NIA arrests Imam in Bengal's East Burdwan for suspected terror links
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Tuesday, arrested an Imam of a mosque at Palishgram village under Mangalkot Police Station in East Burdwan district of West Bengal on suspicion of having links with terror networks. The arrested individual has been identified as Piar Mohammad Sheikh, who was serving as the Imam of a mosque in Palishgram village under the Mangalkot Police Station limits. He is originally a resident of Kulut village in the Monteswar area of the same district. According to sources, an NIA team, assisted by local police personnel, conducted an operation at the Palishgram Purbapara mosque on Tuesday morning and detained Sheikh from the premises. Investigators subsequently searched the room where he had been staying and seized a diary and a mobile phone. Sources aware of the development said that investigators found the numbers of several Bangladeshis in the diary. He was taken from the mosque to Mangalkot Police Station for interrogation. NIA sleuths are trying to extract as much information from him as possible. Local residents told media persons that Sheikh had been associated with the mosque for the last three years. His arrest took the villagers by surprise. They said they could not even think of his links with terrorist forces based out of Bangladesh. However, the mosque committee member Golam Mustafa and some villagers said that the arrested Imam used to go to Bangladesh frequently. Recently, too, he went to Bangladesh and spent almost six months there. He returned to Palishgram again a few months back, a local villager said. NIA officials are, however, tight-lipped over whether the arrest of the Imam is connected with the parallel raids and search operations conducted by separate teams of the central agency in five locations in different districts of West Bengal since Tuesday morning. NIA is probing alleged sleeper cells of the Bangladesh-based militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Tuesdays raid and search operations were in relation to a case registered in neighbouring Assam, and the NIAs actions in West Bengal were based on specific information secured by the central agency in the matter.
Kolkata High Court Grants Interim Bail to Congress Candidate for Nandigram By-Election
The Kolkata High Court has granted interim bail to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the upcoming Nandigram by-election. Kolkata High Court Grants Interim Bail to Congress Candidate for Nandigram By-Election
The Kolkata High Court has rejected a Congress petition challenging the nomination of BJPs Hasirani Rath for the Nandigram by-election. Kolkata High Court Dismisses Congress Petition Against BJP Candidates Nomination in Nandigram By-Election
Why is SRFTI on the boil ? | Explained
What led to the clash between students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) during an event on campus? Why are students questioning the presence of an outside organisation at the institute? What action has the Kolkata Police taken so far?
Kolkata police reported to the Calcutta High Court that a search yielded no incriminating material. The case involves West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and a suo motu FIR. The FIR was related to allegations of weapons and cash being stored at a house. Adhikari's lawyer subsequently decided not to pursue the petition based on the police report. The high court dismissed the petition as it was not pressed further.
India Energy Week (IEW) has emerged as a global platform for addressing the country's rapidly rising energy requirements, challenges and technology needs, with its fifth edition scheduled to be held in Kolkata in January 2027, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Director (Exploration) Om Prakash Sinha said. The fifth edition of IEW will be held from January 28-31, 2027, at the New Town Convention Centre in Kolkata, with curtain-raiser events being organised in Ahmedabad, Dehradun and Delhi as part of preparations for the main event. Speaking on the sidelines of a curtain-raiser event for IEW 2027, Sinha said India's position as the country with the highest incremental energy demand globally has increased the importance of a platform that brings together stakeholders from across the energy sector.
Bengal Ex-Minister Faces Probe Agency ED Searches In Fund Collection Case
A total of 10 locations across Kolkata including Highland Park are being searched, sources said in the case linked for former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen
ED raids 10 places linked to ex-Bengal minister in money laundering case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was conducting raid and search operations at the residence of the former West Bengal Tourism Minister, Indranil Sen, a singer-turned-politician, on Tuesday in connection with the charges against him and his wife, Madhuchhanda Sen, of illegally selling pre-Durga Puja tickets by misusing the name of the UNESCO. A team of ED officials reached Sen's residence in Kasba, South Kolkata, early in the morning. It is learnt that different teams of ED officials were conducting simultaneous search operations at 10 places in the city, including the residence of the former minister at Kasba. Other places where the Central agency operations were being conducted include Hindustan Park and Highland Park, among others. These include the houses of the former minister's relatives. The address where the ED has started searching in Highland Park is the house of a businessman associated with event management. There have been allegations that 'fake passes' were sold in the name of Durga Puja tours, using the UNESCO tag. It is initially estimated that around Rs 60 crore was involved, said sources. A complaint was filed at the Bowbazar police station in June this year against Indranil, his wife Madhuchhanda Sen and an organisation called 'Mass Art'. Madhuchhanda herself is also involved in this organisation. These 'fake passes' were also being sold using the name of 'UNESCO' to gain credibility. The complaint was lodged by Joydeep Mukherjee on behalf of the international organisation. As per the complaint, the said entity, 'Mass Art', was floated within six months of the Kolkata Durga Puja being recognised by UNESCO in 2021. They claim to be UNESCO's 'official partner' in promoting Kolkata's Durga Puja. But this claim was alleged to be false. Apart from that, it was alleged that UNESCO's name, logo, etc., had been used without permission to sell tickets for Puja tours. It is further learnt that passes for about 24 Durga Puja 'preview shows' in Kolkata were sold at high prices. In some cases, the price of these passes ranged from Rs 1,749 to Rs 5,499. The said entity claimed that UNESCO had selected those 24 puja mandap. But so far, no truth has been found in this claim, according to sources aware of the development. It is alleged that money has been embezzled in the name of 'preview show' passes. Initial investigation revealed that about 19,000 people registered to receive these passes in 2022; 34,000 registered in 2023; and 61,000 in 2024. Although the investigation into the matter was initiated by the Kolkata Police, the ED later began its probe into the money laundering angle in the case.
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted search and seizure action at 15 premises in Kolkata in connection with financial irregularities committed by MassArt (Mahanirban Road Mass Art) Society in running its Durga Puja
A 12-member expedition team from Kolkata-based mountaineering and adventure club 'Himalaya's Beckon' were stranded amid heavy snowfall during an expedition to Mount Leo Pargil-2 in Himachal Pradesh
ED raids 15 Kolkata premises in MassArt financial irregularities case involving Indranil Sen
The News Mill
Nabin tells West Bengal BJP ministers that party should not interfere in government functioning
The BJP president participated in a number of events in Kolkata, including the Yuva Samvad Conclave, where Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was also present
Day after, no class at SRFTI, cop cover for campus, 4 FIRs
CU to set aside 25% UG marks for internal assessment
Kartik Maharaj targets Bengal intellectuals with Brihannala remark
Fear closer home for 1st-yr students staying off campus
36 yrs on, cops take jawans wifes missing plaint
Do not ignore early heart attack signs, warn doctors
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.
No blanket penalty, urge Kol hospitals
Canal-dredging to mitigate flooding in Behala pockets
10 Bdeshis fly to Kolkata from across globe for Hasina bday at Syama home
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
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
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
WBSSC releases revised interview list for HS level
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: 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
Nitin Naveen Prepares Jhalmuri in Kolkata During Visit
BJP National President Nitin Naveen showcases his culinary skills by making jhalmuri in Kolkata, a popular street food of West Bengal. Nitin Naveen Prepares Jhalmuri in Kolkata During Visit
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
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
Communal Harmony in Rohtas: Mohammad Islam's Team Crafts 60-Foot Kolkata-Style Durga Pandal
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
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.
Office space leasing rises 9 per cent to 18.7 mn sq ft in Jul-Sep across top 7 cities: Colliers
Gross office leasing across seven major cities in India increased by 9 per cent in the third quarter. Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR experienced significant growth, with leasing rising to 5.2 million and 3.3 million square feet, respectively. Hyderabad saw a notable increase in leasing activity, reaching 2.2 million square feet, while Kolkata's numbers surged four-fold to 0.4 million square feet.
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
Madhyamgram house church vandalised during Sunday service
30 SRFTI students, 2 profs hurt in clash with outsiders
Easy hawker loans: PMO adviser in Hwh
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
Kolkata Police Urge Urgent Road Repairs Ahead of Durga Puja Festival
Chingrighata-Sector V Orange Line trial run set to start on Oct 10
PoK calling Kolkata: Digi arrest takes a new route
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
BJP booth president shot dead in Bolpur
