Category Archives: Regional

Games & Sports, Regional

Tourism boost: Commercial paragliding begins in Kurseong

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 2 June 2024, Darjeeling: The first ever commercial paragliding in Kurseong commenced with two flights on Sunday. Kurseong Aero Club — a company — with the support from the Tourism department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has started this adventure sport facility in Kurseong. 

“The booking counter is located next to the Rohini Guest House. From here we will provide transportation to the take off point 3 km away. Once they fly to the landing point, they will be transported back to the booking counter area. 
The cost is Rs 4,000 per person for the 5 to 10 minute flight. If a person wants video clips of the flight done by us, an additional Rs 500 will have to be paid,” stated Pratish Chettri of the Kurseong Aero Club while speaking to Millennium Post. 
The booking counter is located 10 km away from Kurseong town and around 6 km away from Simulbari. The take off point at Chisopani is at an altitude of 840 m above mean sea level. The landing point is at an altitude of 440 m above mean sea level. 
The aerial distance between the two points is 1 km. When questioned on the safety provisions, Chettri stated: “We will provide an extra parachute for the flier. It is one of the safest flights as the take off and landing spots are in very safe areas. 
The landing area is so big that if one misses the demarcated landing spot one can easily land outside, which is a huge field. We have well trained and experienced pilots from Sikkim.” 
At present there are 6 to 10 gliders. There are three pilots from Sikkim. “One of the pilots has been flying since 2007, the other since 2012 and one since 2014. We will get more pilots in the near future,” added Chettri. 
There have been a number of test flights before the inauguration. The flag off was done by Anit Thapa, Chief Executive, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) on Saturday. “Tourism is the economic mainstay of the Hills. It provides opportunities for self-employment and is a major avenue of employment generation in the Hills. 
This endeavour will definitely emerge as a major boost to tourism in Kurseong as well as the Hills.” He stated that in the past also there have been unsuccessful attempts of introducing paragliding in Kurseong with problems with the landing point. 
“Kurseong Aero Club has been working for the past one year to make paragliding a success,” added Thapa. 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/tourism-boost-commercial-paragliding-begins-in-kurseong-566262
Regional, West Bengal

Cooch Behar man plants more than 3,000 trees for a greener future

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Shashikesh Roy, MP, 2 June 2024, Cooch Behar: Bajrang Parik, a resident of Cooch Behar, is guiding the entire town by planting trees as a saviour of the summer. 

At a time when trees are being cut down without regard for the environment, Bajrang Parik of Cooch Behar is silently working to benefit the environment. 
So far, he has planted more than 3,000 trees. Every morning, he sets out on his bicycle with planting equipment to take care of the trees according to the rules. 63-year-old Bajrang Parik resides at No. 2 Kalighat Road adjacent to Cooch Behar Railway Station. 
Although he owns a garment shop in Bhavaniganj Bazar, his primary task is tree planting. He mentioned: “Since 2005, I have been planting trees. 
Initially, I planted only flowers and fruit trees. I used to distribute saplings to some people. Later, I started planting various types of trees, including banyan and neem. I have planted many trees in the town and surrounding areas, including Cooch Behar Railway Station, Torsha, Saheb Colony, Kalighat Road, Lankabar and Vivekananda Street.” 
Bajrang added: “I make saplings at home myself and there are more than 100 saplings ready. In the morning, I go out with my bicycle, carrying saplings, soil and digging equipment. 
After planting a tree, I protect it with a sack or an old piece of saree and then I take care of it again. My goal is to create a large garden with banyan, mango, and jackfruit trees, where there will be cool breezes and birdsong.” 
Environmentalists emphasise that trees are indispensable for maintaining the balance of nature and the cutting of trees contributes to rising temperatures. In such circumstances, everyone should follow the example of Bajrang and come forward to plant trees. 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cooch-behar-man-plants-more-than-3000-trees-for-a-greener-future-566265?infinitescroll=1
Health, Regional, West Bengal

Safe drinking water supply resumes in Siliguri

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Sanchita Aich Bag, MP, 2 June 2024, Siliguri: Finally after five days, citizens of Siliguri were supplied with safe drinking water by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation from Sunday evening with water pumped from the Teesta River. Gautam Deb, Mayor of Siliguri in a Press conference on Sunday, announced: “The Public Health department (PHE) has given approval for drinking the water supplied by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) from the Teesta River. 

As per our commitment, we started supplying purified drinking water from Teesta from Sunday evening, after getting approval from
the PHE department. I apologise for the inconvenience that people had to face during these days. 
I thank our Chief Minister, who was constantly in touch with me.”
On May 29, the Mayor had appealed to citizens not to drink the water supplied by SMC till June 2 as the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the water of Mahananda River has increased, which could cause illness. Sabita Sarkar, a resident of Ward 35, said: “I was buying packaged drinking water. 
, on Sunday evening we received purified water again like before at around 6:30 pm. The Mayor announced that we could drink the water from Sunday.” 
Owing to the flash floods in Teesta River, the Teesta Dam at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri was damaged resulting in heavy siltation thus pumping of water from Teesta had to be stopped.
Instead, they started pumping water from the Mahananda River and supplied it to every ward for drinking purposes. While testing the water, PHE had found that the amount of BOD had increased in the Mahananda River’s water. 
The usual amount should be 1-2 Portable Parallel Analysis (PPA) whereas it was 2.9 PPA. Earlier, Deb informed that work on repairs of the Teesta Dam would be over by June 1 and purified water from the Teesta River would be supplied from the evening of June 2. 
The Irrigation department released water from Teesta River to Fulbari Canal on Saturday. The water was then purified and sent to wards. 
The Mayor also said that cleaning work of Fuleswari, Jorapani, Panchanai rivers has started. 
Rs 10 crores has been sanctioned for this. People of Siliguri heaved a sigh of relief with the normalising of safe drinking water supply.
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/safe-drinking-water-supply-resumes-in-siliguri-566268
Crime, Regional

Ramakrishna Mission ashram vandalism case in Siliguri: Prime accused arrested

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MP, 2 June 2024, Siliguri: The prime accused in the vandalism incident at Ramakrishna Mission in Siliguri — Pradeep Roy — was arrested by the Bhaktinagar Police and Special Operation Group (SOG) 13 days after the incident. 

Roy was arrested from a bus stand near the Siliguri Railway Junction on Saturday night. A total of 9 people have been arrested in the case so far. The police produced Pradeep at the Jalpaiguri Court on Sunday with a prayer for police remand for seven days. 
Pradeep Roy, is a resident of Bhaktinagar Police Station area in Siliguri. In the past also, he has been involved in many land grab and extortion cases, said the police. On May 19 at around 3:30 am, Pradeep Roy, along with 10 to 12 other miscreants, armed with firearms and other sharp weapons, entered the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram and tried to take possession of it. 
Threatening the monks with dire consequences, they manhandled the monks and forced them out of the premises. 
After the incident, Ramakrishna Mission authorities had lodged a written complaint against Pradeep and others. Since then, Pradeep was absconding. Police sources said he was hiding in his sister’s house in Jalpaiguri. 
When the police arrived, he fled. He had planned to flee to Kolkata or Bihar, whichever bus he would get. Accordingly, he was waiting for the bus at the Junction area on Saturday night, where he was arrested. 
He was booked under sections 457 ( house-trespass), 427 (Mischief causing damage), 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 379 (Punishment for Theft), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Dipak Sarkar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East Zone said: “Further investigation is going on. Actions will be taken as per law.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/ramakrishna-mission-ashram-vandalism-case-in-siliguri-prime-accused-arrested-566271
Regional, Sikkim

Tragedy Strikes as Vehicle Bound for Gangtok Plunges Into Teesta River

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 2 June 2024: In a tragic incident today, an Innova vehicle veered off NH 10 near Likhubhir and plummeted into the Teesta River. The vehicle, registered under WB 76 7218, met with the accident around 5 pm while traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok, carrying three individuals, including the driver.

The victims have been identified as Yogesh Gurung (28 years old) from Rangbul, Darjeeling, who was driving at the time, and passengers Tamenana Satyanarayana (47 years old) and Badarla Veera Venkata Raman (57 years old), both from Secunderabad, Hyderabad.

Preliminary reports suggest that drowsiness may have overcome the driver, causing the vehicle to veer off course and plunge off the road into the riverbank below. The impact of the crash left all three occupants injured, necessitating emergency responders to transport them to Rambhi Rural Hospital for immediate medical attention.

The local community is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, underscoring the critical importance of adhering to road safety measures, especially during long-distance journeys.  

Regional, West Bengal

Monsoon reaches northern West Bengal six days ahead of schedule: Met Department

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The weather office forecast widespread rain in the sub-Himalayan districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Kalimpong and Darjeeling, with the possibility of heavy downpours in one or two places, over the next five days


PTI, Calcutta, 31.05.24 : Calcutta recorded 65 mm rainfall, bringing night temperature down to 23.7 degree Celsius from nearly 30 degrees a day earlier.:File picture.

The southwest monsoon reached sub-Himalayan West Bengal on Friday, covering most parts of the region, nearly a week ahead of schedule, the Met Department said.

The southwest monsoon normally reaches northern West Bengal on June 5 and the southern part of the state around June 9.

The faster movement of the southwest monsoon into the region could have been caused by the combined effect of cyclone Remal, bringing the southwesterly wind to the coasts from the Bay of Bengal, and thereafter the monsoon’s movement was attracted by a trough existing over northern West Bengal, weather officials said.

The weather office forecast widespread rain in the sub-Himalayan districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Kalimpong and Darjeeling, with the possibility of heavy downpours in one or two places, over the next five days.

The places that recorded significant rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Friday in northern Bengal are Alipurduar (45 mm), Jalpaiguri (43 mm) and Coochbehar (28 mm), it said.

The Met Department also forecast thunderstorms with lightning and gusty wind in the southern Bengal districts, including Calcutta, during the next three days.

Calcutta recorded 65 mm rainfall, bringing night temperature down to 23.7 degree Celsius from nearly 30 degrees a day earlier, the Met said. 
Regional

Teesta rehabilitation work going on in full swing: Anit Thapa

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 31 May 2024, Darjeeling: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Anit Thapa, on a round of Teesta on Friday, remarked that relief and rehabilitation work was going on in full swing and the process for compensation from the NHPC to the Teesta flash flood victims was near completion. 

He also said 65 per cent work on the construction of embankment dams was completed. Regarding frequent inundation, Thapa said: “Unless the Union government gives permission for desiltation, nothing much can be done.” 
Incidentally a Glacial Lake outburst had triggered flash floods in River Teesta on October 4, 2023 causing widespread damage downstream in Sikkim along with Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri district in Bengal. An NHPC dam at Chungthang in North Sikkim, was also washed away by the Teesta. More than 300 houses were damaged along the river in the Kalimpong district. 
Answering questions from mediapersons, Thapa stated: “Rehabilitation work is on. Every disaster victim received the stipulated amount of Rs 75,000 as per state government rules. However, GTA has started an initiative to build houses for the homeless. The government will hand over the land and house construction will begin.”
He further stated that some families had requested compensation from NHPC. “Accordingly, a committee was constituted to look into the compensation. A survey was conducted under the supervision of the committee. Documents have been prepared after assessment. The process had reached the final stage. 
Soon the victims will receive compensation from the NHPC,” assured Thapa. 
When questioned about the surge in the water level of the Teesta with rains causing inundation of the roads, Thapa stated: “The permanent solution is desiltation. The flash floods have brought in huge amounts of silt and raised the river bed. 
Unless sand and silt is taken out, the matter cannot be resolved. This needs special permission from the Union government,” stated Thapa. The Union government has enforced a ban on quarrying on the Teesta and other mountain rivers. 
“I’m not talking of quarrying but sand and silt have to be removed. It is the demand of the local residents also. It cannot be done now. After monsoons we will ask the district administration and state government to take up the matter with the Union government,” added Thapa. Courtesy & source- MilleniumPost
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/moderate-to-heavy-rain-likely-in-north-bengal-in-next-5-days-566149?infinitescroll=1
Regional, West Bengal

‘Moderate to heavy rain likely in North Bengal in next 5 days’

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MP, 1 June 2024, Kolkata: Overnight rainfall occurred in several parts of South Bengal. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in several North Bengal districts in the next 5 days. Orange alert has been issued for some of the North Bengal districts, including Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. 

Several districts in South Bengal received pre-monsoon rainfall late on Thursday night, dropping the temperature by 6 degree Celsius. The lowest temperature on Friday was registered at 23.7 degree Celsius while a day before it stood at 30 degrees. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore said that monsoon may enter North Bengal on Sunday, five days ahead of its usual time of arrival. 
As per prediction, the monsoon will bring rainfall in the region. Incidentally, southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday. Generally, the monsoon enters Kerala on June 5. The MeT office said that South Bengal districts will also receive rainfall over the weekend. 
A strong breeze may be sweeping through in the region on Sunday. The MeT office already predicted heavy rainfall in several North Bengal districts in the next 24 hours. Orange alert has been issued for the districts like Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar as they are expected to receive heavy rainfall. 
It will rain in North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur as well. Monsoon generally enters Jalpaiguri on June 7, Siliguri on June 8, South Bengal on June 10 and Kolkata on June 11. It is not however clear as to when the monsoon will hit the city. 
There may be some scattered rainfall in some of the South Bengal districts during the weekend, the MeT office said. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/crew-management-system-replaces-register-entry-of-guards-566148?infinitescroll=1
Regional

Trekker death prompts Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to draw new plans for safety

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Mandatory halt for acclimatisation, setting up a health post and a compulsory fitness certificate from a doctor are among few new rules
A snow-covered road at Sandakphu in March this year

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, 31.05.24 : The recent death of a 29-year-old youth from North Dinajpur from suspected high altitude sickness while he was on way to Sandakphu has prompted the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to draw up new plans for the safety of trekkers to Bengal’s highest point located at 12,000 feet above sea level.

Among these include mandatory halt for acclimatisation, setting up a health post and a compulsory fitness certificate from a doctor.
Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, the chief coordinator of adventure tourism in the GTA, said during the peak season, around 500 tourists and trekkers visit Sandakphu every day.

They reach the location by covering a 35-kilometre-long steep hilly mountain road by foot or hiring Land Rovers from Manebhanjan.

“We will request tourists and trekkers to halt at Tumling or Meghma for at least a day to acclimatise with the weather to avoid high altitude sickness. Before boarding a vehicle or starting a trek, they will have to furnish a fitness certificate issued by a doctor to our representatives,” said Sherpa. He said that they had already submitted their proposals to the principal secretary of the GTA so that necessary orders were issued in this regard.

As of now, two health workers of GTA, who are trained to provide first aid and can handle oxygen cylinders, are posted at Manebhanjan and Sandakphu. The nearest health centre is at Sukhiapokhri, 45km away.

In case of any medical emergency, trekkers, homestay owners and other members of the local population are wholly dependent on this health centre.

Arun Sigchi, the executive member of health and family welfare department of the GTA, said considering the inflow of tourists in Sandakphu, they have decided to open a health post at the site.

Once the proposal gets final nod at the meeting of GTA’s executive body meeting, the post would be opened, he said.

“There will be basic amenities like oxygen cylinders and first-aid equipment, along with medicines which are essential for such a high-altitude area to address respiratory and cardiac problems. We can’t afford to keep a doctor on a permanent basis at the spot, but arrangements will be made so that doctors keep on visiting the health post,” said Sigchi.

Also, an ambulance would be kept at Sandakphu to carry patients in case of emergency, he added.

On May 26, Tanmoy Kundu, who was from Kaliaganj of North Dinajpur, had been to Tumling, a hamlet on the way to Sandakphu, with five other friends. He fell sick and on the next day, his friends made arrangements to shift him to the block health centre at Sukhiapokhri, which is around 45 kilometres away.

Tanmoy lost his senses during the trip and on reaching the hospital, doctors pronounced him dead. Later, a post-mortem was conducted and his body was taken to his home town for the last rites.
Courtesy & source- the Telegraph
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Higher Secondary Edu Council uploads textual components of language papers on website

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SOUMITRA NANDI, MP, 31 May 2024, Kolkata: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has uploaded the textual components of all the language papers on its website for the benefit of students, teachers and the general academic community. The decision comes in the wake of slim chances of availability of the printed version of the books before the third week of June. The schools will reopen after summer vacation on June 3 and classes will commence from June 10. “The language textbooks are not yet available and there are considerable changes in the curriculum in the backdrop of the introduction of a semester system for Class XI for the academic year 2024-25 and for Class XII for the academic year 2025-26. Hence, we have uploaded the textual components of all the language papers on our website. The teachers, students can start their classes based on the uploaded document for the time being,” said Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, president of WBCHSE. The state government has taken the responsibility of printing all the textbooks of language subjects which will be distributed to the students free-of-cost across Bengal. The Education department has taken all necessary measures to expedite the delivery of hard copies of the textbooks to all the students of different schools affiliated under WBCHSE at the earliest. There are six languages, including English and Bengali, that are taught at the higher secondary level. There is a first paper and a second paper for all the language subjects except Urdu and Santhali. The process of bringing out books is a time taking process as it goes through various channels of the department before finally getting printed. The textbooks of 52 other subjects have hit the markets. Some of the schools have started online classes in the backdrop of the introduction of the semester system in which the first semester examination will be held in September. However, they have been facing problems due to the non-availability of books. The WBCHSE has revised the curriculum of all the subjects after 11 years and the language papers particularly were thoroughly revised and curriculum of all subjects were bifurcated in four semesters.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/higher-secondary-edu-council-uploads-textual-components-of-language-papers-on-website-565997

Health, Regional

People stand in long queues in Siliguri for packaged water

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Sanchita Aich Bag, MP, 30 May 2024, Siliguri: Thursday saw panic in Siliguri over drinking water with prohibitory orders not to use the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC)-supplied water for drinking purposes owing to contamination. 

Uncertainty ruled as packaged water disappeared from the stores and water packaging plants and municipal supply was short of the assured amount. Long queues were seen in front of shops selling packaged drinking water. 
Meanwhile, SMC also sent water tankers to different wards in rotation. There were long queues there as well. Councillors started distributing water pouches but many reported that they received fewer water pouches than the stipulated amount. 
Tapan Mandal, a resident of Ward 12, said: “We are in trouble. We have to stand in line to get drinking water since morning. The administration should resolve the issue at the earliest.” 
Ratna Mallick from College Para said: “The SMC should have tested the water before supplying it to people. We have already consumed water from the Mahananda River for a few days. 
Now suddenly, the Mayor has instructed us to stop drinking the water.” “This is due to a natural calamity. We had no option but to stop people from drinking the water. Deputy Mayor, member of the council of the Water Supply department and I have been visiting boroughs and are making all the necessary arrangements so that people do not have to suffer,” stated Gautam Deb, Mayor. 
On Wednesday, the Mayor had appealed to the public not to drink the water supplied by SMC till June 2 as the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the water of Mahananda River had increased and could cause illness. 
The ongoing work on the Teesta Dam at Gajoldoba would be complete and safe water from Teesta would be supplied from June 2 evening, he had assured. Also Read – Teenager ‘assaulted to death inside ashram’ 
As many as 52 water tanks were supposed to be sent to the wards, but they have been sending 26 water tanks in rotation to each ward. “PHE has been providing us with water tanks and pouches. It is taking some time but they will give us 1 lakh pouches daily,” Deb added. Packaged water up to 5 liters is available in different shops. 
However, there is a scarcity of bottles larger than 5 liters. Water packaging plants have not been able to supply 20-liter jars owing to water shortage. 
Sachin Chettri, a water supplier from Darjeeling More, said: “We are supplying to our regular customers first. We are trying to give the excess we have to others. We cannot get much underground water.” 
CPI(M) Darjeeling district committee staged a protest and gheraoed the Mayor in front of the SMC office on Thursday. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/people-stand-in-long-queues-in-siliguri-for-packaged-water-565981
Crime, Regional

Gun & bullets stolen from bank in SBI Bairampur

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MP, 30 May 2024, Cooch Behar: A security guard’s gun and bullets were stolen from the Balrampur branch of the State Bank under the Tufanganj Police Station in Cooch Behar district. 

According to police and bank sources, the thieves entered the bank building after breaking the ventilation during the early hours of Thursday. 
A mobile phone, security guard’s gun and ammunition were stolen from inside the bank. However, according to police sources, nothing was tampered with inside the bank cupboard. It is not yet known whether money disappeared from the bank. 
Although the bank authorities have not made any statements about this matter, Cooch Behar District Superintendent of Police Dyutiman Bhattacharya said: “According to the CCTV footage, a young man entered the bank around 3:30 am today. 
A mobile phone, currently switched off, as well as the security guard’s gun and bullets, are missing. CCTV footage has been collected from various locations.” 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/gun-bullets-stolen-from-bank-565978
Crime, Regional, West Bengal

Prof arrested in research scholar suicide case

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MP, 30 May 2024, Siliguri: The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Siliguri Metropolitan arrested the prime accused, Siddharth Shankar Laha, Head of the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension of the University of North Bengal (NBU), in the suicide case of a research scholar of the university from Assam.

He was brought to Siliguri on Wednesday and was produced at Siliguri Court on Thursday. On May 16, the body of a research scholar of the Rural Development department of NBU was found hanging at a rented house in Shiv Mandir area. 
The deceased was a resident of Tufanganj, Cooch Behar and was staying in the rented house in Shiv Mandir area Also Read – ‘No one can stop change of power in Delhi on June 4’ in Siliguri. 
A suicide note was found in the house where it was mentioned that the accused Siddharth Shankar Laha, had a physical relationship with the deceased and refused to marry her. Therefore, she committed suicide. 
Her mobile phone and laptop were also missing from the room.On May 18, family members of the deceased lodged a written complaint. SOG began a search for the accused as he went absconding after the incident and tracked his mobile phone. 
First, he went to Kalimpong, then Lataguri, then Cooch Behar. 
A few days ago, he went to Goyalpara in Assam from where he was arrested. He was booked under various sections of the IPC. He has been taken into police remand for further investigation. 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/prof-arrested-in-research-scholar-suicide-case-565976
Crime, Regional

Siliguri: 4 arrested in teenager’s suicide case

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Courtesy: Siliguri Times 

MP, 30 May 2024, Siliguri: 4 arrested in teenager’s suicide case BY MPost30 May 2024 11:13 PM MPost30 May 2024 11:13 PM Siliguri: The Pradhan Nagar Police arrested four people in connection with the suicide of Bappa Barman, a teenager from Devidanga in Siliguri. 

The arrested include the minor lover of the deceased, her mother, father and elder sister. The girl’s father is a member of a Panchayat Samiti. As the girl is a minor, she was produced at juvenile court. 
The rest were produced at Siliguri Court on Thursday. On Wednesday, chaos erupted over the suicide of a 17-year-old teenager in Devidanga area. 
Furious people pelted stones at the police and vandalised police vehicles. The youth was found hanging inside his room on Wednesday morning. According to reports, the deceased had a relationship with a girl. 
Allegedly, the girl and her family member had assaulted the deceased on Tuesday humiliated over which he committed suicide. 
They have been booked under sections 305 (Abetment of Suicide), 34 (Criminal Act done by several person), 323 (Punishment of voluntarily causes hurt), Indian Penal Code (IPC).

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/siliguri-4-arrested-in-teenagers-suicide-case-565975

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/siliguri-4-arrested-in-teenagers-suicide-case-565975
Regional, West Bengal

Monsoon likely to enter North Bengal in 2-3 days, says IMD

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MP, 31 May 2024, Kolkata: The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore said that monsoon may enter North Bengal in 2-3 days, five days ahead of its usual time of arrival. As per prediction, the monsoon is expected to enter North Bengal on Sunday as it will bring rainfall in the region. 

Incidentally, southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday. Generally, the monsoon enters Kerala on June 5. The MeT office already predicted heavy rainfall in several North Bengal districts in the next 24 hours. 
Orange alert has been issued for the districts like Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar as they are expected to receive heavy rainfall. 
It will also rain in North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur as well. According to the MeT office, monsoon generally enters Jalpaiguri on June 7, Siliguri on June 8, South Bengal on June 10 and Kolkata on June 11. It is not however clear as to when the monsoon will hit the city. 
There may be some scattered rainfall in some of the South Bengal districts during the weekend, the MeT office said. 
Spurred by Cyclone Remal, the southwest monsoon set in over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast on Thursday. Weather scientists said the cyclone, which ripped through Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, had pulled the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, which could be one of the reasons for early onset over the northeast. 
“Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India today, the 30th May, 2024,” the India Meteorological Department said. 
The normal monsoon onset date for Kerala is June 1 and for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam is June 5. 
According to weather scientists, El Nino conditions are prevailing at present, and La Nina may set in by August-September. El Nino — the periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean — is associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. La Nina – the antithesis of El Nino- leads to plentiful rainfall during the monsoon season. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/monsoon-likely-to-enter-north-bengal-in-2-3-days-says-imd-566003
Regional

Indefinite cease work by conservancy staff of Darjeeling Municipality lifted

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 30 May 2024, Darjeeling: Amid the tourist rush, Darjeeling woke up to garbage spill over on Thursday as the conservancy staff of the Darjeeling Municipality called for an indefinite cease work over the alleged assault on a staff by a vegetable vendor. 
However, normalcy returned in the evening following the arrest of the accused. The town wore a filthy look on Thursday morning, with garbage strewn on the roads and the vats overflowing. Even the Mall wore a dirty look. 
“We were collecting garbage from the shops at the Chowk Bazar on Wednesday evening. Despite nearly more than an hour having passed since we had been collecting garbage, I noticed a vegetable vendor not emptying his garbage bin in the conservancy vehicle,” stated Milan Sarki, driver of the vehicle. 
Sarki then approached Narayan Prasad Gupta, the vegetable vendor, asking him to empty his garbage bin. Gupta stated that he would do so in the evening in the vat. 
“I told him that he should not empty it in the vat but in the vehicle. I told him that if he didn’t want to, he should keep the bin inside his shop and not on the road causing public inconvenience. I then placed his garbage bin inside his shop and he started assaulting me and even tore my shirt,” alleged Sarki. 
Following this, the conservancy staff lodged an FIR against Gupta at the Darjeeling Sadar Police Station and allied for an indefinite cease work till the accused was punished. 
“As per the FIR, Narayan Prasad Gupta has been arrested,” stated Shubhra Sanyal, Inspector-in-Charge, Darjeeling Sadar Police Station. Gupta has been charged under sections 341, 323, 353 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. 
They have been working relentlessly round-the-clock collecting garbage and keeping the town clean. Everyday around 90 metric tons of waste is generated. It is a back-breaking task. We have even pressed commercial vehicles to collect the waste. The public will also have to abide by the rules and dump the garbage as per the specified timing. 
We request the conservancy staff to withdraw their cease work as the accused has been arrested and law will take its course,” stated Dipen Thakuri, chairman, Darjeeling Municipality. “We are hereby lifting the cease work as action has been taken as per the law. We do not want to inconvenience the public,” added Sarki.
The Municipality has specifically mentioned that garbage has to be disposed between 7 pm and 5 am in the designated areas. Violators will face fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1000. Committees have been formed to monitor this. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/indefinite-cease-work-by-conservancy-staff-of-darjeeling-municipality-lifted-565971

Regional

China enhances military support to Pakistan along LoC in Kashmir

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PTI, May 29, 2024 : Pakistan’s key ally China has been actively bolstering the defence capabilities of the Pakistani army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years which includes the construction of steelhead bunkers and the provision of Unmanned Aerial and Combat Aerial Vehicles, officials said on Wednesday.

Chinese assistance also extends to the installation of highly encrypted communication towers and the laying of underground fibre cables along the LoC. Moreover, advanced radar systems of Chinese origin, such as the ‘JY’ and ‘HGR’ series, have been deployed to enhance medium and low altitude target detection capabilities, providing crucial intelligence support for army and air defence units, they said.

Additionally, the presence of the SH-15, a 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer gun manufactured by a Chinese firm, has been noticed at various locations along the LoC. This move is seen as part of efforts to strengthen China’s ties with Pakistan and safeguard Chinese investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, particularly related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Though the presence of senior PLA officials at forward posts, as was detected in 2014, was not found, some intercepts suggested that Chinese troops and engineers were setting up infrastructure along the LoC, including building underground bunkers, officials said. Chinese experts were engaged in tunnel construction in the Leepa Valley of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signalling preparations for an all-weather road to connect with the Karakoram highway, they said.

This strategic move is linked to Beijing’s ambitious 46-billion-dollar CPEC project, aiming to establish a direct route between Gwadar Port in Pakistan and Xinjiang province in China through the Karakoram highway, an area under the illegal occupation of China.

In 2007, a Chinese telecom company had taken over a Pakistani telecom company and formed China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak) — a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

In August 2022, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), while renewing the mobile licence of CMPak (Zong) for PoK, gave permission to expand Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in the region. While the Indian Army has maintained silence on the matter, intelligence agencies are reportedly being kept informed of the developments.

The continued presence of Chinese military personnel in the region has raised concerns, with India voicing objections to Chinese activities in Gilgit and Baltistan areas in the past. As tensions persist, India remains vigilant and prepared to thwart any potential threats emanating from across the border, officials said.