Alipore court bars Mahua Moitra from posting defamatory content against West Bengal Chief Secretary
The Krishnanagar MP had used photographs of the Chief Secretary (former CEO), calling him the chief architect of SIR which led to deletions of lakhs of voters
West Bengal to get four new airports in next two years: K Rammohan Naidu
The airports will come up at Charra, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Hasimara as the Centre expands air connectivity under UDAN
Ex-Minister Indranil Sen's Bail Plea Rejected By Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen in a cheating case. Sen is accused of commercialising Durga Puja by selling high-priced preview show tickets through an organisation allegedly linked to him and his family, diverting government funds. The court noted rappings of corruption and the Enforcement Directorate is also investigating.
Sukanta Majumdar Claims Change in Durga Puja Atmosphere After Government Shift in Bengal
Sukanta Majumdar discusses the shift in Durga Puja celebrations and political dynamics in West Bengal following the government change. Sukanta Majumdar Claims Change in Durga Puja Atmosphere After Government Shift in Bengal
SC to hear Mahua's Circuit House plea today
On October 1, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the West Bengal government and others on Moitra's plea seeking adequate protection during her constituency visit.
Tata Power approaches West Bengal govt for land for solar projects, explores 2500-crore investment
Tata Power said the West Bengal government has shown a lot of keenness to promote rooftop solar adoption in the State under Ghar Ghar Solar initiative
WBPSC Miscellaneous Cut Off 2026 Out - Category-Wise Marks and PDF
WBPSC Miscellaneous Cut Off 2026 has been released on 14 October by the West Bengal Public Service Commission for the Miscellaneous Services Recruitment Examination 2023. The General cut-off is 237, OBC 222, SC 188 and ST 182 marks out of 450. Candidates can check category-wise cut-off marks for UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST and PwBD, download the official PDF and view Personality Test eligibility details here.
On October 16, 2026, most educational institutions across India are predicted to function normally, as per the latest information. However, certain schools or districts may close due to local holidays or adverse weather conditions. Parents should stay informed through official school announcements or local notices. States like Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh are expected to have schools open, while West Bengal may observe variable vacation schedules because of Durga Puja.
Essar Oil & Gas wins five CBM blocks across three states, adds 6.6 Tcf gas reserves
Essar Oil & Gas has acquired five coal-blend methane blocks across West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. The company aims to enhance domestic natural gas production while developing approximately 1,281 square kilometers of new acreage. This expansion also includes significant resources of around 6.6 trillion cubic feet of gas-in-place. Essar currently produces nearly 50 percent of Indias CBM production, reflecting its strong position in this sector.
Investigation Underway at Presidency University Following Offensive Remarks
West Bengals higher education minister condemns offensive comments about Swami Vivekananda at Presidency University, promising swift action. Investigation Underway at Presidency University Following Offensive Remarks
Essar Oil & Gas bags 5 coal bed methane blocks across West Bengal, MP and Telangana
The newly awarded acreage will strengthen the companys presence in established gas-producing regions and open up opportunities in Telanganas Godavari valley
WB NEET PG Counselling 2026 Schedule Out, Round 1 Registration From 22 October
West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC) has released the WB NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1 schedule for postgraduate medical admissions. Online registration will begin on 22 October 2026 at 11 AM and close on 28 October at 6 PM. Candidates can check the registration process, fee payment deadline, verification schedule, choice filling dates and seat allotment result date.
Crizac Launches Partner Growth Program to Help Counselling Partners Grow
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 15: Crizac Limited, an AI-native student mobility platform partnering with international universities and education counsellors globally, today announced the Partner Growth Program (PGP), an initiative to help counselling partners grow their businesses.
West Bengal has ordered a probe after motorcyclists reportedly skidded on Kolkatas freshly painted Chingrighata flyover during rain, prompting renewed questions about road safety.
Bengal CM Credits BSF and Police for Curbing Cross-Border Crimes
West Bengals CM highlights the role of BSF and police in reducing cross-border crimes and urges community support against child marriage. Bengal CM Credits BSF and Police for Curbing Cross-Border Crimes
CM Adhikari credits BSF-police coordination for curbing border crimes in Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said improved coordination between the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police had helped curb border-related crimes in the state's districts adjoining Bangladesh, while asserting that barbed-wire fencing work was progressing at a brisk pace. Adhikari also urged people to refrain from child marriage, citing the high incidence of early pregnancies in Murshidabad and assured that lack of funds would not hamper the districts overall development and tourism potential. Adhikari made the remarks while inaugurating a community Durga Puja in Lalbagh in Murshidabad district, a minority-dominated region bordering Bangladesh. Cross-border crimes such as illegal infiltration, cattle smuggling and narcotics trafficking were rampant in this region earlier. Now, the BSF and the state police are working in close coordination. That is precisely why such crimes have already been brought under control to a great extent. At the same time, work on erecting barbed-wire fencing along the border is also progressing in full swing, the Chief Minister said. Referring to the high incidence of child marriage and early pregnancies in Murshidabad, Adhikari appealed to residents not to marry off their daughters or sisters at an early age. He reminded them that child marriage was a punishable offence under the law. Without naming anyone, the Chief Minister also cautioned that certain vested interests might attempt to disrupt the festive atmosphere by engaging in unruly activities during Durga Puja. Both the police and the puja organisers will have to remain alert to such attempts. Recently, two puja pandals in the district witnessed accidents or other unpleasant incidents. Investigations into those incidents are currently underway. I am cautioning the police and the puja organisers in advance. Do not allow anyone to spoil the festive mood of Durga Puja, he said. Adhikari also highlighted Murshidabad's tourism potential and stressed the need for comprehensive development to attract visitors and improve the district's overall prospects. Murshidabad has immense tourism potential. What is required is overall development. From this stage, I guarantee that finance will not be a hurdle to the comprehensive development of the district, he said.
Anupamaa actress Adrija Roy opens up about her emotional connection with Durga Puja
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS) Television actress Adrija Roy, known for her role in Anupamaa, has opened up about her emotional connection with Durga Puja. In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, she said that the festival reminds her of home, family and the little things that make the celebrations special. Adrija said the festive atmosphere brings a unique sense of happiness and positivity that is difficult to put into words unless one has grown up experiencing it. She shared, Durga Puja is very personal to me because it reminds me of home, family and all the little things that make the festival special. There is a different kind of happiness during Puja. The entire atmosphere feels so positive and festive, and I think that feeling is difficult to explain unless you have grown up experiencing it. Looking back, she said the excitement around getting ready, meeting people and being part of the celebrations made Puja particularly memorable. As a child, the excitement was on another level. Wearing new clothes, going to the Puja, meeting relatives and friends, eating good food and just being out for the celebrations made those days so special. Even today, those memories instantly bring a smile to my face, she added. And when it comes to dressing up, Adrija revealed that a saree naturally becomes her favourite choice during Puja. I love wearing sarees during Durga Puja. There is something so beautiful and timeless about dressing traditionally during the festival. If I had no work commitments, my ideal Puja day would simply be getting ready in a beautiful saree, visiting pandals, eating my favourite food and spending the entire day with my loved ones, she concluded. Adrija Roy was born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal, in a Bengali family. Before venturing into acting, she represented West Bengal as a national-level sprinter. She later moved to Mumbai to pursue her career in the entertainment industry. Adrija is currently seen playing the role of Raahi in Anupamaa. The show features Rupali Ganguli in the titular role.
Tourism In Shimla Takes A Hit As Unesco World Heritage Toy Train Service Remain Disrupted
The interruption of the toy train service in Shimla comes at an inconvenient time for the tourist-favourite hill station. Tourists from West Bengal, many of who prefer to take a ride on the scenic train route during the Durga Puja holidays are among those who have been affected.
Union Minister Kumaraswamy calls Karnataka CM Shivakumar 'sting samrat', questions his intentions
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 15 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and JD(S) State President, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Thursday alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was a sting samrat who believed he could do anything by using his political influence. Addressing a press conference, Kumaraswamy questioned Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge over the ongoing investigation into the alleged sting operation and warned them against targeting him. Mr. Shivakumar and Priyank Kharge, there is God above all of us. At least, fear your own conscience, he said. Kumaraswamy referred to a statement allegedly made in 2024 by former minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had suggested that videos involving other political leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, could emerge, drawing a comparison with the controversy surrounding former MP Prajwal Revanna. Recalling Jarkiholi's remarks, Kumaraswamy alleged the BJP leader had indirectly targeted Shivakumar. That is why I called Chief Minister Shivakumar the sting samrat. The Chief Minister's mindset is a matter of concern. I humbly appeal to the people to take note of this, Kumaraswamy alleged. He also criticised Priyank Kharge for his remarks against him and referred to a demand that he undergo brain mapping to establish whether he slept at night. I can fall asleep within two minutes after finishing my work. You people are unable to sleep because you are worried about the IT Department and the Enforcement Directorate. I have nothing to worry about, he said. Kumaraswamy said he had suffered a period of sleeplessness for nearly a year when he was unwell but had since recovered, attributing his improved health to God's blessings. Taking a swipe at the criticism that he is jealous of Shivakumar attaining the Chief Minister's post, Kumaraswamy said he had already served as Chief Minister and enjoyed the position, and was not seeking it again. He accused Congress leaders of repeatedly criticising him to please Shivakumar and challenged them to examine their conscience. If you think that criticising me will make Chief Minister Shivakumar happy, you can abuse me even more. You have been doing it every day, he said. Reiterating his warning to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister, he said political power was not permanent and urged them to remember that they would ultimately be accountable for their actions. Kumaraswamy said he had returned to Bengaluru late at night after attending official engagements in Delhi, including discussions concerning automobile components and the West Bengal tea garden issue. He added that he had advised Siddaramaiah against seeking a court stay and urged him to face the allegations. The JD(S) leader reiterated his demand for an impartial judicial enquiry into the alleged sting operation, insisting that the investigation should establish the facts without political interference and that neither he nor his party workers should be targeted without evidence.
BSF DG thanks Bengal CM for land to bolster border infrastructure
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Praveen Kumar has thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state government for providing land for strengthening infrastructure along the India-Bangladesh border. The BSF DG expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government for providing land for border infrastructure, which will facilitate the strengthening of the border security grid and plugging of feasible gaps in border fencing, a statement said on Thursday. Kumar met Adhikari on October 14 and apprised him of the prevailing security situation along the India-Bangladesh border. India shares a 4,096.7-km-long border with Bangladesh, of which 2,216.7 km lies in West Bengal. The border in the state stretches from the Sundarbans in the south to the strategically important Siliguri Corridor in the north. During the meeting, Kumar briefed the Chief Minister on the operational preparedness of BSF formations in West Bengal and the strategies being adopted to secure stretches of the border that remain unfenced. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, nearly 569 km of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal remains unfenced. Of this, around 113 km is riverine, where conventional fencing is not feasible. Unlike other states bordering Bangladesh, the BSF operates through two frontiers in West Bengal -- the South Bengal Frontier and the North Bengal Frontier. After coming to power, the BJP government led by Adhikari began handing over land to the BSF for border fencing and the construction of Border Outposts (BOPs). Nearly 1,024 acres across nine districts have been cleared for transfer to the force. The state government has maintained that delays under the previous administration had held up the development of crucial border infrastructure. The coordination between all security agencies to prevent illegal infiltration and other crimes along the border was discussed during the meeting. The need to relocate zero-line villages was also discussed, a source said. Zero-line villages are settlements located within 150 yards of the international border. Many such villages are situated beyond the border fence, while in some areas their presence has made fencing difficult. There are nearly 360 zero-line villages in West Bengal, with a combined population of around 70,000. Their location presents operational challenges for the BSF, which has sought their relocation. Adhikari assured the BSF DG of the state governments assistance in addressing the issue. He also said the government would extend necessary support for the welfare of BSF personnel and their families.
SC to hear Mahua Moitra's plea seeking nod to stay at Krishnanagar circuit house
The Supreme Court will hear TMC MP Mahua Moitras plea seeking permission to stay at a Circuit House during her Durga Puja visit to Krishnanagar in West Bengal. Moitra has alleged that district officials evicted her from the state-owned property despite a booking, prompting her to seek protection and intervention.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 15 (IANS) The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will finalise its list of candidates for the forthcoming urban civic body elections, including those to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), by Diwali, scheduled for November 8. The civic body elections are likely to be held in the last week of November, with results expected to be announced by the first week of December. To minimise dissent and ensure a smooth candidate selection process, the BJP has adopted a multi-tier screening mechanism that combines recommendations from local leaders with applications from professionals, with the final names subject to scrutiny by district- and state-level committees. A BJP state committee member said discussions on the candidates recommended by the party's local leadership would begin immediately after Lakshmi Puja on October 8. The shortlisted candidates are expected to be announced soon after Diwali. The party will draw up its final list from two separate sets of applications. The first will comprise names recommended by local party leaders, while the second will include applications invited from professionals in selected fields, including medicine, law, engineering, media and social work. A drop box has already been placed at the BJP's original headquarters on Muralidhar Sen Lane in north Kolkata to receive applications from professionals interested in contesting the civic polls on the party's ticket. Applicants have been asked to submit their biodata along with their applications. Our central leadership does not want any resentment within the party over the selection of candidates for the civic polls. Therefore, the candidate will not be decided by anyone's single decision. Names will come from the grassroots and then be vetted by the district election core committee and the state-level committee. Only after this process will the final names of the candidates be announced, the state committee member said. The BJP's state leadership will also work on its campaign strategy and identify key issues to be raised during the civic poll campaign. These discussions will take place alongside the exercise to shortlist candidates after Lakshmi Puja.
KP Constable PET Admit Card 2026 Out - Download PMT PET Hall Ticket at prb.wb.gov.in
KP Constable PET Admit Card 2026 has been released on 15 October 2026 by the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB). Candidates shortlisted for the Kolkata Police Constable and Lady Constable PMT/PET can download their hall tickets from the official website. The physical tests will begin on 28 October 2026. Check the direct download link, test date, venue, reporting time and steps to download the admit card here.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment Exam 2024 question paper leak, uncovering evidence of organized financial fraud and corporate collusion. Investigators from the EDs Bhubaneswar zonal office conducted raids across 12 strategic locations in Odisha and West Bengal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), [] The post Odisha SI Exam Paper Leak: ED Raids 12 Locations in Money Laundering Probe, Uncovers Corporate Racket appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
West Bengal aids 58,000 Durga Puja organisers as festival marks change
The News Mill
West Bengal Governor RN Ravi inaugurates Dhakuria Durga Puja pandal
The News Mill
After political shift, Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja puts spotlight on Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Loans for SIR hearing, lost wages, but no clarity on voter status for Bengali workers in Bengaluru
More than 3,500 people, according to the Karnataka Bengali Kalyan Samiti, formed by and for West Bengal-based workers in Bengaluru, are under adjudication for logical discrepancy
TCG chairman by his side, CM Adhikari says group to invest Rs 10k crore in Haldia
Skidding Bikes Spark Road Safety Debate Over Kolkata flyover Rainbow Paint
Social Messages & Inclusive Infra At Kolkata Pandals
India to be theme country in 50th International Kolkata Book Fair
Tolly-Bolly Bonhomie: 9 Films Up For Release, No Conflict Over Showtime
After accident, Garia couple faces extortion bid
SRFTI alumnas A Chronicle of Minor Things wins top Busan awards
Auto curbs leave thousands stranded
Bike-car collision: Woman suffers multiple injuries
HC allows 2 pujas in Sealdah park
BJP to have 5,000 book stalls near puja pandals to reach out to youths, voters
Stifling other parties voices is not democracy: Calcutta High Court to state
6k cops help ease Chaturthi traffic jams
KMC wraps up desilting of box drains
Puzzle authors from across the globe share their experiences at 33rd World Puzzle Championship
Kolkata is hosting the 19th World Sudoku and 33rd World Puzzle Championship (WSPC) 2026. The tournament, organised by Logic Masters India (LMI), is showcasing elite mind sports athletes from 35 countries this year
Mamata assailant gets bail, CP says charge baseless
Met office assures no dampening of festivities, puja clubs all set to repel rain effect
Chatbot down, KMC birth cert backlog crosses 20k
Vivekananda poster row erupts at Presidency, student unions trade charges
Caught with mobiles, 15 examinees lose enrolment for Higher Secondary 1st part
8 SRFTI students get show-cause notices
Eastern Railway bars last-minute platform changes during Durga Puja
Calcutta High Court rejects Soham Chakrabortys anticipatory bail plea
West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced plans to make the state an investment hub within the next year. New industrial and incentive policies will be introduced before Diwali to support this initiative. The HPL Adperma plant in Haldia, the largest of its kind, will enhance domestic chemical production. HPL is investing heavily in the new facility, which aims to strengthen Haldia's chemical manufacturing capabilities.
Watch: Bikers skid on Kolkatas rainbow-painted flyover after rain ahead of Durga Puja
West Bengals sacred soil shapes citys Durga idols
Suruchi Sangha's Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata showcased the life and legacy of Syama Prasad Mukherjee through theme-based decorations, marking the 125th birth anniversary of the political leader. Speaking about this year's theme, Suruchi Sangha secretary Sourav Sikdar said the organisation had chosen to highlight Mukherjee's contribution and legacy. This year, we are celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. He was a great leader, and without his contribution, West Bengal might not have remained part of India, Sikdar said. He also highlighted the cultural significance of Durga Puja in the state, describing it as a major festival celebrated on a grand scale. Durga Puja, the biggest festival for Sanatanis, is celebrated on a grand scale here, he said. The theme-based pandal brings together the festive celebrations and a presentation of Mukherjee's life, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with his historical and political legacy during Durga Puja. Mean...
Rediscovered in 2025, rare Borna snakehead fish faces fresh poaching crisis
Native exclusively to the Chel River basin in northern West Bengal, the species was first described in 1845 before virtually disappearing from scientific records for more than 80 years
Haldia Petrochemicals Opens Major Phenol-Acetone Facility
A new Rs 6,000 crore integrated phenol and acetone plant, India's largest, has been inaugurated in Haldia, West Bengal. Developed by Adperma Private Limited, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL), the facility aims to reduce India's reliance on imported industrial chemicals and boost the domestic specialty chemicals sector. West Bengal's Chief Minister announced a new industrial policy following the inauguration.
Jkhand youth held over offensive post on PM
Two killed, two injured as ex-TMC MLAs SUV hits toto
Odisha: ED uncovers organised network behind SI exam paper leak
Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhubaneswar Zonal Office, has conducted a search operation at 12 premises located in Odisha and West Bengal between October 9, 10 and 12, in connection with the leakage of the question paper of the Sub Inspector Recruitment Exam-2024 in Odisha, the agency informed on Wednesday. The searches were carried out at the premises of M/s Silicon Techlab Private Limited, M/s Panchsoft Technologies Private Limited, M/s PSIL International Limited, their directors and other associates. During the searches, the ED sleuths unearthed and seized various incriminating documents, electronic devices and records under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The seized materials are under further examination. The case dates back to October 2025, when Odisha Police registered an FIR after intercepting three buses carrying 114 SI recruitment candidates near Ichhapuram on September 30 last year. The case was later taken over by the CBI. Candidates were also allegedly asked to pay Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh each for leaked question papers. The exam was scheduled for October 56, 2025, the ED said. The ED found that the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) assigned the examination to Central PSU ITI Limited, which subsequently outsourced the work to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Techlab Private Limited (STPL). However, STPL, through its director Suresh Chandra Nayak, allegedly sublet the work of handling sensitive candidate information to Panchsoft Technology Private Limited without the written permission of ITI Limited, in connivance with Panchsoft Technologys director Sankar Prusty. Subsequently, the persons linked with Silicon Techlab and Sankar Prusty approached the candidates and lured them with the promise of providing the confidential information of the exam paper in place of money and mobilised them, the ED noted. The sleuths came across a set of transactions between accused Prusty and STPL even before the commencement of the SI Recruitment Exam-2024 process, which shows their connivance. It is also revealed that PSIL International Limited (formerly Patnaik Steel International Limited) and its directors, Sameer Rath and wife Saswati Mishra, acquired a majority stake in Silicon Techlab under a purported share purchase agreement dated August 5, 2023, which is under further examination. Investigation revealed that the said agreement was never submitted before the Registrar of Companies by either of the two companies, ED stated. The agency found that despite PSIL directors acquiring a controlling stake and management control of STPL, Nayak remained its director and corresponded with ITI Limited on the SI examination without authorisation. Despite knowing that Nayak was handling the examination work without authorisation, Sameer Rath and Swasti Mishra did not inform ITI Limited. Subsequently, Nayak unauthorisedly accessed the examination papers. Investigations and searches conducted so far have unearthed the role of companies/entities which have so far remained outside the investigative net of agencies. Further, searches have also revealed the possible role of other persons, including those associated with OPRB & other companies/ entities. Such entities are intricately linked with the entire examination cycle, ED added. The agency concluded on the basis of evidence collected during searches that the question paper was leaked in an organised manner, generating substantial proceeds of crime through cash collected from candidates.
Kolkata High Court Orders Removal of Old EVM Data Ahead of Local Elections
The Kolkata High Court has directed the West Bengal Election Commission to delete old EVM data in preparation for upcoming urban body elections. Kolkata High Court Orders Removal of Old EVM Data Ahead of Local Elections
West Bengal offers 5,000 and 50 kg rice to families hit by tea garden closures
The festive package will cover workers aged below 60, while the state government also plans to reopen 21 closed tea gardens
Bengal govt: Feed street dogs and cats only at designated spots or face action
4 of family die in Midnapore septic tank
Bengal BJP must get rid of garbage within it, says RSS mag
7th pay panel seeks staff data from state depts
Tripura CM Manik Saha Urges Restoration of Agartala Flight Routes
'No substance or truth': Kolkata Police dismisses claim of knife attack on Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand on Wednesday rejected allegations that former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was attacked by a woman outside her residence while she was on her way to inaugurate a...
Bengal cabinet passes resolution thanking Modi for 25 years of public service
Bengal urges investors to use allotted land or surrender it for projects
West Bengal urged investors to use or surrender unused land as an HPL subsidiary inaugurated a 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant in Haldia to boost self-reliance
NLC to set up BESS projects at multiple locations in West Bengal
NIRL emerged as the successful bidder under Tariff- Based Competitive Bidding and accordingly has received Letter of Award from WBSEDCL for the development of aforesaid project
School Holiday Tomorrow: On October 15, 2026, schools in most parts of India are anticipated to operate as usual, although a national holiday has not been declared. Certain states might have local holidays, especially West Bengal, which may adjust school timings due to Durga Puja festivities. Parents should check school notifications and local news to confirm arrangements, as unexpected weather changes and local alerts could affect school schedules.
Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal to be rain-free: IMD
According to the India Meteorological Department, rain-free weather is expected in West Bengal during Durga Puja. Light to moderate rain may occur until October 17 in Kolkata and surrounding districts. The festival starts on October 18 and continues until October 22 with dry conditions. North Bengal could experience light rain on the first day but will have dry weather afterward.
Fake RTO app used to hack phone, siphon Rs 24.40 lakh; Gujarat Police nab account provider in Bengal
Digital Desk | Surat, Oct 14 (IANS) The Surat City Police Cyber Crime Branch have arrested a 54-year-old man in West Bengal for allegedly providing a bank account to cyber fraudsters to route proceeds from a Rs 24.4 lakh fraud in which a complainant's mobile phone was hacked through a fake Regional Transport Office (RTO) e-challan APK file, officials said on Wednesday. The accused, Arikul Islam, a resident of Basubati village in West Bengal's Hooghly district, allegedly opened a current bank account in the name of a charitable trust he had established and handed it over to an absconding accused in exchange for a commission of Rs 50,000. Police said the accused had allegedly sent the complainant a fake digital RTO e-challan application, named E-Chalan.apk, and induced them to download it. The application was used to hack the complainant's mobile phone, following which Rs 24.4 lakh was transferred from their bank account to three separate bank accounts without their knowledge. A case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, as amended in 2008. Investigators found that Rs 12,42,117 had been transacted through the current account held at Ujjivan Small Finance Bank between November 29, 2025, and May 3, 2026. The arrest followed technical investigations conducted by a team led by Police Inspector M.C. Nayak, acting on instructions from senior officials. Two other accused, Ritik Bali, 26, and Tinku Parmar, 44, both residents of Badnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, had been arrested earlier in the case, the police said. In its public advisory, the Cyber Crime Branch cautioned people against downloading APK files or applications sent by unknown persons under the pretext of RTO challans, banking services, customer support, KYC updates, government schemes, appointment bookings or grocery services. Police also urged people not to click on suspicious links received through SMS or email and advised victims of financial cyber fraud to call the national cybercrime helpline, '1930', immediately, as prompt reporting can improve the chances of freezing the funds in beneficiary bank accounts.
Mamata Banerjee condemns the arrest of CJP leaders
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) Former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday condemned the arrest of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on charges of trespassing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and also committed to always side with the CJPs movement. We, and many generations before us, have fought strongly for our democratic rights. We must continue to do so. I strongly condemn the arrest of Ashutosh and Saurav of the CJP. These moments are about us all, pledging and standing up to fight unitedly to protect our great democracy. This is an attempt to intimidate and silence an entire generation. This is unacceptable. We must never surrender our constitutional rights, said the former Chief Minister in a social media message. She also claimed that the murder of democracy was happening in many parts of the country. 14,000 of our people in Bengal are facing the brunt of police and political atrocities. A government that has forgotten that it is of the people, by the people, for the people is nearing its end. To the millions of young people, I say: Your Didi is with you - today and forever! Let us stand together and save our Mother India, she said. Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, were in the national capital recently to take part in the CJP movement demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police had already banned protest demonstrations at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar. However, on the very next day after the ban was imposed, a total of 14 CJP supporters, including Ashutosh and Saurav, climbed the wall of Jantar Mantar and entered the premises. They were carrying the Tricolour and were initially detained, but the Delhi Police arrested them late on Tuesday. Ashutosh, Saurabh and others were produced before the court of an executive magistrate on Wednesday and were remanded to five-day judicial custody. They have been sent to Tihar Jail.
Calcutta HC directs deletion of old EVM data for upcoming urban civic polls in Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal Election Commission (WBEC) to erase old data stored in electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in previous elections in wake of the polls for different urban civic bodies in the state, including that of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation. However, the division bench of the Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai directed the WBEC not to erase the old EVM data in cases of three specific wards of the KMC and the Contai municipality in East Midnapore district. Incidentally, in the previous hearing on this matter on October 12, the Chief Justice's bench had asked the WBEC whether it was possible to save data from the voting machines (EVMs) involved in the case on a hard disk and whether it was necessary to delete the previous data before using the EVMs in the forthcoming civic body polls. In response, the WBEC told the court that it was possible to delete the old data. In the past, several EVMs were preserved due to cases surrounding urban civic body elections conducted in the past. This year, the polls for several urban civic bodies are scheduled to be held in November this year and the results are expected to be announced in December. But since the WBEC did not have enough EVMs, they approached the Calcutta High Court for permission to delete the data of the EVMs involved in the case and use them again. State Additional Advocate General Bilabial Bhattacharya on Wednesday told the court that the Supreme Court's stay order was applicable only to certain wards under Contai municipality and in case of specific wards in other municipalities they were under consideration of the Calcutta High Court. Thereafter, the division bench directed the deletion of old data from EVMs except for those in cases of three specific wards of the KMC and the Contai municipality in East Midnapore district.
Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd Wins Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability 2026
VMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 14: Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd has been declared winner of the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability (GPAS) 2026 in Chemical sector, by the Institute of Directors (IOD), India, in recognition of its steadfast commitment to embedding sustainability at the core of its business strategy and operations. The Golden Peacock Awards are regarded as a global benchmark of corporate excellence. The awards draw around 1,000 applications each year. Entries are evaluated by independent assessors through a rigorous, multi-stage process, and the final selection is made by an eminent jury. Out of 456 nominations received this year, 197 organisations were shortlisted, and Himadri's performance surpassed the benchmark required to qualify for this prestigious honour. The award will be presented at the Golden Peacock Awards Presentation Ceremony during IOD India
Holiday on Maha Saptami Puja: Bankers in West Bengal are appealing for an additional holiday on October 17 to celebrate Maha Saptami Puja. While days off are currently set from October 18 to 21, the absence of a holiday on the 17th has prompted the All India Bank Officers' Confederation to reach out to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday that the new industrial policy of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government that will be released just before the forthcoming Diwali festival will also have a transparent land policy as well as an incentive policy to attract big ticket investment in the state. He made this announcement while speaking at the inauguration of the Rs 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plants of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited at the industrial township of Haldia in East Midnapore district of West Bengal, which is also the native district of the Chief Minister. The Group of Ministers entrusted with the task of formulating the new industrial policy had already submitted the proposals on this count. Before the forthcoming Diwali festival, the final industrial policy will be presented to the industry fraternity. The new policy will also have a transparent land policy as well as a transparent incentive policy. The incentive policy will provide details of incentives, including power tariff subsidy, that will be provided to the investors, Chief Minister Adhikari said. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched a scathing attack against the previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments in West Bengal, accusing both the regimes of systematically destroying the industrial ambience in the state. Militant trade unionism and even assault of industrialists during the previous Left Front regime had driven away several industrial units from West Bengal during the 34-year Left Front regime from 1977 to 2011. Thereafter, during the previous 15-year Trinamool Congress regime from 2011 to 2026, the flawed land policies of the state government, rampant corruption and extortion had made industrialists averse towards West Bengal. Now time has come to move on and move out of that bad phase, Chief Minister Adhikari said. He also made a promise that the state government will operate on the industrial front in such a manner that in the next one year West Bengal will become the industrial destination for industrialists throughout the country. Let us go to Bengal -- will be the new aim of the industrialists within a year. No one can stop the tide of industrial inflow in the state in the coming days. West Bengal will move forward with a double-engine government. More industrial investment will be made in the state in the coming days, the Chief Minister said.
Diplomats experience West Bengal Durga Pujas, explore business opportunities
West Bengal plays a significant role within the larger national ambition, Parthiv Neotia, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the envoys, says
Sundeep Bhutoria Brings Bengal
PNN Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 14: On the occasion of Mahalaya, cultural enthusiast Sundeep Bhutoria has lent his voice to the narration of Mahishasura Mardini Ki Gatha, the saga of Goddess Durga
West Bengal has to become self-reliant from being dependent on doles says CM Suvendu Adhikari
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari laid the foundation of 6,000 crore phenol and acetone plant at Haldia
Kolkata Police Constable Result Out: Nearly 48,000 Shortlisted For Physical Tests
West Bengal Police announced the Kolkata Police Constable and Lady Constable 2026 preliminary exam results on the official WBPRB website.
Bengal STF busts illegal arms factory in Kolkata
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 14 (IANS) In a sudden operation late on Tuesday night after a tip off by their sources, the sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police busted an illegal arms manufacturing factory on the southern outskirts of Kolkata, the state police informed on Wednesday morning. Several single-shot guns, pistols, and cartridges were recovered during the raid operation. In addition, the STF sleuths also recovered cartridges and firearm-manufacturing equipment. An insider from the state police said that this illegal arms manufacturing factory was found after a raid was conducted on a house in Ayubnagar under Nadial Police Station on the southern Kolkata on Tuesday. However, the state police official added, the owner fled the house before the STF raid was conducted. It is alleged that he had set up an arms manufacturing factory in the house. In this raid, two 7 mm guns, two country-made pistols were recovered. It is also reported that firearms manufacturing equipment and cartridges were also found. It is learnt that the STF had registered a case under the Arms Act at Nadial Police Station. According to the state police official, it has been possible to identify the accused. The STF has started search operations at various places in search of him. The investigating officials are trying to get answers to other questions related to the matter, namely for how long had the accused been secretly making weapons in that house, from whom did he get the orders and from where he bought the equipment According to police sources, once the accused is nabbed, a lot of crucial information would be obtained through interrogation. It will also be possible to know then whether anyone else is involved in this gang or not, the state police officer said. It is learnt that during the last few days, there have been a series of instances of firearms recovery from various areas in and around Kolkata. The police have started an investigation to get to the bottom of all these incidents and find the main source of arms smuggling. While collecting information, the STF sleuths came to know that all these weapons spread across different parts of the city are being manufactured in a very secretive manner somewhere. Thereafter, the raids were conducted, and the illegal firearms manufacturing factory was busted.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday alleged that fair and independent elections were not held in the state for the past 50 years, claiming electoral results changed after people were allowed to vote freely. Commenting on elections in West Bengal, Ghosh said, It is true that for the past 50 years in Bengal, fair and independent elections were not held; people were not allowed to vote. As soon as fair elections began here, the results turned around. The party that had been ruling here for 15 years did not even get 3 per cent of the votes, so it has become clear where the vote theft was happening. Ghosh criticised the Congress leader's approach, questioning the practical implementation of his ideas. He said, Rahul Gandhi will remain a student all his life. We will never get to see the practical application of his teachings. Responding to the Trinamool Congress's allegations that former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was attacked outside her residence in Kolkata's...
West Bengal minister alleges no fair elections held in past 50 years
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West Bengal By-elections and what they mean for Opposition politics in the State
Despite these trends, the margin of victory of the BJP in the recently concluded bypolls at Nandigram and Rejinagar is something that must ring alarm bells for the Opposition parties.
