Category Archives: Regional

Politics, Regional

Kuirobhitra Darjeeling of C R Rai released at Kalimpong

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 18 May 2024 : “Kuirobhitra Darjeeling“ Nepali version of the book Darjeeling: The Unhealed Wound, authored by C.R.Rai and published by BukAnt was released today during a programme at Hotel Trace in Kalimpong.

The book depicts the people and circumstances responsible for creating political uncertainty in the Darjeeling Hills. 
The programme hosted by Anjana Bhandari had the presence of Renulina Subba, former MLA as Chairperson of the programme and Dr. C. B. Sunuwar, Thomas Mukhia and P L Subba all former teachers as the guests. 
The other dignitaries present in the programme were, Dr. Samuel Rai, Director of the Directorate of Cinchona and other Medicinal Plantation, Dr H.B.Chhetri, Former MLA and representatives and officials of different social organisations and political parties.

The programme was started with welcome address by Rudra Karki and keynote address by Dr.C.B.Sunuwar and Pravakar Dewan. C. R. Rai, the author and other dignitaries also addressed the programme.   

The original English version of the book (254 pages) was published by Bluerose Publishers Pvt. Ltd. and released in July 2022.
The Nepali version has 319 pages and has an attractive and beautiful cover. 
The beautiful hill district of Darjeeling has been in the throes of political uncertainty for several decades now. Mr. CR Rai, the author is a former civil servant who served in several executive posts. He resigned from the West Bengal Civil Services to form a new political party, hoping to solve the Darjeeling imbroglio and other problems with rich experience. 

Rai had access to some of the prime political actors and events at the height of the Gorkhaland agitation and brought his unique perspective on the issue in this unusually interesting book. Rai led several delegations to New Delhi and also had been actively involved in various social, cultural, and literary organizations. His involvement in administration and politics gave him a unique insight into the affairs of Darjeeling as well as Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan. 
Author Rai has come forward to address the lack of “indigenous intellectuals” who are responsible for clearly bringing into light the “facts” of Darjeeling, which is covered with a dark cloud of “illusion”.

Though this book calls for an inclusive solution to the Darjeeling conundrum based on pragmatism and non-violence, it discusses the people and circumstances responsible for creating political uncertainty. There are fascinating insights into the roles played by the local leaders and the main players as well as Dr BC Roy and Shri Vallabhai Patel in determining Darjeeling’s post-independence position. What influence did Nepal have? How did Sikkim’s annexation influence regional politics? These and other questions are discussed with great passion. Darjeeling enthusiasts will also be fascinated by the references to the many known and lesser-known figures who played a crucial role in the establishment of the original “Queen of the Hills”
Crime, National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Can’t prosecute person under SC/ST Act unless casteist remarks made in ‘public view’: Supreme Court

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The bench passed the verdict while setting aside a Delhi HC judgment that had taken a contrary view and directed the registration of an FIR against Priti Agarwalla and five others besides the station house officer of Fatehpur Beri police station

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, 18.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a person cannot be prosecuted for alleged offences under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act unless casteist remarks were made in “public view” with an intention to humiliate.

The bench of Justices M.M Sundresh and S.V.N. Bhatti passed the verdict while setting aside a Delhi High Court judgment that had taken a contrary view and directed the registration of an FIR against Priti Agarwalla and five others besides the station house officer of Fatehpur Beri police station.
The appellants were represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra while complainant Praveen Kumar aka Prashant was represented by Kapil Nath Modi. Besides being an advocate, Modi is the administrator of the Olympic Riding and Equestrian Academy, Eastern Jaunapur, New Delhi (OREA).

Praveen and most of the appellants used to train at the OREA where skirmishes reportedly broke out, resulting in the filing of complaints and counter-complaints.

Modi submitted that the appellants often hurled casteist slurs at Praveen, saying equestrian sports were meant for the rich and not a “Chamar” like him.

However, Luthra said the allegations were fabricated. He maintained that the offence alleged against the appellants was stated under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. To constitute an offence under Section 3(1)(r), the complaint must aver that the commission or omission had been made in public view, he said.

He added that the complaint did not satisfy the required ingredients of an offence under the Act.

Agreeing with the arguments, Justice Bhatti said Section 3(1)(r) of the SC, ST Act identifies as an offence an intentional insult or intimidation intended to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe in public view.

“The cumulative effect of the structured application to a given situation is that the intentional insult or abuse coupled with the humiliation is made in any place within public view. The expression ‘in any place within public view’ has an important role to play in deciding whether the allegation attracts the ingredients of an offence or not,” Justice Bhatti observed.

“The accusation of intentionally abusing and humiliating Respondent No. 2 (Praveen) spans over a period of two years between 2016 and 2018. The allegation prima facie appears to be an omnibus and ambiguous allegation.”

The bench said the specific allegation in the complaint on Appellant No. 2 is that Appellant No. 2 had called Respondent No. 2 “Chuda” and “Chamar”, among other things.

“The allegation does not refer to the place nor the public view before whom it was made. An important test for ‘in any place within public view’ is within the view of persons other than the complainant,” the apex court noted.

“In this case, we are not examining whether OREA is a private or public place, but to appreciate the alleged offence. We juxtapose the allegation(s) with the requirement of insulting or intimidating in any place within public view is satisfied or not.”
Crime, National, Regional, West Bengal

Woman held in Jalpaiguri for trafficking minor girl to Delhi

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Dibyendu Sinha, MP, 17 May 2024, Jalpaiguri: A woman was caught by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) while attempting to traffic a minor girl to Delhi under the pretense of offering work. The arrested woman, Sita Parikh, 49, was apprehended along with the rescued minor at Jalpaiguri Road Station on Friday. 

According to RPF sources, the woman is a resident of the Natar Bari area in Assam. Initial inquiries revealed that the minor was missing for the past three days. 
A missing person’s complaint was lodged at the concerned police station in Sonitpur, Assam, by her family. The incident came to light on Friday when an AC coach attendant on the 15658 Down Brahmaputra Mail, travelling from Guwahati to Delhi, grew suspicious upon seeing the minor with the woman in an AC coach. 
He then informed the RPF personnel about the situation. RPF Inspector Biplap Dutta of Jalpaiguri Road Station stated: “We initiated a search as soon as we received the information. The minor’s brother had also sought help from the Railways. When the Brahmaputra Mail arrived at Jalpaiguri Road Station, we took Sita Parikh into custody and rescued the girl. 
During interrogation, the accounts of the minor and the woman did not match, leading to Sita’s arrest. We have contacted Assam Police and the minor’s family, who are on their way to Jalpaiguri.” 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/woman-held-for-trafficking-minor-girl-to-delhi-564252
International, National, Regional

Tibetans of Kalimpong demand release of Panchen Lama

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YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, ALIMPONG, MAY 17, 2024 : The Tibetan community of Kalimpong on Friday evening held a candlelight procession in the city to demand the release of the Panchen Lama by the Chinese authorities.

The Tibean community has accused the Chinese authorities of holding the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima captive since 1995 in an undisclosed destination. President of Regional Tibetan Human Association Chongdak Bhutia told reporters that the protest was being held every year for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama, held captive. 
Bhutia said members of the Tibetan community organized rallies and protests in various parts of India, demanding the release of the Panchen Lama.
The Panchen Lama, the second in hierarchy in the Tibetan Buddhist order, next to the Dalai Lama, had turned 37 years old, he said. “But where is he? What kind of situation is he facing? Nothing is known about him.” 
Bhutia demanded that the Indian government should also help in the release of the Panchen Lama
Crime, Misc, National, Regional, West Bengal

SC seeks Centre’s stand on plea against marital rape exception in new criminal law

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PTI, New Delhi, May 17, 2024 : The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre’s stand on a petition challenging the marital rape exception under the new criminal laws.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notice on the petition by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and said it would be listed for hearing in July along with other petitions seeking to criminalise marital rape.
    “It is a constitutional issue. This will be live even after the new code,” the bench, also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said.
    The top court had on January 16, 2023 sought the Centre’s response on certain petitions assailing the Indian Penal Code (IPC) provision which provides protection to a husband against prosecution for forcible sexual intercourse if the wife is an adult.
     Under the exception given in Section 375 of the IPC, sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his wife, the wife not being minor, is not rape.
     Even under the new law — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), exception 2 to section 63 (rape) has clarified that “sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under eighteen years of age, is not rape”.
     The newly enacted laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act — that would completely overhaul the criminal justice system will come into effect from July 1.
     Besides the exception under the BNS, AIDWA has also challenged in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of section 67 of the BNS, which prescribes imprisonment ranging from two to seven years for married men who rape their separated wives.
    The plea, filed through lawyer Ruchira Goel, objected to the provision on the ground that the penalty is lower than the mandatory minimum 10-year sentence otherwise applicable in cases of rape.
     It also assailed as unconstitutional section 221 of BNSS, which facilitates a “lenient regime” under section 67 by prohibiting a court from taking cognizance of the offence without “prima facie satisfaction of the facts which constitute the offence upon a complaint… by the wife”.
     The petitioner emphasised that the marital rape exception violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution as it negates a married women’s consent to sex and perpetuates sexual and gender stereotypes about the subordination of a woman’s individuality.
    “The impugned provisions, in pegging the legal status of a woman’s consent to her marital status, are manifestly arbitrary. There is no determining principle to justify the select deprivation of married women of a legal right to complain of the commission of the offence under Section 63 of the BNS by her husband,” the petition said.
    It further stated that the protection of the “institution” of marriage as the “objective” to sustain the exception is wholly unjust and unfair.
    The petition also stated that the marital rape exception is against Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the Constitution because it takes away a married women’s rights to bodily integrity, decisional autonomy, and dignity.
    “Given that this Hon’ble Court is seized of the matter insofar as it concerns the pari materia (in similar matter or when two provisions of two different statutes deal with the same subject) provisions of the BNS and BNSS as they were contained in the IPC and CrPC, it is prayed that this Hon’ble Court hear the instant case, which challenges provisions of the BNS and BNSS that constitute and secure the MRE (marital rape exception), respectively,” the plea said.
    One of pending pleas in the Supreme Court has been filed in relation to the Delhi High Court’s split verdict of May 11, 2022 on the issue. This appeal has been filed by a woman, one of the petitioners before the Delhi High Court.
    However, two HC judges — Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice C Hari Shankar — had concurred on granting a certificate of leave to appeal in the Supreme Court as the matter involved substantial questions of law which required a decision from the top court.
     AIDWA was also one of the petitioners before the high court.
     While Justice Shakdher, who headed the division bench, favoured striking down the marital rape exception for being “unconstitutional” and said it would be “tragic if a married woman’s call for justice is not heard even after 162 years” since the enactment of the IPC, Justice Shankar said the exception under the rape law is not “unconstitutional and was based on an intelligible differentia”.
     Another plea has been filed by a man against the Karnataka High Court verdict which had paved the way for his prosecution for allegedly raping his wife.
     The Karnataka High Court had on March 23, 2022 said exempting a husband from allegation of rape and unnatural sex with his wife runs against Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution.
National, Northeast, Politics, Regional

Naga body rejects government appeal, remains firm to boycott urban local bodies’ poll

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Lokmat Times, Kohima, May 17, 2024 : The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on Friday rejected the Nagaland government’s appeal and remained firm on abstaining from participating in the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, scheduled on June 26.


ENPO Secretary W. Manwang Konyak said that they did not receive any written appeal and only saw in the media that the state government has made an appeal not to boycott the ULB polls.

“We have to go by the decision of our grassroots level people and organisation. We would abstain from participating in the ULB polls,” Konyak told IANS.

After a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the Nagaland government on Thursday urged the ENPO not to boycott the vital ULB polls.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister K.G. Kenye, who is the Spokesman of the state government said that the government has appealed to ENPO and its constituent bodies to participate in the ULB elections, which are being conducted on the directions of the Supreme Court.

The ULB election is for empowering local self-governance and facilitating development and uplift of the citizens at the grassroots, he said.

Kenye said that after a prolonged battle involving the women’s reservation in the ULBs, the state would be holding the ULB election in the larger interest of the public and their welfare.

He said that ULB elections should not be seen as a means for ENPO to register resentment and protest for their demands on Frontier Nagaland Territory.

Since 2010, the ENPO has been demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ or a separate state comprising the six eastern Nagaland districts — Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang and it also boycotted the election to the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha seat on April 19 in support of its demand.

The ENPO Secretary said that they have already informed the State Election Commission (SEC) that the people of the six districts would abstain from voting in the ULB polls, covering three Municipal Councils and 36 Town Councils.

Konyak said that the ENPO had, on March 19, adopted a unanimous resolution that the people of the region would not participate in any central and state elections due to the delay in creating the ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT)’ as offered and assured by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on December 7, 2023.

“Through many letters to MHA and mass rallies, we tried to persuade the Central government to resolve our demand but it turned a deaf ear,” the Naga leader said.

However, the ENPO has clarified that this stance should not be misconstrued as opposition to the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023 with 33 per cent reservation for women.

Nagaland Chief Minister earlier said that the state government has proposed the constitution of an autonomous body for the development of eastern Nagaland and its people.

The ENPO has been demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ comprising six eastern districts inhabited by seven backward tribes — Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung.

The ENPO and its allies had given a call to boycott the Assembly elections held in February last year but withdrew it later following an assurance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Post-poll violence: CBI looking for 6 absconders; residence of 2 TMC leaders raided

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 The CBI conducted raids in West Bengal targeting six absconders in a post-poll violence case involving Trinamool Congress leaders. 

PTI | Kolkata | 17 May 2024 : The CBI conducted raids at various locations in West Bengal on Friday, looking for six absconders in a post-poll violence case, including some Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, officials said.


The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) search operation was aimed at tracing the whereabouts of the six absconding accused against whom non-bailable warrants have been issued by a special court, the officials said.

The court has issued the warrants against Buddhadeb Maity, Pradip Mandal, Debabrata Panda, Tapas Bej, Arjun Kumar Maity and Bikramjit Das, they said.

The CBI team searched the residences of two TMC leaders at Kathi in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal in connection with its ongoing probe into the killing of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in post-poll violence in 2021, an officer said.

A team of CBI officers raided the houses of Debabrata Panda, a TMC leader from Kathi Block number 3, and block president Nandadulal Maiti in the early hours, he said.

”Panda, Nandadulal’s son and 52 others have been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the killing of Janmejay Dolui,” the CBI officer told PTI.

Dolui, a BJP worker, was killed in violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls.

The officer said 30 people were summoned for questioning in connection with the matter but none turned up.

”We are conducting raids at places associated with these people. We need to question them,” he said.
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

EC show-cause to Abhijit Gangopadhyay for ‘improper, undignified’ remarks against CM

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PTI, New Delhi/Kolkata, May 17, 2024 :  The Election Commission on Friday issued a show-cause notice to former high court judge and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his “improper, injudicious and undignified” remarks against Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    The comments by Bandopadhyay triggered a war of words in poll-bound West Bengal, with TMC claiming that the comments reflect the “misogynist mindset of the BJP,” and the BJP claiming that his remarks have been “misconstrued by the TMC.”
    Gangopadhyay is the fourth politician in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to have been served a notice for undignified remarks against women.
    BJP’s Dilip Ghosh and Congress’s Supriya Shrinate were censured by the EC after being served notices for their remarks against Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut respectively.
    Randeep Surjewala of the Congress was barred from campaigning for 48 hours for his remarks against BJP’s Hema Malini.
    The poll panel acted on a complaint by the Trinamool Congress against Gangopadhyay for his remarks against Banerjee while addressing a public meeting held on May 15 in Haldia.
    The BJP has fielded Gangopadhyay from Tamluk seat in West Bengal where voting will be held on May 25.
    The EC in its notice noted that Gangopadhyay’s comment has been found to be “improper, injudicious, beyond dignity in every sense of the term, in bad taste” and prima facie violative of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties.
    The EC has sought a response by 5 pm of May 20.
    The notice reminded the former Calcutta High Court judge about its recent advisory which said that political parties and candidates should refrain from any deeds or actions or utterances that may be construed as being repugnant to the honour and dignity of women.
    The Trinamool Congress said it would also take recourse to legal action and claimed that his remarks had crossed all limits of decency.
    In a purported video which surfaced on Thursday Gangopadhyay was heard wondering about “the amount at which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is getting sold,” triggering a row with the TMC labelling it as BJP’s guarantee of disrespecting women, while the saffron party raised doubts about the clip’s authenticity.
    PTI, however, couldn’t verify the authenticity of the video.
    TMC leader and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja said, “The remarks made by Gangopadhyay smack of his anti-women traits. This shows that the politics of the BJP has reached a nadir”.
    “The remarks made by the BJP candidate of Tamluk are sexist in nature and his candidature must be cancelled”, she demanded.
    Reacting to EC’s notice, the BJP said Gangopadhyay would reply to the notice but his remarks had been “misconstrued by the TMC.”
    “He will give a reply. But the TMC has misconstrued his words. He wanted to point out how Mamata Banerjee is disrespecting women, especially BJP candidate Sandeshkhali Rekha Patra,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.
    The BJP on Thursday questioned the authenticity of the video and dubbed it as a “ploy by the TMC to release fake videos” to malign the saffron camp.
Misc, Regional

Darjeeling: Finally, bridge for, of and by hill people

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Villagers contribute labour to building motorable link, Ajoy Edwards joins ‘apolitical project’
Villagers helped by Ajoy Edwards build a 135-foot-long bridge, which has been a poll issue for the last 40 years, to connect Bijanbari: The Telegraph

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 17.05.24 :  

Villagers are constructing a 130-foot-long concrete motorable bridge in Darjeeling, a lifeline that governments have failed to build in decades.

In the thick of things is Ajoy Edwards, a relatively new politician in the hills with his Hamro Party, but he has stressed that this is an “apolitical initiative” with villagers irrespective of their political affiliations.
The bridge is being built over Chota Rangit river connecting Singtom tea garden with Pulbazar-Bijanbari area.

Ajoy Edwards chips in with villagers to build the bridge.: The Telegraph
During the British era, a suspension bridge was built for people and horses to cross the river. This was the most used road during earlier times with strong business ties between Darjeeling and Pulbazar-Bijanbari area.

At the moment there are two circuitous routes to reach Bijanbari from Darjeeling — one through Ghoom-Jorebunglow and the other through Jamuni. “While the two routes need anything between one-and-half to two hours to cover the distance, this bridge would ensure that the distance will be covered in half an hour,” said Edwards.

There has always been a demand to build a motorable bridge through the old route. “It seems this has been a poll issue of the area for decades,” said Edwards.

Edwards’s involvement with the plan started when he started distributing relief during Covid-19 in 2000.

“While visiting the area during Covid days I had told the villagers that I would be a part of this bridge initiative if the villagers joined hands,” said Edwards.

Nothing moved for around four years.

Early this year villagers of more than 20 villages decided to build the bridge on their own.

Edwards decided to contribute raw materials and the daily wages of seven to eight masons. The villagers decided to contribute free labour, including procuring raw materials like sand and break stones from the river.

For the past three months, villagers have been working long days to build the bridge.

Edwards has spent around Rs 20 lakhs on the project so far. “But the contribution of the villagers is much more,” he said. “Last Sunday, when we had to cast the slab of the bridge, over 350 people turned up to volunteer.”

The story of the bridge is intertwined with the politics of Darjeeling.

The Singtom-Pulbazar Bijanbari area was predominantly CPM when the Subash Ghisingh-led Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) led the Gorkhaland agitation.

Clashes between the CPM and the GNLF were frequent.

When the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) elections were held in 1988, the GNLF swept the hills but the Chungthung-Marybong and Pulbzar-Bijanbari seats still went to the CPM.

“In 1992, the (CPM-led) state government wanted to construct a bridge over the river at an approximate cost of Rs 2 crore but despite laying the foundation stone the project could not start as the DGHC did not provide the no-objection certificate,” said Saran Gurung, a resident of the area, who added that he joined the initiative because Edwards has termed the initiative “apolitical.”

Again in the late 1990s, CPM MP S.P. Lepcha, also a resident of Singtom, sanctioned an amount to build the bridge.

“The government erected three pillars but that was it. There was no further progress,” said Gurung.

Even Gurung, a contractor by profession, has pooled around Rs 2 lakhs for the project. “My people from outside that region have also contributed by paying for cement and other costs,” said Edwards.

More than 75 per cent of the bridge is complete. “We are confident of completing the bridge in the next 15 days before monsoon sets in,” said Edwards.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph
Crime, National, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

ED can’t arrest after special court takes cognisance of PMLA complaint: Supreme Court

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 While passing the judgment, the apex court also frowned on the alleged practice among some special courts, formed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), of taking accused into custody when they appear in answer to summons

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, 17.05.24  : The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that once a special PMLA court takes cognisance of a complaint, the Enforcement Directorate is “powerless” to arrest an accused without the court’s permission.

“Cognisance” refers to a judicial court applying its mind to a complaint filed before it, either by the investigating agency or a private complainant, to examine whether summons or warrants should be issued against an accused.

While passing the judgment, the apex court also frowned on the alleged practice among some special courts, formed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), of taking accused into custody when they appear in answer to summons.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for a batch of accused persons, and other lawyers had complained that this practice among some special courts was compelling their clients to apply for bail or anticipatory bail under the PMLA’s stringent provisions.

“…Such a practice, if followed by some special courts, is completely illegal. Such a practice may offend the right to liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said.

The apex court rejected the argument of the ED, represented by additional solicitor-general S.V. Raju, that once an accused appears before the special court, they are deemed to be in custody.

“Once cognisance is taken of the offence punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, the special court is seized of the matter,” Justice Oka, who authored the judgment, said.

“After the cognisance is taken, the ED… (is) powerless to arrest an accused named in the complaint.”

But, while pursuing its investigation into the same case, the ED is free to arrest a person (presumably a new suspect) who has not been shown as an accused in the complaint before the special court, the judgment said.

On the allegation against some of the special courts themselves, the apex court said: “We cannot countenance a situation where… after the filing of the complaint, after he (accused) appears in compliance with the summons, he is taken into custody and forced to apply for bail.”

If the ED wants custody of an accused who has appeared in the special court after being served with summons, it must apply to the special court, the bench said.

After hearing the accused, the special court must pass an order on the application by recording brief reasons.

While hearing such an application, the court may permit custody only if it is satisfied that custodial interrogation at that stage is required, the bench said.
Regional, West Bengal

NBSTC to run Siliguri to Darj via Mirik bus services

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 16 May 2024, Darjeeling: On the heels of Siliguri to Darjeeling via Tindharia bus services, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is all set to start Siliguri to Darjeeling via Mirik services. 

Along with local residents, this service will emerge as a big boon for budget tourists who want to catch a glimpse of the lake town of Mirik enroute to Siliguri or while coming up to Darjeeling from Siliguri. 
“We had a meeting at the Pintail village in Siliguri with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) authorities where different issues were raised by them. 
One of the issues was that local drivers have been complaining that buses cause traffic jams on the Siliguri-Darjeeling via Rohini route. 
The GTA had requested us to divert some services. Accordingly, we have diverted two services through the Hill Cart road via Tindharia. Very soon we will divert some services via Mirik,” stated Dipankar Piplai, Managing Director, NBSTC, while talking to Millennium Post. 
At present there are two services operating between Darjeeling and Siliguri via Tindharia. Incidentally, local taxi drivers have been constantly complaining that the buses cause traffic jams on the road and have even launched agitations demanding that the buses be taken off this route. 
The buses however are a boon to local residents residing in the villages and settlements along the route along with budget tourists. 
Especially during tourist season commuting becomes difficult in the Hills, with full taxis with hardly any space for daily commuters to midway destinations. 
While the fare of a shared taxi from Darjeeling to Siliguri via Rohini is Rs 250 per passenger, NBSTC charges Rs 104/per passenger for the 68 km journey. 
Mirik is also a popular day visit destination from both Siliguri and Darjeeling. Tourists also prefer to visit Mirik on their way back to Siliguri. 
At present this is possible by either booking a taxi or break journey by taxi. Mirik is 49 km from Darjeeling town and 44 km from Siliguri. 
At present there are 15 NBSTC bus services to Darjeeling, including 9 from the Siliguri depot; 3 from the Darjeeling depot; a Kalimpong to Siliguri service via Darjeeling and one Jalpaiguri to Siliguri service via Darjeeling. 
Along with this there is one Siliguri to Mirik service; 4 Siliguri to Kalimpong services and 2 Siliguri to Gangtok, Sikkim services of the NBSTC. 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/nbstc-to-run-siliguri-to-darj-via-mirik-bus-services-564078
Education, Regional, West Bengal

State launches initiative to enrol ‘Out of School Children’

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SOUMITRA NANDI, MP, 16 May 2024, Kolkata: The state Education department has directed all district education officers under Samagra Sikha Mission (SSM) to take the initiative for the identification and enrolment of Out of School Children (OoSC) in their respective districts so that they can be brought under the ambit of education. 

A senior official of the School Education department said that a district-wise list of such OoSC will be submitted before the department. 
“There are children of nomadic tribes, children at traffic signals, street children, Railway platforms, working at dhabas, garages, as rag pickers, children of pavement dwellers etcetera, in Kolkata as well as in the districts who have not been enrolled in schools as yet. 
The main aim is to identify these children and accordingly counsel them so that they come under the ambit of school education,” an official said. 
June 30 has been earmarked as the final date for such identification work. The database of OoSC should be uploaded to the portal of the Paschim Banga Samagra Sikska Mission by July 7 and efforts to bring them under the light of education will begin after that. 
The SSM has formed a team in each district and has included para teachers and education employees to carry out such survey work at the earliest. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/state-launches-initiative-to-enrol-out-of-school-children-564109
Games & Sports, National, Regional, Sikkim

Sheer hard work, passion and professionalism set Chhetri apart from other players: Bhutia

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PTI, New Delhi, May 16, 2023 : Retiring India football captain Sunil Chhetri’s sheer hard work, passion and professionalism made him different from other players of his generation as he went on to become an iconic player, feels his former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia.


The 39-year-old Chhetri on Thursday announced his decision to retire after the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6 in Kolkata, bringing the curtains down on a glorious career that is unparalleled in Indian football for its longevity and consistency.

“The sheer hard work, passion, dedication and true professionalism, his focus and desire to get better everyday is something which makes him different. As a young boy, he was always willing to learn and do everything possible (to excel),” Bhutia told PTI on Thursday, paying glowing tribute to Chhetri.

“Sunil has done a huge service for Indian football and his contribution is immense. It is a big loss for Indian football. He will go down as one of the greatest players India has ever produced.” Bhutia was already Indian football’s poster-boy and captain by the time Chhetri made his debut in 2005. They formed a great strike partner in the six years they played together in the Indian team, mostly under Englishman Bob Houghton. Chhetri later took over the mantle from Bhutia, who retired in 2011. In fact, Chhetri surpassed almost all the records set by Bhutia.

“We had a great understanding as a strike partner and we enjoyed it. I am honoured to have played along with him,” said the 47-year-old legendary player.

“When I came in, (IM) Vijayan was senior to me and when I was about to retire, Sunil came in. I have been fortunate to have been in between two of them.” Chhetri had in the past admitted Bhutia’s influence in his career, especially during his younger days.

Bhutia said Chhetri was different from others and he knew it from the time the youngster first joined the iconic club Mohun Bagan in 2002.

“From the day one he came to Kolkata as a professional, I was there in Mohun Bagan. As we are from the hills, we have always developed a relationship on and off the field,” said the ‘Sikkimese Sniper’.

“He (Sunil) did not lose track and focus. There were a lot of players who were with him and who came to Mohun Bagan at that time but many of them lost way. But Sunil was different.” 
Misc, Regional, West Bengal

12 killed in lightning strikes in West Bengal’s Malda district

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Agencies & PTI, MAY 16, 2024: At least 12 people were killed on 16 May in lightning strike in different places across Malda district of West Bengal, a government official said to news agency PTI. The district administration has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased, he said. A number of injured people are being treated at various hospitals.


Malda SP Pradip Kumar Yadav says, Twelve persons have lost their lives in the (lightning) incident but the cause of their death will confirmed after post-mortem, as reported by news agency ANI. Following the guidelines of MCC and after discussing with the concerned authorities, the administration will provide Rs 2 lakh each as compensation and Rs 2000 for last rites, said DM Nitin Singhania.

Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in a post on X wrote, “My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in Malda due to the tragic lightning strikes. I extend my deepest condolences to them during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and I pray for their swift recovery. Our district administration is working tirelessly to provide all necessary support to the affected. We will do everything in our capacity to assist those in need”.

Three persons Chandan Sahani (40), Raj Mriddha (16) and Manajit Mandal (21) were killed in Malda’s Sahapur area, while another person identified as Asit Saha (19) died in Gajol after he was struck by lightning while working in a mango orchard, he said.

Eight-year-old Rana Sheikh in Manickchak’s Mohammed Tola and a couple, Nayan Roy (23) and Priyanka Singha (20) of Harishchandrapur, also lost their lives due to lightning, the official added. Eight-year-old Rana Sheikh in Manickchak’s Mohammed Tola and a couple, Nayan Roy (23) and Priyanka Singha (20) of Harishchandrapur, also lost their lives due to lightning, the official added.

In Haddatola, lightning killed Atul Mandal (65) and Sheikh Sabrul (11) while Sumitra Mandal (45) lost her life in Mirdadpur, he said. In Englishbazar’s Milki, a man identified as Pankaj Mandal (23) was killed. In Englishbazar’s Milki, a man identified as Pankaj Mandal (23) was killed.”,
PTI, Malda, May 16, 2024 :  At least 11 people were killed and two others injured in lightning strikes at various places across West Bengal’s Malda district on Thursday, police said.
    
Two among the deceased were minors, both residents of Manikchak police station area, while three hailed from Sahapur under the jurisdiction of Malda police station, police added.

Two others were from Adina under Gajol police station and Balupur under Ratua police station. A couple died in Harishchandrapur when they were working in the fields. The rest were residents of Englishbazar and Manikchak police station areas.
Economy, Regional, West Bengal

Crisis in north Bengal tea industry, Dooars garden staff halt work over unpaid salary

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Around 80 staff and sub-staff of Nagaisuree, a tea estate in Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district, didn’t join duties on Wednesday

TT Correspondent, Jalpaiguri, 16.05.24 : The staff and sub-staff of a tea estate in the Dooars resorted to ceasework on Wednesday, alleging delay in their salaries.

Around 80 staff and sub-staff of Nagaisuree, a tea estate in Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district, didn’t join duties on Wednesday.
“Usually, we get our salaries by the 10th of every month. This month, we haven’t been paid till date (May 15). We have to run our families and meet various expenses, including educational expenses of our children,” said Deep Bhattacharya, a staff member.

Others like Biswasjit Das, Kamal Pradhan, Laxman Bhumij and Kishun Mahali said that unless the management paid them their salaries, they would not work.

“We have spoken with the garden’s manager and have made it clear that if the salaries are not paid immediately, we will not join our duties,” said Das.

Sources said a decline in tea production and prices over the past couple of months has landed the management of Nagaisuree in fund problems.

“Some other gardens in the Dooars are facing the same issue. If such a situation prevails, it will pose a question on the sustainability of these gardens,” said a senior tea planter in Siliguri.

Unlike the staff and sub-staff, the 1,450 tea workers of Nagaisuree have received their wages on time, said sources.

“The entire industry is in crisis. The management has been informed about the ceasework of employees. We hope the issue is resolved soon,” said a garden source.

Planters’ plea

The Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA), an association of tea planters in north Bengal, has written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking financial aid for the brew belt.

“The north Bengal tea industry is in utter crisis due to production loss and price dip. Many tea estates are finding it tough to clear regular dues and a section of these are regulating working days,” said a source in ITPA.

“In such a situation, a financial package from the government is needed to help the industry tide over the crisis,” the source added.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph
Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

New traffic management plan to be implemented across Siliguri after Lok Sabaha polls

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 The traffic department of the police has already submitted a PowerPoint presentation to the civic body on how traffic management can be improved, along with recommendations

TT, Siliguri, 16.05.24 : The Siliguri Metropolitan Police and the Trinamul-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation will jointly enforce a new traffic management plan across Siliguri from next month after Lok Sabha polls to decongest city roads.

The traffic department of the police has already submitted a PowerPoint presentation to the civic body on how traffic management can be improved, along with recommendations.

Among these include regulating the movement of e-rickshaws on all prominent thoroughfares, relocating unauthorised parking of private buses of long-distance routes from Hill Cart Road and adjacent areas of Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus, recolating the local bus stand from Siliguri Town station area to Tinbatti More and building an alternative bus terminus on a vacant plot near Darjeeling More.

“A major challenge for the civic body is to streamline traffic across the city. Every day, especially during rush hours, all prominent roads of Siliguri are chock-a-block with vehicles. Once the general election is over, we intend to implement the recommendations to decongest roads,” said a civic body source.

In Siliguri, indiscriminate movement of e-rickshaws and unauthorised parking of private buses bound for Calcutta and some other parts of south Bengal, as well as Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam are some of the reasons for traffic congestion.

Earlier, an initiative was taken to relocate the local bus stand from its existing place to Tinbatti More. A terminus has been readied at the location on a plot provided by the state transport department.

“However, owners who run buses on local routes across the Siliguri subdivision have moved court. Hence the project is held up,” said a source.

Mayor Gautam Deb has also planned to meet the principal secretaries of the state transport department and state urban development and municipal affairs department in Calcutta this week to seek their intervention.

“I will hold a meeting with officials so that they, too, can come up with recommendations on Siliguri’s traffic management. We have requested the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority to allocate funds for a bus terminus at Paribahan Nagar in Matigara so that we can shift buses plying from here to other states and Calcutta there,” said the mayor.
Economy, International, Regional, West Bengal

Bitter brew over Nepal tea imports, Darjeeling industry ‘shocked’ at lack of proper testing

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 The latest bitterness against the government’s failure to check the quality of Nepal tea comes after 28 trucks carrying Nepal tea were reportedly allowed to enter India in April-end without food security checks from the Panitanki border near Siliguri

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 16.05.24 : The Darjeeling tea industry is bitter over the government’s alleged move to allow Nepal tea imports without properly testing the entire consignment.

Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) has alleged that it is “shocked that cheap and dubious Nepal tea is being allowed to be imported without FSSAI checks”.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body under the Union ministry of health and family welfare and regulates, among other things, the quality of food articles in India, including its imports.

“The FSSAI in its order dated 23.04.2024 has clearly mandated that all import teas need to be subjected to full and accurate testing as per stated FSSAI protocol… Cheap duty-free dumping of low quality and FSSAI non-compliant teas from Nepal have turned the Darjeeling tea industry into an ICU patient…,” said a DTA official.

The latest bitterness against the government’s failure to check the quality of Nepal tea comes after 28 trucks carrying Nepal tea were reportedly allowed to enter India in April-end without food security checks from the Panitanki border near Siliguri.

Sources said that these trucks were first stopped and the entire consignment of Nepal teas was tested, but vehicles were allowed inside India before the test reports came in.

Administrative sources admitted that the trucks were allowed to enter India with a directive from “higher authorities.”

“At the moment, the first five consignments of importers (for tea) are now being tested and this is valid for six months. Of course, random tests are also done,” said a source in the known of things.

The incident of the 28 trucks created a flutter in Nepal.

“The issue was taken up right to the Nepal Prime Minister’s office by Nepal tea growers. The matter was also raised with the Indian government,” said a source in Nepal.

The Darjeeling Tea industry wants the government to take stringent measures against the “dumping” of Nepal tea into India. Industry stakeholders have alleged that many unscrupulous dealers in India are either mixing or selling Nepal tea as Darjeeling tea.

The tea-growing districts of Nepal are contiguous to Darjeeling district.

Nepal exports around 16,000 tonnes of tea, around 90 per cent to India.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph