6 held in Deoghar in NEET paper leak case

June 23, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The six arrested from Jharkhand include a man known as Sintu, alias Chintu. The agency is delving into his past and present contacts to ascertain how far he was involved in the paper leak

Activists under the banner of Yuva Shakti stage a protest over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results and UGC-NET 2024 exam cancellation, in Patna, Saturday, June 22: PTI photo

Dev Raj Patna, TT, 23.06.24 : Investigations by the Bihar police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) have indicated that a mafia specialising in leaking papers of competitive examinations compromised the NEET-UG and circulated the leaked paper with the help of other gangs in Bihar and Jharkhand.

The EOU arrested six people from Deoghar in Jharkhand late on Friday and brought them to Patna on Saturday for questioning after completing the necessary formalities. This has taken the number of arrests in the case to 19.

“We initially arrested 13 persons in the NEET-UG paper leak case being investigated by us. However, with the progress in our probe, and with technological surveillance and inputs provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA) which conducted the examination, we have arrested six more from Jharkhand. We have seized mobile phones and other electronic gadgets from them,” a senior EOU official told

The Telegraph.

The six arrested from Jharkhand include a man known as Sintu, alias Chintu. The agency is delving into his past and present contacts to ascertain how far he was involved in the paper leak.

“The actual name of this Sintu alias Chintu is something else,” the EOU official said.

“He (Sintu) has been associated with Sanjeev Mukhiya, who we believe to be the kingpin of the NEET-UG paper leak in Bihar and Jharkhand. He is currently absconding, but his son Shiv Kumar — a doctor — is currently in jail in connection with the Teacher Recruitment Exam-III paper leak,” the EOU official added.

The agency has also sent a notice to Pritam Kumar, personal secretary to leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, to appear for questioning after he was accused of facilitating the stay of four arrested candidates at the behest of Sikandar Kumar Yadvendu in an inspection bungalow belonging to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Patna.

Sikandar is a junior engineer in the water resources department and has been accused in various instances of corruption. He was previously arrested in an LED light scam in Rohtas district and is now on suspension. The EOU considers him a link in the chain of transfer of the illegal NEET-UG papers.

The EOU submitted a status report on its investigations to the Union education ministry earlier this week. This includes the statements and alleged confessions of 13 arrested people, including four examinees.

The agency is preparing another report that will be submitted to the Supreme Court before it takes up the NEET-UG case for further hearing on July 8.

Education, National, Politics

Amid row, Centre sets up 7-member panel headedby Ex-ISRO chief to reform exams, review NTA

June 23, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case

PTI, New Delhi, Jun 22 2024 :A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and the ED to investigate alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG held on May 5.

The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case and file a report before the apex court.

“The petitioners are fully aware of the ramifications of the cancellation of the examination but there is absolutely no other alternative.

“The NEET UG Examination of 2024 had many other irregularities, in particular, the gross negligence on the part of the authorities to make the question papers available to the candidates on time. In some places, the wrong set of question papers was distributed and later recalled,” the plea said.

The top court had earlier sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe, amid mounting outrage over alleged irregularities in conducting the all-India medical entrance test.

The apex court had also stayed further proceedings on similar pleas pending before different high courts.

The top court, however, had made it clear that it would not stay the counselling process.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed earlier.

The allegations of irregularities have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

Regional

New Evidence Supports Innocence of Goods Train Driver in Kanchanjunga Incident, Unions Assert

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Jeevan Prakash Sharma, Rediff News, June 22, 2024 : Driver unions, which contradicted the Railway Board when it prima facie blamed the now-deceased goods train driver for the deadly collision with the Kanchanjunga Express, have claimed they have fresh documents to prove his innocence.

IMAGE: Rescue operation underway at the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site, in Darjeeling on June 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

They referred to authority letter T/369 (3B) issued to the goods train driver to cross the first two defective signals after the Ranipatra station premises with a 15 kmph speed restriction while the other authority letter — T/A 912 — did not mention any speed restriction.

Ten people, including the driver, lost their lives and 40 were injured in the accident near New Jalpaiguri on June 17. The employees’ unions had said that squarely blaming the driver, who is not alive to defend himself, amounts to making him a scapegoat for the systematic shortcomings of the Railways.

Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation’s working president Sanjay Pandhi on Friday said, “T/A 912 was issued to all seven train drivers who passed Ranipatra station after 5.50 am to cross nine defective signals and it does not show any speed limit.”

“However, T/369 (3B), which was issued separately to cross two signals immediately after leaving Ranipatra station premise (also called starter and advanced starter signals), imposes a speed limit of 15 kmph,” he added.

Pandhi argued that the T/369 (3B) authority letter along with existing rules of driving during multiple signal failures prove that the goods train driver was right in crossing all defective signals at normal speed.

The Railway Board, in its initial response, said the goods’ train driver overshot the signal which caused the accident. Later, it emerged that the automatic signalling system had failed since 5:50 am on that day due to which all automatic signals between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat turned defective.

The station master of Ranipatra, following the railway operation norms, issued the authority letter T/A 912 to all train drivers to pass through defective signals.

Railway Unions such as IRLRO and All India Railwaymen’s Federation defended the deceased driver and said he had the authority letter to cross defective signals hence he was not at fault.

The Unions blamed the operating department of New Jalpaiguri for not ensuring that the section (route between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat) was clear before issuing T/A 912 to the goods train driver.

According to the Unions, when multiple signals in an automatic signalling system fail, safety norms dictate that the whole section should be converted into an absolute block system and only one train should be allowed at a time.

The Railway Board countered this argument, saying that even if the goods train driver was issued T/A 912, an authority to cross defective signals, he should have proceeded with a caution speed of 10 kmph with a one-minute stoppage at each red signal.

Five senior officials of a joint probe team held on June 18 that the goods train driver was guilty of violating signal aspects and speed restrictions. One official of the probe team gave a dissenting opinion and blamed the operating department of the New Jalpaiguri division.

Now, it has come to light that after the signalling failure at Ranipatra, authority letter T/369 (3B) was also issued to all drivers, asking them to pass two defective departure signals immediately after the station premises with a restrictive speed of 15 kmph.

A railway safety expert said, “T/369 (3B) is issued to train drivers when two signals (called starter and advanced started) that come immediately after the station premises turn defective. T/A 912 is issued for all other signals after these two signals till the home signal (an entry signal) of the next station.”

Pandhi said there were 11 signals between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat stations.

“If I put it in sequence, these 11 signals include Ranipatra station’s starter, advanced starter and automatic signals AS-654, AS-652, AS-650, AS-648, AS-646, AS-644, AS-642, AS-640 and AS-638. After all these signals, the Home Signal of Chattar Hat station comes,” Pandhi said.

“Now, if you see T/369 (3B), it tells the driver to pass the starter and advanced starter at 15 kmph speed and then T/A 912 tells the driver to pass the remaining nine signals without mentioning any speed limit. It is very much obvious that the driver will cross all these signals at normal speed,” he added.

Shiv Gopal Mishra, the general secretary of AIRF, said, “The station master should have ensured that the section is clear of any train before issuing these two authority letters. Maintaining precaution in a defective signalling system is everyone’s duty but the goods train driver should not be held responsible.”

The matter is now being investigated by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Crime, West Bengal

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬: 𝟒𝟏 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Barasat police have announced a helpline to report such rumour-mongering on social media platforms

Snehal Sengupta, Monalisa Chaudhuri, TT, Barasat, 22.06.24 : A 28-year-old man from Madhyamgram was arrested on Friday for allegedly spreading rumours on social media about alleged childlifters in Barasat, North 24-Parganas.

Police said 57 rumour-mongering posts on Facebook had been identified and 41 pulled down by Friday evening.

Abdul Karim was the fourth person arrested for allegedly spreading rumours that led to three persons getting beaten up at two places in Barasat on suspicion that they were child lifters.

Three persons — Pritam Mistry, Sheikh Mijanur Rehman and Payal Talukdar — were arrested on Thursday on similar charges. The police said the trio were administrators of two Facebook groups.

Barasat police have announced a helpline to report such rumour-mongering on social media platforms.

A senior police officer said on Friday that people can report suspicious posts on Facebook or other social media platforms by sending WhatsApp messages to 9163766694.

Karim, the police said, did odd jobs for a living and drove a bike taxi. He had allegedly shared multiple posts and videos aimed at spreading rumours that a gang of child traffickers was active in the area, an officer in the Barasat police district said.

“Karim had also commented multiple times on rumour-mongering posts uploaded on at least two Facebook groups,” the officer said.

Karim has been charged under the Information Technology Act and IPC sections related to mischief and causing breach of peace in society.

An officer said the 57 Facebook posts they had identified were meant to spread rumours and create panic. The posts had been made from various accounts.

The Barasat additional superintendent of police, Sparsh Nilangi, said that of the 57 Facebook posts, 41 hadbeen taken down till 5.30pm on Friday.

“We are in touch with Facebook and have asked them to take down these posts as they are solely aimed at spreading rumours,” Nilangi told Metro.

The Barasat superintendent of police, Pratiksha Jharkhariya, said the four in custody had been actively spreading rumours through two Facebook groups that a gang of child traffickers was active in the area.

“We have arrested 19 people for Wednesday’s assaulton two men and a woman,” she said.

Education, Regional, West Bengal

Government Directs District Inspectors to Monitor Energy Efficiency in Schools, Curtail Power Wastage

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The official said the education department has received complaints that non-teaching employees at times forget to switch off lights, fans and other electric appliances after the classes are over or the campus shuts for the day

Subhankar Chowdhury, TT, Calcutta, 22.06.24 : The state education department has asked the district inspectors (DIs) of schools to be vigilant against consumption of power beyond school hours in government and government-aided schools and run random checks on campuses.

A notice addressed to the DIs and signed by the commissioner of school education says: “You are also requested to ensure visit in the schools under your jurisdiction beyond school hours by yourself and subordinate officials for random checks about any misuse of power consumption.”

The notice was issued on Thursday, hours after chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her dissatisfaction in a meeting over the alleged misuse of electricity in government offices and schools.

“The chief minister feels that if the office heads or institution heads remain cautious, the expenditure on electricity bills could be cut down to some extent,” said an official in the state primary education board.

The notice by the commissioner of school education says: “It has come to the knowledge at some places, the use of power/electricity is not efficient. At times, the misuse of power beyond class hours has been observed. It is thus be advised that all school authorities be communicated to remain extremely vigilant with regard to power consumption. Any unnecessary use of electricity must be avoided at each place.”

It further says: “You are also requested to ensure visit in the schools under your jurisdiction….”

The primary education board, secondary education board and the council of higher secondary education have been issued copies of the notice.

There are about 55,000 primary schools run or aided by the government in Bengal. The number of secondary and higher secondary schools run or aided by the government stands at close to 12,000 and 9,000, respectively.

“If misuse of power could be prevented at these institutions, a substantial amount of money could be saved,” said an official.

“The teachers, too, stand accused of dereliction of duty,” the official said.

Swapan Mandal, the general secretary of the Bengal Teachers’ and Employees’ Association, said: “The schools are required to send data about their teachers or other information…. The work for that is done after classes. We have to keep lights and fans on for this work.”

Regional

Teesta River Swells Pose Risk to NH10: Erosion Threatens Vital Highway Infrastructure Amid Heavy Rainfall

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Along NH10, cracks have developed beside the road on many stretches, prompting the police and the local administration to put guardrails and fluorescent tapes to keep vehicles away from the damaged portions

Teesta damages NH10 in Melli of Kalimpong district: Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT Bureau Malda, Siliguri, 22.06.24 : The heavy monsoonal downpour that triggered landslides in many parts of Sikkim also caused the Teesta to swell, which now is eroding mounds of earth from under NH10, the principal highway that connects Sikkim and Kalimpong with Siliguri and rest of the country.

“The Teesta is constantly eroding land in locations such as Melli, Teesta Bazaar and 28th Mile. Such erosion has led to cracks in the highway. If the water levels don’t recede and erosion continues, there is a risk of cave-ins. That is why, drivers have been advised to drive with caution,” said a source in the Kalimpong district administration.

Last October, when a flash flood occurred in the Teesta because of the glacial lake outburst flood in South Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim, the river had swept away many stretches of NH10.

“The stretches were eventually repaired and traffic resumed on the route. However, over the past couple of months, multiple landslides in Likhu Vir, Ravi Jhora and some other areas along the highway damaged the stretches again and disrupted connectivity,” the official added.

Now if there are cave-ins at the cracked parts, the stretches would get narrower and vehicles, especially heavy vehicles, would be forced to take detours, the official added.

Residents of Kesharpur village in Manikchak block, Malda, stand at the confluence of the Fulhar and Koshi rivers that started eroding land on Friday

The alternative route to Kalimpong and Sikkim — the most popular being the Gorubathan–Lava route — means an additional travel of at least 70km.

Sources in the state PWD which maintains the road said they were clearing debris caused by landslides. “However, permanent repair work can be carried out only after the weather conditions improve,” said a source.

Such recurring disruptions on the highway have prompted Raju Bista, the Darjeeling MP, to approach the Centre with the request that the Bengal stretch of the highway be handed over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) or the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Along with residents and tourists, the highway is regularly used by defence forces to move to Sikkim, a mountainous state on the India-China border.

Right now, traffic is still moving on NH10, but vehicles can’t move on the road connecting Darjeeling with Kalimpong because the Teesta has inundated the Teesta Bazar stretch and flooded some houses.

“We are keeping a watch over the situation. People have been asked to be on alert and shift to safer places in case water levels rise,” an official said.

Malda erosion

In Malda district, two rain-fed rivers have started eroding land in parts of at least two blocks over the past two days.

Fulhar, sources said, has been eroding its banks in Harishchandrapur-II block since Thursday night. The erosion has left residents of Kowadol, Rashidpur, Uttar Bhakuria, Dakshin Bhakuria, Mirpara and Tantipara villages worried that the river would eventually gobble their land and homes.

“The river is flowing barely 100 metres away from my village,” said Alam Sheikh of Rashidpur.

Erosion has been reported at the confluence of the Fulhar and the Koshi. The rivers are flowing hardly 20 metres away from the embankment in Kesharpur village of Manikchak block.

“The rivers are eroding earth along a 200-metre-long stretch and water is steadily advancing towards the embankment. We are keeping our fingers crossed. If the embankment is breached, our village will be underwater,” said Birbal Mahato, a villager.

Pankaj Tramang, the subdivisional officer (Sadar) has visited the erosion-hit areas in Manikchak, said sources.

“Officials of the two blocks have been put on alert,” said a district administration official.

The 40th battalion of the BSF posted in Jalpaiguri district on Friday also evacuated residents of Singhpara village located on a dry bed of the Teesta river when residents reported that the swollen river had started gobbling land of their village.

National, Northeast

Manipur going through difficult phase, our govt will lay path for betterment of society: CM

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year

PTI, Jun 21 2024, Imphal : Noting that ethnic strife-torn Manipur was going through a difficult phase, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday asserted that his government will lay the path for betterment of the society.

Speaking at the state-level International Yoga Day function at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Singh said the current situation in Manipur is a turning point for indigenous people and their future and if things are tackled wisely, a safe and secure future is guaranteed.

“We shouldn’t allow emotions and politics to drive our actions, and in the process divert from the core issues. We know we are tired… but we have to endure it for a few more days. We cannot be happy without going through a tough phase,” he said.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year.

Agencies: He urged people to strive for peace and “identify and face the real enemies of the state”. While speaking at an event, Singh said, “We are passing through a difficult phase. This is not the first time that we are facing a difficult phase. During the 1992-93 ethnic conflict, more than 1000 lives were lost. Today, we are struggling. We are dealing with elements who want to break up a state with more than 2,000 years of history.”

The Chief Minister further said that the state had not slept for more than nine months now, adding that more than 3,000 state forces have been deployed in peripheral areas.

Singh appealed to the people of the state not to foment disturbance in Imphal valley.

“Let the valley be peaceful. Let the protection of Manipur be our sole duty. No more rallies. Let’s identify and face the real enemies of the state,” he said.

The Chief Minister also said the state had improved a lot during the last six years, and the relationship between police and people had improved.

“However, we cannot tolerate elements who want to destroy the state by supplying drugs, by engaging in widespread deforestation and poppy cultivation and bringing in illegal immigrants from outside. We need to unite and stop making allegations. There may be lapses, but we need to forgive and forget to save the land,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister made these statements at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Imphal Ring Road Project, worth Rs 1,766 crore, at Takyel Khongbal Maning Leikai.

The Manipur government has undertaken this much-anticipated project with the objective of easing the problem of traffic congestion in Imphal areas, with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Regarding the Imphal Ring Road project, Singh stated that the Rs 1,700 crore project was prompted by the rising population and increasing traffic congestion within the capital, Imphal.

Education, National

NEET-UG | Supreme Court refuses to defer counselling for NEET-UG 2024, issues notices on plea to cancel May 5 exam

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Agencies & MP, 21 June 2024, New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday refused to defer the counselling for the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an “open and shut” process.

The apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Centre and others on a petition seeking cancellation of the exam over alleged irregularities in holding it on May 5. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti posted the matter for hearing on July 8 along with other pending pleas alleging irregularities in conduct of the examination.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners urged the bench that the counselling process may be paused for two days as the apex court is scheduled to hear all these pleas on July 8. “I am not seeking any stay of counselling. I am only praying that the counselling which is scheduled to be held on July 6 may be paused for two days only.

The reason being that the main matter is listed on July 8,” the lawyer argued. The bench observed, “We have been hearing the same statement. Don’t think otherwise for interrupting you. Counselling does not mean open and shut. It is a process. That process commences on July 6.”

When the bench asked about the duration of the first round of counselling, one of the lawyers appearing in the matter said it will last around a week.

The bench, which refused to defer the counselling process, said that counsel appearing for the NTA, the Centre and other respondents may file their response to the plea within two weeks. The bench also dealt with a separate application seeking certain directions to the NTA.

The counsel appearing for the applicant raised the issue of re-test, which is to be conducted on June 23, and alleged that the NTA has withheld some material information. The bench then asked the NTA’s counsel to file a response to the application and posted it for hearing on July 8.

“What is this argument?,” the bench said. The apex court also dealt with a separate petition seeking a direction to the NTA to allow a candidate, who is suffering from a medical condition, to appear in the re-test.

The counsel for the petitioner said even before the decision was taken to allow 1,563 candidates to appear in the re-test, the petitioner had sent a representation to the NTA to allow him to take the re-examination. He said the petitioner had also filed a writ petition before the Telangana High Court.

“He (petitioner) had filed a writ petition before the high court. There also NTA gave a statement that they would decide the representation by the evening and his petition was allowed to be dismissed as withdrawn on that ground,” the bench told the NTA’s counsel.

It said the petitioner has not received any response from NTA on his representation till today morning. The apex court asked the NTA to take a decision on the representation by 4 p.m. today and communicate the same to the petitioner by e-mail.

The bench, which issued notices to the NTA and others seeking their responses on the plea, also posted it for hearing on July 8. While hearing separate pleas on the NEET (Undergraduate)-2024 examination, the apex court had on June 18 said even if there was “0.001 per cent negligence” on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank. The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/big-stories/neet-ug-row-sc-refuses-to-defer-counselling-issues-notices-on-plea-to-cancel-may-5-exam-568855

Crime, National, Politics

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in jail for at least 2-3 days as Delhi HC stays bail order in excise policy case

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, New Delhi, Jun 21, 2024 : Embattled Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to remain in jail for now with the Delhi High Court on Friday putting an interim stay on a trial court’s order granting him bail in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.

The AAP national convenor, who was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), could have walked out of Tihar jail on Friday had the high court not granted the interim relief to the central anti-money laundering agency.

“Till the pronouncement of this order, the operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed,” a vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said and asked the parties to file written submissions by June 24.

The high court said it was reserving the order for 2-3 days as it wanted to go through the entire records.

It also issued notice to Kejriwal seeking his response on ED’s plea challenging the trial court’s June 20 order by which he was granted bail. It listed the plea for hearing on July 10.

The ED’s lawyer mentioned for an urgent listing its petition challenging the trial court’s bail order which was passed late Thursday evening.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, representing the ED, contended that the trial court’s order was “perverse”, “one-sided” and “wrong-sided” and that the findings were based on irrelevant facts. The relevant facts, he claimed, were not considered by the special judge.

“Material facts were not considered by the trial court. There cannot be a better case for cancellation of bail than this one. There cannot be greater perversity than this,” he argued.

Seeking a stay on the trial court’s order, he contended that the ED was not given adequate opportunity to argue its case.

The application for stay was vehemently opposed by senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal. They said Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution does not exist for the ED for which the liberty of a person figured low in priority.

Singhvi said the ED argued for 3 hours and 45 minutes before the trial judge.

“This matter lasted for five hours (before the trial court). Nearly 3 hours 45 minutes were taken by Mr. Raju and then trial judge is faulted because she does not repeat every comma and full stop,” he said.

During the arguments, Raju said after the order was passed, when the ED lawyers urged the trial court to keep its order in abeyance for 48 hours to enable them to approach superior courts, the prayer was not considered.

“I was not allowed to argue fully. I was not given proper time of 2-3 days to file written submissions. This is not done. On merits, I have an excellent case. The trial court said finish off in half an hour as it wanted to deliver the judgment. It did not give us full opportunity to argue the case,” he contended, adding, “I am making the allegations with full seriousness.”

Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) says an opportunity must be granted to the public prosecutor to present his case but that opportunity was not granted to me, he contended.

He said the trial court did not even look at his reply on the ground that it was bulky and claimed that the trial court came to a conclusion that there was malafide on ED’s part after considering wrong facts and wrong dates.

Raju contended that the trial court has given findings which are contrary to those of the high court while upholding Kejriwal’s arrest.

“If irrelevant facts are considered, that itself is a reason for cancellation of bail. There is evidence that Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore but it was not considered by trial court,” he argued.

“End to end money trail was given by us,” he asserted, adding that proceeds of crime were utilised in the Goa assembly poll campaign by the AAP.

“We have made AAP an accused in the money laundering case and the offences thus are covered by section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which deals with companies. The ED had likened AAP to a company and Kejriwal its director,” Raju argued.

Singhvi urged the court not to stay Kejriwal’s bail order and said it may send him back to jail later if it finds overwhelming and cogent circumstances.

He also questioned the probe agency’s “unfortunate” attempt to malign the judge (by claiming she did not give the ED enough time to argue and did not consider material evidence).

“There is misconception about what a bail hearing should be like. Just because there is a political antagonism involved and that if all the commas etc are not dealt with by the judge, it gives Mr. Raju the right to malign the judge. This whole approach is deplorable and sad. It should never have come from a government authority,” Singhvi argued.

Chaudhari submitted that Kejriwal had surrendered to the jail authorities on expiry of the interim bail period which showed his bonafide conduct.

“If he is out with conditions imposed by the court, what is the prejudice. He is not a terrorist that he will harm the society if he is let out. What will happen if the chief minister of the state comes out on bail?” he argued.

The trial court, in its bail order, held that prima facie Kejriwal’s guilt was yet to be established and that the ED failed to furnish direct evidence linking him to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case.

The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution.

According to the CBI and ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders.

National, Politics

Defer Implementation Of New Criminal Laws: Mamata Banerjee Writes To PM

June 22, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

In a letter to PM Modi, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed “grave concern” over the impending implementation of the three laws

PTI, 21 June 2024, New Delhi : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the implementation of the three “hurriedly passed” criminal laws that are set to be rolled out on July 1, saying it would enable Parliament to review them afresh.

In a letter to PM Modi, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed “grave concern” over the impending implementation of the three laws – The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Act (BSA) 2023, and The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.

She noted that the three bills were passed in Lok Sabha at a time when 146 MPs had been suspended.

“The outgoing government of yours had passed these three critical bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost 100 members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total 146 MPs of the both Houses were thrown out of Parliament,” Banerjee said.

“The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now,” she said.

“I urge your esteemed office now to consider at least a deferment of the implementation date. Reasons are two-fold: ethical, and practical,” she said.

She said significant legislative changes should be placed before the newly elected Parliament for fresh deliberation and scrutiny.

“Given the wide-ranging reservations expressed in the public domain regarding the hurriedly passed new laws, fresh Parliamentary review of these attempts would demonstrate a commitment to democratic principles…This approach would afford the newly elected people’s representatives an opportunity to thoroughly examine the proposed,” she said.

Banerjee said the request for postponement also stems from a pragmatic assessment of the challenges and preparatory work required for a smooth transition, particularly concerning the training of law enforcement personnel and judicial officers.

“Any far-reaching legal change requires meticulous groundwork beforehand to ensure effective enforcement and administration and we do not have any reason to avert such homework,” she said.

“I humbly request you to consider our appeal for a deferment of the implementation of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, and The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023,” she said.

“We believe this postponement will enable a renewed Parliamentary review/mandate, reinforce public trust in the legal system, and uphold the rule of law in our beloved country,” Banerjee added.

The three new criminal laws will come into force from July 1, Union Law and Justice minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said.

West Bengal

HC: Upload teacher info on govt website

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The guardians should know whether the teachers, engaged in schools, deserve tutoring their wards.

SNS | Kolkata | June 21, 2024 : Calcutta High Court today in a ruling asked the state government to upload all requisite information on the teachers teaching in various schools in the state on the government website to make it public for the sake of the guardians, who have the rights to know, who are teaching their wards in the schools.

The guardians should know whether the teachers, engaged in schools, deserve tutoring their wards. Many are still doing jobs as teachers for four to five years without having an appointment letter. It should not be delayed further, observed Justice Biswajit Basu of Calcutta High Court today.

To this, government counsel told the court that it would take at least two months to collect all the requisite information.

Justice Basu observed the state should do it on a war footing. The state should do the needful on teachers on the website at the earliest.

Regional, West Bengal

Reconstruction of famous bungalow at Holong in limbo until approved by PM Modi

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

On Tuesday night, the 57-year-old wooden bungalow, a popular destination of many prominent personalities, including former chief minister Jyoti Basu, was gutted in a blaze

The bungalow before the blaze at Holong in the Jaldapara National Park

TT Correspondent, Alipurduar, 21.06.24 : The reconstruction of the famous bungalow at Holong in the Jaldapara National Park of Alipurduar district depends on the approval of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Bengal forest department officers said on Thursday.

On Tuesday night, the 57-year-old wooden bungalow, a popular destination of many prominent personalities, including former chief minister Jyoti Basu, was gutted in a blaze.

Debal Roy, the state’s chief wildlife warden (CWLW), visited the site on Thursday in Jaldapara — the largest habitat of one-horned rhinos in Bengal.

“As of now, we have no plan to reconstruct the bungalow in Holong. This is because such construction can be carried out only if the NBWL approves it. Police and some other agencies are probing the fire,” said Roy.

He, however, didn’t clarify whether the Bengal forest department would approach the NBWL with a proposal to rebuild the bungalow.

After the incident, many people have written posts on social media, seeking the reconstruction of the bungalow the way it was.

Sources in the forest department said construction of any property for commercial purposes — five rooms of the gutted bungalow were with the state tourism department and people could book rooms to stay there — is not allowed in reserve forest areas according to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

“When the bungalow was built (in 1967), the restriction was not there. But now, the decision has to be taken by the NBWL. Even if it is reconstructed, it would most likely be for the use of the department and not for visitors,” said a retired forest officer.

He said the forest bungalow at Jainti in the Buxa Tiger Reserve had also been damaged in a blaze. Later, it was reconstructed but only foresters could stay there.

“No commercial booking is available for this bungalow,” the former forester added.

Around 10 years ago, the state tourist department started constructing a bungalow at a location in Sajnekhali of the Sundarbans on a patch of forest land. Its construction was stopped by the NBWL.

“We understand the emotions of people… but we have to abide by the law,” said Roy, the CWLW.

On Wednesday, the department had constituted a five-member committee to investigate the fire. The team will reach the site soon.

MP irked

Manoj Tigga, the BJP MP of Alipurduar and the former MLA of Madarihat, in which Jaldapara is located, expressed his disgruntlement as foresters stopped him from visiting the gutted bungalow on Thursday.

When Tigga reached the entry gate, which is off Asian Highway 48 and around 8km from the bungalow, foresters posted there denied him permission.

“I wanted to speak with senior foresters to know how the fire broke out. But they didn’t allow me. It seems the department is trying to conceal something,” said Tigga.

Crime, Regional, West Bengal

Train crash probe widens to training, investigations undergoing behind collision

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS), Janak Kumar Garg, of the Northeast Frontier Circle has been investigating the incident in which a goods train rammed into the rear end of the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express near the Rangapani station of the Darjeeling district

Workers cover the mangled coaches at the accident site on Thursday: Picture by Passang Yolmo

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, 21.06.24 : The claim by loco pilots of the Northeast Frontier Railway that their training is deficient has gained ground as instructors and others associated with the zonal training centre of the NFR have been brought under the ambit of the probe into the collision of the two trains near Siliguri on Monday.

“Those associated with the zonal training centre in Alipurduar have been called. Their statements would be recorded. In the course of the inquiry, all possible angles would be explored to find out what has led to the accident,” Surendra Kumar, the divisional railway manager of the Katihar division of the NFR, said on Thursday.

He said statements of 16 persons had been recorded since Wednesday.

After the accident, loco pilots and representatives of the All India Loco Running Staff Association had said although an automated signalling system had been introduced in the NFR, they were not trained properly.

“The loco pilots need proper training so that they can run trains along stretches where the automatic signalling has been introduced and also if the system is not running,” a representative of the association had said.

In the NFR, loco pilots are provided with practical training at the specialized loco training institute in Siliguri Junction station.

“The would-be loco pilots are trained for two months at the institute. After the training, he/she is declared eligible as an assistant loco pilot. In due course, he takes further training to be promoted as a loco pilot,” said a source.

In one batch, around 60 candidates can be trained at the institute.

From there, the candidates are sent to the Multi-Disciplinary Zonal Railway Training Institute in Alipurduar for further training.

Also, loco pilots, station managers and others working in different wings of the railways are provided with training at the centre.

The training modules include theoretical and practical classes and are followed by exams and interviews.

“According to the rule, a loco pilot has to pass the exam and the interview. Only then, he/she gets a certificate which mentions that the loco pilot or the assistant loco pilot is proficient to run trains along stretches where there is an automatic signalling system,” said a source.

A loco pilot based at NJP has said that as the instructors and others who provide training have been called for the inquiry, it is evident that the CCRS will record their statements to find out whether adequate training was provided to loco pilots, station managers and others associated with railway operations.

Kumar, the DRM, however, rejected the charge raised by loco pilots.

“Training is conducted systematically.” he said this evening.

Regional, West Bengal

Meshes Conceal Rail Wreckage from Onlookers at Kanchenjungha Train Crash Site

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

GRP jawans walk near the accident site on Thursday: Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT Correspondent, Siliguri, 21.06.24 :

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has engaged workers at the accident site near the Rangapani station of Jalpaiguri district to place green-coloured meshes to cover the wreckage while the final repair of the tracks is in progress.

Mangled coaches and other debris were still lying at the site on Thursday when the workers placed the meshes.

“It will discourage curious onlookers from swarming the site. Also, trains are running along the route and passengers are standing near the doors to catch a glimpse of the wreckage. This is risky. That is why the wreckage has been covered,” said a source in the NFR.

After the mishap on Monday, railways restored train movement along the up track (the second track) around 5.40pm on the same day. Repairs were carried out throughout the night and on Tuesday morning, the down track where the accident had occurred was restored for movement of trains.

“However, some final repairs have to be done as trains are moving at a lower speed along the stretch. That work is going on at the site in an intermittent manner and trains are passing through the area with utmost caution,” the source added.

Personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been posted at the site. Sources said they are using carbolic acid to keep themselves safe.

“It is raining these days and snakes can be seen near the site. That is why, necessary precautions are being taken,” said a source.

In the ADRM’s office in New Jalpaiguri, the hearing of railway staff continued for the second day today. A number of employees appeared before the chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS) and got their statements recorded.

“Their statements, along with documentary evidence would be corroborated. The inquiry is likely to continue for some more time as various information has to be gathered,” said Surendra Kumar, the divisional railway manager of the Katihar division of the NFR.

The railway authorities are yet to talk to Manu Kumar, the assistant loco pilot of the goods train, who is under treatment.

“Our doctors will speak with doctors who are treating him to know his condition. Once he recovers, we will talk to him. His statement is vital as the loco pilot of the goods train has died in the accident,” said an official.

New trains

The NFR has decided to start two pairs of Garib Rath Express from July to connect Calcutta with the Northeast.

While a pair will run between Agartala and Kolkata stations, the other will connect Kolkata station with Guwahati.

Both would be weekly trains and will stop at different stations in Bengal and the Northeast.

“There will be 16 AC-III economy coaches in each train,” said an official.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

Crime, National, Politics

Delhi High Court puts Arvind Kejriwal’s bail order on hold until it hears ED’s challenge

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The Enforcement Directorate mentioned its plea challenging the trial court order for an urgent hearing before a bench of Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja, which said the case file will come to it in 10-15 minutes and after that it will hear the matter

PTI, New Delhi, 21.06.24 : The Delhi High Court on Friday put on hold the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till it hears the ED’s plea challenging the relief granted to him in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) mentioned its plea challenging the trial court order before a bench of Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja, which said the case file will come before it soon and till then the trial court order shall not be acted upon.

The matter has been listed for hearing during the day.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, representing the ED, sought a stay on the trial court order passed on Thursday evening, contending that the agency was not given a proper opportunity to argue its case.

He said the trial court pronounced the order around 8 pm on June 20 and the order is not yet made available to them. Even after passing of the order when the ED lawyers urged the trial court to keep its order in abeyance for 48 hours to enable them to approach superior courts, the prayer was not considered, the ASG contended.

“I was not allowed to argue fully. I was not given proper time of 2-3 days to file written submissions. This is not done. On merits, I have an excellent case. The trial court said finish of in half an hour as it wanted to deliver the judgment. It did not give us full opportunity to argue the case,” Raju contended, “I am making the allegations with full seriousness,” he added.

Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) says an opportunity must be granted to the public prosecutor to present his case but that opportunity was not granted to me, he contended.

“Let the order be stayed and the plea be heard as early as possible. That order cannot be allowed to stand even for a day,” the law officer said.

The plea was opposed by senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal, submitting that the allegations made by the ED counsel were patently incorrect and it was astonishing that they cannot accept anything with grace.

“The noise and heat is not going to solve this problem,” Singhvi said.

He said there are 10 judgments of the Supreme Court which say cancellation or reversal of bail is radically different from grant of bail.

Chaudhari said, “This person (Kejriwal) was released by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court granted him liberty. This would be a travesty of justice. We are on caveat here and we should be given opportunity to be heard. We would address arguments. An ex-parte order of such a nature…” To this, Justice Jain said, “File is coming to me in 10-15 minutes after proper numbering, thereafter, you can start your arguments. You can argue for as much time as you want to argue”.

The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest on his petition challenging summonses issued to him.

While pronouncing the order on Thursday, the trial court ordered Kejriwal’s release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and imposed certain conditions, including that he will not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses.

The judge had also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections, saying he will have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2. Kejriwal had surrendered before Tihar jail authorities on June 2 and has been there since then.

The trial court had on June 5 denied him interim bail which he sought citing several ailments.

National, Politics, West Bengal

PM must defer new criminal laws: Mamata, Congress turn up Opposition chorus volume

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

After Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, Bengal CM writes to Modi; Manish Tewari demands new laws must go through Parliament again

TT, 21.06.24 : Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday joined the ranks of Opposition leaders who have opposed the three new criminal laws that are to come into effect on July 1.

The new laws, the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, are to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, respectively.

Parliament passed the three new laws – one of the big projects of the new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – during the monsoon session in August last year.

“Any far-reaching legal, change requires meticulous groundwork beforehand to ensure effective enforcement and administration and we do not have any reason to avert such homework,” Mamata wrote in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

Earlier, civil liberty activists such as senior Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising have raised concerns over the new laws.

Critics of the government and legal activists say that only 20 to 25 per cent of the provisions are new and that they give too much power to the police. The new laws have provisions that could criminalise dissent, the critics of the government say.

“The new criminal Laws that come into effect from July 1st 2024 lay the foundations of turning India into a Police State. Their implementation must be stopped forthwith and Parliament must re-examine them,” Congress leader Manish Tewari posted on X on Friday, with a link to his article in the New Indian Express headlined ‘New criminal laws must go through Parliament again’.

A few days earlier, Tewari had posted: “The three new Criminal Laws were arbitrarily passed in Parliament after suspending a record 146 MP’s belonging to the opposition. These three Laws therefore reflect the will of only a section of Parliament those who then sat on the Treasury benches. They do not reflect the collective wisdom of Parliament. Even the dissenting views expressed by learned members of the Standing Parliamentary Committee of Home Affairs were not taken on board. The implementation of these Laws from July 1st 2024 will tantamount to throwing a spanner into India’s legal system. The operationalisation of these Laws must be put on hold till the time Parliament does not “ collectively reapply” itself to these three legislation’s

“Certain provisions in these laws represent the broadest assault on Civil liberties since the foundation of the Indian Republic,” he had posted. .

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has also earlier this week reportedly written to the Centre on the new criminal laws, urging Prime Minister Modi take the states’ views into consideration.

He had reportedly said that the new laws had been pushed through “without adequate deliberations and consultations”.

He had also pointed to the Constitution.

“These enactments are falling within List III – concurrent list of the Constitution of India and hence extensive consultation ought to have been done with the State Government,” he reportedly wrote. “The States were not given adequate time to express their views and the new laws were passed by the Parliament without the participation of the opposition parties.”

He had pointed to things like Section 103 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) allegedly having two subsections for two distinct classes of murder with the same punishment.

Regional, Sikkim

Danger looms over the Teesta and adjoining areas

June 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, JUNE 20, 2024 : The continuous rains in Sikkim and Kalimpong caused the water level of Teesta river to rise today which led to flooding the road to Darjeeling.

The construction work started by PWD a few days ago was also stopped today. Traffic has also been halted on this route. According to information provided by Kalimpong District Magistrate Balasubramanyam T, those flood affected families have been temporarily kept in a camp at Labarbote.

There are 31 flood affected families in the relief camp and they are being looked after by the Kalimpong district administration.

However people still living in their houses express fear of a water burial as Teesta swells. water levels rise.

Says a Malli resident, Mahendra Chowdhary: “There is an atmosphere of fear in Malli at night because all the buildings on Malli Road are on the edge of the Teesta River. I was awake till 3 am.

Life has become horrible,’’ he said. In the same way, the National Highway-10, which is considered the lifeline of Sikkim and Kalimpong has been damaged because of the rains.

Kalimpong district administration has restricted the movement of vehicles from 6 pm to 6 am at Malli Bridge, Ravi Jhoda and Likhuvir on National Highway-10 keeping in mind the safety of the people.

Vehicles going to Siliguri from Sikkim and Kalipong were often seen taking an alternate route to Siliguri through Lava.Traffic police personnel were deployed at Chitra and Ravijhoda for direction to vehicles.