GUWAHATI: Fans could not hold back their tears, both inside and outside theatre halls, after watching Roi Roi Binale , the last film featuring music icon Zubeen Garg, who died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. The movie, directed by Rajesh Bhuyan and released on Friday, ran to packed houses across Assam and broke all opening day records, with most theatre halls scheduling up to five shows a day. The screening started as early as 4.25 am at several theatres. Tickets for all shows for the first week were sold out, and fans had booked the first three days tickets within an hour last week. The state is still grieving Gargs untimely demise, and there was an outpouring of emotion as fans thronged single-screen and multiplex theatres. In viral videos, some were seen seated long after shows were over, sobbing. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. For the first time in the history of Assamese films, a movie is being released in different parts of the country. It was screened in Patna, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Mysore, Vellore, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jaipur, Vapi (Gujarat), Indore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Raniganj, Maldah, Siliguri, Agartala, Dharmanagar, Cooch Behar, Raipur and Nagpur, said Siddharth Goenka, the films distributor. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. In cities like Bengaluru, Assamese films were earlier screened in only one or two theatres, but this time, it premiered in 17 theatres simultaneously. There will be 600 shows daily in Assam and the rest of the Northeast alone, which is unprecedented. Outside the Northeast, 96 halls would screen the movie with 170 shows daily, Goenka added. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a constituent of Assams ruling coalition, booked all 218 seats for a show at a multiplex in Guwahati. AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta watched the film along with party leaders and workers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he would watch it privately. If I go to a cinema hall, it will cause inconvenience to people as I will be accompanied by my security personnel, he said. Garg plays the lead role of a blind musician in Roi Roi Binale , a musical love story that recounts the life and struggle of a visually impaired artist who experiences the world through sound, imagination and love. The film features 11 songs, all composed by Garg himself.
Man dies by suicide in Bengal, leaves note mentioning NRC; Mamata blames BJP for spreading fear
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee charged the BJP with spreading fear over the National Register of Citizens on Tuesday, hours after the alleged suicide of a man near Kolkata, who reportedly left behind a note blaming the NRC for his death. Barrackpore Police Commissionerate Muralidhar Sharma said after visiting the spot that 57-year-old Pradeep Kar was found hanging at his residence in Panihati in North 24 Parganas on Tuesday morning. A suicide note was found in which NRC was mentioned, Sharma said, adding that preliminary investigations revealed the person was in depression after announcement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls on Monday. The BJP asserted that the cause of the suicide must be determined only by the investigating agencies, and not through political rhetoric. Condemning what she described as the BJP's politics of fear and division, the CM alleged that the party's campaign around the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has created panic among people. It shakes me to the very core to imagine how, for years, BJP has tormented innocent citizens with the threat of NRC, spreading lies, stoking panic and weaponising insecurity for votes, Banerjee said in the post. She charged the BJP with turning constitutional democracy into a theatre of fear, and said the ragic death was the result of venomous propaganda. They have turned Constitutional democracy into a theatre of fear, where people are made to doubt their own right to exist. This tragic death is the direct consequence of BJP's venomous propaganda. Those who sit in Delhi and preach nationalism have pushed ordinary Indians to such despair that they are dying in their own land, fearing they will be declared 'FOREIGNERS', she added. Demanding that the Centre put an end to what she called a heartless game, Banerjee reiterated that Bengal would ever allow NRC and would protect the dignity and rights of its people. Our soil belongs to Maa, Mati, Manush (mother, land and people), not to those who thrive on hate. Let the Delhi Zamindars hear this loud and clear: Bengal will resist, Bengal will protect and Bengal will prevail, she added. Later, talking to the media, Barrackpore Police Commissioner Murlidhar Sharma said Kar's body was found hanging inside his room at his residence in Panihati. After a preliminary investigation and speaking to his family members and relatives, we found that Mr Kar had been very depressed due to the NRC. He had been under severe stress for quite some time, especially since yesterday's announcement regarding the rollout of the SIR of electoral rolls, Sharma told reporters. The IPS officer said the deceased had dinner on Monday night and then went to his room to sleep. His family members could not understand what was going on in his mind. On Tuesday morning, he was found hanging from the ceiling of his room, Sharma said. The deceased's elder sister claimed that her brother had been frightened about the implementation of the NRC. My brother was very scared about the implementation of the NRC. He used to tell us that he would be taken away in the name of NRC, the sister said. Responding sharply to the chief minister's comments, BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused Banerjee of esorting to lies and theatrics over the incident. The tragic death of Pradeep Kar must be investigated thoroughly - the cause of suicide can and must be determined only by the law and investigating agencies, not through political rhetoric, Malviya said in an X post. Let's also get the facts right - there is NO NRC anywhere in the country. Mamata Banerjee is lying and deliberately spreading panic to stoke fear among people for political gain, he added. Malviya alleged that it was the TMC and not the BJP, that weaponised fear by exploiting the anxieties of poor Hindu refugees who fled religious persecution and sought shelter in India. The same fear was used to loot, assault, and suppress voices, as seen in Sandeshkhali and during the riots in Malda and Murshidabad, the BJP leader wrote. Malviya accused Banerjee of using the incident as a tool to spread anxiety among voters ahead of the now-announced SIR exercise. Mamata Banerjee knows that a proper Special Investigation Report (SIR) will expose the rot in her administration and mark the beginning of her political downfall. The SIR will also ensure that illegal infiltrators, who double up as TMC's votebank, are IDENTIFIED and DELETED from the voter list. That's why she's resorting to lies and theatrics once again. Truth and accountability will prevail - not fear mongering, he stated. Asked to respond to the BJP leader's comment, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee sounded dismissive. Amit Malviya has no understanding of the Bengali language. The suicide note is written in Bangla. Let him learn the language first and then he can make his comments, he said.
Cyclone Montha to bring heavy rain in several West Bengal districts
KOLKATA: Cyclone Montha is likely to bring heavy rain in several districts across West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, the IMD said. The weather system, situated over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a special bulletin. The Met advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast till Thursday. It warned of the possibility of landslides in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and waterlogging in low-lying areas in the plains. While light to moderate rain is expected over many places in south Bengal, heavy rain is likely to occur over North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts between Tuesday and Friday, it said. The IMD said heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) is likely over the north Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, and heavy downpour is likely over Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda districts. Coastal Andhra, Odisha on high alert as Cyclone Montha approaches
Cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal may trigger heavy rains from October 27
A fresh low-pressure area formed over southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 27 and may cause heavy rainfall across Odisha and some parts of West Bengal for three days starting Monday, officials said. Bhubaneswar meteorological department director Manorama Mohanty said the weather system has moved west-northwestwards over the past three hours and is likely to move in that direction further. It will become a depression over the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal by October 25, a deep depression by October 26, and a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 27, Mohanty told reporters here. Asked whether the system will make landfall on the Odisha coast, she said, It is too early to predict, but wherever it makes landfall, Odisha is likely to experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from October 27 to 29.The coastal districts are expected to be most affected. The IMD has issued a yellow warning for light to moderate rainfall in 12 districts on Friday, 21 districts each on Saturday and Sunday, and across the entire state on Monday. Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government was closely monitoring the situation and prepared to face any eventuality. October is generally considered a cyclone-prone month. There is no need to panic. The government is fully prepared to handle the situation, Pujari said. The system is also likely to bring heavy rainfall in south Bengal districts comprising North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram and Howrah between October 28 and 30, weather officials said. Thunderstorms with lightning are likely in Kolkata and adjoining Hooghly district on October 28. North Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda are also likely to get heavy rain between October 29 and 30, they said. The low pressure has also triggered a fresh spell of northeast monsoon rains in the North coastal region of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai . An orange alert has been issued for Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts on October 27, warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Parts of Chengalpattu and Ranipet are also expected to receive intense showers during the said period. According to the IMDs five-day forecast, heavy rains are likely in Chennai and neighbouring districts till October 28 with possibilities of waterlogging in low-lying areas. In the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, widespread rainfall were reported across several districts, with Pallipattu in Tiruvallur recording the highest at 15 cm, followed by Nalumukku in Tirunelveli (12 cm) and Oothu (11 cm). Arakonam in Ranipet district recorded 10 cm, while Medavakkam in Chennai received 9 cm. Several parts of southern Tamil Nadu, including Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli, also witnessed moderate to heavy spells. Chennai Corporation officials said field teams have been placed on alert to clear stormwater drains and ensure swift water discharge ahead of the rains this weekend. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as strong winds are likely to prevail along the Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coast in the coming days. With the northeast monsoon active, IMD officials cautioned that intense rainfall episodes may continue over the next week, particularly in northern coastal districts. (With inputs from SV Krishna Chaitanya , PTI)
Durgapur Rape: Victim's College-Mate 6th Man To Be Held, Police Claim Assault By One Accused
The college-mate of the victim, a resident of Malda district, was arrested after he was questioned repeatedly by the police, with the investigators finding glaring inconsistencies in his replies, a senior officer said.
Two arrested in connection with attack on BJP lawmakers in Bengal's Jalpaiguri
Two persons were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the attack on BJP lawmakers Khagen Murmu and Sankar Ghosh in northern West Bengal's Jalpaiguri. According to police, one of the arrests was made from Jalpaiguri, while the other person was nabbed near Jaigaon, at the India-Bhutan border, in Alipurduar district. Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attacks on BJP leaders in Nagrakata. An investigation is underway. We will soon arrest the others involved in the attack, Jalpaiguri's Superintendent of Police Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat said, reported PTI. Apart from the arrested, another six people have also been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the attack. Sources said all eight people were associated with the TMC. However, the state's ruling party has denied any connection with the perpetrators of the attack. Murmu, the BJP's MP from Maldaha Uttar, and Ghosh, the Siliguti MLA and the party chief whip in West Bengal, were attacked by a mob on Monday when they were visiting Jalpaiguri district's Nagrakata area to assess the flood situation. Bengal BJP demands NIA probe into attack on party MP, MLA in Jalpaiguri, Governor visits injured leaders
BJP MP Khagen Murmu attacked during relief work in flood-hit north Bengal, party blames Trinamool
Malda Uttar legislator Khagen Murmu and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who were visiting the flood and landslide-hit areas for inspection and relief work, were surrounded and attacked by a large group of locals
BJP MP Khagen Injured On Head After Stones Thrown In Bengal's Jalpaiguri
Khagen Murmu, the BJP MP from Bengal's Maldaha Uttar seat, was seriously injured in an attack in the state's flood-affected Jalpaiguri region Monday afternoon
4,271 voters in single house: AAP alleges major irregularity in UP electoral rolls
LUCKNOW: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday alleged large-scale irregularities in the electoral rolls of Uttar Pradesh, claiming that 4,271 voters have been found enrolled in a single house in Mahoba district. Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, Yesterday I told you about two houses in Mahoba where 243 and 185 voters were found, which was shocking. Today I have found another case where 4,271 voters are registered in a single house. If there are 4,271 votes in one house, the family should have around 12,000 members. Someone will have to find such a large family. Singh also alleged that vote theft started in Uttar Pradesh with the collusion of the BJP and the Election Commission. In a sarcastic remark, the AAP leader said, I want to tell the owner of this house (in Mahoba), if he contests the village pradhan's election, he will win. No one else needs to vote (other than his family members). Singh claimed that in the village where this house is located, there are around 16,000 voters in total, making the alleged anomaly even more serious. He also targeted the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance over land allotment in Bihar's Bhagalpur, alleging that the state government gave 1,050 acres of land to industrialist Gautam Adani's group for three power plants at a nominal price of Re 1 per acre for 25 years. Not only was the land given for Re 1, but a guarantee was also given that whatever electricity you produce will be purchased at Rs 7 per unit for the next 25 years. Whether people get power at Rs 10, Rs 11 or Rs 12 (per unit) doesn't matter to the government. But the prime minister's friend must not face any trouble, Singh said. He also claimed that the land was acquired between 2012 and 2013 by the then BJP-JD(U) government, and compensation was paid to the farmers from the public exchequer. The government could have sold the land at a higher price to generate revenue but it gave it to Adani for Re 1 per acre for 25 years, Singh said. The AAP leader also claimed that official records classify the land as arren in around 70 per cent of its area, while there stand nearly 10 lakh trees, including mango trees that produce the Malda variety of the fruit. The government is only concerned about money-making, not the environment or trees, Singh claimed. He also said that employment, farmers' welfare and environmental issues are not on the government's priority list. The priority is to make money in the name of cricket and by setting up power plants like these. That is why I keep saying that Modi ji is not the prime minister of India, he is the prime minister of Adani, Singh said, as he urged people to decide if they are happy or angry with such policies. AAP's Uttar Pradesh president Sabhajit Singh said the party will hold a meeting of its senior office-bearers in Lucknow on September 20 to discuss electoral roll-related issues, among others. Like in Mahoba, the party will focus on similar irregularities in other districts as well. Our focus is on ensuring that no eligible voter is left out and no bogus voter is added to the list. The issue will be taken up in the meeting, he said. Will interfere in case of illegality: SC sets October 7 for final hearing on pleas against Bihar SIR
Temple Wedding, Abortion, Then Mystery Death: Tale Of Two Bengal Doctors
A junior doctor has been arrested in West Bengal's Malda after his girlfriend -- a 24-year-old MBBS student -- died under mysterious circumstances while she was visiting him
Boyfriend of RG Kar medical student arrested after her mysterious death in Bengal's Malda
Ujjwal Soren, a junior doctor, has been arrested in connection with the unnatural death of his girlfriend, Anindita Soren, a final-year medical student. Anindita's mother accused Ujjwal of poisoning her daughter after she insisted on registering their temple marriage, which he resisted.
RG Kar Medical College Student Found Dead In Bengal's Malda, Mother Blames Lover
Mystery is shrouding the death of a tribal female medical student of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Malda district of West Bengal.
WB Elections 2026: 79,000 BLOs appointed, BJP raises objection over temporary staff in Malda
West Bengal has appointed 79,000 Booth Level Officers. WB-CEO Manoj Agarwal will attend an ECI meeting in Delhi. Allegations arose in Malda regarding BLO appointments. BJP raised concerns about temporary staff filling BLO positions. Objections to booth bifurcation were accepted until September 8. EC officials reviewed election preparedness.
'Will pour acid': TMC leader threatens BJP MLA over remarks on migrant workers
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Abdur Rahim Boxi sparked controversy after purportedly threatening to pour acid down the throat of anyone speaking against migrant workers from West Bengal. The Malda district TMC president allegedly made the remarks during a public meeting in Malatipur on Saturday night. A video of the incident went viral on social media, though PTI has not independently verified its authenticity. Boxi was reacting to a BJP MLAs comment during an Assembly discussion, in which the latter reportedly referred to migrant workers from Bengal as Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. I strongly resent the abominable comments made by a BJP MLA, Boxi said. How dare he insult our Bengali citizens who leave the state in search of work? I caution him, I will pour acid in the throat of anyone making such statements to silence them. He further accused BJP leaders of viewing the people of the state through the prism of a divisive political agenda, adding that they should have their eyes checked. BJPs IT Cell head Amit Malviya condemned the remarks on X, saying, Violence is not new to TMC, it is their political culture. In Malda-Murshidabad, where illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas form Mamata Banerjee's committed vote bank, such threats reflect how TMC sustains its politics.
Will Burn Your Face With Acid: TMC Leader's Shocking Threat To BJP MLA Draws Condemnation | News18
TMC leader Abdur Rahim Bakshi stoked a controversy after he threatened to pour acid into the mouth of a BJP MLA in West Bengal, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition.Bakshi is the TMC President of the Malda district and he made the remarks while addressing a gathering on Saturday to protest against alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other parts of the country. n18oc_indian18oc_breaking-newsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
TMC Malda Chief Threatens BJP MLA with Acid Attack
Abdur Rahim Bakshis remarks over migrant worker row spark BJP protests in Malda
Bengal Shocker: Trinamool MLA Threatens To Pour Acid In BJP Leader's Mouth
A few years ago, he had threatened to cut off the hands and feet of leaders and workers of the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress. Now, Malda district Trinamool Congress (TMC) President Abdur Rahim Bakshi has threatened to pour acid on the throat of a BJP MLA.
Indian Railways rolls out biometric sign-on system for TTEs
NEW DELHI: In a first, Indian Railways has introduced a new biometric sign-on and sign-off system for its ticket checking staff, marking a significant step towards modernising railway operations and enhancing accountability. The first digital TTE lobby of Indian Railways also became operational at Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction under the East Central Railway on August 29 this year. According to the Railways, this innovative system has already been successfully implemented in the Banaras Division of Northern Railway, Sonpur Division in East Central Railway, Ratlam Division in Western Railway, and TTE lobbies at CSMT, Pune and Solapur in Central Railway. It is also operational in Malda Division in Eastern Railway, Mysore Division in South Western Railway, Bhopal in West Central Railway, and Madurai, Palghat, Trichy in Southern Railway, along with the Kota Lobby in West Central Railway. Additionally, it is being phased in across various divisions of the North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and North Western Railway zones. The Jammu Division of Northern Railway is set to roll out the system shortly. ED I&P, Railways Ministry, Dileep Kumar said, The new system integrates biometric authentication with the Ticket Examiner (TTE) Lobby system, allowing staff to authenticate themselves using an Aadhaar-enabled biometric device. This ensures a tamper-proof, transparent, and privacy-compliant attendance process that accurately records working hours and duty status in real time. He outlined the objectives of the biometric system, stating that authentic attendance will ensure that attendance records are accurate and verifiable. He said that the system will also provide real-time data on staff availability and duty status, allowing for more efficient management. He further mentioned that the system also offers effective monitoring of working hours and lobby operations. He added that the system integrates with Hand Held Terminals (HHTs) and duty rosters for streamlined staff deployment. Detailing the initiative, Kumar said that the implementation of this system is a testament to Indian Railways commitment to improving efficiency and transparency. The biometric sign-on/off system will not only streamline staff deployment but also significantly enhance the overall efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the ticket checking staff, ultimately improving the experience for all passengers, he said.
TMC MP claims tribal worker from Malda beaten in Odisha over speaking Bengali
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam on Tuesday alleged that a tribal labourer from West Bengals Malda district was beaten up in Odisha for speaking Bengali. Islam, who is also chairman of the West Bengal governments Migrant Workers Welfare Board, claimed that the youth, identified as Binoy Besra from Gajol, was first detained Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Residents in Bengal's Malda, Murshidabad Rush for Birth Documents Amidst SIR of Electoral Roll Fears
Subhamay Basu, chairman-in-council and TMC councillor of English Bazar Municipality, said over the past two weeks, the trend has intensified, increasing the workload of civic body staff.
Towards eradicating human trafficking in India: A focus on West Bengal
In the past week, two major human trafficking attempts have been foiled in our region the first involved rescuing 56 young women from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station near Siliguri in Darjeeling district. The other involved rescuing 34 young women from Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus, in Siliguri. In both cases, the victims are young, vulnerable girls from economically and socially marginalised sections, and hail from remote rural villages of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, mostly from the tea gardens. In the first instance, the women were promised jobs in Bengaluru; however, they were being taken to Patna when they were rescued. In the second case, the women were being transported to Jharkhand by bus when the rescue took place. In both cases, the traffickers claimed that their final destination was the garment factories of Tamil Nadu. Contrast this with the fact that since 2019, 143 workers from West Bengal, including 60 children, have been rescued from bonded labour in gold manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu. Many such instances of vulnerable people from West Bengal, particularly from the Darjeeling hills, Terai and the Dooars region, being lured by human traffickers are coming to light. What is worrisome is that, unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. A cursory look at the data from 2018 to 2022, as reported in Parliament in April this year, reveals: 2,278 cases in 2018, 2,208 in 2019, 1,714 in 2020, 2,189 in 2021, and 2,250 in 2022. The noticeable dip in 2020 may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted both mobility and law enforcement operations. However, the numbers indicate that trafficking continues to be a widespread concern across the country. One of the most affected states during this period has been West Bengal. Its location along the India-Nepal-Bhutan-Bangladesh border, particularly in districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, North and South Dinajpur, Raiganj, Malda, North and South 24 Parganas, and Murshidabad, makes it especially vulnerable to cross-border trafficking. West Bengal, sadly, serves as both a destination and a transit point where trafficked individuals are usually forced into labour or sex work. Despite a sharp decline in reported human trafficking cases in West Bengal, from more than 3,500 in 2016 to only 67 in 2022, most experts caution that the drop could be due to better concealment by traffickers, gaps in reporting, obfuscating data by the state administration, or fear among victims and their families. The actual number of victims is believed to be much higher. If we are to tackle the menace of human trafficking, the first act should be to acknowledge that there is a problem. Obfuscating crime data, particularly that related to human trafficking, further harms the victims of trafficking. Hence, the West Bengal government should be more transparent about reporting crime-related data. The root cause of human trafficking is poverty. The majority of those trafficked are from shut-down tea gardens, as substantiated by one of the recently arrested human trafficking suspects from Siliguri, who said to the media, As the women didnt get jobs at the tea gardens due to the closure of most, they were willingly going to Tamil Nadu for jobs. Hence, it is vital to take necessary steps towards addressing poverty through job creation. Availability of employment opportunities locally will encourage youths from our region to remain here itself, instead of taking grave risks to go and work in distant cities. The next step is to promote community-based initiatives as higher participation of the community will contribute significantly towards lowering instances of human trafficking. We also need to leverage technology to monitor vulnerable regions, and take necessary action to address the key vulnerabilities, including strengthening community organisations, providing financial and economic support to vulnerable families, and encouraging local youths to become involved in sensitisation and monitoring processes. Availability of safe accommodation and temporary shelters for the victims of human trafficking, easy access to legal services, educational and vocational training programmes, and provision of counselling and mental health support are important. Additionally, regulating placement agencies and borders can disrupt trafficking networks. I am grateful to MARG, Darjeeling, for taking a unique initiative of hand-crafting purple roses and delivering them to people across the region on Anti-Human Trafficking Day, commemorated globally on July 30. Purple Rose is not a naturally occurring flower; instead, it is created artificially by people for their pleasure. Hence, it symbolises the victims of human trafficking, who have been reduced to becoming objects of pleasure and sources of profit. Raju Bista Member of Parliament from Darjeeling, and the National Spokesperson, BJP
Aabhas Maldahiyars Babur:The Quest for Hindustan is Out
It brings to light revealing findings on the destruction of the Ram Mandir, questions the idealized narrative of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, and uncovers the unequal nature of interfaith marriages under Timurid rule
Mamata Banerjee warns of voter list purge, attacks BJP for insulting Bengali language
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday indicated that her party would bank on issues like voter lists and the Bengali language movement to contest the 2026 Assembly elections. Speaking at a programme organised to celebrate World Tribal Day in Jhargram, in the western part of West Bengal, she launched a scathing attack on the BJP, centring around these two issues. In her speech, she expressed her anger over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Chief Minister also made it clear once again that her movement will continue regarding the Bengali language. She targeted the central government and the ECI over the voter list exercise and used the alleged negative comments of BJP leaders regarding the Bengali language as a tool to attack the saffron party. She said, If anyone asks to fill up forms, please do not do it being unaware. They will remove your names from the voter lists and hand an NRC notice to you. We will not tolerate it. It is a plan of the Central Government and they will verify names of the voter list. People will have to cross-check if their names are in the voter list. Those born before 2002 are being asked to show their parents birth certificates. Banerjee claimed that when the Trinamool Congress government came to power in West Bengal in May 2011, the institutional delivery rate in the state was only 60 percent and it was much lower before that. How many people have the birth certificates of their parents now? Those who are asking for it do they have their parents birth certificates? They are born with a silver spoon; how will they understand the woes of the poor? she added. Without naming the BJP, Banerjee also attacked the ruling party at the Centre. Mamata questions EC's directive to suspend four officers, says her govt is with its staffers She said, They even dismissed the existence of the Bengali language. In which language did Rabindranath Tagore or Netaji speak? How useless are they that they say there is no such language as Bengali. As I hold a certain position, I cannot speak ill of them even if they do so. People of Bengal are being persecuted. We have facilitated the return of more than 2,000 workers. They have been kept in detention camps in Gurgaon. Similar persecution is going on in Rajasthan and Assam. A tribal girl from Malda has been pushed back to Bangladesh from Madhya Pradesh. Dalits are being tortured, the Chief Minister alleged. She also asked people to remain cautious about the BJP, while saying, These people will come before elections and ask for votes by giving money. Whose money is that? We know everything. They want to remove the names of the people and send them to Bangladesh. They are labelling people as Rohingyas and Bangladeshis only for speaking Bengali, Banerjee alleged. Asking people not to let go of the voter lists and the honour of the Bengali language, she asked, In which language is our National Anthem written? Who taught us the Bengali alphabets? It was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was born in Medinipur. The Chief Minister complained, Government employees are being intimidated. Notices were sent to two of my officers yesterday. They were suspended even though the elections have not yet been declared. Under which rule? You are suspending. And you are saying, an FIR will have to be filed. It will not happen. I will not let anyone be punished. Keep this in mind. She once again clarified that the West Bengal government will continue to stand with the state government employees. The ECI had on Tuesday suspended four officials and a casual worker in West Bengal for irregularities in the registration of names in the voter lists. In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the ECI had also ordered the registration of an FIR against these four officials and a data entry operator posted in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts respectively for their alleged criminal activities.
Two men from West Bengal arrested with fake currency notes in Nagpur
NAGPUR: Two men from West Bengal have been arrested in Nagpur for allegedly possessing fake currency notes with a face value of more than Rs 1.21 lakh, police said on Thursday. The duo, Jaminarul Hussain Lokman Sheikh (27) and Azimtanu Sheikh (29), both from Malda district, was caught with 243 counterfeit notes in Rs 500 denomination (face value Rs 1,21,500) on late Wednesday night near a hospital under the Tehsil police station area, they said. The duo initially claimed they were job-seekers, but during a search, police discovered the fake notes hidden in a plastic bag. The men later told cops they had stolen a passenger's bag containing the notes while traveling on the Geetanjali Express from Howrah to Nagpur, the police said. They planned to return home after circulating the notes in Nagpur, they added. The two men were produced in a local court, which remanded them to five-day police custody.
West Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia said the proposed project aims to control soil erosion by the Ganga in Malda, close to the Bihar and Jharkhand borders
Malda migrant workers family backs Mamata claim of harassment by Delhi police
Sanjur Parveen and other members of the family who hail from Malda in West Bengal held a press conference at the Trinamool Congress party office in Kolkata and alleged torture by Delhi police. The Delhi police said that the video shared by the Chief Minister about migrant workers family alleging harassment in the national capital was fabricated.
Didi claims linguistic assault in Delhi, cops call video fabricated
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Monday dismissed Mamata Banerjees allegation that a Bengali-speaking woman and her child were assaulted in the national capital for speaking their language, and termed the viral video shared by her, fabricated and politically motivated. On Sunday, Banerjee posted a video claiming that the woman and her sonmigrant residents from Malda districts Chanchal areawere victims of linguistic terror by Delhi Police personnel. Even a child is not spared... Where are they taking our country now? she wrote on social media. DCP (East) Abhishek Dhania refuted the charges and dubbed the video misleading. He identified the woman as Sanjanu Parveen and stated that during questioning, she alleged that four men in plainclothes, posing as police officers, took her and her child to a secluded spot on the night of July 26 and extracted Rs 25,000 from her. Mamata Banerjee alleges 'linguistic terror' against Bengalis in BJP-ruled states Dhania added that an investigation involving CCTV footage and local intelligence revealed inconsistencies in Parveens account. During questioning, the woman confessed that a relative of hers, a political worker from Malda, had asked her to make the video. It was first circulated locally in Bengal before appearing on social media, he said. Calling the episode a deliberate attempt to malign cops, Dhania said the claims were baseless and fabricated. However, Banerjee stood by her claims on Tuesday, asserting that the woman and her child were threatened after the incident. They were taken to various police stations, just as I had predicted... We want them to come back. The truth will come out, she said at a public event in Birbhum. BJP unleashing linguistic terrorism on Bengalis: Didi
Didi Challenges Delhi Police Rebuttal On Malda Kid's Assault
The CM added, We want the affected to return home. Only then, it will be proven who spoke the truth. Her response came a day after Delhi deputy commissioner of police (East) Abhishek Dhania refuted her claims that she had posted on X about the incident.
Mamata Banerjee challenges Delhi Police over alleged assault on migrant child, mother
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday challenged the Delhi Police, a day after they refuted her allegation that officers had brutally beaten a child and her mother, members of a Bengali migrant workers family, in the national capital. On Sunday, Banerjee had posted a video on her X handle and made the allegation for the first time. In her address at a public meeting at Bolpur in Birbhum district on Monday, she reiterated the claim. Later on Monday evening, Delhi Polices DCP (East), Abhishek Dhania, held a press conference to refute the allegation. Challenging the Delhi Police on the issue, the Chief Minister said, I had spoken about that child yesterday. They were taken to one police station after another. I had said this in the meeting yesterday. Check the record. I had said that they would be threatened. That is what happened. We will want them (the affected people) to return. And it will be proven who is true and who is false. She was addressing an administrative meeting at Illambazar in Birbhum on Tuesday. Sharing a video on her X handle on Sunday, where a young man was heard accusing the police of beating his wife and infant son, Banerjee had said, Atrocious!! Terrible!! See how Delhi Police brutally beat up a kid and his mother, members of a migrant family from Malda's Chanchal. See how even a child is not spared from the cruelty of violence in the regime of linguistic terror unleashed by BJP in the country against the Bengalis! Where are they taking our country now? she had asked. In the video posted by the Chief Minister, a young man is seen showing some injury marks on his infant son and saying, Look what the police did to my son. The police beat him and broke his forehead. He is also heard complaining in the video that all their essentials had been thrown away. The young man's wife is also seen in the video. He is seen pointing to his wife and saying, The police also beat her up a lot. (Although The New Indian Express has not verified the authenticity of this video.) After Banerjee posted the video on her X platform, Delhi Police launched an investigation. DCP (East) Abhishek Dhania said on Monday that investigators went to the womans house after identifying her from the video. During interrogation, the woman alleged that four Delhi Police personnel in plain clothes came to her house at 10:30 pm on 26 July and took her to a secluded place. After that, they allegedly demanded 25,000 from her. Dhania said that a special team was formed to investigate the incident after understanding the gravity of the situation. Police examined CCTV footage and used other technical resources during the probe. When the woman was questioned, she allegedly confessed that she has a relative in Malda who is a political activist. According to police, the woman claimed that she made the video under his instructions. Later, it was circulated. Dhania said, The video was deliberately spread on social media to tarnish the image of Delhi Police. The investigation into the incident is underway. Armed with the Delhi Polices statement, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, I have asked Soumendu (Suvendus brother and BJP MP from Contai Lok Sabha constituency Soumendu Adhikari) to file a complaint at the police station. Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, he added, The Chief Minister is spreading false news. She can get an international award for spreading rumours. Later in the day, Soumendu lodged a complaint against Mamata Banerjee at the Cyber Crime Branch of Delhi Police for the dissemination of fake and communally provocative content on social media. He said, Based on the complaint of a woman from Malda, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to destroy communal harmony by posting a fake picture. I have filed a written complaint against the Chief Minister in Delhi, mentioning that incident.
KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Gyanesh Kumar, urging him to ensure that no Domicile Certificates issued by the West Bengal Administration issued on or after July 25, 2025, are accepted or considered during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. There is apprehension that these applications may involve Rohingya Muslims and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants , potentially supported by the directive to issue Domicile Certificates to facilitate their enrollment in Voter Lists. Given the sensitivity of the matter, I urge the Election Commission to take preventive measures, he wrote to CEC. In the letter, he claimed that the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), West Bengal recently issued a directive to the District Magistrates (DMs) and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts, instructing to issue a large number of Domicile Certificates in these districts, many of which share border with Bangladesh. Adhikari said, Recent report indicates a sudden spike in the submission of Form-6 applications, with approximately 70,000 forms filed in the last week, compared to an average of 20,000-25,000. This surge is particularly noticeable in border districts such as Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, where demographic patterns have reportedly shifted over the past decade. This directive for the issuance of Domicile Certificates coincides with an alarming increase in the filing of Form-6 applications for Voter Registration, particularly in these border districts, which is a clear cut proactive attempt to dilute the prospective Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, he alleged. In a post on X on Monday, Adhikari said, I have written to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, urging the Election Commission to ensure that no Domicile Certificates issued on or after July 25, 2025, are accepted or considered during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls, if such activity is conducted in West Bengal. The integrity of our Democracy must be protected and can't be allowed to get diluted for vested interests of Vote Bank Politics. The District Election Officers must remember that they are entrusted with the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections, and their allegiance is with the country and protecting the interests of the country, it added. Earlier, Adhikari had claimed that 17 lakh Rohingyas are living in Bengal under the shelter of the Trinamool Congress Government. The claim however, refuted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who citing a UN Report had said that in total 10 lakh Rohingyas are in the world.
Four migrant workers from Bengal's Murshidabad allege assault in TN; file police complaint
KOLKATA: Four migrant workers from West Bengal's Murshidabad district have alleged assault by locals in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur district earlier this month for speaking in Bengali, suspecting them to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh. According to a police complaint filed in Murshidabad on July 18, the incident took place on July 15 when Sujan Sheikh, his brother Milan Sheikh, and two others Sahil Sheikh and Babu Sheikh were working at a construction site in Thiruvallur, after travelling to Chennai around three weeks ago in search of work. Some local residents confronted us, asked our names and where we were from. When they heard us speaking in Bengali, they started beating us with iron rods and sticks. They kept accusing us of being Bangladeshis, Sujan Sheikh told PTI over phone from his home in Murshidabad. The workers were initially taken to a government hospital in Thiruvallur for treatment. Sujan, who suffered a fractured hand during the alleged assault, had to undergo surgery and remains under medical care. The labourers also alleged that they had earlier approached the local police in Chennai, but no action was taken. We have been travelling to Chennai for work for the last four years. Nothing of this sort has ever happened before. We are still in shock, Sujan said. He also claimed that they were not paid for 11 days of work at the site before returning home. Police in Murshidabad have acknowledged receiving the complaint, and said they are in touch with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. The incident comes amid heightened political discourse in West Bengal over the safety of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had alleged that Bengalis were facing discrimination and linguistic profiling in states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Odisha, claiming many were being harassed or pushed back across the Bangladesh border despite possessing valid documents. Banerjee's remarks drew sharp rebuttals from the BJP, which dismissed the charges as aseless fear-mongering. However, incidents like the one reported from Murshidabad have reignited concerns over the vulnerability of Bengali migrants, especially those from minority-dominated border districts like Malda, North Dinajpur and Murshidabad, According to migration data, thousands of labourers from Bengal's hinterland migrate annually to southern states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to work in the construction, textile and hospitality sectors. Political analysts say the issue of Bengali migrant workers' safety is likely to become a flashpoint in the run-up to the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with ruling and opposition parties trading allegations over identity politics.
West Bengal man held in Hyderabad with drug worth Rs 7.6L
Hyderabad: A man from West Bengal on July 17 was held for drug peddling in Hyderabad. Amphetamine drug and a mobile phone all worth Rs 7.6 lakh were seized from him. The accused was identified as Rajikul Haque, who migrated to Hyderabad and worked as a mason. Haque went back to Malda and began working Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Railways working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat trains across India
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Railways, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a future-ready railway network, is working on an ambitious project to roll out 100 modern and hi-tech Amrit Bharat trains for various parts of the country. With the inauguration of four more Amrit Bharat trains from across Bihar on Friday by Prime Minister Modi, the total number of operational Amrit Bharat trains in the country has now reached seven, including the three that were already running including two in Bihars North and eastern regions. The Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative, using entirely indigenous technology, with a running capacity of 130 kmph. Working towards the realisation of his vision for a future-ready railway network, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged-off four new Amrit Bharat trains scheduled to run between Rajendra Nagar (Patna) and New Delhi; Bapudham Motihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal); Darbhanga and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar); and Malda Town and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur. On the sideline of this inaugural event, speaking to the TNIE on Friday here, a senior railway official said the Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured with the objective of providing a safe and comfortable travel experience for middle-class and economically weaker passengers. As a total of 3 Amrit Bharat trains have been currently operational across the country, now the number reached 7. The Ministry of Railway is working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat rakes in coming days this year and next to ensure safe and faster affordable rail services to poor and middle class people, added an official. He said that earlier, two Amrit Bharat trains had been running between Bihars Darbhanga Anand Vihar Terminal and Saharsa Lokmanya Tilak Terminal. Now, the four more Amrit Bharat trains will start running in Bihar again with all passenger amenities like foldable snack table, mobile holder, foldable bottle holder, fast mobile charging ports, improved and comfortable seating, radium illuminated flooring strips, airline-style lighting that guides the way even in the dark and air spring body which ensures shock-free travel experience. A senior railway official, speaking about the features of Amrit Bharat trains, further added that the trains were equipped with modern and Divyangjan-friendly toilets, an electro-pneumatic flushing system, and automatic soap dispensers. On the safety front, the Amrit Bharat trains have been equipped with the facility of an EP-assisted brake system, and their coaches have been fitted with sealed gangways and vacuum evacuation systems. He further added The most interesting feature is that the railway has made the talk-back unit available in every coach of Amrit Bharat trains running in Bihar in a majority with fire detection system properly installed for the first time in non-AC coaches. Meanwhile, a railway official cited a conservative estimate that the four Amrit Bharat trains flagged off by PM Modi will ferry more than 56 lakh people from economically weaker and middle-class sections per month.
Calcutta HC seeks answers from Odisha on detention of Bengali migrant workers
KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary to appoint a nodal officer to get in touch with the authorities in Odisha and take necessary steps to ensure release of Bengali speaking migrant workers from the state who were detained there. A division bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Mitra of the Calcutta High Court also directed the West Bengal Government to act immediately and submit a report to the court in this regard on Monday. There have been allegations of Bengali speaking migrant workers from West Bengal being detained in Odisha. The Calcutta High Court has sought answers to several questions in this case. The bench asked, why were Bengali migrant workers detained? On what basis were they detained? Has any FIR been filed? What action has been taken against those migrants after their detention? Where are they now? The High Court has directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to send these questions of the court to the Chief Secretary of Odisha. The bench will take its next decision after seeing his reply. Counsel for petitioner Razzak Sheikh from Hariharpara in Murshidabad submitted to the bench that his son Samiur Islam went to Odisha in search of a job. The counsel submitted that the Bengali speaking person was held up by the Odisha Police during a special identification drive and arrested on June 30, 2025. The arrested person has not been produced in court since then. There was no arrest memo issued, and the family of the person in custody was not informed about the arrest. This is nothing but illegal detention, the counsel submitted. Odisha releases 25 after verifying documents amid crackdown on suspected illegal immigrants He also said that the family was not even aware in which correctional home Islam was in custody. The counsel prayed for compensation of the victim by the Odisha Government and also urged for disciplinary action against the authorities who made the illegal arrest. The counsel submitted that a similar prayer by another victim Rakibul Islam was pending and prayers by other two would come up before the bench on Friday. Citing newspaper reports, senior counsel Kalyan Banerjee submitted that 200 Bengali speaking people from West Bengal and some others in Assam had been arrested because of their mother tongue. This has become a serious issue, he added. Advocate Generatel Kishore Datta representing the West Bengal Government submitted that there was a problem with the identity and the place of residence of the person arrested. The state will give all support to the person regarding his identity, he said. Datta also urged the division bench to appoint a nodal officer who would coordinate with the Odisha Government and sort out the problem. Allegedly, several migrant workers from West Bengal were detained in Odisha. Some of them are residents of Malda, some of them are residents of Murshidabad, and some of them are residents of Birbhum. The matter came to light only after their families could not contact them for several days. The West Bengal Chief Secretary had also written a letter to his counterpart in Odisha in this regard.
Bihar to get four more Amrit Bharat express trains. Check details
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced four new Amrit Bharat Express trains for Bihar, bringing the total to seven nationwide, with five originating from the state. These semi-high-speed trains, designed similarly to the Vande Bharat, include a daily Patna-Delhi service and weekly routes connecting Darbhanga to Gomti Nagar, Malda Town to Lucknow, and Saharsa to Amritsar.
Railway Minister announces key projects for poll-bound Bihar; says Rs 10,000 crore budget allotted
NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his visit to Patna on Monday ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, announced the introduction of four new Amrit Bharat trains and that a budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned to strengthen railway infrastructure in the state. Speaking at the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony for a new level crossing gate near Karpoori Gram railway station in Samastipur district, the minister also inaugurated several upgraded passenger amenities at the station. The NDA government at the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore in this year's budget for rail infrastructure in Bihar, Vaishnaw told reporters. In the past 11 years, over 34,000 km of new railway tracks have been laid, and 1,300 stations are being redeveloped as modern Amrit Bharat stations, he added. The four new trains will include a daily train from Patna to Delhi, weekly services from Darbhanga and Malda to Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, services from Saharsa to Amritsar in Punjab, and a daily service from Jogbani to Erode in Tamil Nadu. The minister also announced that the Karpoori Gram railway station would now come under the Samastipur railway division. Earlier, it was under the jurisdiction of Sonpur railway division. Speaking about upcoming railway infrastructure projects, the minister announced that a third rail line between Bhagalpur and Jamalpur, covering a distance of 53 kilometres, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,156 crore. He further added that the doubling of the BakhtiyarpurRajgirTilaiya rail route, spanning 104 kilometres, will be carried out at a cost of Rs 2,017 crore. Another major project the doubling of the RampurhatBhagalpur route is also being planned, with an estimated budget of Rs 3,000 crore and a total distance of 177 kilometres. The minister also spoke about developments in the technology sector. He announced that two new Software Technology Parks of India (STPIs) for Bihar are ready and will be inaugurated soon. One is the new STPI building in Patliputra, Patna, which has been built at a cost of around Rs 53 crore, and the other is an upcoming STPI in Darbhanga, with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur, was also present on the occasion. Earlier in the day in Patna, the railway minister inspected passenger facilities at Digha Bridge halt station and gave necessary instructions to officials.
