Crackers cure diseases: BJP MLA Papia Adhikary retracts claim
Kolkata: Facing backlash for crediting firecrackers with curing some diseases, BJPs MLA from Tollygunge in West Bengal, Papia Adhikary, on Monday, November 9, sought to take her statement back. Speaking to ANI, she said, There is an old saying from our ancestors regarding these traditions. In essence, this is a festival of lightsa festival of 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 .
TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das arrested from Kolkata airport over rape, extortion cases
Paresh Ram Das, a Trinamool Congress MLA, was arrested at the Kolkata airport on Monday. He is accused of multiple serious crimes, including rape, extortion, and involvement in post-poll violence. Das was apprehended by a special team from Baruipur Police while he was attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. This arrest follows a period during which he had been evading law enforcement authorities.
Suryakumar Yadav Appointed As Mumbai Captain For Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav has been named as Mumbais captain for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced on Monday. The MCA said Suryakumar will be bringing his vast international experience, leadership and explosive batting prowess to the team. Suryakumar was not considered for the first phase of Mumbais Ranji Trophy campaign, but his standing in white-ball cricket, including leading India to retain their Mens T20 World Cup title earlier this year, made him a strong contender to lead the side once again. The squad features a blend of experienced international and domestic players along with promising young talent, reflecting Mumbai's continued commitment to excellence and nurturing the next generation of cricketers, added the MCA. Suryakumar has been playing for MIG Cricket Club in the MCA Presidents Cup. It is always a matter of immense pride to represent Mumbai. I am honoured to lead this talented group in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mumbai has a rich cricketing legacy and a winning culture, and we will look to uphold those traditions. We have a good mix of experienced players and exciting young talent, and I am confident that the team will come together, play with intensity and give its best in every match. Our aim is to go all the way and bring the trophy home, Suryakumar said in a statement by the MCA. Suryakumar takes over at a time when Mumbai are without several key players. All-rounders Tanush Kotian and Suryansh Shedge will miss the tournament after being named in the India A squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup, to be played in Doha from November 19-29. Shreyas Iyer is currently on national duty for Indias ODI series against New Zealand, while Ranji Trophy captain Siddhesh Lad is sitting out of the competition. Placed in Elite Group D, Mumbai will play all their league matches in Kolkata. Their first game is against Hyderabad on November 14 before taking on Gujarat on November 16 and Goa on November 18. Mumbai will then meet Vidarbha on November 20, before facing Chhattisgarh on November 22 and taking on Odisha on November 24. Their league stage campaign ends against Uttarakhand on November 26. Shreyas Iyer is currently on national duty for Indias ODI series against New Zealand, while Ranji Trophy captain Siddhesh Lad is sitting out of the competition. Placed in Elite Group D, Mumbai will play all their league matches in Kolkata. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das Arrested In Kolkata
Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Ram Das was arrested from Kolkata airport on Monday in connection with multiple cases including rape, extortion, and post-poll violence. He had been absconding and was apprehended by Baruipur Police while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. He will be produced in court on Tuesday.
Diljit Dosanjh Adds Chandigarh And Kolkata Tour Dates: Check Show Dates, Ticket Sale Timings
The singer-actor, who recently announced the India leg of his tour, will now perform across seven cities in the country.
Video: How Kolkata's Famous Jaggery Rasgullas Are Made In An Automatic Machine
The video gave a step-by-step look at how the sweet is made using an automated production process in a factory.
Bengal CM defends Raiganj encounter, warns rapists and criminals of similar action
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday defended the police encounter in which a rape and murder accused, Dilip Roy, was killed in Raiganj. The Chief Minister asserted that law enforcement agencies have been given a free hand to deal with those involved in heinous crimes against women. Dilip Roy was accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. CM Adhikari also cautioned that in the future too, criminals involved in such heinous crimes against women will meet a similar fate. The cops are provided with firearms not just to keep them as a showpiece or to keep them in their pockets. Drug mafias, rapists, and infiltrators have no place in this state, the Chief Minister said while interacting with the media persons on Monday afternoon at the sidelines of a programme at Digha in his native district of East Midnapore. He also indirectly attacked those who are raising their voices against such encounters. Some people are continuing with such activities. Among them are 'Dimagi Naxals', Jamaatis' and Communists'. There are cockroaches and bedbugs. Our nationalists have to be careful about them. The police have been given free hand to tackle rapists & murderers, drug smugglers and infiltrators. We are maintaining a zero-tolerance approach in such cases, the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, the North Dinajpur District Police claimed that the accused killed in the encounter have a history of crime against women. Earlier, he was accused twice of sexual offenses. However, he managed to escape arrest and punishment on both occasions for some reasons, said a district police officer. According to him, three years back, Roy was accused of sexual harassment at Kamtabari-2 Gram Panchayat area in the North Dinajpur district. A couple of years ago, there were similar allegations against him in the Sialmani area in the same district. On both these occasions, the matter was settled at a local Kangaroo Court, and the complaint did not reach the police level, the district police officer said. This is the fourth encounter killing in West Bengal since July this year, three of which are related to minors' rape & murder cases. First, in July, Prabhas Mondal, accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas, was shot dead by the police in an encounter. The police claimed that he was taken to the crime scene to reconstruct the crime. From there, he snatched the police gun and opened fire. The police resorted to counter-firing in self-defence, killing the accused. After that, in October, Prahlad Das, accused in the rape & murder of a 17-year-old girl at Gaighata in South 24 Parganas district, was killed in a similar encounter following retaliatory firing by the police. In this case too, it was alleged that the accused tried to escape while reenacting the incident. On the same day, Samiul Sheikh, who was arrested for murdering a BJP worker in Samserganj in Murshidabad district, was killed in an encounter. The Raiganj incident is the fourth on the list of encounters since July.
Rape-murder accused gunned down in Bengal; 4th encounter since BJP came to power
Dilip Roy, accused of raping and murdering his 12-year-old niece, was killed in an encounter with police. The incident occurred as police attempted to arrest him in the Raiganj area of West Bengal. Police stated that Roy opened fire on their team, prompting them to retaliate in self-defense. This marks the fourth police encounter since the BJP assumed power in West Bengal in May.
'I can't take it anymore': Govt doctor found dead in Kolkata hostel; kin alleges murder
Kolkata Techie Hacked To Death, Live-In Partner, Her Mother Arrested
Police are investigating whether the attack stemmed solely from the altercation or whether other reasons were involved.
Doctor Found Dead In Kolkata Hostel, Family Cries Murder
A young doctor, Abhijit Sarkar, was found dead in his hostel room in Kolkata, with police reporting he had posted a cryptic WhatsApp status. His family has rejected suicide, filing a police complaint alleging murder and citing his recent social media posts about feeling unsafe. An investigation is underway, examining his phone and awaiting the post-mortem report.
Gold rates today: On November 9, 2026, gold prices rose as Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas announced new rates. Check gold jewellery rates gold jewellery rates across New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
How a heated argument turned fatal for Kolkata techie; partner, her mom arrested
In August of 1981, a Cessna aircraft disappeared in Australia's Barrington Tops, carrying five men. Despite numerous searches and thorough investigations, both the plane and its passengers were never discovered. Reports indicated that severe turbulence and ice accumulation likely played a role in the incident. The mystery remains captivating for amateur sleuths and volunteers, while the families of the missing continue their quest for answers about their loved ones' fate.
Gold and silver prices today, 9 November: 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.
Rape-murder accused killed in police encounter; fourth case in West Bengal since BJP came to power
Police had been on the lookout for Dilip Roy for four days following the recovery of the girls decomposed, unclothed body from a forest near the Kulik river
MCX December gold futures settled at Rs 1,42,552 during Muhurat trading on Diwali, gaining 0.27%. However, international gold prices slipped on Monday morning amid pressure on bullion markets.
Bikers snatch mans phone on Camac Street in Kolkata
Cops probe assault on man after road rage in Kolkata
One family sticks to phanush tradition, another goes fireless
Papia Adhikari claims firecrackers cure diseases at Kali Puja event
Illegal crackers eat into Bazi Baazar sales
Dont stock up food for over 2 days: Food association tells restaurants in Kolkata
Diwali gifts arrive without orders
WBRERA portal returns to life after 2-month outage but backlog causes logjam
Bengal forest dept starts shift to green-maroon colour code
Fewer Kolkata metro services on day after Diwali
Kids learn at school, work for a green fesival
At housing complexes, residents balance celebrations with safe-firecracker rules
Chorbagan lesson: Cops close crowd access to Barasat pandal
Engineer hacked to death, live-in partner, mom held
VB forms multiple panels for 6-day Poush Mela
SIT records statements in Chorbagan probe
Suvendu celebrates Diwali with forces along India-Bangladesh border, names new award
Kolkata: Three TMC Workers Arrested Over Unrest Outside Abhishek Banerjees Residence
Kolkata Police have arrested three Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in connection with an incident of unrest outside party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjees residence in Kalighat.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) Huge quantities of marijuana and other narcotics substances were recovered by the West Bengal Police from two locations in two districts on Sunday, officials said. The first seizure took place early this morning at Chandipur village under Jhargram Police Station in Jhargram district, where the police seized three sacks full of marijuana. Being tipped off by their sources, the cops of Jhargram Police Station conducted a raid and search operation at the residence of a person named Biswajit Shil of Chandipur village. Initially, nothing was found in the house. However, during the detailed search, the police became suspicious after seeing the floor of the house, which was quite uneven after they started digging the soil. After removing the soil, three sacks were arranged in rows. After removing the soil, the police took out the sacks. When the sacks were opened, they saw huge quantities of marijuana packed there. An officer of the Jhargram Police station confirmed that a total of 43 kg and 222 gm of marijuana were recovered from the three sacks. Jhargram Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rishabhraj Dev said that Biswajit has been arrested and has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In a separate development, the state police arrested one person at Lalgola in Murshidabad district on Sunday with 324 gm of heroin in his possession. The estimated price of the narcotics seized from his possession is around Rs 37 lakh. The person arrested in this connection had been identified as Muhammad Mahfuz Alam. The police have also seized his mobile phone and motorcycle. He is currently being questioned, and the investigating officers are trying to squeeze information from him about his aides in the racket. He had also been booked under the NDPS Act, 1985. On Saturday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a social media message complementing the roles of West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police of busting organised narcotics rackets in different parts of the state. In his social media message, the Chief Minister claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government maintained a zero-tolerance policy against illicit narcotics. During a statewide Special Drive conducted from October 31 to November 7, our law enforcement forces achieved decisive results, making 378 arrests across 212 NDPS cases and seizing illicit narcotics valued at Rs 64 crore (along with Rs 17 lakh in cash) and disposed of seized drugs worth Rs 101 crore, CM Adhikari said. During the same period, the Chief Minister claimed that the police destroyed illicit marijuana cultivation to the tune of 10,000 kg and attached Rs 1 crore in property and launched 68 financial probes against 110 accused. I commend our police personnel for their relentless commitment to keeping West Bengal safe and drug-free in line with the #NashaMuktBharat Abhiyan, he added.
A Delight To Watch All These Years - Raman Lauds Shami After Pacer Quits Test Cricket
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Former India opener WV Raman, who oversaw Mohammed Shamis early days in domestic cricket as Bengals head coach, paid a warm tribute to the fast bowler following him retiring from Test cricket. Shami, known for extracting seam movement and swing with both the new and the old ball, announced his decision to quit the longest format on Friday night. Shami bows out with 229 wickets from 64 Test matches, including picking six five-wicket hauls. That tally makes him the sixth-most successful Indian fast bowler in the history of the format. Mohd Shami has been a delight to watch all these years during which time he made an indelible impact in the toughest format of the game arguably -- Test cricket! Well done Shami.. Have fun till you have had enough of this game.. wrote Raman on his X account on Sunday. The bond between Shami and Raman goes back to 2010, when the former was in charge of Bengal senior mens team. It was under his watch that Shami made his Ranji Trophy debut, against Assam on November 17 in that year, and went on to establish himself as the sides leading bowler before getting into the Indian team in 2013. Hailing from Sahaspur Alinagar village in Uttar Pradeshs Amroha district, Shami got into playing club cricket in Kolkata in order to pursue better playing opportunities. From there, he came into the Bengal team and then made his mark for the Indian Test team. Shamis contribution on overseas tours was particularly significant - claiming 145 wickets in 41 away games at an average of 30.33. At home, where pitches rarely favoured quick bowlers, Shami was even more potent, picking up 76 wickets at a stunning average of 22.1. Shamis last appearance in whites for India came in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia. While his Test journey is over, Shami will continue to play white-ball cricket. He has been named in Bengals 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which gets underway on November 14. Shamis contribution on overseas tours was particularly significant - claiming 145 wickets in 41 away games at an average of 30.33. At home, where pitches rarely favoured quick bowlers, Shami was even more potent, picking up 76 wickets at a stunning average of 22.1. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
This 250-Year-Old Shop Is One Of Kolkata's Best Spots For A Traditional Bengali Breakfast
The store, located in Shyambazar, is famous for items like luchis, chholar dal, aloo tarkari, kochuri and mishti doi.
22, 24 carat Gold prices remain steady across metro cities on November 8
Mamata Banerjee Offers Prayers At Kali Puja Pandal In Kolkata
ormer West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visits a Kali Puja pandal near her residence in Kalighat, Kolkata, and offers prayers during the festive celebrations.
Abhishek Banerjee Named In FIR As Kolkata Cops Probe Birthday Night Clashes
The fresh police complaints add to a series of legal challenges confronting Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is being probed by both the ED and the CBI
Gold, silver prices today, 8 November: Check retail price of 18K, 22K and 24K gold and 999 Fine silver on Diwali 2026 in your cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
How the Kolkata maidans shaped UP-born Mohammed Shami
ZSI Research Associate Recruitment 2026
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is conducting a Walk-in Interview for the post of Research Associate (RA). Candidates meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria can attend the interview on 18 November 2026 at Zoological Survey of India, 'M' Block, New Alipore, Kolkata. Further details are available at zsi.gov.in.
Presidency Universityexpels student for allegedly defacing Vivekananda poster
The university also barred an ex-student from the campus; SFI condemns expulsion, ABVP welcomes authorityaction
Nallur toll plaza on Kolkata National Highway to be moved to Durainallur
Makeshift shelters to sound-proof kennels, pawrents turn homes into safe havens
CM reiterates coordinator plan for KMC
East Bengal Become First Indian Club To Reach AFC Women's Champions League Knockouts
East Bengal FC suffered a 2-0 defeat against North Korean side 4.25 SC in their final Group B fixture of the AFC Women's Champions League 2026-27 in Kolkata on Saturday but secured a historic place in the quarter-finals.
History made in Asia: EB women make AWCL knockouts
Diwali gift hampers: Sweets, chocolates steal the show as dry fruit prices go nuts
Run-up to Kali Puja bodes ill for citys air, your ears
Political slugfest on campus over expulsion
CBSE, ICSE exams on time, worry for state board students
Bengal Oncologists Link Passive Smoking, Pollution to Aggressive Lung Cancer Rise
Smog pockets choke Kolkatans as crackers roar
Did not write on ABVP poster: Expelled Presidency University girl who got gold in undergraduation
RBU declares all 3 campuses tobacco-free zones
Indranil in judicial custody till Nov 21
East Bengal makes history in AFC Women's Champions League
The Kolkata team becomes the first Indian club to advance to the knockout stage of the elite competition
CM Saha to inaugurate three-day Diwali festival at 525-year-old Tripura Sundari temple tomorrow
Digital Desk | Agartala, Nov 7 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha will inaugurate a three-day Diwali festival at the historic 525-year-old Maa Tripura Sundari Temple in Gomati district on Sunday, officials said on Saturday. The famous temple, located at Udaipur and regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya. Local MLA Abhishek Debroy and Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather said all arrangements for the annual festival had been completed. A Bhajan Sandhya and a drone show are among the major attractions scheduled for the inaugural day. Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to manage the expected rush of devotees and visitors. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper and Anirban Das inspected the fairground and reviewed police deployment, traffic management, crowd control and emergency response measures. The district police chief monitoring the security aspects on a round-the-clock basis. As part of the security measures, the district administration has imposed a no-fly zone within a five-km radius of the temple from November 8 to 10. The restriction prohibits the operation of drones, manned and unmanned aircraft, and other aerial objects during the festival. However, aerial devices specifically authorised for use at the Diwali Mela have been exempted from the order. Meanwhile, fulfilling a long-awaited public demand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22 last year inaugurated the redeveloped Mata Tripura Sundari temple and offered prayers at the Kali temple. A senior official of the Tourism Department said that under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Union Tourism Ministry, the 525-year-old Tripura Sundari temple has been redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 54 crore. The Central government provided Rs 34.43 crore, while the Tripura government contributed Rs 17.61 crore towards the project. The temple, built in 1501 by the state's erstwhile king Maharaja Dhanya Manikya in Udaipur, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country and the third such shrine in eastern India after the Kali temple in Kolkata's Kalighat and the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. After 517 years of monarchy, on October 15, 1949, the erstwhile princely state of Tripura merged with the Indian Union following an agreement signed between Kanchan Prabha Devi, the then regent Maharani, and the Governor-General of India.
Another judge, third in 7 months, quits SIR tribunals
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) Mohammed Shamis childhood coach Badruddin Siddiqui said he and the senior pacers family had repeatedly asked him to hold off on quitting Test cricket, but the veteran fast bowler made up his mind after concluding that his chances of a recall had ended with the non-selection for Tests against New Zealand. Shami brought the curtain down on his Test career on Friday night, exactly 13 years after he made his debut in the longer format against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens. Shami, who could extract seam and swing with the new and old balls, ends his Test career with 229 wickets from 64 matches at an average of 27.71, including six five-wicket hauls. He is Indias 12th-highest wicket-taker in the format and sixth on the list among fast bowlers. See, it was going on for a very long time. But I had stopped him from doing it and told him to wait a little longer. He was getting disturbed a lot for the past one year. I mean, when you were not getting a chance to play and perform, then every player would get disturbed. So, it was going on for a long time. But now, when he thought that after the New Zealand series, there is no hope left for a recall, he decided to make this announcement, Siddiqui told IANS on Saturday. He also revealed that Bhuvneshwar Kumars return to the national side had briefly given them reason to feel hopeful for a recall for Shami, but it never happened. It has been going on for a long time. His elder brother, his family, and everyone told him to wait a little longer and not be in a hurry. But he had been getting this feeling to move on for the past few days. It seemed to me that when Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was given a recall to the T20I team, it was possible that Shami would also get a chance in the New Zealand series, one-day or Test series. But it did not happen, and what can I say now? Siddiqui said Shami rarely let his frustration show, even as the wait wore him down. I always used to stop him in the past from doing this. Now it seems like he totally made up his mind to retire from Tests. He was very pareshaan (worried) in the last few days due to this. He didnt open up much in front of me and used to be normal. I would tell him, Mehnat karna hamara kaam hai, baaki sab upar walle pe chodho, and fit raho kyonki khelne ka mauka aa sakta hai (Doing hard work is all we can do, leave the rest to God and keep yourself fit if a chance to play comes), he said. He would do that, and whenever he came to me, he used to practice with the kids. He used to call me and tell me that he is coming and the kids, whether batters or bowlers, would go to him and play and practice with them from morning to evening, he added. Shami hadnt played for India in any format since the victorious Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai in March 2025. His return to international cricket had come only a couple of months earlier, in a T20I series against England in January, after a lengthy layoff following an operation on the Achilles tendon in his knee and subsequent knee problems post the 2023 ODI World Cup at home. Siddiqui could not understand how a bowler who was consistently delivering for his state could be considered unfit to play Tests. When a child like Shami is performing, you said that he is unfit. He played Ranji Trophy and bowled 20 overs - how can he be unfit? After that injury, he was performing. It is not that he is bowling too many overs and not getting wickets. He was picking 4-5 wickets and making his team win. The Bengal team has surged in performances, and the new bowlers who are playing with him have started performing well as they are playing alongside such an experienced bowler. But we, the coaches of India, or in the administration, are not able to understand. Look, we have good bowlers, but they are inexperienced. Whether it is the New Zealand series or the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, even in India, there was a situation where our bowlers were conceding 350-400 runs in ODIs and were even giving away 250 runs in T20Is. It is not that the bowlers are bad. But you have to learn. Even though you are doing well when you come to play internationally after doing well domestically, you have to learn a lot. For that, you need an experienced bowler from the other end - whether it is Bumrah or Shami. There is no other way to do that. Even the coaches who are there, they cant even tell you the things that a person is doing practically. A senior pacer can make the young bowlers understand more. All of this is beyond my understanding not making a senior bowler play. Look at Australia they are showing trust in their senior fast bowlers, and we are not doing it here, he elaborated. He believed Shami had two more years of Test cricket in him and could have played a key role in shaping Indias next crop of fast bowlers on future tough tours abroad. Woh apne kaam se kaam rakhta hai (He minds his own business). He doesnt say or do anything. Now that his red-ball cricket is over, he can focus on white-ball, and thats no issue. There is still a lot of time. According to me, he could have played Test cricket for two years if he had played from now. I wanted him to be taken care of. For example, there are tours of England, South Africa, and Australia; they will need bowlers like Shami and Bumrah. With them, they would have provided a lot of learning to the new bowlers. If this had happened, you would have got a new bowling pool for the next two years. Like we had that gap in between, that didnt happen. But I dont know what will happen as everyone has a different working approach, he added. Referring to recent comments by Ajinkya Rahane, Siddiqui felt Shamis former India teammates were equally disappointed by the way things ended for him. No player in the world, no fast bowler, no coach, no batsman can say that the attributes Shami has, it is there in any other bowler. Today I was listening to an interview with Ajinkya Rahane, who said that we are fortunate that he is a member of our team. Otherwise, if we had been in the opposing team, then we would have been worried, as the most difficult to face in a game was Shami. So, everyone have supporting players like him. All these players are also worried, and sabko takleef hai (everyone is troubled). Its not that I am troubling their teammates. Everyone wanted Shami to return. But what can you do now? God has thought of something else. But along with God, the people below are also involved in it. I dont know what they have been feeling. I cant understand what they are feeling bad about. Woh bechara toh kuch bolta bhi nahi hai (That poor thing doesnt even say anything), he added. Former India all-rounder and Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who was the state captain when Shami broke into the Ranji Trophy side and got his debut in November 2010, went a step further and held chief selector Ajit Agarkar responsible for the unpleasant end of the pacers Test career. Shami wasnt embroiled in any controversy while playing Tests for India. He hasnt said anything unkind to anyone. So what could be better than this? In the video I posted on Instagram today, I said the same thing: we all wanted him to retire after playing Test cricket. But God didnt approve of that. More than God, the one below didnt approve of it mainly Ajit Agarkar. A stubborn, foolish, and arrogant person - he did not give Suryakumar Yadav a series after winning the T20 World Cup as captain; the man who removed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Tests- that man was just worthless. Ajit Agarkars name is always there in history like this - when he used to play, he used to concede a lot of runs. But he played for a long time because he was in the team, but hes shown his game even now, he told IANS. Shamis Test journey began with a bang, as he returned match figures of 9/118 on debut against the West Indies in Kolkata, which remain his best figures. While he was a reverse-swing exponent at home, four of Shamis six five-wicket hauls came in Australia and South Africa. Away from home, he took 145 wickets in 41 Tests at an average of 30.33. On Indian pitches, he was even more destructive, with 76 wickets at an average of 22.1. He played his last Test in the 2023 World Test Championship final, which India lost to Australia at The Oval. Shami will be next seen in action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, when Bengal begin their campaign against Karnataka in an Elite Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 14. Siddiqui signed off by being confident that Shamis best white-ball days were not behind him. Now you will see that he will play white-ball games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and then the Vijay Hazare Trophy. If he gets another chance to play in other white-ball tournaments, he will also play in them. The way he is bowling right now, it is happening in the same way he started his India career. It doesnt feel like he has been there for so long and is 36. It feels as if hes still bowling as a 26- to 30-year-old and hes absolutely fit, he said.
Fake Durga Puja pass case: UNESCO denies ties with ex-Bengal minister Indranil Sen's organisation
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 7 (IANS) The UNESCO had conformed the Kolkata Police of not having any agreement with the Mass Art, an organisation linked to former West Bengal Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Indranil Sen, for sale of UN agency-tagged Durga Puja passes, the public prosecutor told a lower court in Kolkata on Saturday. As per the information provided by the public prosecutor to the court, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police, which is probing the case of sale of fake UNESCO-tagged Durga Puja passes, had recently sent an email to the UN agency seeking clarification on whether the latter had any agreement on this count with Mass Art, the entity through which such passes were sold. In reply, the public prosecutor told the court that the UNESCO had confirmed to the SIT that the international organisational had no such agreement with Mass Art, owned by Madhuchhanda Sen, the wife of former West Bengal Tourism Minister and former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs, Indranil Sen, a singer-turned-politician. Sen was arrested last month by the Kolkata Police in the matter, and earlier the same court remanded him to police custody till November 10. However, on Saturday, the police presented Sen at the same court three days before the end of the tenure of his police custody, and the public prosecutor sought his judicial custody. The accused currently has Rs 27 lakh in two of his accounts. A total of Rs 10 crore has been seized from 27 frozen bank accounts related to the case. The police have seized 13 crucial documents related to the case. They need to be verified. The documents sought from the state government in the matter might take time to reach the investigating officers because of the ongoing festival holidays. So, we are now seeking judicial custody for the accused instead of wasting time by keeping him in police custody, the Public Prosecutor said. He also added that since the investigation in the matter was currently at a critical stage, bail should not be granted to the accused. In his counterargument, Sen's counsel said that it was not clear why the state was seeking the judicial custody of his client. However, my client should be given the status of a first-class prisoner in jail. Arrangements should also be made to provide him with all the medicines he consumes, Sen's counsel added. The Public Prosecutor opposed that demand for granting the first-class prisoner category to Sen and said that first there should be a separate hearing on why that accused deserved that special category treatment in judicial custody. Thereafter, Sen's counsel said that keeping in mind their political and social status, the former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Basu had also been granted the first-class prisoner category in judicial custody. Thereafter, the judge of the lower court approved the appeal for granting first-class prisoner category to Sen and remanded him to judicial custody till November 21.
Bengal govt issues notification directing ISKCON to provide mid-day meals in state
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 7 (IANS) The West Bengal School Education Department on Saturday issued a notification authorising the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to provide mid-day meals in all state-run and state-aided schools in the state. Till now, ISKCON had been providing mid-day meals in state-run and state-aided schools within the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). However, as per the notification issued on Saturday evening, ISKCON had been, henceforth, authorised to provide mid-day meals in all state-run and state-aided schools throughout the state. As per the notification, a copy of which is available with IANS, all schools in the state are being brought under the Union government's scheme of Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman or PM Poshan scheme, and under this arrangement ISKCON had been authorised to provide mid-day meals in all state-run and state-aided schools in the state. After the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in the state, new rules were introduced for the provision of midday meals. ISKCON was given the responsibility of providing mid-day meals to provide nutrition to school children. It was started in government schools in Kolkata in August. However, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced at that time that although it was being started on an experimental basis, the responsibility of mid-day meals to ISKCON would be given to all districts of the state in a phased manner. A notification was recently issued saying that mid-day meals would be provided to government schools in Howrah and Purba Medinipur. However, it was withdrawn later. On Saturday, a fresh notification has been issued authorising ISKCON to provide mid-day meals to all government schools throughout the state. However, this system will be implemented in all districts in a phase-wise manner. As per the notification, to prepare this mid-day meal, a suitable place for the central kitchen will have to be identified. For this, the concerned district administration will cooperate with ISKCON authorities. As per the present system, while ISKCON is providing nutritious vegetarian food as mid-day meals, eggs are provided separately to the students, arranged by the women-run self-help groups. The same system will prevail throughout the state now, a source from the state school education department said.
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Mohammed Shami: Born In Sahaspur, Made In Kolkata
Badruddin Siddiqui has always believed that moving to Kolkata was pre-destined as far as his favourite student Mohammed Shami is concerned.
Diwali 2026: Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Samagri, Bhog and Rituals; Check date and timings
Devotees will worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, offering flowers, sweets, fruits, Panchamrit and traditional bhog. Kali Puja will also be observed, with the Nishita Puja muhurat in Kolkata scheduled from 10:55 pm to 11:46 pm.
UP-born, Kolkata-made: Md Shami
New Delhi: Badruddin Siddiqui has always believed that moving to Kolkata was pre-destined as far as his favourite student, Mohammed Shami, is concerned. Born in UPs small town of Sahaspur in Amroha, it was Uttar Pradesh crickets loss that became Bengals gain when the childhood coach decided to make a few phone calls in Kolkata 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 .
Mohammed Shami Retires From Test Cricket After 13-Year Career
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami announces his retirement from Test cricket through an emotional Instagram message, exactly 13 years after making his debut against the West Indies in Kolkata on November 6, 2013.
Bengal to witness rain after Kali Puja, temperatures likely to dip by 4 degrees
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 7 (IANS) The winter chill is likely to make a gradual entry into West Bengal as temperatures are expected to drop by two to four degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours, bringing a slight nip in the air during Kali Puja on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. The cooling effect is likely to be more noticeable in the western districts, particularly during the early morning and night hours. However, the weather is expected to remain dry across the state till Kali Puja. Meanwhile, the Met department has forecast another spell of rain in both south and north Bengal from Monday, with a newly formed low-pressure area over north Bengal likely to create favourable conditions for precipitation across several districts. Dry weather will prevail till Kali Puja on Sunday. The weather will start changing from Monday. Rain will continue in south and north Bengal. Light to moderate rain with thundershowers is likely in Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Nadia and Murshidabad districts. Gusty winds of 30 to 40 km per hour are likely in coastal areas. Rain chances will increase further on Tuesday, a Met department official said. Rain activity is expected to intensify on Tuesday and continue in several parts of south Bengal till Wednesday. Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. Other districts of south Bengal, including Nadia and Murshidabad, may also experience wet weather. Gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kmph are likely at isolated places. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature on Saturday hovered around 30 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 21.2 degrees Celsius. The Met department has ruled out rainfall in the city on Saturday and Sunday. North Bengal, too, is likely to witness increased rainfall activity from Tuesday. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is forecast across the region, with gusty winds possible at one or two places. On Wednesday, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri are likely to receive light rainfall.
Adhikari gives police free hand to tackle crimes against women, drug smuggling in Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 7 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said he had given the police a free hand to deal with crimes against women and narcotics smuggling in the state, warning that political interference in these matters would not be tolerated. At the same time, Adhikari, who also holds the police portfolio, issued a stern warning against attacks on police personnel and vandalism of police stations and outposts, saying those involved would face prolonged imprisonment. I have given the police a free hand in tackling two issues. The first is crime against women and the second is narcotics smuggling. I will not tolerate any kind of political interference in these two issues. At the same time, as the police minister of the state, I will not tolerate any incident of attack on a cop or ransacking of any police station or police outpost. Those attacking police personnel will have to spend years behind bars, Adhikari said. He also warned that those responsible for vandalising police establishments would have to pay for the damage, along with interest. We will recover damages, along with interest, in case of ransacking of police stations or police outposts from those responsible, the Chief Minister said while distributing appointment letters to newly recruited police sub-inspectors at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters in central Kolkata. Adhikari advised the newly appointed officers to maintain strict discipline in their daily duties and follow the instructions and orders of their superiors. Highlighting the challenges faced by the police force, he said West Bengal's vast geographical diversity, large population and varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds made policing particularly demanding. There are 11 crore people in West Bengal. On one side are mountains, on the other side are jungles, and on the other are several isolated islands. The police's responsibility is to ensure that public life remains normal. Till now, they did not get any facilities. The police did not have financial security. Now the police will be provided with financial security, he said. The Chief Minister said the state government would focus on modernising the police force and improving the quality of its training. An MoU had been signed with a police training centre in Assam for this purpose, while steps would also be taken to strengthen coordination between the state police and the Central forces. Claiming that police recruitment had remained neglected during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, Adhikari said the new administration had already recruited 11,000 personnel into the state police force. He acknowledged that 46,000 posts were still vacant and said the government would fill them in phases. The recruitment drive would include 6,345 women police personnel and 4,000 constables, he said, adding that further appointments would be made over the coming months. Recruitment in the police will be done again in December-January, Adhikari said, indicating that the government planned to accelerate the process to strengthen the state's policing infrastructure.
Mamata Banerjee Slams BJP Over Attack On Abhishek Banerjee
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit out at the BJP over an alleged attack on the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkatas Kalighat. Challenging the BJP over the alleged use of bulldozers, she said, How many bulldozers do you have? Come, I am standing right in front []
'Run Bulldozer Over Me': Mamata After Attack At Abhishek Banerjees House Ahead Of Kali Puja
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of disrupting traditional Kali Puja celebrations following an alleged attack on TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kolkata. Abhishek alleged that BJP workers attacked his residence around 2 am on Saturday and questioned the Kolkata Police's response. Reacting to the incident, Mamata claimed that traditional puja permissions were revoked while new celebrations were allowed. She also questioned why a locality known for Kali Puja processions was being disturbed ahead of Kali Puja and Diwali. Mamata further alleged political hostility, linking it to the TMC's association with the INDIA alliance.
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee staged a protest after an alleged attack at Abhishek's Kalighat residence in south Kolkata around 2 am on Saturday. Abhishek Banerjee alleged that his residence and office were targeted by a group of individuals he termed BJP goons following two days of reconnaissance. He claimed it was the seventh attempt on his life in the past six months and criticised both the Kolkata Police and the judiciary for alleged inaction. According to police and party reports, clashes erupted between TMC workers, who were gathering to celebrate Abhishek Banerjee's 39th birthday, and BJP supporters between 2 am and 3:30 am. At least eight people were reportedly injured, three of them seriously. A large police contingent was deployed to seal off the area, and several individuals were detained in connection with the overnight clashes. Mamata Banerjee reached the Kalighat residence later that morning, accusing t...
Fourth judge resigns from Bengal SIR Tribunal in a month; 15 members remain now
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 7 (IANS) Former Calcutta High Court judge Biswajit Basu resigned from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Tribunal on Saturday, becoming the fourth member to step down from the panel constituted to hear appeals from voters excluded during the electoral roll revision in West Bengal. Basu cited personal reasons for his decision. He conveyed his resignation in a letter to Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge. His exit comes days after former Justice Indrajit Chatterjee quit the tribunal, citing the distance he had to travel to attend its office. Chatterjee had said that commuting 22 km every day was difficult. He had accepted the assignment believing that the tribunal's work would be completed in two to three months. However, the large number of pending cases indicated that the process would take considerably longer, prompting him to resign. Former Justice Ranjit Kumar Bagh had also stepped down, citing personal reasons, without specifying them. Earlier, former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam resigned from the tribunal, referring to family issues. The tribunal was constituted on the Supreme Court's directions and comprises 19 retired judges and magistrates. It was set up to provide a mechanism for people whose names were omitted from the final electoral roll after the SIR exercise to seek inclusion. With Basu's resignation, four of the 19 members have now left the panel. The final electoral roll in West Bengal, excluding around 60 lakh cases referred for judicial adjudication, was published on February 28. The Election Commission had said supplementary lists would be published as the adjudication process progressed. West Bengal had 7,66,37,529 registered voters before the SIR notification was issued in November last year. The draft electoral roll, published in December, removed 58,20,899 names. The final roll published on February 28 this year recorded a total of 63,66,952 deletions. The tribunal's workload is linked to the cases arising from these deletions. The supplementary rolls are expected to reflect the outcome of the judicial scrutiny, allowing eligible applicants whose claims are accepted to have their names added to the electoral list.
Watch: Is there no democracy?: Mamata on attack on Abhishek
Mamata Banerjee questions the heavy police presence and accuses the BJP of targeting Trinamool supporters following the alleged late-night attack on Abhishek Banerjees residence in Kolkata.
Watch: Abhishek Banerjee alleges BJP supporters attacked his Kolkata residence
Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee alleges that BJP supporters attacked his Kolkata residence on his birthday, calling it the seventh attempt on his life in six months. Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of targeting Trinamool supporters, while BJP leader Dilip Ghosh questions the birthday gathering and reacts to the clash.
