BJP gets new state presidents; ideological association with RSS & caste factor at play
Bharatiya Janata Party is nearing completion of its selection of state presidents. The selection process considers caste and association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Key appointments include K Beichhua for Mizoram and VP Ramalingam for Puducherry. The party will soon announce state unit chiefs for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal.
South Calcutta Law College Closed Over Gangrape Case
Every BJP member and official stands firmly with every sister and daughter of West Bengal: retired IPS officer Satypal Singh
No woman is safe in West Bengal: BJP slams CM Mamata; questions rising crimes against women
KOLKATA: The BJP on Monday alleged that women are unsafe in West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees leadership, citing the alleged gang rape at South Calcutta Law College and questioning the rising crimes against women in a woman-led state. The party criticised the Trinamool Congress government for failing to ensure women's safety and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators. A four-member BJP fact-finding team arrived at Kolkata on Monday morning. The team, which consisted of former Union Ministers Satpal Singh, Meenakshi Lekhi and party MPs Biplab Kumar Deb and Manan Kumar Mishra, alleged that criminals were appointed as teachers and staff without verification in the law college. Lekhi said, Criminals are appointed in colleges as ad-hoc teachers or staff without any proper verification. There is no history sheet of the prime accused, who was booked earlier, and had been appointed through backdoors in violation of the rules set by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the education ministry. According to her this is nothing but criminalisation of academics. The basic question is, why are crimes against women happening in a state which has a woman as a Chief Minister? In a predominantly matriarchal society, where Goddess Durga is worshipped, is the current government planning on addressing and taking action against the growing cases of crimes against women or not? she added. Slamming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Deb said, No woman is safe in West Bengal. Many incidents of crime against women happen, where no FIR is lodged. And in those cases, FIRs have been lodged, no further action is taken. Singh said that they were shocked by the heinous incident in the law college in Kolkata, which was turning into a pattern after the RG Kar incident last year where a young doctor was raped and murdered. It has exposed the utter failure of the West Bengal government, led by a woman Chief Minister, he added. Referring to the prime accused in the alleged gang rape incident in the South Calcutta Law College, he said, We met the vice principal of the college. How can a person, who was arrested four times since 2011 and who is still a member of the student wing of the ruling party get appointed to the law college? Earlier, in the afternoon, the team met with Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma at Lalbazar, the city police headquarters. Verma informed them about the progress of the case and the number of accused. The Commissioner also assured them that the accused would be punished. The BJP delegation left Lalbazar at around 3:50 pm and headed towards South Calcutta Law College at Kasba. However, before entering the college, they first had to face police obstruction. Meanwhile, there was a gathering of BJP youth wing workers in front of the college. Workers of several left-wing organisations were also present there. The police officials let the BJP team enter the college after an argument, which continued for around 15 minutes. Immediately, left supporters started slogans opposing their entry. BJP workers and supporters retaliated with counter slogans, which turned into a scuffle. Later, the situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police.
Police recover crude bombs in West Bengal`s Nadia district
A senior police officer said that though no one was apprehended so far in connection with the recovery of the crude bombs, nine persons have been arrested over the murder of the girl
KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI investigation into three murder cases which took place six years ago at Sandeshkhali in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district. In 2019, three BJP workers were allegedly murdered and Shahjahan Sheikh , who is currently suspended from the Trinamool Congress, was allegedly involved in all three cases. Ordering a CBI probe, Justice Joy Sengupta also directed the central agency to form an SIT for investigation. On June 8, 2019, Pradeep Mandal, Devdas Mandal and Sukanta Mandal, residents of Sandeshkhali, were allegedly murdered. All three deceased were BJP workers. Shahjahan's name was in the initial charge sheet of the murder case. CBI records womans statement in Sandeshkhali against ex-TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan in ration scam case But later, the family claimed that his name was dropped from the charge sheet when the CID took over the investigation. Not only that, Shahjahan's name also appeared in the charge sheet of another murder case in 2022. But he was later granted bail in that case. Shahjahan rose to ill fame when a mob attacked the ED officials and paramilitary personnel after they came to Shahjahan's house at Sandeshkhali for conducting an investigation into a ration corruption case in early 2024. A large section of locals, especially women rose against Shahjahan and his close associates. Various allegations were made against Shahjahan and his gang, such as forcibly occupying the agricultural land of many people in the area, building fish ponds on the occupied land and torturing the local women. As soon as the allegations came to light, opposition parties including the BJP took to the streets in protest. Shahjahan was later arrested and was suspended from the Trinamool Congress subsequently.
Minor girl rescued in Perundurai after alleged abduction from West Bengal
Himachal and Punjab surpass national life expectancy average, Haryana lags behind: Report
CHANDIGARH: Life expectancy in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab stands at 73.6 years and 70.8 years respectively both higher than the national average of 69.9 years reflecting modest improvement over the past five decades. In contrast, Haryana records a lower life expectancy at 68.6 years. Notably, female life expectancy at birth is highest in Himachal Pradesh, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 201822 released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Kerala continues to top the national list with the highest life expectancy at 74.8 years, while Chhattisgarh remains at the bottom with 64.4 years. Other high-performing states and Union Territories include Delhi (74.6 years), Jammu and Kashmir (74.1 years), and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab has outperformed several larger states such as Uttar Pradesh (67.2 years) and Madhya Pradesh (67.4 years), and is at par with Uttarakhand (70.8 years). Tamil Nadu (73.0 years), Maharashtra (72.5 years), and West Bengal (72.1 years) are among those with higher figures than Punjab. The report notes that women in Punjab have an average life expectancy of 73.1 years, while for men it stands at 68.9 years. This results in a female-to-male life expectancy ratio of 1.06, a significant shift from 197075 when men outlived women. Urban areas continue to show a clear advantage, with a life expectancy of 73.3 years (75.1 for females and 71.9 for males), compared to 69.2 years in rural areas (71.8 for females and 66.9 for males). This urban-rural gap, however, has narrowed considerably since the 197075 period. Nationally, life expectancy at birth for males is 68.2 years and 71.9 years for females. Jammu and Kashmir records the highest male life expectancy at 72.8 years, while Himachal Pradesh and Kerala share the highest female life expectancy at 78.0 years. Chhattisgarh ranks lowest for both sexes, with 62.3 years for males and 66.6 years for females. At age one, the average life expectancy is 69.3 years for males and 73.3 years for females. At age 60, life expectancy is 17.1 years for males and 19.3 years for females. The report also finds that female life expectancy has improved more rapidly than male life expectancy across most states. The greatest annual increase for men was recorded in Odisha, and the lowest in Haryana. For women, Uttar Pradesh showed the most significant annual gain, while Kerala saw the smallest. Professor Kumool Abbi, Director of the Population Research Centre at Panjab University, attributed higher female life expectancy in Punjab to several factors, including cultural emphasis on nutrition, low multidimensional poverty, infrastructure gains from the Green Revolution, reduced maternal mortality, access to healthcare and education, and genetic factors. To further reduce the gender and urban-rural gaps, there is a need to move away from dependence on agriculture, raise awareness of non-communicable diseases, strengthen public healthcare, and ensure equitable access to services, she added.
Calcutta HC Grants Permission to Advocates to File PILs Over Law Student's Gang Rape
They are seeking an investigation under the supervision of the court and steps to ensure security in colleges across West Bengal.
Is the ruling TMC and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee losing ground to the main opposition the BJP months before the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026? Is she losing her grip over the state administration, the party and the affiliate organisations?
The Calcutta High Court has allowed the filing of two PILs regarding the gang rape at South Kolkata Law College. Advocates Sauma Subhra Ray and Vijay Kumar Singhal, also involved in the RG Kar case, filed the petitions. Ray alleges a premeditated, politically motivated crime. Singhal requests a retired High Court judge to head the SIT and increased campus security.
Government strengthens cybercrime crackdown as cases surge nationwide
NEW DELHI: With internet usage and online financial transactions rising sharply over the past two years, cybercrime cases involving phishing emails, financial fraud, and ransomware attacks have seen a corresponding surge. Cybercriminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated and evolving techniques to defraud unsuspecting individuals across the globe. These crimes often have cross-border implications, prompting international cooperation among law enforcement agencies, a senior CBI official said. Identifying human error as the primary enabler of cyber fraud, the official noted, Criminals use social engineering tactics to manipulate people into revealing sensitive information. Many individuals are unaware of common scam methods, making them easy targets. Fraudsters exploit emotions such as fear (threats of legal action), excitement (fake lottery wins), or urgency (bogus emergency fund requests). They frequently impersonate trusted sources, including banks, government agencies, and even close friends. Cybercriminals are also exploiting online payment systems through fraudulent UPI requests and QR codes, card skimming, SIM swaps, and scams involving cryptocurrency and fake investment schemes. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has regularly issued advisories about ransomware threats. It noted that the dark web has become a marketplace for stolen data, hacking tools, and illegal services. Organised cybercriminal groups now engage in activities such as identity theft, data sales, and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). In response to this growing threat, the government has significantly strengthened its cybercrime defence infrastructure. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has been established and integrated with law enforcement agencies nationwide. Over 50,000 Cyber Commandos have been deployed across police stations, and a dedicated portal has been launched for reporting cybercrime especially cases involving women and children ensuring rapid response by authorities. To further this effort, the CBI has launched Operation Chakra-V, a comprehensive initiative encompassing intelligence gathering, case registration, raids, arrests, and prosecutions targeting cybercriminals. Since the operation's launch earlier this year, the CBI has conducted searches in multiple states including Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh focusing on perpetrators of digital arrest scams. The agency is also cracking down on so-called kingpins and individuals involved in the SIM card supply chain, which fuels these crimes. Officials have mapped key cybercrime hotspots beyond traditional centres like Jamtara (Jharkhand) and Nuh (Haryana), identifying new hubs in Kolkata and Purulia (West Bengal), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), and Bharatpur and Alwar (Rajasthan). In a major recent crackdown, the CBI arrested nine individuals linked to the operation of approximately 8.5 lakh mule accounts across over 700 bank branches nationwide. These accounts were allegedly used in digital arrest scams and to launder proceeds of cyber fraud. Based on intelligence inputs, coordinated searches were carried out at 42 locations across Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. A CBI spokesperson said, The mule accounts were being operated by organised cybercriminal networks involved in impersonation, fraudulent advertising, investment frauds, and UPI-based scams. He further noted that these fraudsters often receive assistance from rogue bank officials, agents, intermediaries, and e-Mitras, who help facilitate the opening and use of mule accounts by bypassing Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations and due diligence protocols. Earlier this month, the CBI searched 10 locations across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, arresting a man in Mumbai accused of supplying pre-activated SIM cards and mule accounts to criminal networks. Last month, in two separate cases, the agency arrested 11 cybercriminals. In the first, six individuals were taken into custody for defrauding Japanese citizens, following raids at 19 sites across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. In the second case, raids were conducted at 42 locations across Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, resulting in the arrest of five individuals for selling unauthorised SIM cards used in cyber fraud. Since the launch of the financial fraud reporting portal in 2021, over 10 lakh complaints have been registered, helping authorities recover nearly 4,000 crore. Officials at I4C credit this success to the portal's ability to enable immediate reporting and rapid intervention in cases of financial fraud.
Calcutta HC grants permission to advocates to file PILs over law student's 'gang rape'
The Calcutta High Court has permitted three advocates to file separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) concerning the alleged gang rape of a law student within her college premises. These PILs seek a court-supervised investigation into the incident and enhanced security measures in colleges throughout West Bengal. The matters are expected to be heard later this week.
Packaging breakthrough offers fresh hope to litchi farmers in Bihar, boosts Indias export potential
Bihars litchi growers may soon find new markets at home and abroad, thanks to a breakthrough in packaging technology that significantly extends the fruits shelf life. Litchis, typically highly perishable with a shelf life of just five days, pose serious distribution challengesespecially from Bihar, Indias largest litchi-producing state, to southern parts of the country. However, a new innovation using Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) now promises to extend the shelf life by at least 15 days, with the potential to keep the fruit fresh for up to 30 days. The technology recently made headlines when India successfully shipped its first consignment of litchis from Pathankot to Qatar using MAP, allowing shoppers in Qatar to purchase fresh Indian litchisa milestone that showcases the technologys potential. Litchi farmers from Bihar couldnt even send their fruits to South India, said Dr. Sudhansu, Secretary of the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Now, this MAP technology, developed by our scientists at the UFlex lab in Noida, is set to revolutionise the industry. Building on this success, India is now developing a 'Sea Protocol' for litchis to further boost exports by enabling cost-effective sea shipments. Sea transport is not only cheaper but also attracts lower GST compared to air cargo. The Sea Protocol involves specific harvesting timelines, maturity standards, temperature controls during shipping, and ripening guidelines at the destination to maintain fruit quality. We are collaborating with Madagascar, a leading global exporter of litchis, to develop the Sea Protocol, said Dr. Sudhansu. India has already implemented the protocol successfully for bananas exported to the Netherlands and Russia, and is now working to develop similar procedures for pomegranates and mangoes. Bihar alone accounts for nearly 40% of Indias litchi production, followed by West Bengal (12%) and Jharkhand (10%). India is the worlds second-largest litchi producer after China, with other major producers including Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, and the United States. Efforts to enhance litchi preservation have drawn political attention as well. During his recent Yatra, Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed concern over the fruits short shelf life and urged ICAR scientists to develop solutions to extend it. With these new technological advancements and international collaborations, India is positioning itself to compete strongly in the global litchi market.
YouTuber Kanika Devrani Alleges She Was Drugged, Robbed at NJP Station
Shocking claim from travel vlogger sparks social media outrage, users demand probe from IRCTC and West Bengal Police
BJP slams Tejashwi's stand on Waqf Act, says his 'samajwaad' cover for 'namazwaad'
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday accused the opposition alliance of trying to turn the Constitution into a sharia script and using the garb of samajwaad (socialism) to hide its amazwaad, as it slammed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for asserting that his bloc, if elected to power in Bihar, will 'throw the amended Waqf Act in dustbin'. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the INDIA bloc of the RJD-Congress-Left in Bihar has shown its absence of respect for the Constitution, as the Act was passed by Parliament and is being adjudicated in the Supreme Court. He told reporters that the opposition alliance is driven by vote bank politics, a euphemism for its outreach to Muslim voters over the opposition to the Act from a large number of them. Trivedi alleged that the INDIA bloc wants to enforce Sharia provisions through the back door. States like Telangana and Karnataka are giving reservations to Muslims at the cost of quotas for Hindu OBCs, SCs and STs, and West Bengal is also trying to do it, he said. He underlined the BJP-led NDA's commitment to the values of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. He said, 'Samvidhan bachao' is merely a facade of these parties as their true face is 'sharia lao'. If they are in power, they will add 'namazwaad' to the Constitution's preamble. They want to turn the Constitution into a Sharia script, but we will not allow it. Will bin Waqf Act if voted to power, vows Tejashwi; JD(U) terms it eyewash RJD's Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday claimed that the ruling NDA in Bihar was on its way out, and the new government in the state led by the opposition alliance will consign to the dustbin the Waqf Act brought by the Narendra Modi dispensation at the Centre. The leader was addressing a 'Save Waqf, Save Constitution' rally at the historical Gandhi Maidan in Bihar's capital, Patna. Elections in Bihar will be held later this year. The BJP spokesperson said the ruling National Democratic Alliance will not allow any provisions of Ambedkar's Constitution to be thrown into the dustbin. Slamming opposition parties, he said the sharia provisions they are advocating are not in force in even Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkiye. These parties want to concentrate huge portions of Waqf land into the hands of some self-appointed Muslim religious leaders, he said, adding that these properties were never used for the welfare of the community. Socialism believes in the distribution of wealth, but socialist parties like the RJD and the Samajwadi Party are doing the opposite and are, in fact, with a few self-appointed Muslim leaders, he said. This is not samajwaad but namazwaad, he alleged.
WBUHS Result 2025 Released at wbuhs.ac.in Direct Link to Download 2nd, 3rd and 6th Semester Result
WBUHS Result 2025: West Bengal University of Health Sciences Result 2025 has been released on wbuhs.ac.in. Here is the direct Link to check your B.A, BHA, MHA and M.Sc 2nd, 3rd and 6th Semester Results Online.
BJP Fact-Finding Team Reaches Kolkata Over Law College Gang Rape Case
Led by ex-union ministers, the team slams West Bengal govt for deteriorating law and order, cites lack of access to officials
Monsoon covers India nine days ahead of schedule; IMD warns of heavy rain, flash flood risk
NEW DELHI: The Southwest Monsoon fully covered the entire nation on June 29, earlier than the normal date of July 8. This marks the fourth-earliest arrival of Southwest Monsoon (SWM) winds across the country in the past 26 years. Last year, the monsoon covered the whole country on July 2. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the SWM arrived nine days earlier than its typical completion date. Additionally, it reached the country eight days ahead of schedule, on June 1. The IMD also predicted above-normal rainfall for the country, expecting over 108% of the Long Period Average (LPA) from June to September. This increase in rainfall is likely to boost the sowing of Kharif crops and help ease food inflation in the coming months. Data shows that in the last 26 years, the monsoon covered the entire country in June in the years 2013 and 2016 (June 16), 2018 (June 29), and 2005 (June 30). Furthermore, in the past 26 years, there have been four instances when the monsoon coverage dates for Delhi and the entire nation coincided. These occurred in 2020 (June 26), 2018 (June 29), 2015 (June 26), and 2005 (June 30). The IMD stated that the monsoon further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the entire Delhi region on June 29, 2025. It has forecast heavy rainfall activity likely to continue over many parts of Northwest, Central, East, and Northeast India during the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy falls expected over Jharkhand on June 29 and 30, and Odisha on June 29. The prediction of heavy rainfall may cause a flash flood risk over several watersheds in southern and eastern Himachal Pradesh, across Uttarakhand, and parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, including the Yamunanagar district, in the next 24 hours. Additionally, the IMD has issued a flash flood warning for North Odisha, southern West Bengal, and adjoining areas of Jharkhand.
National Doctors Day 2025: Theme, history, importance & why India celebrates its healers on July 1
India will observe National Doctor's Day on July 1. The day acknowledges doctors' dedication. The 2025 theme is 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?'. It highlights the mental health of doctors. The day commemorates Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was a physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. Events will include ceremonies and campaigns.
Adarsh M Saji elected SFI All India president, Srijan Bhattacharya general secretary
KOZHIKODE: The Students Federation of India (SFI) has elected Adarsh M Saji as its new all India president and Srijan Bhattacharya as the general secretary at the 18th All India Conference, held at Sitaram Yechury and Nepaldev Bhattacharya Manch in Palestine Solidarity Nagar (Aspin Courtyard), Kozhikode on Sunday. Both leaders were previously serving as all India joint secretaries in the outgoing central committee and bring years of organisational experience and student leadership to their new roles. Adarsh M Saji hails from Chathannur in Kollam. He is currently a final-year LLB student at Janhit Law College and serves as a member of the CPM Kollam District Committee. Prior to this elevation, he held the positions of SFI state vice-president and all India joint secretary. Srijan Bhattacharya, the newly elected general secretary, is a native of Jadavpur in West Bengal. A postgraduate in history, he is also a member of the CPM West Bengal state Committee and previously served as the SFI West Bengal State Secretary. He contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the CPM candidate from the Jadavpur constituency. The conference, which drew delegates from across India, also elected 87 members to the Central Executive Committee. Kerala marked a significant presence in the newly constituted central leadership. SFI Kerala state secretary P S Sanjeev was elected as an all India joint secretary, while state president M Sivaprasad was named one of the vice-presidents. Ten people from Kerala were selected to the All India Secretariat. The newly formed All India Secretariat includes key national figures such as Subhash Jakar, T Nagaraju, Rohidas Yadav, Satyesh Leyuva, Shilpa Surendran, Pranav Kharji, M Sivaprasad, and C Mridula serving as vice-presidents. The joint secretaries include names like Aishe Ghosh, G Aravinda Sami, Anil Thakur, K Prasannakumar, Debanjan Dev, P S Sanjeev, Sreejan Dev, and Mohammed Atiq Ahmed. Currently, there are two vacancies in the central secretariat and eight in the ventral executive committee. From Kerala, S K Adarsh, Tony Kuriakose, P P Akshara, Bipinraj Payam, P Tajudheen, Sandra Raveendran, Arya Prasad, and E P Gopika were elected to the executive committee.
Trinamool has enmity with education, women safety: Pradhan
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Trinamool government regarding the law and order situation in West Bengal, citing the recent law student rape and the RG Kar case. He questioned Mamata Banerjee's responsibility and the safety of women in the state.
Kolkata gang rape case: Recovered CCTV footage corroborates with victim's complaint
KOLKATA: The investigation over the alleged gang rape incident at a law college in Kolkata made significant progress on June 29 when the recovered CCTV footage corroborated the sequence of incident with the victims complaint, Kolkata Police sources said. The DNA sample of the victim in the incident has been collected. According to police sources, DNA samples of the three accused in the gang rape have also been collected. All these DNA samples will be tested. A section of investigators believes that its report will be vital in the investigation of the incident. On the other hand, the number of members of the SIT (Special Investigation Team) formed by the Kolkata Police to investigate the alleged gang rape incident has been increased from five to nine. Among the newly added four members, one is a female sub-inspector. The incident allegedly took place on June 25 at the guard's room of the South Calcutta Law College. Four people have been arrested so far. The complainant was taken to the spot on Saturday morning for reconstruction of the incident. The reconstruction lasted for over two hours and was videographed, a senior police official said on Sunday. All three accused are seen at the spot in the footage, the official informed. Kolkata gang rape case: NCW member Archana Majumdar visits law college Meanwhile, National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar on Sunday visited the South Calcutta Law College, where the incident of gang rape allegedly took place. However, she was not allowed any videography or still photography inside by the police. She also alleged that the police could not provide her with the details of the whereabouts of survivor. The commission stands beside her, she said, maintaining that the NCW's mandate is to assist a survivor as long as she wants. Majumdar said that it is necessary to speak to her parents as well. It's a part of the investigation (by the NCW), she added. The family of the victim of the alleged gang rape incident is not seeking a CBI investigation right now. Since the incident came to light on Friday, there have been demands for a CBI investigation from various quarters. They claim that the police are not investigating properly. However, the victim's family does not agree with that demand. When asked by the media, a family member said, We are not seeking a CBI investigation. We have faith in the police investigation. Meanwhile, in protest to his detention for approximately 16 hours by the police, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday wrote a letter to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, demanding to conduct a full-fledged enquiry and disciplinary action against the police personnel who ordered and executed his illegal detention. Kolkata police arrest security guard of law college in gang rape case, TMC minister in shock
The WBJEE 2025 exam, held on April 27th, has candidates awaiting results for undergraduate admissions in West Bengal. While the official date is pending, past trends suggest results are imminent. Candidates will download rank cards online, crucial for the counselling process involving registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and document verification.
'TMC-associated goons' committing atrocities on daughters of Bengal: Dharmendra Pradhan
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan condemned the alleged gang rape of a law student in Kolkata, accusing TMC-affiliated individuals of perpetrating atrocities against women in West Bengal. He criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence and asserted that the state's conscience is shocked by such brutalities.
The Calcutta High Court's Jalpaiguri circuit bench has quashed non-bailable warrants issued against two defence personnel who had previously been granted anticipatory bail in a 2019 case involving an alleged scuffle during an eviction drive. Justice Chattopadhyay ruled that a warrant cannot be issued against someone protected by anticipatory bail unless they violate its conditions.
When is WBJEE result 2025 expected? Check steps to download scorecards, counselling details here
The WBJEE 2025 exam, held on April 27, anticipates the release of results, including subject-wise marks and merit ranks, crucial for undergraduate admissions in West Bengal's engineering, pharmacy, and architecture colleges. Following the result declaration, the WBJEEB will conduct online counselling, involving registration, choice filling, seat allotment rounds, and document verification for final admission.
Kolkata gang rape case: NCW member Archana Majumdar visits law college
KOLKATA: National Commission for Women (NCW) member Archana Majumdar on Sunday visited the SouthKolkata Law College, where a student was allegedly gang-raped by three persons, including an alumnus. She claimed that the police could not provide her with the details of the whereabouts of the survivor. The commission stands beside her, she said, maintaining that the NCW's mandate is to assist a survivor as long as she wants. Majumdar said that it is necessary to speak to her parents as well. It's a part of the investigation (by the NCW), she said. She said that the NCW, in such cases, speaks to the survivor as well as the parents and tries to find out what they require, including security, assistance in carrying forward her education, etc. During her visit to the law college, Majumdar was seen having a verbal exchange with the police officers present. An assistant commissioner of police (ACP) present at the college said that apart from the NCW member, two others accompanying her were allowed to enter the campus after noting down their mobile numbers. No videography or still photography will be allowed inside, he said. She later entered the campus and visited the guard room, where the alleged incident took place on June 25. I will report that I could not complete my job, Majumdar said. Following the survivor's complaint, the police have arrested the prime accused, an alumnus, along with two students. A guard of the college was also apprehended on Saturday morning, according to the police. The police formed a five-member special investigation team (SIT), led by an assistant commissioner rank officer, to probe the case. Opposition political parties, including the BJP and the Left, have been holding protests over the alleged gang rape, claiming lawlessness in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal and lack of safety in educational institutions. 'Misogyny cuts across party lines: Mahua Moitra on TMC leaders' remarks on Kolkata gangrape case
Manojit Mishra, accused of gang-rape, was known at his Kolkata law college for alleged abuse of power and instilling fear, particularly among women. He reportedly recorded private moments, morphed pictures, and shared them in WhatsApp groups for ridicule.
Kolkata Police have formed a Special Investigation Team to investigate the gang rape of a law student on her college campus. The team is analyzing CCTV footage and technical evidence, while the survivor's medical report confirms the assault. Three suspects, including an alumnus, have been arrested, and video clippings of the crime were retrieved from their phones.
Rabindranath Tagore's sculpture, 'The Heart', sold for over Rs 1 crore at a Kolkata auction. The sculpture was dedicated to Kadambari Devi. A set of Tagore's letters to Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji fetched Rs 5.9 crore. Tagore sculpted 'The Heart' in 1883. The letters offer insight into Tagore's creative and philosophical journey.
Kolkata weather update: Rainy and humid conditions expected today
Kolkata is set for a wet and humid day today, June 29, with moderate rain and temperatures around 30.7C. Residents should prepare for an 85% chance of rainfall, high humidity, and potential minor waterlogging. The monsoon mood will persist throughout the week, bringing continuous rain and making commutes challenging.
With Digha as Rathyatra focal point, Bengal showcases its brand of peaceful religiosity
TMC disowns netas misogynistic remarks, BJP takes to streets over safety & security of women
3rd public display ever for rare Dali etchings at Victoria Memorial Hall
Pramit took part in reclaim night stir
Bengal jute industry frets over import ban through land ports
Immunity-impunity culture, rape weaponization breed crime
Kol records eastern Indias first heart rhythm device implant op
Student gang rape: Security guard held; 4th arrest in case
War of words as BJP youth neta held in Odisha over gold theft
The family of Zaib Ahmed, co-accused in the law college rape case, claims he was influenced by Monojit Mishra's political connections. Zaib's uncle, Ubaid Ahmed, stated that Zaib was charmed by his political clout and access to Trinamool leaders.
Continuous rain pours water on KMCs road-repair drive
What are the issues around deportation? | Explained
Why is there a distinction to be made between people who are being deported and those who are being pushed back? What are the different laws that deal with immigration and foreigners in India? What is the situation on the ground in border States such as Assam and West Bengal?
KOLKATA: West Bengal BJP general secretary and MLA Agnimitra Paul on Saturday demanded a police investigation into the Kasba rape case, stating that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was not successful in probing the RG Kar case. Paul made the remarks during a press conference at the state BJP headquarters, where she said, We dont want the CBI, we want the police to conduct the investigation. Mamata Banerjees police, whose salaries are paid by your and my tax money, will investigate. Let the truth come out. Her comments drew a sharp response from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which took to X to mock the BJPs stance. BJP Bengal MLA Agnimitra Paul declares that she and her party have NO FAITH in BJP Indias puppet agency the CBI. She claims that the CBI FAILED to ensure justice or do their job properly in the R.G. Kar incident, the TMC posted on X. . @BJP4Bengal MLA @paulagnimitra1 declares that she and her party have NO FAITH in @BJP4India s puppet agency - the CBI. She claims that the @CBIHeadquarters FAILED to ensure justice or do their job properly in the R.G. Kar incident. Interestingly, she has now placed her trust pic.twitter.com/pW9A0xvUqw All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 28, 2025 Interestingly, she has now placed her trust in West Bengal police and the Kolkata police for ensuring the safety and security of women. Well Madam, good to see reality finally sinking in! the party added. However, the BJPs top leadership quickly distanced itself from Pauls statement. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar clarified that her comments were her personal opinion and not the partys official position. Meanwhile, the BJP hit back at the TMC over a controversial remark made by Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra in connection with the alleged rape incident. Speaking to the media, Mitra had said, If that girl hadnt gone, this wouldnt have happened. If she had informed someone or taken two friends along, this could have been avoided. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya condemned Mitras statement in a post on X. This is victim-blaming, plain and vile. TMC has once again chosen to slander the woman not support her just to shield a close aide of Mamata Banerjees nephew. Let it sink in: No woman is safe from these TMC predators. And the less said about the likes of Madan Mitra in TMC, the better. Mamata Banerjee isnt just complicit she is the problem, he wrote. After TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, now MLA Madan Mitra has publicly exposed Mamata Banerjees fakery in real time over the Calcutta Law College rape case. The truth is out: TMC is a party of predators and rapists men who believe it is their entitlement to violate women to satisfy pic.twitter.com/r5Clbn5kF3 Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 28, 2025 The TMC later issued a statement condemning and distancing itself from Mitra's remarks. The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever, the party said in a post on X. Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the strictest possible punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime, it added. Law college Security guard arrested in Kolkata gang-rape case; four held so far, SIT formed
West Bengal CPI(M) leaders meet family of girl killed in Kaliganj bomb explosion
The police arrested four more persons in connection with the crude bomb explosion that killed Tammana Khatun, 9, on June 23; among those arrested is a local Trinamool Congress leader, Gawal Sheikh
Vaishnaw flags off MEMU train in Bengal, says Centre's focus on expanding railway coverage
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train. He says the government prioritizes railway expansion and modernization. Investment in West Bengal railways has significantly increased. The new train aims to improve connectivity and passenger convenience in several districts. Kolkata Metro has also seen considerable expansion. Vaishnaw urged the state government to address land acquisition challenges.
Kolkata law student gang-rape: Police stop BJP rally; party's state chief detained
KOLKATA: The police on Saturday stopped a BJP rally led by its West Bengal unit chief Sukanta Majumdar and detained him along with several other party leaders when they tried to take out the protest march to a law college in the city, where a student was allegedly gang raped . The rally was not allowed to proceed towards the South Calcutta Law College where the 24-year-old student was allegedly gang raped by her two seniors and an alumnus of the institution on June 25. The rally was stopped at Gariahat crossing in south Kolkata, and Majumdar and several other BJP leaders were detained. They were taken to the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar, a senior officer said. Following the victim's complaint, the police arrested prime accused Manojit Mishra, Promit Mukherjee and Zaid Ahmed. The guard of the college was also arrested on Saturday morning. Majumdar alleged that there is o security for women and they are not at all safe in Bengal. We were here to protest the rising number of crimes against women. The police did not allow us to hold the rally. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must take responsibility for the gang rape incident, the union minister said. MC MP Abhishek Banerjee as his office is in the Camac Street locality. BJP activists clash with police personnel during their protest against the alleged gang-rape of a girl student of a law college, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Saturday, June 28, 2025. He also said, The CM is not only the chief minister but also our police minister. Police personnel act like Trinamool Congress workers. They are preventing us from conducting a protest rally. Mamata does not want Sukanta Majumdar to hold any rally here, he said. The protest rally was organised by the BJP from Gairahat to the South Calcutta Law College in Kasba. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendhu Adhikari also hit out at the West Bengal government over the incident and questioned the process of appointments of principals in colleges. Appointments of principals are done from Kalighat and Camac Street and not by the Education Department. Those who are made the principals are spineless. So this lawlessness is expected, Adhikari told reporters here. He apparently referred to the chief minister as her residence is in the Kalighat area, and also to T
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sambit Patra criticised the West Bengal government regarding the alleged Kolkata gang-rape case. He questioned the insensitivity towards women in the state. Patra claimed the crime was state-sponsored and politically motivated, linking the accused to the Trinamool Congress student wing. The BJP formed a committee to investigate.
Chirag seeks President's rule in West Bengal after gang rape of Kolkata student
Even after 75 years of Independence, the state reports electoral violence, more than any other province, Chirag Paswan alleged
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should apologise and offer to resign over the gang-rape of a girl student of a law college in Kolkata, alleging all the accused are linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress. It is in a way state-sponsored brutality and a heinous crime motivated by politics, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said while reading out parts of the victim's statement narrating the details of the crime and threats to her and her family made by the accused. He said BJP president J P Nadda has formed a four-member committee which will visit the state to investigate the matter and present its findings. Biplab Kumar Deb and Manan Kumar Mishra, both MPs, and Satyapal Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, both former parliamentarians, are its members. Patra told reporters that the entire country is in sorrow and shock over the happenings in West Bengal while noting that a number of gruesome crimes against women have occurred there in recent times. People expected more sensitivity for women in a state with a woman chief minister, but there is so much insensitivity instead. She should apologise and offer to resign, Patra demanded. The main accused, Monojit Mishra, once held a position in the student union of the Trinamool Congress while other accused are also union members, he said, rejecting the state's ruling party's claim of having no association with them. Patra said what happened in the guard room of the college was right out of a horror movie, having demons inflicting atrocities on women. These TMC goons behaved in a similar manner with the victim, a 24-year-old and first-year student, who was allegedly assaulted for turning down the marriage proposal of the main accused. Patra showed Mishra's pictures with several TMC leaders to make the point about his association with the state's ruling party. The BJP spokesperson accused CM Banerjee, who also holds the home portfolio, of taking such gruesome crimes against women lightly. TMC MP Kalyana Banerjee has stated that police cannot do much to prevent such crimes if a classmate rapes another student or if it happens inside a college, Patra said and alleging that the ruling party leaders have often made callous comments on similar incidents in past. What kind of mindset is that? It appears that the Mamata Banerjee government has no accountability, the BJP leader said. The 24-year-old survivor had gone to the college on June 25 to fill out a form for a test and was forced to stay back in the union room even after it was completed. Security guard arrested in gang-rape of law college student in Kolkata; three held earlier It is alleged that the alumnus, who is also a criminal lawyer and a contractual non-teaching staff of the college, actually raped her after she turned down his marriage proposal, while two senior students stood guard and made a video recording of the act on their mobile phones. The torture, the victim alleged, started around 7.30 pm and went on till well past 10.30 pm on June 25. All three accused were arrested the next day. Social media profiles of the prime accused claim that he is a former president of the college's Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad unit and organisational secretary of the south Kolkata wing of the TMC's student body. Photographs available in the public domain also showed him with several leaders of the Mamata Banerjee-led party. The TMC, however, has denied having any connection with the accused now and sought severe punishment if they are found guilty. The crime at the law college brought back the horrific memories of the rape and murder of an trainee inside Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August last year which created a major political dust-up across the state.
TMC leader arrested in connection with death of girl in bomb blast after in West Bengal's Kaliganj
KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress leader was arrested in connection to a post-poll incident at Kaliganj in Nadia district in West Bengal where a Class IV student Tamanna Khatun was killed in a bomb explosion allegedly hurled by Trinamool Congress-backed miscreants on June 23. The incident did happen just before Trinamool Congress candidate Alifa Ahmed secured her victory in the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll. The main accused, Gawal Sheikh, and his son Bimal Sheikh were arrested by police from Katwa in East Burdwan district in West Bengal on Friday night. With this, the total number of arrests in the Kaliganj incident has reached nine. Gawal is the Trinamool booth president in Kaliganj. The FIR filed by the family after Tamanna's death had mentioned both Gawal and his son. Krishnanagar Police District Superintendent Amarnath Ke said, Gawal Sheikh is the main accused in the Kaliganj bombing. He has been arrested. Along with him, one more person has been arrested. The search operation is going on continuously. All the accused will be arrested soon. Class IV girl killed in bomb blast in West Bengal's Kaliganj; Another accused arrested Regarding the arrest of the booth president, Trinamool's Krishnanagar organisational district chairman Rukbanur Rahman said, There is no party for miscreants. There is no need to see who is a supporter of which party. The police should take appropriate steps to ensure exemplary punishment for whoever involved in the gruesome incident. We are making that demand as a party. However, the BJP has retaliated against the ruling party. Krishnanagar Nadia North BJP President Arjun Biswas said, The police do not have the power to reach the roots of the Mastan Bahini (gang of goons) who have terrorized the entire area for so long and who are used by the Trinamool for votes. Local CPM leader SM Sadi said, The police knew everything in advance. They were the ones who gave the miscreants safe passage. The police are arresting a few people out of fear. These dramas will not continue. Every Trinamool-affiliated miscreant in the area must be arrested.
Modi Government To Station Union MoS At Party HQ Six Days A Week In Major Organisational Push
The initiative comes ahead of key state polls in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, with Union Ministers of State tasked with strengthening the partys grassroots connect
Following recent crimes in West Bengal educational institutions, including the RG Kar Medical College rape case and another incident at South Calcutta Law College, BJP President Sukanta Majumdar has strongly criticized the state government. He asserts that the government has failed to ensure student safety and questions their right to remain in power.
Key accused in teenage girl murder case in bombing at Kaliganj arrested
Key accused Gawal Sheikh, allegedly involved in a powerful bomb blast in which a teenage girl was killed at Kaliganj in Nadia on June 23,, was arrested from a hideout by the West Bengal police, official sources said today
Bengal Woman Alleges Rape, Abortion, Threats By Padma Awardee Monk
A woman in West Bengal has accused Padma Shri awardee monk Swami Pradiptananda, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, of raping her on multiple occasions since 2013 on the pretext of offering her a job at a school.
What Can Be Done If Friend Rapes Friend: Trinamool MP On Kolkata Horror
Senior Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee's remarks on the rape of a 24-year-old student at South Calcutta Law College have triggered sharp condemnation by the opposition BJP in West Bengal.
Bengal is not safe for women: BJP's Pradeep Bhandari slams TMC on Kolkata rape case
Pradeep Bhandari of BJP criticised Trinamool Congress regarding the Kolkata gangrape. He claimed West Bengal is unsafe for women under Mamata Banerjee. NCW took note of the incident. Dilip Ghosh echoed similar concerns about TMC's involvement in crimes.
At House panel meeting, MPs flag Bangladeshs growing ties with Pak and China
NEW DELHI: A meeting of the Parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs on Friday saw discussion on Bangladeshs growing proximity with Pakistan and China, and implications of Indias strained ties with its eastern neighbour amid suggestions by some experts on engagement with the country, according to sources. Former foreign secretary and ex-National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and academician Amitabh Mattoo attended the meeting. The committee recorded evidence of the experts/non-official witnesses in connection with the examination of the subject Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship. The panel is headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Some MPs expressed concern that China is getting a foothold in the country, which is strategically important for India, said sources. MPs also pointed out that Pakistan is trying to strengthen its ties with Bangladesh. One of the MPs suggested that if the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) can be revived to counter the Chinese bid to grow its influence in the region.The MP also suggested that the exchange of journalists will boost people-to-people engagement with Bangladesh, said sources. An MP said some members raised concerns about the deteriorating relationship with Bangladesh under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus. The implications of India-Bangladesh ties on West Bengal, which shares a long border with the country, were also raised by MPs from the state, said a source. The state has been bearing the brunt of the suspected large-scale infiltration, said the MP. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tharoor said infiltration from Bangladesh has been reduced now.
BJP appoints state poll officers to oversee organisational elections
NEW DELHI: In a move towards electing its national president, the BJP on Friday appointed two Union ministers and a former Union and current MP as state election officers to oversee its organisational elections in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. These elections are a precursor to the much-anticipated election for the partys national president. Dr K Laxman, BJP OBC Morchas national president and the partys National Election Officer (NEO), has appointed Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Harsh Malhotra, and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as state election officers of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, respectively. They will supervise the election of the state party presidents as well as the election of national council members. Meanwhile, a highly reliable senior source indicated that the party is, in all probability, expected to announce its new national president by July 15, after the appointment of state presidents in several states, including Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Tripura, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and others, as part of the build-up to the national election. Sources hinted that Punjab and Delhi may receive their new state presidents after the election of the new national president. The announcements for Gujarat and UP may take place between July 4 and 11. The BJP central leadership is intent on completing the organisational election process as soon as possible ideally between July 15 and 20. It prefers completing the exercise before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 21 and end on August 12. The session is expected to be stormy, with debates on several contentious issues. The top priority now is to elect the state presidents for Telangana and Andhra between July 1 and 5. Tripura is also expected to get a new state President between June 29 and July 2.
Opposition flashes pix of rape accused with Abhishek, TMC disowns him
KOLKATA: The alleged gang rape of a student at a law college in south Kolkata has sparked outrage, with the Opposition BJP pointing out main accused Manojit Mishras links with the Trinamool Congress, though the West Bengal ruling party has denied it calling for tough action against the culprits. On his Facebook profile, Mishra, a former student of the law college and a practicing lawyer in Alipore court, has claimed he is the south Kolkata organisational secretary of Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the students wing of the TMC. His social media profile has pictures of him in programmes of the TMC. There are also his pictures with the leaders of the ruling party. West Bengal minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim denied Mishras associations with the TMC. The accused were never associated with Trinamool. There is no connection in any way. I cannot say whether they are supporters or not. There is no connection with Trinamool Congress. Those who work for Trinamool with ideological commitment can never do anything wrong, Hakim said. Meanwhile, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on his social media handle has posted an old picture of Mishra standing with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. 'Hit with a hockey stick, threatened to release video of assault': Kolkata rape survivor narrates harrowing attack If I hadnt posted the image, it wouldnt have come out. The party is shielding him. The empire of crime was not established just like that. It has flourished and grown up in the presence of various miscreants, Adhikari said on X. Though the TMC is trying to distance itself from Mishra, students of the college know him as a close associate of the ruling party. Mishra was also president of the students union of South Calcutta Law College. Some students, requesting not to be named, said the former president of the TMC unit used to run a racket in the college. Mishra was also appointed as a temporary employee of the college with the permission of the colleges governing body president Ashok Kumar Deb, a TMC MLA. College vice principal Nayna Chatterjee said, He (Mishra) is a temporary staff of the college. He is an alumnus of this college. The governing body gave the appointment. Manojit Mishra was president of students union Though the TMC is trying to distance itself from Mishra, students of the college know him as a close associate of the ruling party. Mishra was also president of the students union of South Calcutta Law College. Some students say the ex-TMC chief unit used to run a racket.
BJP appoints poll officers for state president elections in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and West Bengal
Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed election officers for Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal state president elections. Kiren Rijiju, Harsh Malhotra, and Ravi Shankar Prasad are the election in-charges. The party had announced election in-charges for 29 states in January. State presidents for more than a dozen states have already been announced.
Mamata Banerjee inaugurates first Rath Yatra from new Jagannath temple
Thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners, congregated in Digha, West Bengal, for the Rath Yatra festival. The Chief Minister, along with cabinet members, initiated the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Rituals commenced in the morning with 'Pahandi Vijay' at the newly-built Jagannath Dham Temple, followed by the idols being placed on the chariots amid devotional chants and festivities.
Protests erupt across Kolkata over gang rape of law student; Opposition flays Mamata government
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shares pictures of Mishra with Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders; political parties blame the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government for the incident; protests erupt across State
Protests erupt across Kolkata over gang rape of law student; parties slam Bengal Government
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shares pictures of Mishra with Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders; political parties blame the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government for the incident; protests erupt across State
Bharat Sevashram Sangha Monk, Padma Shri Awardee, Booked For Rape In West Bengal
The woman alleged to a Bengali YouTube channel: Kartik Maharaj raped me several times between January and June in 2013, leaving me pregnant.
KOLKATA: Less than a year after the horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R G Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata sparked nationwide protests and a political turmoil, another similar case has emerged from the South Calcutta Law College in Kasba. A student of the college was brutally assaulted by three men, two students of the same college and another an alumnus allegedly linked to the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), inside the college campus on Wednesday, June 25. According to the complaint filed by the survivor, the incident occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. within the college premises. Police sources revealed that the prime accused is Manojit Mishra (31), a former student of the institution. The other two accused are Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20). All three were produced before the Alipore court and remanded to police custody until July 1. In her complaint, the victim alleged that the main accused, Manojit Mishra, took her to a room adjacent to the college union office, where he forced himself on her in the presence of two other students who stood and watched. The victim alleged that Mishra had called her to the room to offer her the post of the General Secretary of the college's girls' department. Once in the room, Mishra said he was going to est her loyalty and proposed marriage to her. The victim refused the proposal, also pointing out that she already had a boyfriend. When she tried to leave the room, Mishra stopped her and forced her into another room adjacent to a bathroom. The other accused closed the door of the room from outside while Manoj subjected the woman to brutal sexual assault. The victim in her complaint alleged that the college security guard had come running, hearing her screams, but was assaulted and chased away by the co-accused students who were standing guard outside the room. Describing the harrowing incident, the woman said she had a panic attack during the assault and begged the men to stop but they did not listen to her. She was also beaten in the head with a hockey stick by one of the students. According to the complaint, the men had allegedly recorded the assault and threatened the victim that if she told anyone about it, the video will be made viral on Facebook. Main accused and a TMC connection 31-year-old Manojit Mishra, the prime accused in the case, is a practising lawyer in the Alipore court and an alumnus of the South Calcutta Law College who had served as the president of the college's students' union. However, what has ignited a political storm is Mishra's connection to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). According to sources, Mishra is associated with TMCP, the students wing of TMC. On his Facebook profile, Mishra has claimed himself as the organisational secretary of TMCPs South Kolkata District. His social media profiles have multiple pictures of him participating in various programs of the TMC. There are also pictures of him with the leaders of the ruling party. Denying Mishra's association with the party, Kolkata mayor and Minister Firhad Hakim said those who associate with TMC's ideology can never do anything wrong. The accused were never associated with the TMC. There is no connection in any way. I cannot say if they are supporters. But they have no connection with the TMC. Those who associate with Trinamool's ideology can never do anything wrong, he said. Although the TMCP has tried to distance itself from Mishra after the horrific incident, the students of South Calcutta Law College recognise him as a close associate of the ruling party. Even though college union elections have not been conducted for a few years, Mishra holds considerable influence in the college as the president of the former TMCP union, according to students. According to sources, Mishra was known to the students by the name 'Mango'. Reflecting Mishra's influence are the college walls, which have 'Manojit Dada is in our hearts!' written on them. Mishra was appointed as a temporary employee a few days ago with the permission of the college's governing body president Ashok Kumar Deb, a senior TMC MLA. He is a temporary staff member of the college. He is an alumnus of this college. He also has a law degree. The governing body appointed him, said Nayna Chatterjee, Vice Principal of the college. Slamming the ruling TMC for repeated crimes in the states involving those associated with the party, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikarisaid, The empire of crime was not established just like that. It has flourished and grown in the presence of various miscreants. TMC functionary, two students arrested for alleged gang rape of law student in Kolkata college
Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls will have 'devastating' effects: TMC MP
NEW DELHI: The 'Special Intensive Revision' of electoral roll proposed to be carried out in Bihar will have devastating effects on voting rights and also on citizenship, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Saket Gokhale alleged on Friday. In a post on X, he said those failing to provide the documents required for the revision can easily be branded as foreigners, and losing voting rights is not the only danger. Modi Government is taking away your right to vote and bringing in the NRC (National Register of Citizens) using the Election Commission. Yesterday, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee raised a very important issue which will have devastating effects not only on your voting rights but also your citizenship, Gokhale said. He said as per the exercise, voters, new and existing, will have to provide within one month proof of birth and birthplace for those born before July 1987, proof of birth and birthplace for self and one parent for those born between July 1987 to December 2004, and proof of birth and birthplace for self and both parents for those born after December 2004. If these documents are not submitted within a month, your name will be deleted from the voter list. ECI has started this exercise with Bihar polls and will be doing it in West Bengal and all other states after December, he said. The AITC MP said it is dangerous, because a large number of people in India do not have copies of their birth certificate let alone of their parents. Across rural India, many people have had home births - which means they never got a birth certificate. It is impossible for anyone to secure these documents within a month. If they don't they lose their voting rights, he said. Those failing to provide these documents can easily be branded as 'foreigners'. Losing voting rights is not the only danger. The Modi government can easily strip away the citizenship of those who don't have these documents,' he said. Gokhale alleged that through this move, the Modi government is using the Election Commission to make mass deletions of legitimate voters, and use the deletions to question people's citizenship. He demanded the ECI to roll back the decision. The purpose of this new exercise is to manipulate Bengal elections for the BJP and then replicate this model all over India. The ECI must be forced to roll back and scrap this dangerous and sinister program which will be used for deleting voters & even snatching their citizenship, he added. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instructions to carry out a Special Intensive Revision in Bihar to weed out ineligible names and ensure all eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll, allowing them to exercise their franchise in the polls slated later this year.
WB government seeks six months from SC, offers to deposit DA dues in court amid financial crisis
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court seeking an extension of six more months to clear 25 per cent of the outstanding dearness allowance (DA) owed to its employees. The six-week deadline set by the apex court to settle this portion of the dues expired on Friday. In its application, the state government cited a severe financial crisis as the reason for its inability to pay the amount within the stipulated time. The government also filed a petition to review the interim order of the Supreme Court. In the application, it stated that it was ready to deposit 25 per cent of the outstanding DA directly with the apex court. On 16 May, the Supreme Court had ordered the West Bengal government to clear 25 percent of the outstanding DA arrears from 2009 to 2019 within six weeks. With the deadline ending on 27 June, the matter is now set to be heard again in August. During the earlier hearing, the state government informed the court that a total of Rs 41,871 crore was required to pay off the entire DA arrears. Clearing 25 percent of this amount would mean an immediate outflow of Rs 10,468 crore from the state exchequer. At present, state government employees in West Bengal receive DA at the rate of 18 percent, whereas their counterparts in the central government receive 55 percent. Reacting to the government's fresh application, Malay Mukherjee, General Secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees, the main petitioner in the DA case, said, We have sent a notice to the Chief Secretary after 12 midnight on Thursday, anticipating that the state government may take this step. The state government has been informed that we will file a contempt of court case against the state government in the Supreme Court in the coming days.
Ravi Shankar Prasad appointed poll commissioner to oversee Bengal BJP president election
KOLKATA: The BJP on Friday appointed MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as the State Election Commissioner for the election of its West Bengal President. Prasad will also finalise who from Bengal will be part of the BJP's National Council. BJP sources have informed that Ravi Shankar will visit West Bengal in a few days. After that, the process of selecting the state president will begin through a specific procedure. Whether Sukanta Majumdar will continue as the state president or someone else will be given the responsibility will be decided through the elections. Prasad will also receive the nominations for the State President elections. Following that, the final name will be selected through voting. According to BJP sources, the presidential elections of six states, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Uttarakhand, will be completed by the first week of July. The name of the West Bengal State President will be announced between June 28 and July 6, sources added.
BJP names election officers for state president election in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed election officers for state president polls. The states are Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. This occurs as the party prepares to elect a national president. JP Nadda's replacement is underway. The party constitution requires state president elections first. Key states like Uttar Pradesh await appointments.
The incident comes after the rape-murder of a doctor in the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last year, an incident that triggered protests across the country, Sukanta Majumdar said
A walk into the wild side of the city: Nature walk sparks green census drive in Kolkata
A Nature Walk in Kolkata transformed a simple stroll into an ecological awakening for youngsters. C-DRASTA's initiative, Know Thy Neighbour, educated participants about urban biodiversity, highlighting the importance of local flora and fauna. Experts shared insights, inspiring actions like tree monitoring and waste cleanup, paving the way for a comprehensive biodiversity registry and eco-friendly livelihoods.
'Tea by the sea': West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's photo with monkey goes viral - see pics
West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, recently captivated social media users with heartwarming images of her feeding a monkey. The photos, posted on her Instagram, show Banerjee offering biscuits to the calm animal while sitting on a pavement. Reportedly taken at Digha beach, the post has garnered significant attention.
Senior leaders named as election officers as BJP ramps up president poll process
In a post on X, the party on Friday announced the appointment of Kiren Rijiju, Harsh Malhotra, and Ravi Shankar Prasad as state election officers for Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal respectively
The campaign will be available across multiple media platforms, including television, digital, and outdoor.
Three migrant workers die after building collapses in Thrissur's Kodakara
THRISSUR: In a tragic incident, three migrant workers died after the old building they were residing in collapsed amid heavy rain on June 27 in Thrissur. The incident happened at around 6 am when the migrant labourers were getting ready for work at the construction site. The deceased has been identified as Rahul, Rupel and Ali, from West Bengal. A total of 17 migrant labourers were residing in the building. In the wake of heavy rain, the middle portion of the old house, with clay tiles on its roof, collapsed along with the concrete portion. The fire force officials from Chalakudy reached the spot and rescued the rest, while three were trapped down the concrete pillars that collapsed.
A student reported a rape incident at a Kolkata law college. Police acted swiftly, arresting three individuals. The accused are Manojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay. One is accused of the assault, while the others allegedly abetted the crime. They will appear in court in Alipore. Police seek custody for further investigation. The victim's identity remains protected.
Rath Yatra starts with Pahandi Vijay ceremony in Digha
The Rath Yatra festival commenced in Digha, West Bengal, with the Pahandi Vijay ceremony at the newly built Jagannath Dham Temple. Thousands of devotees gathered despite heavy rain. Rituals included taking the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra to their chariots amidst chanting and music. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the event, emphasizing visitor safety with barricades.
A delegation from Goa's Department of Art and Culture visited Milan Sangha Pathagar in West Bengal to explore grassroots library functioning and promote inter-state collaboration. The team expressed interest in establishing e-resource sharing networks and offering technological support. Milan Sangha Pathagar, recently reopened, is reviving through community outreach and the Boi Dhoro, Boi Podo campaign.
West Bengal's Digha set to hold first Rath Yatra from new Jagannath temple
The Rath Yatra festival in Digha, West Bengal, is set to commence with idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings placed in their chariots. Preparations are underway, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will participate in the sweeping ritual.
West Bengal: First-ever Rath Yatra at Digha`s Jagannath temple to begin soon
People from across the country arrived to witness the grand chariots of the three deities, Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister goddess Subhadra, at the Gundicha temple, where the deities reside for a week and then return to Jagannath temple
Star Cast: Kajol, Kherin Sharma, Ronit Roy Director: Vishal Furia Maa Movie Review Synopsis: MAA is the story of a woman trying to save her daughter. Ambika (Kajol) lives in Kolkata with her hubby Shuvankar (Indraneil Sengupta) and daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma). Shuvankar is originally from Chandarpur, West Bengal and has broken all contact with his ancestral village. Shweta is hell-bent upon visiting Chandarpur but Shuvankar refuses to listen to her plea. The same day, Shuvankar learns that his father (Aashit Chatterjee) has passed away. Shuvankar reaches Chandarpur and completes the final rites. He meets the sarpanch, Joydev (Ronit Roy), and expresses the wish to sell off his mansion. He leaves for Kolkata the same night and dies under mysterious circumstances. Ambika and Shweta are in shock and manage to move on in life. A few months later, Joydev informs Ambika that a broker will be arriving in a few days for the sale of their property. Since it was Shuvankar's last wish to get the sale done, Ambika decides to head to Chandarpur to do the needful. Shweta also joins her as she doesn't want to be left alone. Both reach Chandapur, leading to madness. What happens next forms the rest of the film. Maa Movie Story Review: Saiwyn Quadras' story is praiseworthy. Saiwyn Quadras' screenplay is riveting for most parts but gets messy in some places. Aamil Keeyan Khan and Ajit Jagtap's dialogues are simple and also hard-hitting as required. Vishal Furia's direction is promising. He manages to create a very eerie atmosphere and that adds a lot to the impact. The goings-on touch a chord as it's about a mother fighting for her child. As a result, there's a universal appeal. Moreover, we have seen horror films and horror comedies while MAA stands out as it's a mythological horror flick. This makes it a one-of-a-kind film. A few scenes stand out like the intro, the death of Shuvankar and Ambika and Shweta reaching Chandarpur for the first time. Post-interval, the scene in the car takes the cake. The climax fight is arresting. On the flipside, in a few scenes, the VFX is tacky. Films like SHAITAAN [2024] and also those of Maddock Cinematic Universe have set a benchmark when it comes to CGI in this zone. While the makers get it right in some scenes, the VFX leaves a lot to be desired in the rest of the film. A few developments are plain silly and might lead to unintentional laughter. Also, the makers ideally should have ended the film at a certain point. The very last scene will put off viewers and also goes against the idea and even the title of the film. Another factor that might be seen as taboo is the crucial plot of girls getting their first periods, though one cant deny that its an interesting idea. Maa Official Trailer | Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, Kherin Sharma | Vishal Furia Maa Movie Review Performances: Kajol delivers a smashing performance and proves yet again why she is one of the finest actors of our times. She is exceptionally fiery in the climax. Kherin Sharma lends able support. Ronit Roy is the surprise of the film and this is surely one of his most accomplished performances. Indraneil Sengupta is lovable in a supporting role. Jitin Gulati (Shekhar) does well but his character gets a raw deal. Gopal Singh (Bikash) and Dibyendu Bhattacharya (Bimal) are impressive while Rupkatha Chakraborty (Deepika) and Surajasikha Das (Nandini) leave a tremendous park. Aashit Chatterjee, Vibha Rani (Purohita; old) and Yaaneaa Bharadwaj (Purohita; young) are fair. Maa movie music and other technical aspects: The song Kali Shakti is forgettable but its visuals are striking. Amar Mohile's background score adds to the effect. The same goes for Pushkar Singh's cinematography. R P Yadav's action is a bit gory and works well. Sheetal Duggal's production design and Radhika Mehra's costumes complement the goings-on. NY VFXWaala's VFX is a mixed bag, as aforementioned. Sandeep Francis' editing is functional. Maa Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MAA stands out as its a one-of-a-kind mythological-horror film and also rests on some fine performances, especially by Kajol and Ronit Roy. However, it suffers due to tacky VFX, inconsistent writing and an unacceptable plot point in the climax.
Multiple heritage sites in Bengal, Sikkim starved of funds for two-years
RTI findings reveal a disconnect between rising tourist interest and plummeting conservation funding at key heritage sites in West Bengal and Sikkim
100 workers from Bengal confined in Odisha; Mamata Banerjee expresses concern
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee voiced her apprehension regarding the confinement of approximately 100 Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha, specifically in Cuttack and Balasore. Banerjee has directed Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to engage with his Odisha counterpart to address and resolve the concerning situation.
Cam-fitted drone crash-lands in pond near Indo-Bangla border
Give time frame, HC tells KMC, La Martiniere
JU engg students seek results on time
Maid, caregiver steal jewellery
Dying declaration theft at Amherst St
Cal HC chatbot, e-bail bond to make process easier for litigants
