Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

West Bengal polls' first phase ends peacefully

Sun, 11 May 2008 13:01:00 -0400

Kolkata, May 11 (IANS) The first round of the three-phase local body elections in West Bengal ended peacefully Sunday evening with no major incident of violence reported in the five districts, including Nandigram area, where polling was held.

According to police sources, stray incidents of booth capturing and clashes between rival political forces were reported from some areas of Purulia, West and East Midnapore, Burdwan and Bankura districts.

"The election was so far peaceful. Only a few minor incidents took place in some of the areas of East and West Midnapore and Burdwan. In all, a dozen people were arrested from all five districts Sunday," West Bengal Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS.

"It was really a very tough challenge for us as the first phase poll covered all the Maoist-affected districts of West Bengal. But it was handled properly. We had deployed adequate number of police personnel at all polling booths."

Kanojia said people queued up at polling booths till 7 p.m.

Ruling Left Front chairman Biman Bose told a press conference here the first phase of panchayat elections ended peacefully.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP from East Midnapore Laxman Seth had a row with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deputy inspector general (DIG) Aloke Raj over the election process in the trouble-torn region.

Seth allegedly threatened the senior central police official for "going beyond" his jurisdiction and accused him of molestation.

The Nandigram police station's officer-in-charge Debashis Chakraborty was also allegedly beaten up by CRPF personnel triggering tension in the area.

However, Raj brushed aside the allegations and said two female paramilitary officials of his team were abused by the local police when they were trying to sort out a conflict between CPI-M supporters and anti-land acquisition group Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) activists in Nandigram - where the two sides have been locked in a bloody turf war since January 2007.

"We will lodge a complaint to East Midnapore police superintendent S.S. Panda informing him about the incident," Raj said.

In a village at the Contai subdivision of East Midnapore district, the Trinamool Congress alleged that CPI-M cadres chopped off a finger of one of their supporters and injured five other Trinamool members.

On the other hand, at Hijlana village in Burdwan a youth received knife injuries, which the CPI-M blamed on Trinamool. The youth was said to be a CPI-M supporter.

The opposition alliance also accused the ruling CPI-M of bringing supporters from Kolkata and jamming the polling booth at Dubrajdighi village in Burdwan.

"It was a deliberate attempt by the communists as they tried to divert the attention of all political parties by sponsoring violence in Nandigram before the polls," senior Trinamool leader Saugata Roy said.

"About 75 percent vote had been cast in all 220 booths in Nandigram block-I and II. There was great enthusiasm seen amongst all the voters," a senior district administrative official of East Midnapore said.

TC, BUPC supporters lathicharged at Nandigram

Sat, 10 May 2008 16:00:00 -0400

In yet another incidence of violence ahead of Sunday’s Panchayat polls, some Trinamool Congress and BUPC supporters were lathicharged on Saturday by the Rapid Action Force as they tried to prevent a truck with material for elections from moving out of the BDO`s office.

The TMC and Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee workers had stopped the truck on the ground that they would be unable to vote as they had been driven out of their villages, the police said.

Justifying the lathicharge, the office-in-charge of Nandigram Debasish Chakraborty said, "Police have done their duty." A journalist was also injured in RAF action, he said.

The truck carrying the election material moved out after the supporters were dispersed.

The CRPF, meanwhile, searched the house of a CPI(M) supporter Panchanan Jana at Kakaberia after initially being denied permission by the police. However, nothing was found.

A BUPC supporter was yesterday admitted to a hospital after he was allegedly beaten up by suspected CPI(M) activists, sources in organisation had said.

On his part, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had played down the renewed violence at Nandigram while assuring the people yesterday of a "peaceful" Panchayat election.

Bird flu in Darjeeling, culling begins

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:56:00 -0400

Culling of birds began in 42 villages in the mountain foothill areas of Darjeeling district on Saturday where avian flu has been detected. District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey said 283 birds were reported to have died in and around Sukna area between April 27 and May 4 following which samples were sent to High Security Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal, which confirmed the outbreak of avian flu.

The report reached the district authorities on May 8 and culling of birds began this morning, he said. Pandey said 25 culling teams spread to 41 villages — 10 at Sukna in Kurseong sub-division and 31 others in adjacent Matigara, Atharokhai and upper and lower Bagdogra gram panchayat area — where 18,000 chicken were to be killed.

Trading and business of poultry products was banned in the area as per orders, he said. Official sources said the state government would pay compensation of Rs 30 per broiler, Rs 40 for per household bird and Rs 10 per chick. Medicines would also be distributed in the affected areas.

Kolkata Book fair: SC issues notice to WB govt

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:04:00 -0400

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today issued notices to West Bengal government and other respondents in a case, in which, Calcutta High Court had banned the Kolkata Book Fair - one of the largest in the world - at Park Circus Maidan in January 2008.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan today admitted a petition challenging High Court's verdict, and sought reply from all respondents within fours weeks. The court has issued notices while admitting this petition filed by the publishers, who took part in that fair.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had disallowed holding of the book fair at Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata saying it violates environmental norms and fundamental rights of the residents of that area.

The high court was acting on a PIL filed by the local residents who sought revocation of permission for holding the fair at Park Circus. The High Court had observed that holding of the huge fair, which attracts lakhs of visitors daily, would be violative of Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (right to life in a congenial environment) of the Constitution.
The fair has been in trouble for the last couple of years over its venue. It was uprooted from the Maidan in the heart of the metropolis in 2007 on the ground of environmental pollution and then shifted to Salt Lake, and has again been denied a new address in the metropolis.

Bengal Governor observes 'power cut' amid criticism

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:45:00 -0400

Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on Wednesday observed a voluntary two-hour power cut in his bid to share the inconvenience faced by Kolkata residents due to daily load shedding. "Raj Bhavan's power supply was stopped from 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm and 6-7 pm," Gandhi's media spokesperson Dhruba Gupta told.

"Initially, it was decided that Gandhi will observe the power cut from 7-9 pm, but he changed his schedule for unknown reasons," he said.

"In the first phase of the power cut, the Governor was outside Raj Bhavan for official work. The employees present inside did their work in daylight. In the evening, Gandhi spent the one-hour of darkness in the balcony of his suite," Gupta added.

Gandhi's decision to opt for daily power cuts drew criticism from state Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee, though there were politicians who appreciated his move.

"I don't understand how Gandhi's two-hour self-imposed darkness will contribute in producing electricity. We are already working on the power cut hazards. The situation is taking a favourable turn. Now Gandhi's publicity stunt will send a wrong message to the public," said Banerjee.

But state Transport, Sports and Youth Services Minister Subhas Chakraborty was appreciative of the Governor's move. "Gandhi's decision is a personal one. No one has the right to interfere in his decision. If he manages to bring out some changes in the electric supply scenario of the city through this, we must support him," he said.

Raj Bhavan enjoys uninterrupted supply of electricity through a dedicated feeder line provided by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) and has never suffered major power cuts.

CESC officials said the power line at Raj Bhavan is proofed against load-shedding and is capable of taking a load of 700 kilowatts compared to a two-kilowatt load capacity line of a two-bedroom flat. (IANS)

Molester principal commits suicide in South Kolkata

Tue, 06 May 2008 15:09:00 -0400

Kolkata: A 63-year old principal of a primary school committed suicide in Garia in South Kolkata on Tuesday morning after he allegedly caught red-handed while molesting a seven-year old girl student by her mother.

Biswanath Das, the owner of Children's Academy School, had been running the educational center for over 20 years. Das used to live in the second floor of the double-storied building, which housed the primary school on the ground and first floors. Many local people used to send their children to the school, as it claimed to put "special emphasis" on English language.
Among many of these children attending Children's Academy was little Shipra Ghosh (name changed), a student of class 2, who went to the school to receive education, but remained at the receiving end of the principal's indecent acts.

Das had been molesting Shipra for the past few months, and also threatened to beat her up if she dared gave anyone an inkling of what was happening. A scared Shipra used to silently bear the physical and mental abuse which she was subjected to, before finally, her mother caught the principal in the act.
On Monday, when Shipra's mother went to fetch her from school, she was surprised to find that her daughter was neither in the classroom, nor with the other children. Worried, she went inside the school to look for her daughter, and was stunned to see her alone with the principal in the staff room, with the old man behaving indecently with the little girl.

On confrontation, Das said that he was affectionately caressing the child, and that her mother was reading too much into the matter. However, Shipra's mother refused to buy his explanations, and registered a molestation complaint against him in Regent Park police station in South Kolkata.
Today morning, Das went to Shipra's house, and tried to convince her parents to hush up the matter. But they refused to relent. On returning to the school, Das found a huge mob waiting for him. Fearing that he might be beaten to death by the agitated mob, Das sneaked into his house and hanged himself.

Even after his suicide, angry locals refused to let his body be taken for a post-mortem, and created a huge ruckus in the area. Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob, and finally managed to take the body four hours after Das' suicide.
Shipra's mother said, "He had been molesting my child over the past few months, but we were unaware of his deeds. I caught him red-handed yesterday, but he tried to cover up for his faults. He even tried to shut us up, but we did not give in to his pressures. Soon after he had left our place today morning, we heard that he had committed suicide."

SP (South 24 Parganas) Praveen Kumar said, "Primarily we believe that Das committed suicide to save his face. We are investigating into the matter."

Patients lie on road, negligence slur on hospital

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:22:00 -0400

The hospital, which has had many reports of negligence of patients, allegedly made two patients lie down on a road outside the hospital premises, as there were no empty beds in the emergency ward. The patients were readmitted after the local television channels started flashing reports of the inhuman attitude of the hospital administration.
Three friends, Hemanta, Sunil and Anirban, were seriously injured in a bike accident in Birbhum district of West Bengal late on Sunday night. All three were brought to Kolkata early on Monday morning for treatment. While Anirban was admitted to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition, Hemanta and Sunil were referred to the emergency ward of SSKM hospital.

However, hospital authorities refused to admit the two patients, claiming that they had no beds in the emergency ward, and put them on ground under a tree outside the hospital. Relatives of the youth claimed that the hospital had taken the help of police to forcibly throw the two youths out of the hospital.
Hemanta and Sunil were put on drip, and lay under the tree for several hours without receiving any medical help, before some local television channels started beaming videos of the plight of the youths.

Tapan Ghosh, a relative of the patients said, "We brought them here at 4 in the morning. After the initial running around, they told us that they had no beds, and said that we should take them to some other nursing home. We requested them to let them stay in the hospital while we made arrangements to shift them to some other hospital. But they forced us out of the hospital by using police force."
Stunned by the news, Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra rushed to the spot and demanded an explanation from the hospital authorities. However, by this time, the hospital authorities had sensed the trouble they could be in, and had accommodated the patients inside the emergency ward.

Mitra claimed that the hospital authorities had links with some middlemen of other nursing homes, and hence were referring the two youths to those nursing homes so that they could make money.
"They are making the two youths lie in this scorching heat under a tree. If they catch an infection, which hospital will be able to treat them? I am sure that these people have links with middlemen, and take commissions," said an agitated Mitra.

Local people also alleged that the hospital had resorted to such inhuman act, as a three-member delegation from the Medical Council of India (MCI) was supposed to visit the hospital today, and hence the authorities, in a bid to keep the hospital ?clean?, did not want to overcrowd the wards.
Hospital superintendent Ashok Ghosh, however, rubbished such allegations and said, "For any medical centre, the treatment of the patients comes before anything else. I am looking into the matter."

Ironically, the authorities were not able to please the MCI members, despite going out of their way to please them. For, the non-functional air-conditioner of the main OT complex, and the usage of a portable AC during surgery, left the MCI team immensely dissatisfied.
"This is a matter of great shame for not only the hospital, but for entire West Bengal," said Ashok Ghosh after the departure of the MCI team, while referring to the displeasure of the MCI team, and not the plight of the injured youths, who were made to lie down under a tree by the hospital staff.

West Bengal returns IPL tickets to Shah Rukh's firm

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:31:00 -0400

Kolkata, May 5 (IANS) The controversy over allotment of tickets for Kolkata Knight Riders' home matches doesn't seem to end - West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty Monday said his department was not satisfied with the ticket distribution.

As a mark of protest, the sports ministry has returned all tickets for the Twenty20 match to be held at Eden Gardens Thursday to the IPL franchise Red Chillies Entertainment of film star Shah Rukh Khan.

"We have been deprived of our share of tickets. Red Chillies Entertainment, which is in charge of the ticket distribution of Kolkata Knight Riders matches, has given us a lesser share of tickets this time. So we have returned all the tickets for the Knight Riders match versus Bangalore Royal Challengers," Chakraborty told reporters.

"Unless we have adequate tickets how will we meet public demand? And if the Kolkatans don't get enough tickets they will accuse us and say that we have sold all tickets to Red Chillies for our profit," he added.

"This is the first time in my tenure that a private company is deciding how many tickets should be given to the sports department for sale. So far I had been keeping away from IPL but now I will make sure that nobody demeans us in any way," he said.

Now own your studio apartment in Kolkata's IT township

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:25:00 -0400

Kolkata, May 5 (IANS) Well-earning young professionals with a grungy lifestyle and seeking a place to unwind would soon be able to own a studio apartment in this eastern metropolis.

Studio apartment, also called Efficiency apartment or Bachelor-style apartment, combines a living room, bedroom and kitchenette into a single unit. They are dime a dozen for hire but none to own in this metropolis.

India's first ownership studio apartment is coming up in Kolkata's Rajarhat township to cater to the lifestyle needs of the young seeking a place of their own outside the family where they can adventurously dump themselves - and at a modest monthly instalment.

Xanadu, from real estate giant Siddha group, is an upcoming studio apartment project with state-of-the-art furnishing.

Located in Rajarhat, the showpiece township of the West Bengal government to attract investment as an extension to IT hub Salt Lake Section V, the project would have 314 studio apartments, each with around 600 sq-ft space.

"Priced between Rs1.5 and 2 million, Xanadu will have everything from a fitness centre to SOHO (Small Office/Home Office), Chill-n-fill zone launderette, electronic access, landscape greens, lounge, swimming pool, cafeteria and a 24-hour concierge et al," Sanjay Jain, Siddha joint managing director, told IANS.

"People will live a different lifestyle here. They can be fancy-free and be themselves," he said.

"Xanadu is a Rs.1 billion project and one of the four we are doing in Rajarhat. We think this township is the future of Kolkata," said Jain.

Like Xanadu, the summer capital of Kublai Khan's Mongol Empire made famous by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's eponymous poem, the studio apartment building is eyeing young and trendy Indian professionals with a happening private life as well as NRBs (Non-Resident Bengalis) who want to own a property back home.

"We are selling a concept for the first time in India. Studio apartments are not for buying yet in the country.

"We will also help rent out the apartments. So NRIs or young professionals buying these apartments can pay off their EMIs through rent," said Jain.

"You don't have ownership studio apartments in Mumbai or Bangalore. Now Kolkata will show the way," said Siddharth Sethia, another Siddha joint managing director.

While in cities like New York, a studio apartment is the 'L-shaped' or 'alcove', studio in which the central room branches off into a small alcove that can be used for sleeping or dining, in Singapore, the apartments are built for the senior citizen as well as young working singles.

Political clash in Nandigram, 40 houses ransacked

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:28:00 -0400

Kolkata: Some houses were ransacked and a few rounds of firing took place in a political clash at Nandigram in West Bengal Sunday evening. East Medinipur district Police Superintendent Sathya shankar Panda told, "About 50 houses were ransacked and at least four rounds of firing took place following a clash between supporters of the (opposition) Trinamool Congress and the (ruling) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

"No one was injured in the clash. No arrests have been made so far," he added. According to sources at Nandigram, most of the houses targeted belonged to the members of the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee, a body fighting for land rights of farmers.(IANS)

North Bengal tea to be exported to Egypt, Iran, Pakistan

Sun, 04 May 2008 14:15:00 -0400

Jalpaiguri: Centre will take initiatives to export tea grown in the gardens of north Bengal to countries like Pakistan, Iran and Egypt. In a press conference at Hasimara, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said, "Demand for Indian tea is quite high in Pakistan, Iran and Egypt and tea of north Bengal will be exported to these countries."

Expressing his concerns on the lower level of export of what is considered as one of the best tea flavour, Ramesh added: "Though north Bengal produces about 250 million kilogram tea every year, but the export volume is inadequate. Only nine per cent of Darjeeling tea is exported."

Ramesh and other officials of Tea Board of India will visit the countries to promote the export market.
Centre has also promised to take special measures for the development of three hundred tea gardens in north Bengal. The minister said the closed tea gardens of Kathalguri and Ramjhora will be opened in two-and-a-half month. (PTI)

CPI(M)-Trinamool clash in Nandigram, 400 displaced

Sun, 04 May 2008 13:23:00 -0400

Nandigram (WB): A fresh clash between supporters of the state's ruling CPI(M) and those of opposition Trinamool Congress erupted today even as 4OO villagers were sheltered in releif camps following mounting violence in the run up to coming panchayat elections.

Police said that two groups of the rival political parties clashed with bombs at Sonachura this morning. No one was, however, injured.

Official sources said that the displaced villagers had been sheltered in two relief camps near the BDO office in Nandigram and adjacent Maheshpur for the past few days. They have come from Sonachura and Garchakrabaria villages. (PTI)

Exploiting creative side of disabled in Kolkata

Sun, 04 May 2008 06:45:00 -0400

Kolkata: To instill a boost of confidence, graphic designers from as far apart as Mauritius, Seychelles, Costa Rica and Philippines were in the city to conduct a week-long workshop for hearing and speech impaired children.

The workshop that was concluded on Saturday was organised by Arena Animation, the multimedia training wing of Aptech Global Learning Solutions Limited, for Udayan, a non-government organisation.

"Being physically challenged does not mean one has run out of creativity. We are trying to exploit the creative side of these children so that they too can start an independent career," said, Aptech's chief executive officer and managing director Pramod Khera.

The workshop attended by around 100 children dealt with computer fundamentals, graphic designing, sketching and cartooning. French author Dominique Lapierre and Australian cricketer Steve Waugh are the chief patrons of Udayan that was founded by J G Stevens. (IANS)

Gorkha group ends hunger strike in Darjeeling

Sat, 03 May 2008 12:20:00 -0400

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) supporters on Saturday ended their fast unto death after the West Bengal government gave them permission to hold political rallies and meetings in Siliguri town in Darjeeling district.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb and Home Secretary Asoke Mohan Chakrabarty told us Saturday afternoon that we can hold political programmes in Siliguri. Since our demand has been met we have decided to withdraw the fast at 5 p.m.,' GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told reporters.

He added that GJM would hold a meeting at the Gandhi Maidan in Siliguri May 7.

The GJM supporters decided to go for a fast unto death from May 1 in Darjeeling protesting the state government's decision disallowing them from holding any political programmes in Siliguri.

The GJM, led by its president Bimal Gurung, has been spearheading a movement in the hills demanding a separate state and also opposing the sixth schedule status for Darjeeling.

The central government in 2005 announced the sixth schedule status to the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) that ensures greater autonomy to the governing body. But Gurung's group is demanding full statehood.

Selling eggs to fulfil mountain of a dream

Sat, 03 May 2008 12:18:00 -0400

It is an uphill task by all counts. Tusi Das, a 25-year-old resident of this city, wants to climb Mount Everest - and so she sells eggs. She has been selling eggs for the last six years to collect enough money to fund her journey to the highest mountain in the world.

'Mountaineering has always been a passion and Everest my dream destination. But poverty is the biggest obstacle in my path. I can neither afford a bank loan nor do I want to beg for money for my Everest expedition. So I decided to earn money on my own by selling eggs,' Tusi told IANS.

Tusi, a resident of Dum Dum Park area in north Kolkata, is from an impoverished background. Her brother Sanjay runs a vegetable stall at the local market while her two married sisters, Swapna and Suparna, add to the family income with their needlework.

'My family has always encouraged me. They know that my dream is far beyond their reach, but they have never interfered. Even at times of financial crisis they never ask for a rupee from my earning.'

To save the cost of setting up a separate stall, Tusi sells eggs from her brother's vegetable stall.

'I have saved up over Rs.400,000 in the last six years. By 2010, I expect my total profits from egg sales to be over Rs.700,000 and as soon as that happens I will head for Everest.

'The path I chose is long and steep just like Everest, but once you make it to the top, the world will acknowledge your efforts. After all there are no short cuts to success.'

Mad about mountaineering since childhood, Tusi knew that her dream was too big for her. But instead of giving up, she went about earning money by selling eggs from the age of 19.

'After my business started doing well, a friend introduced me to officials of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), a premier mountaineering institute, in Uttarkashi.

'I did a rock climbing course at Uttarakhand, and a search-and-rescue course at Uttarkashi under NIM. The course fee of Rs.4,000 for each of the courses came from selling eggs.'

In the last three years, Tusi has been able to fund a trek from Gangotri to Badrinath and climb the Draupadi Ka Danda range in the Garhwal hills, the 21,000-foot Menthosa peak and 20,000-foot Kalindi peak - all thanks to the eggs!

Calcutta airport gets ready for Airbus A380

Sat, 03 May 2008 11:41:00 -0400

Kolkata: The Kolkata airport will expand its runway and build a taxiway for the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft. The work is to be completed by 2009-end, an official said today.

"We plan to extend the 2,400-metre runway at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by 840 metres. A taxiway with a minimum width of 23 metres will be built to make room for the wide-bodied aircraft. The taxi shoulders will be around 30 metres wide to avoid damaging the wings of the A380," airport director V K Monga told the media.

The Airports Authority of India and the West Bengal government will spend Rs 20 million and Rs 30 million respectively for the project, he added.

Only Kingfisher Airlines has ordered the A380 aircraft so far. (IANS)

LF partners hold CPI (M) responsible for pre-poll terror

Sat, 03 May 2008 06:31:00 -0400

Kolkata: Major Left Front partners like the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Forward Bloc (FB) have charged 'Big Brother' Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M) with resorting to large-scale violence to defeat their nominees for the rural polls scheduled to be held in the second week of this month.

Despite an electoral understanding with the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Marxists have failed to reach an accord on seat-sharing with the RSP and the Forward Bloc in extensive areas of Bengal. Already a number of pre-poll clashes have taken place between the CPI(M) workers on the one hand and the RSP and Forward Bloc supporters on the other in districts like South 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah. Neither of the concerned left parties has ruled out escalation of violence as the dates for the panchayat elections draw near.

The most serious accusation against the ruling Marxists has come from senior RSP leader and PWD minister Kshiti Goswami who has described the CPI(M) as a 'fascist party. According to him, the CPI(M) workers are not only launching frequent attacks on RSP supporters at Basanti and Canning areas in South 24 Parganas and some places in Hooghly, but have also forced many RSP candidates to withdraw their nomination papers at gunpoint.

The Public Works Development minister has gone to the extent of urging his party workers to 'physically resist the CPI (M)'s terror tactic in the manner resorted to by the people of Nandigram.” Goswami considers the Marxists the main rival in the RSP's strongholds. “This is an open secret. We have to protect our support bases if our party has to enjoy respect in the Left Front,” he observed.

A similar anti-CPI (M) tirade could be discerned from the contention of state Forward Bloc secretary Ashok Ghosh who admitted on Wednesday having fielded dummy candidates against CPI (M) nominees in many areas following breakdown of talks on seat adjustments. He pointed out that Forward Bloc candidates have been forced to withdraw their nomination papers at Goghat in Hooghly district in the wake of open threats from the district CPI(M) leadership. “This shameful even is the first of its kind in the three decades of Left Front rule in Bengal,” he alleged.

The state CPI (M) is quite aware of the serious political ramifications of lack of unity among the Left Front partners. Talking about the rising political tension in rural areas in the absence of left unity, housing minister Gautam Deb told a public rally at Jamalpur in Burdwan district on Wednesday that his party was somewhat uncertain about the outcome of panchayat elections this time. According to a modest estimate, the three Left Front partners have fielded candidates against one another in over five thousand seats.

The Centre, in the meanwhile, has decided to keep a close watch on the law and order situation in rural Bengal in the wake of inter-party clashes and growing political tension. Nandigram, in particular, has been engaging the Centre's attention after Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the recent violent incidents at a public rally in Malda. Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi has also submitted a detailed report on the prevailing situation in the state to union home minister Shivraj Patil.

Opposition parties like Trinamul Congress, Congress and the BJP have already submitted memorandums to the governor, complaining about the 'CPI(M)'s terror and high-handedness' and seeking his intervention to ensure a free and fair panchayat election. The state administration has decided to deploy homeguards to maintain peace and order during the election. But the opposition parties rightly feel that the election will be reduced to a farce in the absence of armed policemen and central forces at the polling booths.

Morcha protesters caught in mob furyin Siliguri

Sat, 03 May 2008 04:35:00 -0400

Siliguri wore a tense look for most part of Friday following a mob violence and rampage by supporters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Around 10 people were injured in separate incidents of violence after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters raised anti-CPM slogans, sparking violence in different parts of the town. The marauders alleged they were provoked into violence after they were attacked and assaulted by some CPI (M) men.

Near Hospital More, a crowd, which included some CPM supporters, beat up four Morcha members, two of them women. Policemen, who came to the rescue, shepherded them to a public toilet and later whisked them away. Three women were beaten up near the PWD bungalow.

A Morcha supporter was dragged to the ground and punched near the booking office of the Northeast Frontier Railway. Back at Hospital More, another man was beaten up, 10 minutes after the incident of the first assault. A couple were rescued by the police near Venus More and kept inside the traffic signal kiosk but only after they had been slapped around. They were later taken away in a police jeep.

The administration has denied incidents of assault. “No complaint has been lodged,” said Paritosh Roy, the additional district magistrate of Siliguri. Trouble had erupted around 11.30 in the morning. More than 60 Morcha supporters tried to enter the Siliguri Court campus for the indefinite hunger strike in front of the subdivisional office while shouting “CPM murdabad” and “Asok Bhattacharya murdabad”. Bhattacharya is the CPM MLA from Siliguri and the Bengal minister of hills affairs.

Although the court campus was cordoned off, the slogans acted as the trigger. A crowd of about 1,000 people came down onto the streets. Traffic was diverted from Airview More to Sevoke Road through Church Road, as the crowd swelled. Some youths tried to set fire to a motorcycle on Hill cart Road, but were stopped by others.

The tension eased after the police started marching the 2km stretch from the court campus to Airview More.

Nearly 120 Morcha supporters were arrested from the court campus today. Yesterday the number was 274. The party is spearheading the movement for Gorkhaland in the hills.

The Morcha choice of Darjeeling More as venue for its hunger strike tomorrow has been shot down by the administration. “We will go ahead with the programme,” said Roshan Giri, the Morcha general secretary. He said the Morcha would lodge complaint against two CPM leaders, Mukul Sengupta and Shankar Ghosh, for spearheading assaults on its supporters.

In Darjeeling, Morcha president Bimal Gurung appealed to he people to show restraint.

Jyoti Basu says situation in Darjeeling grim; advises against visiting

Sat, 03 May 2008 04:33:00 -0400

The situation in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal is grim in view of the ongoing agitation there by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu said in Kolkata on Friday.

The agitation that the GJM leadership was now trying to bring to the foothills in Siliguri had made it “impossible for tourists to visit the region,” he said on emerging from a meeting of the State Secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The Darjeeling Hills is a popular tourist destination, particularly during summer. The GJM leadership is demanding Gorkhaland, comprising the hills and certain areas contiguous to it.

“How will those wanting to visit Darjeeling go there?” Mr. Basu said. The manner in which the movement for statehood was being carried out was reminiscent of “earlier times when nearly 100 people died [in the 1986-88 Gorkhaland movement] though that is not the case now.”

“They [the GJM] have called for a hunger strike and there are reports that they are changing the number plates of cars,” Mr. Basu said. The Chief Minister was looking into the developments in Darjeeling.

The GJM leadership, which has called for boycott of payment of electricity and telephone bills as part of its agitation, recently announced that the letters “WB [West Bengal]” on number plates of vehicles will be replaced from July 7 with “GL [Gorkhaland].”

Earlier this week, Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who is from the district, advised tourists planning to go to the Darjeeling Hills to consider other destinations as a visit to the region now could “be risky” in the view of the GJM’s agitation.

CPI(M) MLA abuses West Bengal CPI chief

Sat, 03 May 2008 03:35:00 -0400

Kalyani (West Bengal): In a quite unusual incident, Communist Party of India (CPI) state general secretary and senior party leader Manju Kumar Majumdar was virtually abused and gheraoed by a Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) MLA from Chakdah late on Friday evening while he was addressing party workshop in Kalyani.

Sources said a CPI (M) rally led by local MLA Maloy Samanta and Nadia district party's secretariat member Gopal Karmakar gathered and started raising abusive slogans when Majumdar was addressing at an indoor party meeting ahead of panchayat polls in Kalipur village under Sarhati area in Kalyani. MLA Samanata even raised slogans like “CPI hathao - Desh bachao.”

The CPI leadership has already appraised the incident to Left Front chairperson Biman Bose who has assured to look into the incident. Senior CPI leader and State Irrigation Minister Nanda Dulal Bhattacharjee has also expressed shock over the incident.

This whole incident led to tension between the two parties members. However, Majumdar controlled them. The incident left Majumdar stunned as he left the spot amidst the abusive slogan raising CPI (M) supporters.

CPI Nadia secretary Bidyut Banerjeee said: “ Samanta?s behavior is quite unexpected as he did not even bothered to respect a senior left front leader Majumdar.”

When contacted Majumdar said: “This was absolutely unprovoked outcome and I am more than surprised as I was being subject to abusive best by a young MLA from our left front.” He added: “I shall definitely convey the incident to those who matter in the left front.”

When contacted Samanta, he, however, refuted the allegation. He said: “I am not aware of the incident as I was not at all in Kalyani today.” Earlier when Samanta was a student at Bidhan chadra Krishi Viswabdiyala he allegedly beaten up students of opposition political parties. A case was registered against him.

Fire at printing press in Kolkata

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:24:00 -0400

A fire broke out in a printing press at Canal South Road in the eastern part of Kolkata on Friday. Ten fire tenders were on the job to douse the flames, police said. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, the police said. The fire led toa traffic snarl inconveniencing office-goers. The press is located in a residential area, however, no word on any casualties came in.

This is the fourth incident in the past few months, which has spurred the locals to raise their voice against the government, who according to them are not doing much to control such major fire incidents in the city.

Past incidents of major fire breakouts in Kolkata:

This not the first time fire has broken out in the city of joy -- Kolkata. There have been numerous incidents of similar breakouts in the city over the past few months. In April 2008, a major fire broke out in Kolkata's Burrabazar, destroying Asia's biggest flower market. The incident saw over 200 shops being gutted and locals blamed the government for not doing enough to control such fire incidents.

In March 2008, a major fire broke out at a leather factory in the heart of the Kolkata city. Over 20 fire tenders were called in to fight the fire, which threatened to engulf the leather factory at Radhanath Chowdhury Road in Tangra, an industrial estate that has several manufacturing units.

In January 2008, a major fire broke out iin Kolkata's Burrabazar that housed several buildings housing tarpaulin and cloth shops. Property worth crores was reportedly damaged in the fire, though no casualties have been reported so far.

Kolkata to get its first ENT hospital

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:00 -0400

Kolkata, May 2 (IANS) Kolkata is all set to get a hospital fully dedicated to ENT (ear-nose-throat) problems by the end of this month.

The Rs.90-million ($2.25 million) project, developed by healthcare project developer Medicare Synergie Pvt Ltd, will start functioning at Mukundapur on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the southern fringes of the city.

"It is going to be the first ENT hospital of the city. Built over 5,000 square feet, the hospital will be facilitated with the most modern equipments and infrastructure to give the best treatment to patients. We will get three doctors from the UK to take charges of different departments," company chairman Alok Roy told IANS Friday.

"The hospital will start functioning by the end of May this year," he added.

The 25-bedded hospital will have separate clinics for hearing problems, headache, sinusitis, head and neck oncology and ENT problems of children.

Maoists kill RSP worker, 2 cops

Thu, 01 May 2008 03:42:00 -0400

Red rage continued unabated in Bengal with Maoists killing three men, including two police constables, on Tuesday and Wednesday. While an RSP worker was killed at Nawda in Murshidabad on Tuesday, the Maoists murdered two police constables, posted at the State Bank of India’s Dahijuri branch in Binpur, and fled with two INSAS rifles and 40 rounds of cartridges.

Serful Sheikh (35) of Nawda had a personal rivalry with two suspected Maoists, namely Touhid Molla and Rakib Molla. Sources said until a year ago, his cousin Shamirul Sheikh was involved in illegal poppy cultivation with Rakib as one of his regular customers. But one day, Rakib fled without paying Shamirul. So, the latter sought the help of Serful — an RSP worker — to recover the poppy from Rakib, who was then arrested and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

But after coming out of jail, he started threatening Serful, with the help of Touhid, for getting him entangled in a “false case”. Serful’s uncle Nazuddin Sheikh said eight months ago, suspected Maoists tried to kill Serful but failed. “Since then, a police picket has been posted within 50 metre of Serful’s house. But on Tuesday night, a gang of 12 Maoists, led by Touhid and Rakib, stormed Serful’s house and shot him at point-blank range,” he added.

In the other incident, West Midnapore police said the victims — Rashidul Islam (27) and Samir Sardar (28) — were both residents of Basirhat and posted as state armed police constables at Binpur police station.

According to eyewitnesses, five men and a woman came on three motorcycles. Four of them went upstairs and shot Samir after snatching Rashidul’s rifle.They then fled shouting Maoist slogans.

“The goons did not attack any of the bank employees or loot money from the vault or the cash counter. We had sought police help for security last year and Binpur police station sends two constables every working day,” said S K Gope, the manager.

CPI(M) Politburo meeting concludes in Kolkata

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:46:00 -0400

Kolkata: The first meeting of new Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo formed during last month?s party congress in Coimbatore concluded in Kolkata today.

Attended by the politburo members, the meeting saw the felicitation of party patriarch and special invitee to the politburo, Jyoti Basu. The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss the price rise and inflation issues that have been tormenting common people lately.

In the meeting, the politburo members also discussed issues like Panchayat polls in West Bengal, and other organisational issues like division of work and specific responsibilities of the members of the politburo.

After the meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said, “During the meeting, we prepared the proposals for the formation of the sub-committees and other organisational measures after the Party Congress.” He added that the proposals would be placed before the central committee during its next meeting on May 29-30.

Talking about the Panchayat polls in West Bengal, Karat said that the politburo had heard a report on the forthcoming Panchayat elections in West Bengal, and expressed concern over the fact that the anti-Marxist forces are forming a Mahajot to fight against the Left Front. Karat said, “We appeal to all the Left parties to come together, and rebuff this anti-Left Mahajot.”

Karat also expressed concern over the fact that CPI(M) cadres were being killed in the state by so-called Maoists. He said, “What is most disturbing before the Panchayat polls is the fact that these self-styled Maoists have been killing our cadres in the state. This year, we have lost 13 of our cadres in West Bengal. In 2006 and 2007, 19 CPI(M) cadres were killed by the Maoists.”

Karat added that although the party was losing its cadres to these disruptive elements working as the agents of the reactionary forces, CPI(M) did not fear such attacks. He said, “These elements are bent upon isolating and disrupting the Left Front as well as CPI(M). But we are determined to face such attacks, and we have full confidence, that the people of West Bengal will support CPI(M) and Left Front in the forthcoming elections.”

Sonia is not aware of the situation: Jyoti Basu

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:14:00 -0400

Kolkata: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu has alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's statement makes no sense as she was not aware of the situation in West Bengal and whatever she said, was only a part of her campaign before the Panchayat elections.

Addressing the media after the Communist Party of India-Marxist?s politburo meeting in the city Basu said, “I read in the newspapers that she came to West Bengal to campaign for her party ahead of the Panchayat elections. Whatever she said about West Bengal does not have any significance as she has no knowledge about the state. She said all that only in order to campaign for her party.”

Expressing his displeasure on the issue of inflation Basu said that the common people suffering because of the soaring prices of essential commodities. “Did she say anything about the people suffering because of inflation?”, questioned Basu. " It is their (UPA government) responsibility to control the price rise. It is also a part of the Common Minimum Program, but they are not following it”, he added.

Sonia Gandhi during her visit to the the state on Monday criticised the role of the CPI (M) led Left Front government in the state. Charging the state government, Sonia Gandhi said that CPI (M) should first accept their responsibility and try to find out why West Bengal is still lagging behind even after 30 years of Left Front?s rule in the state. She asked the state government to stop the black-marketing of essential commodities in the state.

Kolkata zoo gets rare attractions

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:25:00 -0400

Kolkata: Zoo visitors in Kolkata will now get to see white peafowls, open-billed storks and hamadryas baboons at Alipore Zoological Gardens. Alipore zoo director Subir Chowdhury today informing this to reporters said, "We brought 11 pairs of various birds and animals from Orissa's Nandankanan Zoological Park on Sunday evening. These include three rare species - a pair of white peafowl, two pairs of open-billed storks, a pair of hamadryas baboons,"

Besides, in exchange of a male giraffe from our zoo, we have also got langurs, black ducks, gharials, pythons and white ibis birds, Chowdhury added.
"This is the largest consignment we have received so far, and for the first time people will see these three rare species in the Kolkata zoo," he informed. According to officials there were about 300 visitors in the zoo by noon today.(IANS)

Nandigram voting booths to be sealed for panchayat poll

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:19:00 -0400

Nandigram voting booths to be sealed for panchayat poll
Kolkata: All poll booths at volatile Nandigram in East Midnapore district of West Bengal will be sealed off during the panchayat elections starting May 11, officials said today.

District magistrate Anup Agarwal told, "We will seal off all 171 booths in Nandigram to avoid any kind of violence during the elections. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel will be deployed at the booths a couple of days before the elections.

"The number of guards has not been finalised so far. But we are thinking to station about 1,000 personnel at the booths," he added.

Nandigram witnessed violent incidents last year over the issue of acquisition of land for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the district. Many people were killed and many more wounded in the violent protests in March 2007 after villagers protested the West Bengal government's plans to take over 10,000 acres of land for the SEZ.

The panchayat elections in West Bengal is scheduled to be held on May 11, 14 and 18 and the police fear renewed violence in the volatile region. The votes will be counted on May 21. Before the elections the West Bengal police will carry out raids across Nandigram to seize hidden firearms. District Superintendent of Police S S Panda said,"We are sure that there are many firearms hidden in Nandigram. Raids will be carried out in May before the elections to ensure peaceful elections."

Panda said check posts would be set up on all roads after the raid to prevent supply of new weapons. The total voters at the two blocks in Nandigram is about 176,000. (IAN

Sonia slams Left govt over Nandigram

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:44:00 -0400

Criticising the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee led-government of West Bengal for its handling of the Nandigram situation, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said that she was with the people of the area in their sorrow.

''I am with the people of Nandigram who faced sorrow and hardship, especially with the women, children and farmers,'' Gandhi said amidst a thunderous applause from the crowd at the YMA ground in Baharampur.

Slamming the CPM-led Left Front government in the state over the law and order situation, she said that the people were concerned with it. This should not happen and there should not be any discrimination in maintaining law and order.

She said that the Congress officer-bearers here complained of repeated torture and atrocities against the people, but in a democracy there is no place for political violence.

''If law and order machinery did not work properly, the whole system gets affected. This is wrong and this should not happen.''

Referring to the Left's support to the UPA government at the Centre, Gandhi said that to keep communal forces out of power, they had taken the support of the secular parties, but asserted the Congress would not ''sacrifice its ideologies and policies at any cost''.

The Congress has every right to fight against injustice wherever it is done, she said.

Refuting the Left's repeated charges that the agenda of the common minimum programmes was being violated by the UPA government, Gandhi said that every step was being taken for the benefit of masses in accordance with the CMP.

Turning to the Left's demand for special measures for West Bengal and Kerala to mitigate hardship of the people in view of skyrocketing prices, Gandhi said one should realise that there cannot be one policy for Bengal and another for other states.

Gandhi also questioned the track record of the LF government for the upliftment of the minority population in the state.

''The people belonging to the minority community are facing hardship and the state government should not only ponder over the recommendations in the Sachar committee report, but implement them,'' she said.

Cable theft at Eden ahead of IPL match

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:34:00 -0400

Kolkata, April 27 (IANS) It seems that Eden Gardens' bad days are far from over. After a power failure, unsporting pitch and water shortage during a match last week, the hallowed turf has earned negative publicity yet again with the discovery of a cable theft.

With just two days left for the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between home team Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, the theft of altogether 500 m of power and telecom cable from three points of the stadium Saturday night comes as a big setback for the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

A first information report (FIR) has been filed at the Maidan police station as the CAB cried conspiracy.

Three hundred metres of power cable between the C and D blocks connecting the electronic scoreboard and hoardings on the boundary line were found missing, the police said. Another 200 m of cable between B and C blocks and the generator connection cable under gallery C were also stolen, said CAB president Prasun Mukherjee.

"I am shocked. Somebody who has good knowledge of the ground has done it. Otherwise how could the culprit avoid the CAB staff and policemen who have been on duty round the clock?" said Mukherjee.

"It clearly shows that some people are trying to jeopardise the matches," he added.

CAB treasurer Tushar Sarkar, however, assured that Tuesday's match would not be affected as the cables were replaced. "There will be no problem in the functioning of the light tower," he said.

Police Commissioner Goutam Mohan Chakraborty inspected the Eden in the evening, and said he was satisfied with the overall arrangements.

Asked about the flood light arrangements, he said: "The problems that surfaced in the last match have been rectified. Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) has taken the necessary steps. I am confident uninterrupted power can be supplied."

Chakraborty was also surprised by the theft despite the presence of security personnel and added that the detective department will probe the matter.

He also accused the organisers of trying to create an artificial demand for tickets.

"We heard and saw people were not getting tickets from the counter. Then we took up the matter with the organisers. They have been asked to brief us daily on the ticket sales," said Chakraborty, adding that the police department would be in charge of ticket sales in the remaining five IPL matches here.

The police chief said that apart from Kolkata team owners and film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, Mumbai Indians owner and industrialist Mukesh Ambani and actor Hrithik Roshan would be in the gallery Tuesday.

Chakraborty added he was not sure of a foolproof security and said: "I am worried. Some mischief makers are there. But we have to make proper arrangements. And we are working in that direction".

Eden Gardens had hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons right from its first match in the IPL, April 20, between Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers. The match was halted for 31 minutes after flood lights in two of the four towers went out.

Apollo Hospitals to start medical college in West Bengal

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:22:00 -0400

The Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals is to set up a medical college with a 350-bed hospital on the outskirts of the West Bengal capital.

Apollo Hospitals managing director Preetha Reddy told reporters: "We discussed the plan for the medical college at a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on Friday evening. He has promised to extend all possible help, including arranging for a 25-acre plot if we fail to arrange for it ourselves."

The hospital authorities are eyeing the outskirts of Kolkata to set up the medical college. "This Rs.700-million project will be operational by 2011," Reddy added. There will be a 350-bed hospital on the campus of the medical college.

"We are also planning to set up 100-bed hospitals in West Bengal towns. We will start with Siliguri, Burdwan and Kharagpur towns," said Reddy.