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

Congress supporter killed in West Bengal panchayat polls

Sun, 18 May 2008 08:50:00 -0400

Kolkata: The third and final phase of Panchayat polls in seven districts of West Bengal began today on a violent note with a Congress supporter being killed, allegedly by Communist Party of India-Marxist(CPI-M) activists in Murshidabad district.

Trouble began at around 6 am when voters were standing in queue at a booth in Majherdeher village at Raninagar near the Indo-Bangla border before the polling was to begin at 7 am, District Magistrate Subir Bhadra said.

An altercation over standing in queue started between supporters of the two rival parties and CPI(M) activists allegedly lobbed bombs and fired from guns. Bhupati Mondal, a Congress supporter, was hit by bullets and died on the spot, Bhadra said, adding that five others were injured.

Polling at the booth was delayed and tension prevailed in the area. Four live bombs were recovered this morning in front of Sahebnagar booth at Hariharpara, Bhadra said.

"The voting is on although the situation is tense." Meanwhile, a CPI-M supporter was killed and three others injured at Natundeher village in Lalgola while making bombs last night, official sources said. The injured were rushed to Baharampur New General hospital. Police recovered a body from Magura village in Hariharpara this morning after villagers said they had heard the sound of a bomb blast last night.

All political parties in Toshidharpur village under Jiaganj block have boycotted the civic polls in protest against lack of electricity and roads, sources said. ( PTI )

Prachanda sends strong signal to Indian Maoists to shun arms

Sun, 18 May 2008 07:33:00 -0400

Kathmandu: Sending a strong message to Maoists in India to shun violence, Prachanda on Saturday said that the Leftist rebels' electoral triumph in Nepal should make them understand the difference between ballot and bullet.

"Our behaviour, our policy, our practice itself strongly gave the message to the Maoists of India. Though, we don't want to directly address them, the benefit we have got, the difference of ballot and bullet has already sent a message," the Maoist chief told in an interview with a private news channel.

Prachanda, believed to be Nepal's prime minister-in- waiting, was asked what advice he would give to the Maoists in India. "There should be a serious discussion in the matter inside the Maoists of India. A strong message has already gone to the Maoists of India and Maoists all over the world about our victory," said the 53-year-old CPN-Maoist chief, who led a decade-long armed struggle against monarchy before joining political mainstream in 2006.

Asked whether he would like India to persuade the US to take the Maoists off the terror list, said "I won't request them but expect them to do it". "In fact, we already have contact with the US administration," he said. (PTI)

Stop creating misunderstandings on Jaipur blasts: Patil

Sun, 18 May 2008 07:26:00 -0400

Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Saturday said that nothing should be done or said which could create misunderstandings and obstacles in the task of investigating agencies probing Jaipur blasts that killed 63 people. His statement comes in the wake of reports in the media which indicated some differences on the role of intelligence between the state and the Centre before the blasts.

"Steps should be taken to nab the perpetrators of the blasts and those who are on this job should be helped in every respect," Patil said in a statement and added, "For this purpose no statement should be made by those involved in the duties, which can create misunderstanding between the agencies and governments."

"Issues which are not pertinent at this point of time should not be raised now. They were raised in the past and they can be raised in the future," Patil said. "This is necessary to present a picture which is helpful for the task to be performed," he added.

Condemning the blasts Patil said, "They were perpetrated to disturb communal harmony. But the people have behaved in a very responsible manner and have not allowed the design to succeed." "They deserve our thanks and congratulations," he said.

PM for separate agency to deal with terrorism

Sun, 18 May 2008 07:16:00 -0400

Bagdogra (West Bengal): Making a forceful pitch for a separate authority to deal with crimes threatening the country's security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that several states showed reluctance to surrender power to such an agency. His comments came against the backdrop of well-coordinated terrorist attacks across India in the last two years including the serial blasts in Jaipur this week and the challenges faced by both the security and intelligence establishments in coping with new-age terror, especially attacks with an element of surprise.

"Creating such an agency will facilitate the freedom to investigate crime which has inter-state aspects. Today many of these crimes, both terrorist and white-collar crimes, have multi-state aspects which need to be looked into," said Manmohan Singh, while returning from his two-day visit to Bhutan.

"It is not a task which can be effectively discharged by a single agency of any particular state. So I think there is a case and we should explore the possibilities recognising that there is such a thing as federal crime and that investigation of federal crime should be entrusted to an agency which would be fully equipped to discharge this onerous function."

Manmohan Singh refused to comment on the investigations into the Jaipur blasts but said investigators would "come to a decisive conclusion". He added, "Our intelligence structure has not weakened but it is certainly true that new challenges have arisen and assumed a more menacing form.

"The technology of terror has been miniaturised and they (terrorists) also have the advantage of surprise." The Prime Minister admitted there was a "systems problem", referring to intelligence capacities, but the need was to upgrade them, especially in states where core policing was ineffective.

Manmohan Singh said that the objective of the Jaipur attacks, which killed at least 61 people on Tuesday evening, was to disturb the communal situation in the country and prevent normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. "We have to be mindful of such nefarious designs and the aim is to adopt right strategies."

To a question on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's letter requesting him to hold a meeting of chief ministers to take stock of internal security, he said he had no hesitation in calling a meet but requested political parties to refrain from politicising the issue.

"I think this is not a matter which should divide political parties. I think terrorism constitutes a menace to our civilised existence and all political parties have an obligation not to politicise the human miseries that terrorists can inflict on innocent citizens of the country," he said.

"The Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and all political parties have an obligation to work together and to put their heads together to deal with this menace," he said. (IANS)

Pomers-bashed devils in the rain

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:57:28 -0400

By Sunit Kaul

New Delhi, May 17: Heavy rain delayed the start of the game and hastened the finish, but in between the near-capacity Kotla crowd was treated to a downpour of sixes in a stimulating face-off between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI on Saturday

Sporadic rain marred the tie, playing a cat-and-mouse game with the players and spectators, but the Kings eventually managed to eke out a six-run win over the hosts via the Duckworth-Lewis method in an 11-overs-a-side game.

At the eighth-over mark, Kings were 94/3 agonisingly ahead of the 88 needed, before rain intervened for the umpteenth time. Chasing the revised target of 123, the Yuvraj Singh-led team fought till the end with Luke Pomersbach (25) and Mahela Jayawardene (36) providing the fireworks. Their fiery 63-run stand for the fourth wicket poured cold water over Sehwag’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls with five sixes and two fours.

The Mohali-based team now move to 14 points in the league table. The hosts had put on 118/4 after winning the toss and electing to bat and despite the result not going their way, they looked on top of their game.

Sehwag looked like a man possessed on the day. Up against the form side of the tournament, he perhaps realized his side could not afford any more debacles early on.

Gambhir started shakily, getting an inside edge onto his pads that trickled just inches past the stumps. Sreesanth’s first delivery offered a lot of promise for Kings XI. There was no grass on the surface, unlike the previous game, but overnight rain had juiced up the pitch.

However, It was spoken too soon as the bowler erred in his line, following up with four wides. The over ended with a slash from the Daredevils skipper that cleared the third man fence.

The other pacers didn’t fare any better with the both two openers throwing caution to the winds and getting away in the powerplays without a scratch, putting 68 on board. Had the Kings taken the two chances that went abegging– Sehwag spilled in the covers by Yuvraj and Gambhir at deep thirdman by V.R.V. Singh — things could have well been different.

Sehwag, celebrated his life, clattering 22 in woeful V.R.V. over, though Gambhir fell to a straighter one from Ramesh Powar. Rain interfered thereafter eventually spoiling Delhi’s party.

Gony battles, on field and off it

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:54:05 -0400

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kolkata, May 17: For Manpreet Gony, life has been a harsh journey. Losing his baby within just 15 days of its birth, Gony and his architect wife Manpreet were drowned sorrow. But the 24 year-old lad from Roopnagar did not give in. Rather, the disaster made him "even tougher."

"Those days still haunt me. My wife couldn’t get over the shock of losing Diamond (their baby boy) for days. And the Ranji Trophy too was just a month-and-half away. But, thanks to the Almighty, I didn’t go into oblivion and kept my focus on track. The rest, you can see," Gony said at a city hotel on Saturday. And then, to add to his misfortunes, trouble within his family forced him to leave his ancestral house.

However, the opportunity to play in the ongoing IPL has given him a new lease of life.

His wife expecting again has put the icing on the cake for the burly cricketer as far as starting things afresh. "Back in 2005, I was being ignored by selectors inspite of my good performances. Frustration crept in and I almost gave up hope. But all of a sudden, while playing in the Deodhar Trophy, I heard that I had been selected by Chennai. It was really a dream come true."

But Gony did not forget to thank the JJS Club of Chandigarh where he was groomed. The club used to supply him kit during his days of financial instability.

"I am enjoying the glitz and glamour associated with the game. No matter how well I have performed so far, I also do enjoy this yearning of fans for my autograph," Gony said. "I plan to buy a house of my own after this tournament is over," he added.

With 11 wickets in 10 matches so far, Gony emphasised the role played by his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind his run of success. "He (Dhoni) always tells me to keep things simple. Moreover, he stresses more on enjoying the game."

Cricket means more than life to this promising young medium pacer and he is ready to take on the world with this seven-letter word as his "sole" weapon. "I know I have got the talent to make it to the national team. The rest depends on the Almighty."

Knights look to ride past Kings at Eden

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:56:56 -0400

By V. Balaji

Kolkata, May 17: The IPL has reached a stage where past performance will count for very little. The game between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders is significant as a win here for the visitors will take them closer to the knockouts while in order not to fall too far away from the leaders, the hosts will have to get full points. Kolkata’s big loss to the same opponents in their last game adds a bit of intrigue to the contest as both sides approach the game with their confidence at the lowest ebb.

The Knight Riders have been a formidable force if not unbeatable at home. The wicket here has not been at its best and offered more for the fast bowlers than one could have hoped for in a T20 competition. It will take a great effort and mental fortitude by the Chennai batsmen to overcome the combination of Shoaib Akthar and Ishanth Sharma with the new ball. The duo will still be hot to handle in spite of the mauling they received at the hands of Sanath Jayasuriya in Mumbai.

David Hussey has been central to the Knight Riders’ plans. If he fails there is very little they have been able to offer in the middle order. The rest of the batting has not been able to deliver consistently and as a team.

Sourav Ganguly will have to have to bring all his experience as a shrewd captain into play as Chennai have been one of the tougher teams to actually have a game plan against. They have oscillated freely between the sublime and the ridiculous.

After scripting two remarkable wins against quality opposition Chennai hit a new low against Mumbai and the reasons for the loss is not beyond the team to comprehend. The Super Kings have two problem areas that has to be addressed quickly. They lack a strike bowler at the top and as nothing much can be done at this point of time in the tournament it is important for Manpreet Gony and Albie Morkel to curb run flow when the field restrictions are on.

If the duo can do what they did against the Kings XI, then Muralitharan can hope to toss the ball up in search of wickets. The off-spinner has been reduced to playing the restrictive role. If wickets don’t come by in the middle overs it is usually difficult to stop the flow in the final overs.

Dhoni and S. Badrinath have been the bulwark of the middle order and they will do a world of good if they fire again here. Morkel is a genuine talent with the bat and has been under utilised thus far.

He has had very little time in the middle. It will not be a bad idea for Dhoni to have Badri, Suresh Raina and Morkel along with him bat a majority of the overs.

If the team batting first can post a total in excess of 150 it will make an interesting match. The pressure of the situation where the tournament is in, a wicket with life and a vociferous Eden crowd will all combine to make chasing a tough proposition.

Inadequate security measures in Jaipur

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:51:35 -0400

By ROHIT BHARDWAJ

Jaipur, May 17: Security at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here on Saturday seemed casual even after repeated assurances by IPL chairman Lalit Modi and Rajasthan Cricket Association deputy president Bimal Roy Soni about foolproof arrangements on Friday.

State police personnel and private guards let visitors into the stadium with mobile phones and handbags that were strictly banned for the match between Rajasthan Royals and Bangalore Royal Challengers on Saturday.

"We were not stopped at the gate for bringing mobiles and even our handbags were not carefully checked," said Amrita Mahajan, a spectator.

Policemen checked individuals without any metal detectors and had no monitoring cameras or devices to keep a watch on visitors' movements in the stadium.

The only promise that was kept was no entry of private vehicles, though vehicles with VIP numbers were allowed in. The host association's earlier claims that they expect atleast 10,000-15,000 spectators for the match also went in vain as approximately 6,000 turned up for the show, with the Jaipur heat and a dull looking game playing spoilsport.

Meanwhile, a Rs 6 crore cheque was handed to Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje by the eight franchise owners and sponsors of the IPL towards her relief fund for the victims of the serial bombings that ripped through the city on Tuesday.

This contribution will go towards the rehabilitation of families of the victims.

The eight franchises donated Rs 50 lakh each, while the five sponsors - DLF, Vodafone, Citibank, Kingfisher and Hero Honda - contributed Rs 40 lakh each towards the relief fund.

The players of Rajasthan Royals as well as Bangalore Royal Challengers observed a two-minute silence on the field to offer prayers for the victims' families.

‘IPL has improved fitness’

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:52:05 -0400

By SHAMIK CHAKRABARTY

Kolkata, May 17: The heat is on, and Mahi is game.

Questions with controversial undertones came thick and fast during the pre-match press conference here on Saturday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was forthright in his comments.

"IPL has forced the older players to be fitter and on their toes.

That’s the demand of this format," said the Chennai Super Kings captain.

Asked about the older players’ performances in this tournament, he said: "It’s not a case of young and old. It’s the case of fit or unfit."

"Twenty20 cricket is very demanding. It takes 80 per cent of the energy level required for an ODI. You have to meet the demands."

It is the same with playing back-to-back matches in searing heat. "We had the schedule beforehand. We knew we had to play as per schedule and perform," said the 26-year-old wicket-keeper.

Dhoni feels that the IPL has entered a crucial phase and teams within sniffing distance of the semifinals will try to win every game from hereon. "Definitely, our idea is to win on Sunday."

However, he doesn’t think that the Kolkata Knight Riders’ poor performance in the last match will give his side a psychological edge.

"You cannot predict in Twenty20 cricket. Every day is a new day, every game a new game. It depends on how the team get over the shock and regroup."

Dhoni said it would be "special" to play at the Eden Gardens where he has had played "loads of cricket" since the under-19 level.

He is not perturbed that this time he has to face an 80,000-strong crowd who would not be supporting him.

He also didn’t single out any particular team as their toughest opponent in the tournament and refused to comment on Shoaib Akhtar and Sourav Ganguly’s performances.

Warne & Co. again present sublime show

Sat, 17 May 2008 15:44:28 -0400

By Ravi Chakravarthy

Jaipur, May 17: It appears as if Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals can do no wrong. Whether they go into a game without match practice or after a prolonged break, the top team of the IPL need to just walk into the SMS Stadium and they are a transformed side.

Swatting away the Royal Challengers like one does an irritating fly, the Royals scripted an imposing 65-run victory to all but seal their berth in the semifinals. Racing away to 197/1, the Royals restricted the Challengers to 132 for nine, to tally 16 from 10 games.

Once again it was a professional performance from the Royals. Though Graeme Smith didn’t look destructive on this day, he was brutally effective. It was surprising that the South African played just 49 deliveries despite carrying his bat through, but his unbeaten 75 (49b, 8x4, 2x6) broke the Challengers’’ resolve.

The Royals’ opening pair was totally untroubled and though Dravid used six bowlers and frequently changed them, it was a futile effort as Smith and Asnodkar put on 109 in 12.2 overs. Having played all their matches at home, the Royals had sized up the wicket perfectly and treated the listless Challengers’ attack with disdain.

The very fact that Anil Kumble picked up his first wicket of the tournament, playing in his sixth match, shows how ineffective they have been all through. Damningly, it was the only wicket that the Bangalore team managed to get.

The Challengers made three changes and gave Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak his first match in the IPL. It was a thoroughly wasted effort as Razzak’s first over cost 17 and he bowled just one more going for 29 in two. When a team are in a slump like the Challengers, these are the kind of selections that return to haunt you.

For the Royals, however, it was fodder as Asnodkar and Smith ran the Challengers ragged. The right-hander, who just couldn’t read Kumble, got to his fifty first, off 42 deliveries with seven boundaries and a six before cutting the leggie to Misbah-ul-Haq at short third-man.

Any hopes of a respite vanished as the in-form Shane Watson (46, 28b) and Smith put on an unconquered 88 for the second wicket off 46 balls with the South African completing his half-century off just 34 deliveries. Though the Royals fell short of the 200-mark, something which seemed a distinct possibility, it was far too much for the struggling Challengers.

The difference lay in the figures. While the Royals ran up 94 without loss in 10 overs, the Challengers were gasping at 5/3 in the third before limping to 38/4 at the half-way mark. If the Royals’ first fifty came off a mere 5.5 overs, the Challengers needed 11.4 overs by which time five of their batsmen were back in the dugout and chewing their nails.

Though skipper Dravid showed he can adapt himself to the format hitting some big sixes at the end in his unbeaten 75 off 36 deliveries, it was merely flogging a dead horse.

The Challengers are dead and buried and Warne’s men, if they play like this, can afford another long break.