National, Politics

Penultimate phase of LS polls witnesses 59 per cent turnout

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 The EC said polling percentage in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir is the highest in many decades

PTI, New Delhi,  May 25 2024 : An approximate voter turnout of 59.06 per cent was recorded in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories with the polling percentage in the Jangal Mahal region of West Bengal touching 78.19.
Incidents of minor clashes and protests were reported from West Bengal while there were instances of EVM malfunctioning at some places, including Delhi.
Jharkhand recorded a turnout of 62.74 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 54.03 per cent, Bihar 53.30 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 52.28 per cent, Haryana 58.37 per cent, Odisha 60.07 and Delhi 54.48 per cent, according to the figures released by the Election Commission (EC) as of 7.45 pm.
The EC said polling percentage in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir is the highest in many decades.
With the conclusion of this phase, polling is now complete in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories. The last of the seven phases of polling is scheduled on June 1 and counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
With large parts of India sweltering under a heatwave, arrangements for cold water, coolers, fans and tents were made at several polling stations. Wheelchairs were also kept for the assistance of elderly voters.
The EC had directed election officials and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather.
Over 11.13 crore voters – 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female and 5120 third gender – were eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase. The Election Commission (EC) deployed around 11.4 lakh polling officials at 1.14 lakh polling stations.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Anantnag district against alleged detention of her party workers and polling agents. She also claimed outgoing calls on her mobile number were suspended.
Police, however, said those detained were overground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
Mehbooba’s daughter and PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged polling was deliberately slowed down at a booth in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, a charge denied by the administration.
In the national capital, President Droupadi Murmu, Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi minister Atishi and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were among those who cast their votes.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat alleged she had to wait for almost an hour to cast her vote as the battery of the EVM control unit at her polling booth “drained out”. The District Election Officer later said the battery was replaced within 15 minutes.
Besides all the seven seats of Delhi, polling was held in 14 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats in Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.
Simultaneously, polling was being held for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and the Karnal assembly bypoll in Haryana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to exercise their right to franchise in the penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections in large numbers.
In Haryana, BJP’s Karnal Lok Sabha seat candidate Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who is contesting the Karnal assembly bypoll, were among the first to cast their votes at their respective booths.
Saini, accompanied by his family members, cast his vote in his native Mirjapur Majra village in Ambala district’s Naraingarh. Khattar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Karnal’s Prem Nagar.
In West Bengal, voting was held in the tribal belt Jangal Mahal region, spanning five districts. A hotspot for identity politics, the region sends eight representatives to Lok Sabha from Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur seats. Out of the eight seats, the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 polls.
Minor clashes broke out between supporters of the ruling TMC and BJP in the Ghatal constituency over stopping polling agents from entering the booths.
In the Midnapore constituency, BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul faced “go back” slogans from TMC activists. Subsequently, a scuffle broke out between BJP and TMC activists, following which central forces reached the spot to disperse the mob.
A group of people shouted slogans against BJP candidate and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay when he reached the polling booth in Tamluk.
In Uttar Pradesh, polling was held for Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Shrawasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi seats.
Around 82.16 lakh voters, including 40.09 lakh females, were eligible to exercise their franchise in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies of Jharkhand.
In a bid to increase polling percentage in urban booths of Ranchi, the district administration tied up with a bike-taxi aggregator to provide free pick-and-drop facilities to voters.
In Bihar, 86 candidates are in the fray in the eight seats of Valmiki Nagar, Pashchim Champaran, Purbi Champaran, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Maharajganj and Vaishali.
Officials said 107 people were arrested or detained in the state for causing disruptions and attempting to hinder the voting process. Security forces seized Rs 2.86 crore in cash and 3.53 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 9.46 crore from various locations within the eight seats during the day.
Education, National, Regional, West Bengal

शोधकार्य: डा कमल भुजेलले गरे नेगेटिव एब्जर्ब्सनको नयाँ खोज

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कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, २६ मई २०२४ : विभिन्न क्षेत्रमा हिमाली पहाडी भेक र अन्य स्थानका गोर्खा र अन्य युवाहरुले धेरै प्रगति गरिरहेका छन् । यसै बीच दिलाराम चिया कमान निवासी डा कमल भुजेलले आफ्नो शोध गर्ने क्रममा नेगेटिव एब्जर्ब्सन नामक एक नयाँ प्रक्रियाको खोज गरेका छन्। डा कमल भुजेलले गत वर्ष २०२३ मा मिजौराम विश्वविद्यालयको भौतिक विज्ञान बिभागबाट विद्यावारिधि प्राप्त गरेका हुन्। तिनको शोधको विषय थीन-फील्म पेरोव्स्काइट सोलर सेल रहेको थियो। 


तिनले यस शोधकार्यका अधिकांश भाग भारतीय प्राद्योगिक संस्थान-धनबाद (IIT-Dhanbad) को सोलर एनर्जी रिसर्च ल्याबमा प्राध्यपक राजालिंगम थंगवेलको अधीनमा गरेका हुन्। तिनले यसै सोलर सेल बनाउने क्रममा निक्कल अक्साइडको पत्ला परत (Thinfilm of nanometer thickness) एफटीओ (Flourine Doped Tin Oxide) माथि तयार पारेर त्यसबाट प्रकासका तरंग (Light wave from 200-3000nm) २००-३००० न्यानोमीटर फ्याकेर कति पार (Transmit) हुन्छ अनि कति सोस्छ (Absorb) भनेर जाँच गर्ने क्रममा इन्फ्रारेड (Infrared region) क्षेत्रमा अचम्मको प्रक्रिया देखा परेको जानकारी दिएका छन्। जसमा फ्याकिएको प्राकाशको मात्रा भन्दा निस्किएको प्रकासको मात्रा बढेर बेसी निस्किएको भेटियो, जुन प्रक्रियालाई त्यसै हेर्दा “ऊर्जाको संरक्षणको नियम” (Law of Conservation of Energy) को विपरित गएको देखियो जुन सम्भव नै छैन। यो प्रक्रिया निक्कल अक्साइडमा भने अहिले सम्म कसैले पनि भेटेका थिएनन्। 
सन १९२८ मा सी भी रमन र के एस कृष्णनले तरलमा एक्यरंग तरंग फ्याक्दा पनि यसै प्रकारको प्रक्रिया भेटेका थिए भने यस क्षेत्रमा धेरै कम मात्रामा मात्र शोध भएका छन्। डा कमल अनुसार यस प्रक्रिया हुनु पछाडीका ठोस् कारण भने अहिले नै किटान गरेर भन्न नसकिने भनेका छन्। तिनी भन्छन् यस प्रक्रियाको अस्तित्व छ भनेर यस शोधले ठोस् प्रमाण गरिसकेको भएता पनि यसका कारणहरू पत्ता लगाउनका निम्ति भने अझै गहनताका साथमा धेरै जाँचहरू गर्न पर्ने बताएका छन्। तथापी तिनले यस प्रक्रियाका सम्भावित कारण यसरी प्रष्टाएर भन्ने कोसिस गर्छन् कि फ्याकिएको प्रकास निक्लँदा आफै बढेर निस्किएका नभएर, एफटिओ र निक्कल अक्साइडको जुन परत निर्माण भएको छ त्यस जोडनमा इन्फ्रारेड तरंगले हिर्काउँदा त्यस क्षेत्रका अणु-परमाणुहरू उत्तेजित भएर उर्जामा परिणत भएको हुन सक्ने अढ्कल गरेका छन्।
यो प्रक्रिया स्थापित भइसकेपछि यसबाट नयाँ प्रकार पदार्थ मेटामटिरियलको (Metamaterials) निर्माण गर्न सक्ने सम्भावना पनि रहेको छ। साथै यसलाई ब्राह्मण्डमा पठाइने यानमा सोलर सेलको निर्माणमा प्रयोग हुन सक्ने छ। डा कमल भुजेललाई यस शोधमा आइ-आइ-टी- धनबाद, भौतिक विज्ञान विभागमा शोध गरिरहेकी दिपाली नायक र स्नाकोत्तर गरिरहेका किरण कुमारी पल र प्रितम सरदारले प्रयोगशालाका नमुना निर्माण (Sample preparation) मा सहयोग पुऱ्याएका थिए भने मिजौराम विश्वविद्यालयका प्रा सुमन राय अनि प्रा निंगथौजम सुरजकुमारसिंहले शोध लेखनमा सहयोग गरेका थिए। अनि यस शोधको सम्पूर्ण दिशा निर्देश प्रा थंगवेलले प्रदान गरेका थिए। 

वैज्ञानिक समुदायमा कुनै पनि नयाँ खोज पत्ता लागेमा त्यसलाई प्रमाण गर्नका निम्ति संसारकै स्तरीय अनि प्रसिद्ध जर्नलमा त्यस शोधलाई प्रकाशित गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। यस क्रममा डा कमल भुजेलले यस शोध कार्य २०२० देखि शुरु गरेर २०२२ सम्ममा सिध्याएका भएता पनि यसलाई जर्नलमा प्रकाशित गर्न २४ सम्म पर्खनु पऱ्यो। जसमा प्रथम जर्नलले केहि माप दण्ड नपुगेको भनेर अस्वीकार नै गरिदिएका थिए भने त्यस पछिका ७ वटा जर्नलहरूले आफ्नो क्षेत्र नमिलेर अर्को जर्नलको सुझाव दिएका थिए। अन्त्यमा भने एल्सीभर समूहको फिजिका बी-कन्डेन्स्ड म्याटर (Physica B: Condensed Matter) जर्नलमा २८ फरवरी २०२४ को दिन बुझाए अनि १० मईको दिन जर्नलबाट सोधिएका सम्पूर्ण प्रश्नहरूको उत्तर बुझाए र २० मईको दिन स्वीकृत गरिए पछि २१ मईको दिन अनलाईनमा प्रकाशित भएको छ। यसरी आफ्नो शोध प्रकाशित भएकोमा खुशी व्यक्त गर्दै सम्पूर्ण शुभचिन्तकहरूलाई कृतज्ञता प्रकट गरेका छन् भने, हाम्रा गोर्खा शोधकर्ताहरूलाई पनि यसरी आफ्नो शोधहरू अघि बढाउदै प्रगति गर्ने आग्रह गरका छन्।
Business, Economy, Entertainment, Regional

Gorubathan has natural resources for adventure tourism

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 24 May 2024: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is set to enhance the adventure tourism potential of Gorubathan, leveraging its abundant natural resources. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, the chief coordinator of Adventure Tourism for the GTA, conducted a survey in Gorubathan to identify opportunities for both tourists and locals. He highlighted the area’s suitability for activities such as paragliding, rock climbing, and riverside camping.

Prashant Rana, an expert in paragliding adventure tourism, along with his team, surveyed various locations and confirmed the potential for promoting adventure tourism in the region. During discussions with the Gorubathan Tourism Development Society (GTDS), the team exchanged ideas for developing tourism infrastructure. Sherpa announced that the GTA team plans to conduct test flights for paragliding in selected areas to further assess feasibility.

This initiative aims to boost the local economy by attracting adventure tourists and providing new recreational opportunities for residents. The development of adventure tourism in Gorubathan is expected to capitalize on its natural beauty and diverse landscapes, making it a significant destination for thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts alike.
 

Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, chief coordinator of Adventure Tourism for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), highlighted the positive impact of last year’s mountain bike racing event in Gorubathan and announced plans to reorganize it for a second time. He emphasized the importance of consistent training for local youths to sustain tourism development in the region. Sherpa acknowledged the efforts of the Gorubathan Tourism Development Society (GTDS) and stressed the need for active participation from local stakeholders and authorities to promote tourism effectively.

Sherpa noted that developing a tourist destination requires years of consistent effort and follow-up. He expressed his pleasure with the positive initiatives taken by GTDS and assured that the GTA’s Department of Tourism will support GTDS in achieving its goals. On behalf of GTDS, President Shyam Thapa thanked the GTA and the team for their support, highlighting GTDS’s efforts to generate income and ensure sustainable development for the local community.

Secretary Tufan Subba of GTDS added that with the help of GTA, adventure tourism in Gorubathan can be significantly boosted, opening new avenues in the tourism sector. He also mentioned plans to organize a workshop to train local tourist guides and encourage more youths to join the profession.

These initiatives aim to leverage Gorubathan’s natural resources for adventure tourism, enhancing the local economy and providing new opportunities for the residents.

National, Politics, West Bengal

BJP moves Supreme Court against Calcutta High Court order on advertisements during Lok Sabha polls

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The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal

PTI, Calcutta, 24.05.24: The BJP on Friday moved the Supreme Court, challenging a Calcutta High Court order that refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict directing the party not to publish any advertisement violating the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha election process.

The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal.
Advocate Saurabh Mishra, who mentioned the matter, told the bench that a division bench of the high court passed the order on May 22.

“Why don’t you move the next vacation bench?,” the bench asked.

The counsel told the bench that the high court has restrained the BJP from issuing advertisements during the Lok Sabha polls till June 4.

“Kindly have it on Monday (May 27),” the lawyer requested the bench.

“We will see,” the bench said.

On May 22, a Calcutta High Court division bench refused to interfere with a single-judge order in the matter.

Observing that a “laxman rekha” should be adhered to, the division bench had said there should not be any personal attack on the part of any political party.

Refusing to interfere with the May 20 order of the single judge, the division bench had said the BJP could move the single judge, seeking a review or recall of its order.

The BJP had moved the appeal before the division bench, claiming that the single judge passed the order without giving it any hearing.

The party’s counsel had also stated that the Constitution provided that the Election Commission was the appropriate authority for redress in case of any dispute during a poll process.

The high court on May 20 issued an injunction, restraining the BJP from publishing advertisements that violated the Model Code of Conduct until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha election process ends.

The court also restrained the BJP from publishing advertisements mentioned by the Trinamul Congress (TMC) in its petition, claiming unverified allegations against it and its workers.
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Molestation’ case: HC stays probe against Guv’s OSD

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MP, 25 May 2024, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday imposed a stay on the investigation against the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of Governor C V Ananda Bose and other Raj Bhavan staff in connection with the case registered for alleged sexual harassment. 

The woman staff of the Raj Bhavan had alleged that she was restrained from lodging a complaint by the OSD but later she somehow escaped the room where she was restrained. 
The lawyer appearing for the OSD to the Governor, who is the petitioner here appealing to quash the proceeding and the FIR that has been lodged, mentioned that if the woman was wrongfully restrained, then how did she manage to leave the room. 
Therefore, the petitioner claimed that the allegation of wrongful restraint is not proper. It was also pointed out that when the complaint was lodged, the petitioners’ name was not there. Later on May 7 his name was included in the complaint with the allegation that she was restrained from lodging the complaint. 
Opposing the appeal of the OSD to the Governor, Advocate General Kishore Datta mentioned that there is no hurry in passing any order to restrain the investigating officer to carry on with the probe. 
He also mentioned that the petitioner already obtained bail and the investigation in this stage should not be halted. 
After hearing both the parties, Justice Amrita Sinha rejected the petitioner’s appeal and directed the police to submit a report of investigation made till date on June 10 before the regular bench. The investigation has also been stayed temporarily till June 17.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/molestation-case-hc-stays-probe-against-guvs-osd-565184?infinitescroll=1
Education, Regional, West Bengal

HS Council to explore reasons of significant increase of marks

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SOUMITRA NANDI, EOI, 25 May 2024, Kolkata: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will explore the reasons of the significant increase in the marks of many students following Tatkal Post Publication Review (PPR) and Post Publication Scrutiny (PPS) in connection with the Higher Secondary examination 2024, the results of which were published on May 17. 

The merit list of 58 students ranked among the top 10 witnessed 12 new entries while another three students already in the merit list improved their ranks. “It is indeed highly competitive to figure among the top 10. 
I congratulate all the 12 students who have made it to the merit list but this should have happened earlier during the publication of results itself and not after PPR or PPS. 
We would do a sample study of the scripts that have undergone revision of marks. We want to ensure that similar things are not repeated in future,” said Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, president of WBCHSE. 
In case of the students who had barged into the merit list, the marks have increased by 4-5. The Council president said that he would individually delve deep into some answer scripts to find out what are the types of questions against which the marks have been revised.
The dozen new entries in the merit list has taken the total number of students in the top ten from 58 to 70. 
Ankit Pal of Kenduadihi High School in Bankura who had ranked 5 has jumped to rank 3, Abhra Kishore Bhattacharjee of Hooghly Collegiate School has also improved his rank from 6 to 5 while Bristi Pal of Chinsurah Balika Bani Mandir in Hooghly has advanced to 7th rank from 9th. 
According to Council sources, 11,558 students had applied for PPR and PPS for 22,836 subjects and marks of 4,597 students have witnessed revisions. “In some cases, the same teacher was engaged in checking both Higher Secondary as well as Madhyamik answer scripts. 
The dates for submission of marks were the same in case of both the exams. The distribution of scripts should have been more scientific. The Council should act tough against those having discrepancies in checking of scripts,” said Soudipto Das, secretary of Collegium of Assistant Headmasters’ and Headmistress’. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/hs-council-to-explore-reasons-of-significant-increase-of-marks-565188
Regional, West Bengal

Transporters in Darjeeling on warpath against traffic snarls

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EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 24, 2024 : With the growing traffic snarls disrupting daily life in Darjeeling, different transport organisations and social organisations on Friday voiced their dissent and anger and warned of an agitation later this month.

Darjeeling has been facing a lot of traffic jams for the past few years, especially during the tourist seasons; with people claiming that a one and half hour trip is now taking them about four hours to complete.
Himalayan Transport Coordination Committee (HTC
C) President Pasang Sherpa said: “The traffic jam in Darjeeling especially during the peak tourist season is proving to be problematic for everyone. All the rules which are being directed by the government have been followed by the drivers but the traffic problem continues to exist. 
We feel that the government is responsible to a great extent for the traffic problem not being solved here. It will definitely be resolved by taking concrete initiatives from the government. 
If they had spent the necessary funds from time to time to improve the traffic system in this area, there would not have been such a big problem today.” 
The HTCC which itself has different vehicle syndicates as its members is a part of the different organisations making this demand.
Other transport organizations with similar demands include associations like Darjeeling Luxury Association, Pahar Terrai Chalak Sangathan, Darjeeling Trucks and Water Tanker Association and others.
The organizations suggested measures like hotels having their own parking facilities, adequate parking facilities at every tourist spot, broadening of the highway leading to Darjeeling in tune with the width of different highways in the country and proper pick-up and drop-off points for passengers and tourists in the entire region. 
They also suggested that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway should run less number of joy rides during the tourist season as they were also the cause of traffic jams.
“We request that the government hold a meeting in the last week of June to inform us about the plan and time needed to solve the traffic jam problem by taking short term and long term steps. If the government does not take any initiative on this issue, we are thinking of starting a protest from the first week of July,” said Sherpa. 
They said they will be sending memorandums to the West Bengal Chief Minister, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the Darjeeling Superintendent of Police, M.P.s, and MLAs. 
Supporting this step, Rajesh Gurung of Lakshya Samuha, a social organization, said: “This problem is not only affecting the drivers but other local people as well, especially the students and people going to work. Due to the traffic jam they often do not reach in time even though they start their journey in the morning.
The administration should take concrete measures to solve this problem.
Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Cyclonic storm in the southern Bengal may cause light to heavy rainfall in the north from 27 to 28 May

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 25 May 2024  Depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal (Pre-Cyclone Watch for West Bengal Coast)

The Depression over central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 16 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 24th May, 2024 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 15.8°N and longitude 88.9°E, about 700 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), about 660 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 710 km south of Canning (West Bengal). 
It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over eastcentral Bay of Bengal by 25th May morning. 
Subsequently, it would move nearly northwards, intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by 25th night. Continuing to move nearly northwards, it is very likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara around 26th May midnight as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Forecast: (South Bengal)
Light to moderate rainfall very likely at many places over the districts on 25th and moderate rainfall at most places over the districts during 26th to 27th May 2024.

Warning: South Bengal

Rainfall Warning
25-05-2024: (Yellow warning: be updated)
1. Heavy rain (07–11 cm) is likely to occur at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.

26-05-2024: 1. (Red warning: take action)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) at a few places with extremely heavy rain (> 20 cm) at one or two places is very likely over North and South 24 Parganas districts. 

2. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and East Midnapore districts. 

3. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) at one or two places is likely over West Midnapore and East Bardhaman districts.

27-05-2024: 1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah and Murshidabad districts. 
2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, East and West Midnapore districts.

Wind Warning
25-05-2024:
Thunderstorm with gusty wind speed reaching 40 to 50 kmph likely over North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts and reaching 30 to 40 kmph likely over rest of the districts.

26-05-2024 to 27-05-2024:
Thunderstorm with wind speed reaching 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph likely over South 24 Parganas; reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph likely over North 24 Parganas; reaching 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph likely over Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, East Midnapore; reaching 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph likely over Hooghly, East Bardhaman; reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely over rest of the districts.


Forecast: (North Bengal)
Light to moderate rainfall very likely at most places over the districts during 27th to 28th May 2024.

Warning:
North Bengal

Rainfall Warning
27-05-2024: 
1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Malda and South Dinajpur districts. 

2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over North Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.

28-05-2024: 
1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts. 

2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

Wind Warning for Sea:
 Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail over central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal on 24th May. It would become 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over central Bay of Bengal on 24th May evening.
 It would extend to adjoining areas of North Bay of Bengal with gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from 25th May morning. It would further increase becoming 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over North Bay of Bengal from morning and 110-120 kmph gusting to 120 kmph from evening of 26th May. Gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely over adjoining central Bay of Bengal from 26th morning for subsequent 24 hours.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along & off Bangladesh, West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts from 25th May evening It is likely to increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from morning of 26th May and 100-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph along & off Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts from evening of 26th evening for subsequent 12 hours.
Sea condition:
 Rough to very rough sea condition is likely over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal on 24th May. It would become high over central Bay of Bengal on 25th May & 26th May and High to Very High over North Bay of Bengal from 25th evening till 27th May morning.
 Rough to very rough sea condition is likely along & off Bangladesh, West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts from 25th May evening and high to very high along & off Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts from 26th morning onwards till 27th May morning.
Storm surge:
Storm surge of about 1.0 meter above astronomical tide likely to inundate low lying areas of coastal West Bengal at the time of landfall.
Fishermen Warning (RED WARNING: TAKE ACTION)
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from 24th May till 27th May.
Port Warning: –
Hoist Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 at Hooghly ports along with Sectional Signal No. III at Sagar Island Port.
Damage Expected over Coastal and adjoining districts of South Bengal:
 Major damage to thatched houses/ huts. Possibilities of damage to vulnerable structure.
 Unattached metal sheets may fly.
 Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees. Major damage to banana and papaya trees. Dead limbs may blow off from trees.
 Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches and uprooting of trees.
 Damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads due to heavy rain.
 Damage to paddy crops, horticultural crops and orchards.
 Inundation of low lying areas and localized flooding
 Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall.
 Disruption of traffic due to water logging and squally winds
Action Suggested for South Bengal:
 Total suspension of fishing operations.
 Surface transport and shipping operations need to be regulated
 Onshore & Offshore operation need to be regulated as per guidelines
 Coastal hutment dwellers to be in safer places.
 People in affected areas to remain indoors.
 Avoid going to areas that face the water logging problems often.
 Avoid staying in vulnerable structure.
 Use Mausam/Damini app for real time weather alert.
Damage Expected over North Bengal:
Possible Impact
1. Damage to loose/unsecured structure.
2. Water lodging in low-lying areas.
3. Communication / Traffic disruption in urban areas.
4. Damage to standing crops and horticulture, Reduction of visibility.
Action suggested:
1. Take shelter in safe place.
2. Movement of traffic may be regulated judiciously.
3. Avoid taking shelter under tree/electric pole and avoid contact with water bodies.
4. Use Mausam/Damini app for real time weather alert.

Regional, States

Severe cyclone forming in Bay of Bengal to make landfall on Sunday night, red alert in stat

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PTI, Kolkata/New Delhi, May 24, 2024 :  A depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall along the adjoining coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh around May 26 midnight, bringing heavy rain in the coastal districts of the state and in north Odisha, the Met department said on Friday.


This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this pre-monsoon season and will be named Remal, given by Oman, according to a system of naming cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region.

The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh, the IMD said in a bulletin.

The cyclone could reach a wind speed of 120 kilometres per hour (kmph) on Sunday.

The Met office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on May 26-27. Extremely heavy precipitation may hit parts of northeast India on May 27-28.

Storm surge of up to 1.5 metre is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh at the time of landfall.

The weather office warned fishermen not to venture into the sea in north Bay of Bengal till May 27 morning.

The Met issued a red alert for West Bengal’s coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas district on May 26 and 27.

It warned of 100 to 110 km per hour wind speed gusting to 120 kmph in South 24 Parganas and 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph in North 24 Parganas on May 26-27, accompanied by extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places on both days.

An orange alert was issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia and Purba Medinipur districts by the Met, warning of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph wind speed, accompanied by heavy to very heavy rain at one or two places on the two days.

The depression, which lies over the central Bay of Bengal, about 660 km south-southeast of Sagar island, is likely to concentrate into a cyclonic storm by May 25 morning, the Met said.

The weather office forecast heavy rain in Purba Medinipur on May 25, on which date elections are scheduled to be held in Tamluk and Kanti Lok Sabha constituencies located within the coastal district.

Moving in a northward direction, the system will further concentrate into a severe cyclonic storm by May 25 evening and cross the coast between Sagar Island and Khepupara around midnight of May 26, the weather office said.

Wind speed will reach 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Medinipur districts, accompanied by heavy rain.
    
The rest districts in south Bengal will experience wind speed of 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph, it said.

In north Odisha, the coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara will receive heavy rain on May 26-27, while precipitation is likely in Mayurbhanj on May 27.

The IMD warned of localised flooding and major damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

People in the affected areas have been asked to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.

Scientists say cyclonic storms are intensifying rapidly and retaining their potency for longer periods due to warmer sea surface temperatures, a result of oceans absorbing most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions.

The past 30 years have witnessed the highest sea surface temperatures since records started being maintained in 1880.

According to senior IMD scientist D S Pai, warmer sea surface temperatures mean more moisture, which is favourable for the intensification of cyclones.

Madhavan Rajeevan, former secretary of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, said a sea surface temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and above is needed for a low-pressure system to intensify into a cyclone.

The sea surface temperature in the Bay of Bengal is around 30 degrees Celsius at present.

“The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are very warm at present, so a tropical cyclone can easily form,” Rajeevan said.

But tropical cyclones are not only controlled by the ocean but the atmosphere also plays an important role, especially in terms of vertical wind shear — a change in wind speed and/or wind direction with altitude.

    “A cyclone will not intensify if the vertical wind shear is very large. It will weaken,” Rajeevan said.
Crime, National

Medha Patkar convicted in defamation case

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PTI, 24 May 2024 : More than 23 years after the complaint was registered, a Delhi court on Friday convicted Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar in a defamation case lodged against her by VK Saxena, the incumbent lieutenant governor, saying reputation is one of the “most valuable assets” and significantly impacts one’s standing in society.


Holding Patkar’s statements as “defamatory per se” and “crafted to incite negative perceptions”, metropolitan magistrate Raghav Sharma convicted the activist of the offence of criminal defamation under the IPC which entails a maximum punishment of simple imprisonment of up to two years or fine or both.

Saxena had filed the case in November 2000 when he was the president of the National Council of Civil Liberties over a “defamatory” press release issued against him by Patkar.

“Reputation is one of the most valuable assets a person can possess, as it affects both personal and professional relationships and can significantly impact an individual’s standing in society,” the magistrate said in his 55-page judgment.

He said Patkar’s statements calling Saxena “a coward, not a patriot and alleging his involvement in hawala transactions were not only defamatory per se but also crafted to incite negative perceptions.”

Also, “the accusation that the complainant was mortgaging the people of Gujarat and their resources to foreign interests was a direct attack on his integrity and public service,” the magistrate said.

The court said Saxena’s testimony, supported by two court witnesses, showed Patkar falsely associated him with activities contrary to his public stance.

It said Patkar failed to provide any evidence to counter these claims or to show that she did not intend or foresee the harm caused by her statements.

“The resulting inquiries and doubts raised among the complainant’s acquaintances, as well as the shift in perception highlighted by the witnesses, underscore the significant damage to his (Saxena’s) reputation,” the court said.

It said it was clear that Patkar’s actions were “deliberate and malicious, aimed at tarnishing the complainant’s good name, and indeed caused substantial harm to his standing and credit in the eyes of the public.”

Noting the evidence before it, the court said it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Patkar had published the statement knowing that it would harm Saxena’s reputation.

“The accused, therefore, committed an offence punishable under Section 500 (defamation) of the IPC. She is hereby convicted of the same,” it said.

The arguments on the quantum of sentences will be heard on May 30.

In its order, the court considered three questions-whether the press note was proved to have been issued by Patkar; whether the press note made certain imputations against Saxena; and whether the accused by publishing the imputations intended to harm his reputation.

It said there was no reason to believe Patkar’s “bald averments and excuses” against having issued the statement and that “the gravity and precision of the accusations” highlighted that her action was deliberate and that her “primary objective” was to undermine Saxena’s credibility and integrity in public.

Patkar and Saxena have been locked in a legal tussle since 2000 after she filed a suit against him for publishing advertisements against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Saxena had also filed two cases against her for making derogatory remarks against him on a TV channel and issuing a defamatory press statement.
Crime, International, West Bengal

Bangladesh MP murder: Police arrest butcher; takes his help to locate body parts

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PTI, Kolkata, May 24, 2024 :  The West Bengal CID on Friday claimed to have arrested a Bangladeshi, working as a butcher in Mumbai, from Bangoan in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal here for his alleged involvement in the grisly murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar whose body was cut into pieces and disposed of in different locations.
    
The arrested man has admitted during interrogation to helping the other accused in chopping the victim’s body in a flat in New Town area near here before disposing of the parts in different locations, a police officer claimed.

“The accused is a butcher by profession. He had entered India illegally and was staying in Mumbai hiding his identity.

“He was called to Kolkata a couple of months back as a part of the plan to kill Anar. He has admitted that he was an accomplice to the four men who murdered the politician inside the flat and helped them in skinning and chopping the body,” the police officer told PTI.

The arrested man, when produced before a court in Barasat on Friday afternoon, was sent to the remand of the CID for 12 days, he said.

CID sleuths have confirmed the murder of Anar, an Awami League MP from Jhenaidah-4 segment in Bangladesh, on Wednesday after the victim went missing from Kolkata on May 13.

A team of CID officers were in the process of searching for the victim’s body parts at the Krishnamati village in Bhangar where the butcher had led them, he said.

The CID has employed deepwater divers at ponds in Bhangar also to find out the body parts of the Bangladeshi politician, he said, adding that drones were also used for the same purpose.

An initial probe revealed that the MP’s close friend Akhtaruzzaman, a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to those involved in the crime, the senior police officer said.

“We will talk to him (butcher) to get a clearer view of the crime. How did he get in touch with the US-based friend of Anar and who all were his partners,” the officer said.

A team of the West Bengal CID visited Bangladesh on Thursday to interrogate the three accused who were arrested by Bangladesh police in connection with the case.

The MP’s friend has a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, he said.

Circumstantial evidence indicated that the MP was first strangulated and killed after which his body was chopped into pieces, police claimed.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 to undergo medical treatment, began after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north 
Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18.

Anar had stayed at Biswas’s house upon arrival.

In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon of May 13, while stating that he would be back home for dinner.

Biswas claimed that the Bangladeshi MP went incommunicado on May 17, which prompted him to file a missing complaint a day later.
National, Politics, West Bengal

Mamata hits out at Modi for his ‘sent by God’ comment

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PTI, Kolkata, May 24, 2024 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ‘sent by God’ comment, albeit without naming the country’s top leader. 

Speaking at an election rally in Mathurapur in the Sunderbans area of South 24 Parganas district, she claimed that “faced with the phobia of a certain election defeat”, BJP leaders were saying “all kinds of things that made no sense”. 
Dripping with sarcasm, Banerjee, in an oblique reference to PM Modi, said, “He is now calling himself the son of God. He claims that, unlike us, he doesn’t have biological parents. He says he has been sent by God. I ask, does God send someone to orchestrate riots or spread lies through advertisements or jail people in the name of NRC exercise?” 
“Does God send his emissary to sponsor hooliganism in the name of CAA or stop funds for 100-day work or prevent rural houses from being built? Does God go back on his promise of depositing Rs 15 lakhs in people’s bank accounts? 
God cannot do such things,” she added.
The chief minister’s remark came in the backdrop of PM Modi’s interview to a national TV channel where he reportedly said, “Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. 
After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. 
That’s why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I’m nothing but an instrument that God has sent.” 
 Banerjee further ridiculed Modi for BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s controversial remark about Lord Jagannath being a “devotee of the prime minister”, which Patra had later retracted. 
 “If Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Modi babu as claimed by his workers, then shouldn’t we build a temple in his name, offer pujas and prasad before his photo and engage a priest for him? 
We can do all that, but he shouldn’t play politics by saying such things,” Banerjee said.
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Will move higher court after summer vacation to challenge Calcutta HC order on OBC certificates: Mamata Banerjee

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 I respect the courts, but a few judges are only following the diktats of the BJP and the CPI(M), says the Bengal Chief Minister
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

PTI, Calcutta, 24.05.24 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government will approach a higher court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order that cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state since 2010.

Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, she said the state government would appeal to the higher court against the order after summer vacation.

“We do not accept the order that scrapped OBC certificates. We will contest at a higher court after summer vacation,” Banerjee said.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday struck down as illegal the OBC status of several classes in the state granted since 2010, sparking a political debate in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections.

The court observed that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list of backward categories was to “treat them as a vote bank”.

“I respect the courts, but a few judges are only following the diktats of the BJP and the CPI(M).” Banerjee urged electors “not to cast a single vote to the BJP or any other party except the TMC so that the INDIA bloc can form a government at the Centre”.

She also accused the BJP of planning to implement the Uniform Civil Code to “undermine” the rights of people belonging to the SC and ST community.

Banerjee appealed to the families of Haj pilgrims to vote judiciously, as the “implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) could disenfranchise citizens”.

She alleged that the BJP has “made attempts to disrespect women in Sandeshkhali, incite riots, and revoke reservations and employment rights of backward classes” and its only aim is to “defame TMC and Bengal”.

The TMC supremo accused the saffron camp of running advertisements to “mislead” people.

Banerjee said the ‘Gangasagar Mela’ must be recognised as a national fair, and claimed that her government is independently managing the annual affair while the “Centre has not been providing adequate support for it”.

She also promised completion of a bridge over the Muriganga river in the next 2-3 years, even though the “Centre has not provided support in the Rs 1,500 crore project”.

“You must come to vote even if there is rain,” she said at the rally, emphasising the need to defeat the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

A depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall between Sagar island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around May 26 midnight, bringing heavy rain in the coastal districts of the state, the Met department said on Friday.

Banerjee’s comment came after it was found that voter turnout in the fifth round of polling in seven Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal was lower, as compared to the polling percentage in 2019, due to a two-hour rain.
National, Politics

SC refuses to direct EC to upload voter turnout data amid LS polls, says ‘hands-off approach’ needed

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The bench said it would be difficult for the poll panel to mobilise manpower for uploading the voter turnout data on its website.

PTI,  24.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Friday refused an NGO’s plea to issue the Election Commission directions to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website during the Lok Sabha polls, saying a “hands-off approach” needs to be adopted during the elections.

A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma said it cannot issue any such directions at the moment as five phases of polling have concluded and two remain and it would be difficult for the poll panel to mobilise manpower.

The top court adjourned the interlocutory application (IA) filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) to be listed before the regular bench after the elections and pointed out that prima facie it appears the prayers in the application are similar to the main petition pending since 2019 on the issue.

“This (IA) has to be taken with the pending writ petition because in between the elections, a hands-off approach has to be adopted,” it said and pointed out that it would be difficult for the EC to mobilise manpower for uploading the voter turnout data on its website.

“Granting any relief in IA will amount to granting relief in the main petition which is pending,” the bench said.

It said it needs to understand the ground reality and not overburden the poll panel by changing the process midway.

On May 17, the top court had sought within a week the EC’s response on the NGO’s plea seeking a direction to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website within 48 hours of the conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The ADR has filed an interim application in its 2019 PIL seeking directions to the poll panel that “scanned legible copies of Form 17C Part-I (Account of Votes Recorded)” of all polling stations be uploaded immediately after the polls.

In its affidavit, the poll panel opposed the NGO’s demand, stating that it will “vitiate” the electoral space and cause “chaos” in the poll machinery in the midst of the general elections.

The poll panel has said that there is no legal mandate to provide Form 17C to any person other than the candidate or his agent.

It has said that public posting of Form 17C — which gives the number of votes polled in a polling station — is not provided in the statutory framework and could lead to mischief and vitiation of the entire electoral space as it increases the possibility of the images being morphed.

“The petitioner is trying to create an entitlement when none exists in the law by way of filing an application in the middle of the election period. It is respectfully reiterated that for credible multiple practical reasons, the result as per the statutory mandate, is declared on the basis of the data contained in Form 17C at the time as prescribed under the statutory rule regime in existence,” it said.

It further said that “indiscriminate disclosure” of polling station-wise voter turnout data and posting it on a website will cause chaos in the election machinery which is already in motion for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Crime, National, Politics

Manipur Violence: Can’t go by sentiments, says Supreme Court; declines contempt petition

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The top court was hearing a petition claiming the respondents had committed contempt of its September 25 last year order on protecting the properties of those displaced during the ethnic conflict

PTI, New Delhi, 24.05.24 : The Supreme Court said on Friday it cannot go by sentiments and has to act in accordance with law, as it refused to entertain a petition seeking contempt action for alleged non-compliance with the apex court’s order on protection of properties of people displaced during the Manipur violence.

A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal said it was not satisfied with the contention that a case of contempt was made out against the respondents, including the chief secretary of Manipur, and the petitioners can take recourse to remedy which may be available under the law.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for Manipur, told the bench that no case of contempt was made out, and the state government and the Centre were on the ground doing everything they can to assuage public concerns.

“The effort is to keep the pot boiling which is very unfortunate,” Bhati said, adding that the state was duty bound to protect all and can file an updated status report on the issue.

The top court was hearing a petition claiming the respondents had committed contempt of its September 25 last year order on protecting the properties of those displaced during the ethnic conflict.

“Who according to you are in contempt?” the bench asked the petitioner’s counsel who said the chief secretary and others are.

“They are not the encroachers,” the bench shot back.

When the advocate said the petitioners are living outside Manipur and are not in a position to go anywhere near Imphal, the bench said, “That does not mean that notice be issued against chief secretary”.

Bhati referred to the September 25 last year order which said the state of Manipur and the Centre are given one week to respond to the directions, including on ensuring protection of properties of displaced persons and preventing their encroachment.

“We had filed a status report. We can file an updated status report,” she said, adding the state was duty bound to protect its citizens and their properties.

“Manipur is still in a situation of uneasy calm as we speak. There are conflicting views and the state and central government are trying to assuage everyone,” Bhati said. When the counsel for the petitioners claimed that their properties have been looted in the presence of police and they can place those videos before the court, the law officer objected to it and said wild allegations were being made.

“They (authorities) are duty bound to protect the properties. They are duty bound to carry out the orders of this court and the government. No doubt about it,” the bench said.

Observing that no contempt was made out against the chief secretary and the other respondents, the bench observed, “Don’t pressure the officers like this”.

It said the petitioners may file appropriate proceedings as permissible under the law.

“All sympathies for you. Your properties need to be protected but that does not mean that we have to issue contempt notice to the respondents.,” the bench said.

When the petitioners’ lawyer said, “Your lordships may kindly see the message that goes out today…”, the bench observed, “We have to go as per the law. We cannot go by sentiments.” The bench said it was not satisfied with the claim that contempt proceedings were maintainable against the respondents in connection with the September 25, 2023 order.

“It is needless to say that petitioners shall be at liberty to take recourse to the remedy as may be available under the law if they are aggrieved by any other action or inaction on the part of the respondents,” it said.

Manipur descended into chaos and violence in May last year over a high court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

More than 170 people have been killed and several hundred others injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3 last year when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for ST status.
Crime, International, West Bengal

Bangladeshi MP’s friend paid money for murder: Police

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The Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar’s close friend, who is a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to kill the former, according to preliminary investigation in connection with his murder.

SNS | Kolkata | May 24, 2024 : The Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar’s close friend, who is a US citizen, had paid around Rs 5 crore to kill the former, according to preliminary investigation in connection with his murder.


Mr Anar, Awami League MP of Jhinaidah-4 constituency in Bangladesh, had been missing in Kolkata since 13 May and was found murdered in the New Town area.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh home minister Asaduzzaman Khan had said that Mr Anar was found murdered and three people have been arrested.

The deceased MP’s friend, who is probably in the US at present, owns a luxurious flat in the New Town area, according to sources in the West Bengal CID.

Sources in the CID probing the incident of alleged murder of the Bangladeshi MP also said that the flat in the New Town area, where the Bangladesh MP was last seen entering, was rented to his friend by its owner, reportedly an excise department employee.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that it was a well-planned murder. A huge amount of money, around Rs 5 crore was paid by an old friend of the MP to kill him. Investigations are still on to find out the exact reasons behind the incident,” an officer of the CID said.

“We have ‘reliable inputs’ that Anar may have been murdered but his body is yet to be recovered,” he said requesting anonymity.

Asked whether the investigating team found blood stains in the New Town flat where the MP’s whereabouts were last traced on 13 May. The officer said, “Our forensic team is exploring all angles and examining the suspected crime scene also. It’s too early to speak about that.”

It’s learnt that the state CID has spotted blood stains inside the flat and also recovered several plastic bags, which they believe were used to dump the body parts.

Circumstantial evidence indicates that the MP was first strangulated and then his body was mutilated in several parts, police claimed.

The search for the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on 12 May to undergo treatment, began six days later after Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar area and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police station on 18 May.

Anar had stayed at Biswas’s house upon arrival. According to the complainant, Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon of 13 May and he was scheduled to come back home for dinner. 
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