‘Start with UG admission process for academic year 2024-25 soon’

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 20 May 2024, Kolkata: The All Bengal Principals’ Council urged the Higher Education department to commence the admissions for undergraduate courses for the academic year 2024-25 in state colleges as soon as all the private and government aided Minority colleges in the state have already opened their admission portal.

The Council fears that if the admissions are not started sooner, the government colleges will lag behind.

“In the last academic session 2023-24, Higher Education department took late decision for opening the admission portal which resulted in scarcity of students, especially in science and arts streams,” the Council in their letter stated, while adding that more than 75 per cent seats were lying vacant for the mentioned streams.

With regards to the centralised portal, they urged the department principal secretary to give clearance for colleges to start admission using a standalone portal like last year if the uncertainty over the portal’s introduction still looms.

Admissions under the centralised admission portal for undergraduate courses may start after Lok Sabha polls, a Higher Education official said. The last phase poll in the state is going to take place on June 1 and counting will take place on June 4.

Through a centralised platform, a student will be able to apply to various colleges under the state just by logging into a single portal instead of going to individual institutions.

The centralised online admission portal for UG will be used in all government-aided colleges, unitary universities and state-aided affiliating universities, excluding autonomous colleges, minority educational institutions or colleges, training colleges and law colleges.

The Higher Secondary result was published on May 8. The successful candidates have started preparing for entrance examinations and applying for different colleges.

Even though few colleges under the ones which will be excluded from centralised portal like Scottish Church College have opened their standalone portal to start the admission procedure.

However, many colleges under Calcutta University are awaiting notice from the Higher Education department as to when the admission process through the centralised portal will start.

According to a college principal, the testing of the centralised portal was successfully conducted and data was collected from them. Although no communication has been made either by the department or Calcutta University as to when the admission process can be started.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/start-with-ug-admission-process-for-academic-year-2024-25-soon-564622

Education, Regional, West Bengal

Higher Secondary Council trying to rope in college teachers in ‘cluster model’

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

SOUMITRA NANDI, MP, 20 May 2024, Kolkata: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has decided to involve college teachers in a ‘cluster model’ for teaching students at the higher secondary level in the backdrop of acute scarcity of teachers in various subjects.

The Council has already got the nod of the state Higher Education department in this regard.

“We are encouraging cluster models for the benefit of students in the higher secondary level. If a particular school suffers from lack of teachers in a particular subject, teachers from a neighbouring school can be roped in for teaching the subject concerned in a cluster model.

We have also made plans to rope in college teachers for addressing the same issue. However, the concerned teacher should be a permanent teacher,” said Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, president of WBCHSE.

The concerned teacher can go to the neighbouring school for taking classes or students of three-four schools can be brought together

in a common venue for the subject teacher to take classes. The same will be applicable for college teachers who will join this model.

According to sources in the Council, the dearth of teachers in various subjects has turned so precarious that secondary teachers of a particular subject have to teach the same subject at the higher secondary level.

In remote areas, even part time teachers are being roped in for plugging the gap. The Council is hopeful that the cluster concept will streamline this issue of teacher paucity to a reasonable extent.

A Council official attributed this to the recruitment process remaining stalled for more than five years due to legal logjam and retirement of teachers every year in due course with attainment of age limit.

The Council has introduced the semester system that will come into effect from 2024-25 for the students of class XI, while for class XII, it will be effective from 2025-26.

The Council has introduced courses in data science, artificial intelligence, cyber security, science of well-being and application of artificial intelligence in recent times to make the plus-II curriculum up to date.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/higher-secondary-council-trying-to-rope-in-college-teachers-in-cluster-model-564626

Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Three Raj Bhavan staff summoned by police seek more time

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 20 May 2024, Kolkata: Three Raj Bhavan staff, who were summoned by the police in connection with the probe relating to a case where a woman had accused the Governor C V Ananda Bose of sexual harassment, is learnt to have sought more time from the police.

It was reportedly learnt that the complainant had alleged that the three staff had kept her confined within the Raj Bhavan premises.

The police had hence summoned all three of them at the Hare Street Police Station on Sunday. However, none of them appeared at the station. The police have again summoned them on Tuesday but it has now come to light that the staff members have sought more time for appearance.

Sources said that the police do not want to give them more time, especially when they were summoned three times and each time they failed to appear. It was learnt that the police, if needed, may consider the arrest of these three staff.

It reportedly came to light that one among the three staff, S S Rajput has informed that he is out of station and has sought time for 10 days along with the copy of an FIR from the police. The other two have sought seven days-time and a copy of the same.

It was learnt that apart from these three, the police have also summoned four others and have sent notices under Section 160 of the CrPC. The summon list also includes the supervisor of the complainant who was contractual staff at Raj Bhavan.

The complainant is also learnt to have recorded her statement with the magistrate. She has alleged that the day she was sexually harassed, she was restrained from egressing Raj Bhavan.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/three-raj-bhavan-staff-summoned-by-police-seek-more-time-564627

National, Regional, West Bengal

Norden and Anuj of Jaldhaka reaches Kedarnath after running for 40 days.

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 21 May 2024 : Dreams of Norden and Anuj came true when they finally reached Kedarnath in the midnight of the 40th day of their run and after 43 days of their start. They had to take rest for three days during their run.

The two youths of Jaldhaka, 27 years old Norden Tamang and 23 years old Anuj Sharma could not run but walk on their last day before reaching Kedarnath due to the huge crowd of devotees on their way of pilgrimage and heavy rain.

They almost had to crawl due to the slippery road and the crowd of men and women and mules carrying the old and the sick. On the last lap they were accompanied by the members of the Jaldhaka Runners and others of their native place.

After walking for about 16 hours on May 20, at midnight 12.00 am they stepped into the famous temple of Kedarnath Dham and cried with joy and cheers. They made some puja rituals to the Gods of their dream and rested for the night.

They had started their expedition from Jholung of Jaldhaka under Kalimpong District of the West Bengal state on 8 April, 2024 and finished it after 43 days.
Their route was through Chalsa, Siliguri and via Pani Tanki they entered into Nepal. Their run continued from Kakarbhitta via Birtamode, Hetauda, Kailali, Bardiya, Mahendranagar and entered into Uttarkhand. In Uttarkhand they ran via Bhimtal, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, Gaurikund and finally to Kedarnath.

A run of about 1750 km was completed by both Norden and Anuj though Anuj suffered heel and Norden had knee problem, it was not an obstacle and they didnot stop. Gopal Gurung, manager of Jaldhaka Runners has expressed gratitude to all the well wishers, contributors and those who encouraged the team through various means.

The team were received warmly by people of all walks of life including the defence and police forces and various clubs and associations in Nepal and India.

With a message “Stride towards wellness” and “Run for Health” both Anuj and Norden ran the run to encourage all especially the youths for a better healthy life through running. The significance of running in making small changes in our lifestyle, can take strides towards a healthier and happier life. They said in unison that everything is possible in life for everyone with determination and a definite goal.

Though they had less experience in the marathon and long run but that minimum experience helped them a lot in the long run and the whole expedition.

Regional, West Bengal

Thunderstorms likely in next 48 hours: MeT

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

20 May 2024 11:51 PM Kolkata: The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore on Monday predicted thunderstorms and lightning in several South Bengal districts in the next 48 hours.

Several districts received moderate to heavy rainfall on Monday afternoon as the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls occurred in a few districts.

People in South Bengal may witness hot and sultry weather till the afternoon hours while thunderstorms may happen in the afternoon hours. Kolkata and several South Bengal districts received rainfall on Monday afternoon.

People in South Bengal may also witness a similar weather where several parts may receive rains and thunderstorms accompanied with strong breeze measuring 40-60 kmph. The situation may continue till Wednesday.

Several North Bengal districts received heavy rainfall on Monday. The intensity of rainfall will decrease in South Bengal in the next 24 hours.

Kolkata on Monday registered its lowest temperature of the day at 29.5 degree Celsius while the highest temperature was recorded at 36.6 degree Celsius on Sunday.

People in the western districts may undergo heatwave conditions towards the end of the week.

The MeT office had earlier predicted that some of South Bengal districts, including Kolkata, might receive rainfall on the day of fifth phase election on May 20.

Several south Bengal districts like Birbhum, East Burdwan, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, West Midnapore may receive light rainfall.

According to the MeT office prediction, heatwave is again going to haunt the people in some of the South Bengal districts with the mercury expected to go up by 3-4 degree Celsius towards the end of the week.

The MeT office said that the weather will mostly stay dry. Some of the North Bengal districts may receive rainfall in the next few days.

Though, there may be scattered rainfall in some pockets in the coastal regions as well.

Many of the South Bengal districts may witness the highest temperature at 40 degree Celsius soon. Kolkata is expected to touch 38 degree Celsius in the weekend while the western districts may touch 42.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into the South Andaman Sea region by the end of this week.

If realised, this would make a timely onset of the monsoon over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood areas.

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/thunderstorms-likely-in-next-48-hours-met-564630

International, National, Politics, Regional

Nepal PM Prachanda wins vote of confidence in Parliament; fourth time in 18 months

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, Kathmandu, May 20 2024 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’ on Monday won a vote of confidence in Parliament, allowing him to lead a coalition government in the Himalayan nation while attempting to maintain political stability amidst frequent power struggles.

Prachanda, 69, a former guerilla leader from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) — the third largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR) — received 157 votes in the 275-member House of Representatives.

The government required at least 138 votes to win the vote of trust.

In total, 158 lawmakers took part in the voting. The main Opposition Nepali Congress boycotted the voting process and chanted slogans against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, accused of misappropriating cooperative funds, leading to the delay in the session. One HoR member remained neutral. Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire announced that Prachanda had won the floor test as he got a majority in Parliament.

This was the fourth time that Prachanda sought a vote of confidence in the House since he assumed prime ministership in December 2022.

The vote comes days after one of the coalition partners, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), withdrew its support last week for his government while quitting the coalition government.

Earlier, the voting had to be delayed due to obstructions caused by the Nepali Congress, which has been demanding the formation of a Parliamentary probe committee to investigate Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in the scam.

According to constitutional provisions, a prime minister has to take a vote of confidence after an ally withdraws support to the ruling coalition.

Earlier on March 13, Prime Minister Dahal won his third consecutive vote of confidence, days after he dumped the Nepali Congress and forged a new alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

Last year, Prachanda faced a floor test after former prime minister KP Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML withdrew its support to the Prachanda-led government following a rift over backing the main opposition party’s candidate for the presidential poll.

Prachanda is serving a third time as prime minister, although he did not complete the full five-year term during previous stints.

In the past few decades, three big parties the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the Maoist Centre have ruled the country turn by turn, forever changing coalitions and partners at their convenience.

Nepal has had 13 governments since it abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 and became a republic.

Crime, Regional, Religion, West Bengal

Criminals attack Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Siliguri

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Photo Courtesy : UBS

EOI, SILIGURI, 20 MAY 2024 : The Ramakrishna Mission premises in the Bhaktinagar area of Siliguri came under attack on Sunday night as about a dozen criminals entered the campus with firearms and sharp weapons and tried to take possession of the property.

They threatened to kill the security guard and monks living there and asked them to vacate the house.

They broke the CCTV cameras installed in the premises and snatched the mobile phones of all the inmates of the ‘ashram.’ They threatened the monks with death unless the property was not demolished soon.

Later the ashram authorities filed a written complaint with the Bhaktinagar police station, narrating the whole incident.\MLA of Siliguri Shankar Ghosh said: “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has threatened RamaKrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangha and ISKCON from an open stage and Trinamool Congress goons have threatened the monks of the ashram. This cannot be tolerated.

I strongly condemn the incident. The culprits must be given exemplary punishment. Mayor of Siliguri Gautam Deb said: “We will not tolerate such activities. These are land mafias. Action will be taken against them.

“It was learnt that the intruders were part of a land mafia trying to encroach on the land and property of Ramakrishna Mission. The “Sewak House ” of Ramakrishna Mission at Salugara on Sevoke Road in Siliguri had been donated to the RKM authorities by a devotee. Ashramites of RKM had been living in that place for a long time.

National, Politics

Violence mars fifth phase of polls in Bengal, 73% voter turnout till 5 pm

May 21, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The voters’ turnout in Bangaon was 75.73 per cent till 5 pm on Monday, much lesser than 82.63% in 2019 and 84.14 in 2021

People wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes for Karnataka Assembly elections

PTI, Kolkata, May 21 2024 : Scattered incidents of violence marred the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls to seven parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, with 73 per cent of the 12.5 million voters exercising their franchise till 5 pm on Monday, officials said.

Voter turnout was lesser than the previous four phases, and also in comparison to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The final voter turnout for this election, however, will be released later.

“Polling was more or less peaceful, barring a few scattered incidents of violence in some constituencies. But we took immediate steps to address those,” state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab told PTI.

Although no major incident was reported, scattered disturbances could not be averted despite the poll body deploying over 60,000 personnel of central forces, in addition to around 30,000 policemen, the highest number of security forces deployed in any of the phases so far in the state, the official said, adding a total of 1,992 complaints were received.

Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency registered the highest turnout of 76.90 per cent till 5 pm, which was lesser than 82.57 per cent recorded in 2019 and 85.10 per cent in the 2021 assembly polls.

The voters’ turnout in Bangaon was 75.73 per cent till 5 pm on Monday, much lesser than 82.63 per cent in 2019 and 84.14 in 2021, he said.

Uluberia recorded 74.50 per cent turnout, lesser than 81.16 per cent in 2019 and 83.87 per cent in the 2021 polls. The voter turnout was 74.17 per cent for Hooghly, lesser than 82.47 per cent in 2019 and 83.12 in 2021..

Serampore registered a voter turnout of 71.18 per cent. The figure was 78.48 per cent in 2019 and 79.35 per cent in 2021.

Barrackpore, which recorded 68.84 per cent turnout, had registered 76.92 per cent voting in 2019 and 76.24 per cent in 2021, the official said.

Howrah recorded 68.84 per cent, down from 74.78 per cent in 2019 and 75.59 in 2021.

Polling began at 7 am and continued till 6 pm.

In Hooghly constituency, BJP’s sitting MP and party candidate Locket Chatterjee faced protests from TMC activists led by TMC MLA Ashima Patra.

As Chatterjee was on her way to a booth, TMC activists staged protests and raised “chor chor (thief thief) slogans, following which, the BJP MP got down from her car and shouted counter slogans.

A huge contingent of police and central forces rushed to the spot and prevented the situation from escalating.

In Barrackpore, BJP candidate and MP Arjun Singh faced protests outside a booth. TMC activists showed black flags and raised slogans against him.

As Singh protested against the slogans, clashes ensued between the TMC and BJP supporters. The central police personnel accompanying Singh and present outside the booth resorted to baton charge to disperse the mob.

BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi also faced protests while on his way to Titagarh as his car was pelted with stones. One person was arrested in connection with the incident.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from various parts of Howrah constituency.

A fake voter was nabbed in Bally and a polling agent arrested was arrested in Ghushuri.

A president officer was also removed for allegedly molesting a female polling agent, the official said.

On an incident of a central force personnel allegedly molesting a local woman in Uluberia, he said that the entire group of security forces deployed at the polling station was shifted from there to another constituency.

A total of 12.5 million voters, including 6.172 million women and 348 transgender persons, were eligible to exercise their franchise in 13,481 polling stations.

The commission had designated over 57 per cent of the polling stations as sensitive.

Altogether 88 candidates were in the fray in the fifth phase, with the highest number of 15 contestants in Bongaon.

National, Sikkim

Sikkim government constitutes high-level committee to scan through tourism complaints

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Report to be submitted within 15 days, glare on high cab fares and lack of amenities

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 20.05.24 : A Himalayan forest in north Sikkim

The Sikkim government has constituted a high-level committee to look into complaints of “exploitative” cab fares and permit rates and lack of amenities for visitors, among other things.

Sources said that the committee headed by an additional secretary of the tourism department has been formed to look into the complaints and submit a report within a fortnight.

“On Sunday senior officials of the tourism department also visited Changu Lake and Nathu-la to take stock of the situation,” said a source.

Plans are also afoot to introduce a centralised permit system to visit Nathu-la along the India-China border.

The initiative comes after the Union ministry of tourism wrote to the Sikkim tourism and civil aviation department on May 13, expressing concerns on various tourism related issues.

The letter sent by the CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) of the ministry said tourists visiting the Himalayan state had lodged several complaints about the problems they faced during their recent trips.

K.P. Wasnik, a former additional commissioner of the Union ministry of agriculture, had been to Sikkim and Darjeeling from April 27 to May 5 with his family. After his visit, the letter said, he filed a complaint with the tourism ministry, narrating several issues.

“The issues raised (by Wasnik) included exploitative pricing by the travel agencies for permits to visit various tourist spots, safety concerns at Nathu-la point due to narrow steps and inadequate infrastructure, lack of amenities and security measures at tourist spots and exorbitant charges by travel agencies for car rentals,” the letter sent by the ministry, said.

“It is requested that the matter kindly be examined and action as deemed fit,” said the letter.

In his complaint, Wasnik said he and the family had visited Lachung, Zero Point, Yumthang Valley, Nathu-la and some other spots in Sikkim.

“The travel agencies charged ₹ 4,000 for Zero Point and Yumthang Valley and another ₹ 4,000 for

permits to go to Nathu-la pass and the lake. This is sheer exploitation of the visitors. I suggest that the government department should issue the pass online by accepting the fee, if any, through online mode,” the former official said in his letter.

He also said no arrangements were available at the tourist spots to provide shelter or proper food to visitors in case of a sudden downpour or snowfall.

“The travel agencies charge very exorbitant rates for travelling by car,” Wasnik said in his complaint to the tourism ministry and suggested that the Sikkim government fix the rates.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

National, Politics

Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against new criminal laws, allows withdrawal of petition

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita encompasses offences, such as acts of secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, separatist activities or endangering the sovereignty or unity of the country, in a new avatar of the sedition law

PTI, New Delhi, 20.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition which challenged the enactment of three new laws that seek to overhaul India’s penal codes.

A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal allowed petitioner advocate Vishal Tiwari to withdraw the plea.

The Lok Sabha, on December 21 last year, passed three key legislations — the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bills on December 25.

These new laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act — will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.

At the outset, the bench told Tiwari, “We are dismissing it (petition)”.

The bench said these laws have not come into force so far.

As the court showed its disinclination to entertain the plea, Tiwari urged that he be allowed to withdraw the petition.

“The petition has been filed in a very casual and cavalier manner,” the bench observed, adding, “If you had argued more, we would have dismissed it with cost but since you are not arguing, we are not imposing cost”. Seeking a stay on the operation of the three new laws, the PIL filed by Tiwari had claimed they were enacted without any parliamentary debate as most of the opposition members were under suspension.

The plea had sought directions from the court for the immediately constitution of an expert committee that will assess the viability of the three new criminal laws.

“The new criminal laws are far more draconian and establish a police state in reality and violate every provision of fundamental rights of the people of India. If the British laws were considered colonial and draconian, then the Indian laws stand now far more draconian as, in the British period, you could keep a person in police custody for a maximum of 15 days. Extending 15 days to 90 days and more is a shocking provision enabling police torture,” the plea had claimed.

According to the new laws, anyone purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, by visible representation, by electronic communication, by use of financial means, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite secession or an armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment that may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

According to IPC section 124A, which deals with sedition, anyone involved in the crime may be punished with life imprisonment or with a three-year jail term.

Also, for the first time, the word “terrorism” has been defined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It was absent in the IPC. Under the new laws, the magistrate’s power to impose fines has been increased as well as the scope for declaring a proclaimed offender.

Crime, Regional, West Bengal

EC removes BSF Jawan from poll duty after ‘molestation’ complaint

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Agencies, 20 May 2024 : The Election Commission on Monday removed a BSF jawan from poll duty in Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency following a complaint of molestation against him, an official said.

A woman lodged the molestation complaint at Uluberia Police Station on Sunday evening, he said. “We have removed him from election duty. We are waiting for the police report. If found guilty, necessary action will be taken as per law,” the poll panel official told PTI.

Voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls commenced across seven parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal amid tight security on Monday.

The Election Commission has designated over 57 percent of the polling stations as sensitive, and deployed over 60,000 personnel of central forces, in addition to around 30,000 policemen.

The number of security forces deployed for this phase surpasses that of any of the earlier four phases in the state, the official added.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/seven-parl-seats-to-go-to-polls-today-564491?infinitescroll=1

Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

IMD issues yellow alert for thunderstorms with lightning in all districts

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 19 May 2024, Kolkata: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms with lightning in almost all districts of Bengal from Sunday to May 22. However, a heatwave alert was issued for West Midnapore and West Burdwan on Sunday.

Orange alert for rain, thunderstorm, lightning with gusty wind of 40 to 50 kilometre per hour was issued for Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum and East Burdwan on Monday.

“A cyclonic circulation lies over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood at 3.1 kilometre above mean sea level.

Under favourable synoptic conditions and strong moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal, thunderstorms with lightning along with gusty wind speed and thunder squall activity are very likely to occur over the districts of West Bengal from May 19 to May 22,” Indian Meteorological Department stated.

Kolkata on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 28 degree Celsius.

While in other parts of Southern Bengal, the maximum temperature in Kalaikunda was 42.2 degree Celsius, Asansol and Panagarh recorded 41.5 degree Celsius while Purulia and Barrackpore recorded 40 degree Celsius.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/imd-issues-yellow-alert-for-thunderstorms-with-lightning-in-all-districts-564461?infinitescroll=1

Education, National, Regional, States

‘Admissions under centralised admission portal for UG courses may start after Lok Sabha polls’

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 19 May 2024, Kolkata: Admissions under centralised admission portal for undergraduate (UG) courses may start after Lok Sabha polls, a Higher Education official said.

The last phase poll in the state is going to take place on June 1 and counting will take place on June 4. Through a centralised platform, a student will be able to apply to various colleges under the state government just by logging into a single portal instead of going to individual institutions.

The successful candidates have started preparing for entrance examinations and applying for different colleges within the state as well as outside. Even though few colleges under the ones which will be excluded from the centralised portal like Scottish Church College have opened their standalone portal to start the admission procedure.

However, many colleges under Calcutta University are awaiting notice from the Higher Education department as to when the admission process through the centralised portal will start.

The centralised portal was going to be introduced last year but at the last moment the decision to implement it was revoked and colleges were asked to take new admissions through a standalone portal.

The Higher Education authorities had reasoned that the centralised admission portal was developed based on the three-years degree UG programme and needed to be modified as per the recent implementation, which was four-years degree UG programme.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/admissions-under-centralised-admission-portal-for-ug-courses-may-start-after-lok-sabha-polls-564462

Health, Regional, West Bengal

‘About 40 people infected with new KP.2 Covid variant in state’

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 19 May 2024, Kolkata: New variant of Covid has been detected in Bengal with 40 odd persons found to be infected with the same. The new variant KP.2 has affected 272 people across the country so far.

A senior official of the state Health department said that in the past four months, several samples were sent for genome sequencing for the purpose of detecting variants and the new one KP.2 has been found in 40 cases.

An offshoot of the Omicron strain, KP.2 was first detected in India in early January this year. There was an upsurge of cases in Maharashtra, especially in Pune, so it is also called the Pune variant.

However, doctors have assured that there are no reasons for panic with this new variant as its severity has been found to be comparatively lesser than other variants.

“It is infectious but its fatal effect is less. There is nothing to worry about in the present situation. New Covid sub-variants are expected to emerge in the days to come. Basic sanitisation like washing of hands, using of masks if affected with cough and cold should be followed,” said Dr Narayan Bandyopadhyay.

According to city doctors, the symptoms of the KP.2 variant are the same as that of others. It includes trembling in fever, cough and cold and sore throat. There may be leg pain, headache and vomiting.

America is presently leading in KP.2 variant affected cases globally. Since the beginning of Covid making inroads in 2019, health experts have reiterated that Covid will not completely bid goodbye , however its effect will gradually wane.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-40-people-infected-with-new-kp2-covid-variant-in-state-564465

Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Sudden rise in water level of river Rangpo, 3 stranded fishing rescued

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Amitava Banerjee, MP, 19 May 2024, Darjeeling: The sudden surge in the water level of River Teesta on Saturday night resulted in the panic button being pressed owing to the devastation wrecked by the Teesta flash floods still fresh in the memory. Around 5 families were shifted from low lying vulnerable areas of the river bank.

About 3 persons stranded on a rock were also rescued on Saturday night. Heavy rainfall in Sikkim resulted in the rise in the water level of the Teesta. “Around 5 families have been shifted to a community hall near Melli due to the sudden surge in water levels on Saturday night.

On Sunday the situation is normal but we are keeping a close watch,” stated Balasubramanian T, District Magistrate, Kalimpong.

“For how long will we run? Where will we run? We are spending sleepless nights. We lost everything in the October 2023 flash floods. Whatever little we have is all set to be lost yet again. Where is the promised rehabilitation? Where is the land that was promised to us for rehabilitation,” questioned a resident of Melli, a victim of the flash flood.

Screen grab of the rescue video

At around 8 pm on Saturday with the water level rising, people started running helter skelter with whatever belongings they had along with documents.

“There are many residing in relief camps since the October 4, 2023 flash floods. Monsoons have not even commenced and this is the situation. The district administration and GTA have to look into this seriously,” stated another eyewitness.

On May 18, Gangtok had recorded 54.4 mm of rain.
Incidentally, both the Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts had faced widespread damages owing to flash floods in the River Teesta triggered by a glacial lake outburst in North Sikkim on October 4, 2023, that had washed away the Teesta III Dam at Chungthang.

In a daring rescue, 3 youths stranded on a rock on the Rongpo Khola, a tributary of the Teesta, were rescued by the Teesta Rangeet Rescue Center at around 11.20 pm on Saturday.

Shanti Rai, River rescuer and guide, while talking to Millennium Post, stated: “The Sikkim Police and Bengal Police informed us that three persons who were fishing, were stranded on a large rock in the Rongpo Khola and could not cross over owing to the surging river. We got news at around 7 pm and rushed to the spot with equipment and rafts. Rescue was very difficult in the torrential river in darkness. The water had surged owing to the overflow in the dam.

Finally after great difficulty we managed to rescue the three at 11.20 pm on Saturday.” The three rescued included Gideon Karkidoli (22) Sahil Rai (24) and Avinah Thapa (24).

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/nation/ec-removes-bsf-jawan-from-poll-duty-after-molestation-complaint-564498?infinitescroll=1

Crime, Misc, National, Politics

SC to hear today plea against newcriminal laws passed by Parliament

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, New Delhi, May 19, 2024 : The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a petition challenging the enactment of three new laws that seek to overhaul India’s penal codes claiming that they suffer from many “defects and discrepancies”.

A vacation bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal is likely to hear the matter.

Seeking a stay on the operation of the three new laws, the PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari has said they were enacted without any parliamentary debate as most of the opposition members were under suspension.

The plea has sought directions from the court for the immediately constitution of an expert committee that will assess the viability of the three new criminal laws.

According to IPC section 124A, which deals with sedition, anyone involved in the crime may be punished with life imprisonment or with a three-year jail term. Under the new laws, “Rajdroh” has got a new term, “Deshdroh”, doing away with the reference to the British crown. Loosely explained, “Rajdroh” refers to a rebellion or an act against the ruler, while “Deshdroh” represents such acts against the nation.

Crime, Northeast

Manipur: Man shot dead in Imphal West

May 20, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

A man was killed, and two others were injured after unidentified assailants shot at them in the Naoremthong area in Manipur’s Imphal West district.

PTI, Imphal, May 19, 2024 : One person was killed and two others were injured after unidentified assailants shot them at Naoremthong area in Manipur’s Imphal West district, police said.

The incident took place around 8 pm on Saturday outside their rented accommodation, a police officer said.

The deceased has been identified as Shree Ram Hangsada (41) from Jharkhand, he said.

The injured are undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital in Imphal.

Police have registered a case and started an investigation to ascertain the reason behind the shooting and the identity of the assailants.

The injured were identified as Bittu Murmu (22) and Mitalal Soran (50).

According to the police, all three people worked as labourers with a private Infratech company.