Category Archives: States

Crime, Education, National, Regional, West Bengal

SC reserves orders on state’s challenge to CBI probing cases

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The stand taken by the Central government today was the reiteration of the position stated by it in the course of its submissions on 3 May and earlier in its affidavit in response to West Bengal government’s petition.

Parmod Kumar | SNS  |  New Delhi | May 9, 2024 : he Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment on the West Bengal government’s plea challenging the Central Bureau of Investigation undertaking investigation into the cases in the state without its statutorily mandated prior consent, as state government asserted that such a situation would be in derogation of the federal nature of Centre-State relationship under Indian constitution.

Reserving the judgment, a Bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta gave both – the petitioner West Bengal government and the central government time till Friday, 17 May, to file note of their respective submissions not more than 20 to 25 pages each. Giving time till 17 May to file written submissions, the Bench said that they would be writing the judgment during a seven week-long summer vacation of the top court starting from 20 May.

While the West Bengal government asserted that the Central Bureau of Investigation cannot register cases and undertake any investigation in the State without its prior nod, after it has already withdrawn its general consent since 16 November, 2018, the central government reiterated that the central investigating agency was an independent of its control and was not functioning under its control and supervision.

By its 16 November decision, the West Bengal government has withdrawn its general consent permitting the CBI to undertake any investigation in the state.

The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta appearing for the central government said that its (central government) presence in the CBI was limited to the transfer, posting, territorial jurisdiction – areas it can investigate – and the finances of the agency including emoluments. As far as registration of cases and their investigation was concerned, the agency was an autonomous and independent entity.

On a poser from the Bench as to under which ministry the CBI comes, the Solicitor General Mehta said that it could be the department of personnel & training (DoPT) or the ministry of home affairs. However, the Solicitor General said that the government cannot ask the CBI to register cases.

The stand taken by the Central government today was the reiteration of the position stated by it in the course of its submissions on 3 May and earlier in its affidavit in response to West Bengal government’s petition.

However, an attempt by the Solicitor General Mehta drawing a parallel between the independence enjoyed by the CBI with that of the independence of the judiciary was not accepted by the Court. The bench said any comparison of independence of CBI with that of judiciary is an “incorrect analogy”.

Appearing for the West Bengal government, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the Bench that after the state government withdrew its general consent to the CBI to probe cases in the state, the central agency could not have undertaken any investigation in the State without prior consent of the state government.

“The West Bengal government had withdrawn the consent on 16 November, 2018. The cases registered by the CBI, which are under the challenge, after the withdrawal of the consent” could not be investigated, Sibal told the Bench pointing out that, “The constitutional question is whether after the withdrawal of the consent, can you (central government) allow your agency to enters my State, without my consent.”

He further argued that when in parliament a question is asked about the CBI, it is the DoPT under the Prime Minister that answers the questions.

Assailing the Centre’s stand that CBI can register cases on its own, Sibal said, “That is the most dangerous proposition that the Centre has advanced before the court, which will be destructive of the federal nature of the Centre-State relationship.”

Sibal cited the instance of “CBI registering a case in a state without its prior nod and the same is challenged and by the time the matter is decided it would take 4 to 5 years and by then the trial in the case would be over.”

The West Bengal government in its suit has challenged the registration of cases by the CBI without its consent. It has referred to the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946, stating that the CBI is mandated under the statute to take the State government’s consent before registering cases.
National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, Techno/ Science, West Bengal

Delhi High Court asks Google, Microsoft to seek Delhi High Court asks Google, Microsoft to seek review of ruling on removal of non-consensual intimate images

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They said the search engines do not ‘host’ any content, and once an objectionable content has been removed from the site hosting it, it will not appear in search results as well

PTI, New Delhi, 09.05.24 : The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Microsoft, which owns ‘Bing’, and Google to seek a review of an order by a single judge directing them to identify and de-index non-consensual intimate images without requesting for their specific URLs, after the search engine giants filed an appeal against the ruling.

The senior counsel for the appellants said unlike in cases of child sexual abuse material, non-consensual intimate images cannot be detected by their current technology and therefore it was not possible for them to comply with the order passed by the single judge in April 2023.
Their senior lawyers assured the court a new technology is being developed but it has not yet reached a stage where it can detect such non-consensual content on its own.

They said the search engines do not “host” any content, and once an objectionable content has been removed from the site hosting it, it will not appear in search results as well.

Stating that “no one can ask you to do the impossible”, a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan asked them to approach the single judge to reconsider his directions.

“Keeping view of the aforesaid, it would be appropriate if the appellants file a review and bring the aforesaid facts to the notice of the single judge. In the event the appellants are aggrieved by order of the single judge in the review petition, the appellants shall be at liberty to revive the present appeals,” the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, said.

As the senior counsel for Google sought sought an assurance that no coercive action would be taken against them for non-compliance with the single judge’s directions, the court observed no such action has been taken till now.

In an order passed on April 26, 2023, the single judge had said it was the responsibility of the search engines to immediately cease access to any offending content and the victim cannot be made to face humiliation or harassment by having to approach the authorities again seeking the same relief.

The ruling came on a petition by a woman who sought blocking of certain sites exhibiting her intimate images.

The single judge had stated “Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) abuse” , which includes “revenge porn”, violates the right to privacy and causes psychological damage to the victim.

The single judge had asserted that search engines were obligated to observe due diligence while discharging their duties under Rule 3 of the IT Rules, including making reasonable efforts to prevent hosting, displaying, uploading or sharing of any information that is invasive of another person’s privacy and violates any law for the time being in force, or they will lose the protection from liability accorded to them under Section 79 of the IT Act.

“If information is relating to content which is prima facie in the nature of any (NCII) material.., the search engine is required to take all reasonable and practicable measures to remove or disable access to such content which is hosted, stored, published or transmitted by it,” the single judge had said.

“The time-frame as stipulated under Rule 3 of the IT Rules must be strictly followed without any exceptions, and if there is even minor deviation from the said time-frame, then the protection from liability accorded to a search engine under Section 79 of the IT Rules cannot be invoked by the search engine,” the single judge bench had stated.
Education, Regional, West Bengal

HS: Science stream performs better in overall pass percentage

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MP, 9 May 2024, Kolkata: With 97.19 pass percentage in Science stream of Higher Secondary Examination 2024, it performs better in overall pass percentage. However, more candidates from Humanities score 90 per cent and above. 

The result of Higher Secondary Examination 2024 was announced by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education on Wednesday. 
Out of the total 7,55,324 candidates, 1,05,810 appeared in Science stream and 1,02,838 passed making the pass percentage 97.19 per cent which was the highest. A total of 38,429 appeared in Commerce stream, out of which 36,924 passed with 96.08 pass percentage. 
A total of 5,95,292 who appeared in Humanities stream, out of which 5,25,030 passed with 88.2 pass percentage. The pass percentage of all three streams have increased compared to 2023, wherein the pass percentage in science was 95.91 per cent, for commerce it was 92.94 per cent and for humanities it was 87.69 per cent. 
Amongst candidates who scored 90 per cent and more which was 8,331 candidates, 3022 were from science stream, 4462 were from Humanities and 718 were from commerce. 
According to a Council official, even with fewer students from Science stream, they performed better. Only 1.23 per cent of students scored 90 per cent and above this year. 
Council president Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said that he is hopeful that with the introduction of the semester system, more students will be able to perform better. 
Moreover, the Council will start giving percentiles along with scores in the marksheet. Currently, the candidates are able to see the overall percentile along individual percentile in the marks uploaded online. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/hs-science-stream-performs-better-in-overall-pass-percentage-563033
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Phase 3 records 77.53% voter turnout in 4 LS seats in state

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MP, 9 May 2024, Kolkata: The four Parliamentary constituencies in Bengal that went for polls on Tuesday in the third phase of elections, witnessed the lowest voter turnout in the last four decades. 

The four constituencies that had consistently witnessed 80 per cent turnout recorded 77.53 per cent voting, with the only saving grace being Murshidabad that saw over 80 per cent polls. Considering the last two Lok Sabha elections, there has been a decline of nearly four per cent. In 2019 and 2014, the four constituencies saw an average voter turnout of 81.66 and 81.85 per cent, respectively. 
Murshidabad, historically known for high voter participation, recorded 81.52 per cent in this election making it the lowest ever turnout in the last 40 years. In the 1980 Lok Sabha polls, Murshidabad recorded a turnout of 80.31 per cent, which is less than the current polling percentage.
Similarly, Jangipur registered a turnout of only 73.71 per cent, its lowest since 1977 when it was 58.07 percent. In Malda district, comprising Malda South and Malda North constituencies, the voter turnout was also low with Malda South recording 76.69 per cent and Malda North at 76.03 per cent. 
Prior to this, the district only saw a turnout of 75.54 per cent in 1980, which is lower than the current turnout. Interestingly, before the delimitation in 2004, Malda was only one constituency, which was subsequently divided into Malda South and Malda North. 
“The installation of CCTV cameras in all the polling stations and the strategic deployment of Central Forces have contributed significantly in keeping away the unwanted elements from the election process. We have also taken suitable measures for corrections in the voters list that resulted in weeding out fake voters from the list. This may have contributed to this turnout.  However, considering the other constituencies in the country that went for polls, our polling has been satisfactory,” an official in the office of Bengal CEO (Chief Electoral Officer) said. He added that there was hardly any complaint of false voting in this election. The genuine voters only exercised their franchise. 
A section of political analysts however believe that absentee voters and public apathy toward engaging in the democratic process, possibly due to widespread political corruption in recent months, may have significantly contributed to the low voter turnout in this election. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/phase-3-records-7753-voter-turnout-in-4-ls-seats-in-state-563034
National, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

NH 10 opens today after 3 days closure and carpeting

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 9 May 2024 : After 3 days of closure NH 10 from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile opened today from 6 am. Normal traffic is plying in this highway. The road was closed for some repairing work and bituminous work. 

Earlier Balasubramanian T, District Magistrate of Kalimpong had notified that the said highway from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile shall be closed from 6th May for 72 hours for carrying out bituminous work. 

His earlier order stated that a prayer has been received from the Executive Engineer II, National Highway, Division IX, P.W (Roads) requesting restriction and diversion of movement of all type of vehicles to carry out bituminous work at the stretch between Rabi bora to Gail Khola along NH 10. Therefore the administration finds it necessary to impose temporary restriction for movement of all type of vehicles to carry out the said bituminous work at the stretch between Rabi bora to Gail Khola along NH 10 to be carried on by PWD, National Highway, Division IX, P.W (Roads). 

There was protest from the drivers for closure of the highway as normal traffic on NH 10 was closed for several times and they had to follow the restriction of movement for all types of vehicles in the NH 10 specially from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile.  

The alternative route allowed to were diversion routes for small vehicles to move from Rangpoo towards Siliguri via Munsong – 17’1′ Mile – Algarah – Lava -Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock. 

For small vehicles was from Chitrey – Kalimpong town Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock. 

For goods Vehicle was from Chitrey – Kalimpong town Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa from 21.00 hrs to 06.00 hrs. 
And for goods vehicle and small vehicles from Reshi – Pedong – Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock. 
Regional, West Bengal

Rabindra Jayanti observed at Mungpoo

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Photo Courtesy: Hill Times, Facebook

EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 8/–/The West Bengal Information and Cultural Affairs department Darjeeling along with representatives of those associated with plantation of cinchona and other medicinal plants observed the164th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Mungpoo on Wednesday in a sombre manner. 

Mungpoo, houses the Rabindra Bhawan and a museum dedicated to the bard. Tagore had visited Mungpoo four times between1938 and 1940 and wrote several of his poems and writings, here. The Darjeeling Additional District Magistrate, Anirban Chatterjee said locals and tourists and officials of the Cinchona plantation and district administration attended the programme to pay homage to the Nobel laureate on his birth anniversary. 
 “We organized a programme to pay our respect and remember Tagore. Many tourists attended the programme and participated in singing Rabindra sangeet. Even the local residents participated which was very encouraging,” he said. 
The Rabindra Bhawan houses important artefacts and personal belongings of Tagore including the bed and furniture he used and original writings. 
“When we visit Darjeeling, we make it a point to come to Mungpoo. This time our visit coincided with Tagore’s birthday. We are blessed. It was nice to sing the songs composed by the poet. It is nice that such events are organized in Mungpoo to remember Tagore who is our national treasure,” said Debashree Das, housewife from Kalighat. 
Sources said the unlike previous years the grandeur of the event was kept low key due to the ongoing Lok Sabha election
Crime, International, National, Regional, West Bengal

American nationals apprehended at Border with fake Aadhar card

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Photo Source & courtesy : Siliguri Times

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, MAY 8, 2024 : SSB’s 41 battalion on Tuesday afternoon apprehended two American nationals along with an Indian while they were entering India from Nepal via Panitanki border outpost. 

The arrested were identified as Naina Kala Poudel and Younis Biswakarma, both US national and Nima Poudel, a resident of Kalchini under Alipurduar district. 
According to SSB sources, Naina Kala Poudel (40) resident of English Drive in US along with her niece Eunice Biswa (11) of New York City came to India from America and landed at Bagdogra airport on March 19 this year. 
The two US citizens and the Indian were arrested with fake Aadhaar at Kharibari Indo-Nepal border.  
KalimNews: Siliguri Times reports that According to reports, the incident unfolded after Neena and Nima Tamang engaged in holy matrimony on April 13 in India, following which they embarked on a honeymoon trip to Nepal on April 21. 
However, their return journey encountered a setback when they were intercepted by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel at the border checkpoint. Sources within the SSB revealed that the trio attempted to enter India using counterfeit Aadhaar cards, raising suspicion among border security officials. 
Siluri Time further adds that  Upon investigation, it was revealed that the American nationals paid ₹10,000 in Hamiltonganj of Alipurduar for the making of the counterfeit aadhaar cards and left for Nepal. Subsequently, they were arrested at the Indo-Nepal border. Following their apprehension, the SSB handed over the individuals to Kharibari police for further legal proceedings. At present, the case has been forwarded to the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court while the matter is under further investigation.  (source: https://siliguritimes.com/two-american-citizens-arrested-at-indo-nepal-border-with-fake-aadhaar-cards-in-kharibari/)
Crime, Northeast, Politics

Banned outfit’s cadre held in Manipur

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PTI, Imphal, May 8, 2024 :  A 33-year-old cadre of the banned National Revolutionary Front of Manipur was arrested from Imphal, police said on Wednesday.


Heisnam James Singh, an active member of the proscribed outfit, was involved in extortion and apprehended from the vicinity of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here on Tuesday, a police statement said.

A two-wheeler was seized from his possession, it said.

Search operations and area domination by security forces continued in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, police said.

More than 219 people were killed and thousands displaced from homes after ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 last year in Manipur, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. 
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Boys outshine girls in HS exam, 90 per cent of students clear test

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 90 pc of 7.55 lakh students clear WB class 12 board exam, students from dists figure among top 3

PTI, Kolkata, 8 May  2024 :  Boys outshone girls in this year’s Higher Secondary Examination in West Bengal, the results of which were declared on Wednesday. That, despite the number of female examinees far outweighing the number of their male counterparts, which is a commendable feat in itself, at the state’s school leaving exams which began on February 16 this year and concluded 13 days later.

Announcing the results 68 days after the conclusion of exams, the West Bengal Council of Higher Education authorities confirmed that 89.98 per cent of the students have cleared the test this year.

The performance is a marginal jump over last year’s pass percentage which stood at 89.

Addressing a press conference, Council President Chiranjib Bhattacharya said that while 88.18 per cent of girls passed the exams, the corresponding figure for boys stood at 92.12 per cent. This year 7,55,324 students appeared for the class 12 exams.

He said that the Council will look into the reasons behind the success rate of girls dipping by almost four percentage points compared to the boys.

Bhattacharya said that 56 per cent of girls and 44 per cent of boys wrote the papers this year which was a noteworthy change in comparison to the gender ratio a decade ago where 55 per cent boys and 45 per cent girls had appeared for the HS exams.

Of the 58 students who featured in the top 10 ranks, 23 were girls, he said, adding that 42.9 per cent of students secured 60 per cent marks or above while 1.23 per cent examinees shone with 90 per cent marks or more in the top bracket.

Bhattacharya stated that Purba Medinipur topped the chart among all districts of Bengal in terms of the number of successful candidates with 95.77 per cent passouts.

Avik Das from McWilliam Higher Secondary School in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district emerged as this year’s HS topper, Bhattacharya declared.

Das, an aspiring astrophysicist, obtained 496 marks out of the maximum 500 which translates to 99.2 per cent.

Soumyadip Saha of Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya in South 24 Parganas secured the second rank with 495 marks while Abhishek Gupta of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidyamandir of Malda clinched third rank with 494 marks, the Council president said.

Two girls, Pratichi Roy Talukdar from Sunity Academy in Coochbehar and Sneha Ghosh from Krishna Bhabini Nari Siksha Mandir of Hooghly jointly stood fourth with 493 marks each (98.6 per cent) and were declared as toppers among girls.

Soumyadip told PTI that he wanted to study statistics. “I love reciting poems and am hooked to story books – both classics and contemporaries. I don’t believe that one needs to study for long hours. It’s just that you need to manage your time well,” the second ranker said.

The Barasat resident thanked his teachers at RKM, Narendrapur and his parents for their continued guidance and support. 
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Molestation case: Bengal Guv to show CCTV footage to 100 people, except Mamata Banerjee and police

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A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Calcutta Police alleging molestation by the governor in the Governor’s House
CV Ananda Bose : File picture.

PTI, Calcutta, 08.05.24 :In the backdrop of a woman employee levelling molestation charge against West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose, the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday said it would show the related CCTV footage to 100 people, except “politician” Mamata Banerjee and “her police”.

Following the allegation, the police requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage concerned. The Governor, however, directed his staff not to cooperate with the police in this regard.

“Governor Bose has launched a programme ‘SACH KE SAAMNE’ in the background of the mischievous and fabricated allegations by the police that Raj Bhavan is not sparing the CCTV footage of an incident which is under the illegal and unconstitutional investigation of the police,” the Raj Bhavan said in a post on X handle.

It asked the people to send requests over email or phone to attend the programme at Raj Bhavan and the first 100 people would be allowed to see the footage inside the Governor’s House on Thursday morning.

“Governor has decided that the CCTV footage can be seen by any citizen of West Bengal — except politician Mamata Banerjee and her police for the stand they had taken, which is in public domain,” the post read.

A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Calcutta Police alleging molestation by the governor in the Governor’s House.

Bose had described the allegation as “absurd drama” and labelled Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s politics as “dirty”.
Crime, International, National, Regional, West Bengal

Nepalese national held with carcasses of wild animals

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Photo Courtesy: Siliguri TimesMP,8 May 2024, Siliguri: A Nepalese national was arrested with several body parts of wild animals in the Panitanki area on the India-Nepal border in Kharibari on Monday night. The accused has been identified as Dambar Sapkota (29), a resident of Nepal.

According to sources, on Monday night, the 41 number battalion of SSB conducted a naka check at the Indo-Nepal Border, where they stopped a four-wheeler. While checking the vehicle, the jawans recovered 5 deer horns, 30 pieces of thorn, a deer skull, snake bone and horn of Himalayan Goral. 
The arrested was later handed over to Tukriajhar Forest department. Sources said that the accused was taking them from Sikkim to Nepal but before he entered Nepal, the SSB caught him. 
The accused was produced at Siliguri Court on Tuesday and has been taken in remand. Debesh Pandey, Divisional Forest Officer of Kurseong Wildlife Division said: “We are investigating whether the accused is involved in international wildlife trafficking or if anyone else is involved in the case.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/nepalese-natl-held-with-carcasses-of-wild-animals-562885?infinitescroll=1
Regional, West Bengal

Forest officials train Railway loco pilots to prevent rail-elephant collisions

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MP, 8 May 2024, Alipurduar: Forest department officials conducted a special workshop at Alipurduar Junction, advising 77 Railway loco pilots on avoiding rail-elephant collisions. Top railway officials were also in attendance. 

Railway loco pilots from four divisions of Northeast Frontier Railway convened at the Alipurduar Junction Zonal Railway Training Institute, where Amlendu Majhi, Range Officer of Rajabhatkhawa in Buxa Tiger Reserve, delivered a powerpoint presentation. The session, lasting about two hours, covered the nature of
wild elephants and protocols for loco pilots encountering elephants on railway lines. 
Loco pilots were instructed to operate trains at a reduced speed of 25 kmph on jungle paths along the 164 km BG-3 line stretch. They were also advised not to immediately sound train horns upon spotting elephants on the track, although horn usage is generally prohibited due to its potential to agitate elephants. 
Amlendu Majhi stated, “We addressed various issues and fielded questions from the loco pilots, aiming to provide comprehensive guidance.” Additionally, the Railway Department highlighted the close communication between forest and rail authorities through specific WhatsApp groups. 
A forest department staff is stationed daily at the designated control room at the DRM office in Alipurduar. Installation of anti-collision devices for early warning in the Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district is underway, with similar installations planned between Damanpur of Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/forest-officials-train-railway-loco-pilots-to-prevent-rail-elephant-collisions-562894
Misc, Regional, West Bengal

Cooch Behar: Dispute between doctors and nurses resolved

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Shashikesh Roy, MP, 8 May 2024, Cooch Behar: After a prolonged negotiation session, the longstanding dispute between doctors and nurses at Cooch Behar MJN Medical College and Hospital was successfully resolved on Monday night, thanks to the intervention of Rajeev Prasad, the Medical Superintendent cum Vice-Principal (MSVP) of the institution. 

The conflict had erupted on Saturday when nurses staged a protest at the hospital, alleging that a doctor had physically assaulted and verbally abused a nurse in the female medical department. It was reported that the altercation stemmed from a misunderstanding between the doctor and the nurse regarding communication about a patient’s blood collection. 
Responding promptly, Prasad formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident. On Monday night, Prasad convened a meeting with representatives from both parties, including senior nurses and doctors. 
Lasting approximately an hour, the meeting addressed various concerns raised by both parties and ultimately led to a resolution of the matter. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cooch-behar-dispute-between-doctors-and-nurses-resolved-562897
Regional, States

Roads of alternative routes to NH 10 cries for repair

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YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, MAY 7, 2024 ; Due to construction work on the current National Highway 10, there is too much pressure of vehicular traffic on the road connecting Kalijhoda to Panbu through Mandir Khola to Reli Kalimpong. 

As an alternative route, Kalimpong and Sikkim bound vehicles are seen plying along this road. Since the road from Special Kalijhoda through Panbu to
Samthar to Mandir Khola has not been repaired since the time of its construction, the road has reached a deplorable condition.
In some places, the culverts laid many
years ago have been washed away by the
rains, and the drains have been blocked
with stones and mud, and the rainwater has
flowed from the middle of the road, making
the condition of the road deplorable.
In
some places, the road is narrow and there is
only one-way traffic. Some drivers also say
that vehicles are finding it difficult to pass.
During the closure of National Highway 10,
most of the vehicles from Sikkim and
Kalimpong are moving through these
alternative routes. Reliable sources say that
many inspections and applications have
been submitted in the past to make this road
a state highway. 
According to Yangmakum
panchayat committee member Dhanraj
Bhujel, the department and district
administration are looking into this matter.
As most of the vehicles of government
officials and VIP vehicles are also passing
through this route, there are chances that
the road may become rough in the future.
He said that if this road can be repaired at
many places and the traffic can be
organized in order to make this road
smooth, it can be a great convenience for the
passengers and the vehicles traveling
through this road to Kalimpong and Sikkim.
He also said that since the future of National
Highway 10 is not certain, if the alternative
roads are repaired and wide roads are built
to facilitate traffic, they can prove to be
alternatives to National Highway 10 even
during the rainy season.
Misc, Regional, West Bengal

Can Chowrasta be used for commercial activities? Civic body and social bodies differ

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EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 7, 2024 : Several organizations of Darjeeling have demanded that the local civic body does not allow commercial activities that require construction of structures, at Chowrasta, the only open square of the town.


On April 30, non government organizations, political parties and citizens went up in arms against the decision of the Darjeeling municipality to construct bamboo structures for stalls at Chowrasta.

Courtesy: Prolad Roka- Facebook

The municipality had planned to organize a Darjeeling Tourist Shopping Festival that would have lasted for more than ten days. The civic body had ostensibly said the objective for the shopping festival was to generate revenues by attracting tourists.


However, amidst protest by the social organizations and NGOs, the municipality was forced to stop construction work and postpone its proposed event at the popular promenade. As a result a war of words has started between the civic body and the protestors.

According to sources, the municipality on Monday did not grant permission to the Khambu Rai community to organize an event at Chowrasta. The source said the civic body has apparently asked the ethnic community to seek permission from social organizations and NGOs. On Tuesday, eight social organizations peeved by the civic body’s remarks came together on a common platform and condemned the attitude of the municipality.

“The municipality is an elected body and has the power to implement decisions. We as citizens too have voted for the municipality members.

Therefore it is responsibility and duty of the civic body to hear the public and decide, and not us. This is a callous attitude of the civic authorities,” said Dipika Gurung, member of one of the social organizations.

In defence, the municipality chairman Dipen Thakuri had pointed that events by the police department, social and cultural organizations have been organized at Chowrasta, earlier and that the current protestors had failed to speak against it.

Gurung however said such events were social in nature and did not have commercial aspects. “We are not against cultural and social cause events at Chowrasta. We only want that temporary structures are not constructed by digging holes and congesting the square for commercial purpose,” she said. Gurung said social organizations have on occasions also lauded the good work of the municipality.

“When the municipality laid tiles in and around the market area at Chowk Bazar in the heart of the town, we praised the civic body. Likewise, when the Mall Road and Chowrasta area was cleared of hawkers and stalls, we took to social media platforms to give a shout out to the municipality. So it is not, that we only point fingers of negativity,” she said. Authorities of the Darjeeling municipality could not be reached for their comments on the allegations.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

X users get police notice for posting ‘hateful’ meme on Mamata Banerjee, warned of legal action

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PTI, Kolkata, May 7, 2024 :  The Kolkata Police warned of legal action against two users of micro-blogging site X for allegedly posting an “offensive, hateful and inflammatory meme” of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a senior officer said on Tuesday.


Two X handles – @SoldierSaffron7 and @Shalendervoice – allegedly shared the ‘offensive’ meme of Mamata Banerjee, he said, The Kolkata Police wrote in the ‘reply’ box of the posts, “You are directed to disclose your full identity including name and address immediately”.

The police have warned that legal action will be taken against them.

“It has been observed that you are using social media for posting offensive, malicious and inciting post. Cyber Police Station Kolkata hereby issues notice against you under section 149 of the CrPC” for posting such a message which can affect the law and order situation, the police said in a notice to the X handlers.

“You are hereby directed to delete the above-mentioned post and also refrain from such acts failing which you will be liable for strict penal action under the relevant provision of law,” it added.

Though the post has been removed by @Shalendervoice, @SoldierSaffron7 retained the meme – a video of Banerjee made using artificial intelligence technology.

Condemning the police move, SoldierSaffron7 said in another post, “Those who say there is no democracy under BJP government in India should sometimes visit West Bengal. So much Freedom of Speech in Bengal!” 
Crime, Education, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

‘Very happy’ Mamata hails SC order, BJP says corruption has been proved in court

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PTI, Kolkata, 7 May, 2024 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court order that stayed the Calcutta High Court verdict of cancelling more than 25,000 school jobs, and said she is “very happy and mentally relaxed” after getting justice in the apex court. 
“I am really very happy and mentally relaxed on receipt of justice at the highest Court of the land. Congratulations to the entire teaching fraternity and my humble regards to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” Mamata said in a post on X. 
Speaking in a similar vein, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said truth has triumphed. 
“The Honorable Supreme Court has DEFUSED the BJP’s ‘EXPLOSIVE’ hurled last week to malign Bengal’s image and destabilise WB government. TRUTH HAS TRIUMPHED! We will continue to defy all odds and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people until our last breath,” he wrote on X.
The BJP, however, claimed that corruption in school recruitment in West Bengal has been proven in the court. “The TMC is neck-deep in corruption in this scam. They cannot evade their responsibilities,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.