Sport diversion from daily drudgery

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 28. — Hundreds of child labourers participated in a sports tournament organised by the Malda labour department at Brindaboni playground onTuesday .The event was attended by the labour minister who distributed prizes to the winning participants. The organisers informed that students from different blocks, mainly those hailing from Kaliachak I, II and III , and many boys and girls from other blocks came together to participate in this unique programme. According to officials, the child labourers working in bidi-binding business, who are also studying in schools, participated in the sports meet. It may be recalled that the administration has set up 40 schools across the district for young boys and girls engaged in the trade of bidi-binding and other hazardous works.Reportedly, to run these schools, the administration has recruited teachers on contract. The Central government-sponsored schemes for the education of child labourers have been implemented in the first phase here as a pilot project.The project was conceived to educate child labourers who had left schools midway to support their families. In Malda, besides bidi-binding, boys and girls are working in different sectors to earn their daily bread. In the Malda region, there are many hotels, restaurants, sweet stalls and tea stalls, where these young boys and girls work. A large number of kids are also found working as rag-pickers in English Bazaar Town, dropping out of schools owing to acute poverty. The minister for labour department, Mr Mohammed Amin, today announced that the government aims at educating child labourers who are forced to take up hazardous jobs owing to poverty.

Das Munshi Intuc target

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 27. — The Malda Intuc president today said Intuc activists would show “black flags” to the Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, as a mark of protest against the extension of Gour Express. Addressing a Press conference, the Intuc Malda president, Mr Biswanath Guho, said that when Mr Das Munshi arrived in Malda town station he would lead trade union members and followers of Mr ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury in protest. “Mr Das Munshi conspired to shift the train from one division to another and he issued some letters by forging a letter of Mr Khan Chowdhury and gave wrong information to the people,” Mr Guho said. “Mr Khan Chowdhury never issued a letter to Lalu Prasad, appreciating the decision to introduce a link train connecting Gour Express from Malda town station,” Mr Guho said. The Malda MP and veteran Congress leader, Mr Khan Chowdhury, had marked the day of the Railway Budget as a “black day” for Malda after the announcement of the new link train from Radhikapur in North Dinajpur to Malda town station via Barsoi in Bihar. On the other hand, Eastern Railways has issued a notice changing the train number of Gour Express and it was learnt that control over Gour Express has been shifted from Malda Division to Sealdah 1 Division. One coach of Gour Express has been cancelled out of 17 and a six-compartment train will run from Radhikapur. #

Pic collected from site

KLP calls for 12-hr bandh

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 27. — The breakaway group of the Kamtapur People’s Party, the Kamtapur Liberation Party, has called a 12-hour bandh in North Bengal on 10 March to protest against the high-handedness of police, party leaders said today. The breakaway KPP leader, Mr Subhash Barman, said the police have picked up KPP members in connection with the arrest of Malkhan Singh, the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation militant from Gangarampur in South Dinajpur and have put them up in the English Bazaar police station in Malda, without informing the police station concerned. Mr Barman said that after the arrest of Singh, alias Madhab Mandal, police atrocities have been on the rise in the zone.He also alleged that KPP workers were being harassed and tortured by the police. Though, as per the police administration, extortion by means of threat letters in the name of KLO has abated, but police have received some threat complaints recently from KPP-dominated zones such as Bamongola, Gazole and other adjoining areas. After the murder of a CPI-M worker at Pakuahaat in Bamongola, police thought that KLO men were directly linked to the murder. But after Singh’s interrogation, police officers were continuously conduting raids in the area.

Kites deaths not due to any virus

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 27. — Animal health officials today claimed that the kite deaths in Siliguri recently was due to a quarrel amongst the birds over a piece a food. Reportedly, ten kites were found dead and three fell sick a few days ago in Siliguri. Dr JL Chakraborty, assistant director of animal health and veterinary centre in Belgachhia, informed that haemorrhage in the stomach of the kites was detected. He further added that some of the kites had fallen to the ground after getting injured while quarreling.According to Dr Chakraborty, AHVB is sending another 296 blood samples of the birds, including samples of the ones received from Tripura and Manipur, to the High Risk Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory in Bhopal for tests.“All reports of the 109 blood samples that were sent to Bhopal tested negative,” Mr Chakraborty said. “Though reports of other samples are yet to reach, seventy-eight blood samples from West Bengal, two hundred blood samples from Manipur and 82 from Tripura were sent to Bhopal last Friday for detection of the deadly virus. But, we were informed over phone that all test reports turned out to be negative,” Mr Chakraborty said. The animal resources development minister, Mr Anisur Rahman is encouraging people to eat chicken and eggs without fear.

" Bengal not hit by bird flu"

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 26. — Inaugurating the foundation stone laying programme of an animal polyclinic today, Mr Anisur Rahaman, minister for animal resources development, announced that not a single bird-flu case was reported in the entire West Bengal region. The animal resources minister further encouraged the people to consume well-cooked chicken and eggs without any fear. The minister said blood samples of migratory birds from the Bengal region sent for virus detection test in Bhopal tested negative. Mr Anisur Rahaman said: “We will receive another report of the 109 blood samples that we had sent to Bhopal. We have been informed that even the second lot of the blood sample tested negative.” Moreover, from our regional laboratory located at Belgachia, we have sent another 200 blood samples to Bhopal recently. In total, over 200 hundred samples were sent to Bhopal collected from Manipur and Tripura through our regional laboratory located at Belgachia. A total of over 2,300 samples have been sent to Bhopal till date, Mr Anisur Rahaman informed. “There were reports of chickens dying in Burdwan, but it was found that the deaths were due to diarrhoea rather than bird flu,” Mr Rahaman said. The minister said that his department had earmarked Rs 5 crore for setting up a institute for livestock development at Haringhata, which will train state officials engaged in the trade, how to look after livestock scientifically. Mr Anisur Rahaman also pointed out that due to rivalry between political parties, many development projects got stalled halfway. But, now the situation has improved any the leaders of both the Left and the Congress are jointly introducing various developmental projects in the state. #

Undertrail appears for Madhyamik

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 26. — A 17-year-old undertrial at Malda Jail, Raque Sheikh, who was arrested on charges of kidnapping and trafficking girls, appeared for Madhyamik examination amid tight police security at Bangitola Higher Secondary School. Malda jail authorities had made all the necessary arrangements for Raque Sheikh, when the Court passed an order allowing him to take the Madhyamik examination. A resident of Khaskol in English Bazaar, Raque was a regular student of Uttar Lakshmipur High School in Kaliachak II, before he was arrested by Malda police on charges of trafficking. “After receiving the court order on 22 February, we arranged for a vehicle and police security, so that the undertrial could sit for his examinations,” a district officer said. “Though it was difficult to arrange for his examination admit card, we somehow managed everything with help from the Malda district magistrate,” the officer added. Though the hearing of Raque’s case was initiated on 13 January, under Sections 363 and 372 of the IPC, Raque was put in Malda Jail on 6 February. The court rejected his bail plea, but granted Raque permission to appear for Madhyamik examinations. “We would have made proper arrangements for Raque’s studies, had we been informed about his examination, as the jail here holds literacy camps and other such vocational training programmes for the inmates from time to time. We could have even arranged for a teacher for him before the examination,” the officer said. #

Migratory birds' report awaited

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 23. — Malda forest officials are waiting for test reports of 29 migratory birds for bird flu, from Bhopal High Risk Disease Diagnostic Laboratory . Their blood samples were sent a few weeks ago.After reports of bird flu in Maharashtra, they surveyed Nayabandh wetland area twice which thousands of migratory birds visit every year. Though, there was no reports of death for bird flu, the district animal resources development department sent the blood samples for tests. Deputy director of district animal resources development department, Mr Sushanta Das, said: “The laboratory reports of the birds will reach us soon. We, however, have been informed that all the blood samples had tested negative.” Earlier, officials of state animal resources development department had said that blood samples of 1,185 birds had been sent to Bhopal and all of them had tested negative. Samples of two dead birds that were found at the Kulik bird sanctuary had also been sent. From 19 February to 21 February, the department sent about 109 more blood samples to Bhopal and still waiting for the results. They said 30 more blood samples were collected from Arambag Hatcheries in Hooghly and sent for tests. Officials have been sent to various green belts such as Nayabandh, Adina forest, Sagardighi and Muchial wetlands that the migratory birds frequently visit during the season. The officials talked of poaching at Muchia wetlands and the difficulty to nab them because of poor accessibility. #

Bangladeshi family held in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21. — The BSF intercepted a Bangladesh-based Hindu family at Muchia in Malda police station area last night. The family allegedly purchased illegal land in India and had been residing in Malda since 1991, officials said today. It was informed that after interrogation and collection of documents as proof, the BSF handed over the family to Malda police. “We have taken two Bangladeshi nationals in our custody based on the report submitted by the BSF. If found guilty, necessary legal action would be taken against them,” said Mr DK Mondal, SP of Malda. “The family came to India three days ago, to buy another plot near a local club. On receiving the information, we intercepted them,” said a senior BSF official. “We have released a woman, who is now residing with her relative here,” the official said. “Hundreds of Bangladeshi families have settled in Malda in a similar manner. The problem is not a new one. Infiltration has been increasing steadily,” a senior officer said. The officials also informed that one Mr Subodh Kumar, a resident of Bangladesh, had been doing business in Malda illegally. He had set up a shop in Malda, they said.

'Congress flouts protocol'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21. — Mr Sailen Sarkar, state food processing and horticulture minister alleged today that the Congress has violated protocol stipulated by the government. The criticism came after the Congress leaders directly handed over compensation granted by the Centre to relatives and kin of the 11 victims in the Delhi mall collapse case, without adhering to guidelines. Reportedly, the Congress had earlier claimed that government officials would carry out distribution of the compensation. But it was later found that the Congress members themselves distributed the money sent from the Centre for the victims’ families at Ratua to gain political mileage. Malda district magistrate said that he did not have any information about the compensation issue. At a Press conference today, Mr Sarkar said Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had collected Rs 38.34 lakh from Workmen’s Compensation Fund and Rs 11 lakh from the Delhi state government to compensate relatives of those who died in the Delhi mall-collapse case. Mr Sarkar added that the compensation money should not have been distributed by flouting the government’s guidelines. This way, the CPI-M minister added, it would be difficult to identify the victim’s kin later, without proper government records. It may be recalled that the same politics had ensued when the 11 bodies of Malda labourers had arrived by train. Then, the CPI-M CPI-M-backed trade unions had tried to gain full political mileage out of the incident, in order to earn credit from the Centre.

Tribals hit the road for language

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 21. — Some tribals today organised a roadblock in Malda demanding official status to their language, Alchiki. Adivasi Socio-Educational & Cultural Association (ASECA) and some other organisations held the roadblock alleging that demands for introducing Alchiki in schools, had gone unnoticed. “Due to state government’s dilly-dallying approach, our children are being deprived of their right to learn mother tongue,” said Mr D Hansda, secretary of ASECA. In 2003, the primary education council had decided to introduce Alchiki at primary schools of the tribal belts. The decision was the result of findings that language barrier led to high dropout rates in schools. For most Santhals, the medium of instruction in schools, Bengali, remained an unfamiliar language. In Malda, there are four main blocks dominated by the tribals — Old Malda, Gajole, Bamangola and Habibpur and there are 561 primary schools where tribal students are in majority.In the first phase, sixty-five schools had been targeted with over 60 per cent tribal students. As much as 175 tribal teachers have also been trained for implementing the policy.

Student protest over Gour Express

Statesman News Service

MALDA. Feb. 20.— After Malda Congress the CPI-M-backed student and youth organisations put up a rail blockade at Malda town station at 8-30 pm today in protest against the decision of delay the departure of the Gour Express from Sealdah. A decision has been taken to start the train from Chitpur. The object of this programme is to stop the movement of the Gour express from Malda town station at night to press the Eastern Railway authorities, DYFI leaders said. Yesterday, when the Congress ended its movement after the decision of the Eastern Railway authorities to stay the decision of shifting the terminal for at least one week, the DYFI launched another programme in English Bazaar town at evening. On the other hand, the RSP-backed organisation staged a protest rally at Mangalbari in Old Malda this evening. Yesterday the Malda MP announced that they would launch continuous stir if the railway authorities did not solve the problem permanently.

Anindita Roy

Forest officials on vigil in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 20. — After the outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra, the Malda divisional forest officials have stepped up vigilance on two species of migratory birds visiting the Adina forests — the Lesser Whistling Teal and Tiltail, which fly all the way from China and Siberia every year, authorities said. Hoping that the influx of the migratory birds will increase in the new season, Ms Sumita Ghatak, Malda DFO, said: “After the renovation of the two ponds in the Adina forest, the influx of the migratory birds increased”. The forest department, however, has informed authorities of Nayabandh, a region close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, which also recieves a good number of migratory birds every year, to keep a check on bird flu. Reportedly, nearly 3,000 birds from countries close to the Himalayan ranges visited the Nayabandh area in November. Forest officials also stated that last year, many migratory birds in the Nayabandh area died by getting entrapped in the fishing nets cast by the fishermen community. The forest expert team visting the Nayabandh area will also take measures to avoid re-occurence of such incidents. Reportedly, birds such as Mallard, Lesser Whistling Teal, Blue Whistling Teal, Black Bellied Tern, Graw Goose, Coot, Douche red, Ferruginous and others visit the Nayabandh area every year. The forest officials claimed that the migratory birds will fly over to the Adina forests, if the Nayabandh wetlands is cleared up. The officials said the idea of clearing up the wetlands is uder consideration.

Ghani leads rail roko

Statesman News service

MALDA,(India) Feb.19. — The railway authorities had to stay their decision of shifting the Gour Express from Sealdah to Chitpur for at least one week from 20 February following Rail roko agitation today led by the former railway minister Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Congress workers put rail track block in six points stretching 50 km in Malda district from today afternoon detaining more than 5 trains in this route and on receiving assurances from the Railway authorities they called off the agitation about 5.30 pm. “The general manager, eastern railways, just informed me that the decision to implement shifting terminal of Gour Express has been “deferred temporarily” for seven days. The railway board would take the decision finally and informed us to carry out their fresh decision”, said Mr Rakesh Misra, the Malda DRM. “We had to take such a decision because nearly 20,000 youths came to Malda for appearing railway examination and they were in big trouble to return their homes owing to the agitation”, Mr Misra said. The DRM was forced to declare the decision of the railway authorities on the stage of Congress where the Malda MP and former railway minister staged demonstration in front of the town station. Mr Ghani Khan Choudhury said: “I am happy with the temporarily solution of the present dead lock situation. But we must continuous movement on this issue if the railway authorities do not solve it permanently”. Malda MP, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, himself came to Malda town station to put a indefinite rail block to protest against the decision of railway authorities despite several requests and rail block programme launched by the congress in last few days. This decision was taken when the eastern railway authorities finally told reporters yesterday evening that they were determined to shift four such long distances train including the Gour Express from Sealdah to Chitpur in Kokata. It was also decided that from Kaliachak to Harischandrapur the congress workers will put a rail track block in five places on Sunday afternoon and it would be continued till tomorrow planning to stop at least 64 trains passes through this route. Mr. ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury would lead the congress workers at Malda Town Station. On the other hand, the CPIM backed youth organisation also staged demonstration in the English Bazaar town today and tomorrow they would also put a rail track programme here. Addressing at a press conference the division railway manager, Mr. Rakesh Misra said on Saturday that Chitpur station would be better than Sealdah and the authorities are determined to develop the new terminal more with broad aspect in the interest of passengers and it may be like Sealdah and Howrah. The people will be benefited, he claimed. “We are refunding more than 200 tickets every day owing to lack of capacity of the Gour express. If, we can run the train from Malda to Chitpur, we would easily add a few more compartments to the Gour Express to accommodate the left out passengers “, Mr. Misra said. The Malda railway authorities also showed a short length video film focusing the advantages of its new Chitpur terminal and explained how the passengers will go to the hospitals in Kolkata and others destination easily. But the congress leaders are adamant to stop implementation of the decision for Gour express. Addressing a press conference yesterday, the district Congress president, Mrs Rubi Noor, told reporters: “We will never allow the railway authorities to implement their own decision. Dada (ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury) had asked the Union minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, to stop implementing such a decision of the railway authorities, but till now no information has reached from his end.” #

Pic. Anindita Roy

Malkhan Singh remanded

MALDA, Feb. 17. — The hardcore Kamtapur Liberation Organisation militant, Malkhan Singh, has been remanded for 10 days in police custody by the court, the Malda additional SP said today. Malda police had arrested Malkhan Singh and his five associates from Pakuahat area yesterday. Since their arrest, the top police officials in the administration have been interrogating the KLO activists to find out more about their activities and extortion net-work in the three districts. “We hope that the new trend of extortion that has come up in last two years in this region, will be reduced after the arrest of Malkhan Singh,” said Mr Debashis Boral, the additional SP. Police officials said that they would have to interrogate the KLO militant more to know how far they have set up their network for extortion and how many of them were involved in north Bengal. “To uproot the menace of extortion from the grassroots level, we need to continue with the investigation and operation of seeking out youths engaged in this illegal trade and bring them back in the mainstream,” a senior police officer said. — SNS

KLO top gun arrested

Statesman News Service

MALDA. Feb. 16. — Acting on a tip off, a hard-core Kamtapur Liberation Organisation militant, Madhab Mondal alias Malkhan Singh, and five other linkmen were arrested from Pakuahat in the Bamongola police station area, the Malda SP said today. Police seized a small China-made grenade, pistol (9 mm), including seven cartridges, a cell phone and Rs 5,000 from their possession after a raid in the Bamongola area. Authorities said Malkhan, a most wanted KLO militant who was operating in Malda, North and South Dinajpur was trained in Bhutan. “Malkhan was accused in several cases, including a murder in north Bengal. He was engaged in subversive activities and extortion in Malda, North and South Dinajpur. After training in the jungles of Bhutan, he came back to Bamongola, a bordering block and took shelter in Bangladesh,” said Mr KL Meena, I-G, north Bengal. He said police are trying to nab seven KLO men in north Bengal who are still operating from hideouts in this region and even from Bangladesh. “We have interrogated him throughout the day and more interrogation is required to find the hideouts of other KLO militants operating in Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Cooch Behar,” Mr Meena said. Last evening, police were waiting for him based on secret information that Malkhan would be coming to receive money from a schoolteacher’s house. Close to the house of the school teacher, there was a marriage ceremony and police were waiting there as guests and intercepted the ultra finally. Mr Meena said that Malkhan tried to lob a hand grenade before being caught. In January, a CPI-M worker was killed in a club and after investigation police said that KLO men killed the CPI-M worker.Local residents were under pressure after they received a ransom letter in the KLO’s name. A few CPI-M workers were also involved in sending the letter, according to the police report. The Malda SP told reporters that the KLO and Kamtapur People’s Party supporters were trying to capture the leadership of a local club in Pakuahat and after protest from an active CPI-M worker, his associates with the help of the KLO, killed him. “The matter is under investigation but suspicion about Malkhan’s involvement behind the murder cannot be ruled out,” said Mr DK Mondal and Mr Meena jointly. The I-G north Bengal and SP Jalpaiguri, came to Malda to interrogate the arrested KLO man today .#

Pic Anindita Roy

Mamata's decision wrong , says Subrata

MALDA. Feb.15. — After a meeting with the senior Congress member, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, Mr Subrata Mukherjee, Intuc president and Congress Unnayan Manch leader, announced today that an early declaration of the names of the candidates contesting for the Trinamul Congress might adversely effect the formation of a mahajot. Mr Mukherjee added: “Miss Mamata Banerjee has committed a grave error by declaring the list of the Trinamul Congress candidates so soon.“Chances are that the announcement may lead to difficulties in the seat adjustment with the Trinamul Congress,” Mr Mukherjee explained. Statesman News Service

Pic. Anindita Roy

Cops fail to trace threat letters

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb.13. — Despite setting up police pickets and deploying round the clock police patrol, the Malda SP has failed to trace the culprits, who are sending threat letters to extort local residents in the name of KLO at Pakuahat in the Bamongola police station areas. "The investigation is still on. We have gathered vital clues and also collected some threat letters as well as arrested some persons in this connection. It will take us a little more time to come up with solid evidences", said Mr DK Mondal, the Malda SP. "Till date, we have not come across any person, who was forced to pay to the extortionists", Mr Mondal added. Recently, the police reportedly received information that many local residents, school teachers, and government employees were receiving a threat letter in the name of KLO in the Pakuahat block. Reportedly, the threats started coming some three years back.

Cong members block rail tracks

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 14. — On the basis of instructions of the former Railway minister and senior Congress leader, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, Malda Congress workers organised a rail blockade at Malda town station today, disrupting train services for more than an hour. The rail-blockade was launched by the Malda Congress workers in protest against the decision of the railway authorities for having changed the timetable as well as the destination of some important trains that pass through the Malda town railway station.The bone of contention is mainly the route travelled by the Gour Express from Sealdah to Malda town station, which was started by Mr Choudhury. It is now reported that the train will travel from Chitpur instead of Sealdah and the route will be extended to Radhikapur in North Dinajpur. Reportedly, the Malda Congress workers are unhappy with the change in the timetable. They demand that the railway authorities stick to the former train routes and schedule. The local residents and businessmen in Malda are also backing the Malda Congress workers in their protest against the decision of the railway authorities. Interestingly, the Malda Intuc leaders have also decided to launch another rail-blockade programme tomorrow on the same issue at Rathbari, under the leadership of Subrata Mukherjee, an MLA and former mayor of Kolkata Corporation and also the Intuc chief in Bengal. As per the Press release distributed by the Malda Intuc leaders, Mr Biswanath Guho and Mr Dulal Sarkar, informed that they were planning to put before the railway authorities a 10-point demand that would also include the demand for the introduction of a direct train from Balurghat to Kolkata via the Malda town station.

Export suspended following customs strike in Bangladesh

Statesman News Service

MALDA,(India) Feb. 12. — Export to Bangladesh through Hilli land customs station in South Dinajpur was suspended following the ongoing strike called by the customs clearance association of the neighbouring nation from 30 January, the Indian exporters said today.

They said that the strike would scupper plans to achieve the targeted turnover of more than Rs 500 crore for 2005-2006 financial year.

In the last financial year, while the customs had recorded a turnover of Rs 495 crore through foreign money exchange the Indian government could earn Rs 2 crore as revenue. But this year, till now, the turnover has recorded Rs 275 crore in Hilli LCS.

Several trucks — carrying close to 3000 MT rice — are lined up there, they said.

“The Bangladesh importers had called the strike demanding equality in the system of carrying goods in the lorry with a view to reduce transportation costs of the products exported to Bangladesh,” said Mr Ujjal Saha, general secretary of the exporters coordination committee.

He also said that the truck owners association has decided not to carry excess load above 10 metric tones per truck only in the South Dinajpur though there is no such system in the land customs stations of Malda, Cooch Behar and other places in south Bengal.

“Though we have requested the district magistrate to sort out the problem no solution has come out to withdraw the ongoing strike in Bangladesh.”

Indian exporters have also alleged that cost control is a main factor to boost up agro export to Bangladesh through this region but the customs department is not clearing 1 percent subsidy on agro product export following the system of Duty Entitlement Pass Book schemes. #

Experts to monitor anti-erosion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA. (India) Feb.12. — Finally the Central government has formed an expert team in order to monitor anti-erosion work on the bank of the Ganga and Padma in Malda and Murshidabad respectively, a state government official said today.

Official sources said the team comprises of the chairman of the Ganga Flood Control Commission , director of Central Water and Power Research Station based in Pune, member of Central of Water Commission and chief engineer II of the state irrigation and water ways department.

The team will visit two erosion prone vulnerable spots in 14 and 15 February. The team will visit Panchanandapur in Kaliachak block II on 14 February , where 1.5 km long anti erosion work had been damaged by erosion of the Ganga last year out of 3 km one carried out by the state irrigation department.

On 15 February , the team will visit Parashpur-Taltali areas in Murshidabad, another erosion hit area by the Padma.

Including Mr MU Gani, the general manager of the Farakka Barrage Project and the expert team members will be meeting at Farakka on 16 February with a view to adopt a plan of preventive measures to stem erosion in this region, sources said.

The former Union water resources minister, Mr Santosh Mohan Deb, took initiative to form an expert team to take up anti erosion work in this region through Farakka Barrage project, after a meeting with the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, state officials claimed.

It may be recalled that the FBP had not agreed to take responsiblity of the damaged part of the anti ersion work . A few weeks ago the technical advisory committee of the FBP took the decision to take up the job carried out by the state last year. Then the general manager, FBP, Mr Gani had decided to inform all authorities officially with a view to execute the work properly seeking sufficient funds for this "up hill task".

Engineers said that there were more than three spots identified as most vulnerable on the left bank of the Ganga in Kaliachak II.

On the other hand, the state officials have been directed to submit all data over the study of the river and its bank line protection work made earlier through departmental survey.

The FBP officials have also expressed ire against the locals who had prevented them from doing job in North Dinajpur. Under the supervision of the former union minister, water resources department, Mr PR Das Munshi, the engineers of the FBP are working in North Dinajpur and northern part of Malda district.

In Malda , an assistant engineer of the state irrigation department has informed his department that the FBP officials have flatten a part of Mahananda embankment to build inspection road along the embankment at Swarupgnaj in Chanchal block area.

The Malda irrigation department has decided to conduct a joint survey to probe the matter, the assistant engineer said. #

Everything's fair in politics

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 12. — Malda CPI-M will inaugurate a newly contracted bridge on the river Kalindri at Madia Ghat tomorrow, which was inaugurated by the Malda congress yesterday, people at Malda are enjoying the political race today. Party sources said that the state minister for food process industries and horticulture, Mr Sailen Sarkar and the PWD minister both would be present to inaugurate the bride on Monday, following the invitation of the PWD (Road) department. On the other hand, being a chief of the Malda Zilla Parishad, congress leader Mr Goutam Chakraborty took initiative to inaugurate the bridge by the Malda MP, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury on Saturday so that the CPI-M cannot claim its credit on the question of development here before assembly election . It was also alleged that the PWD department could not adjust the schedule of its inauguration according to the desire of the congress Sabhadhipati, Mr Chakraborty. The Sabhadhipati reportedly told the PWD officials that he would be busy with another job on 13 February. In the invitation letter printed by the PWD (Road) the names of the congress leader and Sabhadhipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty and the Malda MP, Mr A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury have been printed. In order to fulfill long-standing demand of English Bazaar and Ratua people, the state had allotted more than Rs 5 crore from the soft loan schemes sponsored by NABARD under rural infrastructure development fund project during the period of the then district magistrate Mr AR Bardhan, more than three years back.

Maoist on Hunger strike in Malda jail

MALDA,( India) Feb. 10. — Animesh Chakraborty, a Maoist activist, has started a hunger strike since yesterday at the Malda jail, demanding that all Maoist activists should be declared political prisoners on the ground that they were arrested on charges of waging war against the state. The jail authorities today brought the matter to the notice of the Malda district magistrate. Chakraborty was arrested a few months back near Siliguri and shifted to Malda jail in September, 2005. He was also wanted by Malda police. Arrested Maoist activists have decided to observe hunger strike in various jails of the state on the same issue. A similar agitation was launched by the Maoist activists in Nadia jail and they were later shifted to another jail. Today, Ms Anita Chakraborty, sister of Aminesh Chakraborty, who visited the Malda jail, failed to meet her brother. The jail superintendent refused comment on Chakraborty’s hunger strike. — SNS

Maoist calls off hunger strike
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 12. - Maoist activist, Mr. Animesh Chakraborty, has called off his hunger strike lodging in Malda jail and correctional home following requests of judicial magistrates and officials on Friday evening, officials said today. On 9 February he had started fasting demanding status as political prisoner with all Maoists prisoners in different jails of this state. Maoists in Nadia jail had on hunger strike on the same issue. The state jail minister told reporters: “They would not be treated as political prisoner”. Animesh has informed the judiciary officials that he would go on hunger strike further if the demand not fulfilled, family sources said. Animesh demanded more flexibility in the present system of Malda jail and more space providing basic amenities for all inmates, a family member said. He has sought permission from jail authorities to continue his writing and its publication and demanded all newspapers for reading. Animesh is an under trail accused of several cases including waging war against the state which were initiated by many police stations in north Bengal including, Malda, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur and the Jalpaiguri. “I have reported it to my authorities, please you ask them”, said Malda Jail superintendent. He was absconder since last five years. Darjeeling police had been able to arrest him last year. He was a hardcore SFI worker in early college life in Malda College.

BJP demands probe into voters’ rolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 10. — The Malda BJP today demanded a thorough enquiry into the alleged names of Bangladeshi nationals in the electoral rolls, before directly putting blame on the ghost voters whose names are mentioned in the list. Addressing a press conference here today, the district BJP leaders pointed out that the administration should conduct a proper enquiry into the inclusion of the names of alleged Bangladeshi nationals in the voters’ list as alleged by the Congress, before drawing any conclusion. Here, the BJP leaders were specifically indicating towards the Congress’ allegation against a BJP member, Mr Ananda Sarkar, in the Chacknagar gram panchayat who was termed as a Bangladeshi national. Sometime back, the Congress had lodged a complaint with the Malda administration that Mr Ananda Sarkar, a BJP member in the Chaknagar gram panchayat, was a Bangladeshi national. Following the allegation, the block development officer enquired into the matter and informed higher authorities that the BJP member claimed to be an Indian citizen and possessed adequate documents for backup. As such, the EC observer for Malda demanded officials to seek proof from the Bangladesh High Commission for authenticity about Mr Sarkar’s statement. BJP members countered: “How did the Congress leaders collect proof from Bangladesh to establish Ananda Sarkar a Bangladeshi. This need to be enquired.” The BJP leaders claimed that Mr Ananda Sarkar, chief of the Chacknagar GP, today lodged a complaint with the Malda SDO against the former chief of the GP regarding malpractice in 35 candidate’s birth registration.

Final voters’ list to be out soon

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 10. — The Malda election department will announce the total number of ghost voters including the illegal, dead and shifted ones, whose names have been deleted from the electoral roll on 15 February, a district election official said today. The election officials further added that continuous updating of electoral rolls would be carried after the publication of the final electoral roll on 22 February. The officials informed that after the publication of the dead voters’ lists on notice boards for the general public in all the block for rectification turned out to be a successful measure as many complaints were launched by the voters indicating mistakes in the list. “We have found so many dead voters and shifted voters with the cooperation of the local people”, said a district election official. On the other hand, the Election Commission observer for Malda, Mr Manoj Singh, reportedly claimed that the number of names of ghost voters deleted from the electoral list is higher than the last electoral roll revision. The EC observer, reportedly, estimated that the total number of ghost voters, is to some extent equal to the number of margin votes of the total eleven candidates, who won in the last Assembly elections. “The fate of the winning candidates depended on the total ghost voters”, Mr Manoj Singh reportedly said. According to his estimation, a total of 70,000 ghost voters will be deleted from the present electoral rolls of Malda district and it may be go up to even 1,00,000, if the officials can delete all the bogus voters in the process of updating the electoral rolls. Today, all the 19 observers appointed by the EC for election work, briefed the situation to the EC in order to formulate strategies for adhering to corrective measures, to make electoral roll in the state “accurate”.

Cops see KLO hand in CPM man’s murder

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 10. — A thorough investigation by the Malda police department has established a KLO link behind the murder of the CPI-M cadre, who was shot dead at a local club “Sympathetic”, a few days ago at Pakuahat, a senior district administration official said today. Mr DK Mondal, the Malda SP, said: “Both KPP and KLO wanted to have the club under their clutch, but a member of the CPI-M protested against this move of theirs. A group of club-goers could not tolerate his interference, when the CPI-M worker warned the club members, who belonged to KLO and KPP”. “Due to ‘internal rivalry’, his close associates planned to kill the CPI-M member”, Mr Mondal added. According to police records, the area in Pakuahat under the Bamongola police station is the epicentre of KPP movement in Malda, though the area is a red bastion. Following the incident, police had arrested several KPP activists including the leader, Mr Subhas Barman. One crucial member involved in the killing of the CPI-M cadre, however, is still absconding from the police, while few members involved in the killing had surrendered themselves before the Malda police. It may be recalled that Malda police did not get any forensic report from the expert team, who came to visit the spot, where the CPI-M worker was killed. #

Indian border guards at a loss on what to do with seized camel

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India) Feb. 9. — The guards stationed at the Indo-Bangla border are facing a lot of inconveniences in keeping the cattle they had seized few days back from the border, owing to the delay in its auction monitored by the customs department, sources said. Though it is a common incident of seizing the grazing cattle from the border area, this time, the BSF forces are reportedly facing difficulties in managing over 60 camels seized some time back. Just nine days after the BSF officials seized the camels, the customs department reportedly had auctioned them, but one camel out of the 60 allegedly died owing to the lack of food. The value of the camel is estimated to be Rs 10 lakh. “Within nine days, the herd of cattle has eaten up all the green plants at the Patiram BSF’s main office in South Dinajpur and the campus has now dried up, resulting in the death of one camel”, a BSF officer explained. The BSF officials have expressed resentment about the delay in the auction by the customs department. It was alleged that local touts prevented them from conducting the auction. Sources however revealed that the local touts tried to force the customs department to conduct auction in their area, so that they can buy it at low price. As per reports, where the actual price of each camel is Rs 6,000, in this region, the rate is Rs 30,000, whereas, in Bangladesh, smugglers earn as much as Rs 1.5 lakh on every camel sold. “Cattle export to Bangladesh should be legalised in order to earn more revenue”, said a central government officer. #

To fight mosquito menace

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 9. — The Malda district administration will soon launch a programme to counter the menace of mosquitoes in Malda, officials informed today. Reportedly, the Malda CMOH met the district magistrate and discussed the problem of mosquito menace in detail today. Moreover, the chief medical officer had a meeting with the civic body chief yesterday and requested to continue spraying the mosquito killing chemical in different blocks of the district. “We have planned to take up this mosquito eradication programme because its breeding time is about to arrive”, said Dr GC Sarkar, the CMOH Malda. “Mosquitoes in Malda have a great resistance power over chemical sprays and other mosquito killing agents. As such, it is difficult to kill them,” Mr Sarkar added. Over 45 persons died owing to viral encephalitis and dengue in the Malda District Hospital last year. The mosquito menace was high due to the lack of proper vector control programmes in the district and other measures to fight the menacing mosquitoes.

Malda D M basks in roll glory

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 9. — Regarding the publication of the dead voters’ list in each block of the district, the Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, announced today that the Malda administration has set an example for others to follow as this is for the first time that efforts have been put towards the deletion of dead voters’ names from the electoral roll. The DM also said the dead voters’ lists have been put up on the notice board for all to see. If they think that there is any mistake in the list, they can inform the same to the electoral department so that necessary corrections can be made. It may be recalled that the district magistrate and other district election officials in consultation with the EC observer, Mr Manoj Singh, in the second phase of the elections, worked hard to delete the names of bogus and dead voters from the electoral list by issuing notices to all printing houses and seeking all documents related to funeral programmes. However, a team of election officials today conducted a door-to-door survey at the residences of the government employees to rectify the electoral rolls on the issue of “shifted” voters. It was also reported that a section of government employees, who are residents of other villages, but, are working in Malda and have their names enrolled at both the places. Also, it was reported that the election officials are seriously monitoring the process of deletion of illegal voters and suspected Bangladeshi voters from the list. They believe that it would be very tough to delete the names of Bangladeshis within a short time period, after seeking information from the Bangladeshi High Commission.

1,000 acres back from Bangla

Manas R Bannerjee in Adampur BOP (Malda)

Feb. 8. — India has regained more than 1,000 acres of land on the Bangladesh side after completion of a joint survey by both countries along the disputed Indo-Bangladesh border, which led to a gun battle between the two countries for three days in August last year, officials said today.Authorities said the Bangladesh officials have completed installation of almost 21 subsidiary land pillars out of 56, which were proposed to fix the alignment between the two countries. It was found that referring pillars were damaged and missing owing to erosion of the river Mahananda.The river changed its course on the Indian side in the areas of four border outposts in last few years, and the land went over to Bangladesh.These outposts are Adampur, Muchia, Ashrafpur and Krishnanagar in Malda district. Similarly, close to Sukhnagar border outpost, the river changed its course to Bangladesh, leaving a part of Bangladesh land in India.A senior BSF official said the land was occupied by Bangladeshis and they had started cultivation on it. Similarly, some Indians had occupied a part of Bangladesh land.It was decided that lands of both countries would be handed over officially when the Bangladeshis harvest their crops. At present, there is standing crop on Indian land in the Bangladesh side.The two district magistrates from India and Bangladesh would finalise the matter of “makeover” and “takeover” and both the countries will take possession of their lands soon. After finalisation of area operation between the two countries, the central public works department today organised a programme of laying the foundation stone of a proposed barbed wire fencing work at Adampur stretching for 1.23 km., officials said.The starting point is Adampur BOP adjacent to Gillabari BOP in Bangladesh. The joint survey will be continued along the border for the erection of other proposed pillars.Out of 56 pillars, 35 would be constructed in the second phase.It may be noted that after firing in this area, the matter was discussed at high-levels of both countries and it was decided that water resources ministers of the both countries would jointly visit the disputed area, but this was postponed.During dialogue between the two countries, the DG BSF had visited the disputed site when the countries were preparing the joint survey to settle the dispute.

Names of 70,000 ghost voters to be deleted

Statesman News Service

MALDA. Feb. 8. — Over 70,000 ghost voters will be deleted from the electoral rolls of Malda district after the final calculation of the second phase of electoral roll revision under the supervision of Election Commission observer Mr Manoj Singh till yesterday, officials said today.The observer has also instructed district election officials to seek information about the presence of suspected Bangladeshi voters’ names on Indian electoral rolls through the Bangladesh High Commission, an official said.“Mr Singh has admitted the problem of detecting names of Bangladeshi voters and deleting them from electoral rolls in Malda,” a district election official claimed.“Without a complaint how can we delete their names?” Malda officials had raised the question.The observer had yesterday expressed his unhappiness with a case of an alleged Bangladeshi national, Mr Ananda Sarkar, who is also a BJP gram panchayat member, after going through an enquiry report made by the Gazole BDO.According to the report of the Gazole BDO: “Ananda is an Indian citizen”.But after examining documents placed by the Malda Congress claiming: “Mr Ananda Sarkar is a sitting union board member in Bangladesh,” the observer has requested district election officials to seek information about the man through the Bangladesh High Commission before come to a final conclusion.“There should be a benchmark on how to detect names of Bangladeshis and delete them from the rolls,” the observer reportedly commented.Officials said they would need specific guidance from the EC to detect Bangladeshis.Official sources said the 19 observers would inform the EC about the present situation and problems encountered in deleting names of illegal voters.On 10 February, the EC will hold a meeting in order to chalk out a new plan and strategy after interacting with the observers who have returned to Delhi from this state, officials said.Mr Monoj Singh left for Delhi yesterday evening.

CM's visit to Malda cancelled again

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 7. — Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is reportedly upset over his inability to attend the inauguration and foundation laying programmes in north Bengal due to unavoidable conditions, a CPI-M leader informed. According to a senior CPI-M leader here, the chief minister has instructed other ministers in the state to carry on the pending projects that he could not personally attend and has promised to extend all possible helps to them. It may be recalled that Mr Bhattacherjee’s helicopter could not land in Maldar for the foundation laying programme of the drinking water projects owing to heavy fog recently. Similarly, for another function, he could not land at the Bagdogra airport near Siliguri, owing to fog. The public health engineering department (Arsenic division) has reportedly told reporters that the CM has given a second tentative date for the foundation laying programme of the two water projects in Malda. “We will inaugurate the proposed projects here soon. The CM has reported that he is dismayed that he could not attend important programmes in Malda twice and has informed that he will come for political campaigning to the district in March”, said Mr Samar Roy, the English Bazaar MLA. Interestingly, the CPI-M minister for state and the Union minister for information and broadcasting, are both gearing up for an inauguration spree in Malda in the election season.

Ward 24 to get arsenic-free drinking water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 7. — Pipe-laying work for the supply of arsenic-free drinking water has been completed in a part of ward no 24 in English Bazaar town amid complaints regarding pre-election “eyewash” by a group of critics. The supply of drinking water from a rural arsenic-free water treatment plant has, however, not begun yet due to technical and political reasons. After coming to power in the English Bazaar municipality, the CPI-M leaders and the PHE minister himself took the initiative to supply drinking water from the rural project to urban people a few months ago. It may be recalled that most of the residents in ward no 24 and its adjoining areas, identified as a red bastion, had been demanding a safe drinking water project for them. Last week, the department had started pipe-laying work and built street water posts for the free distribution of water to common people residing in the area between Ghorapir and the flyover. People are now awaiting the “inauguration” of the water supply. It may be recalled that the PHE had also planned to connect every house in the rural belt to its two existing arsenic-free water supply projects in the district (more than Rs 100 crore was spent on its completion) but no house connection has been made here although advance money has been taken from the people. At Sujapur in Kaliachak area, the ground water is contaminated with arsenic and the department could provide water supply from Dariapur located in Kaliachak III. At present, the old water supply project in Bakharpur area in Sujapur is supplying ground water from which arsenic has been removed.

EC takes on ghost voters in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 7. — Names of nearly 13,000 illegal ration card holders will be deleted from the electoral rolls as per the instructions from the Election Commission observer, Mr Manoj Singh, officials said today. Official sources said the EC observer is expecting the detection of another 1,00,000 ghost voters out of the 17,00,000 voters in Malda district. According to report constituted by the EC, the total number of dead and shifted voters is about 45,000 and there is every chance that further probe will help discover another 15,000 bogus voters in the district. The EC observer is also reportedly worried about the inclusion of minor voters in the electoral list in some block areas, officials added. The EC observer has spotted polling stations, where the “form-VI” for the application of new voters is being distributed to the public without proper scrutiny. Investigations revealed that even while the submission of the application forms, adequate inspection is lacking. Reportedly, four villagers have been identified, where applications have been accepted without adequate scrutiny, namely — Radhikapur and Jagannathpur in Harishchandrapur II and Natunnagar in English Bazaar and the village Rajnagar in Kaliachak II. Mr Singh, the EC observer was also taken aback, when he detected inclusion rate of new voters at some blocks is 4 per cent, which is much higher than the inclusion rate of the state. Mr Singh also detected that even when applications for new voters were rejected, sufficient cause behind the rejections was not mentioned in the records. For example, at five polling stations in Kaliachak-III, two polling stations in Kaliachak-II, one polling station in English Bazaar and three in Ratua-I, more than 90 per cent applications for new voters have been rejected. “Following the detection of fall-outs in the electoral works, Mr Singh, the EC observer, reportedly has personally requested the district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, to look into the matter immediately and take appropriate corrective measures”, an officer informed. According to sources, Mr Singh, was reported to have commented: “Tampering with the electoral works like this generally help political parties to capture booths, in the garb of minor, ghost and illegal voters”. #

Names of Bangladeshi deleted from electoral rolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 6. — More than a dozen voters on Indian electoral rolls in the Malda district have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals and as a result, their names have been deleted from the electoral rolls, an official claimed today. Official sources said that there is a possibility that many more names of Bangladeshi nationals are present on the Indian voters’ list. These names will be deleted after an inquiry. A senior election official informed: “The exact number of voters deleted because they are Bangladeshis will be announced only after the final completion of the electoral roll revision.” Sources said that district officials are under pressure to furnish a satisfactory clarification on the issue of Bangladeshis and dead voters to facilitate the deletion of their names from the list. The EC observer for Malda, Mr Manoj Singh, had scrutinized all records of ration cards a few days before his departure from the district, during the second phase of electoral roll revision. It may be recalled that following the instruction of the EC observer, the district election officials removed three government employees from election-related duties after detection of irregularities in election work. The additional district magistrate, Mr BP Barat, had also reportedly issued some show cause notices to government employees, including the block development officer of the Habibpur block. Today, the BDO of Habibpur gave his clarification and confessed that he had hurriedly executed some electoral work and had forgotten to mention the absence from work of some employees of the block office. He has ensured that he will re-check all documents and take necessary steps against the employees found guilty of election irregularities. It may be recalled that many voters have been enrolled without verification of papers.

Minister slams EC's role in Malda

Statesman News Serevice

MALDA(India)Feb. 6. — Mr Subhas Chakraborty, minister for sports, youth and transport, while addressing a transport workers’ free health check camp at Malda college auditorium today, vehemently criticised the role played by the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr BB Tandon, in the execution of the electoral work in Malda. He said: “What Mr Tandon is doing here is completely anti-national.” The veteran CPI-M leader said: “The entire electoral drive undertaken by the EC is humiliating for the people’s representatives. Don’t we have any say?” Citing an example from the year 1975, he said three amendments were made in the Indian Constitution and a Bench was constituted against the amendments. The 480-page report was in favour of the public representatives, when Mrs Indira Gandhi was terminated from her chair as PM.Recalling the recommendation of Chandrachud Commission, Mr Chakraborty said: “Parliament has specific areas under which it has to operate. The same goes for the administration as well. But the EC in Malda seems to be playing a larger role and it is quite obvious in the manner it talks to the media. It must not forget that the ministers have come into power with the people’s verdict. To call the voters “ghost” is an insult to us as well.Mr Chakrabaorty did not spare the media as well. He said: “In the last two decades, the media in this state is playing the role of an enemy for us in every election”. “When the EC addresses 9 lakh voters as false, it is ignoring the Parliamentary system. If a voter dies or changes his place in course of time, is it his fault? Does this give the EC the right to call him a false voter?”, the minister added.“Nowadays the media is portraying some secretaries as having a larger than life image. It is nothing new. Right from the year 1982 onwards, the Left Front had to fight against the media more than any Opposition political party in the state for the very reason.” Mr Chakrabarty claimed that there was a mahajot between Mr BB Tandon, the media and TMC chief Miss Mamata Banerjee.#

EC removes poll officials

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 5. — Three government employees, including a joint BDO, have been removed from all election-related duty in Malda district, according to the direction of the election commission observer, Mr Manoj Singh, election officials said today. Today, district election officials also issued show cause notices to some government employees, including the block development officer of Habibpur. Election officials today informed that the number of presently detected dead voters [the number is 39,000] is likely to be doubled after thorough door-to-door investigations conducted by senior officers. It may be recalled that the EC observer, Mr Manoj Singh, scientifically expedited the second phase of revision of electoral rolls in this district after interacting with the district election officials. Senior officers detected more dead voters in Araidanga and Ratua constituencies, officials said today. Election officials have also detected four names which were deleted as dead voters’ names. The so-called dead voters are presently living in the area of polling station number 112 in Ratua. The district election department has given show cause notices to the concerned government employees and instructed them to submit their clarification. The BDO of Habibpur has been instructed to submit clarification about a girl voter who was enlisted without proof of her age. Mr BP Barat, the additional district magistrate, said: “We had counted 201 voters as dead at 15 polling stations, but the figure is 314 at present in Araidanga.” He added: “Similarly, in another part, the number of dead voters has increased from 53 to 140 at a few polling stations.”

DM notification to catch ghost voters
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 5. — Facing difficulties to identify ghost voters including the Bangladeshis and the dead ones for revision of electoral rolls, the Malda district magistrate has issued a special public notification seeking specific information related to voters from the people. “If you have specific information related to migrated voters and dead voters, please inform to the block development officer or sub divisional officer or district election office”, the notice said. “Your information will be considered perfectly”, it added. Formerly, the district magistrate was trying hard to identify the dead voters issuing notices to all printing houses in the district seeking all records of printing orders of cards for funeral programmes. The owners of the printing houses have been instructed to submit the information immediately. Mr Manoj Singh, EC observer, is still working on its own way to detect any irregularities in the process of roll revision related to dead, migrated or shifted and Bangladeshi voters.

EC observer worried over Malda ghost voters
MALDA, Feb. 3. — The election observer for Malda is worried about the deletion of the names of the bogus and illegal voters from the voters’ list after the top district officials informed them that strict action would be taken against them, if they are unable to carry out the election work as per the EC guidelines, officials said today. The electoral officials have been instructed to conduct a sample checking of three villages for further verification of duplicate, migrated and dead voters while preparing the final sheet of the electoral rolls, along with the list of EPIC that will be published in the third week of February. Interestingly, the administration today issued an order to all printing houses in the district, asking them to submit documents of printing orders for funeral ceremony, in order to identify the dead voters. A group of senior officers have been specially engaged to conduct the further verification and sample checking from door to door. Further, the district officials have also sought for reports on birth and death records in the district. The officials, however, complain that many poor people do not possess death certificates and the records of printing houses are not sufficient for proper verification. The EC observer is still visiting villagers with the help of the district officials. Though, no date has been finalised about the meeting between the observer and the all political party leaders, the election department has informed the political parties to meet the EC observer directly and fix a date for the meeting. The EC observer is interacting with officials regularly on the issue of roll revision. The election officials too are working on shifted voters and an order has been issued to all departmental head of government seeking submission of notices about present location of polling stations, where the final enlistment of the name of the voters will be put up. — SNS

EC man checks on Bangladeshi voters in Malda
MALDA. Feb. 2. – The election observer for Malda, Mr. Manoj Singh, today enquired the Malda district election officials about the illegal establishment of Bangladeshi national into the electoral rolls and ration cards.

Mr. Singh also asked what steps have been taken by the administration to delete the illegal names from the lists.

Discussing the matter in detail with the Malda election officials, Mr. Singh suggested that a comprehensive research should be taken up to detect the illegal entries and their deletion from the ration card and electoral lists.

The election commission observer also instructed the election officials to search the names of declaration of government employees who have been transferred in the region, but still have their names on the ration card and electoral rolls.

Mr. Singh suggested that the officials check legal papers dealing with records on the mutation of land to detect names of the dead people on the electoral rolls.

According to the report submitted to the EC observer, 1.8 per cent new voters are being included in the electoral rolls for publication in this district.

Reportedly, the district officials had received 1,66,000 applications, out of which, nearly 70,000 applications have been accepted for inclusion.

On the other hand, the district election officials have already deleted nearly 39,000 names as identified them as either dead or duplicate voters. The electoral officials have accepted 929 objections for deletion.

It was reported that nearly 30,000 ration cards have been detected as fake till date.

The district officials had decided to issue individual notification to the shifted voters requesting them to attend the hearing before taking final decision of deletion.

The observer today visited more than three block areas to judge the situation as reported by the political leaders and others. SNS

Railway officials reluctant to consturct subway

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 1. — The Malda railway authorities today said that they are not interested in seeking funds and permission from its headquarters for the construction of a subway under the Rathbari level crossing. A few days ago, the English Bazaar Munici-pality officials had discussed the matter with the Malda divisional railway manager, Mr Rakesh Mishra, seeking his permission for the construction of the much-needed subway at Rathbari. “There is a fly-over at the Rathbari level crossing. How could we seek funds from my department for the construction of a subway here,” a Malda divisional official said. There is another small subway within 1 km from the Rathbari level crossing. So, it is not possible for the higher authorities to sanction the project proposed by the English Bazaar civic body. “It is too expensive and difficult to build a subway here,” another railway official said. A senior railway official said: “The estimated cost of the subway would be more than Rs 50 lakh. If the English Bazaar civic body can provide funds for the construction of the subway, we they should go and seek permission from other higher authorities.” It may be recalled that past many years, thousands of locals including the government employees of rental housing estate located on the western side of the railway tracks had been demanding a subway for smooth traffic movement. Though there is a flyover but locals cannot use it. A lot of people depend on the road under the flyover, where the level crossing is an obstruction. After every 15 minutes the rail gate is closed for train movement via Malda. Particularly during the peak school and office timings, traffic congestion is common feature when hundreds of rickshaws are lined up when trains pass through Rathbari level crossing. In last five years, population on the western side of the railway tracks has increased as the town has expanded, creating more and more traffic problems.

Malda unhappy over airstrip delay

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 1. — The Malda district magistrate has sent the estimated valuation of lands which would be required for acquisition for the extension of the Malda airstrip to the airport authorities, following a proposal by the officials of Airport Authority of India. According to the district magistrate, the valuation of land is Rs 13 lakh per acre. The district magistrate has expressed his unhappiness about dillydallying the revival project as proposed by the airport authorities. “While the Cooch Behar airstrip is ready for taking off of flights, why the demand of the Malda people is being ignored where there is a commercial viability?”, the district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, said. He also said the existing land was enough for revival of the project by running a small aircraft here but the time is running out for the verification of its lands. Owing to the request of the railway authorities the joint survey of the present airport land has been stopped for a month to check the railway records in relation with the transfer of lands from airport to the railways. The district magistrate said the airport authority had demanded more lands on the western side of the present airstrip, and the land is ready and we are waiting for the airport authority’s acquisition. “I have sent the proposal long time back with an estimated value of the present lands for acquisition but the authority is yet to respond”, Mr Choudhuri said. A parliamentary team visited Malda under the leadership of Mr Nilotpal Basu and ensured the local administration and others that they would propose the government for its revival by introducing small aircraft and latter there would be another proposal for landing Boeing aircraft. Local political leaders said owing to financial problems the airport authorities are delaying the project with other excuses.

Funds for Malda's agro-growth

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 31. — The National Horticulture Mission has reportedly sanctioned Rs 4.83 crore for Malda district with a view to develop and rejuvenate mango, litchi and vegetable cultivation in the region, officials informed today, while preparing for the release of notifications to the people urging them to join the project by submitting applications to the newly formed committee by 9 February. Officials said the district committee led by the sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad would hold its meeting on 14 February to expedite the implementation of the project, before the Assembly election. In order to ensure the supply of good quality plants the state government has agreed to allot another Rs 1.5 lakh for every 20 new nursery to be built in the district, it was informed. The new orchards owners in the Malda district will reportedly receive financial aid from the NHM and the department has targeted the allotment of nearly 400 hectares of land for the orchards. The owners of new mango orchards can avail financial assistance up to Rs 90,000 covering four hectare of lands, under the new project. Similarly, another project for the rejuvenation and replacement of fennel plantation (replacement of old trees) will be introduced, with a motive towards introducing a new trend in mango and litchi cultivation here. The National Horticulture Mission would also provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per hector, targeting organic farming using bio-fertilisers and pesticides. The NHM has allotted funds for setting up at least 80 such units for vermin culture. Besides, the NHM has allotted funds for setting up a plant health clinic as well, that would look into the treatment of plant diseases, construction of multipurpose cold storages, pack houses, buying cool chain vans and collection and gradation centres for fruits and vegetable export, including the renovation of rural markets.

First supplement roll revision

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 31. — For the very first time in the state, election officials are going to prepare a supplementary revision of the electoral roll this year, with the motive of updating the main electoral rolls as per the instructions of the Election Commission. The final version of the electoral roll will be finally submitted on 15 February although concerned election officials had been instructed to submit the roll by 3 February, officials revealed on Tuesday.At present, Malda district election officials are dealing with the problem of deleting the names of voters who have shifted base elsewhere. Voters’ names will be deleted from the electoral list if they fail to appear before the last hearing conducted by the authorities.The district magistrate of Malda, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, said: “We have decided to issue individual notifications to voters who have shifted, asking them to appear for the hearing in order to get their names enrolled in the list.” Today, the DM held a meeting with all block development officials and other top brass officials in order to review the situation of the electoral rolls revision. “If the voters cannot attend the hearing, we will have to delete their names,” Mr Choudhuri said.The election officials have reportedly been facing another problem as the names of many voters have been enlisted in the list of voters declared dead. The administration is also on the lookout for multiple entries of voters’ names in the rolls.Complaint report to be tabledThe state chief electoral officer will sent the action report to the Election Commission tonight. The report is based on the complaints received by the commission’s observers during their visit to 19 districts in the second week of January. Mr Debasish Sen, CEO, told the reporters that he has received all the reports from the concerned district magistrates and the final report should be sent to the Election Commission. Mr R Balakrishnan, deputy election commissioner, during his visit earlier said that the commission has asked CEO to send a detailed report to the commission by 31 July. He also said action had been taken against some officials involved in election work for dereliction of duty. They have transferred and would not be engaged in the election process any more. It was learnt that CEO today has a discussion with the chief secretary regarding the execution of removal order to SDO Balurghat and SDO Uluberia from their posts and also about the action taken report against the school teacher and gram panchayat secretary who were indicted for their partisan behaviour by poll observers. The SDOs will not be allowed to take part in election duty. Mr Sen said that already cognizance has been taken of the allegations made by general voters to the poll observers. He said the commission has asked to put main thrust on deletion of the names of dead, shifted and bogus voters from the electoral roll and the final roll would be published on 15 February. He added a group of 19 observers including Mr K J Rao and Mr Nikunja Behari Dhal, against whom CPI-M complained to the Election Commission would be in the city this evening and would be moving to their respective districts by tomorrow. Mr Rao would be visiting West Midnapore, while Dhal will again be visiting Howrah. West Midnapore ready for RaoThere is delight and tension in Midnapore West over the visit of Mr KJ Rao, Election Commission observer, starting tomorrow. While Opposition leaders in the district are overjoyed at the news of Mr Rao taking up the reins of pre-poll preparations in the district, the CPI-M rank and file seem tense. Opposition leaders promise to bring out several examples of irregularities in the electoral roll and other poll processes during Mr Raos’s visit. The district administration is no less worried about loopholes in their activities coming to the surface in front of the tough EC observer. Round the clock is on at the district collectorate as well as the district election office and and the offices of the BDOs. Names of over 73,000 voters — who have died or have shifted residence — have been deleted from the roll in the district so far. In Midnapore East, the number of voters’ names deleted from the roll is over 40,000 till date, officials said.