Student Clash at Kolkatas SRFTI Sparks Political Outrage
A clash between student groups at Kolkatas SRFTI has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders, highlighting concerns over campus safety and decorum. Student Clash at Kolkatas SRFTI Sparks Political Outrage
After every difficulty, we emerged much stronger:ITC's Sanjiv Puri
In an interview at the company's headquarters in Kolkata, Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri speaks to Ishita Ayan Dutt about how liberalisation transformed the competitive landscape
AI has not made hard work optional: IIT Kharagpur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) Prof Sudeshna Sarkar from the Computer Science and Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur addressed three common myths about learning in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that technology works best when it strengthens rather than replaces the learning process. She said, Technology has been changing very fast, but what has not changed is the effort that you have to spend to learn. You have to keep up with technology and continue to learn. On the suggestion that AI provides explanations quickly, Prof. Sarkar pointed out the difference between receiving an explanation and achieving understanding. AI can give you instantaneous explanations, and that is convenient. But when students struggle with a problem, trying to solve it, failing, recalibrating, that produces true understanding. They can then internalise it, transfer it to new contexts, and that knowledge becomes much more valuable, she explained. She insisted that struggling while learning is not failing. Getting stalled is failure. Wrestling with a solution and reaching it teaches much more than shortcuts. Students develop a sense they can transfer to new situations, she said in an X video shared by IIT Kharagpur. Prof Sarkar denied that AI has made hard work optional. AI has reduced the effort but not made hard work optional. What is important today is constructing the ability to understand and apply knowledge to different situations, she said. She emphasised the need for higher-order learning skills and critical understanding to go beyond what AI can do and to develop solutions for new problems. IIT Kharagpur also announced an ongoing project for learners through the National Digital Library of India. For every learner, the right guidance at the right moment can make a difference. Yet providing personalised, one-to-one academic support at scale remains a challenge, the institute said. It added that, in collaboration with Fermi AI, it is developing a new AI-enabled learning experience to guide, engage and encourage students to think through problems themselves. Stuck on a problem? You wont be alone for long, it said.
Bengal: Bail plea of Congress candidate in Nandigram bypoll deferred
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) The crucial final hearing on the bail plea of Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the forthcoming Nandigram assembly bypoll in East Midnapore district of West Bengal, was postponed on Monday. Pradhan is currently in judicial custody in connection with two old cases, including a 2007 murder case. The hearing was scheduled before the Calcutta High Courts single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh in the second half of the day. However, Justice Ghosh informed that the final hearing would now take place on Tuesday, after which judgment will be delivered. During last weeks hearing, Justice Ghosh had observed that Pradhan should be allowed to contest the polls freely like other candidates and even indicated that bail would ultimately be granted. This had raised expectations that Pradhan might be released on Monday to join the campaign. The bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies in Murshidabad district are scheduled for October 6, with results to be declared on October 9. Pradhan was arrested on September 18, hours after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her Trinamool Congress faction would support the Congress candidate in Nandigram. The announcement followed the dramatic withdrawal of Trinamools candidate, Sanchita Dey Pradhan. The move was seen as a fresh step towards Opposition unity in the state after Banerjees defeat in the assembly polls earlier this year. In those elections, current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari contested and won simultaneously from Nandigram and Bhabanipur in South Kolkata. He later chose to retain Bhabanipur, necessitating the Nandigram bypoll.
No blanket penalty, urge Kol hospitals
Canal-dredging to mitigate flooding in Behala pockets
West Bengal govt Rs 1.2 crore for dengue fight
Taslima to visit Vidyasagar, Sarat Chandra homes in Oct
30k bite cases, 3k dogs jabbed: Kolkatas rabies gap widens
Jadavpur University attack: 1 out of 19 records statement
Will not let anyone insult Vivekananda: Bengal BJP
Video proof of campus attack: SRFTI alumni stand by students
CCTV evidence against arrested accused in Bypass hotel disco molest case
Sonarpur condos write to CM over bad road stretch
Kolkata: Three FIRs Registered Over SRFTI Campus Clash
One of them is related to a complaint lodged by Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), the RSS affiliate, against the students for vandalising its event.
White-goods sellers bank on clearance sale, discounts to bring back festive buyers
Kartik Maharaj to head new Durga Puja forum
Now, RPF comes into play in Sealdah puja row; venue locked, prep halted
Newspapers important: Baguiati club recycles for Durga Puja pandal
Pickpockets target festive shoppers in Gariahat
Durga Pujas are heterogeneous from the very start and continuously evolving: Tapati Guha-Thakurta
Academic and historian Tapati Guha Thakurta, who played key role in getting UNESCO tag for Durga Puja in Kolkata, speaks to The Hindu about the evolution of Durga Puja in Kolkata and says that debate around ritual purity and vegetarianism does not make much sense. Prof Guha Thakurta says that people across caste and communities participate in Durga Puja and the role of government is of master manager and not deciding on what Pujas should be.
Buxa tiger reintroduction: As rain eases, foresters set up 7 machans in Valmiki, ready airlift plan
Bengal: Drugs, pistol seized near India-Nepal border; two arrested
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) In a major operation, troops of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), in coordination with local police, raided a house close to the India-Nepal border on Monday and seized narcotics and a sophisticated firearm with two magazines. Authorities took two people into custody and are questioning them to identify others involved in the racket. A senior SSB official said the operation began around 4 a.m. and continued till 11.05 a.m. after specific intelligence inputs were received about narcotics stored at the house of Madan Mohan Paswan in Hathiduba village, Churli, under Galgalia Police Station in Kishanganj, Bihar. The raid was conducted by personnel of the G Company, Bhatgaon, Quick Response Team of A Company, Nimuguri, Galgalia police, and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Bihar Police. The house is located about 3.83 km inside Indian territory from border pillar number 102, the official said. During the search, police seized 455 grams of brown sugar in five plastic pouches, a factory-made pistol, two magazines, and a digital pocket weighing machine. Police took Madan Mohan Paswan (29) and Ramjapo Paswan (57), the property owner, into custody. Police handed over the seized items and the accused to Galgalia police station for interrogation and legal action. Officials noted that substantial quantities of narcotics have been seized in joint operations along the international border in recent months, with several arrests made. The India-Nepal border runs through West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Criminal activities along this stretch range from narcotics smuggling to human trafficking. Criminals exploit cross-border movement as citizens of both countries can cross unchecked without documentation. Operations span across states, with criminals taking advantage of jurisdictional changes, another official said. Beyond managing the border, the SSB monitors criminal activities within its jurisdiction. It has built a credible intelligence network that has helped curb such activities. Recently, a human trafficking racket was busted and six girls, including four minors from Tripura, were rescued while being taken across the border into Nepal. The SSB also busted a cattle smuggling racket involving animals transported from Uttar Pradesh to Assam. The SSB has also rescued girls from West Bengal districts who were being trafficked into Nepal to work at dance bars, the official added.
IOC plans expansion in Haldia on CMs land offer
West Bengal CM assures land for IOC's proposed expansion project in Haldia
Kolkata to host India Energy Week 2027; public sector oil and gas companies have 17,600 crore worth of projects underway in West Bengal, says Puri
Kolkata to host India Energy Week for the first time from January 2831
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Kolkata will host the India Energy Week (IEW) for the first time from January 2831, 2027, bringing the countrys flagship global energy platform to eastern India as the sector grapples with rising energy demand and a rapidly changing global energy landscape, it was announced on Monday. The fifth edition of India Energy Week will be held at the New Town Convention Centre under the theme Unlocking Innovation. Securing Energy. Shaping Tomorrow, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said. The event is expected to bring together more than 75,000 energy professionals, 700-plus international exhibitors and key decision-makers from across the global energy sector to discuss energy security, affordability, sustainability, technology and investment. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India Energy Week has expanded significantly since its debut in Bengaluru in 2023. The fourth edition, held in Goa in 2026, attracted more than 75,000 energy professionals, over 700 exhibiting companies, participants from more than 120 countries and more than 6,500 conference delegates. IEW 2027 will focus on technologies, innovations and partnerships aimed at strengthening energy security while supporting affordable and sustainable energy systems, particularly across countries in the Global South. The conference and exhibition will cover a wide range of areas across the energy value chain, including oil and gas, LNG, refining and petrochemicals, hydrogen, biofuels, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, besides other emerging energy technologies. The Ministry said the move to Kolkata marks a new chapter for India Energy Week by bringing the event to eastern India for the first time. It will provide businesses, institutions and energy stakeholders in the region with greater opportunities to engage with international partners and participate in discussions shaping the global energy sector. The international participation at IEW has also grown alongside the event's expanding scale. At the 2026 edition, 17 ministers and deputy ministers from countries including the UAE, Canada, the Netherlands, Oman, Brunei, Myanmar and Tanzania participated in the event. International organisations such as the International Energy Forum, BIMSTEC and the Eurasian Economic Union also participated in IEW 2026.
From Air to Drinking Water: How Kolkata-Born Navkaran Singh Bagga Is Bringing Water to Communities
Kolkata-born entrepreneur Navkaran Singh Bagga is using atmospheric moisture to create drinking water for communities where conventional infrastructure struggles to reach.
Bengal: Teachers protest in Kolkata demanding job security
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) A section of computer teachers from state government and government-sponsored schools staged a protest at Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Monday, demanding job security as they face imminent dismissal. Hundreds of teachers sat on the road after police blocked their way, preventing them from entering Bikash Bhavan. When police tried to stop the procession with barricades, protesters attempted to move forward by throwing them down. Police later informed that a delegation of 10 people would be allowed inside, but the teachers insisted they would not withdraw without a government notification ensuring their jobs. More than 3,000 computer teachers in the state were appointed by private organisations before and after 2022 under five-year contracts. Some contracts expire this year, while others end in early 2027. Recently, the organisations issued letters stating contracts would expire on September 30, with all documents to be handed over to the responsible agency by October 9. Since the Left Front era, the government has appointed computer teachers on a contract basis in government and government-aided schools. Later, the Trinamool Congress government also allowed such appointments. Teachers said appointments were made in the sixth and seventh stages through private organisations in 2022 and earlier, but the government did not regularise them. The teachers alleged that salaries had been reduced by about Rs 1,000 in recent months due to changes in government rules. They claimed dismissal would affect their families and school authorities, as most project work is now digital. On Monday, the procession began at Karunamoyee bus stand. As it reached Bikash Bhavan, a scuffle broke out with police. Teachers tried to advance by throwing barricades but were blocked again, after which they sat in front of the building. One teacher said: We are being dismissed from our jobs like this before Durga Puja. What kind of justice is this? The government must take action. We have helped students in schools, and now this is the reward?
Bengal: Dengue deaths in 2026 lower than past two years
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) The number of dengue-related deaths in West Bengal through August 2026 has been significantly lower than the figures recorded in 2025 and 2024, according to state health department statistics. A senior health department official said that till the end of August, 10 dengue-related deaths were recorded. As per the findings of the death review committee, in seven of those cases dengue was the cause of death. In the other three, although the patients were affected by dengue, the deaths were due to other medical complications, the official explained. He added that while the dengue situation in West Bengal was largely under control, the department was not leaving room for complacency. The administration has declared October and November as the high-risk period. On Monday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal held a virtual meeting with all district magistrates. He instructed them to keep all precautions in place, given the likelihood of increased infections in the coming months. Although the situation is now under control, the possibility of a rise in infections cannot be ruled out. That is why all relevant departments, including health, municipal affairs & urban development, and panchayat affairs & rural development, have been directed to monitor the situation regularly, the official said. The Chief Secretary emphasised that merely collecting reports would not be sufficient. He directed district administrations to monitor the situation directly, focusing on cleaning drives, larval destruction work, and strengthening awareness programmes to ensure mosquito breeding grounds are eliminated.
Nitin Naveen Prepares Jhalmuri in Kolkata, Celebrates Local Street Food Culture
BJP President Nitin Naveen showcases his culinary skills by making jhalmuri in Kolkata, embracing the citys vibrant street food culture. Nitin Naveen Prepares Jhalmuri in Kolkata, Celebrates Local Street Food Culture
ER introduces tech at weighbridges to prevent accidents
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) To ensure safe and efficient freight movement, Eastern Railway (ER) has begun introducing technology at weighbridges. Officials said this would help reduce derailments, prevent accidents, and protect tracks, calling it a significant technological leap forward in ensuring the safety and punctuality of freight train movements and maintaining uninterrupted supply chains across the network. As part of this ongoing modernisation drive, ER is installing advanced Wheel-wise Load Imbalance Detection Systems at strategic weighbridges. This technology is designed to detect deviations from safe load limits before service interruption, enabling proactive maintenance and preventing potential transit hazards, a senior official said. Under the system, sensors collect load data and send it to a central controller. Software then determines static and dynamic wheel loads, left-to-right load ratios and impact load factors to flag uneven loading, overloaded axles or flat spots. Real-time alerts are passed directly to officials, who can take corrective measures. The first Wheel-wise Load Imbalance Detection System on ER was successfully commissioned at the Pakur In-Motion Weigh Bridge recently. Initial trial results have been encouraging. The system will be made fully operational following final certification from the state government. Installation work for a similar weighbridge is underway at Kotalpukur. This forms part of ERs broader roadmap to extend the safety installation to other critical freight handling locations across the zone. Pakur, a major freight hub in Jharkhand, moves large quantities of coal from the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) siding and Gati Shakti Terminal to power plants in West Bengal and Punjab. Pakur is also known for its stone quarries, with ER transporting large volumes of crushed stone chips, aggregates and track ballast in specialised wagons.
Bengal CID, STF probe murder of BJP leader in Bolpur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) West Bengal Polices Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Task Force (STF) on Monday began investigating the murder of 47-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chandan Bhalla, who was shot dead by miscreants last night in Birbhum districts Bolpur. Police started the investigation at the crime spot in the morning. DIG and District Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bhundesh personally supervised the probe. Investigators are examining both political conflict and land dispute angles. The SP said they were pursuing all possible leads. The incident occurred on Sunday night in the Milpara area of Trishulapatti, ward number 12 of Bolpur Municipality. According to the family, Bhalla, who worked as a cashier in the Bolpur Land and Land Reforms Department and was also involved in land transactions, had left home to show a plot to a potential buyer. Two assailants allegedly arrived on a bike and shot him at point-blank range before fleeing. Bhalla was the BJP president of booth number 202 in ward number 11 of Bolpur Municipality. His younger son Subhrakanti Bhalla lodged a written complaint at Bolpur police station, though no specific names were mentioned in the FIR. Police cordoned off the scene immediately after the murder. Police brought a dog from Asansol on Monday morning. The German Shepherd Lucky tracked a trail to Aarti Cinema intersection, about five kilometres away, suggesting the miscreants may have escaped via Bahiri village. Later, a six-member forensic team collected samples including blood, bike tyre marks and shoe prints. Investigators are probing the type of firearm used, the firing distance and the weapons source. Investigators have collected CCTV footage from the scene and nearby areas to identify suspicious movements before and after the incident. Investigators are also checking Bhallas mobile call records to determine who contacted him before the murder and whether any calls were made during the incident. The deceaseds family suspects a political motive. His wife Shyamoli Bhalla said: It is a political murder. My husband was called from his house and shot dead. Let the police arrest the culprits. We want punishment. Our family is broken. BJPs Birbhum organisational district president Udayshankar Banerjee said the matter was under investigation. He added that he had asked police to probe thoroughly and arrest the culprits, and would report the matter to the partys top leadership.
Bengal CM makes big announcement for ICDS centres at 'Angan Milan Sewa' event
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, in the presence of BJP National President Nitin Nabin, on Monday, made big announcements for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) workers and the ICDS centres in the state. Speaking at the Angan Milan Sewa program at Panihati in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Monday, CM Adhikari said that while a decision to increase the wages of ICDS workers, popularly known as Anganwadi workers, had already been taken by the state Cabinet, there are proposals for thorough upgradation of the Anganwadi centres in the state. Speaking on the occasion, he added that the government had also decided to supply electricity for the Anganwadi centres free of cost in the coming days. In August this year, the salaries of the Anganwadi staff were increased by Rs 5,000 a month. They have been included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Under this, treatment up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided free of cost in 38 government and private hospitals in the country, the Chief Minister said at the program. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Anganwadi centres in the state, which are currently operating from the rented premises, will soon have their own premises. At the moment, 19,000 Anganwadi centres are operating from rented premises. In the future, they will be at the state government-owned premises. Funds have also been allocated for that. At the same time, free electricity will be provided to all ICDS centres in the state, the Chief Minister said. He also announced higher budgetary allocation for the ICDS staff and ICDS centres in the next state budget. Speaking on the occasion, Nabin praised the role of the Anganwadi workers in West Bengal. The ICDS workers, in a sense, are the first teachers of the children, who are the future of our country. So in that way, the future of the country is also in the hands of the ICDS workers, the BJPs National President said. Nabin was also all praise for CM Adhikari and said that under the latters leadership West Bengal will progress towards all round development. I want to assure the sisters associated with the ICDS centres, that your brother Suvendu Adhikari is always there for you and with you. So, keep the good work going, Nabin said.
Former Trinamool MLA Arrested with Weapons in West Bengal
Former Trinamool Congress MLA Biswajit Das was arrested in Kolkata for illegal possession of firearms during a police search. Former Trinamool MLA Arrested with Weapons in West Bengal
From Kolkata to Nagaland: 6 Indian celebrations worth travelling for
Calcutta HC concludes hearing on AISF's plea to restore electoral symbol, reserves verdict
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its verdict after concluding the hearing on the All India Secular Front's (AISF) plea challenging the Election Commission of India's decision to withdraw the envelope symbol allotted to it and give it instead to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction ahead of the bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao, despite keeping the judgment on reserve, once again expressed anguish over the ECIs decision in the matter, which had led to a political row in West Bengal. During the hearing on Monday, he said that the controversy in the matter would not have arisen if the ECI had kept the symbol on freeze without allotting it to anybody. Justice Rao also questioned the justification behind allotting the symbol to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool when the AISF had contested in the last few elections on that symbol. Justice Rao said that when the envelope was among the free symbols, then why was it allotted to another party after being allotted earlier to a particular party? However, the ECIs counsel argued that no party can be allotted a free symbol more than twice. In the petition filed by Nawsad Siddique, the lone AISF legislator in the West Bengal assembly, the main contention was how the ECI could allot the envelope symbol, when he contested and got elected twice in 2021 and 2026 with it. Earlier this month, the ECI announced its decision to freeze the Trinamool's official name of the All India Trinamool Congress and the electoral symbol of Flowers & Grass. The 'original but minority' faction of the Trinamool led by the former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the symbol football player. On the other hand, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelop as its electoral symbol. Siddique got irked by that decision and approached the Calcutta High Court challenging it. --IANS
Three FIRs registered in Kolkata film institute violence
Students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute clash with members of a right-wing consumer group holding an event inside the campus; police claim students wrongfully restrained on-duty personnel
Badal Sircar's 'Pagla Ghora' to open Paris's Gange sur Seine Festival
DRI cracks pan-India smuggling racket, seizes Rs 10.36 crore gold
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a pan-India gold smuggling syndicate that allegedly used courier networks to transport smuggled gold across the country, seizing 6.61 kg of foreign-origin gold worth about Rs 10.36 crore and arresting 11 persons, including one of the alleged masterminds, according to an official statement on Monday. The operation which was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs, targeted a network involved in smuggling gold through the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal and Assam before distributing it to major markets through courier consignments, according to the Finance Ministry. The ministry further noted that coordinated searches and interceptions were conducted simultaneously in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Guwahati. During the operation, DRI officials intercepted live courier consignments containing smuggled gold that had been booked from Guwahati and Kolkata for delivery in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. Seven recipients were apprehended, while searches at the premises of consignors in Kolkata led to the arrest of three more persons. Moreover, a subsequent operation in Mumbai resulted in the arrest of one of the key coordinators of the network. Investigators found that the syndicate had adopted a strategy of splitting smuggled gold into multiple small consignments and dispatching them through courier channels to recipients in different cities for disposal in the domestic market. The investigation also showed that both the shippers and the recipients were acting as paper companies or private individuals without engaging in any legal gold trading, suggesting a conscious effort to hide the source and flow of gold that was smuggled through courier services. DRI recovered and seized a total of 6.61 kg of foreign-origin gold bars valued at around Rs 10.36 crore under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. In a significant development, preliminary examination of documentary evidence suggested that the syndicate had transported and delivered nearly 318 kg of smuggled gold worth around Rs 475 crore through the same courier-based network during the first nine months of the current calendar year, the ministry said. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the proceeds and distribution channels linked to the smuggled gold, it added.
India to face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time champions Uruguay on October 6 at Kolkatas Salt Lake Stadium Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 28:
No shortage of coal at power plants: Kishan Reddy
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said on Monday that there was no shortage of coal in the country despite the higher demand for thermal power due to lower hydropower generation and some monsoon-linked disruptions in mining. The minister said the temporary disruptions should not be seen as a coal shortage and observed that the overall situation was normal. Sufficient coal is being moved to the power plants both by road and rail, he said in answer to a question. Reddy said thermal power demand had increased by around 12-15 per cent as hydropower generation had come down due to the weaker monsoon while the rains had also impacted coal mining operations. The situation is normal. There is no tension, he remarked. Speaking on the sidelines of the Angul Aluminium Roadshow here organised by the business chamber Assocham, Reddy also alleged that West Bengal's coal industry suffered under Jungle Raj and mafia control for years, and that the Central government is pushing reforms to bring transparency and increase state revenues. The minister is undertaking a comprehensive two-day review of government-owned mining giant Coal India Limiteds operations, project progress, and post-monsoon dispatches in Kolkata. Coal India has driven a strategic shift towards modernising both underground (UG) and open-cast (OC) operations for greater efficiency, safety and sustainability. It has rapidly moved away from conventional mining technology and methods to more advanced tools and practices. Advanced digital interventions IoT, AI and data analytics are reducing hazard exposure, improving recovery rates and enabling predictive maintenance, smart control rooms, automated dispatch and Smart Mines, according to a Coal Ministry statement. CIL is also committed to raising UG production to around 100 million tonnes using Continuous Miner, Longwall, and Highwall technology. Continuous mining has already been adopted, with large-scale Longwall now being introduced. Major investments are planned in Paste Fill to unlock high-grade coal otherwise locked in pillars, alongside enhanced ventilation and strata management to strengthen safety. Besides, CIL is strengthening coal evacuation through First Mile Connectivity (FMC) and critical railway infrastructure such as Rapid Loading Systems. Complementing this, four of seven critical railway projects involving an investment of Rs 23,465 crore have been commissioned, with the rest targeted by FY 2027-28.
Fresh low-pressure area may bring more rain to Bengal ahead of Durga Puja
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) More rain is expected in West Bengal ahead of the Durga Puja festivities as a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, the Met office said on Monday. The weather system has formed over southern coastal Myanmar and adjoining areas and is currently concentrated near the Myanmar coast. It is likely to strengthen into a depression over the next few days, meteorologists said. If the system develops into a depression, it is expected to move gradually northwards. In view of the developing weather system, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal along the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast. The Met office said the depression is unlikely to directly affect West Bengal, though its future movement could have a partial impact on the state. Last week, several districts of South Bengal received heavy rain under the influence of a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Kolkata also witnessed prolonged spells of rain during the period. The deep depression subsequently moved towards the coast and made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast. Its influence has weakened since Saturday, resulting in a significant reduction in rainfall across the state. The Met Office said there is currently no indication of widespread thunderstorms in West Bengal, though the weather forecast could change with the system's movement. There is a low-pressure area over southern coastal Myanmar and adjoining areas. It moved into the Andaman Sea and became a well-marked low-pressure area on Sunday afternoon. It is expected to move further northwestwards by Monday and intensify into a depression. Thereafter, it will move northwards towards the sea adjoining the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast within two days, a Met department official said. Under its influence, gusty winds of 45 to 55 kilometres per hour are likely over the sea in the region, with wind speeds occasionally reaching 65 kilometres per hour. A warning has been issued to fishermen operating in the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast from Monday to Wednesday for the time being. No warning has been issued for the West Bengal coast so far. Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 26.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, 0.5 degrees above normal. The city's maximum temperature on Sunday was 32.4 degrees Celsius, 0.1 degrees below normal.
Park Street got back an old favourite, and it still serves butter chicken khichdi
Quiz sparks curiosity and confidence among students
The court had suggested three months to be a reasonable time unless exceptional circumstances exist
Housing sales rise 3% to over 1 lakh units across top seven cities in Q3: Anarock
Housing sales in India's major cities rose by 3 percent during the July to September quarter of 2026. Overall sales in value terms increased by 2 percent compared to the previous year. Notably, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Bengaluru showed significant growth in sales. However, declines were observed in Delhi-NCR, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata during the same period.
Kolkata: Clashes erupt at SRFTI as students protest organisations campus meeting
Clashes broke out at Kolkatas SRFTI on September 27 after students protested a private organisations meeting on the institute campus.
Anushman Jha: I make movies to connect, my attempt has never been transactional
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Actors Soni Razdan and Raghubir Yadavs Om Ka Hari is to have its special screenings for over 50 Army centres in India. The films producer Anshuman Jha calls it the old-school way of connecting with audiences and added further that he makes movies to connect. Anshuman will travel across 15 cities from Monday onwards, including Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Patna to host special screenings. Anshuman said in a statement: This is the old-school way of connecting with audiences, not just selling a film to them. I make movies to connect, and my attempt has never been transactional; it has always been emotional. So I am willing to keep working harder and going further to reach my audience. Charlie Chaplin used to take his films from city to city. I want to do that with Om Ka Hari. I want to sit with audiences, watch the film with them, hear what they feel, and have conversations with them. He said that the love for Om Ka Hari is real, and he wants to keep walking that extra mile to take the film to more people and, hopefully, spread the message at its heart: express your love to your parents while you still have the chance. With 25 cinemas retaining the film into Week 2 and 50+ Army Centre screenings lined up across India, Om Ka Hari is now entering its second week with continued word-of-mouth momentum. The Army Centre screenings are expected to bring the film to thousands of viewers nationwide, with over 50 centres hosting screenings. Om Ka Hari explores the complexities of the father-son relationship through comedy, drama and the things families often struggle to say to one another. Directed by Harish Vyas, Om Ka Hari stars Anshuman Jha and Raghubir Yadav in the titular roles of Om and Hari. The film follows a stubborn father and his independent-minded son, whose relationship is shaped by generational differences, disagreements and deeply held expectations. When Hari believes he has only a few days left to live, he decides to make a journey to Varanasi, with Om accompanying him. What begins as a journey marked by conflict gradually becomes an opportunity for the two to confront the love, hurt and things left unsaid between them.
BJP leader shot dead in Bengal
BJP leader shot dead in Bengals Bolpur Kolkata: In a shootout, a BJP leader was shot dead in Birbhum districts Bolpur in West Bengal. The deceased has been identified as Chandan Bhalla (47). He was the BJPs mandal president. He was shot dead at close range on the road in the Trishulapatti area of ward [] The post BJP leader shot dead in Bengals Bolpur appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
BJP President Nitin Naveen Visits Kolkata to Strengthen Party Organization and Discuss Key Issues
Nitin Naveens Kolkata visit focuses on party organization, development, and law enforcement discussions with local leaders. BJP President Nitin Naveen Visits Kolkata to Strengthen Party Organization and Discuss Key Issues
Casteist slur on social media can invite penal action: Calcutta High Court
Twice in two days: Mob targets Mamata TMC MLA on road
Madhyamgram house church vandalised during Sunday service
30 SRFTI students, 2 profs hurt in clash with outsiders
Video: This Cafe Is Designed Like Rajbaris, 250-Year-Old Royal Palaces In Kolkata
The Oven Diner offers a space where the old-world charm meets a contemporary vibe in the most wonderful setting.
HC seeks PCB roadmap to curb air pollution
Rohingya youth caught by police in Bengal's Jalpaiguri with help of trained dog
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) The police in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Sunday caught a prisoner with the help of a trained dog, hours after he escaped from a holding centre in Rajganj area of the district. According to the police, Mohammad Soleiman was recently arrested on suspicion of being a Rohingya. He was lodged at a holding centre in Rajganj. On Sunday, the youth tried to escape by climbing over the wall of the holding centre. However, his attempt was unsuccessful as he was caught with the help of a trained dog. According to the police, the prisoner had left the holding centre on Sunday morning on the pretext of going to the toilet. Taking the opportunity, he climbed over the wall and started running through the bushes. After a while, the security guards realised the matter and started running after him and informed the Rajganj police station. Later, the police searched various places since Sunday morning. Unable to find the escaped prisoner anywhere, the help of the forest department was sought. The forest department sent their trained dog 'Orlando' in the operation following which the accused was arrested from a tea garden adjacent to Panikauri intersection, about a kilometre away from the holding centre. On September 20, a group of four people were arrested from New Jalpaiguri area and taken to the holding centre. Among them was Soleiman, a resident of Myanmar. In search of the fugitive prisoner, the Malbazar Subdistrict Police contacted the Jalpaiguri Wildlife Department for trained dogs. Later, 'Orlando', who was in the Gorumara National Park, was taken. Following the scent of the clothes worn by the escaped youth, 'Orlando' led the police team ahead. He stopped at the tea garden adjacent to Panikauri intersection, about a kilometre away from the holding centre. After a brief search, the police arrested the accused from that place. Rajib Dey, District Assistant Forest Officer of Jalpaiguri Wildlife Department, said, The Malbazar Sub district Police had asked us for a trained dog. We sent a trained dog. Our dog was able to track down the Rohingya youth who escaped from the holding centre. Our trained dog has been useful in police and administrative work. We are happy with this. For so long, 'Orlando' was used in the forest department's surveillance and search operations in the Gorumara National Park. He has tracked down poachers several times. This time, he found the escaped prisoner. On the other hand, questions have started to arise about the security arrangements of the holding centre. Police sources said they are investigating how the accused escaped from police surveillance.
Sunday workday: Sr citizens rush to banks fearing three-day strike
2,318 pujas apply on Sahaj portal, 270 new among them
Kolkata Police Urge Urgent Road Repairs Ahead of Durga Puja Festival
Chingrighata-Sector V Orange Line trial run set to start on Oct 10
BJPs National President Nitin Naveen Strengthens Organizational Ties in West Bengal Meeting
Nitin Naveen leads a crucial BJP meeting in Kolkata, focusing on strengthening organizational efforts and improving public relations. BJPs National President Nitin Naveen Strengthens Organizational Ties in West Bengal Meeting
Shopping Hubs Bustle With Crowd, Sales Yet To Pick Up
Damodar, Adi Ganga Among 17 Polluted Rivers
Students, Teachers Injured In Clashes At Kolkata Film Institute
Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (West Bengal Chapter), have hit back, claiming that their posters and banners were torn down and they were beaten up, despite having permission to hold the event.
Modi praises Sundarbans widows for leading mangrove restoration
Clashes Erupt Between ABVP Members and Students at Kolkatas SRFTI, Several Injured
Violence broke out at Kolkatas SRFTI as ABVP members clashed with students, resulting in multiple injuries and police intervention. Clashes Erupt Between ABVP Members and Students at Kolkatas SRFTI, Several Injured
Students, right-wing consumer group members clash on SRFTI campus in Kolkata
Students of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute objected to the auditorium being used for a meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat; after violence broke out, each side accused the other of attacking them
Pragati Maidan Police Arrest Man for Assaulting Woman at Kolkata Nightclub
Anurag Kashyap breaks silence on violence at Kolkatas SRFTI campus
Anurag Kashyap has reacted to the reported violence at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata after a clash broke out between a section of students and members of the ABGP
Suvendu Adhikari slams Mamata, CPI(M) coming together on CEC issue
West Bengal Chief Minister accuses Opposition of deliberately creating confusion and controversy; he also claims that the responsibility for the deletion of 27 lakh names in Bengal SIR lies with Mamata Banerjee
Bengal BJP workers put up I support Gyanesh Kumar DPs after call to build counter movement
Nabin calls for tighter BJP-govt coordination in Bengal
Didi, not EC, responsible for 27 lakh voter deletions in Bengal: Suvendu
Warrants served on Nandigram TMC netas ahead of bypoll
Bengal govt sets up panel to assess flood disaster risk in the Hills
2 killed in Midnapore BJP clash, 17 arrested
Indian Women's Fotball Team To Make Historic Kolkata Debut Against Russia
The Indian women's national team will play their first-ever international matches in Kolkata, taking on Russia in two friendlies at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on October 8 and 11, during the FIFA women's international match window.
West Bengal Government Pledges to Protect Cows, Vows Jail for Insulting Saints
West Bengals Chief Minister promises to safeguard cows and punish those who insult saints during a religious event in Kolkata. West Bengal Government Pledges to Protect Cows, Vows Jail for Insulting Saints
Rural & urban edu quality gap reducing due to govt measures: Tripura CM
CPM alleges attack on ex-Tripura CMs convoy
Women's football team to make historic Kolkata debut with two friendlies against Russia
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) The Indian women's national team will play their first-ever international matches in Kolkata, taking on Russia in two friendlies at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on October 8 and 11, 2026, during the FIFA Women's International Match Window, the AIFF announced on Sunday. The fixtures will be India's first international matches since they were crowned champions of the SAFF Women's Championship for a record-extending sixth time in June 2026. The October window will provide 69th-ranked India with an opportunity to test themselves against a strong European opposition. Russia are ranked 27th in the world. It will also mark India's first appearance in West Bengal since the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship, which was held in Siliguri and saw the Blue Tigresses lift the title. That remains the only previous occasion on which the Indian women's national team has played in the state. The Russian women's national team last travelled to India in 1994 for the eight-nation Jayalalitha Cup in Chennai. India were eliminated in the group stage, while Russia, who were placed in a different group, went on to finish runners-up. The October fixtures will be the third and fourth meetings between India and Russia. Their previous two encounters both came in international friendly tournaments in neutral venues. India suffered a 0-8 defeat to Russia at the Turkish Women's Cup in 2021, before losing 0-2 at the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 in the UAE. Indian women's national team head coach Crispin Chettri said, Playing against quality opposition is always valuable for the development of the team. We have already faced Russia at the Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai, where we lost 2-0, so these matches will give us another opportunity to test ourselves against a strong side. While results are important, we also have to look at these games with a long-term vision. It is important to give opportunities to upcoming players, expose them to high-level opposition and continue developing a squad that can perform at the international level in the future, he added. The Blue Tigresses have been training in Kolkata since September 18. Chettri will finalise and name the squad closer to the matches. Having Kolkata host these matches will also be a huge opportunity for the players. They will not only get to play against a quality team like Russia, but, hopefully, in front of a good crowd as well. Experiencing the expectations and atmosphere that come with playing in front of fans is also part of their development. These are the habits and experiences we need to build if we want to compete at a higher international level, he said.
Maid, hubby, arrested for stealing Rs 1 cr
Wedding caterers flee with advance, leave guests hungry
Bengal govt would protect 'gaumata', will jail those who insult saints: CM Adhikari
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government would protect 'gaumata' (cow) and will take action against those who will insult sadhus and will send them to jail. Speaking at a Bhagavad Gita recital event organised by Bangur Jagaran Mancha at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, Chief Minister Adhikari added that the insult of any saint or sage will not be tolerated in West Bengal. The statement from the Chief Minister comes at a time when political controversies have been surfacing in the state regarding religious statements of saints over eating habits of Bengalis during Durga Puja. He also said that there was nothing to fear while following or promoting a faith. Recite and distribute the Bhagavad Gita, distribute Hanuman Chalisa without any hesitation. Chant Hare Krishna mantras, blow conches; there is nothing to be scared of. The winds have changed, he added. At the same time, Chief Minister Adhikari outlined the state government's priorities regarding religious and cultural traditions. The government of tika, sikha, dhoti, tulsi has arrived. The (BJP) government to protect 'gaumata' is here. The government would imprison those who insult monks. Insult against saints and gurus will not be tolerated here, the Chief Minister said. He also urged the gathering to remain alert against divisive forces. We all have to remain united and alert against the 'tukde tukde' (anti-national forces) gang who raise 'Kashmir maange azadi' slogans, CM Adhikari said. The event saw 11,000 people recite the Bhagavad Gita in unison. The Chief Minister also said, I am not here as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. I am here as a Sanatani, as a child of Mata Bharati, and I have come to sit here among you. I have come to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for the awakening that you have recently brought about in West Bengal. He told that on December 29, a historic programme of Gita recitation by ten lakh voices is being organised in Kolkata.
Weather Outlook for South Bengal: Clear Skies Ahead, No Heavy Rains Expected
Kolkatas weather remains clear next week, with no heavy rainfall expected, according to the Alipore Meteorological Centre. Weather Outlook for South Bengal: Clear Skies Ahead, No Heavy Rains Expected
'Called us Naxalites...': Scuffle at Kolkata's SRFTI over a programme by Hindutva group
A scuffle broke out between student groups over an event at the Kolkata 's Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI). It is alleged that a verbal altercation, followed by clashes broke out between students and the organizers during a programme held by the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (West Bengal Chapter).
'They wanted to kill me': TMC MLA's car attacked in Kolkata
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh alleged his car was attacked with hammers and a gun was pointed at his security personnel in Kolkata, following a similar incident in Hooghly. He accused the BJP of orchestrating a jungle raj, while the BJP dismissed the claims as a publicity stunt.
Tried To Drag Me Out Of My Car: TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh Alleges Second Attack In 24 Hours, Accuses BJP
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh alleged that he was targeted in an armed attack in Kolkatas Phoolbagan area, less than 24 hours after an earlier incident. Ghosh claimed that 1520 motorcyclists surrounded his car, smashed its windows with hammers and tried to drag him out while allegedly brandishing firearms. He said his security personnel had to draw their weapons and that he later took refuge at Narkeldanga Police Station, where he filed a complaint. Ghosh accused the BJP of involvement. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee condemned the alleged attack, calling it the second such incident against Ghosh in less than 18 hours. Banerjee urged Governor R N Ravi to intervene and sought action against those responsible, while calling for an end to political violence.
