Page 14 - West Bengal

Was Centre informed about blasts in Ekbalpur clashes? HC asks Bengal govt

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday morning directed the West Bengal government to inform it by 2 pm whether the mandatory provision of communicating to the Centre about bomb explosions during the clashes in Ekbalpur was followed. Taking up two petitions seeking NIA investigation into the communal clashes, the court said that a mandatory report to the Centre under section 6 of the NIA Act is required for it to decide whether a probe by the central agency is required. A division bench presided by Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the state government to inform it by 2 pm on whether the mandatory provision was complied with. Advocate TM Siddiqui, representing the state government, told the court that five FIRs have been filed in connection with the clashes at Mayurbhanj in Ekbalpur area of southwest Kolkata on Sunday, and submitted a report on the incident.

TMC MLA arrested in primary teachers jobs scam, remanded to ED custody

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress MLA Manik Bhattacharya in the early hours of Tuesday after night-long questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of primary teachers, officials said. Bhattacharya, the former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, was arrested for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation, they said. "Mr Bhattacharya has been arrested for his continued non-cooperating with the investigators during questioning, which began on Monday afternoon. He also tried to misdirect the investigators," an ED officer told PTI. When produced before a city court, the MLA of Palashipara in Nadia district was remanded to 14 days of ED custody. Earlier, the Supreme Court granted Bhattacharya "protection" from being arrested by the CBI, which is also investigating the case. The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam, while the CBI is looking into the alleged irregularities committ

Only green firecrackers with QR codes to be imported, sold in Bengal: HC

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed that no fireworks other than green crackers bearing QR codes would be imported and sold in West Bengal. It also said that only green crackers bearing QR codes would be sold at a 'bazi bazar' (firecracker market) which is proposed to be held in Kolkata from October 18. The court directed that representatives of the state pollution control board (PCB) and police personnel will inspect firecrackers which would be sold at the market and the police will seize banned firecrackers which are offered for sale there. A division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Apurba Sinha Roy directed the state PCB and the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata to deploy the appropriate number of personnel in the 'bazi bazar' to ensure implementation of the direction. "Similar exercise shall be undertaken by pollution control board and police authorities to prevent importation and sale of firecrackers other than green firecrackers bearing QR code in any plac

National Games: W Bengal hammer Kerala 5-0 to clinch gold in men's football

West Bengal punished pre-tournament favourites Kerala for their defensive lapses to clinch the men's football gold medal with a 5-0 victory at the Eka Arena TransStadia here on Tuesday.

West Bengal CID quizzes BJP MLA in AIIMS-Kalyani recruitment irregularities

BJP MLA Niladri Sekhar Dana appeared before the West Bengal CID on Tuesday morning for questioning in the alleged recruitment irregularities at AIIMS-Kalyani, a senior officer said. Dana, the MLA of Bankura, reached the CID office in Bhabani Bhaban in south Kolkata around 11 am, he said. The CID earlier questioned the BJP leader's daughter Maitri Dana, who was recruited at AIIMS-Kalyani. It is alleged that he used his influence for his daughter's recruitment at the hospital in Nadia district. The CID started the investigation after a complaint was filed by a job aspirant at the Kalyani police station. Besides Dana, Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar, BJP MLA Bankim Chandra Ghosh and four others have been named in the police complaint.

135 fishermen return to West Bengal after over a year in Bangladesh jail

Total 135 fishermen returned to their homes in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas after spending over a year in a Bangladeshi jail, their union said on Sunday. Due to strong currents in the Bay of Bengal, eight trawlers with these fishermen on board entered the Bangladeshi waters in June last year, it said. They were intercepted by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and handed over to the local police at Mongla Port in Khulna, said Satinath Patra, the secretary of Sundarban Saamudrik Matsyajibi Sramik Union. After coordinated efforts at different levels, including the Union Home Ministry, and with the cooperation of the Bangladeshi authorities, they were released from the neighbouring country on October 3, he said. They reached different ghats of Kakdwip on Thursday, he added. "We are happy that they could come back to their families finally. These fishermen are residents of different villages in Kakdwip and Namkhana," Patra said. "Two more trawlers in which 30 fishermen were on board ar

Kerala, West Bengal to clash in National Games men's football final

Kerala and West Bengal will clash in the finals of the mens football competition in the 36th National Games

Bengal police grill Adhikari's brother over 'irregularities' in civic body

Soumendu Adhikari, the younger brother of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was questioned by the West Bengal Police for around ten hours in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in some projects under Contai Municipality, an officer said on Saturday. According to police, alleged anomalies in the projects occurred when Soumendu was the chairman of the civic body. Soumendu, a former TMC leader and the two-time chairman of the Purba Medinipur district's second most populous municipality, had switched over to the BJP last year, just months ahead of the assembly polls. It was alleged that irregularities in the construction of stalls in a crematorium and the stealing of tarpaulins took place, while he, as a member of his former party, was the chairman of the municipal body. "He was questioned yesterday in connection with alleged irregularities that happened during his tenure as chairman. He will soon be summoned again," the police officer said. Terming the allegations as ...

Bengal flash flood: 450 rescued from Jalpaiguri's Mal river; BJP scans area

Around 450 people were rescued from the Mal River in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district after eight people were swept away and several others went missing due to flash floods in the waterbody during idol immersion of Goddess Durga. An eight-member BJP delegation visited the area, spoke to many of those who had been rescued, and met the kin of those killed in the flash floods. Meanwhile, the district administration said the rescue operation was stopped since last night "No one is missing as of now. Six people are still admitted to the hospital. The death toll so far is eight. We stopped the rescue operation late last night. But we have kept three rescue teams on standby," Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told PTI. It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure the safety and security of the devotees, party MP Jayanta Ray, who led the delegation, said. "The administration should have been more careful," Ray said. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha

Anubrata Mondal, crime proceeds recipient in cattle scam: CBI charge sheet

CBI has filed a fresh charge sheet in the cattle smuggling scam case, wherein the central agency has named Trinamool Congress's Anubrata Mondal as the direct recipient of the proceeds of the scam

PM Modi condoles loss of lives in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri flash floods

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to a mishap during Durga Puja festivities in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

8 dead, several missing after flash floods during idol immersion in Bengal

At least eight persons drowned and several others were feared missing, after they were swept away due to flash floods in the Mal river in Jalpaiguri district during idol immersion on the occasion of 'Vijayadashami', a senior official said. The incident took place in the evening when hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion ceremony. "All of a sudden, flash floods struck and people were swept away. So far, eight bodies have been recovered, and we have rescued around 50 people," Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told PTI. "The search and rescue operations are underway and being carried out by teams of the NDRF, SDRF, police and local administration, she said.

Curtains down on Durga puja festival in West Bengal with idol immersion

The five-day-long Durga Puja festival in West Bengal came to a close on Wednesday with the immersion of idols on 'Vijayadashami' at various river ghats across the state. Women participated in the traditional 'Sindur Khela' (smearing vermilion on each other's faces) and offered sweets and prayers to the goddess before bidding her farewell for the year. Organisers of most household and community pujas were seen leading colourful processions to the ghats amid the beating of drums and chanting of mantras. Shortly after the immersion, people exchanged sweets and greetings. At Babughat, which witnesses the highest number of idol immersions in the state, devotees were seen queuing up since 11 am, with chants of Asche bochor abar hobe' (till next year) adding to the fervour. According to sources in Kolkata Police, adequate security arrangements have been made on the thoroughfares and at the river ghats for peaceful observance of the idol-immersion ceremony. The immersion of big-ticket Du

Extension to ED's key official to maintain pace of probe in scams in Bengal

ED's decision to extend the term of deputation for Sudesh Kumar Sheoran is being perceived by the circles concerned as a step to maintain the pace of probe in various financial scams in the state

Crowds brave rain to visit puja pandals on 'Maha Ashtami' across Bengal

Braving rain, crowds swelled at the ornate Durga Puja pandals on Monday evening in Kolkata and across West Bengal after the ritualistic pushpanjali' (floral offerings) to the Goddess by worshippers in the morning of 'Maha Ashtami'. Festive fervour oozed all-around in the brightly illuminated city as revellers attired in their best descended on the streets to visit popular puja pandals, with the number of people increasing manyfold in the evening. Following the Maha Ashtami puja in the early morning, worshippers gathered at their local puja pandals to offer 'pushpanjali' to Goddess Durga amid chanting of mantras (hymns) by the priest. A forecast of rain by the Met department failed to deter the revellers as they appreciated the intricate artworks at the pandals after two years of Covid pandemic-related health safety restrictions. All Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal had been made no-entry zones for members of the public in 2020 and 2021 on orders of the Calcutta High Court to curb

Braving rains, lakhs throng pandals in West Bengal on Maha Saptami

Braving overcast skies and intermittent rains, lakhs of people hit the brightly illuminated streets in the city and elsewhere in West Bengal on Maha Saptami to see the exquisitely crafted idols of the goddess and her progeny. The number of pandal hoppers looked bigger on Maha Saptami, officially the first day of the four-day fsetival, than on the previous two days when the marquees were opened in advance for the enthusiastic public. Large crowds were seen near popular Puja pandals like Sribhumi Sporting Club, Santosh Mitra Square, College Square, Chetla Agrani, Ahiritola Sarbojonin, Kumortuli Sarbojonin, Hati Bagan Sarbojonin, Baghbazar Sarbojonin, Hindustan Park, Kashi Bose Lane, Mudiali Sarbojonin, 95 Pally, Jodhpur Park to name a few among the large number of big ticket pujas in the city. The giant 'ekchala' traditional idol at Baghbazar Sarbojonin attracted lakhs of viewers and Kolkata police and club volunteers worked hard to prevent any stampede-like situation. "As it rained

Best of BS Opinion: Surviving interesting times, Indian rich list & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

The lows of a high office: 'My ear is not working'

The moves made by former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his subsequent elevation as vice president have set a new benchmark for the actions of those who occupy Raj Bhavans

Adhikari urges Centre to check 'illegal diversion of funds' by WB govt

Accusing the West Bengal government of illegally diverting" Central funds, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, urged Union Finance minister to take appropriate steps so that the malpractices come to an end. He made the accusation in a series of tweets and also wrote a letter to the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard. The BJP leader in a tweet alleged that the state government had tactfully opened the State Nodal Account of Public Finance Management System in a private bank where the State Emergency Relief Fund Account was in operation so that Central funds could be easily diverted. "It is a can of worms waiting to be opened," he wrote on the micro-blogging site on Thursday. The MLA from Nandigram requested the Union minister to keep a tab on the transactions of the state government and attached a copy of the letter, dated September 29, with his tweet. Adhikari later tweeted, "one tweet of mine and West Bengal government is out of lin

1 dead, 9 TMC supporters injured in accident while returning from rally

An 11-year-old boy was killed and nine other TMC supporters were injured in a head on collision between their e-rickshaw and an SUV in West Bengal's Malda district, police said on Thursday. The TMC supporters were returning from a protest rally over price rise on Wednesday night when the accident happened at Sripur in Pukuria police station area, they said. The driver of the SUV, which was heading to Sripur from Lashkarpur, was allegedly drunk and not able to control the vehicle, he hit the e-rickshaw coming from the other side, they added. Six of those injured were admitted to the Chanchol Hospital, while four others were sent to the Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), police said. The boy, who was undergoing treatment at MMCH, died on Thursday morning, they said. The driver of the SUV has been apprehended, and the vehicle seized, police said.