The News Mill
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday accused former chief minister Mamata Banerjee of failing to disclose key information in her election affidavit, calling it an offence and warning that a case could be filed against her. He said objections raised during scrutiny of her nomination were dismissed by the returning officer.
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Crack(er)pots thrash cops in Tolly & Tiljala; 5 arrested
Breather for lakes: Min announces alternative arrangements for Chhath
CISCE allows frisking of ICSE, ISC students, bans AI gadgets in exam halls
The post-mortem: Why this Diwali was noisiest in city in recent memory
AQI very poor at 7 stations before rain clears poison
From Taltala to College Street, Silpara to Taratala: Pets travails show Kolkatas cruel side
Where did RG Kar ex-head get bail from? They should protest there: CM
HC refuses urgent hearing to TMCs Camac Street office plea
Minister visits Bank Plot jheel, promises beautification
Howrah station old cab road to be shut till Saturday midnight
Professor Arun Kumarendu Singh Appointed Advisor to West Bengal Health Department
Professor Arun Kumarendu Singh has been appointed as an advisor to West Bengals Health Department, focusing on maternal and child health services. Professor Arun Kumarendu Singh Appointed Advisor to West Bengal Health Department
Techie murder: Discord over social media likes
Bengals people now free to practise their religion, says Samik
Ghum winter fest adopts endangered salamander as mascot
Suvendu Sarkar rolls out Diwali bonanza for Bengal babus, hikes IAS allowances by 50%
The Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government has announced a range of benefits for its IAS officers, including a 50% hike in monthly sumptuary allowances for senior officials, education loans of up to Rs 50 lakh for children's studies in India and abroad, and expanded foreign travel benefits under LTC. The package also includes housing, electricity and post-retirement benefits, along with allowances for official work-related expenses.
LG Sinha directs SKIMS to ensure best treatment for injured tourists
Srinagar, November 10, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to the senior officials and inquired about the health and well-being of the tourists who were injured in an unfortunate road accident at Sumbal Bala, in Ganderbal. He has directed the officials and Director, SKIMS to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said: I spoke with senior officials, Director, SKIMS, and the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal regarding the unfortunate road accident at Sumbal Bala, Ganderbal. 8 injured tourists from Gujarat and West Bengal have been referred to SKIMS. I have directed the officials and the Director, SKIMS to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery.
18 tourists injured in road accident in J&K's Ganderbal, 6 reportedly in critical condition
Digital Desk | Srinagar, Nov 10 (IANS) Eighteen tourists were injured on Tuesday when a vehicle carrying them from Kashmir's Sonamarg tourist resort to Srinagar skidded off the road and plunged into a 60-feet deep gorge near Gund in Ganderbal district. Local residents and police personnel rushed to the spot to evacuate the injured. Emergency arrangements were mobilised from different parts of the area as all the occupants required medical attention. Ambulances were called from several health facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Sonamarg, Gund and Ganiwan. The injured were initially shifted to PHC Gund, where they received first aid and preliminary medical treatment. The injured were later shifted to Srinagar city for treatment. Reports said that six of the injured tourists had been admitted to hospital in Srinagar in a critical condition. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kangan Rajesh Raina confirmed the accident, saying that 18 people, including the driver, had sustained injuries. A list of injured persons identified 12 occupants, including the driver. The list included tourists from Ahmedabad and Surat in Gujarat, Murshidabad and other parts of West Bengal, and Gurdaspur in Punjab. Among those named were Sharda Bi, 58, and Ramesh Bhai, 59, from Ahmedabad; Daysha, 42, from Surat; Shobha, 50, and Rajesh Kumar from Ahmedabad; and Swarnadyyti Ghosh, 24, Mala Ghosh, 48, and Surjeet Ghosh, 61, from West Bengal. Mukesh Bhai, Kala Ben and Rohan Bhai, all from Gujarat, were also included in the list. Jagdesh, a resident of Gurdaspur in Punjab, was identified as the driver of the Tempo Traveller. The injury details available in the list mention head trauma suffered by Sharda Bi, Ramesh Bhai, Daysha, Shobha and Rajesh Kumar. Swarnadyyti Ghosh sustained trauma to the hip, while Surjeet Ghosh suffered an injury to the left side of his chest. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on social media platform X on Tuesday evening said, I spoke with senior officials, SKIMS Director, and the Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner regarding the unfortunate road accident at Sumbal Bala in Ganderbal. Eight injured tourists from Gujarat and West Bengal have been referred to SKIMS. I have directed the officials and the SKIMS Director to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery. Despite biting cold especially in mornings and evenings, scores of tourists especially from West Bengal and Gujarat are these days visiting the Valley. Although winter tourism is yet to start, the autumn fag end tourism is going on in the Valley these days with tour and travel operators, hoteliers, taxi operators and others connected directly or indirectly with tourism doing some business during the otherwise lean tourist season in the Valley.
CM Avisits former CMs estranged brothers puja
12 Injured as Tempo Traveller Skids Off Road in Ganderbal
Ganderbal, Nov 10 : At least 12 persons, including tourists from Gujarat, West Bengal and Punjab, were injured after a Tempo Traveller skidded off the road near Gund area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the vehicle skidded off the road near Sumbal Bala on the SSG Road, resulting in injuries to at least 12 occupants. He said the injured were shifted to Primary Health Centre (PHC) Gund, where they were provided emergency medical treatment before several of them were referred to SKIMS Soura, Srinagar, for specialised treatment. The injured were identified as Sharda Bi, wife of Ramesh Bhai, and Ramesh Bhai, son of Bovin Bi, both residents of Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Daysha, son of Subash Chandra, a resident of Surat, Gujarat; Shobha, wife of Rajesh Kumar, and Rajesh Kumar, son of Derubi Patil, both residents of Ahmedabad. Others include Swarnadyyti Ghosh, wife of Surjeet Ghosh, a resident of West Bengal; Mala Ghosh, wife of Surjeet Ghosh, a resident of Murshidabad, West Bengal; Surjeet Ghosh, son of Late Krishna Dulal Ghosh, also from West Bengal; Mukesh Bhai, his wife Kala Ben, and their son Rohan Bhai, all residents of Gujarat; and Jagdesh, son of Amreet Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur, Punjab. Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated further investigation.(KNO)
Kolkata Cop Suspended For Filthy Remark About WB CM
Inspector Ekhlaque Ahmed suspended after derogatory WhatsApp remarks about West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari went viral.
Prof Arun Kumarendu appointed advisor to Bengal Health Dept
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) Professor Arun Kumarendu Singh, full-time Professor and Head of Paediatrics at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur's School of Medicine, has been appointed as Advisor to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, for a two-year term, with particular focus on strengthening maternal and child healthcare. Widely recognised as the Father of Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in India, Professor Singh is a pioneering architect of the country's modern neonatal healthcare infrastructure. His contributions to the development and scaling of specialised newborn care systems have transformed the accessibility of life-saving neonatal services, particularly for vulnerable infants in underserved communities. His acclaimed Purulia Model demonstrated how high-quality neonatal care could be delivered through decentralised, affordable and compassionate healthcare systems. The appointment marks a significant recognition of the professional stature of a distinguished member of IIT Kharagpur's full-time medical faculty. It also emphasises the growing national relevance of the Institute's emerging Medical School, which is bringing together clinical leadership and technological capabilities to develop a distinctive model of medical education, healthcare delivery and translational innovation, the institute has said. The professor's pioneering contributions also include the establishment of specialised neonatal and perinatal care infrastructure, human milk banking and early intervention facilities, helping shape the evolution of modern newborn healthcare in India. His influence extends from clinical practice to national health policy. As a key technical leader associated with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, he contributed to the development of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), including its large-scale architecture for screening and early intervention for childhood diseases, congenital conditions, nutritional deficiencies and developmental delays. His contributions to maternal and child healthcare monitoring, including the Mother and Child Protection Card, further reflect his commitment to preventive, accessible and inclusive healthcare. Prof Singh previously held senior academic and clinical leadership positions at IPGMER and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, and AIIMS Jodhpur. He currently serves as a full-time professor and head of paediatrics at IIT Kharagpur, where he is actively spearheading the development of comprehensive paediatric, perinatal, maternal and child healthcare services. The Government of West Bengal's recent decision to appoint Prof Singh as a Health Advisor, alongside obstetrics and gynaecology specialist Arup Kumar Maji, reflects the importance of experienced clinical leadership in advancing maternal and child healthcare priorities, the government has said. For IIT Kharagpur, the appointment represents an important recognition of the calibre of expertise being assembled within its Medical School. It also creates opportunities for stronger convergence between the Institute's medical and technological capabilities and the healthcare priorities of the State. Prof Suman Chakraborty, director, IIT Kharagpur, congratulated Prof Singh and stated: We are exceptionally proud that Prof Arun Kumarendu Singh, one of the pioneering architects of India's newborn healthcare revolution, is a full-time Professor and Head of Paediatrics at IIT Kharagpur's Medical School. His work has transformed the way neonatal healthcare reaches vulnerable communities, and his contributions to national child-health programmes have created an enduring legacy of clinical excellence and public service. He said that his appointment to this important advisory responsibility by the Government of West Bengal is a fitting recognition of his exceptional stature. It is also a matter of great pride for IIT Kharagpur that a member of our full-time medical faculty has been entrusted with contributing to such an important public-health mission, he added. The Medical School is being developed by IIT Kharagpur as a distinctive interdisciplinary institution, combining advanced medical education and clinical services with the Institute's established strengths in engineering, artificial intelligence, biomedical technologies, computational sciences and translational research. The Institute envisages leveraging his pioneering experience in neonatal healthcare and national public-health systems to advance new solutions in high-risk pregnancy monitoring, newborn intensive care, early disease detection, developmental screening, AI-enabled clinical decision support, remote healthcare delivery and affordable diagnostic technologies. These efforts are expected to complement IIT Kharagpur's growing portfolio of healthcare innovations, including device-free diagnostic platforms, low-cost screening technologies, digital-health solutions and community-oriented translational research. At IIT Kharagpur, our aspiration is not to create another conventional medical institution, but to establish a new paradigm in which outstanding clinicians and frontier technologists work together to transform healthcare delivery. Prof. Singh's presence as a full-time member of our Medical School faculty is an extraordinary strength in realising this vision, Prof. Chakraborty further said.
Bengal Industry bodies happy at state Govt
Suvendu Administration making special efforts to acquire lands By Tirthankar Mitra KOLKATA: Unveiled recently, the West Bengal Investment Promotion Policy, 2026 addressed some key issues while taking flak for charges of overlooking the problem of scarcity of land for industry in the state. Land is a key driver of industry. That is why [] The post Bengal Industry bodies happy at state Govts offer of industrial plots appeared first on Northlines .
Over a Dozen Injured in Road Accident on SSG Road
SRINAGAR: At least a dozen tourists from Gujarat, West Bengal and Punjab were injured after a Tempo Traveller skidded off the road near Sumbal Bala on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road in Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening. According to sources, the vehicle was travelling from Sonamarg towards Srinagar when the accident occurred near Gund. The injured []
Gund, Nov 10: At least 18 tourists sustained injuries after a Tempo Traveller met with an accident at Sumbal Bala on SSG Road in Ganderbal district on Tuesday. Officials told GNS that following the accident, all the injured were immediately transported to PHC Gund for emergency medical assessment and resuscitation. After evaluation and triage by attending medical officers, eight patients were formally referred to SKIMS Soura, Srinagar for specialized secondary and tertiary treatment. Other injured with minor injuries remain admitted and under observation at PHC Gund. Patients referred to SKIMS Soura are Sharda Rani, wife of Ramesh Ji, 58 years, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Ramesh Ji, son of Bavan Bai, 52 years, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Jayesh, son of Subash Chander, 42 years, from Surat, Gujarat; Shobhna Patel, wife of Rajesh Kumar Patel, 50 years, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Rajesh Kumar, son of Devubhai Patel, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Swapnadyuti Ghosh, daughter of Surajit Ghosh, 24 years, from Murshidabad, West Bengal; Mala Ghosh, wife of Surajit Ghosh, 48 years, from Murshidabad, West Bengal; and Surajit Ghosh, son of Late Krishna Dulal, 61 years, from West Bengal.
Bengal Civic Volunteer Arrested for Allegedly Assisting TMC MLAs Escape
A civic volunteer in West Bengal has been arrested for allegedly aiding TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das in evading arrest related to a serious crime. Bengal Civic Volunteer Arrested for Allegedly Assisting TMC MLAs Escape
West Bengal Couple Arrested After Year on the Run in Immoral Trafficking Case
West Bengal Couple Arrested After Year on the Run in Immoral Trafficking Case Manipal: Police have arrested a couple from West Bengal who had been absconding for nearly a year in connection with a case registered under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act at Manipal Police Station. The arrested persons are Esther Shah alias Kajal (40) [] The post West Bengal Couple Arrested After Year on the Run in Immoral Trafficking Case appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Woman arrested for killing two-year-old son in Bengal's Mathurapur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) A woman has been arrested on the alleged charges of strangling her two-year-old son to death in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, the police said on Tuesday. The incident took place in Uttar Durgapur village of Mathurapur police station area in South 24 Parganas district. The deceased child's name is Raktim Haldar. The entire family is blaming the mother Ketaki Haldar for his unnatural death. The elder son of the woman from her first marriage has accused the mother of murder. According to the police, the incident took place around 5 p.m. on Monday. It is alleged that Ketaki strangled her two-year-old son to death. The woman's 13-year-old minor son from her first marriage was present at the time of the gruesome incident. The family claimed that the mother killed the younger son in front of the elder son. It is learned that Ketaki married a man named Ramesh Haldar a few days after her divorce from her first husband. Their son is Raktim. According to family members, Ketaki does not always keep the elder son with her, even though she is in contact with the son. The minor lives elsewhere. However, he was with his mother on Monday. The boy said that his mother had killed his brother. Ketaki's in-laws alleged that after killing their son, the woman planned to throw him into a pond to make it look like an accident. Ketaki even threatened the elder son when he saw the mother committing the crime. Based on the complaint, officers from Mathurapur police station went to the house. After recovering the child's body, the police spoke to Ketaki's elder son and his family following which the woman was arrested late Monday night. However, it is not clear why the woman killed her son. It is being investigated whether there was a family dispute or some other reason behind it. The woman has been arrested and she has been charged with murdering her child. A case has been registered against her. Investigation is on, a senior officer of Sundarban police district said.
Centre urges Bengal farmers to reduce use of chemical fertilisers
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) As part of the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan to promote natural farming, the Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture, Ram Nath Thakur, on Tuesday participated in a programme organised by the ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology (ICAR-NINFET) at Subhasnagar in Swarupnagar block of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Addressing the gathering, the MoS urged farmers to return to natural farming and reduce utilisation of chemical fertilisers, to keep the soil health intact. He highlighted natural farming as an important approach to maintaining soil fertility, improving soil health and promoting ecological balance. The Minister also encouraged farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural methods, scientific innovations and modern technologies to ensure long-term agricultural productivity and sustainability. He stressed on the importance of conserving soil as a living resource and adopting balanced, need-based agricultural input management. He urged farmers to make effective utilisation of soil health cards for informed fertiliser application, improved nutrient-use efficiency and the maintenance of soil fertility. In this regard, he highlighted the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in providing technical guidance, practical demonstrations and extension services to facilitate the adoption of sustainable and natural farming practices. The Union Minister urged the farmers to return to natural processes of farming, including utilisation of organic fertilisers and organic pesticides, to boost natural farming. The programme reinforced the Centre's message of Khet Bachao Abhiyan for rabi crops, which has been launched from October 22 to November 30 in the entire country to ensure healthy crops, sustainable agriculture and farmers' prosperity. It underscored the Union government's commitment to protecting agricultural land, restoring soil health and promoting natural farming as a sustainable approach to agriculture. It highlighted the importance of conserving soil resources, reducing excessive dependence on chemical inputs and encouraging environmental-friendly farming practices for the benefit of present and future generations, the official statement added.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) A single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday declined an urgent hearing on a petition from Sushmita Roy, wife of Sumit Roy, the Executive Assistant to the Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the partys Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee. She had accused the police of torturing her husband, who is now in police custody. In her petition, filed on Monday, Sushmita Roy sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into two cases involving her husband, currently under investigation by the West Bengal Police. She also alleged custodial torture and sought judicial intervention and an investigation by a judicial committee by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court. However, as the matter came up for hearing at the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Tuesday afternoon, the judge refused to hear the matter on an urgent basis and instead ruled that it will be heard by a regular bench after the normal functioning of the court resumes on November 16, at the end of the ongoing festival vacation. Sumit Roy was first arrested in an alleged illegal land-grabbing case at Salboni in West Midnapore district and subsequently sent to judicial custody. Earlier this month, he was again taken into custody by Diamond Harbour Police in South 24 Parganas district in a multi-crore soil-theft case. The controversy gained further attention after police recovered more than Rs 1 crore from a Trinamool Congress party office in the Diamond Harbour Police District. Investigators claimed the recovery was based on information provided by Sumit Roy. Abhishek Banerjee gave a strong reaction to the police claims and alleged that police were giving Sumit encounter threats and putting pressure on his Executive Assistant to give statements against him. Banerjee also claimed that the party office from where the cash was recovered was vandalised allegedly by BJP-backed goons five months ago, and the cash recovered from there was actually planted by the police.
ICSE board exams for Class 12, Class 10 to begin on Feb 9 &15
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) The Class 12 board exams conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will be held between February 9 and April 8, 2027. The Class 10 board exams will be conducted from February 15 to March 31. Over 1.10 lakh candidates from 1,651 affiliated schools will appear across 1,477 examination centres in India and overseas. The Council is set to conduct the ISC Class 12 board exams for 60 subjects. The ICSE Class 10 exams, starting February 15, will be conducted across 2,835 examination centres in India and overseas. Class 10 students must note that the reading time will now commence at 10 am, followed by the writing time at 10.15 am. Candidates appearing for the ICSE examination must ensure that they are seated in their respective examination halls or rooms by 9:45 am, said the council's Chief Executive and Secretary Joseph Emmanuel. The Council also noted that the largest ICSE candidate concentrations are from Uttar Pradesh (51,168), West Bengal (46,521), Karnataka (33,417), Maharashtra (31,035), Punjab (19,308) and Jharkhand (17,201). Earlier, the CBSE the countrys other major school board - said the Class 10 and Class 12 exams for the current academic year will begin on February 16, 2027 Earlier, the government announced that ICSE and ISC students can access results and mark sheets in real time via DigiLocker. Students of the ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 can now access their results, mark sheets, as well as certificates in real time from DigiLocker, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. The students can access their authentic digital documents anytime, anywhere from the platform in digital format. DigiLocker, the flagship platform under the Digital India initiative, has enabled this revolutionary step by providing a secure, trusted, and eco-friendly solution for issuing and accessing academic credentials in digital format by boards, universities, and other bodies, the ministry said.
Suvendu Vows to Reopen Nandigram Files, File Fresh FIRs Against Left Leaders
The announcement to reopen the Nandigram files marks a renewed political and legal push by the BJP government to revisit one of the most contentious chapters of the Left Front's 34-year rule in West Bengal.
Bengal: Civic volunteer arrested for assisting Trinamool MLAs attempted escape
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) Bikash Sahani, a civic volunteer attached to the Intelligence Branch (IB) of the West Bengal Police, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly aiding Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Paresh Ram Das in his attempted escape to Mumbai. Das, the MLA representing Canning (Paschim) in South 24 Parganas district and an accused in a rape case, was apprehended by state police at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai after evading arrest for 17 days. Subsequent investigations conducted by the Baruipur Police District revealed that Sahani not only facilitated Das's escape plans but also leaked confidential police intelligence to the absconding lawmaker. State police sources stated that by virtue of his assignment with the IB, which has state-wide jurisdiction, Sahani had access to sensitive operational information across multiple police stations. Preliminary findings indicate that Sahani routinely shared confidential updates with Das, enabling the legislator to evade tracking units and plan his movements. Sahani is currently undergoing intensive interrogation by the investigating team. Das is the prime accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on September 5, 2026, under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Das remains among the few sitting TMC legislators maintaining allegiance to the party's minority faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew. Commenting on the arrest, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari labelled Das an identified extortionist in the Canning region. He had illegally occupied many state government properties in the area to set up his own establishment during the previous Trinamool Congress regime, Adhikari stated.
West Bengal Chief Minister Remembers Buddadeb Bhattacharjee as a Good Man in a Bad Party
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari honors late Buddadeb Bhattacharjee, reflecting on his integrity and the Nandigram movement. West Bengal Chief Minister Remembers Buddadeb Bhattacharjee as a Good Man in a Bad Party
Bengal police reconstructs techie's murder at Garia flat; mother, girlfriend taken to crime scene
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) West Bengal police on Tuesday took the arrested girlfriend of a 25-year-old software engineer and her mother to the rented flat in Kolkata's Garia area where the youth was allegedly murdered, as investigators recreated the sequence of events leading to the crime, officials said. Forensic team officers were also with them. They collected samples from different parts of the flat. According to investigators, software engineer Sarthak and his girlfriend Sanchalika Basu were living together in a rented flat in Fartabad. Sarthak's body was recovered from the flat last Saturday. According to the police, he had been stabbed in the shoulder with a sharp weapon. The police have already arrested Sanchalika and his mother, Moumita Basu in the incident. According to local residents, there was a fight between the couple that night. Hearing screams, the neighbours rushed to the flat. They found Sarthak lying in a pool of blood in the room. The deceased was a software engineer by profession. He hailed from Barasat, in the North 24 Parganas district. He worked in a company in Sector V of Salt Lake. The accused girl was studying at Techno India. She is a resident of Fartabad in Garia. According to locals, the two used to travel to the same place every day. After a few meetings, the acquaintance turned into a love affair. Both their families knew about this relationship. Later, Sarthak rented a flat in Fartabad. He lived there with Sanchalika. The young man used to stay in the flat in Fartabad at least three to four days a week. Local residents knew about their relationship. Police are now attempting to corroborate statements made by the arrested women with evidence gathered during the reconstruction of the crime scene. Officials said the exercise was aimed at obtaining a clearer understanding of the events leading to the murder, the manner in which the victim was attacked, and the alleged role played by each accused.
Kolkata News | TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Breaks Down In Prayer To Goddess Kali During Kalipuja
An emotional scene unfolded in West Bengal's Bankura as Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee broke down while offering prayers to Goddess Kali during Kalipuja celebrations at his ancestral home in Doltala. Continuing a long-standing family tradition, Banerjee participated in the Kali Puja rituals, performed the arati, and later became visibly emotional. The senior TMC leader embraced the idol of Goddess Kali and wept during the ceremony, creating a poignant moment of devotion and faith.
CISCE Unveils 2027 Board Exam Schedule: Key Dates and Details
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has released the schedule for the 2027 board exams, with class 10 exams starting on February 15 and class 12 exams on February 9. A total of 379,980 candidates will participate, with significant changes in examination timings. The announcement highlights the geographical spread of candidates, particularly from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Students are advised to be seated by 9:45 AM for the exams. Read on for more details about the subjects and examination centers.
Cyber Fraud: Retired Employee Loses Rs 2 Lakh, Police Recover
A 76-year-old retired education department employee in Indore was duped of Rs 2 lakh by cyber fraudsters offering at-home life certificate services via a Facebook ad. The police swiftly investigated, traced the money used for online purchases in West Bengal, cancelled the orders, and recovered the entire amount within 24 hours.
Late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was a good man in a bad party: Bengal CM
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday praised his predecessor, late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, describing him as a good man in a bad party while recalling the events surrounding the Nandigram movement of 2007. The occasion was in relation to a programme at Gokulnagar in East Midnapore district to observe Martyrs Day to commemorate those killed or reported missing following clashes between the activists of CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress- led Land Eviction Prevention Committee on November 10, 2007, when Bhattacharjee was the West Bengal Chief Minister. The clashes had erupted over the proposed land acquisition in Nandigram for a chemical hub project planned by the then Bhattacharjee-led government. After November 10, 2007, there was a bloody sunrise. I pay my respects to the then Chief Minister. I will not mention his name. He has passed away. He was very honest in his personal life. He was a very good person. But the party that he belonged to is bad, CM Adhikari said, addressing the Martyrs Day program on Tuesday afternoon. The Chief Minister also described how cordial his relationship is with Bhattacharjees widow, Mira Bhattacharjee. A few days ago, she fell ill. I went to visit her, the CM said. Notably, Mira Bhattacharjee has in the past expressed appreciation for Adhikari's industrialisation push and said she believed he could realise some of her late husband's unfinished development goals for the state. Referring to the aftermath of the 2007 violence, Adhikari also mentioned veteran CPI(M) leader Biman Bose, recalling his remarks at the time and reiterating his own commitment to the promises he had made during the Nandigram movement. Octogenarian Biman Bose is still alive. I pay my respects to him. But I will remind him that at that time he said that there had been a new sunrise in Nandigram. Nineteen years have passed since then. I am still committed to the promise that I made on that day, CM Adhikari said. Adhikari also predicted that the Trinamool Congress will not be relevant in West Bengal politics in the next 100 years.
Mithun Chakraborty Declares End of Gundaraj in West Bengal
Actor Mithun Chakraborty claims the era of gundaraj in West Bengal has ended, dismissing opposition claims during a Diwali event. Mithun Chakraborty Declares End of Gundaraj in West Bengal
Kolkata police inspector suspended over alleged derogatory social media remark against Bengal CM
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS)A Kolkata Police Inspector has been suspended pending an inquiry into allegations that he posted derogatory remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on social media, a senior official said on Tuesday. According to an order issued by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand, Inspector Ekhlaque Ahmed, who was serving at the Calcutta Medical College Hospital Out Post under the Central Division and was recently transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Kolkata Armed Police, has been placed under suspension with effect from November 9, 2026. The order said, Inspector Ekhlaque Ahmed, IVC, Calcutta Medical College Hospital Out Post, Central Division, Kolkata Police (since transferred to 1st Battalion, Kolkata Armed Police), is placed under suspension with effect from 09.11.2026 as his continuance in office pending enquiry into his conduct over the issue of making derogatory remarks indicating the Government Authorities of West Bengal, on a social media platform, is prejudicial in the interest of public service. It further said that the Inspector will draw half of his basic pay and other admissible allowances as subsistence allowance during the period of his suspension. The order also asked him to deposit his government kits with the Reserve Officer, Central Division, Kolkata Police, immediately. According to a police officer, a complaint was lodged against the officer over certain recent social media posts and comments allegedly targeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Following the complaint, authorities initiated an investigation to examine the nature of the remarks and whether they were inconsistent with the conduct expected from a serving police officer. The officer had earlier been transferred from the Central Division to the Kolkata Armed Police after the controversy surfaced. Officials said the transfer did not affect the ongoing inquiry, which continues independently. Authorities maintained that allowing the officer to remain in active service during the investigation could be contrary to the public interest. Given the seriousness of the allegations, disciplinary action in the form of suspension was deemed necessary until the inquiry reaches its conclusion.
11 high-end phones, Rs 2 lakh seized from Trinamool MLA during arrest at airport
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) The sleuths of the Special Operations Group of Baruipur Police District in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal seized 11 high-end mobile phones and Rs 2,00,000 in cash from a Trinamool Congress Legislator at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening. Pares Ram Das, the Legislator from Canning (Paschim) Assembly Constituency in the same district, was attempting to escape to Mumbai, at the time of his arrest. Among the 11 mobile phones seized from his possession, some are extremely high-priced iPhones, while others are high-end Android phones of other reputed brands. At the same time, Rs 2,00,000 was recovered from the handbag he was carrying, said a district police officer. Das had been accused in various cases, the most important of which is related to the charge of rape of a woman in 2023. He is one of the few Trinamool Congress legislators who are still maintaining allegiance towards former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. He had remained absconding for the last 17 days and was not responding to the summons from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police. Finally, the members of the Special Operations Group of the Baruipur Police District were tipped off by their sources that Das would be making an escape attempt to Mumbai from Kolkata Airport on Monday evening. Accordingly, the members of the Special Operations Group waited within the airport premises, and as soon as the absconding accused entered the airport, he was arrested. He will be presented at a lower court later on Tuesday, and the Public Prosecutor will seek his police custody for further interrogation. Neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee had given any reaction to the arrest of Das since Monday evening. The investigation into the rape originates from a complaint filed in September this year with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Canning. Das is an accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on September 5, 2026, under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the previous Indian Penal Code.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 10 (IANS) The Detective Department (DD) of Kolkata Police has taken over the investigation into the clashes and tension that erupted outside the Kalighat residence of Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on the night of November 6-7. The police have already arrested three persons in connection with the clashes, and on Tuesday morning the Detective Department officials visited the spot to reconstruct the sequence of events as part of the ongoing investigation. The arrested individuals, identified as Muhammad Tauqir Alam, Muhammad Ershad and Srideep Das, are in police custody now. They are associated with the minority faction of Trinamool Congress led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. A total of four FIRs have been registered at the Kalighat Police Station, out of which two were suo motu by the Kolkata Police. The third FIR is based on a complaint by the Diamond Harbour MP. The fourth FIR had been registered based on a complaint lodged at the same police station by a local woman and a BJP activist, Guria Hari. Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee has been named in two of the four FIRs registered in the case. The clashes broke out during celebrations marking the MP's 39th birthday on the intervening night of November 6 and November 7. Local residents and BJP workers alleged that roads were blocked for the event, causing inconvenience to idol-makers and devotees collecting Kali idols ahead of Kali Puja. However, the MAITC activists alleged that the local BJP workers launched an unprovoked attack while they were celebrating Abhishek's birthday peacefully without causing inconvenience to others. Clashes broke out between the two groups, in which several people from both groups were injured. A huge police contingent reached the spot, and the cops had to resort to baton charges to disperse people. At that time, the Diamond Harbour MP was seen engaging in a heated conversation with police officers.
Dilip Ghosh Criticizes Rahul Gandhis Statements as Meaningless
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh dismisses Rahul Gandhis remarks, asserting they have no impact on the public or political discourse. Dilip Ghosh Criticizes Rahul Gandhis Statements as Meaningless
Firecrackers Kill Germs, Critics Target Sanatan Dharma? Bengal BJP's Diwali Double Twist
In West Bengal, firecrackers appear to have acquired a rather ambitious job description this Diwali. Apart from lighting up the night sky, they were credited with killing germs, while those raising concerns over the resulting pollution were accused of having a
Sonia Gandhi's memoirs Belonging: A Journey of Love has hit the bookstores across the country on Tuesday. According to publisher Harper Collins India, the memoir is being released across several bookstores nationwide, including Higginbotham in Chennai, Bahrisons and Midland in Delhi, The White Crow and Title Waves in Mumbai, Mathrubhumi Books in Kerala, Blossoms and The Bookworm in Karnataka, and Crossword outlets across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi-NCR, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala. On Tuesday, the CPP Chairperson shared excerpts of her newly released memoirs. Posting an article written in the Indian Express, Sonia Gandhi referred to her refusal to take on the mantle of Prime Minister when the UPA government was voted to power in 2004. In her post on X she shared, My mind suddenly cleared itself of the last shreds of doubt.
Bengal Minister Assures Womens Safety Amid Criticism of Previous Government
West Bengal Minister Nisith Pramanik emphasizes womens safety, contrasting current measures with past government failures. Bengal Minister Assures Womens Safety Amid Criticism of Previous Government
5 Hyderabad Fertility Centres Get Notices Over Egg Donation Racket
The police had rescued women who were brought from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha.
300 arrested, 73 brought back in a year
New Delhi, Nov 9:As the first anniversary of the brazen Red Fort blast approaches, central security agencies have tightened vigilance nationwide, backed by a fortified counterterrorism architecture and a sweeping crackdown on cross-border terror syndicates over the past year, officials said on Monday. On the eve of the first anniversary of the Red Fort blast, central security agencies have intensified vigilance following a year-long crackdown that led to over 300 arrests and the deportation of 73 high-value fugitives from abroad, the officials said. The terror strike on November 10 last year had exposed a 'Doctor Module' operated by highly educated professionals. Security agencies cracked the case within 24 hours, subsequently filing a formal charge sheet against 13 accused, including absconding paediatrician Dr Muzzafar Rather, who is currently believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. Central investigation agencies and Jammu and Kashmir police, with the help of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), identified the principal conspirator and nabbed the key perpetrators. The Red Fort blast prompted central intelligence agencies to formulate a policy to prevent such attacks. This thought led to the unveiling of 'PRAHAAR: National CT Policy and Strategy' on February 23 this year, in which policy was formulated for zero tolerance towards terrorism. The comprehensive policy sets a unified agenda for central and state machinery and its operational impact was further cemented during a high-level conference of state DGPs and central agency chiefs in September 2026. The efficacy of the PRAHAAR framework was visibly demonstrated in a massive, coordinated nationwide clampdown against the Pakistan-based ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN). The Red Fort case was unique because highly qualified professionals were involved. Now, many regulations are in place, including periodic surprise checks on the sale of ammonium nitrate and other materials, an official said on condition of anonymity. The network, which utilised domestic nodes and local foot soldiers, faced severe setbacks as agencies registered over 100 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arrested more than 300 operatives. Security forces recovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs), hand grenades carrying Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, and illicit firearms. Following these extensive operations, the SBN was formally designated as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on September 26 this year. Concurrently, multi-agency operations successfully dismantled several radical modules and dented the support frameworks of proscribed outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Action against pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs) has similarly blunted the network designs of outfits like Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Zindabad Force, disrupting cross-border arms smuggling and leading to key arrests. The security agencies also stepped up containment of Bangladesh-based terror threats, arresting 27 radical operatives inspired by the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) ideology across Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. On the diplomatic and international front, counterterror cooperation with foreign governments has been significantly scaled up to cut off external sanctuaries and fast-track the deportation of fugitives. A dedicated extradition portal launched in September this year optimised inter-agency coordination. The officials confirmed that these sustained diplomatic efforts successfully secured the return of 73 high-value fugitives from abroad over the past year. As security forces maintain a high state of alert ahead of the anniversary, officials emphasise that the enhanced synergy between central intelligence and state police forces has substantially hardened the nation's defences against future threats. The emphasis has remained on preventing terror attacks, identifying the wider ecosystem, quick disruption, timely investigation including collection of clinching evidence - and successful prosecution to tackle the threats, the officials said. The investigation into the entire Red Fort terror network run by the 'Doctor Module' started after posters of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit were pasted on the outskirts of Srinagar city during the intervening night of October 18-19 last year. The posters warned of attacks on police and security forces in the Valley. Srinagar police treated the matter as a serious issue, not just a one-off incident and Senior Superintendent of Police (Srinagar) G V Sundeep Chakravarthy formed several teams to investigate the case thoroughly. Srinagar police registered a case and reviewed CCTV footage, leading to the arrest of three locals -- Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid -- all with prior stone-pelting cases. Their interrogation led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam from Shopian, who allegedly supplied the posters and used his access to radicalise the doctors. Piecing together the interrogation of the arrested accused, the investigation led Srinagar police to Al Falah university in Faridabad. There, two doctors Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie alias Musaib, a resident of Koil in South Kashmir's Pulwama and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, a woman hailing from Lucknow - were arrested and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur, was seized. Aware of the crackdown by the police and central agencies, Dr Umar-un Nabi, driving an explosive-laden car, started shifting his base to avoid arrest. Nabi, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, emerged as the most radicalised and key operative in the network spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, and officials believe he was planning a powerful Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast timed around the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6 last year. However, his plan was to place a VBIED near a crowded place either in the national capital or at a site of religious importance, and then disappear, the officials said. Authorities are closely monitoring the radicalisation of youth and have been asked to flag any noticeable behavioural change in any individual immediately, said the official cited above. It may be recalled that Dr Rather and Dr Nabi reportedly held radical views even during their student days; however, both managed to stay under the radar at that time. According to the co-accused's interrogation, Nabi's transformation took a dangerous turn after a 2021 trip to Turkiye with co-accused Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, where they allegedly met JeM overground workers. Following the trip, Nabi and Ganaie, who taught at Faridabad's Al Falah University, began accumulating vast quantities of chemicals from the open market, including ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur. Much of this was stored near the university campus. That plot fell apart when a meticulous investigation resulted in the arrest of many from the 'Doctor Module' and seizure of explosives, causing panic to Nabi and ending in a premature blast outside the Red Fort, killing over a dozen people.
Postpone panchayat, municipal elections to April-May next year: Ladakh group
We suspect that this government is up to some mischief. We saw vote chori in West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra etc. In entire India 13 crore voters were dropped from the voter list. Ladakh is a small region and fraud is easy, said Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) chairman Tsering Dorjey Lakrook
Raiganj rape-murder suspect 4th to be killed in encounter since July in West Bengal
12 fire incidents in Kolkata: NRS Med College & Hosp hostel & Beleghata building affected
Fire at shop near Kolkata Durga Puja stampede spot on Diwali
Cracker sets fire to 24th-floor flat in Sector V
SSC nod for 79 teachers for special upper primary counselling
Govt guidelines for standardised medical practices
Bengali Indie film wins award at film festival in Siberia
School education department plans face-recognition AI app to record attendance
SRFTI alumni in Tollywood divided over protest
Focus on sustainability at schools puja event
Bypass racing claims two on Diwali night in Kolkata
KP boosts security as immersions see noise violations
Roopa appeals for cop help, Agnimitra hits streets as banned crackers shake city
9 months on, KMC panel may meet this week, decide on big realty projects
74 to 409, 115 to 444 in 2 hours: AQI spike reflects Kols descent
Hundreds turn up at OPDs with noise-stress syndrome
Siliguri AQI sees sharp spike on Diwali night
After night of missing strays, some reunited with their humans
NFRs RPF rescues eight children, assists two women during childbirth
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Nov 9 (IANS) The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) rescued eight children, including six boys and two girls, from different locations across its jurisdiction and provided assistance to two women during childbirth, railway officials said on Monday. The RPF also apprehended four persons and made recoveries valued at approximately Rs 2.08 crore during various operations, the officials added. NFRs Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that the eight children were rescued at Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, Katihar (in Bihar), New Jalpaiguri (in North Bengal) and Guwahati railway stations between November 4 and 6. During the same period, RPF personnel provided medical assistance to two women who gave birth aboard trains at Agartala and Lumding. Sharma said that the RPF personnel and the Sashastra Seema Bal rescued a girl aboard at Rangiya and handed her over to the Government Railway Police on November 4. At New Bongaigaon, personnel rescued another girl and placed her in the care of the Sakhi One Stop Centre. Teams also rescued one boy each at Katihar, New Jalpaiguri and Guwahati on November 4. On November 6, the RPF personnel rescued two more boys at Rangiya and one at New Jalpaiguri. All six boys were entrusted to child protection agencies for further care, the CPRO said. In another incident on November 4, RPF personnel at Agartala assisted a passenger who gave birth to a boy aboard a train. An ambulance took her to hospital in Agartala for further care. On November 5, a lady head constable and a team from the Railway Protection Force assisted a passenger who gave birth to a baby girl aboard a train at Lumding Railway Station. In separate security operations, the teams apprehended four persons in four cases. They recovered four pistols and four magazines at Badarpur, four pieces of fake gold valued at approximately Rs 20,000 at Harmuti, 1.031 kilograms of brown sugar valued at approximately Rs 2 crore at New Jalpaiguri and a stolen mobile phone valued at approximately Rs 17,000 at Kamakhya, near Guwahati. Other recoveries included 13.06 kilograms of ganja valued at approximately Rs 6.80 lakh and 449 bottles of liquor. A further 6,750 litres of liquor were seized at Katihar. Northeast Frontier Railway remains committed to safeguarding children and providing timely assistance to passengers through close coordination with police, healthcare providers and child protection agencies, an official statement said. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states as well as in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of North Bihar.
Bangladeshi national travels to Bengal to return lost smartphone
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) In a rare display of cross-border honesty and law enforcement coordination, a Bangladeshi citizen travelled to West Bengal to return an expensive smartphone that had been stolen in India and smuggled into Bangladesh, police said on Monday. The mobile phone was originally reported missing on June 30 from the premises of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. The owner, Payel Dhara, a resident of Bankura district, lodged a formal complaint with the Burdwan police station, triggering an investigation. Using technical surveillance and cyber cell tracking, police sleuths traced the device's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) signal across the international border into Bangladesh. Investigators made a breakthrough when the buyer, identified as Mohammad Ahad Ali, a resident of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh, inserted an Indian SIM card into the handset while visiting India for medical treatment. The cyber cell picked up the active location and established direct contact with him. Upon being informed by the Burdwan police that the handset he had purchased from a local shop in Naogaon district was stolen property, Ahad offered his full cooperation. On Monday, he personally visited the Burdwan police station carrying his passport and visa to hand over the device to law enforcement officials. I did not know that the phone was sold in Bangladesh like this, Ahad stated. I bought it from a shop. The police contacted me. I came to India with my passport and visa and submitted the phone to the police station. Commending the visitor's integrity and assistance, the Burdwan police noted that the operation highlights the efficacy of cross-border technical tracking in criminal investigations. Authorities confirmed that legal formalities are underway to restore the smartphone to its rightful owner.
Delhi Police issues notice to Mamata Banerjee in 13-year-old heckling case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Monday served a notice for interrogation to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with a 2013 criminal case registered at the Parliament Street Police Station in the national capital. Investigators seek to question the former Chief Minister as a witness in the case, which pertains to a violent protest demonstration staged in front of Banga Bhavan in New Delhi, where government officials were allegedly assaulted. A team from the Delhi Police, accompanied by personnel from the local Kalighat Police Station, arrived at Banerjee's official residence at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in South Kolkata on Monday to deliver the notice. The document, delivered in a white envelope, was received by Subhasish Chakraborty on her behalf. Sources aware of the development confirmed that the notice asks Banerjee to travel to New Delhi at her convenience to meet investigating officers as a witness under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The case dates back to April 2013, when activists belonging to the Students' Federation of India (SFI) - the student wing of the CPI(M)-staged a protest outside New Delhi's Banga Bhavan following the death of SFI activist Sudipta Gupta in Kolkata earlier that year. During the demonstration, the then West Bengal Finance Minister, Amit Mitra, was reportedly heckled and physically assaulted by protesters. The agitation was led by the then SFI General Secretary Ritabrata Banerjee, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Following the incident, a formal complaint was registered at the Parliament Street Police Station on April 9, 2013. Thirteen years after the event, the Delhi Police issued the summons to Mamata Banerjee, noting that she was present in the national capital alongside Mitra when the assault occurred.
B.Ed colleges approach Calcutta HC over Bengal govts admission freeze
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) Around 57 Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) colleges in West Bengal have moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging the state governments decision to halt their admission process for failing to meet prescribed eligibility criteria. An official confirmed on Monday that the petition is likely to be taken up for hearing on Tuesday. The petitioner colleges claimed that the authorities issued no explicit notice outlining the specific reasons behind stopping their admissions. The legal challenge follows the recent publication of an official list identifying institutions ineligible for affiliation renewal for the 2026-27 academic year. State authorities stated that 205 listed colleges failed to meet requisite infrastructure and administrative standards, barring them from admitting new students for the 2026-28 session. The government noted, however, that institutions resolving their infrastructure and faculty shortages could re-apply to prove eligibility for the 202729 academic cycle. The move comes amid a broader regulatory crackdown. State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay previously affirmed that the commercialisation of education would not be permitted and that academic quality must be strictly maintained. Consequently, the Higher Education Department and the Technical Education Department conducted joint inspection drives across B.Ed, ITI, Polytechnic, and Pharmacy colleges. In the initial phase of the drive, 156 B.Ed colleges were cleared for admissions, while 415 colleges failing to satisfy the criteria were issued 21-day show-cause notices to rectify deficiencies. Nine institutions failed to respond to the notices. Following a second round of inspections, 237 B.Ed colleges received approval to admit students for 202627, while the remaining 205 non-compliant institutions were barred from enrolling fresh batches.
Mamata Banerjee gets Delhi Police notice in 13-year-old case, asked to appear as witness
The Delhi Police on Monday issued a notice to West Bengal's former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asking her to join investigation and record her statement in connection with a case registered at the Parliament Street...
Absconding Trinamool MLA arrested at Kolkata Airport in rape case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) Absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Paresh Ram Das, the MLA representing Canning (Paschim) in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Monday evening while allegedly attempting to flee to Mumbai. Das, an accused in a high-profile rape and extortion case, had been evading law enforcement for 17 days and repeatedly failed to respond to summons issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. A special operations group from the Baruipur Police District, acting on specific intelligence, tracked Das to the airport and apprehended him with assistance from the Bidhannagar City Police. The joint operation was conducted under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Bidhannagar Police District. According to an official press release from the Baruipur District Police, Das is an accused in Canning Police Station Case No. 561/2026, registered on September 5, 2026, under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation originates from a complaint filed in September this year with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Canning. The victim alleged that before the 2023 panchayat elections, Das demanded Rs 4 lakh from her husband under the pretext of securing an election ticket. When the woman visited an old age home managed by the legislator to deliver the money, Das allegedly extorted the funds, locked her inside, and raped her. The complainant further alleged that when she initially approached the Canning Police Station in 2023, officers refused to register an FIR. Instead, she and her family were subjected to harassment, threats, and a bomb attack on their residence carried out by Das and his associates. The victim stated that she gained the courage to pursue legal action following the recent political regime change in West Bengal. Following the registration of the case in September, CID sleuths questioned Das once. However, the legislator went missing during the last week of October. Police subsequently raided his residence in Canning and arrested four TMC local leaders, while initiating a manhunt for the absconding lawmaker. Das is among the few sitting Trinamool legislators maintaining allegiance to the faction led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Police confirmed that he will be produced before a district court in South 24 Parganas on Tuesday, where state prosecutors will seek his police custody.
BJP MLA says crackers kill germs, clarifies after row
West Bengal BJP MLA Papiya Adhikari has defended her controversial statements about firecrackers killing germs and viruses, claiming her words were twisted for TRP. She clarified that she was referring to traditional beliefs about firecrackers during Diwali-Kali Puja. Adhikari also alleged political opponents were using her statements and noted reduced firecracker use in her constituency this year.
Rape-Murder Accused Killed In West Bengal Police Encounter
A man accused of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur district was killed in a police encounter early on Monday. Dilip Roy allegedly opened fire at a police team attempting to arrest him, leading to police retaliation. This marks the fourth reported police encounter in West Bengal since the BJP came to power in May, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stating police are allowed to retaliate in self-defence in certain cases.
Same excuse repeatedly peddled after every encounter
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday strongly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's remarks defending the police encounter in the Raiganj rape and murder case, accusing the state government of encouraging a
Crackers cure diseases: BJP MLA Papia Adhikary retracts claim
Kolkata: Facing backlash for crediting firecrackers with curing some diseases, BJPs MLA from Tollygunge in West Bengal, Papia Adhikary, on Monday, November 9, sought to take her statement back. Speaking to ANI, she said, There is an old saying from our ancestors regarding these traditions. In essence, this is a festival of lightsa festival of 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 .
2 New Coast Guard Hovercrafts In West Bengal
The two hovercrafts reached the ICG hoverport at Haldia on November 7. They are scheduled for commissioning shortly. Built by M/s Chowgule and Company Pvt Ltd in Goa under the Government of Indias vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, these state-of-the-art vessels represent a major step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of the ICG
Bengal: Mother refuses to attend last rites of son killed in Raiganj encounter
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) The mother of Dilip Roy, the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district, who was shot dead in a police encounter in Raiganj, on Monday stated that she would not attend her son's final rites. Speaking to media persons, Chania Roy expressed deep shame over her son's actions, stating, It is better not to have such a sinful son; I will not even go to the crematorium. She added, He has done such a thing; he is no longer in a position to show his face in the village. He is gone. It is good. That's what I want. Describing him as her only son, Chania Roy said he had left home at a very young age and maintained little contact with his family, offering no support to his ageing father. She noted that the grief of losing a child was completely overshadowed by the heinous nature of the crime. Residents revealed that allegations against Dilip were not unprecedented. Sixteen years ago, he was accused of physically abusing the six-year-old daughter of a relative, which caused widespread outrage in the village. At that time, neighbours attacked his home and assaulted him, following which Dilip sold one katha of his mother's land to pay compensation to the victim's family. A resident remarked that such severe crimes cannot be forgiven and that justice had been served. Dilip Roy was killed during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday after police launched a raid near Gauri Gram Panchayat around 3 a.m., following a tip-off that he was attempting to flee across the nearby Bihar border. According to law enforcement officials, officers moved to arrest Roy after tracking his whereabouts, but the accused opened fire on the raiding team. Police retaliated in self-defence, inflicting fatal injuries. Roy was transported to Raiganj Medical College & Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, with an autopsy scheduled for later in the day. The encounter follows the recovery of the victim's semi-decomposed body on November 6 from the nearby Kulik forest, two days after the 12-year-old went missing on November 3 after leaving her home on a bicycle. This incident marks the fourth fatal police encounter in West Bengal since July this year, three of which involve cases related to the rape and murder of minors.
Bengal CM defends Raiganj encounter, warns rapists and criminals of similar action
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday defended the police encounter in which a rape and murder accused, Dilip Roy, was killed in Raiganj. The Chief Minister asserted that law enforcement agencies have been given a free hand to deal with those involved in heinous crimes against women. Dilip Roy was accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. CM Adhikari also cautioned that in the future too, criminals involved in such heinous crimes against women will meet a similar fate. The cops are provided with firearms not just to keep them as a showpiece or to keep them in their pockets. Drug mafias, rapists, and infiltrators have no place in this state, the Chief Minister said while interacting with the media persons on Monday afternoon at the sidelines of a programme at Digha in his native district of East Midnapore. He also indirectly attacked those who are raising their voices against such encounters. Some people are continuing with such activities. Among them are 'Dimagi Naxals', Jamaatis' and Communists'. There are cockroaches and bedbugs. Our nationalists have to be careful about them. The police have been given free hand to tackle rapists & murderers, drug smugglers and infiltrators. We are maintaining a zero-tolerance approach in such cases, the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, the North Dinajpur District Police claimed that the accused killed in the encounter have a history of crime against women. Earlier, he was accused twice of sexual offenses. However, he managed to escape arrest and punishment on both occasions for some reasons, said a district police officer. According to him, three years back, Roy was accused of sexual harassment at Kamtabari-2 Gram Panchayat area in the North Dinajpur district. A couple of years ago, there were similar allegations against him in the Sialmani area in the same district. On both these occasions, the matter was settled at a local Kangaroo Court, and the complaint did not reach the police level, the district police officer said. This is the fourth encounter killing in West Bengal since July this year, three of which are related to minors' rape & murder cases. First, in July, Prabhas Mondal, accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas, was shot dead by the police in an encounter. The police claimed that he was taken to the crime scene to reconstruct the crime. From there, he snatched the police gun and opened fire. The police resorted to counter-firing in self-defence, killing the accused. After that, in October, Prahlad Das, accused in the rape & murder of a 17-year-old girl at Gaighata in South 24 Parganas district, was killed in a similar encounter following retaliatory firing by the police. In this case too, it was alleged that the accused tried to escape while reenacting the incident. On the same day, Samiul Sheikh, who was arrested for murdering a BJP worker in Samserganj in Murshidabad district, was killed in an encounter. The Raiganj incident is the fourth on the list of encounters since July.
