, which said that there was no sign of fracture in the limb of the former Chief Minister during that period. He also said that a separate investigation in the matter will also be initiated; once the results of the bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, scheduled on Tuesday, are declared on October 9. However, Trinamool Congress legislator from Beleghata Assembly Constituency in North Kolkata, Kunal Ghosh, a prominent face of the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress, challenged the authenticity of the report and indirectly said that the radiodiagnosis report might have been doctored. Ghosh, a journalist-turned-politician, said that since the current dispensation in West Bengal is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), questions were bound to arise regarding the authenticity of the report. Ghosh also made a social media post claiming that it was not the practice of doctors or institutions to ever reveal anyone's personal medical information. Two days after Kunal Ghosh's post, on Monday, Mamata Banerjee's counsel served a legal notice to the three doctors over the former Chief Minister's alleged medical records being made public. In the legal notice, the three doctors have been questioned whether any medical documents of the former Chief Minister were given to the current Chief Minister and if 'yes' then whether the authorities concerned had followed proper legal procedures before doing that. Mamata Banerjee's counsel had stated that if the entire matter was done without following the legal process, action should be initiated against the officials concerned. In the notice he had also asked the doctors to ensure that Mamata' Banerjees medical confidentiality should not be violated and misleading information should not be circulated in future. To recall, in 2021, Mamata Banerjee contested as Trinamool Congress candidate from Nandigram and was defeated by Adhikari by a margin of little less than 2,000 votes. Later, she got elected in a bypoll from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in south Kolkata and retained her chair as the West Bengal Chief Minister for the third consecutive term. Mamata Banerjee was reportedly injured while campaigning for the 2021 Assembly elections in Nandigram. At that time, she campaigned for the elections with a plaster on her leg after being wheelchair bound.
Indian Football Team Set For Tough Uruguay Test After Brazil Drubbing
India faces a challenging FIFA international friendly against two-time world champions Uruguay in Kolkata, aiming to recover from a 0-4 defeat by Brazil.
Lawyers, CPI(M) supportersofficeface attackin West Bengal; Mamata calls attacks unacceptable
Legal professionals and politicians condemn repeated attacks on advocates in the State
Nagaland Woman Allegedly Molested At Five-Star Hotel In Kolkata; Man Held
Kolkata police arrested a man on Sunday for allegedly molesting a woman from Nagaland at a five-star hotel on EM Bypass. The incident occurred in the early hours when the woman, a resident of Dimapur, was waiting to greet the Brazilian football team visiting the city for a match. Following her complaint at Pragati Maidan... The post Nagaland Woman Allegedly Molested At Five-Star Hotel In Kolkata; Man Held first appeared on Northeast Today .
Bengal bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar voting on Tuesday under heavy security cover
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) The bypolls to the Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district and the Rejinagar Assembly seat in Murshidabad district in West Bengal will be held on Tuesday under an unprecedented security cover. A total of 71 companies will be deployed for the bypolls to the two Assembly constituencies -- 37 in Nandigram and the remaining 34 in Rejinagar. In addition,15119 state police personnel will be deployed -- 819 in Rejinagara and the remaining 700 in Nandigram. It is learnt that almost 24 per cent of the total booths in each of the two constituencies are sensitive booths -- 323 in Nandigram, and 315 in Rejinagar. There will be Central forces personnel in all the polling booths as well as in the quick response team formations. There will also be 100 per cent web-casting in all the polling booths in these two constituencies, said an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. The bypolls will be held on Tuesday, and the results will be announced on October 9. Nandigram is all set to witness a four-cornered contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress and the CPI. The BJP candidate from Nandigram is Hasirani Ratth, the mother of the Late Chandranath Rath, the former personal assistant of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvednu Adhikari, who was assassinated at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6. The former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Mamata All Indian Trinamool Congress is not in the election fray at Nandigram this time, as its candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew her nomination at the last moment. In the Assembly polls earlier this year, Suvendu Adhikari was elected simultaneously from Nandigram and Bhabanipur in South Kolkata. However, he decided to retain Bhabanipur, thus necessitating bypolls for Nandigram. Rejinagar is all set to witness a six-cornered contest this time involving BJP, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), Congress, Mamata All India Trinamool Congress, Democratic Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). In the Assembly polls, the AJUP candidate Humayun Kabir won both the Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly seats in Murshidabad district. Later, he chose to retain Naoda, thus necessitating a bypoll for Rejinagar.
Navratri vs Durga Puja: Why Are They Celebrated Differently Across India?
A garba night in Ahmedabad and an evening among the pandals of Kolkata can feel like two different festivals. In a sense, they are. Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October, with Ghatasthapana. Durga Puja begins on 17 October, with Maha Shashthi.
Crude prices eased on Monday, Oct. 5, as crude oil exports from the Middle East rise amid the ongoing US-Iran attacks; domestic fuel prices remained steady
Koel Mallick officially joins BJP day after Rajya Sabha nomination, says 'blessed and delighted'
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and Bengali film actor Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as actress Koel Mallick, on Monday (October 5) officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata, a day after the party nominated her as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal.
Bangla Classics and Pujo Adda Afternoons at Tavern-Behind-Trincas Kolkata
From 15 to 20 October, the band Tavern-er-Taal will perform twice a day, bringing together three generations of Bengali music across the six days of Durga Puja.
One killed after car plunges into 200-ft gorge in Bengal's Kurseong
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) At least one person was killed and five others were injured after a car plunged into a ditch about 200 feet below in the hills in north Bengal's Kurseong, the police said on Monday. The accident took place on Sunday night on the Kargil Dhara road in Kurseong. It is learnt that six friends were going from Kurseong to Siliguri in a four-wheeler on Sunday. Around 9 p.m. to 9:30 pm, due to heavy rain in the Kargil Dhara area, which is 10 km above Rohini in Kurseong, the car lost control and fell into a ditch about 200 feet below. Following the accident, locals quickly started the rescue work. After receiving information about the incident, the disaster management group of the state and a police team reached the spot. They were rescued and taken to the hospital. One of the six friends was declared dead by the doctor. The rest are undergoing treatment at the hospital. According to the police, all six are residents of Siliguri. On Sunday night, the car lost control in Kargildara and fell into a ditch about two hundred feet below. The locals somehow rescued two of them. However, rain on one side and darkness on the other hindered the rescue work. Three of them were still trapped in the car, said an officer of the Darjeeling District Police. Later, the police and the disaster management team rescued the remaining three people who were trapped in the car. Out of the five injured, two are undergoing treatment at the primary hospital in Kurseong. The remaining three have been shifted to a hospital in Siliguri. The body of the deceased has been sent for autopsy. It may be noted that the hills in north Bengal have been witnessing a prolonged spell of rain in the last few days due to the withdrawal of monsoon from the state. As a result, drivers have been advised to exercise caution while going up and down hills, especially during the rainy season and at night.
Watch: Uruguay footballers play cricket at Eden Gardens ahead of Kolkata friendly
