Irregularities emerge in fund disbursements for Bengal governments tablet scheme

So far, at least 10 people from Malda and Uttar Dinajpur districts have been arrested on charges of wrongfully siphoning funds allocated for tablets for the States higher secondary students

Three killed after being hit by speeding pick-up van in West Bengal

KOLKATA: Three persons were killed when a speeding pick-up van hit them from behind on a highway in West Bengal's Malda district on Saturday, police said. The accident happened in the district's Harishchandrapur area, the police said, adding that the pick-up van, after hitting the morning walkers, lost control and fell into a roadside ditch. All three men died on the spot. They were identified as Dilip Saha (49), Fekan Lal Ram (60) and Suresh Khaitan (60). The bodies were taken to a hospital for post-mortem examination. The driver of the vehicle was admitted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, a police officer said, adding that the pick-up van was seized.

Video of a couple being assaulted in a kangaroo court in Bengals Malda surfaces online, three arrested

Locals were caught on camera assaulting a couple on suspicion that they were engaged in an extra-marital affair

Trains Via Odisha Cancelled Today

Bhubaneswar : South Central Railway has cancelled several trains due to the impending landfall of Cyclone Dana, on October 23. The cancelled trains include Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express (12703); Hyderabad to Howrah (18046); Secunderabad to Howrah (12704); Secunderabad to Bhubaneswar (17016); Secunderabad to Malda Town (03429) and Shalimar-Hyderabad (18045) as well as Silchar-Secunderabad (12514).

Cyclone Dana Effect: 198 Trains Cancelled on Oct 23, 24, 25

BHUBANESWAR: Due to the impending landfall of Cyclone Dana on October 24-25, 2024, a total of 198 trains95 up and 103 down trainshave been canceled for October 23, 24, and 25. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has issued a bulletin outlining the cancellations, which include major trains such as the Howrah-Secunderabad Express, Shalimar-Puri Super Fast Express, New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Express, and many others. These cancellations affect various trains traveling to and from major hubs like Secunderabad, Bhubaneswar, Chennai Central, and Howrah. The full list of cancelled trains provides details on specific routes and dates for both up and down directions. This disruption is a preventive measure to ensure the safety of passengers and railway infrastructure during the cyclones landfall. Passengers are advised to check for further updates and make alternative travel arrangements accordingly. Here is the detailed list of cancelled trains: Down Trains 1. Train No. 17016: Secunderabad to Bhubaneswar 23.10.2024 2. Train No. 12840: Chennai Central to Howrah 23.10.2024 3. Train No. 12868: Puducherry to Howrah 23.10.2024 4. Train No. 22826: Chennai Central to Shalimar 23.10.2024 5. Train No. 12897: Puducherry to Bhubaneswar 23.10.2024 6. Train No. 18464: SBC to Bhubaneswar 23.10.2024 7. Train No. 08442: Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 8. Train No. 20842: Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar (VB) 24.10.2024 9. Train No. 22874: Visakhapatnam to Digha 24.10.2024 10. Train No. 18118: Gunupur to Rourkela 24.10.2024 11. Train No. 11019: CSURATM to Bhubaneswar 23.10.2024 12. Train No. 22820: Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 13. Train No. 08532: Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur 24.10.2024 14. Train No. 12509: Bangalore to Guwahati 23.10.2024 15. Train No. 12842: Chennai Central to Howrah 24.10.2024 16. Train No. 22808: Chennai Central to Santragachhi 24.10.2024 17. Train No. 15227: Bangalore to Muzaffarpur 24.10.2024 18. Train No. 18046: Hyderabad to Howrah 23.10.2024 19. Train No. 20838: Junagarh Road to Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 20. Train No. 22503: Kanyakumari to Dibrugarh 23.10.2024 21. Train No. 22973: Gandhidham to Puri 23.10.2024 22. Train No. 20807: Visakhapatnam to ASR 25.10.2024 23. Train No. 18448: Jagdalpur to Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 24. Train No. 08534: Palasa to Cuttack 24.10.2024 25. Train No. 08422: Gunupur to Cuttack 25.10.2024 26. Train No. 06095: Tambaram to Santragachhi 24.10.2024 27. Train No. 12246: Bangalore to Howrah 24.10.2024 28. Train No. 12704: Secunderabad to Howrah 23.10.2024 29. Train No. 08444: Palasa to Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 30. Train No. 22888: Bangalore to Howrah 23.10.2024 31. Train No. 03429: Secunderabad to Malda Town 23.10.2024 32. Train No. 12864: Yesvantpur to Howrah 23.10.2024 33. Train No. 18418: Gunupur to Puri 24.10.2024 34. Train No. 06087: Tirunelveli to Shalimar 23.10.2024 35. Train No. 08412: Bhubaneswar to Baleswar 24.10.2024 36. Train No. 02832: Bhubaneswar to Dhanbad 24.10.2024 37. Train No. 12074: Bhubaneswar to Howrah 25.10.2024 38. Train No. 12893: Bhubaneswar to Sonepur 25.10.2024 39. Train No. 22823: Bhubaneswar to New Delhi Rajdhani 25.10.2024 40. Train No. 08441: Bhubaneswar to Brahmapur 24.10.2024 41. Train No. 09059: Surat to Brahmapur 23.10.2024 42. Train No. 18419: Puri to Jayanagar 24.10.2024 43. Train No. 18304: Puri to Sambalpur 24.10.2024 44. Train No. 12892: Puri to Bangiriposi 24.10.2024 45. Train No. 08428: Puri to Angul 24.10.2024 46. Train No. 08414: Puri to Talcher 24.10.2024 47. Train No. 12843: Puri to Ahmedabad 24.10.2024 48. Train No. 08423: Puri to Daspalla 24.10.2024 49. Train No. 17479: Puri to TPTY 24.10.2024 50. Train No. 18425: Puri to Durg 24.10.2024 51. Train No. 22202: Puri to Sealdah 24.10.2024 52. Train No. 18421: Puro to Sonepur 24.10.2024 53. Train No. 12838: Puri to Howrah 24.10.2024 54. Train No. 18452: Puri to Hatia 24.10.2024 55. Train No. 18477: Puri to Rishikesh 24.10.2024 56. Train No. 12801: Puri to New Delhi 24.10.2024 57. Train No. 12896: Puri to Shalimar 24.10.2024 58. Train No. 18410: Puri to Shalimar 24.10.2024 59. Train No. 20823: Puri to Ajmer 24.10.2024 60. Train No. 08404: Puri to Khurda Road 24.10.2024 61. Train No. 18126: Puri to Rourkela 25.10.2024 62. Train No. 08475: Puri to Nizamuddin 25.10.2024 63. Train No. 20836 (VB): Puri to Rourkela 25.10.2024 64. Train No. 12278: Puri to Howrah 25.10.2024 65. Train No. 18416/18414: Puri to Barbil-Paradeep 25.10.2024 66. Train No. 08432: Puri to Cuttack 25.10.2024 67. Train No. 12822: Puri to Shalimar 25.10.2024 68. Train No. 12875: Puri to Anand Vihar 25.10.2024 69. Train No. 08410: Puri to Khurda Road 25.10.2024 70. Train No. 18417: Puri to Gunupur 25.10.2024 71. Train No. 18022: Khurda Road to Kharagpur 24.10.2024 72. Train No. 08456: Khurda Road to Kendujhargarh 24.10.2024 73. Train No. 08454: Cuttack to Bhadrak 25.10.2024 74. Train No. 08438: Cuttack to Bhadrak 25.10.2024 75. Train No. 18038: Jajpur Keonjhar Road to Kharagpur 25.10.2024 76. Train No. 08462: Paradeep to Cuttack 25.10.2024 77. Train No. 08406: Paradeep to Kendujhargarh 25.10.2024 78. Train No. 08408: Paradeep to Cuttack 25.10.2024 79. Train No. 08446: Paradeep to Cuttack 24.10.2024 80. Train No. 18044: Bhadrak to Howrah 25.10.2024 81. Train No. 08032: Bhadrak to Baleswar 25.10.2024 82. Train No. 08064: Bhadrak to Kharagpur 24.10.2024 83. Train No. 08522: Visakhapatnam to Gunupur 24.10.2024 84. Train No. 07470: Visakhapatnam to Palasa 24.10.2024 85. Train No. 12074: Bhubaneswar to Howrah 24.10.2024 86. Train No. 12822: Puri to Shalimar 24.10.2024 87. Train No. 12844: Ahmedabad to Puri 26.10.2024 88. Train No. 18424: Daspalla to Bhubaneswar 25.10.2024 89. Train No. 12278: Puri to Howrah 24.10.2024 90. Train No. 18418: Gunupur to Puri 25.10.2024 91. Train No. 08522: Visakhapatnam to Gunupur 25.10.2024 92. Train No. 18526: Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur 24.10.2024 93. Train No. 20836 (VB): Puri to Rourkela 24.10.2024 94. Train No. 22896 (VB): PURI to KOAA 25.10.24 95. Train No. 08012: DSPL to BBS 25.10.24 96. Train No. 03229: PURI to PNBE 25.10.24 97. Train No. 03102: RMM to BBS 25.10.24 98. Train No. 08416: BAM to TATA 24.10.24 & 25.10.24 99. Train No. 20892 (VB): PURI to HWH 25.10.24 100. Train No. 22840: PURI to VZM 24.10.24 & 25.10.24 101. Train No. 08442: BAM to BBS 25.10.24 102. Train No. 20895: BBS to ROU 24.10.24 103. Train No. 08430: PURI to JER 24.10.24 & 25.10.24 UP Trains 1. 12703: Howrah-Secunderabad 24.10.2024 2. 12821: Shalimar-Puri 24.10.2024 3. 12552: Kamakhya-Bangalore 23.10.2024 4. 22824: New Delhi-Bhubaneswar 23.10.2024 5. 22603: Kharagpur-Villupuram 24.10.2024 6. 12073: Howrah-Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 7. 18045: Shalimar-Hyderabad 24.10.2024 8. 12277: Howrah-Puri 24.10.2024 9. 22851: Santragachhi-Mangalore 24.10.2024 10. 12841: Shalimar-Chennai Central 24.10.2024 11. 12663: Howrah-Tiruchchirappalli 24.10.2024 12. 03230: Patna-Puri 24.10.2024 13. 18478: Rishikesh-Puri 23.10.2024 14. 18409: Shalimar-Puri 24.10.2024 15. 12881: Shalimar-Puri 24.10.2024 16. 12802: New Delhi-Puri 23.10.2024 17. 08011: Bhanjapur-Puri 24.10.2024 18. 12837: Howrah-Puri 24.10.2024 19. 12863: Howrah-Bangalore 24.10.2024 20. 18047: Shalimar-Vasco Da Gama 24.10.2024 21. 12839: Howrah-Chennai Central 24.10.2024 22. 22644: Patna-Ernakulam 24.10.2024 23. 06090: Santragachhi-Chennai Central 24.10.2024 24. 03101: Kolkata-Puri 23.10.2024 25. 12514: Silchar-Secunderabad 23.10.2024 26. 08555: Bhadrak-Daspalla 25.10.2024 27. 22504: Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari 23.10.2024 28. 08415: Jaleswar-Puri 25.10.2024 29. 12891: Bangiriposi-Puri 25.10.2024 30. 18021: Kharagpur-Khurda Road 25.10.2024 31. 12816: Anand Vihar-Puri 24.10.2024 32. 22895 (VB): Howrah-Puri 25.10.2024 33. 18043: Howrah-Bhadrak 24.10.2024 34. 08031: Baleswar-Bhadrak 24.10.2024 35. 08063: Kharagpur-Bhadrak 24.10.2024 36. 08453: Bhadrak-Cuttack 24.10.2024 37. 08437: Bhadrak-Cuttack 24.10.2024 38. 18037: Kharagpur-Jajpur Keonjhar Road 24.10.2024 39. 18303: Sambalpur-Puri 24.10.2024 40. 22839: Rourkela-Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 41. 18125: Rourkela-Puri 24.10.2024 42. 20835 (VB): Rourkela-Puri 24.10.2024 43. 20832: Sambalpur-Shalimar 24.10.2024 44. 18451: Hatia-Puri 24.10.2024 45. 18117: Rourkela-Gunupur 24.10.2024 46. 22865: Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)-Puri 24.10.2024 47. 18426: Durg-Puri 24.10.2024 48. 02831: Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 49. 08427: Angul-Puri 25.10.2024 50. 08413: Talcher-Puri 25.10.2024 51. 18415: Barbil-Puri 24.10.2024 52. 20891 (VB): Tata-Brahmapur 24.10.2024 53. 08455: Kendujhargarh-Khurda Road 25.10.2024 54. 08405: Kendujhargarh-Paradeep 24.10.2024 55. 18413: Paradeep-Puri 24.10.2024 56. 08533: Cuttack-Palasa 24.10.2024 57. 08431: Cuttack-Puri 24.10.2024 58. 08421: Cuttack-Gunupur 24.10.2024 59. 08461: Cuttack-Paradeep 24.10.2024 60. 08407: Cuttack-Paradeep 24.10.2024 61. 18423: Bhubaneswar-Daspalla 24.10.2024 62. 09060: Brahmapur-Surat 24.10.2024 63. 08521: Gunupur-Visakhapatnam 24.10.2024 64. 07471: Palasa-Visakhapatnam 24.10.2024 65. 22873: Digha-Visakhapatnam 25.10.2024 66. 22819: Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam 25.10.2024 67. 08531: Brahmapur-Visakhapatnam 25.10.2024 68. 20837: Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road 24.10.2024 69. 18447: Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur 24.10.2024 70. 18417: Puri-Gunupur 24.10.2024 71. 18420: Jayanagar-Puri 26.10.2024 72. 08424: Daspalla-Puri 25.10.2024 73. 18422: Sonepur-Puri 25.10.2024 74. 12895: Shalimar-Puri 25.10.2024 75. 20824: Ajmer-Puri 29.10.2024 76. 08476: Nizamuddin-Puri 26.10.2024 77. 12277: Howrah-Puri 25.10.2024 78. 20835 (VB): Rourkela-Puri 24.10.2024 79. 12821: Shalimar-Puri 25.10.2024 80. 18021: Kharagpur-Khurda Road 24.10.2024 81. 12073: Howrah-Bhubaneswar 25.10.2024 82. 12894: Sonepur-Bhubaneswar 24.10.2024 83. 20831: Shalimar-Sambalpur 25.10.2024 84. 08521: Gunupur-Visakhapatnam 25.10.2024 85. 18525: Brahmapur-Visakhapatnam 25.10.2024 86. Train No. 20841 (VB): BBS to VSKP 25.10.24 87. Train No. 08411: BLS to BBS 25.10.24 88. Train No. 08443: BBS to PSA 24.10.24 89. Train No. 08441: BBS to BAM 24.10.24 & 25.10.24 90. Train No. 17015: BBS to SC 25.10.24 91. Train No. 18463: BBS to SBC 25.10.24 92. Train No. 22974: PURI to LIMB 26.10.24 93. Train No. 20896: BBS to RMM 25.10.24 94. Train No. 20835 (VB): ROU to PURI 25.10.24 95. Train No. 08429: BBS to DSPL 24.10.24 & 25.10.24

RG Kar stir: Junior doctors' hunger strike enters ninth day, others on 'symbolic fast'

KOLKATA: The hunger strike by junior doctors of West Bengal to press for their demands following the RG Kar hospital incident entered the ninth day on Sunday, when people are holding a symbolic fast at various parts of the state to express solidarity with the agitators. Three of the junior doctors who were observing fast unto death in Kolkata and Siliguri city in the northern part of the state have so far been hospitalised after their condition deteriorated. Their conditions are worsening but the state administration remains unmoved, a leader of the agitating Junior Doctors Forum said. Meanwhile, a group of former students of R G Kar hospital have reached the medical establishment for a symbolic fasting of 12 hours to express solidarity with the students on hunger strike. However, they faced resistance from the CISF personnel who were on security duty at the hospital following a court order. The ex-students, most of whom are senior citizens, said they will go ahead with their proposed symbolic fast programme, come what may. Several people are also observing the symblic fast during the day in Malda and Murshidabad districts. The agitating doctors have urged people to observe Arandhan (no cooking) on Sunday to show solidarity and support for their cause. A large number of common people visited the venue of the hunger strike during the past few days when the Durga Puja festivities were on. The junior doctors have been demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, immediate removal of Health Secretary N S Nigam, workplace security and other measures. Their other demands include the establishment of a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges in the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions for CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces. The hunger strike from October 5 followed nearly 50 days of cease work' in two phases. Their agitation began after an on-duty postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered inside state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. While one person was arrested by the Kolkata Police the next day, the CBI is now investigating the case on a Calcutta High Court order. On Friday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene before the situation escalates. Doctors of private hospitals called for a 48-hour partial cease work from October 14 in medical establishments across West Bengal, in solidarity with the agitating junior medics observing a fast-unto-death. The doctors, under the banner of Healthcare Professionals of Private Hospitals, however, said emergency services in all medical facilities will remain operational. The Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal, has also called for a protest carnival' on October 15 at Esplanade. The date coincides with the West Bengal government-organised carnival on Red Road, situated nearby, where prominent Durga Puja idols and decorations are showcased through processions and cultural events. The ongoing agitation also prompted the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) to warn of a nationwide complete shutdown of medical services if any harm is caused to the protesting junior doctors. RG Kar stir: Two more doctors join fast-unto-death as strike completes first week

SCR to operate 1,400 spl trains

Hyderabad: South Central Railway said on Thursday that it would operate 1,400 special trains to meet the festival demand till November. It would also be setting up additional booking counters. The specials would be operated to Tirupati, Nizamuddin, Visakhapatnam, Gorakhpur, Agartala, Raxaul, Nagarsol, Danapur, Santragachi, Srikakulam, Nagpur, Malda Town, Patna, Shalimar, Shirdi, Sholapur, Pune, Mumbai, Jaipur. The trains will reserved and unreserved coaches.

Mamata Banerjee seeks Central help as N Bengal situation worsens

NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday described the flood situation in the northern districts as alarming and claimed that the state has been deprived of central assistance to deal with the natural calamity. She said her government was dealing with the deluge on a war footing. North Bengal is reeling under flood. Districts such as Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar have been affected. Due to heavy rain in catchment areas of Kosi river, places in Bihar, and Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur districts of West Bengal will be affected in the near future, she said on her way to Siliguri. Accusing the central government of not helping the state in fighting the calamities, she said, It did not take up maintenance work of Farakka barrage and its water-bearing capacity has reduced to a great extent despite our repeated reminders. Following the meeting when asked whether she would reach out to the Centre again, Banerjee said, If I write to the PM, one of his ministers will reply. This is not correct. (Maybe) I will then correct that again and send another letter. Banerjee had written twice to PM Narendra Modi after the flood broke out in the state. The CM said alert had been issued for six districts. Only in polls Mamata Banerjee said that BJP leaders visit West Bengal only during polls but forget about the state when it matters most. Only Bengal is being deprived of flood grants, she claimed.

Centre not extending help as north Bengal flood situation worsens: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday described the flood situation in the northern districts as alarming and claimed that the state is deprived of central assistance to deal with the natural calamity. Banerjee, who was on her way to north Bengal to inspect the flood situation there, told reporters that her government is dealing with the deluge on a war footing. North Bengal is reeling under flood. Districts like Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar have been affected. Due to heavy rain in catchment areas of Koshi river, places in Bihar and Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur districts of Bengal will be affected in the near future, she said on her way to Siliguri. Accusing the central government of ot performing its role to help the state fight the calamities, she said, The Centre did not take up maintenance work of Farakka barrage and its water-bearing capacity has reduced to a great extent despite our repeated reminders to them.

Exclusive | High Level Empowered Committee Clears Bumper Roads, Tech, Security Projects For Borders

Importantly, the HLEC has requested the preparation of a proposal for more than 28 kilometre of fencing. If all goes according to plan, the government will fence Malda.

Farmer Nakul Mondal Leads Maldas Transition From Mango To Rajnigandha Cultivation

Nakul Chandra Mondal is a resident of Mothabari in Malda. He has started cultivation of Rajnigandha this year.

Bihar floods: Trains cancelled, diverted in Bhagalpur; Ganga river exceeds danger mark in several districts

PATNA: Several trains were cancelled and many diverted as flood water touched the girder of a bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Sunday, a statement said. The Ganga River is flowing above the danger mark in several districts of Bihar, leading to significant flooding in Bhagalpur district. Many areas have been inundated, with water entering the premises of numerous schools, colleges, and universities. Additionally, a portion of NH-80 has been washed away due to the rising water levels. In a statement, the East Central Railway said that due to flood water touching the girder of bridge 195 between Sultanganj and Ratanpur stations, many trains have been cancelled and routes of several others passing through Jamalpur-Bhagalpur division diverted. VIDEO | The Ganga river is flowing above the danger mark in many districts of Bihar. As a result, many areas of Bhagalpur district got inundated. The water has entered the premises of many schools, colleges, universities. A portion of NH-80 was also washed away. #Flood pic.twitter.com/Y796ghRMnx Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2024 The flood water touched the girder of the bridge at 11.45 pm on Saturday. Besides, at certain places in the Jamalpur-Bhagalpur division, several rivers are flowing above the danger mark, it said. The trains that have been cancelled are Patna-Dumka Express, SaraigarhDeoghar Special, Jamalpur-Kiul Memu Special, and Bhagalpur-Danapur Intercity Express, it added. Among the diverted trains were Ajmer-Bhagalpur Express, Vikramshila Express, Howrah-Gaya Express, Surat-Bhagalpur SF Express, Anand Vihar-Malda Town Express and Brahmaputra Mail. At least four trains were short-terminated, the statement said. Meanwhile, a train engine derailed at Muzaffarpur Junction's yard on Saturday, officials said. The engine was undergoing a routine setting process when some pairs of wheels derailed around 8.40 pm, they said, adding that it was restored within an hour and railway services were not affected.

West Bengals Malda Medical College and Hospital erupt in protests demanding elected student bodies and end to threat culture

Protests spread to multiple medical colleges and State-run hospitals in West Bengal after a female doctor was found raped and killed at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9

This Bengal District Might Soon Be Able To Cultivate World's Most Expensive Mango

A study reveals that Malda's soil has great potential for commercial cultivation of the Miyazaki mango.

Bengal migrant worker beaten to death in Rajasthan

In a tragic incident, a 42-year-old Muslim migrant worker from Malda district in West Bengal died after he was brutally beaten reportedly by his colleagues in Rajasthans Jaipur on Tuesday, 3 September. The incident occurred during a dinner gathering, following a quarrel, according to police. The deceased identified as Moti Ali hailing from Miskinpur village 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 .

Giant Squid Shocks West Bengal's Malda Market: Sold At Rs 600 Per Kg

A huge squid was caught by fishermen in the Ganga ghats near Manikach in Malda.

In Bengal's Malda, Hilsa Fish Thief Caught Red-handed In Market

The arrested man, a resident of Arapur, Kotwali, is accused of stealing a box of hilsa fish from the Rathbari fish depot in Malda.

Bengali theatre personality returns state award over R G Kar rape-murder

KOLKATA: Amid protests by civil society organisations over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor, Bengali theatre personality Biplab Bandyopadhyay on Tuesday announced returning the state-instituted 'Best Theatre Director' award over the RG Kar Hospital issue. Bandyopadhyay, eminent playwright and director, said in a statement that he is returning the award conferred on him earlier this year by the Paschimbanga Natya Akademi and the Rs 30,000 monetary grant. The state government and the partisan police force want to hide facts following the rape and murder of a woman doctor in R G Kar Hospital on August 9, he alleged. I think the main criteria behind such awards is not one's talent and merit but sycophancy, unconditional support to the state. I did not realise this while accepting this honour in February, he said. Bandyopadhyay said, I felt ashamed and aggrieved as a human being and disturbed by the shameless hyper activism of the state after the R G Kar incident. He said he cannot retain any state-instituted award after the R G Kar incident. I have intimated the Akademi (about his decision to return the award), he told reporters. One week back, a well-known theatre group in Malda district 'Samabeta Prayas' said it will return a Rs 50,000 state grant to protest the government's handling of the R G Kar issue. Saradindu Chakraborty, the head of the theatre group Samabeta Prayas, had said the grant was originally awarded to support a two-day theatre festival by his group in the district. The state-run Paschimbanga Natya Akademi provides a grant of Rs 50,000 to theatre groups across the state to support and promote the group theatre movement. Eminent theatre personality Kaushik Sen said, The response to this horrific incident and the state's handling of it should be addressed in whatever way individuals or organisations see fit. Earlier, six Durga Puja committees in West Bengal declined to accept the state's Rs 85,000 honorarium in protest against the RG Kar incident, further highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction with the state's response. The body of the on-duty post-graduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was found in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. One civic volunteer was arrested by the police in this connection the next day. The CBI is now investigating the matter now on an order of the Calcutta High Court.

In Malda, This Sweet Shop Serves Unique Bengali Shingara With Cheese And Veggies

Shop owner Raja Ghosh said the cheese-filled Bengali Shingara has become one of the major attractions of his shop.

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Chaos ensued in many parts of West Bengal on Wednesday after the12-hour bandh called by the opposition BJP triggered violence and disrupted normal life. The 'Bangla Bandh', which began at 6 am, was called by the BJP in protest against police action on participants of 'Nabanna Abhijan' on Tuesday. Though the general strike was partial in the state, normal life was hit after rail and public transport services faced disruptions. The BJP and TMC workers clashed in many places, with the former accusing the ruling party of unleashing violence. The usual bustle was missing in Kolkata as many private vehicles kept off the roads. A smaller number of buses and auto-rickshaws plied on Wednesday morning, with some bus drivers seen wearing helmets in Cooch Behar and Kolkata to protect themselves. Though schools and colleges were open, students opted to stay at home. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home. However, attendance was as usual in government offices. The state government also issued a notification stating that all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or faceshow cause for their unauthorised absence. BJP MLA says he was fired at Senior BJP leader Priyangu Pandey on Wednesday claimed that people belonging to TMC attacked and fired on his car in the Bharpara area of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. He alleged that bombs were thrown at his car and then 6-7 rounds were fired at his vehicle. Pandey said he was en route to Arjun Singh's residence when a jetting machine from Bhatpara Municipality stopped his vehicle. The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. Bombs were hurled at my car before the 6-7 round firing happened. This is a joint conspiracy of TMC and the police. They planned my murder. The police supported and gave them information. The incident happened after my security was withdrawn, he said. BJP demonstrations, rail disruptions The workers of BJP held demonstrations in many places, including Sealdah, Shyambazar, Burrabazar and Wipro. Senior leaders Rupa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee were seen taking part in the demonstrations. Chatterjee was later detained by the Kolkata police. The BJP workers were also seen disrupting rail traffic at 49 places, including Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Murshidabad and Baharampur. Local train services, including Bandel-Howrah local, were also disrupted at Hooghly station. Local media also reported instances of violence between TMC and BJP workers in various places, including Balurghat and Malda. While the blockades were lifted at most places, it was continuing in nine stations, mostly in the Sealdah South section, an Eastern Railway official told PTI. TMC and BJP activists clashed in Malda, Barrackpore and Alipurduar over the blocking of a road. Police intervened to disperse the two groups.

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The 12-hour general strike called by the BJP in West Bengal to protest against the police action on protesters during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally, began on Wednesday morning. Over 200 people were arrested on Tuesday after the rally triggered chaos and disruptions. Videos from Kolkata showed vehicles keeping off the roads. Private buses did not ply while government buses were few and far between. The BJP workers were also seen disrupting rail traffic at Krishnanagar railway station. Similar shutdowns were seen at several other railway stations, including at Ranaghat, Murshidabad and Baharampur. Local train services, including Bandel-Howrah local, were also disrupted at Hooghly station. Local media also reported instances of violence between TMC and BJP workers in various places, including Balurghat and Malda. The BJP workers had hit the road in the morning to make the bandh successful. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul was also seen reviewing the bandh call. However, the West Bengal government urged people not to respond to the bandh call. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected, said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state also issued a notification stating that all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or faceshow cause for their unauthorised absence. The ruling party also hit back at the BJP, stating the bandh call was given as the chaos on the streets during Tuesday's march revealed the BJP was behind it. The march exposed its conspiracy to create political conspiracy in the state, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. The 12-hour general strike called by the BJP in West Bengal to protest against the police action on protesters during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally, began on Wednesday morning. Over 200 people were arrested on Tuesday after the rally triggered chaos and disruptions. Videos from Kolkata showed vehicles keeping off the roads. Private buses did not ply while government buses were few and far between. The BJP workers were also seen disrupting rail traffic at Krishnanagar railway station. Similar shutdowns were seen at several other railway stations, including at Ranaghat, Murshidabad and Baharampur. Local train services, including Bandel-Howrah local, were also disrupted at Hooghly station. Local media also reported instances of violence between TMC and BJP workers in various places, including Balurghat and Malda. The BJP workers had hit the road in the morning to make the bandh successful. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul was also seen reviewing the bandh call. However, the West Bengal government urged people not to respond to the bandh call. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected, said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state also issued a notification stating that all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or face show cause for their unauthorised absence. The ruling party also hit back at the BJP, stating the bandh call was given as the chaos on the streets during Tuesday's march revealed the BJP was behind it. The march exposed its conspiracy to create political conspiracy in the state, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. The 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally had turned violent after police lathi-charged, and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw stones and bricks at security forces. Chaos erupted after the agitators tried to make their way through barricades to march towards the West Bengal secretariat Nabanna'. Kolkata Police sources told PTI that 126 members and supporters of Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, one of the organisers of the rally, were arrested. Out of them, 33 were women. According to the police, they had to use a water cannon and resort to a lathi charge after the agitators breached barricades at some locations and attacked security personnel. Fifteen personnel of the Kolkata Police and 14 from the state police force were injured in the clashes. We are used to tackling such unruly mobs and our officers have handled the situation well. We have detained several people and the law will take its course, a senior police officer of Kolkata Police said.

BJP's 12-hour shutdown partially affects life in West Bengal

Kolkata: Daily life was partially affected in West Bengal on Wednesday due to a 12-hour shutdown called by the BJP, protesting the police action against demonstrators during a march to the state secretariat. Rail and road blockades at several places in the state since the early morning affected public transport services, inconveniencing people. In state capital Kolkata, the usual weekday flurry was missing with a lesser number of buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis plying. Private vehicles were also significantly less, even as markets and shops remained open as usual. Schools and colleges were open, though the number of students was lesser. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home. However, attendance was as usual in government offices. BJP workers demonstrated at several places in the city, including Sealdah, Shyambazar, Burrabazar and Wipro More in the IT hub of Sector 5, and police were swift in removing them to clear the roads for traffic. An official of the Eastern Railway said bandh supporters blocked tracks at 49 places under its jurisdiction in the state. While the blockades were lifted at most places, it was continuing in nine stations, mostly in the Sealdah South section, he said. BJP workers demonstrated at the Bongaon station in North 24 Parganas, Gocharan station in South 24 Parganas, and the Murshidabad station in support of the bandh. Tension was palpable at the Barrackpore station in North 24 Parganas as BJP supporters and TMC workers came face to face. Picketing by BJP supporters on the roads led to disruption of public transport services for some time in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Siliguri and Malda in northern West Bengal, and in Purulia, Bankura and some other places in the southern part of the state. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari led a protest march in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur, his home district. In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police intervened to disperse the two groups. In Alipurduar, BJP activists engaged in a scuffle with the police as they tried to block an arterial road, shouting slogans such as 'dafa ek dabi ek, mukhyomantrir padatyag' (one-point demand, chief minister's resignation). The 'Bangla Bandh', which began at 6 am, was called by the BJP in protest against police action on participants of 'Nabanna Abhijan' on Tuesday. The march to state secretariat Nabanna in Howrah was organised by the newly-formed students' group Chatra Samaj, demanding the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee over the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Telangana: Crocodile enters cotton fields in Gadwal, rescued

Hyderabad: Farmers in Maldakal mandal headquarters of Jogulamba Gadwal district were shocked to see a crocodile entering the seed cotton field of a farmer near Devaracheruvu. The farm workers who were busy with their work in the cotton fields, were shocked to see a crocodile crawling in the field on the morning of Friday, August 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 .

Man kills wife for frequently objecting to alcohol consumption

Shillong, August 23: A 32-year-old man has allegedly killed his wife for frequently objecting to his regular alcohol consumption habit, the police said on Thursday. Police said that the accused has been identified as Biltu Sarkar a resident of Malda in West Bengal. He killed his wife, Shafali Sarkar (27), by strangulating [] The post Man kills wife for frequently objecting to alcohol consumption appeared first on The Shillong Times .

West Bengal government removes 3 officials of RG Kar hospital

Kolkata: The West Bengal government removed three senior officials of the RG Kar hospital, bowing to the demand of junior doctors who have been protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in the state-run health facility. As per their demand, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal doctor Sandip Ghosh, who was shifted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital as its principal, was also removed from that position, Health Secretary NS Nigam said. The three senior officials of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) were transferred to various state-run health facilities, he said. According to an order issued on Wednesday evening, Prof (Dr) Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal of the RG Kar MCH, was replaced by Saptarshi Chatterjee with immediate effect. Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay was named the new principal of RGKMCH, replacing Suhrita Paul, who was made the principal of the Barasat Government Medical College and Hospital, it said. RGKMCH's chest medicine department head Arunabha Datta Chaudhuri was transferred to the Malda Medical College and Hospital, according to the order. As per demands of the junior doctors, we are bringing in some changes for which we have no objection. We want normalcy to be back and healthcare services to be regularised. Security arrangements have also been enhanced, Nigam told reporters. The junior doctors of RGKMCH have been continuing their cease work since August 9 evening, protesting against the alleged rape and murder of the woman medic and demanding justice for her.

13-year-old Mahfuz Rahman From Malda Sets Asia Record With Reverse Counting

Mahfuz Rahman is the only son of Mosfudar Rahman and Tahsina Afrin who are residents of Bagbari, English Bazar Block, Malda.

Telangana: Heavy Rains, Lightning Claim Seven Lives in State

Hyderabad : At least seven persons, including a 15-year-old girl and a boy, were killed as incessant rains wreaked havoc across Telangana on Tuesday morning. The relentless downpour, accompanied by lightnings, left several districts grappling with floods and devastation. Life was thrown asunder across Hyderabad and several districts after intense rainfall that began at 4.30 am led to widespread disruptions on Tuesday. Yousufguda recorded the highest rainfall in Hyderabad at 125.5 mm, while heavy rains resulted in severe waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas like Musheerabad and Secunderabad, causing extensive traffic jams and residents finding it difficult to navigate through the flooded streets. Amid this, was the confusion created regarding closures of schools. While many schools within the GHMC limits declared a holiday, others remained open, leading to uncertainty among parents and students. Adding to the challenges, the water levels at Hussainsagar Lake rose dangerously close to the Full Tank Level (FTL). By 10:40 am, the lakes water level was recorded at 513.63 metres, just shy of its maximum level of 514.75 metres. The lake's inflow stood at 1,850 cusecs, prompting the authorities to release 1,600 cusecs downstream to manage the rising water levels and prevent overflow. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad and a red alert for several districts, including Jogulamba Gadwal, which recorded 132 mm of rain, and Wanaparthy with 130 mm. The IMD has forecast continued rainfall across the state, including thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in isolated areas, particularly in Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Mancherial districts. In Hyderabads Musheerabad, a 43-year-old Vijay, a daily-wage labourer from Ramnagar, had left his home for work but was caught in the sudden surge of water. Locals reported that he was trapped under a car and lost his life. Gadwal district was particularly hard hit as lightning killed three persons. In Aradigadda village, 28-year-old Nalla Reddy was struck while working in his field, and 40-year-old Vemula Raju met a similar fate in Kyatur village. In Maldakal village, a 15-year-old girl perished while on her way home, while a 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning while he was heading to the fields in Vikarabad district. Mancherial district saw the loss of 57-year-old Bhaskar Goud, who was working in the field when he was felled by lightning. A similar tragedy struck 58-year-old Narayana of Peddapalli district while herding cattle back home.

West Bengal: TMC goon attacks doctor in Malda, verbally abuses nurses and threatens to kill them

When a medical officer named Prabhakar Saha objected to his behaviour, the TMC goon Avinash Saha thrashed him mercilessly.

BJP's Babulal Marandi makes sensational claim on 'X'

RANCHI: Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi, citing intelligence reports has warned of a purported conspiracy to create a new country called 'Banglastan,' which he claims would combine parts of Jharkhand (Santhal Pargana), Kishanganj in Bihar, West Bengal, most of the North Eastern states, Nepal, and parts of Myanmar. Marandi made these allegations in a sensational post on X, he claimed that he population of Bangladeshi Muslims has suddenly increased in Jharkhand, and it seems that Congress and JMM are also engaged in fulfilling the intentions of the fundamentalists. Those parts of India, where Sanatani Hindus were reduced to minority, were cut off.they did only separated but also became our enemies. Now, if you look around all those countries, you will find that an effort is being made to make a separate state (country), especially the places that are adjacent to Bangladesh, be it some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal or Bangladesh itself, said Marandi while talking to the media. Still a lot to be done in the country as there are threats, both from inside and outside, which have to be suppressed then only the country will flourish, he added. According to Marandi, the situation arising in Bangladesh and the hazardous intentions of the fundamentalists are extremely sensitive for the entire country as well as Jharkhand. Parties like Congress-JMM, which divide the country and society for political gains, have always been seen standing with foreign powers for power. Therefore, in this difficult time, along with the tribal society, the three and a half crore people of Jharkhand also need to remain alert, he posted on X. Marandi alleged that fundamentalists are pursuing the goal of Ghazwatul-Hind (a purported war against non-Muslims) and the establishment of an Islamic Bangladesh following the recent political changes in the neighbouring country. Congress has responded strongly to the allegations made by Marandi, which blamed the ruling alliance for Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand. The party stated that if Marandi's claims have any merit, he should first demand the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, who is responsible for managing infiltration issues. BJPs ideology has been divisive since beginningdivides the state, the society and the communal harmony of the society, for political benefits. I think before posting it on social media, Marandi ji should have directly sought resignation from Home Minister Amit Shah as it is his responsibility to check infiltration in the country, said Congress Spokesperson Rakesh Sinha. Raising the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators in the Lok Sabha earlier on July 25, Godda MP Nishikant Dubey had also claimed that the population of Adivasis in the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand has declined and demanded that Malda and Murshidabad of West Bengal, Araria and Kishanganj, Katihar of Bihar and Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand be declared a union territory. Dubey had also informed the Parliament that the tribal population was 48% in 1951, but it came down to 36% in 2000, and now 26%.

In Bengal's Malda, Motorcyclist Narrowly Escapes Death As Culvert Collapses

In Manikchak block of Malda, in Bhutnis Kartiknagar, a culvert collapsed recently. Unfortunately, it was at the same moment a motorcyclist was crossing it.

BSF neutralizes Bangladeshi smuggler in firing at borders in West Bengals Malda district

NEW DELHI: The Border Security Force (BSF) announced on Monday that it had neutralized a Bangladeshi smuggler during a retaliatory fire in West Bengals Malda district. Additionally, the BSF apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals who were attempting to infiltrate the country, along with two Indian facilitators, at a checkpoint in Meghalaya. According to BSF officials, the incident in Malda district occurred during the night of August 11-12 when a group of smugglers launched an attack on the personnel stationed at the Chandnichak Border Outpost. This outpost is operated by the 115th Battalion under the South Bengal Frontier. The smugglers, allegedly armed with sharp-edged weapons, engaged the BSF troops, prompting retaliatory firing in self-defense. In the ensuing exchange, one smuggler was neutralized. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions and dangers faced by security forces working to maintain border integrity amid persistent threats of smuggling and cross-border incursions, a senior BSF officer stated. The officer explained, A BSF jawan patrolling the area observed five to six individuals transporting goods from the Indian side toward Bangladesh. The jawan moved in to intercept them and instructed the smugglers to stop. Ignoring the command, another group of smugglers, hiding behind the bushes, attacked the jawan with sharp weapons. The jawans fired two rounds in self-defense. Following the firing, the miscreants used the cover of darkness and wild bushes to flee back toward the Indian border. One Bangladeshi smuggler was found injured and was taken to a government hospital, where he later died. The deceased was identified as Abdullah, a resident of Rishipara village in Chapai Nawabganj district of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, BSF troops apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint on August 10 at midnight. This operation was part of the heightened security measures along the Meghalaya borders. All the apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Indian facilitators have been handed over to the Meghalaya police for further action and legal proceedings.

BSF clashes with Bangladeshi smugglers near border in West Bengal

A violent clash between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladeshi smugglers occurred near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Malda district on the night of August 11-12. The incident, involving smugglers with sharp-edged weapons, led to gunfire from BSF personnel in self-defense, resulting in one smuggler's death and the seizure of contraband. The clash highlights ongoing border tensions, exacerbated by political unrest in Bangladesh. A dedicated committee has been established by the Indian government to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of Indian citizens and minorities in the region.

Jharkhand High Court Orders Action on Bangladeshi Infiltration and Decreasing Tribal Population

Ranchi: T he issue of Bangladeshi infiltration and the dwindling population of forest dwellers in Jharkhand has recently gained prominence. The Jharkhand High Court has directed the state government to identify and count the Bangladeshi infiltrators residing in the Santhal Pargana region and submit an action plan for their deportation. The court's directive came from a bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, who instructed the District Magistrates (DMs) of Dumka, Pakur, Jamtara, Deoghar, Sahebganj, and Godda to report on the number of infiltrators in these districts. During the court proceedings, the state government argued that the police were struggling to identify the infiltrators. In response, the court insisted on the formation of a special team to handle the issue, noting that the use of fake documents such as ration cards, voter IDs, and Aadhaar cards was prevalent among these individuals. The court emphasized that such documents were misused to usurp local rights and directed the state government to establish a dedicated team for this purpose. The court also instructed the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts to ensure that documents like ration cards, voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and BPL cards are issued only after verifying the record of rights. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for August 22. These directives were issued in a court order dated August 8, a copy of which is available with OpIndia. Residents of Santhal Pargana have long been vocal about the issues of infiltrators and the decreasing number of tribals. Social workers have expressed concern over the changing demographics in the region. The proximity of Santhal Pargana to Bangladesh, just 15 kilometers away, and its border with West Bengal facilitate this infiltration. According to the petitioners lawyer, the indigenous population in Santhal Pargana has drastically declined from 44.67% in 1951 to 28.11% in 2011. Meanwhile, the Muslim population has significantly increased from 9.44% in 1951 to 22.73% in 2011. The public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by Daniyal Danish, a resident of Jamshedpur, who alleged that Bangladeshi infiltrators were not only changing the demographic landscape but also marrying indigenous women, converting them to Islam, and acquiring their lands through gift deeds. He also claimed that these infiltrators have established numerous mosques and madrasas in the bordering districts of Jharkhand. On July 25, 2024, Godda MP Nishikant Dubey raised this issue in Parliament, calling for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Santhal Pargana. Dubey highlighted that while voter increases are generally around 15-17%, in some areas, the Muslim population has surged by 123%. He pointed out that there are 25 assembly seats in Jharkhand where the population increase is concerning. Dubey also referred to recent riots in the Taranagar area of Pakur district, attributing them to the influx of people from Bengal and areas like Malda and Murshidabad driving out local residents. He criticized opposition claims about the constitution being in danger, arguing instead that it was political issues at stake. He noted that when Jharkhand became a separate state in 2000, the Santhal Pargana region had a 36% tribal population, which has now reduced to 26%, questioning the fate of the missing 10% of the population. Five Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Funding Naxal Activities Uttar Pradesh BJP to Host Tricolour March Across All Assembly Constituencies in Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign Bangladeshi National Arrested at Lucknow Airport for Attempting to Fly with Fake Indian Documents

Rail Accident in Malda: Five Freight Train Wagons Derailed

Malda, August 09 (Udaipur Kiran) Another rail accident occurred in the Malda district of West Bengal on Friday morning. ... Read more

Dengue cases rising in West Bengal, govt says situation under control

The number of dengue cases in West Bengal is rising, as around 500 people, mostly in rural areas, were down with the mosquito-borne viral disease in the last week of July, a health department official said on Thursday. The official, however, said that the situation is under control. Since January, at least 2,640 people have been diagnosed with the disease in the state, with North 24 Parganas district topping the chart with 363 cases. Between July 24 and 31, West Bengal reported around 500 dengue cases, with 68 from Murshidabad district and 50 from North 24 Parganas. There has been a rise in dengue cases since the last week of July. This is mainly due to the monsoon. We see such a spike in dengue cases almost every year at this time. There is nothing to worry about. The situation is under control, the official told PTI. During the final week in July, Malda district reported 53 dengue cases, followed by Hooghly (50), Purba Bardhaman (44) and South 24 Parganas (32). Eighteen cases

NIA court sentences two men for circulating fake Indian currency notes

Kolkata: A special NIA court here has sentenced two men to rigorous imprisonment for circulating fake Indian currency notes. The court on Tuesday sentenced Asim Sarkar of Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh) to 7-year RI while co-accused Aladu of Malda (West Bengal) will have to spend five years in jail, an official statement issued on Wednesday said. 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 .

NIA Kolkata Court Sentences 2 Accused to RI in 2019 Malda FICN case

New Delhi: Two key accused in the 2019 Malda fake currency case have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment (RI) by the Kolkata special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). While Asim Sarkar of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh has been sentenced to seven years of RI, his co-accused Aladu alias Matur of Malda in West Bengal will have to spend five years in jail under RI, as per the sentence pronounced by the special court, which has found both the men guilty in the case RC-23/2019/NIA/DLI. The two accused, who have been held culpable under various sections of IPC and UA(P) Act, have also been fined Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively. They will have to spend another three months under RI in case of failure to deposit the fine. Trial against an absconding Bangladeshi national, identified as Abdul Rahim, is continuing in the case relating to seizure of High Quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in September 2019. The DRI sleuths had seized 99 fake notes in the denomination of Rs.2,000 and two notes in the denomination of Rs. 500, having a total face value of Rs.1.99 lakh from Asim Sarkar, who was immediately taken into custody. Two other accused, Aladu alias Matahu and Faijul Sk, were arrested subsequently by NIA, which took over the case in October 2019. Faijul Sk is already serving a five-year jail sentence in the case. The NIA investigations had found that all the four accused were involved in the criminal conspiracy to procure and circulate FICNs with the intention to use it as genuine for unlawful gain.

Incessant rain lashes Kolkata, other parts of West Bengal

Kolkata : Incessant rain lashed Kolkata and its neighbouring districts on Saturday as a low-pressure area turned into a deep depression, an official said. As a result of the rains, waterlogging was reported from several parts of Kolkata, including the airport. Similar was the scene in the neighbouring cities of Howrah, Salt Lake and Barrackpore. The situation would remain the same throughout the day, the weather office said. The West Bengal government asked the people, mostly in the northern parts of the state, not to panic but to remain alert for the initial part of next week when there is a prediction of a downpour. Alapan Bandopadhyay, chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said that the CM was overseeing the situation 24X7 and was in touch with senior officials in the rain-affected districts. According to the police, ankle-deep water was reported from parts of central and south Kolkata, but traffic movement was not disrupted. Waterlogging was also reported from inside the Kolkata airport, but flight services were not affected, an official said. Both the runway and all taxiways are fully operational. However, a few parking stands are affected by waterlogging for which additional pumps have been deployed to drain the water from the operational area, he said. While Dumdum recorded 100 mm rainfall since Friday, 81.1 mm rainfall was recorded in Salt Lake and 31.9 mm at Alipore area in northern and southern parts of the city respectively. The low pressure over Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal turned into a deep depression. It is gradually shifting towards Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This, accompanied by an active monsoon trough over the southern districts of West Bengal, resulted in the rains, he said. The southern districts of Howrah, Paschim and Bardhaman, Birbhum, Hooghly, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas districts will continue to experience showers over the next 12 hours, he said. The Met Department also warned of thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning. A 'yellow' alert for the Gangetic West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, was issued, while an 'orange' alert for heavy to very heavy rains was issued for Purulia, Murshidabad, Malda, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. A red alert was also issued for Alipurduar district. On Friday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 30.1 degrees Celsius, which was 2.4 notches less than normal. The lowest temperature was 26 degrees, which was 0.6 notches below normal. Bandopadhyay alleged that the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released a huge quantity of water in the last two days without informing the state government, leading to the inundation of several areas. The member secretary of the Damodar Valley River Regulatory Committee has said that they will release another one lakh cusec of water. The state government expects this to be catastrophic for the state's people. The state has requested DVC not to release such a huge quantity of water without discussions, he said. There is a need to stay extra alert on August 5 and 6, said Bandopadhyay, a former chief secretary of the state. In the next 4-5 days, water level of rivers in different parts of (north Bengal districts) Cooch Behar and Alipurduar may go up, Bandyopadhyay told reporters. Accusing the DVC of discharging water to engineer a 'man-made flood', ruling TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also posted on X handle in Bengali, When water level rises in Jharkhand, DVC aggravates the situation in Bengal by releasing water. But never releases water in summer when the state needs the most for irrigation and farming activities. An irrigation department official said 36,000 cusec water was discharged from Panchet dam, 70,000 cusec from Durgapur barrage, 12,000 cusec from Durgapur barrage. DVC sources said after heavy rains, stored water has to be discharged from barrages to prevent water bursting the walls. Meanwhile, flights operations to and from the Kazi Nazrul Islam (KNI) airport at Andal in Paschim Bardhaman district continued to be suspended for the second consecutive day on Saturday as the airport is yet to be ready for operations. The operations at the airport were shut down on Friday due to water logging in and around its premises. Due to continuous heavy rains in Durgapur, we've had to cancel all flights scheduled for today. The prevailing rain has caused some operational challenges and waterlogging in various parts of the city, IndiGo airlines, which is the only company to operate in and out of the airport, tweeted on X on Saturday. All scheduled flights to and from the airport have been cancelled today, a spokesperson of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), said. BAPL is the developer of the airport. The water has receded from the airport premises and the cleaning process is on. We will be able to resume flight operations from Sunday, the spokesperson said. Flight operations to and from the Kazi Nazrul Islam (KNI) airport at Andal in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district were temporarily suspended on Friday due to water logging in and around its premises, officials said. Water had gushed into the airport premises and caused water logging in the operational area, an official said. Several places at the approach road to the airport from the highway were also inundated, he said.

West Bengal: TMC MLA Threatens To Break Legs of Two BJP MLAs

Berhampore: Controversial Bharatpur Trinamul Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has triggered a fresh controversy. This time, he threatened two BJP MLAs, Gouri Shankar Ghosh and Subrata Moitra who are also from Murshidabad district, to break their legs and force them to hide like rats in holes. Mr Kabir claimed at a press meet on Tuesday evening, I am openly threatening two BJP MLAs to break their legs. Two lakh armed workers of our party will gharao and compel them to take shelter like rats in holes out of fear. He alleged, These two opposition MLAs supported division of West Bengal. They echoed their party MP Nishikanta Dubeys demand to add Murshidabad and Malda with Bihar to bifurcate Bengal on communal lines, thus endangering our communal harmony. Mr Kabir pointed out that the TMC has 20 MLAs and three MPs with 75 per cent vote bank in the district while Mr Ghosh and Mr Moitra were elected from Murshidabad seat and Berhampore seat by the remaining share of vote bank. Reacting to the TMC MLA's threat, Mr Ghosh said on Wednesday, It is nothing new. He only proved TMC's goonda culture! Mr Moitra also said, TMC never bothered about issues like infiltration, law and order and river erosion. If he wants to attack me, he can try. I will be available without my security personnel but he should not behave like extremists.

Howrah-Mumbai Mail Accident: 3 Fruit Sellers From Bengals Malda Among Victims

As soon as their family members of the victim heard the news, they became concerned.

Howrah-Mumbai Train Accident: Malda Survivor, Who Injured His Leg, Says 'Can't Walk'

Badal Das, a retired government employee from Malda, was sleeping on the lower birth when he suddenly heard a loud noise followed by a jolt.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wants Presidents rule in Jharkhand

RANCHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, demanded Union Territory status for parts of Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal, has once again triggered row by demanding Presidents rule in Jharkhand alleging the state government of destroying the tribals just for the sake of making Bangladeshi infiltrators get settled. The BJP MP has also informed the Parliament that the tribal population was 48% in 1951, but it came down to 36% in 2000, and now 26%. Dubey said that the Jharkhand Police used brutal force against tribal youths, who wanted to protest against their seat being snatched away by Bangladeshis. According to Dubey, the police entered the hostel and assaulted the boys injuring many of them, out of which two are critical.11 persons have been referred to higher medical centers. The state government is destroying the tribals just to pave way for the Bangladeshi to get settled in Jharkhand. I appeal to Centre to impose President's rule in Jharkhand, said the BJP MP. Earlier on Sunday, Dubey had also posted on X saying that to stopthe proposed protest against Bangladeshi infiltrators, love jihad against tribal girls and land jihad against tribal society, Jharkhand Police beat them up in Pakur district of Santhal Pargana and attempted to kill them. Finally Scheduled Tribe Commission took cognizance against the , , 500 pic.twitter.com/bH59GaNi6O Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) July 30, 2024 Notably, raising the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Nishikant Dubey had claimed that the population of Adivasis in the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand has declined and demanded that Malda and Murshidabad of West Bengal, Araria and Kishanganj, Katihar of Bihar and Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand be declared a union territory. During the Zero Hour, Nishikant Dubey had claimed that if some measures were not taken to stop this illegal migration, Hindus would disappear from these places. There are 100 tribal mukhiya in our area but their husbands are Muslims...Riots broke out in Pakur's Taranagar-Ilami and Dagapara because people from Malda and Murshidabad were ousting our people and Hindu villages were going empty. This is a serious matter. I am saying this on record; I am ready to resign if what I am wrong. Jharkhand Police is unable to do anything...Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, Malda, and Murshidabad should be made a union territory, otherwise, Hindus will disappear, and implement NRC. If nothing else, send a Committee of the House there and implement the report of the Law Commission from 2010 that permission is essential for conversion and marriage, he said. Jharkhand HC told the state government to identify infiltrators coming from Bangladesh Meanwhile, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding an investigation into the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Jharkhand and alleged land jihad in Santhal Pargana region, the Jharkhand High Court has already directed the state government to identify the infiltrators coming from Bangladesh and prepare an action plan to send them back to their country. The PIL filed has been filed by a Jamshedpur-based social activist Daniel Danish seeking a probe on Bangladeshi intrusion and changing demography of Santhal Pargana.

Didi Dares BJP to Divide Bengal; Suvendu Backtracks After Call for Assembly Voting

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday dared the BJP to divide the state and sought voting on the demand in the Assembly. She threw the challenge to the saffron party while speaking at a session in the Assembly. Swinging into damage control, leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari clarified that BJP has no such demand. His claim however rejects calls of many MPs in his party, from Sukanta Majumdar, state president and union minister, to Ananta Maharaj to Nishikant Dubey. Ms Banerjee said at the House during a discussion, BJP has not given North Bengal anything despite winning so many seats from the region. Whenever an election comes, calls for division and partition crop up also. A conspiracy is going on to divide Bengal. In a veiled reference to Mr Majumdar, Mr Maharaj and Mr Dubey, she added, While some are talking about carving out Cooch Behar, others demand inclusion of North Bengal into the North East and creation of a separate state with Malda and Murshidabad. Everyone is sharing their own thoughts. Daring the BJP, the Trinamul Congress supremo pointed out, Let them come to do it. I will also show them how to resist them. If they have guts, let them come to the Assembly. Let there be voting to know if people of Bengal at all support those who want it. She also informed that her party MPs would raise the apathy of the Centre in the parliament. Mr Adhikari later said, BJP has a clear stand that we don't want division of Bengal. Our sole demand is to identify the infiltrators to stop the persecution of Hindus. Rohingyas must be driven out. Ms Banerjee later stated that she had proposed the Niti Aayog during its meeting last week to set up the India-Bhutan River Commission.

Demand for new UT in Jkhand a conspiracy to divide state, says JMM

RANCHI: The JMM on Sunday strongly slammed BJP MP Nishikant Dubeys statement in Parliament that parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal be declared a union territory (UT) to deal with the challenges posed by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Dubbing it a conspiracy to divide the state, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) warned the Centre that the party will take to the streets to oppose any such move. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Dubey claimed that the adivasi population in the Santhal Pargana region of the state has declined and demanded that Malda and Murshidabad of West Bengal, Araria and Kishanganj, Katihar of Bihar and Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand be declared a union territory. Coming down heavily on Dubey, JMM General Secretary and Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya termed it a conspiracy to divide the three states. It is nothing but a planned conspiracy of BJP to divide Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. Jammu and Kashmir was divided on August 5, 2019 and after five years once again BJP is making efforts for another division in the country, said Bhattacharya. The remark is not good for the state as it was made in Parliament and everything is on record, he added. The JMM spokesperson said that the seeds of division sowed by the BJP in the country will have an adverse effect in the future. Ever since Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was appointed as the co-in charge for Assembly polls in Jharkhand, society has been divided in the name of caste and religion. What the MP said Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Dubey claimed that the adivasi population in the Santhal Pargana region of the state has declined and demanded that Malda and Murshidabad of West Bengal, Araria and Kishanganj, Katihar of Bihar and Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand be declared a union territory.

Bangladeshi infiltration behind decline in Jharkhands tribal population, says BJP MP

Nishikant Dubey demanded that parts of the State, and Murshidabad and Malda districts in West Bengal, and Kishanganj and Katihar districts in Bihar be made a Union Territory

Key Accused in Malda Fake Currency Seizure Case Sentenced to 5 Years RI

The prison sentences for the 21 people convicted this week range from 4 to 20 years. (Representational Image) The prison sentences for the 21 people convicted this week range from 4 to 20 years. (Representational Image) New Delhi: A key accused in a Malda fake currency case has been convicted and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by the special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Kolkata. The accused Faijul Sk, a resident of Gopalganj area of Malda in West Bengal, has also been fined Rs. 5,000, and failure to deposit the same will attract an additional three months of RI. Trial against three other accused, including an absconding Bangladeshi national, is continuing. Faijul, who has been found guilty under Section 489B & 489C of IPC and Section 16 of UA(P) Act, was found involved in the case RC-23/2019/NIA/DLI, related to seizure of fake Indian currency notes (FICNs). The seizure was made on September 16, 2019 by DRI, which recovered 99 fake notes in denomination of Rs.2000 and two in the denomination of Rs. 500, totalling Rs. 1,99,000 in face value. The currency was recovered from the possession of one Asim Sarkar, who was taken into custody. The NIA, which took over the investigation in October 2019, subsequently arrested Faijul Sk along with another accused, Aladu alias Matahur. A fourth accused, a Bangladeshi national identified as Abdul Rahim, is absconding. All the four accused have been chargesheeted by the NIA, which has found that they had collectively hatched a criminal conspiracy to procure and circulate High Quality Fake Indian Currency notes with the intention to use the same as genuine for unlawful gain.