Category Archives: West Bengal

Politics, West Bengal

Shubhendu Adhikari Warns of Political Fallout: “Mothers’ Tears Will Destroy Mamata”

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Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, August 30, 2024, Kolkata: Leader of the Opposition, Shubhendu Adhikari, issued a stern warning against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that “Mamata Banerjee will be destroyed in the tears of mothers.” He further asserted that the situation of the Kolkata and state police would become worse than that in Bangladesh.


Adhikari also criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks made at a rally on Mayo Road, stating that she is “trembling with fear.” He accused her of having “blood on her hands.” His comments came after the arrest of Sion Lahiri, a prominent face of the West Bengal student movement, who was taken into custody by the police last night and remanded to 14 days of police custody.

Adhikari claimed that around 70 people arrested during the “Navanna Chalo” program have been held in custody at Bankshal and Metropolitan Courts. With Sion’s mother sitting beside him, Adhikari assured that the BJP would provide legal assistance to all those arrested, including Sion. “A contact number has already been released by the party. We will field senior lawyers in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court for Sion. We believe we will get justice in the court regarding Mamata’s politics of revenge,” he said.

Calling Sion a “nationalist and protesting youth,” Shubhendu added, “He is active on social media. I am not aware that students were involved in politics like this, but he was protesting against injustice. Three cases have been filed against him.” He also challenged Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, saying, “Show me any evidence of Sion breaking barricades, attacking the police, or engaging in vandalism or anarchy.”

Sion’s mother, who lost her husband when Sion was young, said that neither she nor her son is afraid. Sion, an MBA student and a former student of Ballygunge Government School, has been accused of charges that his family and Adhikari claim are “completely baseless.”

Convinced of Sion’s innocence and the innocence of others involved, Adhikari stated, “I myself have faced 47 cases; no section was left out. I don’t engage in the politics of revenge!” Referring to the three-hour protest at Nabanna, which he described as a “non-political program,” he said, “The Chief Minister’s actions using the police will have consequences.”
Business, Regional, West Bengal

Bengal government’s Yatri Sathi app formally launched in Siliguri

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The zero-commission app, police officials said, will provide cab and bike services at cheaper rates
TT Correspondent, Siliguri, 17.08.24 : The Siliguri Metropolitan Police on Friday formally launched Yatri Sathi, an app for booking cabs introduced by the state government.

“The Yatri Sathi app is an initiative of the Bengal government and was earlier launched in Calcutta. In Siliguri, we introduced it on a trial basis during the past month and formally launched it here today. Anybody can get registered from our assistance booths located at Bagdogra airport, Siliguri junction and New Jalpaiguri station,” said C. Sudhakar, the commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police.

Sudhakar said around 600 cabs and 200 two-wheelers have already registered with the app. There is also a plan to introduce ambulance service through the app, sources said.

The zero-commission app, police officials said, will provide cab and bike services at cheaper rates.

“The private apps charge around 30 per cent commission from cabs and bike owners. Here, they will not have to pay any commission and, therefore, the rental charges are expected to be lower. Being a government-run app, it will also ensure the safety and security of passengers,” said a police officer.

“We want more and more cab owners and two-wheeler owners based in and around Siliguri to register themselves with Yatri Sathi,” he added.

The tourism industry has welcomed the initiative. Every day, thousands of tourists visit Siliguri and they can use the app to book a cab or bike, an industry stakeholder said.

Also, tourists often complain about overcharging by cab drivers, especially during peak tourist seasons. This problem can be resolved by availing cab services through the app, he said.

“We welcome the decision and would also request the Siliguri Metropolitan Police to hold a meeting with transporters to discuss and decide on the fares which would be charged for different destinations,” said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network.
Regional, West Bengal

CM doubles down on Teesta: Didi draws attention to water scarcity in North Bengal

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 The Bengal chief minister, while speaking on a resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission at the state Assembly, also questioned the Centre’s decision to initiate discussions with the Bangladesh government over the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty without involving Bengal
Snehamoy Chakraborty, TT, Calcutta, 30.07.24 : Mamata Banerjee on Monday reiterated her opposition to sharing water from Teesta with Bangladesh, stressing that such an arrangement would result in scarcity of drinking water for the people of north Bengal.

The Bengal chief minister, while speaking on a resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission at the state Assembly, also questioned the Centre’s decision to initiate discussions with the Bangladesh government over the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty without involving Bengal.

“The central government unilaterally discussed the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the renewal of the Farakka agreement (Ganga Water Sharing Treaty) for 2026 without consulting the matter with Bengal. This is the first time that Bengal, the prime stakeholder in both issues, was not involved in the discussion,” Mamata said in the Assembly.

She said such accords would lead to the suffering of people, especially those in north Bengal who are facing a severe water crisis.

“Is there sufficient water in the Teesta that you (the Union government) want to share? Even in the rainy season, the Teesta remains almost dry as its water is blocked by Sikkim with its 14 hydropower projects in the upstream. Now, if Teesta’s water is shared with Bangladesh, the people of north Bengal will not even get drinking water… I will not allow anything like that,” she said, before underscoring her “love for Bangladesh.”

During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed that India would help the neighbouring country in the conservation and management of the transboundary river. The proposal is part of India’s hydro diplomacy with Bangladesh, which has been waiting for a deal on sharing of Teesta water since 2011 when Mamata put a spanner on it.

A technical team from India is scheduled to visit Bangladesh soon to draw up the modalities of the project, which China is also keen to implement.

Mamata recounted how she was earlier consulted about important bilateral issues such as the exchange of enclaves by sealing the land boundary agreement or launching train and bus services between the two countries.

“But this time they did not involve us,” said Mamata referring to how former chief minister Jyoti Basu was felicitated in Bangladesh after the Ganga Water Treaty.

“When the Farakka agreement was done in 1996, Jyotibabu was invited to the neighbouring country and the Bangladesh government felicitated him. Now they have formed a committee to discuss the Farakka issue and I doubt whether there is a member from Bengal on the panel,” she added.

“Our priority is the people of our state. A discussion on those issues related to Teesta and Farakka without Bengal is a blow to federal unity and I have strong reservations about it. I have already written a letter to the Prime Minister informing the state’s opinion. The Bengal government is not ready to compromise with the issue (sharing of river water) at all,” she went on.

The Bengal chief minister mounted a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government demanding that the Farakka Barrage Authority — which is under the Union government — has to take responsibility for controlling erosion and flood mitigation along a 120km stretch of the Ganga in keeping with the agreement signed in 1994.

“When the Farakka agreement was signed in 1996, the central government was responsible for taking care of 120km stretch — 80km downstream and 40km upstream — of the Ganga. They have curtailed the jurisdiction to 12.5km now,” she said.

Mamata, who was the key speaker in the discussion of the resolution demanding the Indo-Bhutan Joint River Commission, asked Speaker Biman Banerjee to form a committee comprising the members of the House who would meet the Union irrigation minister.
Crime, West Bengal

Five years rigorous imprisonment for former post office superintendent

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SNS, 28 July 2024 : A special CBI court in Asansol has sent former Senior Superintendent of Post Office, Maloy Pal to five years in jail along with a fine of Rs.40,000 in a case of misappropriation of public money. On 25 July, Rajesh Chakraborty, judge of special CBI court has pronounced him guilty. Maloy Pal has been sent to Asansol Sp[ecial Correctional Home immediately after the judge announced his punishment.

In a post on its ‘X’ handle, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) stated that on 27 January 2009, a case was registered by CBI, then superintendent of the post office in Asansol after allegations of misappropriation of funds by manipulating savings banks withdrawals and vouchers.

On 18 March the CBI has submitted the charge sheet against him. Specifically he has increased the withdrawal amounts and decreased the deposit amounts in 42 withdrawal vouchers and 2 deposit vouchers ,relat ed to several different savings bank account holders. After trial the court held him guilty and sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.40,000. The incident was during 2006.
Crime, Education, West Bengal

Calcutta High Court sets aside single-bench order in TET case

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The board moved the division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Prasenjit Biswas contending that the candidate had applied to write the test, held on December 11, 2022, as a general category candidate
Subhankar Chowdhury, Calcutta, 13.07.24 :  A division bench of the high court on Friday set aside an October 2023 order by Justice Abhjit Gangopadhyay that directed the state primary education board to treat a candidate who had failed to clear the teachers’ eligibility test (TET) in the general category as an OBC candidate.

Justice Gangopadhyay had declared the candidate as having passed the test because her score was sufficient for reserved category candidates.

The judge resigned a few months later and won in the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate.

The board moved the division bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Prasenjit Biswas contending that the candidate had applied to write the test, held on December 11, 2022, as a general category candidate.

The board submitted that the petitioner got a copy of the certificate that identified her as an OBC candidate in November 2023, long after the test was held. Hence, the examinee could not be treated as an OBC candidate.

TET is held to shortlist candidates for teaching jobs in government-aided primary schools.

The division bench said in its order on Friday: “The petitioner has not filed the category of certificate before the cut-off date, which means that she had not claimed reservation…. Production of certificate by the writ petitioner at the later stage could not make her entitled to seek reservation. Therefore, on the said date she could not be considered eligible to apply under the OBC-B category, especially when the advertisement notice issued by the appellant/board stipulated that the last date for receipt of applications shall for all purpose be the cut-off date for determining the eligibility.”

The order said the single bench “is not correct” in holding that the petitioner can be considered an OBC-B candidate and she should be declared as passed.

“Therefore, there is illegality and material irregularity in the impugned order dated 09.10.2023 passed by the learned Single Bench…and as such it is liable to be
set aside.”

The president of the board, Gautam Paul, said: “We do not know how Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay considered the petitioner’s prayer. We are happy with the order of the division bench.” 
Politics, West Bengal

Saffron party leadership to revamp state BJP, major reshuffle awaited

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Central BJP leaders are aiming to restructure the saffron party’s organisation at the state and district level ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in view of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
RAJIB CHAKRABORTY | SNS  | Kolkata | July 8, 2024 : Saffron party leadership to revamp state BJP, major reshuffle awaited

Central BJP leaders are aiming to restructure the saffron party’s organisation at the state and district level ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in view of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, some central party leaders, who are dealing with organisation affairs are keeping in close touch with some state BJP leaders. The party leadership is said to be planning to replace the presidents of at least 15 out of 43 organisational districts in Bengal. Both winning and losing candidates in the Lok Sabha elections will be utilised for organisational work, said the BJP sources. There is even a possibility of a change in the state BJP president.

On Friday, BJP’s national president J P Nadda assigned new organisational responsibilities in 24 states except West Bengal. Sources said that as the post-election analysis at the grassroots level has revealed several reasons for the BJP’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Bengal, so the Delhi headquarters are taking stock of the situation. The saffron party leadership is planning a significant organisational overhaul in view of the disappointing election results.Reports indicated that nearly 15 district presidents will be replaced before the Puja. Additionally, recently state president Sukanta Majumdar hinted at a possible change in his position, noting that the party’s principle is “one person, one post”. He had recently stated: “Our party’s policy is one person, one post.

Therefore, since I have become a minister, I may have to step down. However, the final decision will be made by the central leadership. Our party’s structure undergoes changes from the top to the bottom in terms of organisational restructuring.” The focus will primarily be on revamping the district organisations, from the district to the mandal levels. Most district presidents in areas with poor results in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be replaced.

Over 300 mandal presidents may also be replaced. Furthermore, the majority of booth committees will be restructured. While Mr Majumdar did not directly comment on the organisational reshuffle, a state BJP leader claimed that any changes in the state BJP’s organisational structure would be on the directives of the central leadership. However, sources within the BJP have confirmed that organisational changes are indeed taking place at various levels within the state BJP.

A few days ago, state BJP leaders met at the Salt Lake party office for a post-election review meeting, where it was decided to gather reports from the district level. Subsequently, review meetings are being held in various districts with mandal presidents, district and zone in-charges, and assembly in-charges. The complete grassroots reports will soon be submitted to the state committee, which will then send the refined reports to the central leadership. The grassroots leaders and workers have identified several issues responsible for the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections during the review meetings, including that many senior workers were not involved in the election work, booth organisations were quite lax, incorrect booth reports were sent, with optimistic projections that did not match reality.

BJP workers were lax in door-to-door campaigning, and voters were not adequately approached. There was also a lack of coordination between district presidents and party candidates in most Lok Sabha constituencies. Frequent meetings and large gatherings by central leaders resulted in insufficient grassroots voter outreach, said the sources. These issues are being discussed within the party. Organisational reshuffles are expected in several districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, South 24-Parganas, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, and Burdwan. Both Lok Sabha constituencies in Howrah did not yield satisfactory results, the Hooghly seat was lost, and even though Arambagh was considered a positive seat, it was lost. The Burdwan-Durgapur seat was lost, and even though Asansol was considered positive, it was lost as well.

Additionally, there is internal conflict within the party in Burdwan, necessitating organisational restructuring. South 24-Parganas performed very poorly, and reports of factionalism have surfaced. Organisational changes are also expected in Midnapur, Jhargram, and Ghatal. The Bankura seat was lost, and there was significant internal conflict within the party before the elections. In Bishnupur, BJP won by a very small margin. Consequently, organisational changes are planned in Bankura, Bishnupur, Birbhum, and Bolpur.
Education, West Bengal

Yet to get reply from Centre on conducting own medical entrance exam: Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu

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Basu said the Centre’s mishandling of the UGC-NET exam jeopardised the careers of lakhs of teaching job aspirants in higher educational institutions

PTI, Calcutta, 06.07.24 : West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu on Saturday sought the scrapping of NEET, and demanded that the states be allowed to conduct their own entrance exams for medical courses as was the practice earlier.


Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the pre-counselling fair organised by the Association of Professional Academic Institutions, he said the irregularities in NEET have plunged the future of 23 lakh students into uncertainty.

Basu said his government has already written to the Centre regarding this but is yet to get a reply.

“Before academic year 2016-17, medical entrance exams were conducted by West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board in a transparent manner, and there used to be no controversy over it,” he claimed.

Basu alleged the Centre’s attitude was against the federal structure of the country.

“In a democracy, you cannot ignore the opinions of the state governments, you cannot disregard the states that are run by non-BJP governments,” he said.

Basu said the Centre’s mishandling of the UGC-NET exam jeopardised the careers of lakhs of teaching job aspirants in higher educational institutions.

On the pending students’ union elections in colleges, he said, “We are positive about it. The process will begin after Durga Puja.” While inaugurating the fair, Basu called upon students to take up whichever course he or she wanted.

“With the emergence of digital media, a fourth industrial revolution has begun,” he said.

“A student can now choose topics in sync with current trends,” he added.
Regional, West Bengal

Teesta River erosion leaves hundreds displaced

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Dibyendu Sinha, MP, 5 July 2024, Jalpaiguri: Around 50 to 60 houses have been submerged in the erosion of the Teesta River basin, leaving hundreds homeless. Approximately 500 bighas of agricultural land, including a primary school and an ICDS centre, have been engulfed by the river. 

This incident occurred in the Bahir Char area of Jalpaiguri Sadar Block, within the Bowalmari Nandan Pur Gram Panchayat area. According to local sources, river erosion began last week but intensified significantly over the past two days. 
The issue has been reported to the local Gram Panchayat and block administration. Mihir Karmakar, BDO of Sadar Block, stated that authorities are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the District Flood Control has issued a yellow alert for the unprotected area of Teesta in Jalpaiguri Domhani and a red alert for the unprotected area in Mekhliganj. 
Jalpaiguri Sadar Block encompasses several basin areas along the Teesta River. Among them, Bahir Char, situated alongside Teesta in the Boalmari Nandanpur Gram Panchayat area, is the largest. This char, measuring 8-km-long and 4-km-wide, is home to 260 families with a population exceeding 2,000. 
While the river’s water level rises every monsoon, recent years have seen exacerbated erosion issues. Last year, 2,000 bighas of land was lost to river erosion, a situation repeated this year. 
Local resident Charan Mandal reported that his house and 20 bighas of land were lost to erosion on Thursday, with Sadhan Sarkar experiencing a similar loss of 15 bighas of land. Most of the damage occurred in the Dhar Para, Kanai Nagar and Kalampur areas. 
Jiten Chandra Biswas, local Panchayat member, lamented: “The Char area previously housed the only primary school in Kalampur. 
On Friday morning, the school was swept into the river, leaving the future uncertain for 50 students. The ICDS centre adjacent to the school suffered the same fate. Residents have demanded a protective ring dam to mitigate river erosion, but no action has been taken yet. If this situation persists, conditions will worsen in the days ahead.” 
Meanwhile, the Sikkim Meteorological department has issued a red alert for five districts in North Bengal. Gopinath Raha, a department official, warned: 
“These districts are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours, tapering off by Sunday.” 
The Jalpaiguri district Irrigation department’s Flood Control reported periodic releases of water from the Gajoldoba Teesta Barrage, with 3,010 cumec water released on Friday afternoon. 
 https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/teesta-river-erosion-leaves-hundreds-displaced-570747
Education, West Bengal

WBJEEB publishes rules & regulations for e-counselling of students

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Amitava Banerjee4 July 2024 11:35 PM Darjeeling: Teesta Bazar in Kalimpong observed a bandh on Thursday demanding compensation, rehabilitation and permanent protection from the River Teesta. The bandh call was given by Teesta Sangrakshan Mancha (TSM). All business establishments remained closed on Thursday with a public meeting also being held apprising the residents of the demands.
The TSM has demanded a reassessment of the compensation to be handed over by the NHPC. Incidentally, Teesta Bazar was badly flooded in the flash flood in the River Teesta triggered by a glacial lake outburst in North Sikkim on October 4, 2023. Many families were displaced, houses damaged and livelihoods ended owing to the Teesta flood. According to the National Emergency Response Centre of India (NDMI) in the October 2023 Teesta disaster, there were over 100 deaths and over 70 missing individuals. Around 4,500 were evacuated. Around 90,000 people were affected. Additionally, about 2,000 houses were damaged.
With the advent of monsoons, Teesta Bazar continues to suffer with surge in the water level and the roads inundated. The residents complain that not much has been done in the way of compensation or rehabilitation of the affected families despite more than 8 months having passed since the widespread devastation.
“There were many (read political parties) who came and made tall promises but failed to live up to their commitments. Finally we were compelled to constitute the TSM, consisting of residents and people who have been affected by the calamity. It is an apolitical outfit. The day was observed in memory of all those who had lost their lives in the flash flood of October 4, 2023. It is also in support of our demands for permanent protection, rehabilitation and relief,” stated Madan Chettri of the TSM. “Earlier the district administration had worked out the compensation with the NHPC.
This time it is being done by the GTA and the compensation amount is not sufficient. Though we thank the GTA for initiating the process, we want a reassessment of the compensation amount,” stated Kishor Pradhan of the Mancha.
He further added that the GTA’s proposal to the NHPC of Rs 21 crore to build the protection wall to strengthen the embankment is not sufficient.
“We don’t want stop gap measures. Let there be permanent protection,” added Pradhan. Regarding future programmes, Pradhan stated: “It will depend on the reaction of the government and administration. We dont expect things to happen in a day or two. We know it will take time and we are willing to wait. However, we want a clear policy to be framed to mitigate this problem all along the Teesta permanently.”
The Mancha plans to invite experts, NGO, representatives of all political parties, public representatives, administration in the next meeting.
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/teesta-bazar-observes-bandh-in-demand-of-speedy-rehabilitation-570614

Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Bengal Raj Bhavan molestation case: Woman employee moves Supreme Court against immunity to Governor Bose

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According to Article 361, criminal proceedings cannot be instituted in a court against the Governor during his term of office
CV Ananda Bose: File

PTI, New Delhi, 04.07.24 : A contractual woman employee, who has alleged molestation by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, has moved the Supreme Court against “blanket immunity” conferred to him under Article 361 of the Constitution.

According to Article 361, criminal proceedings cannot be instituted in a court against the Governor during his term of office.

The woman petitioner has sought directions to frame specific guidelines under which Governors enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution.

“This court has to decide whether a victim like the petitioner can be rendered remediless, with the only option being to wait for the accused to demit his office, which delay will then be inexplainable during the trial, and render the entire procedure a mere lip service, without any justice to the victim herein,” the plea said.

The plea has also sought a probe into the case by West Bengal police and protection for her and her family along with compensation from the government for her loss of reputation.

The contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had lodged a complaint with Kolkata Police alleging that she was molested by Bose in the governor’s house on April 24 and May 2.

She accused Bose of orchestrating a “ridiculous drama” to deflect attention from his actions, emphasising that he should have provided the CCTV footage from premises to police at the outset of the investigation.

Footage from two CCTV cameras positioned at the main (north) gate, spanning from 5.32 pm to 6.41 pm on May 2, was shown to a select group of people and journalists at the Central Marble Hall on the ground floor of Raj Bhavan.

In the first footage, the employee, dressed in jeans and a top, was seen hurrying to the police outpost housed within the governor’s house amidst a significant number of police personnel who were deployed in the premises for the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on that day.

The second footage, which lasted for around 10 minutes, showed various vehicles including fire tenders arriving at the north gate of Raj Bhavan and policemen lining up for their regular duties. The victim, however, could not be spotted.

Amid the controversy over the woman’s allegation, Bose had filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 28, a day after the CM claimed that women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.

The Calcutta High Court has adjourned till Thursday the hearing in the matter.
Crime, West Bengal

Youth shoots at woman, takes own life at guest house in Calcutta’s Lake Gardens

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 The woman sustained a bullet injury in her abdomen and has been admitted to a hospital in Jadavpur
ew Metro Guest House at Lake Gardens: Pradip Sanyal

Monalisa Chaudhuri, TT, Lake Gardens, 04.07.24 : A peaceful neighbourhood in Lake Gardens heard two consecutive gunshots on Wednesday afternoon.

A young man who had checked into a guest house with a woman allegedly shot her before locking himself in the room and shooting himself dead.

The woman sustained a bullet injury in her abdomen and has been admitted to a hospital in Jadavpur.

Nikku Kumari Dubey, 21, is said to have told police that she was earlier in a relationship with the man, Rakesh Kumar Shah, 27, but a recent rift between the two resulted in a break-up that Shah could not accept.

Cops said the two had checked into a room on the third floor of New Metro Guest House at Lake Gardens around 2pm on Wednesday.

“Around 4.50pm, the caretaker of the guest house heard a gunshot. Shortly after, the woman ran down to the reception and said she had been shot by the man who came with her. Before the staff could react, they heard another gunshot,” said an officer of Lake police station.

One of the guest house owners told Metro over the phone that their manager, Rajib Dey, was at the reception when the firing was reported.

“We heard that the guest was carrying a gun and had locked himself in the room after he shot at the woman. The woman ran downstairs and said she had been shot,” the owner said.

Shah and Dubey are from Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas. Dubey told the police it was to be a “reconciliation meeting”.

“She said they grew up in the same neighbourhood in Budge Budge and were in a relationship for several years. Recently, she wanted to come out of it but Shah was reluctant. She said he was trying to blackmail her and when she tried to leave the room, he opened fire,” said an officer.

The police said this version was based on preliminary inquiry and Dubey’s statements were yet to be verified.

By the time the police entered the third-floor room, which was locked from inside, Shah was dead. He had shot himself in the head, cops said.

Shah’s family said the two (Shah and Dubey) left home together on Wednesday morning.

“My son loved her a lot. But she had left him,” Shah’s mother said at their Vidyasagar Road home in Budge Budge.

Sources in Lalbazar said the investigating team was in the process of collecting CCTV footage from the guest house to verify the sequence of events.

The police said they had recovered a 9mm pistol, liquor bottles and a purported suicide note from the room.

The identity cards Shah and Dubey submitted at the guest house while checking-in said the two were residents of Bihar, the police said.

Neighbours in Budge Budge confirmed that the two families were originally from Bihar and had shifted to Bengal several years ago.

Shah’s body will undergo a post-mortem on Thursday.

A formal case has been registered at Lake police station.
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Calcutta High Court to hear Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose’s defamation suit against CM Mamata Banerjee on July 3

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 Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there
PTI,  Calcutta, 03.07.24 : The Calcutta High Court is on Wednesday scheduled to hear a defamation suit filed by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.

The defamation suit filed by Bose is listed for hearing on Wednesday before the bench of Justice Krishna Rao, according to the high court’s website.

During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Banerjee had on June 27 said “women have informed me they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there”.

Following Banerjee’s remarks, the governor had said it was expected of public representatives not to create “erroneous and slanderous impressions”.

On May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had made an allegation of molestation against Bose, following which the Calcutta Police started an inquiry.

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his/her term in office.
Crime, Techno/ Science, West Bengal

Rampant sharing of personal info on internet often results in child abuse: WBCPCR

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WBCPCR Chairperson Tulika Das said the traffickers and other unscrupulous persons use fake identities on social media platforms to lure children into their traps.
Rampant sharing of personal info on internet often results in child abuse: WBCPCR: File Photo: Representational Image

IANS | New Delhi | July 1, 2024 : Rampant sharing of personal information on social media by children often results in events of child abuse, child trafficking, and child marriage, according to the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR).

WBCPCR Chairperson Tulika Das said the traffickers and other unscrupulous persons use fake identities on social media platforms to lure children into their traps.

This matter also came up during a programme organised to observe ‘State Child Protection Day’ by the WBCPCR in collaboration with the UNICEF.

According to Das, children are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and many incidents of child trafficking, child marriage, child abuse, and child pornography are taking place as traffickers take to the internet to dupe them.

Cautioning that traffickers and other unscrupulous persons use fake identities on social media to lure children into their traps, Das emphasised that it is necessary to make the children aware of the pitfalls of careless sharing of personal information and photos on the internet by making it a part of the school curriculum.

“WBCPCR recommends that digital literacy be included in the school curriculum and taught in a child-friendly way to safeguard them when they study or play or make friends on the internet,” she said.

The Commission has already released anti-trafficking posters, audio messages, and music videos to create awareness on this matter.

The UNICEF also works closely with the WBCPCR on various child safety programmes in the state.

According to the chief of UNICEF in West Bengal, Prabhat Kumar, both children and adults should be careful when using the internet.

“You must think before posting, sharing, and accepting any information or data on the internet. Always inform your friends, relatives, or the police if you find someone becoming a victim of cyberbullying,” Kumar said.
West Bengal

Centre okays proposals worth Rs 860 Cr for Bengal under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0

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There are 118 legacy-waste dumpsites in West Bengal, of which only 5 per cent waste has been remediated, the statement said
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 27, 2024 :  The Union housing and urban affairs ministry has approved proposals worth Rs 860.35 crore for West Bengal under the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), according to a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the ministry, during the first phase of SBM-U (2014-19), a total fund of Rs 911.34 crore was allocated to West Bengal, which has been increased by one-and-a-half times to Rs 1,449.30 crore in SBM-U 2.0 (2021-26).
There are 118 legacy-waste dumpsites in West Bengal, of which only 5 per cent waste has been remediated, the statement said.
The Dhapa landfill, Kolkata’s main municipal dumping ground since 1987, has been undergoing biomining and bioremediation, the methods chosen by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for clearing legacy waste which allow extraction of usable materials from the waste.
“Cities in West Bengal generate around 4,046 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day. Under SBM-U 2.0, the state has proposed projects to manage this huge quantity of waste that includes over 4,800 composting plants and 4,500 material recovery facilities (MRFs).
“To facilitate disposal of solid waste in an environmentally-safe manner, 2,216 secured landfill facilities (SLFs) have been proposed by the state. The state has received a major push for waste to energy with the ministry’s approval for 460 compressed bio-gas (CBG) plants,” the statement said.
Proposals worth Rs 217 crore have been approved under SBM-U 2.0 for the remediation of legacy-waste dumpsites in more than 100 urban local bodies, it added.
“To maintain a seamless flow of funds for managing sanitation and waste management, the Government of India released an additional tranche of Rs 209 crore to fast-track the proposed projects by the state.
“The target is to have waste-processing plants in all cities of the state by 2026 under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban,” it said.
Politics, West Bengal

Newly elected TMC MLAs fail to take oath, Guv leaves for Delhi

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PTI, Kolkata, Jun 26, 2024 : The deadlock over the swearing-in of two newly elected TMC legislators continued on Wednesday as West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose refused to hold the programme in the assembly as requested by them, and instead left for New Delhi, officials said.

Miffed by the development, the two MLAs, Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Rayat Hossain Sarkar, said they would again write to the Governor and would continue their sit-in protest on Thursday too inside the assembly premises.

“Today we waited till 4 PM but the Governor didn’t come. We would again write to the Governor and request him to administer the oath here at the assembly. Tomorrow again we would sit near the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar and protest against the injustice,” Bandopadhyay said after a meeting with Speaker Biman Banerjee, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chottoapadhyay along with Sarkar.

Raj Bhavan had earlier invited the two, who were elected to the assembly in recent by-polls, to take the oath at the Governor’s House on Wednesday.

However, the TMC claimed that the convention dictates that in the case of by-poll winners, the governor assigns the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the assembly to administer the oath.

According to sources at Raj Bhavan, the governor left for New Delhi in the evening.

Earlier in the day, the two MLAs arrived at the assembly and stated their intention to wait for the governor till 4 pm to administer their oath of office or authorize the Speaker to do so.

They also staged a sit-in on the staircase of the assembly demanding the same.

“We came to know that he had left for New Delhi. We are not nominated but elected representatives of the people. We are accountable to the masses. We are hopeful of taking the oath in the assembly,” Bandyopadhyay said.

Speaker Biman Banerjee, who expressed his displeasure over the situation, accused Bose of turning the swearing-in ritual into an “ego battle” and intentionally complicating the issue.

He claimed that an impasse was deliberately created for reasons best known to the governor.

“We were waiting for the governor to come to the assembly, but he didn’t come. Such an impasse is not at all expected. The governor has turned it into an ego battle. He is exercising his powers. I will also consult legal experts to understand my powers,” Banerjee said.

Calling the swearing-in of MLAs a “Constitutional convention”, the Speaker said he considered it a “misfortune” to witness such developments in current times.

The Speaker said he wasn’t aware of any instance where an MP who won a by-poll was sworn in by the President of India.

“Until we take the oath, we cannot function as MLAs. The people of our constituencies are suffering,” Bandyopadhyay said.

Bandyopadhyay and Sarkar were elected from Baranagar near Kolkata and Bhagwangola in Murshidabad district, respectively.

The latest faceoff between the Bengal Governor and the state’s ruling TMC was triggered by a Raj Bhavan communication a few days back inviting the two newly elected MLAs to be present at Raj Bhavan on July 26 for their swearing-in ceremony.

The act, the TMC alleged, was in defiance of the custom of the Governor assigning the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the House to do the needful in cases of by-poll winners.

The Raj Bhavan letter also reportedly has no mention of who would administer the oath to the new MLAs.

Regional, West Bengal

‘Rodents cut wire and caused short circuit’: Holong Bungalow fire probe smells a rat

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‘Those who have stayed in the Holong Bungalow are familiar with the presence of rats. According to the primary report, the rats cut through the electric wires, leading to a short circuit’

Snehamoy Chakraborty, TT, Calcutta, 26.06.24 : 
The Holong Bungalow in Alipurduar’s Jaldapara National Park.: Sourced by the Telegraph.
In Bihar they have acquired a reputation for swilling litres of liquor confiscated by the police. In north Bengal, now, they are becoming fabled as spitfires. Rats. What’s one to make of them?

A primary investigation by the forest department has blamed rats for the June 19 fire that gutted the 57-year-old wooden Holong Bungalow in Alipurduar’s Jaldapara National Park.
A source said a five-member committee, formed immediately after the fire at the bungalow that was once a favourite retreat of former chief minister Jyoti Basu, had suggested that rats had cut the electric wire, causing a short circuit that triggered the devastating fire.

However, the evidence is not conclusive as the building, and all wires, had been destroyed by the fire.
“Those who have stayed in the Holong Bungalow are familiar with the presence of rats. According to the primary report, the rats cut through the electric wires, leading to a short circuit. As the bungalow was made of wood, we got no time to save it,” forest minister Birbaha Hansda, to whom the committee has submitted its report, told The Telegraph.

The fire broke out around 9.30pm on June 19 at the conference hall of the bungalow and spread throughout the entire property.

Hansda said the forest department was waiting for reports submitted separately by the police and the fire and emergency services departments.

“The two agencies are conducting independent probes into the fire incident, and that is why we are waiting for their reports to see if they differ from ours,” she added.

The bungalow on the banks of the Holong stream was built in 1967 as a forest inspection house with eight double-bedded rooms. Five rooms are currently with the state tourism department and the remaining three are dedicated to forest officials on duty.

The Holong Bungalow was the first choice of tourists visiting the Dooars region because of its prime location, with frequent sightings of one-horned rhinos, elephants, leopards and deer. The animals visit the salt pit in front of the bungalow.

Apart from former chief minister Basu, Mamata Banerjee has also stayed at the property several times. Other important persons who have been to the
bungalow are former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, several of his cabinet colleagues, former governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and author Samaresh Majumdar.

Initially, foresters had suspected that a short circuit from air-conditioners could be the source of the fire. However, during the investigation, the probe team found out that all the air-conditioners and geysers had been disconnected from the power source when the bungalow stopped taking in visitors on June 15 in keeping with annual protocol. Forest bungalows in Bengal cannot be booked for three months during the monsoon starting June 15 as this is the mating period for wild animals.

“However, the electricity connection had been kept on to illuminate the building, mainly the facade. After talking to the staff, we learnt that rats had previously created trouble by cutting power wires. That is why we find reason to believe that this time too such a thing has happened, resulting in a spark,” said a forest official.

A senior forest official in Jaldapara said the bungalow was infested with rats. “As the building is made of wood, there is a gap of a few inches between two layers of the walls. Hundreds of rats used to inhabit these spaces. That has been pointed out in the probe report,” a source who has gone through the findings said.

“As the building was old, the wood had become dry. That is why, despite 30 employees reaching the spot within five minutes of spotting the flames, they could not do anything to save it,” he added.

Hansda has said the government will reconstruct the Holong Bungalow and reopen it for tourists. However, a forest official said reconstruction needed permission from the National Board for Wildlife, a body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
West Bengal

‘Rupashree aid of Rs 25K must reach beneficiaries before marriage date’

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Pradip Chatterjee, MP, 24 June 2024, Kolkata: State government has directed all the district administrations to ensure that the one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 under Rupashree scheme is transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries well before the date of their marriage. 

The move has been taken to accelerate the process of providing funds to the beneficiaries of the Rupashree scheme. The district officials have been asked to transfer the amount latest by the date of marriage of the beneficiaries failing which accountability would be fixed on those officers who are responsible for delivering the services. 
An order has been issued to the districts clearly stating that it was desirable that the financial assistance is given to the beneficiaries account four days ahead of their date of marriage. The concerned officials will have to ensure that the money is credited to the beneficiaries’ bank account latest by the date of marriage. 
Earlier, there were complaints that in several cases the one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 was transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank account after their marriage had taken place. The beneficiaries will also get to know the status of their applications from Duare Sarkar camps or through an online portal. 
The applicants can apply for the financial assistance through online or offline processes. Application forms are available in various government offices. The applicants can apply for the money 30-60 days prior to the date of marriage. 
The scheme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that was launched on April 1, 2018, provides one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to the family of a girl at the time of her marriage if her family income is less than Rs 1,50,000 per year. 
Initially, Rs 1,500 crore was allocated for the project. The woman must be a permanent resident of West Bengal and above 18 years at the time of her marriage with a cap on an annual family income of Rs 1.5 lakh. No minimum educational qualifications are required to apply for the scheme. 
The scheme introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government has immensely benefited many families who used to find it extremely difficult to bear the expenditure of marriage of their daughters. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/rupashree-aid-of-rs-25k-must-reach-beneficiaries-before-marriage-date-569272