Trinamool Congress lodges complaint with West Bengal CEO against CBI Sandeshkhali raid
TMC accuses CBI of unscrupulous raid during polling, doubts weapon recovery. Alleges BJP-CBI conspiracy. Missing ED, Sheikh, bomb disposal squad. NSG, police, nationwide news, media reports, smear campaign.
'Ploy by BJP': TMC moves EC after CBI raids Sandeshkhali locations
TMC raised concerns over the CBI raid during Phase II polling, suspecting BJP-CBI collusion in arms recovery at Sandeshkhali. TMC wrote a letter to EC to raise a complaint against CBI raids and also alleged weapon planting and targeting by Modi in West Bengal elections. TMC also claimed that they wanted to tarnish TMC's image.
CBI Seizes Major Cache Of Arms In West Bengal's Sandeshkhali: What We Know So Far
BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur
BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur In the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency, a region known for altering political allegiance in every election, BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh faces a pivotal challenge to overturn this pattern and secure his political future. Since its establishment in 2009, Bardhaman-Durgapur has sent CPI(M), TMC and BJP representatives once each to the Lok Sabha in the three previous polls. In 2019, BJP's S S Ahluwalia clinched the seat from the TMC by a narrow margin of approximately 3,000 votes, marking it as a challenging battleground for the saffron party. With the odds stacked up, the BJP is placing its faith in Ghosh, widely regarded as one of its most successful state presidents, to retain its foothold in the region. Political analysts believe that Ghoshs relocation from his previous Medinipur constituency, coupled with his removal from the post of party's national vice-president, have turned the Bardhaman-Durgapur contest into a critical test of both prestige and political survival for Ghosh. ''Dilip Ghosh is now fighting a battle for his political survival. He is presently cornered in his own party. A victory would rejuvenate his political career, while a defeat could cast doubts over it,'' said Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Science. During Ghosh's tenure as the state BJP president, the party won 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. Despite the challenging circumstances, the BJP leader remains optimistic about his prospects. ''I am a loyal party member, and I embrace any role assigned to me. This is a challenge I am prepared to overcome,'' Ghosh told PTI. Highlighting his track record of political firsts, he added, ''I became the state president within nine months of joining the party. I became an MLA in my first attempt, by defeating the 10-time MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal. I also became an MP in my first attempt. Bardhaman-Durgapur presents another new challenge for me.'' Ghosh's opponents in this electoral race include TMC candidate and former India cricketer Kirti Azad, as well as the LeftCongress alliance candidate Sukriti Ghoshal. The TMC, eager to reclaim the seat, faces the hurdle of Azad being labelled an ''outsider'' by the BJP. However, Azad dismissed these concerns, stating, ''I am an Indian, and any Indian can contest from any part of the country. This election is about issues and policies, not individuals.'' In contrast, the BJP has launched a campaign emphasizing Azad's outsider status, echoing the ''insider-outsider'' narrative used by the TMC during the 2021 assembly polls. The ''insider-outsider'' debate in West Bengal gained traction ahead of the 2021 state elections, with the ruling TMC leveraging Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative. The constituency, created after the reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in 2008, is a blend of industrial and farming regions, appealing to both rural and urban voters. It comprises seven assembly segments: Burdwan South, Burdwan North, Monteswar, Bhatar, Galsi, Durgapur East, and Durgapur West. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) clinched victories in all segments except Durgapur West. The assembly seats in this constituency were once bastions of the Left parties. However, with changing political tides in Bengal since the defeat of the Left Front government in 2011, the TMC has been steadily gaining ground in the area. In 2009, the CPI(M)'s Saidul Haque won the Lok Sabha seat with over one lakh votes against Congress-supported TMC candidate, Nargis Begam. But in 2014, TMC's Mamtaz Sanghamitra wrested the seat from Haque. Five years later, the elections saw a close contest, with SS Ahluwalia of the BJP narrowly defeating the TMC by a margin of 0.1 per cent votes, with the two parties garnering 42.3 and 42.2 per cent of the votes respectively. The constituency has a Muslim population of nearly 20 per cent while the scheduled caste community comprises 27 per cent. With the Left-Congress alliance entering the fray, the upcoming election promises a three-cornered fight, a departure from the previous bipolar contests. ''This area has a rich history of trade unions and peasant movements led by the Left. The CPI(M) maintains its base here, evident from the 2016 assembly polls when the Left-Congress alliance won two assembly segments,'' said Islam. In 2019, the CPI(M) secured over 1.5 lakh votes, accounting for 11.5 per cent of the total votes polled, while the Congress garnered nearly 38,000 votes, representing 2.3 per cent of the votes. ''With the Left-Congress alliance, we are optimistic about winning the seat. The electorate is disenchanted with both the TMC and the BJP,'' Ghosal said. Islam highlighted that if the Left-Congress alliance secures over 15 per cent of the votes polled, the electoral battle could swing either way as far as the TMC and BJP are concerned. Sensing the imminent danger of Left-Congress, Ghosh has recently appealed to the Left voters to vote for the BJP in the fight against the ''corrupt TMC'', a plea which was rejected outright by the CPI(M). The Left-Congress alliance aims to resonate with the people on issues like unemployment and agrarian crisis, stemming from state and central policies, as their primary campaign themes in the constituency which goes to vote on May 13.
18-year-old BJP worker found hanging, kin claim murder
Dinbandhu Midya, 18, found hanging at Bakcha's Goramahal paan shop. His mother accused TMC of 'murder'. Police investigation ongoing. High Court ordered state hospital postmortem with videography, questioning state infrastructure.
IMD predicts severe heatwave conditions over Odisha, West Bengal for next five days
West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu to witness heatwave conditions the next five days, predicts IMD
After FIR, CBI raids Sandeshkhali
NEW DELHI: A day after registering an FIR against five accused in a case linked to land grab and sexual assault on women, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted raids at multiple locations in West Bengals Sandeshkhali and recovered foreign-made weapons and a large cache of ammunition, officials in the agency said. The officials, however, told this newspaper that the raids were conducted as part of the agencys probe into a case of an attack on an Enforcement Directorate team by a mob allegedly instigated by local TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh. Giving details of the recoveries during the raids, officials said the CBI team seized three foreign-made revolvers and one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official issue police revolver, one country-made pistol, 120 nine mm bullets, 50 cartridges of .45 calibre, 120 nine mm cartridges, 50 cartridges of .380 and eight cartridges of .32. The ED team was attacked by a mob of around 1,000 people in Sandeshkhali, a riverine delta bordering the Sundarbans, on January 5 when they had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. One ED official sustained injury in the attack and their vehicle was damaged. The officials said that the CBI during its probe got inputs of a large cache of arms hidden in Sandeshkhali. On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, a senior official said. On the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the central agency had registered three FIRs related to the incident of attack on ED officials on January 5. Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack. After the attack, a deputy director of the agency had given a complaint to the superintendent of police, Basirhat. ED team attacked The ED team was attacked by a mob of around 1,000 people in Sandeshkhali, a riverine delta bordering the Sundarbans, on January 5 when they had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam, said official.
CBI recovered foreign-made arms in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, leading to concerns raised by BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar. He called for a thorough investigation by NIA and criticized the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal Police.
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Death and distress in Bengals Dooars tea gardens
In the lower reaches of the Himalayas in West Bengal, workers struggle with hunger, poor pay, and the intermittent shutting down of large tea plantations. The poverty is sometimes killing, reports Shiv Sahay Singh, who met those involved in the production of tea
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Arms and ammunition seized by CBI during search operation in Bengals Sandeshkhali
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA, April 26: The CBI on Friday unearthed arms and ammunition during its search at a house in West Bengals Sandeshkhali in connection with its investigation into an attack on an ED team by a mob allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, officials said. Five teams of CBI officials, with support from []
AESL student from Hooghly, Ritam Banerjee tops West Bengal in JEE Main 2024
Jammu Tawi: Aakash Digital, the online platform of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), the national leader in test preparatory services, proudly unveils the exceptional achievement of its Hooghly-based student in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2024 second session.Ritam Banerjee, a student of Aakash Digital, has secured a stupendous 99.99 percentile, thereby achieving AIR 102 [] The post AESL student from Hooghly, Ritam Banerjee tops West Bengal in JEE Main 2024 appeared first on Northlines .
2nd Phase of LS Polls Witnesses 61 Per Cent Voter Turnout Amid EVM Glitches
NEW DELHI: The second phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections saw nearly 61 per cent voter turnout as people avoided venturing out of homes in the summer heat and voted largely in the morning and evening. Polling in the second phase covered 88 seats across 13 states and UTs amid complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. The Election Commission of India (ECI) said polling remained largely peaceful though incidents of intimidation were reported from Manipur in the second phase too. The ECI data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.25 per cent polling, followed by Manipur 77.32 per cent, while the turnout in Uttar Pradesh was at 54.85 per cent and Maharashtra at 56.63 per cent. Rajasthan registered 64.07 per cent, West Bengal 71.84 per cent, Assam 71.11 per cent, Bihar 55.08 per cent, Chhattisgarh 73.55 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 71.91 per cent, Karnataka 68.26 per cent, Kerala 65.78 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh 57.76 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise. After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumars brother D.K. Suresh (Congress), and former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJPs Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. After Fridays phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).
Congress was biased against Hindus for vote bank, today they're exposed: PM Modi in Bihar's Araria
Congress was biased against Hindus for vote bank, today they're exposed: PM Modi in Bihar's Araria In a fresh attack against Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed on Friday that the grand old party was iased against Hindus for vote bank. The first right on the resources of our country lies with the poor of this country irrespective of religion. The way Congress was biased against the Hindus of India for their vote bank, today they have been exposed, PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Bihar's Araria. The Prime Minister attacked the INDIA bloc over the Supreme Court decision rejecting the plea for 100 per cent VVPAT verification of EVM votes and said every leader of the opposition grouping has committed the sin of creating doubts in the minds of people about Electronic Voting Machine and heir dreams have been shattered. They did not let people exercise their right to vote for decades. Booth capturing was very common. They did not even let the people step out to vote. Now when the poor and honest voters have the strength of EVM, they are trying all they can to get rid of the EVM. Today, the Supreme Court has given a strong verdict saying that the old system of ballot paper voting will not come back, he said. He said opposition parties should apologise to the people for creating doubts about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Today, the whole world praises India for its democracy, for its election process, and its use of technology in the election process and these people for their own self-interest were defaming the EVMs. These people have continuously tried to betray democracy, he said. PM Modi said the verdict of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is to make India strong economically and people of Bihar have an important role to play. Today, there are two main streams in politics. One stream is BJP-led NDA which wants to strengthen the people of India. On the other side is the INDI alliance which wants to fill their own pockets by seizing the property of the people, he said. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed a public rally in Bihar's Munger in which he attacked the opposition coalition accusing it of appeasement. There is an NDA model on one side and there is an INDI Alliance model on the other. INDI alliance model is appeasement (tushtikaran) and NDA's model is satisfaction (santushtikaran). We have to ensure that no one is left behind. We gave toilets, gas, electricity connections, and water facilities to our mothers and sisters. We gave free ration and free medical treatment, PM Modi said in Munger. We never asked anyone about the religion or caste of the beneficiaries...anyone who is eligible will get the benefits. This is true secularism and true social justice, he added. The Prime Minister said that the Congress party has set its eyes on the wealth of people and wants to conduct an x-ray, adding that it will seize more than half of the properties inherited by the people. The INDI alliance is using all its might for appeasement. The 'Shehzada' of Congress has said something which will bring a problem for everyone. He has said that a survey would be conducted for every family. The families have small properties and savings, women have some jewellery. The 'Stree Dhan' is considered sacred. Congress, which looted the country with corruption, has now set its eyes on your properties, PM Modi said. Congress wants to impose an inheritance tax. They say they will conduct an x-ray of every family. Today, you are able to pass on your properties to your children. But, Congress is planning... the guru of Shehzada (veiled jibe at Sam Pitroda) has said that they will seize more than half of your property. Now, two out of four-room houses, five acres out of 10-acre land, you will have to give to the government. The INDI alliance has come up with this dangerous plan, he added. The Prime Minister also addressed a public meeting in West Bengal's Malda today, where he attacked the ruling Trinamool Congress and its ally Congress. He said the ruling TMC and the Congress, which are partners in the INDIA bloc but are contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha separately in the state, are competing with each other in their 'appeasement' politics and attempts to woo a 'certain' community. The Congress wants to grab your properties and the TMC hasn't spoken a single word against it. They are competing with each other for appeasement and attempts to win over a certain community or vote bank. While the TMC government has worked to grant permanent residency to infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Congress is talking about redistributing your assets among a certain vote bank, PM Modi added. The only glue that holds the TMC and the Congress together is appeasement. These parties can go to any lengths to advance their appeasement politics and reverse any decision taken in the national interest, he added. Amid a verbal assault from PM Modi over its alleged wealth survey and redistribution pitch, the Congress has clarified that neither did it make any promise in its manifesto nor did Rahul Gandhi make any such assurance to voters. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said his party was in favour of a comprehensive socio-economic caste census. Senior party colleague and Lok Sabha candidate, Shashi Tharoor, too, waded into the matter, saying there was no mention of wealth redistribution in the Congress manifesto, adding that it was a desperate attempt by the BJP to divert public attention from the burning bread-and-butter issues affecting the people. Nowhere does it (manifesto) talk about wealth redistribution. Nowhere does it say anything about taking anybody's gold and snatching the mangalsutra of women. These are preposterous claims by the BJP and show their desperation. They know that they are losing these elections and will fling muck at us as much as they can, Tharoor said. PM Modi wrapped up the day's electioneering with a mega roadshow in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly. The day witnessed the voting in 88 constituencies across 13 states/UTs in the second phase today. According to the Election Commission, the overall turnout was registered at around 60.9 per cent. The voting was held in 13 seats in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir. The first phase of voting in 102 constituencies across 21 states/UTs were held on April 19. The third phase of the seven-phase parliamentary elections will be held on May 7 and the final phase will be on June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)
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Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections
Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections Over 63 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. Several states experienced intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 8 pm of voter turnout was 63.50 per cent. It is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, the EC said, adding voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote. The National Democratic alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Election Commission data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.46 per cent polling, followed by Manipur at 77.32 while the turnout was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85 per cent and Bihar 55.08 per cent. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, ''Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.'' In Kerala, the turnout was 65.91 per cent. The election process, held amid tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for instances of bogus voting and breakdowns of electronic voting machines (EVMs) being reported in some booths of the state. Such incidents resulted in delaying the polling process in the affected booths. One person each reportedly died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a turnout of 79.46 per cent. Election officials said there were some complaints from a few booths but those were ''promptly addressed''. A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat in Chhattisgarh, where a voter turnout of 73.62 per cent was recorded. A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding 'mandap', with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Several brides and grooms, dressed in their wedding finery, cast their votes at several polling booths. The EC said people from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker seats cast their votes in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, there was a turnout of 57.88 per cent. An estimated 71.11 per cent of the 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam that went to polls in this phase. In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a significantly high 77.32 per cent. There were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercation between Congress workers and NPF supporters and damage of EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district. At KK Leishi Phanit polling station in Ukhrul, irate voters destroyed an EVM and other items after alleged disturbances by armed miscreants. The overall voting percentage in Karnataka was 68.30. A case was booked against BJP MP and Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on a social media platform and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Election Commission said. Another BJP leader CT Ravi was booked for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between citizens through his social media post. Various restaurants in Bangalore were offering free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote. A private hospital assisted 41 inpatients cast their vote with the help of city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Green corridors were created for the ambulances across constituencies to ensure easy, hassle-free voting. Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed the Election Commission will take a call after getting a detailed report. A voter turnout of 57.83 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies in Maharashtra, while in Rajasthan, the turnout was 64.07 per cent. Incidents of confrontation between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an independent candidate were reported at a couple of places during polling in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency of Rajasthan. Police said they were looking into the complaints besides some about fake voting from some places. The by-election for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district was also held simultaneously on Friday and 76.66 per cent voting took place. A voter turnout of 54.85 per cent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency. Some residents' welfare associations made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booths. In Bihar, the turnout was 55.08 per cent, 71.84 per cent in in West Bengal and 71.91 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019. The Election Commission registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning. After Friday's phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1). The third phase of elections for 94 seats across 12 states and Union territories will be held on May 7. Counting will be done on June 4.
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Major Arms Cache Seized at Sandeshkhali West Bengal Raid by CBI and NSG
Kolkata: In a broad daylight raid and search operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Security Guard (NSG) have recovered a cache of fire-arms including foreign weapons, ammunition and bombs from a house at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal. The CBI seizure list includes three foreign made revolvers, one Indian revolver, one Colt official police revolver, one foreign made pistol, one country made pistol, 120 rounds of nine-mm bullets, 50 rounds of .45 calibre cartridges, 120 rounds of 9 mm calibre cartridges, 50 rounds of .380 cartridges and eight rounds of .32 cartridges. The CBIs crackdown is related to a case that was filed following a Calcutta High Court order for a probe into the violent mob attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team during its raid at the house of Trinamul Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh in January. It also came a day after it registered its first FIR against five accused including Shahjahan for sexual assault on women and land grab in the area. The house at Mallikpur in Sarberia of Sandeshkhali from where the cache was recovered on Friday, belongs to a family member of local TMC worker Hafizul Khan, who is an aide of Shahjahan. The CBI stated, During investigation of this case, information was received that the items lost by the ED team and other incriminating articles may be hidden at the residence of an associate of Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali. Accordingly, the team of CBI alongwith CRPF personnel searched two premises at village Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. The CBI later sought help of the NSG which immediately sent a team of Black Cat commandos from its regional hub at Rajarhat to check the stockpile of explosives, if any. A robot was pressed by the NSG into action to scan the area for detection.The CBI added, Besides, many incriminating documents related to Shahjahan have also been recovered. Some items suspected to be country made bombs have also been recovered which are being handled and disposed off by the teams from NSG. The search is still continuing.
Special opportunity to go to Darjeeling, say bye-bye to heat, know all the details
Darjeeling, with its breathtaking vistas and cool climate, offers the perfect escape from the sweltering heat. Tucked away in the Indian state of West Bengal, this hill station is renowned for its lush tea gardens, panoramic views of the Himalayas, and vibrant culture. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to Darjeeling. Getting There: Your Journey Begins 1. Choosing Your Route Traveling to Darjeeling offers various options, each with its own charm and convenience. By Air: If you prefer a faster mode of transportation, flying to Bagdogra Airport, located approximately 95 kilometers away, is your best bet. From there, taxis and buses are readily available for the scenic drive to Darjeeling. By Rail: For those who appreciate a leisurely journey, New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP), about 88 kilometers from Darjeeling, serves as a major railhead. Upon arrival at NJP, you can opt for a picturesque toy train ride or hire a cab to begin your ascent to Darjeeling. 2. Toy Train Experience Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: Embark on a memorable journey aboard the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, affectionately known as the Toy Train. As you wind through picturesque landscapes and charming villages, you'll be treated to unmatched views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Accommodation: Where to Stay 1. Heritage Hotels For travelers seeking a glimpse into Darjeeling's colonial past, heritage hotels offer a unique blend of history and hospitality. Windamere Hotel: Step back in time at Windamere Hotel, a heritage property dating back to the 19th century. Nestled amidst lush gardens, this charming hotel boasts panoramic views of the mountains, providing guests with an unforgettable experience. Mayfair Darjeeling: Indulge in luxury at Mayfair Darjeeling, a boutique hotel renowned for its elegant rooms, spa facilities, and exquisite dining options. Whether relaxing in opulent surroundings or admiring the Himalayan vistas, guests are sure to create lasting memories here. 2. Budget Accommodations For budget-conscious travelers, Darjeeling offers a range of affordable accommodation options. Hotel Broadway Annex: Situated near the bustling Mall Road, Hotel Broadway Annex provides comfortable rooms at wallet-friendly prices. Its convenient location makes it an ideal choice for exploring Darjeeling's attractions without breaking the bank. Exploring Darjeeling: Must-Visit Attractions 1. Tiger Hill Sunrise No trip to Darjeeling is complete without witnessing the spectacular sunrise from Tiger Hill. Witness Spectacular Sunrise: Set your alarm early and make your way to Tiger Hill to catch the first rays of sunlight illuminating the snow-capped peaks of Kanchenjunga. As the sky transforms into a palette of hues, you'll be mesmerized by nature's breathtaking display. 2. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum Delve into the history of the iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at its museum in Ghum. Step Back in Time: Explore the fascinating exhibits showcasing the evolution of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, from its inception to the present day. Admire vintage locomotives, photographs, and artifacts that offer insight into this engineering marvel. 3. Tea Garden Tours Immerse yourself in the world of tea with a guided tour of Darjeeling's renowned tea gardens. Tea Tasting Experience: Gain a deeper understanding of Darjeeling's tea culture as you witness the tea-making process firsthand. From plucking the finest leaves to brewing the perfect cup, this immersive experience is a treat for the senses. 4. Peace Pagoda Find tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of Darjeeling at the Japanese Peace Pagoda. Tranquil Retreat: Take a moment to reflect and recharge at this serene sanctuary, which offers panoramic views of Darjeeling town and the surrounding mountains. Whether you're seeking spiritual solace or simply admiring the scenery, the Peace Pagoda provides a peaceful escape. Cuisine: Indulge in Local Flavors 1. Momos and Thukpa Sample the flavors of Darjeeling with traditional Tibetan dishes like momos and thukpa. Savor Local Delicacies: Treat your taste buds to steaming hot momos, filled with savory fillings and served with spicy dipping sauces. Pair them with a hearty bowl of thukpa, a comforting noodle soup packed with vegetables and spices, for a truly authentic culinary experience. 2. Darjeeling Tea No visit to Darjeeling is complete without sipping on its world-famous tea. A Connoisseur's Delight: Explore the rich flavors and aromas of Darjeeling tea with a visit to a local tea estate or tea shop. From delicate floral notes to robust flavors, each cup offers a unique taste of this beloved beverage. Shopping: Souvenirs to Remember 1. Tibetan Handicrafts Bring home a piece of Darjeeling's vibrant culture with traditional Tibetan handicrafts. Shop for Souvenirs: Browse through colorful markets and boutique shops to find handmade treasures such as prayer flags, singing bowls, and intricate textiles. These unique souvenirs serve as reminders of your time spent exploring Darjeeling's cultural heritage. 2. Woolen Goods Stay cozy during your Darjeeling adventure with locally-made woolen goods. Stay Cozy: From soft shawls to warm sweaters, Darjeeling offers a variety of woolen products to keep you snug on chilly mountain evenings. Whether browsing bustling markets or quaint boutiques, you're sure to find the perfect cold-weather accessory to suit your style. Safety Tips: Enjoy a Hassle-Free Trip 1. Altitude Considerations Be mindful of the high altitude when visiting Darjeeling and take necessary precautions to avoid altitude sickness. Acclimatize Properly: Allow your body time to adjust to the altitude by taking it easy during your first few days in Darjeeling. Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity, and listen to your body's signals to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip. 2. Weather Precautions Pack accordingly for Darjeeling's unpredictable weather patterns, which can range from sunny skies to sudden showers. Pack Accordingly: Be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and sudden changes in weather by packing layers and waterproof clothing. A sturdy umbrella or raincoat can also come in handy for exploring Darjeeling's scenic outdoors without getting caught in a downpour. Conclusion: Embrace the Cool Charms of Darjeeling Escape the summer heat and embark on a memorable journey to Darjeeling, where cool mountain breezes and breathtaking scenery await. Whether sipping tea amidst verdant tea gardens, marveling at sunrise vistas from Tiger Hill, or indulging in local delicacies, Darjeeling offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Pack your bags, set out on your Darjeeling adventure, and immerse yourself in the cool charms of this enchanting hill station. People of this zodiac sign will be worried today due to children or education, know your horoscope Your day is going to start like this today, know your horoscope Today is going to be like this for Gemini, know your horoscope....
Sandeshkhali: Arms including police revolver & foreign-made guns seized by CBI
New Delhi: The CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in West Bengals Sandeshkhali, officials said. The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by 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 .
West Bengal: CBI recovers cache of arms, ammunition in Sandeshkhali; NSG deployed
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Sandeshkhali violence case: WB government moves SC against HC order; SC to hear it on Apr 29
NEW DELHI: West Bengal government on Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's April 10 order directing a thorough CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali. A two-judge bench of the top court, led by Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta would hear the appeal of the West Bengal government on April 29, Monday. The Calcutta High Court in its order on April 10 had given a strong blow to the Mamata government and had decided to order the CBI to conduct a thorough investigation into the Sandeshkhali case. It had said that the investigation would be monitored by itself. 'Even if 1% is true, it is absolutely shameful': HC raps Bengal govt on Sandeshkhali violence The West Bengal government in its Special Leave Petition (SLP), a copy accessed by this newspaper, filed in the top court, said that the HC order was erroneous on the face of it, as the larger issue relating to the case was been investigated by the state police. It was not only doubtful but unheard of that an offshoot of the same, as alleged currently should go to a centralagency. The actions of the State Govt in the present matter have been completely overlooked, while the political voices have been given supremacy in a court proceeding, which not only vitiates the matter at hand, but further will lead to biased investigation. The HC heavily relies on the Report of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and numerous affidavits of alleged victims to pass the directions, whereas the said Report is not conclusive as the State is permitted to file its objections against the Report, the West Bengal government said in its SLP. Sandeshkhali row: CBI team visits to probe alleged crimes against women, land-grabbing The said directions by the Calcutta HC, are unwarranted and not sustainable in the eyes of law and should be quashed by the SC, the government said in its appeal filed in the top court. In its plea, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, said that the HC failed to consider the underlying political motive in the case. The extensive steps taken by the state police in the matter were completely ignored by the HC and the transfer of the probe to the CBI in a cursory manner is a violation of the law. The HC Order, which on one hand has called for a report from the CBI on the investigation has further painted the entire state machinery at fault attributing culpability of the State Officials in the land grabbing allegations, which prima facie are unwarranted, the governement in its appeal said. On the orders of the Calcutta HC, the central agency had registered three FIRs related to the incidents on January 5. The FIRs pertain to alleged attack on ED officers by a mob on the complaint by officers, allegations against ED officials levelled by the guard of suspended TMC leader Sheikh and a motu case registered by the Nazat police station about the attack on ED officers. CBI registers first FIR in Sandeshkhali case in connection with land grabs, sexual assault charges
Bengal: Peaceful Polling in 3 LS Seats; 72% Turnout Recorded Till 5 PM
Bengal: Peaceful Polling in 3 LS Seats; 72% Turnout Recorded Till 5 PM Polling for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal in the second phase of parliamentary elections was peaceful with a voter turnout of over 72 per cent registered till 5 pm on Friday, an EC official said. Voting for Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj constituencies started at 7 AM and continued till 6 PM, he said. Till 5 PM, Balurghat recorded the highest polling percentage at 72.30, followed by Raiganj at 71.87 and Darjeeling at 71.41, the Election Commission official said. ''Today's polling was peaceful. There is no report of any untoward incident in the three parliamentary constituencies,'' he said. Forty-seven candidates, including state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, are in the fray in this phase, with 51.17 lakh people eligible to exercise their franchise. Altogether 5,298 polling stations have been set up across the three constituencies. There are 1,999 polling stations in Darjeeling, 1,730 in Raiganj and 1,569 in Balurghat, he said. A total of 272 companies, comprising 27,200 personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with 12,983 state policemen have been deployed for the polls, the official added.
Foreign-Made Revolvers Seized in CBI Sandeshkhali Raid: Cache of Arms Discovered
Foreign-Made Revolvers Seized in CBI Sandeshkhali Raid: Cache of Arms Discovered The CBI seized arms and ammunition, including foreign-made firearms, during searches at multiple locations in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali on Friday in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate team by a mob allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, officials said. Teams of the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI), the bomb detection squad, the National Security Guard (NSG), the central paramilitary forces and the West Bengal Police were part of the searches at the village -- a riverine delta -- on the fringes of the Sunderbans in North 24 Parganas district. ''During investigation of this case, information was received that the items lost by the ED team and other incriminating articles may be hidden at the residence of an associate of Sheikh at Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. Accordingly, the team of the CBI along with CRPF personnel searched two premises at Sandeshkhali today,'' the spokesperson of the CBI. The swift operation, till afternoon, resulted in the seizure of a huge cache of small arms and ammunition, and these included foreign-made pistols, the officials said. During the searches, the CBI seized three foreign-made revolvers and one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official issue police revolver, one country-made pistol, 120 nine mm bullets, 50 cartridges of .45 calibre, 120 nine mm cartridges, 50 cartridges of .380 and eight cartridges of .32, the spokesperson said. ''Besides, many incriminating documents related to Shajahan have also been recovered. Some items suspected to be country-made bombs have also been recovered, which are being handled and disposed of by the teams of the NSG,'' the spokesperson said in a statement. As officials spread across Sandeshkhali to search targetted locations, NSG units had the responsibility for detecting and handling explosives found during the operation, the officials said. Five teams of CBI officials, with support from the West Bengal Police, the central forces and the NSG, conducted a search at the house in Sarberia, a senior official said in Kolkata ''We had received specific information regarding the stockpiling of this huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives. Explosives stacked inside boxes have also been found. The search operation is underway,'' the official had told PTI during the operation. The owner of the house, identified as Abu Taleb Mollah, is a relative of Sheikh, sources in the CBI said and added that it was not clear why such a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives were stacked inside the house. The house, which was cordoned off by security forces, was built amid water bodies used for fish farming. Central forces were used metal detectors outside the house to check whether more arms and ammunition were buried. A robotic device was also deployed for the purpose. The searches were launched in connection with the three FIRs that the CBI had registered related to the attack on the team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5 when it had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. On the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the central agency had registered three FIRs related to the incidents on January 5. The FIRs pertain to the alleged attack on ED officers by a mob on the complaint by officers, allegations against ED officials levelled by the guard of suspended TMC leader Sheikh and a suo motu case registered by the Nazat police station about the attack on ED officers. Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack. After the attack by a mob of around 1,000 people in which three ED officials were injured, a deputy director of the agency had given a complaint to the superintendent of police, Basirhat.
Shocking Seizures In Sandeshkhali: CBI Recovers Foreign Revolvers, Police Revolver, Live Cartridges
Teams of the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI), the bomb detection squad, the National Security Guard (NSG), the central paramilitary forces and the West Bengal Police were part of the searches at the village.
2nd phase LS polls: Peaceful, 71.84% voting in WB
Kolkata: The second phase of the Lok Sabha Election, covering three parliamentary constituencies in the northern parts of West Bengal, remained by and large peaceful amid an average voter's turnout of 71.84%. The three seats are Darjeeling, Raiganj in North Dinajpur and Balurghat in South Dinajpur which went to the BJP in 2019. Two BJP candidates Sukanta Majumdar of Balurghat, who is also the state party chief, and Raju Bista of Darjeeling however faced protests by the Trinamul Congress workers in their constituencies over the allegations of electoral malpractices. The TMC also accused the central forces, deployed for security, of harassment. It posted on X-handle, Yet again, central forces are being used to undermine the democratic process in Bengal! Multiple reports show how they disturbed voters in Balurghat's Harirampur and prevented women from voting in Raiganj's Goalpokhar. @ECISVEEP, how can you stand by while such blatant violations occur? The Border Security Force however rejected the ruling party's allegations and said, This is in response to today's tweet by All India Trinmool Congress through which it was alleged that BSF personnel were terrorising voters. It was also claimed that there is proof of threatening and harassing voters by BSF at booth No 202 of Balurghat's Batun GP. The BSF added, In this regard it is for the information of all that BSF is not deployed at Booth No 202 under Batun GP (Balurghat PC). BSF personnel are performing duties strictly adhering to its mandate as prescribed by the Election Commission of India. BSF is committed to perform duties for Free and Fair Election. On the other hand, the BJP also blamed the TMC of intimidating it's agents and workers. Hours before the polling began, a young BJP worker was found dead at a betel leaf plantation under mysterious circumstances in East Midnapore. The deceased, Dinabandhu (Dhananjay) Midya (18), was found on Thursday night in a hanging position with legs touching the ground. He was from Goramahal village at Moyna and was missing since April 24, according to the BJP which blamed the TMC for killing the teenager.
LS polls phase 2: Over 60% turnout till 5 pm
New Delhi: Over 60 per cent polling was reported till 5 pm in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani []
Sandeshkhali violence: West Bengal govt moves Supreme Court against Calcutta HC order for CBI probe
The West Bengal government on Friday approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision of Calcutta High Court directing CBI probe in connection with the allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali. The case will be heard on April 29 by the bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta. The Trinamool Congress []
Small arms including foreign-made pistols seized by CBI in raids in Sandeshkhali
Teams of the CBI, the bomb detection squad, the NSG, the central paramilitary forces and the West Bengal Police were part of the searches at the village
KOLKATA: The nomination of former IPS officer and BJPs candidate from Birbhum Lok Sabha constituency, Debashis Dhar, was cancelled on Friday on technical grounds. Following this, BJP veteran from the district, Debtanu Bhattacharya, who had already filed his nomination as the second candidate of the party on Thursday afternoon, is now the main contestant. It is learnt that the nomination of Dhar was cancelled since he could not provide the 'no dues' certificate from the West Bengal government following his resignation from police services. He filed nomination as the BJP candidate after resigning from service earlier this year. State BJP insiders said that they were also apprehending such a development following the recent comment made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee where she said that Dhar was yet to get the final clearance from the state government. Hence the party had directed Bhattacharya to file the nomination as an alternative candidate, which he did on Thursday. Dhars nomination has been cancelled, and Bhattacharyas nomination has been accepted. Dhar said that he would consult his legal brains and accordingly would move the court against the state government at the earliest. He also said that he would be participating in a full-fledged campaign on behalf of the new party candidate. I am not outside the party. So there is no question of refraining from the campaign, Dhar said.
Senior citizens, including a 94-year-old woman, participated in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Ukhrul district, Manipur, with volunteers assisting them at polling stations. In Darjeeling, West Bengal, another elderly woman praised the peaceful polling process. Police used drones for surveillance in Ukhrul, and re-polling was conducted in Inner Manipur following incidents of violence. The NPF is contesting in Outer Manipur as part of the BJP-led NDA, with voting scheduled for April 26 and counting on June 4.
Himachal Pradesh: IMD predicts thunderstorms, rain in 10 districts during next 48 hours
Himachal Pradesh: IMD predicts thunderstorms, rain in 10 districts during next 48 hours The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted thunderstorms, hail and rainfall in 10 districts of the state during the next 48 hours. Thunderstorms with lightning, hail and strong wind (30-40kmph) are very likely at isolated places over Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una during the next 48 hours, said IMD Shimla. Meanwhile, severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue over East and South Peninsular India during the next 5 days, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday. According to the IMD, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will likely prevail in many places over Gangetic West Bengal, in some parts of Odisha, and in isolated pockets over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal during the next 5 days. The IMD has also predicted a fresh spell of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is likely to occur over the Western Himalayan region from April 26-29 and the plains of Northwest India from April 26-28 and adjoining Central India from April 26-27. IMD further said that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during April 26-30 2024. It added that isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is very likely over Sikkim on April 28, 2024. It added that heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya on April 28-30, 2024. (ANI)
West Bengal: CBI calls NSG commandos to unearth 'huge cache of bombs and weapons' in Sandeshkhali
Mamata Government Challenges CBI's Raid in Supreme Court, NSG Bomb Squad Deployed in Sandeshkhali
Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a raid in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, just before the Lok Sabha elections. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was allegedly recovered from the house of a relative of a TMC leader. Following this, the NSG bomb squad was deployed to the area. The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court against the CBI's action, challenging the High Court's order allowing the raids. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice BR Gavai will hear this petition on April 29. Sandeshkhali Incident: Sandeshkhali falls under the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, where elections are scheduled for June 1. Rekha Patra, a victim of the Sandeshkhali incident, has been nominated by the BJP for this seat. She was victimized by Shahjahan Shaikh, a suspended Trinamool leader, and his associates. CBI officials, along with central security forces, conducted the search operation in the Sarberia area of Sandeshkhali block, acting on concrete information. The target house was owned by a relative of local TMC panchayat member Hafeezul Khan. The raid uncovered numerous bombs stored in the house. A bomb-scanning device was used to facilitate the operation, and the NSG bomb squad was called in for further investigation. CBI's Investigation: Earlier, CBI had registered an FIR in the Sandeshkhali case based on a complaint received via email. The FIR names five individuals, while others remain unidentified. A 10-member CBI team visited Sandeshkhali to investigate cases of violence against women and land grabbing. They interacted with victims' families and recorded their statements. Additionally, the team visited Sandeshkhali police station to review the investigation report. Political Response: The TMC has criticized the raid, calling it a well-planned conspiracy to manipulate the Sandeshkhali issue before the elections. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the opposition of staging a pre-planned drama to influence voting. The incident comes after previous violence in the area, where women accused Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates of land grabbing and sexual harassment. Background: Sandeshkhali gained attention after an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team. Women in the area accused Shahjahan Sheikh of land grabbing and harassment. Left and BJP parties protested against the Mamata government for its handling of the matter. The Kolkata High Court's order led to Shahjahan Sheikh's arrest. Recently, victims of violence, including five women from Sandeshkhali, met President Draupadi Murmu, highlighting the issues faced in the region. Dr. Partha Biswas of the Center for SC/ST Support and Research mentioned rapid demographic changes in Sandeshkhali and alleged external involvement in the ED attack. Critique of Congress' Proposed Inheritance Tax by Nirmala Sitharaman Delhi High Court Refuses Bail to ISIS Supporter Under UAPA Tragic Incident Unfolds: Two Brothers Found Dead Due to Starvation in Goa Residence
Centres fund blocking claims false and imaginary, says Derek OBrien
Centres fund blocking claims false and imaginary, says Derek OBrien Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Friday slammed the BJP for withholding funds for West Bengal and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making false claims in his speeches. In a post on X hours after Modi addressed a rally in West Bengal's Malda, O'Brien shared infographics countering the claims made by the prime minister in his speeches, though it did not mention any particular speech. ''One of the easiest things to do! Fact Check a speech made by PM Narendra Modi...His six false claims. My six fact checks,'' he said. Countering the claim that the BJP is working for development of West Bengal, O'Brien said, ''BJP has withheld funds worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore under various heads for Bengal. Not paid wages to 59 lakh MNREGA workers for two years. Not released funds for 11 lakh Awas Yojana beneficiaries.'' According to the West Bengal government, the central funds due for the state includes Rs 9,330 crore under the PMAY, Rs 6,900 crore under MGNREGA, Rs 830 crore under the National Health Mission, Rs 770 crore under PM Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs 350 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Rs 175 crore for the Mid Day Meal among other schemes. The total dues, including GST compensation, devolution, performance grant and others, is over Rs 1 lakh crore, according to the state government. Countering the claim of employment generation, O'Brien said, ''Between October and December 2023, the unemployment rate among those in the 20-24 age group touched 45 per cent. India's youth account for over 80 per cent of the unemployed workforce.'' One of the points in the infographic countered the claim that the West Bengal government is not allowing Ayushman Bharat to be implemented in the state. ''Under Ayushman Bharat 40 per cent of the funds have to be borne by the states. Bengal has a better health insurance scheme, Swasthya Sathi. Rs 5 lakh cover, entire amount borne by state. Completely paperless, cashless. Parents of both spouses covered. Free treatment for all in Govt hospitals,'' he said. On the Sandeshkhali issue, the TMC leader said the West Bengal Police arrested the accused in 72 hours, while the BJP took no action against its MP who sexually assaulted women wrestlers. He also highlighted the Bilkis Bano case and mentioned the incidents of Hathras and Unnao in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. On the CAA, O'Brien said, ''The Home Minister, Amit Shah while explaining the 'chronology' stated that CAA will be implemented with NRC which will have the power to selectively exclude citizens.'' Speaking at an election rally in West Bengal's Malda on Friday, Prime Minister Modi lambasted the TMC over the cancellation of around 26,000 jobs following a high court order and asserted that the youth of West Bengal have suffered due to the ''cut-and-commission'' culture of the party. He said the BJP government at the Centre is providing employment to youth in a transparent manner and mentioned Start Up India, Mudra Yojana, Kaushal Vikas Abhiyan as schemes empowering the youth. Modi accused the state government of stalling central schemes like Ayushman Bharat. He also mentioned the Sandeshkhali incident, accusing the TMC of protecting the main accused Sheikh Shahjahan.
Citing sources, Republic Bangla also informed that the weapons, which also included imported ones, were recovered from the house of a man named Abu Taleb.
West Bengal govt moves SC challenging Calcutta High Court order of CBI probe in Sandeshkhali matter
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Expressing his gratitude for the enthusiasm and love of people during his rally in Malda in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it appears that either he was born in Bengal in his previous birth or will be born to a mother in Bengal in his next birth.
CBI Raids in Sandeshkhali, Bengal: Arms and Ammunition Recovered
CBI Raids in Sandeshkhali, Bengal: Arms and Ammunition Recovered The CBI on Friday unearthed arms and ammunition during its search at a house in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in connection with its investigation into an attack on an ED team by a mob allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, officials said. Five teams of CBI officials, with support from West Bengal Police and central forces including National Security Guard (NSG), conducted the search at the house in Sarberia in Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district, a senior official said. ''We had received specific information regarding the stockpiling of this huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives. A total of 12 firearms, including foreign-made pistols, have been seized. Explosives stacked inside boxes have also been found. The search operation is underway,'' the official told PTI. The owner of the house, identified as Abu Taleb Mollah, is a relative of Shajahan Sheikh, sources in the CBI said. ''It is not yet clear why such a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives were stacked inside the house,'' they said. The house, which was cordoned off by the security forces, was built amid water bodies used for fish farming. Central forces were using metal detectors outside the house to check whether more arms and ammunition were buried. A robotic device was also deployed for the purpose. On January 5, an ED team was attacked in Sandeshkhali -- a riverine delta bordering the Sundarbans -- where it had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), during its probe, received inputs of a large cache of weapons hidden in Sandeshkhali. Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack by around 1,000 people, in which three Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were injured.
Mamata Attacks BJP as Court Rejects Teacher Recruitment Drive, Calls It 'Job-Eating'
Mamata Attacks BJP as Court Rejects Teacher Recruitment Drive, Calls It 'Job-Eating' Taking a dig at the BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday dubbed it a ''job-eater'' and said the people of West Bengal would not forgive its leaders for ''conspiring to snatch'' the livelihood of nearly 26,000 teachers. Addressing an election rally in support of TMC's Ghatal candidate Dev, Banerjee also attacked the CPI(M) and Congress in the same breath, calling the two parties ''eyes and ears'' of the BJP in the state. ''You have heard about maneater tigers, but have you heard about the job-eater BJP? Did you see the glee on the face of the leaders of the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress after so many people were rendered jobless by the court?'' she asked the people at the rally. ''I don't want to comment on the judgement or say anything about the judges. But after taking away the jobs of 26,000 youths, you are asking them to return the salary along with 12 per cent interest. Can you take jobs like that? Give them a chance to rectify. How can 26,000 people be treated in such a way?'' she asked. The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered the cancellation of appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made through the recruitment process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in state-run schools, declaring the selection process as ''null and void''. Banerjee said the ''conspiracy'' was evident from the reactions of the leaders of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress after the court gave its verdict. ''The people of West Bengal will not forgive these parties for their roles. They also filed PILs in the court and stalled any new initiative by the state government to fix the anomalies,'' she said. Banerjee alleged the opposition BJP was again ''conspiring'' to stall the state government's decision to recruit 10 lakh people. ''They don't want to wipe the tears from the faces of the unemployed youth, but want to use them for winning the elections,'' she claimed. ''If 26,000 teachers go, who will teach in the state-run schools? Will RSS now take over?'' she asked. She called the CPI(M) and Congress ''eyes and ears of the BJP'' in West Bengal. ''The INDIA bloc does not exist in West Bengal. Voting for the CPI(M) and Congress will strengthen the hands of PM Narendra Modi. It is the TMC, which is fighting the communal and undemocratic BJP here,'' she claimed. Banerjee also criticised the BJP, alleging that it forced the EC to hold a seve-phase election in West Bengal without caring about the scorching heat. ''If Tamil Nadu with 40 seats can have a single-phase poll, why should Bengal with 42 seats be subjected to such a grueling schedule? BJP does not care about the people,'' she said. Banerjee accused the Centre of depriving West Bengal of funds for social welfare schemes, and said that her government would arrange the money. ''What happened to the promise of giving Rs 15 lakh in people's bank accounts?'' she questioned. She also alleged that the BJP was attempting religious polarisation. Bengali superstar Dev is seeking re-election from the Ghatal seat for a third consecutive term. This time, he is up against BJP's Hiran Chatterjee, another film star who became an MLA in 2021 by winning the Kharagpur Sadar seat. The CPI fielded Tapan Ganguly in Ghatal. Later in the day, Banerjee addressed a rally in Garbeta for the party's Jhargram candidate Kalipada Soren. She said leaders of the BJP never came to the region when blood-shed was a daily affair because of Maoist activities. ''It was me as the opposition leader who would come to stand with the people during those times. Now, they are talking big,'' she said. Banerjee said she always believed in the slogan of 'badla noy, badal chai' (want change, not revenge) that she gave during the 2011 assembly elections in which her TMC ousted the CPI(M)-led Left Front.
WBBSE to declare WB Board Class 10th Madhyamik results 2024 on May 2nd, 2024, 9 AM. Results available online. Schools to collect Marksheets from Board's Camp Offices. Students can check results on wbresults.nic.in.
Sandeshkhali case: Bengal govt moves SC against HC order directing CBI probe
West Bengal moves Supreme Court against CBI probe order in Sandeshkhali. ED raids linked to Mallick in ration scam. Sheikh, key conspirator, in custody. CBI seizes arms in Sandeshkhali raids.
BJP Activist Found Dead in Moyna in East Medinipur Amid Phase 2 Lok Sabha Elections
During Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Election 2024, voting took place in West Bengal for the seats of Darjeeling, Raiganj, and Balurghat. Reports of violence have emerged from Moyna in East Medinipur district, where an 18-year-old BJP activist, Dinobondhu Midya, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. His body was discovered hanging early Friday morning at a betel leaf storehouse, sparking outrage and protests from local residents who suspect foul play. The family of the deceased alleges that Midya was murdered and then his body was staged to look like a suicide. They claim he left his house on Thursday evening with his mobile phone, which was later found switched off, and he did not return home. After a search, the family discovered his body. The local BJP leadership has accused Trinamool Congress-backed goons of being involved in the tragic incident. Trinamool Congress has denied the accusations, while the police have opened an investigation into the matter. The incident has heightened tensions in the region, adding complexity to the ongoing election process in the state. Clash Among Prisoners in Tihar Jail Leads to Injuries Cyber thugs became rich from Apple's pickup feature, earned crores of rupees Police Seize Eicher Car Loaded with Cow Skeletons and Liquor In Ujjain
Bombs, Arms, Ammunition Seized By CBI During Search Operation in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali
On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, the officials said
PM Modi slams TMC over school jobs scam, says Bengal's youth paying the price
PM Modi criticises TMC for job cancellations and scams in West Bengal, highlighting the plight of youth
How Cadbury collaborated with 140+ sweet outlets across Bengal for Gaane Mishti campaigns S4
Cadbury Dairy Milk partnered with over 140 sweet outlets across West Bengal for its fourth edition of the Gaane Mishti campaign, blending traditional Bengali sweets with Cadbury Dairy Milk. The campaign also featured revitalized folk songs, aiming to deepen the brand's cultural association and drive category development in the region. It included expanding partnerships beyond Kolkata, training traditional artisans, and digitizing the Mishti shops. Execution involved a mix of social media, on-ground activations, TV promotions, and collaborations with online platforms. The campaign achieved significant quantitative and qualitative impact. Here is how it was carried out: Category Introduction The Indian chocolate market is poised for growth, with its size expected to escalate from USD 2.21 billion in 2024 to USD 3.05 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.64 % according to a report by Mordor Intelligence . The rise of e-commerce platforms across the country, the easy access to a wide range of domestic and international chocolate products, and the introduction of new flavours and packaging formats is poised to drive the market growth. Brand Introduction First launched in India in 1948, Cadbury Dairy Milk has become synonymous with chocolate for generations of Indians and over time defined the taste of chocolate in the country. Since then, Mondelez India with Cadbury Dairy Milk, has continued to build on its 75-year legacy. Cadburys first cultural infusion was at the back of its association with the campaigns like 'Khaaney ke baad kuch meetha ho jaye' , and 'Shubh Aarambh' . Since the 1990s, Cadbury Dairy Milk has tapped into various occasions by building up cultural nuances and driving relatability for the brand. The brand has leveraged this strategy regionally as well and successfully infused the brands relevance across different occasions, celebrations and rituals. In 2011 the brand introduced Cadbury Dairy Milk Mishti campaign, catering to the inherent love for sweets in Bengal and marrying it with everyones childhood favourite flavour, Cadbury Dairy Milk. What began in 2011 as a simple vote for the best sweet shop in Bengal has evolved into a delightful fusion of essential Bengali elements football, cinema, cricket, and music, over the years through various renditions of CDM Mishti campaign. From the unique union of Cadbury and Misht, commemorating the FIFA World Cup, hosting a chocochef contest, introducing 'Mishti Classics', and more, the journey of Cadbury Dairy Milk and Bengal has been a fulfilling one. Finally, in 2020, the brand unveiled 'Gaane Mishti', blending the two passion points of Bengalis Music and Mishti. Cadbury Mishti marked a significant evolution in Cadbury's engagement with Bengali culture, blending tradition with contemporary creativity. It not only celebrated the rich heritage of Bengal but also underscored the brands commitment to continually evolve and innovate in its cultural connections. With Cadbury Dairy Milk Mishti campaign, the brand initiated an innovative concept of reimagining ten Bengali songs across diverse genres, featuring artists and promoting them through digital platforms. The campaign extended to sweet shops, where signature sweets inspired by the theme of each song were created. Following an overwhelmingly positive response, the brand continued the campaign in 2021, solidifying the association between the jugalbandi (fusion) of iconic Bengali melodies with a modern twist, and the delightful fusion of Cadbury and Mishti. In 2022, seeking to broaden its impact beyond Kolkata, the brand embarked on an expansion strategy, incorporating regional songs and embracing West Bengal's rich folk culture. This approach involved segmenting the state based on its geographical diversity and intertwining it with traditional Mishti offerings, effectively reinforcing the campaign's core concept. Additionally, traditional Bengali sweets were reintroduced under the Cadbury Mishti banner, further enhancing the campaign's cultural resonance. Following the success of its preceding three seasons, Cadbury Dairy Milk unveiled its fourth edition of Gaane Mishti with an artistic tapestry weaving together the diverse flavors of Bengal's sweetness harmonized with the rhythm of its vibrant festivities, portrayed through music. Collaborating with over 140 sweet outlets scattered across Bengal, the brand embarked on a journey to reimagine age-old Mishti, blending it with the enduring sweetness of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Simultaneously, the campaign introduced a melodic ensemble of lesser-known folk songs deeply entrenched in Bengal's cultural fabric, now revitalized with a contemporary twist by skilled music composers. Thus, this latest season ingeniously intertwines tradition and modernity, crafting an unforgettable sensory experience. Summary As part of the fourth season of Cadbury Gaane Mishti campaign, the brand partnered with over 140 sweet outlets from different corners of Bengal to recreate the age-old mishtis and home-made desserts of varied festivals using Cadbury Dairy Milk as the key ingredient. Additionally, five folk songs from five vibrant festivals of Bengal that have been lost in the sands of time have been recreated with modern musical instrumentation - a fusion replete with distinct regional cultural flavours. Further, consumer engagement legs at the mishti outlets have been planned. For instance, tasting their favourite Cadbury mishtis from the different outlets, the mishti lovers can vote for mishtis of their favourite festival through a QR code based voting mechanism available at the participating mishti outlets across Bengal and win exciting gifts from Cadbury Dairy Milk. The 6-week long campaign will culminate with a two-day Mishti Mela (Carnival) around the third weekend of April where the artists associated with the campaign will perform live for the audiences on both days. Along with the performances, the consumers would also get a chance to indulge in savouring mishtis from the participating brands. Objective The objective of this campaign was to drive brand relevance by seamlessly infusing the sweetness of Cadbury Dairy Milk into West Bengals local sweet culture. Further, the campaign also aims to facilitate category development by building cultural and taste affinity in West Bengal and thereby bringing a new cohort of trialists by establishing the cultural association of Cadbury Dairy Milk with meetha. Brief The brief was to strengthen cultural and taste affinity in West Bengal by expanding partnerships with on-ground Mishti outlets beyond Kolkata from 120 outlets in 2023 across 12 cities to 140 outlets across 15 cities in 2024. Further, the objective was to scale the digital property Gaane Mishti. Challenges Navigating the successful execution of our initiatives presented multifaceted challenges. Expanding and onboarding the brands partnership with Mishti outlets beyond Kolkata necessitated meticulous planning. Equally crucial was the task of training the traditional 'Karigars' to seamlessly incorporate Cadbury Dairy Milk into their craft without compromising the authenticity and essence of the traditional mishti . Further, digitizing the Mishti shops on online platforms like Swiggy and Zomato and linking the Mishti creation on the websites to maintain a seamless offline-to-online customer experience was another task to be master Acing technological intricacies was another task due to the transition from traditional ballot-based voting to a WhatsApp Chatbot for finding and voting for favorite Mishti outlets Execution The brand took a multifaceted approach to drive the campaign leveraging social media as well as on-ground activations. The promotional video launched aimed to establish a harmonious connection between Mishti and music, employing a fusion of realism and animation. This approach added life, realism, and excitement but made the experience immersive and engaging in itself. Additionally, five music videos, each tied to one of the five new Mishti offerings, were released on social media as short, engaging clips spanning 10 to 30 seconds to enhance audience interaction. The campaign's reach was further extended through television promotion, leveraging a prominent show in West Bengal 'Dadagiri Unlimited'. Moreover, the brand established 'Gaane Mishti' as a dedicated platform across JioSaavn, Spotify, and Instagram Reels. Collaborations with quick commerce apps such as Swiggy and Big Basket facilitated wider accessibility. Employing data-driven marketing techniques, including a WhatsApp Chatbot feature, users could seamlessly locate and vote for their preferred Mishti outlets. As a grand finale to this celebration of music and sweets, a two-day Mishti Mela (Carnival) was organized, featuring live performances by artists associated with the campaign, delighting audiences across both days. Results The campaign yielded exceptional results across various metrics, marking a significant impact on household penetration, regional growth, and product distribution. Notably, it emerged as the highest penetrated market in the East, with strong year-over-year gains in household penetration attributed to the activation efforts. Retailers and customers provided positive testimonials regarding the qualitative impact of the campaign on consumer preferences and purchasing behavior. Some of the sweet shop owners emphasized the popularity of Cadbury Mishti variants, particularly among children, highlighting swift sales and active participation from customers in voting for their favorite Mishti options. Such testimonials underscore the campaign's success in resonating with consumers across demographics, driving both consumption and engagement within the market. Nitin Saini , VP - Marketing, Mondelez India, said, West Bengal boasts of a rich cultural tapestry of music and cuisine, with Mishti being emblematic of this. For the fourth year, we aim to ride on the overwhelming success of the past Cadbury Dairy Milk Gaane Mishti seasons and elevate this years celebration by capturing the hearts and taste buds across generations, blending traditional sweets with modern twists and lesser-known folk melodies with contemporary arrangements. In Season 4 of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Gaane Mishti campaign, we have partnered with over 140 sweet outlets from various corners of Bengal to reimagine age-old Mishti, by bringing it together with the unforgettable sweetness of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Simultaneously, the campaign introduces a repertoire of lesser-heard folk songs deeply rooted in Bengal's cultural heritage, now revitalised with contemporary flair by talented music composers. Thus, truly weaving together tradition and modernity to create an unforgettable sensory experience with season 4.
Arms, ammunition seized by CBI during search operation in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its probe got inputs of a large cache of arms hidden in Sandeshkhali. On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, the officials said.
18-year-old BJP worker found dead in West Bengal
An 18-year-old BJP worker was discovered deceased in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. The family alleges TMC involvement in the incident.
HC directs NIA to file report on clashes in Murshidabad over Ram Navami celebrations
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday instructed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit a report regarding the clashes in West Bengals Murshidabad district during Ram Navami celebrations, stating whether the probe should be handed over to the central agency. The court noted that the Murshidabad district SP in a report had referred to 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 .
Appeasement The Biggest Magnet Keeping Congress, Trinamool Together: PM Modi In Malda
Addressing a rally in West Bengal's Malda Uttar, PM Narendra Modi yet again attacked the Congress over its government's Muslim reservation decision in Karnataka.
Trinamools corruption has taken away happiness of 26,000 families, says PM Modi
Trinamools corruption has taken away happiness of 26,000 families, says PM Modi Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the Mamata government, saying that the massive corruption unleashed by Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has ultimately resulted in the loss of peace and happiness of around 26,000 families in the state. He said [] The post Trinamools corruption has taken away happiness of 26,000 families, says PM Modi appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
West Bengal: BJP accuses TMC of murdering its worker in Purba Medinipur
The News Mill
LS polls: People in remote Tripura district use boats to exercise their right to vote
LS polls: People in remote Tripura district use boats to exercise their right to vote Amidst the ongoing second phase of general elections, people residing in a remote area of Tripura's Dhalai district chose boats as their mode of travel for exercising their franchise rights. The Election Commission of India took to its official X handle and posted the photos of people coming by boats to cast their votes. Vote By Boat! Anchoring the choice: Voters of 44/68 Raima Valley AS remote area of Dhalai district, Tripura are coming to cast their votes by using boats, the EC said in a post. Meanwhile, there has been a substantial increase in voter turnout in Tripura, as the North-Eastern state recorded a 36.42 per cent voting percentage till 11:00 am, as per the Election Commission of India. Other states where there is high voter turnout are Chhattisgarh (35.47%), Manipur (33.32%), and West Bengal (31.25%). Maharashtra is witnessing low voter turnout, as the state has recorded 18.83 per cent. Voting percentages for other states participating in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls till 11:00 am are Assam (27.43%), Bihar (21.68%), Jammu & Kashmir (26.61%), Karnataka (22.34%), Kerala (25.61%), Madhya Pradesh (28.15%), Rajasthan (26.84%), and Uttar Pradesh (24.41%). The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory including 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their vote comfortably. For the convenience of voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions, according to the Election Commission. According to the ECI, over 15.88 crore voters will be voting in the second phase which includes 8.08 crore male electors, 7.8 crore female electors, and 5929 third-gender electors. A total of 4553 flying squads, 5731 static surveillance teams, 1462 video surveillance teams and 844 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters across the 1.67 lakh polling stations, as per the ECI press note. (ANI)
As PM heads to Malda, Congress raises issues of erosion, cattle smuggling and unfinished airport
NEW DELHI: Why did the prime minister do nothing to prevent river erosion in Malda and what happened to the Malda airport, the Congress asked on Friday as Narendra Modi heads to the West Bengal district for campaigning. Posting a series of questions on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also raised the issue of cattle smuggling in the area. : 1. ? 2. ? 3. ? : 1. Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 26, 2024 The prime minister is scheduled to address a poll rally in Malda on Friday. Questions for PM as he visits Malda in West Bengal: Why has the PM done nothing to prevent river erosion in Malda? What about Malda airport? What has the PM done to halt the illegal smuggling of cattle, Ramesh asked in a post on X. He said thousands of families in Malda district suffer due to their land being eroded by the Ganga and Fulahar rivers. BJP MLA from Englishbazar town Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhary had written to the prime minister in 2023 to seek an appointment to apprise him about the problem, he said. She highlighted the fact that affected residents are mostly from the Scheduled Castes or Other Backward Classes, and requested Rs 10,000 crore to conduct anti-erosion works, Ramesh added. Most of the district lies in the region of the Farakka Barrage, operated by the Central government and is therefore the responsibility of the Modi Sarkar, he said. Ten years after coming to power, and despite generous on-paper allocations to Namami Gange, why has the Modi Sarkar not made a single intervention to protect Malda's Scheduled Caste and OBC families from the rampant problem of river erosion, he asked. Ramesh also alleged that the Modi government had neglected the Malda airport for almost 10 years. The state government had already built a runway by the time the PM came to power in 2014. However, flight services are yet to start. Airports would increase business and trade opportunities - especially for perishable goods like Malda's famous mangoes - and improve access to medical services in the district, he said. The BJP had assured the people of Malda that they would provide small aircraft services, and Airports Authority of India officials visited the site multiple times but the airport still remains closed, Ramesh claimed. The runway, he contended, is being used by people from surrounding neighbourhoods for their morning walk. Locals fear the airport will eventually fall into disrepair because of the Modi government's apathy, he said. What has the Prime Minister done in the last ten years to halt the illegal smuggling of cattle into Bangladesh, Ramesh said using the hashtag #ChuppiTodoPradhanMantriji. Noting that cattle smuggling across the Bangladesh border has emerged as a key issue in recent years, one often raked up by the PM himself, the Congress general secretary alleged that Modi fails to mention that cattle smuggling is only a reality because of the failure of the BJP administrations at the Centre and various states. At the national level, the BSF and the Customs Department are responsible for aiding and abetting the smuggling mafia. At the state level, the origin of most of the cattle is BJP-ruled states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. State police and administration turning a blind eye to smuggling of cattle out of these states is the root cause of the issue, he claimed.
Modi condemns TMC's school jobs scam, asserts detrimental impact on Bengal's youth
Modi condemns TMC's school jobs scam, asserts detrimental impact on Bengal's youth Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the TMC over the cancellation of around 26,000 jobs following a high court, stating that the youths of West Bengal have suffered due to the ''cut-and-commission'' culture of the party, which is now ''synonymous with scams''. Addressing an election rally in Malda, the PM highlighted that the youths, who had taken loans to pay bribes to TMC leaders, are burdened by this situation. ''The TMC indulges in scams for which the people of the state have to suffer. The party has been playing with the future of the youths of Bengal,'' he said. ''The teacher recruitment scam snatched the livelihood of around 26,000 families,'' he said. Earlier this week, the Calcutta High Court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as ''null and void,'' ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it. ''Under TMC rule, only one thing exists - scams totalling thousands of crores. The culprit is TMC, but the entire state is forced to pay for its deception,'' he said. Hitting out at the Congress and the TMC for spreading canards about CAA, Modi said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act ''is about granting citizenship and not snatching it.'' ''There is a competition of appeasement going on between these two parties. The Congress wants to grab your property, and the TMC is not uttering even a single word against this. The state government is working to settle Bangladeshi infiltrators in Bengal, and the Congress is talking about distributing your wealth among those,'' he said.
'Go back' slogans against BJP West Bengal chief during polling in Balurghat
Go back slogans against BJP West Bengal chief during polling in Balurghat
Bengal: Over 31% Turnout for 3 LS Seats in First Four Hours
Bengal: Over 31% Turnout for 3 LS Seats in First Four Hours Over 31 per cent of 51.17 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in three Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal, an Election Commission official said on Friday. Polling began at 7 am in Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj Lok Sabha constituencies and would continue till 6 pm. Darjeeling recorded the highest voter turnout of 32.75 per cent, while Raiganj and Balurghat registered 32.51 per cent and 28.11 per cent polling, respectively, he said. The commission has so far received 290 complaints, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning, the official said. A total of 47 candidates, including state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, are in the fray for the three seats in the second phase.
Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm
Congress, TMC decimated in first phase of LS polls, similar fate awaits them in round two: PM Modi in West Bengal's Malda. Congress, TMC decimated in first phase of LS polls, similar fate awaits them in round two: PM Modi in West Bengal's Malda.
Kalyan makes Kanchan step down from campaign vehicle
Banerjee asked MLA Mallick to leave campaign vehicle due to strong women's reactions, highlighting impact on public perception. Emphasized the need for Mallick's individual campaign to avoid negative reactions.
2nd phase: EVM breakdowns delay voting in Kerala
The IMD has warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh during the next five days.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla votes in Darjeeling
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla votes in Darjeeling Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday cast his vote at a polling booth in Darjeeling. After casting his vote, Shringla showed his inked finger at the polling booth there. Darjeeling has been a BJP bastion since 2009, with the Trinamool Congress never managing to wrest the seat from the principal opposition party in the state. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, MP Raju Bista won the constituency with 59.2 per cent of the total votes polled against TMC's Amar Singh Rai, who bagged a mere 26.6 per cent votes. In 2014, BJP's SS Ahluwalia, who is in the fray this year from Asansol, won 42.8 per cent of votes against 25.5 per cent won by former footballer and TMC's star candidate Bhaichung Bhutia. Apart from Darjeeling, voting is also taking place in Balurghat, and Raiganj in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections today. Voting for the remaining constituencies of West Bengal will be held on May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7. (ANI)
Lok Sabha polls: Tejasvi Surya offers prayers at Bengaluru residence before casting vote
Lok Sabha polls: Tejasvi Surya offers prayers at Bengaluru residence before casting vote Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Bangalore South constituency Tejasvi Surya offered prayers at his residence on Friday ahead of casting his vote for the phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls which began earlier today. Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy against Surya in the Bangalore South constituency. In a post on X, Tejasvi Surya appealed to the voters to cast their vote on the BJP symbol. Wishing all candidates of BJP Karnataka the very best! The people of Karnataka are nationalists. They've witnessed the State's growth under PM Narendra Modi in the last 10 years. Urge all of you to click on the lotus button and elect Modi Ji once again! Surya said. Karnataka is voting on 14 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Bangalore South has been a bastion for the BJP, the party has not been defeated from here since 1991. The late Ananth Kumar was elected to the Lok Sabha 6 times from this seat. In 2019, BJP's current Member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya, secured victory with a significant margin of 27.87 per cent against Congress' BK Hariprasad and became the youngest BJP MP in Lok Sabha. In 2014, the seat was won by BJP's Ananth Kumar, defeating INC's Nandan Nilekani by a substantial margin. Earlier today, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy on Friday cast his vote at the BES polling station in Bengaluru. His wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty, also cast her vote in Bengaluru today. Sudha Murty urged people, specifically youngsters, to exercise their right to vote and choose their leaders. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies, including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females, are in the fray.There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorate who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of the polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7. (ANI)
Will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM: Congress' K Muraleedharan
Will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM: Congress' K Muraleedharan Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency candidate K Muraleedharan on Friday cast his vote at Jawahar Nagar LP School in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and said that the Congress will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM in the state. While speaking to the reporters, K Muraleedharan said that the party will win all the seats in the state. We are going to win all 20 seats in Kerala. Unfortunately, there is a deal between CPM and BJP in Kerala. The news has come out that EP Jayarajan (LDF convener) met BJP leader Prakash Javadekar. Their link is clear. We will win but we will block an unholy alliance between BJP & CPM in Kerala. Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, where high-profile candidates are in the fray this time, is going to witness a fierce triangular contest between BJP, Congress, and the CPI. Congress has fielded K Muraleedharan, son of late Congress doyen K Karunakaran whose pocket borough was once Thrissur, the ruling Left Democratic Front nominated former Agriculture Minister in the previous LDF government in the state, VS Sunilkumar. The constituency, where both Congress-led UDF and CPM-led LDF interchangeably won multiple times in the past seven decades, is currently held by Congress. All 20 seats will vote in the second phase in Kerala. These include Kasaragod, Kannur, Vatakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory including 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir According to the ECI, over 15.88 crore voters will be voting in the second phase which includes 8.08 crore male electors, 7.8 crore female electors, and 5929 third-gender electors. A total of 4553 flying squads, 5731 static surveillance teams, 1462 video surveillance teams and 844 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters across the 1.67 lakh polling stations, as per the ECI press note. (ANI)
BJP Worker's Son Found Hanging In West Bengal's Mednipur, Party Blames 'TMC Goons'
Midya was reportedly missing since Wednesday and was found hanging on Thursday night, the BJP claimed
Chennai BeachVellore MEMU train to run till Tiruvannamalai from May 2
CHENNAI: The railway board has given the green light to extend the Chennai Beach - Vellore Cantonment MEMU fast local service up to Tiruvannamalai from May 2. According to official documents, the MEMU local, which departs Chennai Beach at 6pm, reaches Vellore Cantonment at 9.35 pm. From May 2, the train will depart from Vellore at 9.40pm and arrive at Tiruvannamalai at 12.05 am. Similarly, from May 3, the train will depart from Tiruvannamalai at 4am and reach Vellore Cantonment at 5.40am. The train will make stops at Pennathur, Kannamangalam, Onnupuram, Sedarampattu, Arni Road, Madimangalam and Polur stations in both directions. The train will depart from Vellore at 6pm and arrive at Chennai Beach at 9.50am, as per the usual schedule. Official sources said a few years ago, the Tiruchy division had proposed extending the Beach-Vellore MEMU to Tiruvannamalai. However, the plan couldnt materialise due to operational constraints. An official said, Special trains have already been running to Tiruvannamalai during the Pournami Girivalam festival every month. We are also planning one more train to Tiruvannamalai. Tiruvannamalai, home to Lord Annamalaiyar, witnesses a massive influx of devotees during Pournami Girivalam every month. During Chitra Pournami and Karthigai Deepam, the number swells to over 10 lakh, drawing pilgrims and visitors from across the state. Since its establishment in 1989, after the partition of then North Arcot district, Tiruvannamalai has lacked direct daily train connectivity to Chennai. Residents of Tiruvannamalai town and its neighbouring villages have been relying on TNSTC buses for travel to Chennai. Those bound for New Delhi, West Bengal, and other northern districts often travel to Tindivanam or Katpadi to board trains for Chennai.
Didi, nephew Abhishek train guns at judiciary
Mamata Banerjee criticizes Calcutta HC, faces petition for accusing judiciary. Abhishek alleges HC-BJP nexus, compares HC's actions to match-fixing. Bhattacharya submits evidence. Banerjee criticizes Abhijit Ganguly in Tamluk rally.
Do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies: Kharge to voters
New Delhi: Amid polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged voters not to fall for any 'diversionary tactics' of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding that it is an election to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship. Taking to his official X handle, Kharge posted, We, the people of India - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of Dictatorship. To all my dear citizens, from 89 Constituencies in 13 States and UTs, do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies. Always make your vote count. Reminding people of the party's salient promises in its manifesto or 'Nyay Patra', the Congress national president also called on the people to come out in record numbers and exercise their democratic right. For it may change the lives of 140 Crore Indians by bringing the paradigm of YUVA NYAY NAARI NYAY KISAAN NYAY SHRAMIK NYAY HISSEDARI NYAY Imagine a future where Justice, Freedom, Equality and Liberty are guaranteed. A future where rapid inclusive growth and transformative policies are guaranteed. My dear first-time voters, cut the clutter and distance the din, for you are the real changemakers and I welcome each one of you in this movement for Democracy. Everyone, please come out and VOTE in large numbers. BADLEGA BHARAT, JEETEGA INDIA, Kharge posted on X. 'We, the people of India' - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds, before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of Dictatorship. Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 26, 2024 Voting began at 7 am on Friday. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. According to the Election Commission of India, 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories are set to go for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. Kerala has the highest number of constituencies as all 20 seats will poll today, followed by Karnataka with 14 seats. The other states that will go to poll on Friday include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Manipur. The poll for the Jammu parliamentary seat will also be held on Friday. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females are in the fray. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7.
At 41.6C, Kolkata gets hottest April day in 44 years
Kolkata endured its hottest April day in 44 years at 41.6C. A 10-day heatwave saw temperatures over 40C five times. No rain is expected until at least May 2, with a red alert issued for certain districts.
SC: In-person summons to govt officer only in exceptional cases
SC mandates exceptional gov officer court appearances via video-conference, overruling Calcutta HC. State challenges summoning of SP residing far from Kolkata. HC notices bail inconsistencies in narcotics case, emphasizing citizen's liberty.
