House team to seek flood control funds

Statesman News Service

MALDA. July 31: A 25-member all-party state Assembly team, headed by irrigation and waterways minister Mr Subhash Naskar, sports minister Mr Subhash Chakraborty and the state paliamentary affairs minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar, will visit New Delhi tentatively in August, to demand additional funds from the Centre for initiating flood control and anti-erosion measures in the state. The CPI-M MLA, Mr Biswanath Ghosh, today circulated leaflets here among the people, explaining the erosion situation of the state, including the resolution adopted in the Assembly on the last day of the session. The leaflet said that over 43 per cent of the total area is flood and erosion-prone, based on the recent statistics from 1978 to 2005. During this span, the state had faced floods ten times which affected millions of lives, besides killing hundreds of people in the state. The loss due to flood and erosion has been estimated at Rs 14,203 crore, the leaflet said. It was also pointed out that the state needed huge funds to maintain 9,062 km long embankments for flood protection across the state. The leaflet also said that the Assembly was aware of the fact that a large section of people live in low-lying areas, out of 903 ones who are living in per square kilometre, in this state owing to infiltration not only from Bangladesh but also from other states in search of jobs in West Bengal. A total of sixteen MLAs were the proposers of the discussion , including Mr Manas Bhuniya , Ms Santa Chhetri , Mr Partha Chatterjee , Mr Subrata Bakshi and other MLAs. The CPI-M leaders also claimed that the subject of flood and erosion protection is included in the common minimum programme of the UPA government. Quoting the discussion in the Assembly, it was also pointed that the role of central government for implementing flood control and management programmes were not satisfactory during the period 11th financial commission despite several reminders. “Heavy rains in the state are not solely responsible for flood in this region. Many rivers originating from Bhutan, Nepal and adjoining states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand carry flood waters in this state. According to the discussion published in the leaflet , it was also pointed out that the state had wanted to take up plans in across the state including the dams like Durgapur Barrage, Mythan Barrage, Massenjore Barrage and Damodar Valley . Besides there were several schemes including Teesta project, Sunderban, Ichhamati, Hooghly river and Rupnarayan. The Assembly has also adopted a resolution to demand funds for Teesta project in North Bengal as a national project, Subarnarekha in Midnapore and Dwarakeshwar-Gandheshwari and Kansavati projects in Bankura and Purulia districts. The estimated funds required for these projects are Rs 1,025 crore for Teesta Project targeting to finish its first phase by 2012, Rs 595 crore for Subarnarekha Project, Rs 400 crore for Drarakeshwar-Gandheshwari, Rs 120 crore for Siddheswari Noonbil Project in Birbhum and Rs 44 crore for Kansavati Project.

CPM roadblock

Statesman News Service

MALDA July 31: Hundreds of CPI-M activists, including women, staged roadblock in various places at English Bazaar town today, demanding immediate arrest of the English Bazar MLA, Mr KN Choudhury, who allegedly assaulted Mrs Jyotsna Choudhury, the CPI-M pradhan of Binodpur gram panchayat, during the general body meeting of the English Bazaar panchayat Samiti on Saturday. The CPI-M workers staged demonstrations on the road and in front of the English Bazaar block office, to protest against Mr Choudhury’s alleged misbehaviour with the women members of the party. Hundreds of angry CPI-M workers shouted slogans against Mr Choudhury. It may be recalled that CPI-M gram panchayat pradhan , Mrs Jyotsa Choudhury and another office bearer of English Bazaar panchayat Samiti, Mr Rahul Deb Barman, had lodged two separate complaints against the MLA on Saturday with the English Bazaar police station. Police have sent the complaints to the Speaker of the Assembly seeking his permission before taking any legal action against him, officials said.

Cong leaders in rescue act

Manas R Bannerjee
Statesman News Service

MALDA July 30: With a view to retain the Malda parliamentary seat, top state Congress leaders are trying hard to pacify the Congress workers here today that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s assurance is not an alternative to the development made by Ghani Khan Choudhury, the former MP in Malda. “Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cannot be alternative to Ghani Khan Choudhury,” said Mr Somen Mitra, former PCC chief, addressing at a workers’ meeting at Manikchak and other places, which was echoed by other state leaders. “What has he (CM) done for Kaliachak and Malda after the Assembly elections ? Mr Mitra and others claimed.Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had urged the Congress workers to join the CPI-M and the Left Front on the last day of his campaign for the Assembly elections at Kaliachak in Malda and paying respect to the late Malda MP and Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Chouhury, Mr Bhattacharjee claimed: “After Ghani Khan, nobody in Malda Congress can fulfill the dreams of the great leader for development in this district.” He had also said: “In his absence, only we can fulfill his dream. Have faith in the LF government ... have faith in me ... I am assuring you ... we must develop the region as desired by Khan saheb.” After their defeat at Kalichak, where Congress candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury was contesting, the Malda Congress leaders were shocked and they viewed that the CM’s statement was one the main reasons of Mr AH Khan Choudhury’s defeat. As a result the Malda Congress today organised a workers meet in Kaliachak and in Manikchak and Old Malda where the Congress candidates were defeated. “Malda is a traditional Congress belt. People know about Barkatda’s contribution. In his absence , if factional feuds continue, the weakening Congress here will certainly weaken the party in the state as a whole,” Mr Somen Mitra said here today. Mr Mitra was here today along with PCC leaders like Mr Pradip Bhattacharya, Mr Manas Bhuniya and Mr Jayanta Bhattacharya to attend several workers’ meets of the party. It was a campaign for the coming parliamentary by-election on one hand and to control factional feuds at the other.The Malda Congress had got a severe blow when a group of leaders broke away and joined the TMC . Mr Mitra said: “Some of the leaders may leave the Congress for their own benefits. But that will not affect the Congress in the district indirectly pointing at Mr Prakash Singhee and Mr Jalil Sheikh, district and block Congress leaders, who had recently joined Trinamul Congress. At the meetings Congress sabhadipati , Mr Goutam Chakraborty and Mr KN Choudhury, MLA English Bazaar, also accompanied the PCC leaders along with the Congress candidate for the by-poll Mr AH Khan Choudhury and Mrs Rubi Noor, district Congress president, the brother and sister of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. Mr Pradip Bhattacharya said: “If the CPI-M thinks that people will believe their campaigning in the name of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury, they are living in a fool’s paradise. People know the ideal of Barkatda and the CPI- M’’s relentless opposition in realising his dreams.” If any party really carries the mantle of Ghani Khan Choudhury, it is the Congress.” At this meeting district Congress president Mrs Rubi Noor and MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury were also present. Mr Goutam Chakraborty said : “The PCC leaders will also hold meetings in all the seven Assembly constituencies under Malda parliamentary constituencies. It is learnt that after mid September the by-poll may be conducted in Malda.

Pic: P Sanyal

Three held for raping minor

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 30: Malda police have arrested three youths of a minority community on charges of sexually abusing and then killing a 12-year-old schoolgirl at Bakchar village in Malda’s Bamongola police station area on Friday evening. The village where the incident occurred is close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, police said. The trio Anarul, Jahagir and Mithu were produced in the court today “We have also detained another youth, Udbhav Sarkar, today in connection with the incident after interrogating the three accused,” the Malda additional SP, Mr D Boral, said. “We have recovered a spade, a broad-bladed digging tool, from the house of Jahagir. The trio had used the spade to dig the ground to bury the body of the girl after the incident,” Mr Boral said. The incident occurred when the girl was returning home from her private tutor’s house. Apprehending a communal flare up, the Malda district administration has deployed a large number of police personnel in the area. A police camp has also been set up in the area to defuse communal tension. Local BJP leaders have condemned the incident and held a meeting here today to discuss it. Tension prevailed in the area after the news of the youths’ barbaric act spread. The sub divisional officer (sadar), Mr PK Mandal, rushed to the spot yesterday to take stock of the situation. He also met the family members of the victim and the villagers, urging them to maintain peace.

Assault slur on Cong MLA

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 30: Members of the CPI-M backed women’s wing are planning to stage demonstrations in English Bazaar town against the Congress MLA, Mr KN Choudhury, who allegedly slapped Mrs Jyotsna Choudhury, the CPI-M pradhan of Binodpur Gram Panchayat, during the general body meeting of the English Bazaar panchayat samiti here yesterday. Two CPI-M panchayat members, including Mrs Jyotsna Choudhury, have lodged complaints with the English Bazaar police station against Mr KN Choudhury, police said. Mrs Choudhury complained in her written statement that the English Bazaar MLA heckled and slapped her in presence of the other GP members. Mr KN Choudhury, on the other hand, had also lodged a complaint with the police, accusing Mrs Choudhury and her associates of assaulting him.The English Bazaar block office turned into a battlefield yesterday and police fhad to intervene to bring the situation under control. “The CPI-M members, including the sabhapati, insulted me when I approached them, in the capacity of an ex-officio member, to submit developmental schemes for preparing an yearly action plan for English Bazaar block”, Mr Choudhury alleged. The CPI-M leaders, however, have refuted the allegation and lashed out at Mr Choudhury for allegedly misbehaving with the woman members of the panchayat samiti.

Compensation demanded

MALDA. July 30: Members of the Left Front-backed peasants’ wing of Malda have demanded that the Centre should allot funds in its annual budget to compensate the erosion victims who lost their all after a massive erosion on the left bank of the Ganges here. Leaders of the peasants’ wing, who organised a convention at Bangitola in Kaliachak-II block on 27 June, claimed that the state government has allotted Rs 10 crore in its budget this year for the rehabilitation of erosion victims.“It is now the Centre’s turn to follow the suit,” they said. Circulating leaflets, the leaders of the peasants’ wing have demanded that the Centre should take immediate steps to rehabilitate the beleaguered erosion victims. They also demanded that the state government should immediately conduct a proper survey to identify the erosion victims who actually need the compensation amount. SNS

Tension brews after girl is 'gang-raped' and killed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 29. — Communal tension is brewing at Bakchor village, close to the Indo-Bangladesh border in Malda, following a report that a 12-year old girl was allegedly gang-raped and killed by three criminals in Bamongola police station area, officials said today. Police are on the alert in this area and have been keeping a watch on the situation since last night. A large police force has been sent to the area from the headquarters today. The contingent has set up a camp there to defuse tension after three Muslim boys were detained. A source said: “The Border Security Force too is on the alert to defuse tension.” The inspector-in-charge of Bamongola PS, Mr Anil Roy said there was an attempt to rape the girl, who was abducted when she was on her way back home from her private tutor’s house yesterday around 5.50 p.m. The incident occurred in a jute field, Mr Roy said, and the girl was later killed. Her body was buried an area near the jute field, Mr Roy said. “We have detained three youths, identified as Anarul, Jahangir and Mithun, on the basis of circumstantial evidence,” Mr Roy said. “Investigation into the incident is on,” he added. Communal tension was also brewing in a village near Nalagola area after BJP leaders took up the matter to protest against the incident and announced their intention to stage a demonstration in the area. The family members of the girl lodged a missing diary with police when she did not come back home till 7 p.m. yesterday. On conducting a search for her, the villagers found her body buried near the jute field. The girl went to her tutor’s house after attending school. Police conducted a postmortem on the body today. “Without receiving the postmortem report, we can’t say whether the girl was raped, but it is clear that some criminals attempted to rape her and killed her in an attempt to suppress the fact,” a senior police officer said.

Centre tightens noose

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, July 28: The Centre has directed the West Bengal government to instruct the officials of the land custom stations to bar all truck drivers and their assistants from entering Bangladesh with their export-goods laden vehicles, if they do not possess valid visas and passports.Though the Centre had issued the directive to the state government in June this year, it is supposed to come into effect from 1 January, 2007.The state government has directed the DMs of all districts adjoining the Indo-Bangladesh border, where the land customs stations are located, to hasten up the implementation process in view of the national security in the wake of the recent Mumbai bomb blasts. “The state authorities had set 1 January 2007 deadline for the execution of the Centre’s order”, Mr Chittaranjan Das, the Malda DM, said. The Malda district administration today convened a co-ordination meeting with the BSF, CPWD and officials of other concerned departments, such as the police and the local bodies to discuss the ways of implementing the Centre’s directive. In today’s meting, the Malda DM, Mr Das, conveyed the Centre’s message to the exporters and sought the latter’s full co-operation. It may be recalled that the BSF officials have been highlighting the security aspect in the Indo-Bangladesh border area for long and demanding that the truck drivers to cross over Bangladesh without valid documents. The usual custom followed by BSF officials was to check out the truck drivers and their assistants and register their names. The same rule was applied when the truck drivers returned from Bangladesh with their vehicles. In today’s meeting between BSF officials and the administration, the decision was formally announced to implement the Centre’s order of not allowing the truck drivers and their assistants to enter Bangladesh with export-goods laden vehicles if they do not possess visas and passports.Exporters initially expressed their concern over the Centre’s decision, but when the Malda DM requested them to come up with an alternative for the nation’s safety and security, they finally agreed. The BSF officials pointed out that drivers of export-goods laden trucks and their helpers, who generally do not possess identity cards, may pose a serious threat to the country’s security.“There is every possibility that the vehicles would be misused to carry illegal weapons,” the BSF officials claimed. Another important issue highlighted in today’s meeting was the losing of Indian land to Bangladesh because of problems related to the setting up of fences and roads along the Indo-Bangla border.The CPWD representatives present in the meeting were accused of making the border roads much inside the Indian-territory causing a major portion of Indian cultivation land to fall on the side of Bangladesh.“I have instructed the CPWD officials to prepare a list of riverine areas, where the construction of the border fence is not possible. It will help us in any further construction of border fences,” the DM, Mr Das, told The Statesman.

Four die in Malda accident re-run

Statesman News Service

MALDA July 27: Less than a week after the death of 12 persons of a wedding party in a fatal road mishap at Maheshpur in Malda’s Bamongola police station area, four people were killed and 12 others injured when a state bus collided head-on with an overcrowded trekker at 8 Mile in the Gazole police station area last night.Police said one person died on the spot in yesterday’s accident and three others succumbed to their injuries at the Malda district hospital later. The victims have been identified as, Mangli Besra (30), Sufal Soren (23), Udish Raj Bangshi (25) and Babulal Hembram. The condition of two of the injured passengers is stated to be serious. They are being treated at the Malda district hospital. The Malda district administration has announced that the next of the kin of those killed in yesterday’s mishap would get Rs 10,000 each, and the injured persons will be treated free of cost at the Malda district hospital.Meanwhile, officials are upset with frequent road mishaps in the district. They are blaming the uncontrolled transport system and reckless driving for these accidents.“We will collect a report from the Gazole BDO and send the same to the state government for necessary action”, the SDO of Malda sadar, said.It may be recalled that last Saturday, 12 tribal people, all members of a wedding party, were killed in a road mishap at Maheshpur village when a mini truck carrying them overturned, as the driver of the ill-fated vehicle had allegedly been driving in a drunken state.

Meeting with Border Security Forces

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 27: The Malda district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das, would convene a meeting with the BSF tomorrow for better coordination and to check misunderstanding between the villagers and border guards. Authorities said the centre of discussion would be BSF’s highhandedness at Moslempur in English Bazaar where an innocent man was shot dead a few days ago. The administration has sent a report of this incident to the government and the chief minister is looking into the matter of border problems in nine districts of the state. Local MLAs have been asked to attend the meeting and express their views on the issue of misunderstanding between local residents and border guards and ways to check border crime. The administration has decided to continue promulgation of Sec 144 Cr PC along the border from 6 pm to 6 am every day in order to check smuggling. The administration is having a tough time receiving complaints from the BSF and the local people under the leadership of the political parties. Political parties are determined to uphold the interest of the farmers who face problems daily in cultivating their lands. Sources said that the administration would also discuss about the construction of a fence in the border.Presently, the BSF is facing problems of cattle smuggling and infiltration threat in some places in the wake of Mumbai blasts. Political leaders alleged that the BSF are forcefully terming local cattle as smuggled ones.

FBP takes up anti-erosion work in Kaliachak-III

Statesman News Service

MALDA July 26: The Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) authorities have taken up anti-erosion work on a war footing at Shimultala village in Kaliachak III block near the Farakka bridge over which NH-34 passes. Hundreds of labourers are engaged in dumping sand bags, placing jute carpets and mats made by bamboo, in order to prevent erosion at this vulnerable point. A large part of the area had been eroded away a few days ago. Efforts are also on to protect embankments in this zone, officials said. If the embankments get eroded away and water level of the Ganges crosses the danger mark, three villages, including Shimultala and Biharitola, will be affected, the Kaliachak block development officer, Mr Nitesh Dhali, said. District irrigation experts apprehend that erosion problem would aggravate this year if the Ganges carry 15 lakh cusec waters to this region. The FBP authorities, meanwhile, have claimed that the anti- erosion work carried out by them at Kaliachak II, particularly at Panchanandapur and Sultantola, would be successful. Since 1971, more than 17,000 hectares of land have been eroded away from Manikchak to Kaliachak III, up to Farakka Barrage, officials said. Since 2000, over 6,000 families have been rendered homeless in the three blocks of Malda district, officials said.

Recruitment test venue turns into battleground

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 25: The BSF jawans allegedly roughed up 10 youths, who had arrived for a recruitment test at the BSF’s sector office at Narayanpur today.Protesting against the incident, angry youths blocked NH-34 at Narayanpur for sometime and pelted stones at the BSF vehicles. The police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. It was learnt that BSF had published an advertisement for inducting 80 employees for the post of cook, carpenter, sweeper and so on.In response to this advertisement, nearly 20,000 candidates from all over the country turned up for the recruitment test at the BSF office in Narayanpur. They were waiting in a queue since past two days for this recruitment test. However, it was alleged that the BSF jawans of 72 battalion stationed at the gates of the campus were allowing only their candidates to appear for the recruitment test. Other candidates somehow came to know about the selection procedure and raised a protest.This angered the BSF jawans, who allegedly resorted to lathi charge over the candidates. Dhanu Nayek, who had come from Orissa for this recruitment test, showed fresh wounds inflicted by the BSF lathi charge on his body. Rajendra Rabbal, who had come all the way from Andaman and Nicobar Island, was also severely injured in the process.“We had been waiting in a queue since last two days. But we found that jawans at the gate were allowing their own candidates to appear for the test. When we protested, they tried to drive us away “, said Uttam Sarkar of Ratua. Police finally had to intervene to control the mob. It is learnt that the recruitment will go on for the next two days. BSF officials, however, brushed aside all the allegations.Mr SK Rudra, a BSF officer, said: “Our jawans did not beat the candidates. They were just trying to manage the huge crowd that had gathered for the jobs.”

FBP hands over Bhutni Diara

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 24: Farraka Barrage Project, a Central government unit, which was given the charge of executing anti-erosion work at Bhutni Diara in Manikchak block, has officially handed over this task to the state government, officials said today. Earlier, the state irrigation officials allegedly refrained from executing anti-erosion work at Bhutni Diara because they claimed the region was under the jurisdiction of the FBP. It may be recalled that this 40 km long bank-line of the Ganges here was initially under the supervision of the state irrigation division but was handed over to the FBP later to execute anti-erosion work. But the FBP authorities recently stated the entire stretch lay beyond its jurisdiction and requested the state government to take up the work. Experts believe Bhutni Diara Island is primarily responsible for causing diversions in the course of Ganges in this belt. This results in creating erosion problem along the 35 km bank line of the river. This year, the FBP took up anti-erosion work on a two-km long stretch of the bank line at Panchanandapur in Kaliachak II area, spending over Rs 15 crore in the process. Studying the trend of rising water level of the Ganges at Manikchak Ghaat and Farakka, engineers fear the erosion problem may get aggravated along the bank line in vulnerable zones like Panchanandapur and its downstream region, Sultantola in Kaliachak II. A part of an embankment at Shimultala in Kaliachak III eroded away due to fresh flood in the Ganges yesterday. Commenting on embankment erosion at Shimultala, the general manager of FBP, Mr MU Gani said: “ It was only the nose of an old railway embankment, which was built before 1960 that got eroded away yesterday. There is no reason to worry. We will restore it soon. It was not due to river erosion.” “The water level of the Ganges at Manikchak Ghaat was 23.28 metres today, which is still below the danger level,” district irrigation officials said.

12 killed in accident

MALDA, July 22.– At least 12 tribal people were killed and 52 others injured when a speeding mini truck, in which nearly 70 persons were travelling, hit a tree and overturned at Maheshpur in Bamongola police station area, police today said. They were returning from a wedding party. The driver, who was in a drunken state, lost control of the vehicle on the state highway late last night, returning form Bijanbari. A few of them died on the spot while others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospitals, Mr Dilip Kumar Mandal, SP of Malda, said. A total of 45 people, including groom Sujoy Kisku, were admitted to the Malda district hospital and seven persons were admitted to Modipukur health centre in Bamongola. Some of the female members of the group were also injured. “Many of the youths are in a critical condition and the death toll may go up,” the SP said. The injured driver fled the spot but was arrested latter. The district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das, visited the district hospital early today and asked the hospital authorities to take proper care of the patients. The district magistrate ensured the kin of the victims that the administration would provide the required medicines that were unavailable in the hospital. “We must take action against the owners of goods carriers for allowing drivers to ferry passengers,” Mr Chittaranjan Das said. The victims’ kin will not be entitled to compensation from the insurance firm of the vehicle owner, as the deceased were travelling in a goods carrier. Primary investigation revealed reckless driving caused the accident and almost all members of the marriage party were inebriated. “The bride is safe at home, as she had refused to travel with the drunken members of the marriage party,” police said. SNS

Probe into BSF firing

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 21: The Malda district administration today forwarded a detailed investigation report received from the SDO about yesterday’s act of a BSF jawan who had allegedly shot dead a Moslempur resident near the Indo-Bangladesh border here, to the home secretary, Mr PR Roy. The secretary of the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, it was learnt, has also sought an administrative report on the issue, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. After apprising himself of details in the investigation report and interacting with the BSF officials today, the SDO, MR PK Mondal, vehemently criticised the latter for their high-handedness. The SDO pointed out the accused BSF jawan, Biswaprakash (24), failed to provide explicit information regarding why he shot dead Jabbar Sheikh, a resident of Moslempur village, during interrogation. It may be recalled that Jabbar Sheikh, a resident of Moslemur village in English Bazaar, which lies close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, was on his way to the fields to lend a helping hand to his father yesterday when he was allegedly intercepted by BSF jawan, Biswaprakash. The latter accused him of being a Bangladeshi national and blocked his path. An altercation occured between the two resulting in Jabbar being shot down by the BSF jawan. Reportedly, two cases were lodged with the police in connection with Jabbar’s case. One case was filed by the local villagers against the high-handedness of the BSF. The other case was lodged by the BSF against the villagers. Jabbar’s family and friends, who are yet to overcome the shock over Jabbar’s death, said that Jabbar was innocent and are adamant to seek compensation for his death. The Malda SP, however, reported that no case can be initiated on the basis of the case lodged by the BSF after Jabbar’s death.

Malda leaders

MALDA, July 21: Bihar police have requested their English Bazaar counterpart to execute the “proclamation attachment” against two Malda leaders — the English Bazaar MLA, Mr KN Choudhury and the Malda district Trinamul Congress chief, Mr Dulal Sarkar — following a court order, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. The duo were allegedly involved in the twin murder case in Katihar, Bihar, that took place some years ago. “After receiving a green signal from the court regarding attachment of properties of the two political leaders, the Bihar police submitted all papers to us yesterday. We will execute the property attachment formally keeping close observation on the two political leaders, including Mr KN Choudhury, the Congress MLA of English Bazaar”, Mr Mondal said. n SNS

Border tense as BSF-BDR firing continues

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 20: Less than a week after a heavy exchange of fire between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Lakshminarayanpur village, the two forces again exchanged fire at Sidhai village in South Dinajpur district today over a dispute on trans-border crime. The deputy inspector general of the BSF, Malda sector, Mr Dharamveer Saraswat, said: “We had to retaliate after the BDR personnel began unprovoked firing, aiming the Indian side of the border, around 9 am today. They fired five rounds, prompting us to retaliate.” Trouble broke out after an encounter between the BSF jawans and a group of Bangladeshi smugglers at Sidhai village around 5.30 am today. According to the BSF officials, a group of eight Bangladeshi smugglers, backed by the BDR, crossed the border and entered into the Indian territory early this morning. When the BSF personnel chased them, the smugglers retaliated, prompting the former to open fire. Realising that the situation was going out of their control, the smugglers succeeded in hiding themselves in a jute field, and later they somehow managed to escape from the area. One BSF jawan was injured in the encounter with the smugglers. “The jute and sugarcane fields, close to the border, is a security threat for us as they affect the visibility,” Mr Saraswat said. The BSF authorities had recently urged the district administration to clear some areas along the border where jute and sugar cane fields prevent the Indian border guards from watching the borderline properly. Mr Saraswat said that the commandant of the BSF’s 57 Battalion held a flag meeting with the BDR officials today after the incident and requested them to prevent Bangladeshi smugglers from committing border crime. On 17 July, the BSF and BDR personnel had traded fire along border at Lakshminarayanpur village after the death of a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler.

Man shot dead near Indo-Bangla border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 20: Hundreds of angry villagers gathered here today to protest against the alleged high-handedness of the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans. Earlier in the day, a BSF jawan allegedly shot dead a 35-year-old man Jabbar Sheikh at Moslempur village, which is located very close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, said an official of the English Bazaar police station. On the basis of the statement provided by Jabbar’s father, Mohd Samiruddin, who is the only eye-witness of the incident, police informed that the BSF jawans fired three rounds of bullet into Jabbar’s body from a point blank range today. It was learnt that Jabbar had gone to help his father in the fields, which lay close to the Indo-Bangla border fence. “In an attempt to rescue my son Jabbar, I rushed towards him. But, the BSF jawan aimed to shoot at me and I had no option but to jump into a nearby ditch for safety. The BSF jawan then fled from the spot after shooting my son,” said Samiruddin to police officials and reporters. Police reportedly received two complaints pertaining to Jabbar’s case today. One complaint was received from local villagers against the BSF jawan, who allegedly shot dead Jabbar and the other complaint was lodged by the BSF against the villagers. The villagers’ demonstration flared up to such an extent that the sub-divisional officer of Malda (sadar); the block development officer of English Bazaar and senior police officials from English Bazaar police station had to immediately rush to the spot to keep things under control. The villagers demanded that the BSF jawan to be punished and Jabbar’s family to be compensated for the loss. However, it was after much deliberation that the officials managed to pacify the villagers and recover the body from their possession. The SDO, Mr PK Mandal, told reporters: “We will take stern action against the BSF jawan if found guilty after a thorough investigation. This “inhuman” act will be discussed in our meeting with BSF officials on 27 July.” After apprising himself with every aspect related to Jabbar’s death, the SDO commented: “ Jabbar has left behind his four daughters and son. His 14-year-old daughter, Esmina, is suffering from a serious heart ailment. Who will take care of them now? It was learnt that Jabbar was in Malda town today earlier in the day to meet Mr Samar Roy and Mr KN Choudhury, the former and present English Bazaar MLAs respectively. He met officials of the district administration to seek financial assistance for his daughter, Esmina’s treatment. As per the available information, Rs 1 lakh was required for Esmina’s treatment. Villagers alleged that the shoot-out incident was the outcome of an altercation between Jabbar and the BSF jawan. The BSF jawan accused Jabbar of being a Bangladeshi national and prevented him from entering the village while he was on his way home from Malda town today. But, Jabbar just walked past the BSF jawan ignoring his instructions. It was when Jabbar was heading towards the field later to join his father that the BSF jawan intercepted him and shot him dead,” villagers alleged.

Condolence

Condolence
MALDA, July 19: The Malda district Roadways Daily Passengers’ Welfare Association and the Malda Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association today paid tribute to the 36 persons who lost their lives in a fatal road accident at Lakshmipur in English Bazaar on the same day two years ago. The bus carrying the 36 passengers had skidded off the road and fell into a ditch, killing 36 passengers. The bus owners’ association observed a two-minute silence at Atul Chandra Kumar Bus Terminus today to pay homage to the deceased. n SNS

Police yet to arrest culprits

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 19: Police have failed to identify culprits responsible for firing at a senior CPI-M district committee member, Mr Abdur Rouf, yesterday in front of Dariapur Madrasa where he teaches. Mr DK Mondal, the Malda SP, said that he received a complaint from Mr Rouf yesterday, in which he has named a few people who attacked him.Mr Mondal said: “ Police is investigating the matter to find out the reason behind the attack on Mr Rouf. We cannot draw a conclusion now”. Mr Mondal also refrained from commenting on an allegation that the wounded CPI-M leader, Mr Abdur Rouf, has been registered as an absonder in the police records. He said: “ I have nothing to say on this issue. Police initiated a suo-motu case against him on the issue of a blast in his house. But it was found that Mr Rouf had vacated his house six months back. There is no other case filed against him”. Mr Abdur Rouf is CPI-M’s Malda Zilla Parishad member and husband of former Sabhadhipati of MZP.

Ganga poses flood threat

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 18: The water level of Ganges has gradually been rising at Manikchak in Malda following heavy downpour in north Bihar. In case of further rain, the water level of the Ganges may cross the danger mark and affect the left bankline, irrigation officials said today. It was learnt that the flood control cell recorded a water level of 23.10 metres in the Ganges today. A further escalation in water level, it is feared, may cause situation to get out of control in Manikchak, English Bazaar and Kaliachak II areas. These comprise regions where the Ganges is steadily changing its course from western side to the eastern side. Irrigation officials said that the state parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar, has approached the Farakka Barrage Project authorities to take up pre-cautionary schemes on the left bank of the Ganges, stretching 40 kms up stream. After visiting the vulnerable zones on the left bank of the Ganges yesterday, Mr Sarkar convened a meeting with all state and central officials, including local MLAs.Mr Sarkar pointed out that the FBP authorities had initiated only two anti-erosion projects on the left bank of the Ganges at Panchanandapur and Shimultala. Defending themselves, the FBP representatives stated that the main reason behind this was the paucity of funds and adequate manpower. The FBP general manager, Mr MU Gani, informed that they would now take up schemes only after authorities concerned agree to allot sufficient funds for the projects. The FBP is carrying out anti-erosion work on a 1.5 km stretch in Panchanandapur, for which it was allotted Rs 14 Crore.The FBP authorities had claimed that this ongoing anti-erosion project would prove instrumental in saving land and property on the left bank of the Ganges.

Anti erosion work resumes in Malda

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, July 18: Malda irrigation officials resumed anti-erosion work on the bank of the Punardhaba river at Lakshminarayanpur village today following a ceasefire between the BSF and the BDR, a senior BSF official said. The BSF official informed that the anti-erosion work on the Lakshminarayanpur bank of the river Punarbhaba was suspended after the BSF and BDR exchanged fire over the issue of cattle smuggling yesterday. "The entire region was on high alert yesterday following the the BRD-BSF shoot-out, but everything is under control now," said a BSF official. The fire exchange between the BSF and BDR took place around 1.35 p.m. yesterday at Lakshminarayanpur that is under the Bat-tali BOP of 172 Battalion BSF in the Bamongola police station area, about 50 km east of Malda town. It is important to protect the barbed-wire fencing from severe erosion in the Indo-Bangla border area, which is under the jurisdiction of the Bat-tali BOP. Safe distance between the barbed-wire fence and the borderline is two-three metres, said an irrigation official. Senior irrigation officials, including members of Central Water Commission, visited the Indo-Bangla border area here recently and decided to take up temporary anti-erosion measures on the bank of Punarbhaba for this year. As per guidelines of the Joint River Commission comprising teams from both the countries, it was also decided to take up permanent anti-erosion measures to rescue the border fence from India's side. The BSF and BDR had exchanged fire last year on the issue of area operation in Adampur and Muchia border outposts, when Indian officials took up temporary anti-erosion work to repair their side of the border fence. The BSF retaliated when the BDR opened fire at them in order to stop the ongoing anti-erosion work, which was as far as 150 yards from the zero line. The entire matter is still under consideration. Top authorities of both Bangladesh and India are trying to find out a permanent solution to the problem.

Kaliachak CPM leader shot at

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 18: Unidentified criminals shot at and injured Mr Abdur Rauf, a senior CPI-M leader of the district and Malda Zilla parishad member in front of Dariapur Madrasa in Malda's Kaliachak police station area today. According to the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, the miscreants fired at Mr Rauf, who is also a schoolteacher as he came out of his school during recess. Mr Rauf was injured in the hand and legs by splinters. The condition of Mr Rauf is stated to be out of danger. Local CPI-M workers later staged a roadblock on NH-34 near Kaliyaganj to protest against the attack on Mr Rauf. A protest rally was also organised by the party at the Kaliachak bus stand. The Malda district secretary of CPI-M, Mr Jiban Moitra, has accused the Congress leaders of masterminding the attack. "It was a pre-planned attack on Mr Rauf. The miscreants, backed by the Congress leaders, had tried to kill him," Mr Moitra alleged. Mr Moitra held the district administration responsible for political unrest here. "The police should act more effectively to maintain law and order situation in the district. It was a pity that two unidentified persons fired at Mr Rauf in front of the Madrasa and managed to escape," Mr Moitra said. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, on his part, said: "After the change of guard at Naoda Jadupur gram panchayat, political clashes between the Congress and the CPI-M activists have increased. We are trying to bring the situation under control." Political rivalry between the two parties had also claimed the life of Mr Abdur Rauf's brother recently. The CPI-M was ousted from power at Naoda Jadupur gram panchayat by the Congress recently.

BSF,BDR trade fire in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 17: The BSF and Bangladesh Rifle jawans exchanged fire along the Indo-Bangla border at Lakshmina-rayanpur village today after the death of a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler, Tejamul Hoque, in BSF firing, deputy inspector general of Malda BSF sector Mr Dharamveer Saraswat said. Officials of 172 Battalion of BSF said that last night the BSF personnel shot dead a cattle smuggler, who was later identified as Tejamul Hoque, a resident of Bangladesh’s Naogaon district. The BSF men opened fire to stop a group of smugglers who were trying to cross the border with a herd of cattle and Tejamul was killed in the encounter, Mr Saraswat said. Tejamul, according to the BSF officials, was the kingpin of the cattle smuggling racket here. Trouble broke out around 1.35 pm today when Indian border guards accused the BDR of supporting cattle smugglers. Although the BSF officials had proper evidence to substantiate their allegation, it irked the BDR personnel and they resorted to firing. “It was the BDR personnel who opened fire first, aiming the Indian side of the border and we had no other option but to retaliate. We fired about six rounds in response to BDR’s firing. The BDR personnel always support the cattle smugglers to cross the border. We will be writing a protest letter to the BDR authorities on this issue,” Mr Saraswat added. A top BSF official said : “Residents of Bangladesh are facing an scarcity of cow meat as the prices have soared in that country. The slaughter houses are running dry there. As a result, cattle are being smuggled to Bangladesh from India.” The official said that the BDR had been opening fire along the borders in North 24-Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Malda districts 6o provide cover to cattle smugglers.

Security beefed up along Indo-Bangla border

Statesman News Service

MALDA. July 16: All border outposts have been put on high alert in the wake of serial blasts in Mumbai , BSF officials said today. “We have informed all BOPs to tighten security along the Indo-Bangladesh border,” Mr Dharamveer Saraswat , DIG , Malda BSF sector, told The Statesman over phone. “We should keep strict vigil along the border to prevent miscreants from crossing the border here,” Mr Saraswat said. Addressing a civic action programme in a bid to make better co-ordination with the villagers to reduce border crime, the DIG today said : “ Vigilance in the border or for that matter reduction of border crime cannot be done through force. Rather, the cooperation as well as consciousness on the part of the common villagers can isolate the criminals and make the task of the security men lighter.” The 104 battalion BSF, Malda sector , organised a free medical camp at Sirsi Primary school under Habibpur police station today. He said such camps will be of immense help not only for the patients but also for the common villagers who may have some misconception regarding the BSF. “We can hardly ignore the feelings of segregation about us and such interaction with the people will help to remove such feelings,” he expressed . The DIG said , 975 patients have been treated in this camp . There was a lab for blood testing , ECG and other tests. Four eighty two women and 248 children came to attend the free medical camp. As a part of their civic action programme, the BSF had not only arranged the medical camp but also provided teaching tools, clothes, chairs, tables and utensils for mid-day meals for the schools at border areas. Mr Saraswat stressed on the need to arouse awareness among children of the border areas who in course will prevent their elders from indulging in criminal activities.Through the border, cattle along with medicines like cough syrup are smuggled to Bangladesh. Phencydil ~ a cough syrup ~ is used as drugs among the youths in both sides of the border. “The health sub-centre of our village is in a pathetic condition. For the slightest reason we have to traverse at least 18 km to reach Bulbulchandi hospital and the communication too is not good. Such a camp having qualified doctors and modern testing units is of immense help for us,” said Mr Maniram Choudhury.

Strict vigil along border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 13: Security has been tightened across Malda district, especially in the Indo-Bangla border areas, following the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, police said. Plain clothed policemen have been deployed in vital installations, including Malda station, for ensuring security measures. Senior police officers in charge of border areas are in constant touch with their BSF counterparts. Highway patrolling has also been stepped up at night. Railway police have been instructed to keep a watch on railway bridges. Asked about the movement of SIMI activists in the district, the Malda SP said that, he had not received any instruction so far from concerned authorities to have a crackdown on the activists, suspected to be involved in the Mumbai blasts. Union home secretary, Mr VK Duggal had yesterday hinted that, the Centre would crack down on SIMI activists. SIMI has a branch in Malda. Malda police had arrested a few persons in connection with SIMI, a few years ago. But the then political leaders, including CPI leader and minister, Mr Srikumar Mukherjee, had protested against the arrest. All the arrested persons were recently released from Malda jail.

English Bazaar artiste arrested for torturing wife

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 13: Milan Kundu, a popular artiste of English Bazaar town was arrested today along with two of his relatives on charges of torturing his wife, Kakali Kundu (23), who apparently committed suicide after killing her 15-month- old daughter last night, police said.Kakali’s body was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence today with her daughter tied onto her back, police said. It was learnt that Milan Kundu, a well-known artiste in English Bazaar married Kakali two years ago and used to reside with his elder brother, Apurba and his family in the same house in the English Bazaar town. Kakali’s mother, Shaktibala Das, alleged that Milan was having an extra-marital affair with his brother’s wife and Kakali had come to know this truth some time back. Mrs Das said: “My daughter was very depressed after knowing that Milan was having an extra-marital affair. Due to this, there was a lot of tension between the couple. Even the birth of a child failed to improve matters between them.” No comments was available from Milan relatives on this issue. It was learnt that Milan was not present last night, when Kakali committed suicide. When Milan returned home and knew about the matter, he allegedly ran away. Police interrogated the Milan’s neighbours and relatives today. Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal, Malda SP, said: “Though the death seems to be due to suicide, we are waiting for the post-mortem report before giving a final statement. We have arrested Milan and his two relatives on the basis of the allegations received against them. We will find out the truth very soon.”

Cell to monitor floods in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 11: The Malda district administration has decided to open a flood control room at the block level. Mr Chittaranjan Das, DM, Malda, said that if the flood hits the district, the control room or information network, as it has been called, would help to provide relief to the victims. The DM recently held a meeting with the officials and public representatives on flood management. The district has not received sufficient rainfall so far this year. It usually receives an average of 1400 mm of rainfall each year. On the other hand, there is no embankment on the left side of the river Ganges in Kaliachak II and there may be a chance of flood if the water level of the Ganges crosses the danger level of 25.30 m. The DM has also reviewed the progress of the anti-erosion work on the left bank of the Ganges. The work was carried out by the Farraka Barrage Project, a Central government unit. A senior engineer of the FBM has been inducted in the flood monitoring committee of the district along with the other state irrigation officials. After attending a meeting with other engineers on 7 July, the superintending engineer, north circle division of the state I&W, Mr NC Kar, said: “Based on hydrology and flood estimation, we have come to a conclusion that the possibility of a devastating flood like the one in 1998 that killed hundreds of people, is minimum this year.” Mr Kar also said that in 1998, over 27 lakh cusecs of water passed through the Ganges when the water level of the Ganges was 26.565 m, just one metre above the extreme danger level, at Manikchak. “Everything depends on the rainfall in the upper catchment areas,” Mr Kar cautioned. He also said that the average bank level on the left bank of the Ganges in Kaliachak II is 24.00 m. When the Ganges starts receiving nearly 12 lakh cusecs of water, the mighty river may break its left bank and inundate a part of the Kaliachak block areas, officials feared.

Minister seeks help to boost Malda tourism

Statesman News Service

MALDA. July 9: The state parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Sailen Sarkar, today said that Malda has lots of resources for tourism but the government alone can’t provide basic infrastructure for tourism development. “Even it is not possible for government alone,” he said. Addressing an inauguration programme of a new resort, called “Mayabon”, on the outskirts of English Bazaar town, the minister said that private entrepreneurs can develop and help the government for boosting tourism in this district. “Joint venture between the government and private entrepreneurs is a must to develop Malda’s tourism,” Mr Sailen Sarkar said. Citing development of Mayabon, on way to Gour along NH-34 , he said :“It is an example for developing a place which attracts people for its atmosphere providing full security.”

Chair meant for dental patients lying unused in Malda hospital

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 9: In 1998-99, the Malda district hospital had received a sophisticated chair for the treatment of dental patients, worth more than Rs 1 lakh from SHDP-II (a state health development project). But the chair is still lying in the hospital storeroom. Interestingly, it was learnt that, the authorities had shown its repair costs regularly. The chief medical officer, health, Dr Gopal Sarkar said that, he did not have any information about the matter and that, he would check its accounts after Monday. The CMOHs of six districts have been asked to attend a review meeting in Siliguri on Monday, where the higher authorities would review the situation. Dr Sarkar also said that, the hospital superintendent had thrice written letters, requesting for its installation. But no initiative has been taken. “Hospital authorities needed to have the necessary infrastructures for setting up the chair. But the demand was yet to be fulfilled,” the CMOH said. The CMOH also said that, some equipments for the cardio-thoracic unit have also been supplied to the hospital under the SHDP-II project. But they are all lying idle. “The unused equipments have been sent to RG Kar Hospital on June 2 for utilisation,” Dr Sarkar said.

Employee shortage dogs food and supplies dept.

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 7: An insufficient number of employees in the food and supplies department is hampering the execution of routine jobs, such as detection of fake ration cards, in the district. Mr NK Saha, the district controller, food and supplies, admitted that, his department was facing an employee-shortage crisis, due to which, fresh ration cards could not be issued. As per the sub-divisional controller of food and supplies, nearly 16,000 fresh applications for ration cards are presently lying in his department; and 20,000 applications are lying unattended in block offices, whereas 1,100 applications sent to the district magistrate’s office are awaiting a final approval. Refusing to disclose his name, the Malda sub-divisional controller said: “We have been receiving applications for ration cards since last year, but have failed to issue a single ration card till date.” The sub-divisional controller further said that, his office needed a minimum of 50 employees for executing routine jobs. He said that, in the past few years, many employees had been transferred, many employees promoted and many had retired. But, there had been no recruitment for filling up the vacancies. It was learnt that, there is only one chief inspector working in the sub-divisional office on deputation. But he too is finding it difficult to bear the workload single-handedly in the absence of sub-inspectors, who are required to make regular visits to ration dealer shops for detection of fake ration cards. The sub-divisional controller also informed that, even after the death of ration card holders, family members of the deceased had not surrendered their cards, which they have been using as their own. These are all fake ration cards. Regular visits to ration shops are thus necessary to stop the practice.

Muddy water supplied to Manikchak block

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 6: Villagers in the Manikchak block of Malda have been supplied muddy drinking water by the public health engineering department (arsenic division) for the last few days. The superintending engineer of the PHE (arsenic division), Mr S Hoque, admitted that muddy drinking water was being supplied to Manikchak block of late due to the high turbidity of the water in the Fulohar river. Mr Hoque said: “After the detection of the turbidity problem in the water, we cleaned the water reservoirs. We also applied local technical know-how to solve the problem to some extent.” The superintending officer admitted that the PHE department was running short of alum, which is needed for refining raw water. But PHE finally procured the cleaning agent from an alternative source to tackle the water turbidity problem. Mr Hoque, however, denied that the two damaged filter beds were the main culprits behind turbidity in drinking water. It was learnt that villagers had forbidden their children from using the muddy water that was being supplied to vast areas of Manikchak, Kaliachak II and a part of English Bazaar. Mr Hoque alleged that the villagers were responsible for the problem to some extent. He said that the villagers drilled holes into the supply pipelines. This contaminated the water running through them. Also accusing the villagers of stealing the fittings in the water supply pipelines, Mr Hoque informed that his department has sought help from police to curb this menace. #

Pic collected from site

SSA approves recruitment of school teachers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 6: The Congress sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty announced today that, the district committee for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has finally approved the recruitment of 1,200 teachers into primary and upper primary schools. Mr Chakraborty said that, the decision, that had been pending for a long time, was finally taken in a district committee meeting yesterday, in the presence of the district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das. He added that, the procedure followed for the recruitment, under the SSA project, has been revamped. Mr Chakraborty said that, in future, no personality test would be conducted for the recruitment of teachers on a contract basis. Mr Chakraborty said: “Teachers’ recruitment henceforth would be entirely on merit basis. Personality tests in recruitment exams will not carry any marks, in order to check manipulation. The interview board had earlier allotted five marks for the personality test.” He also pointed out that, legal proceedings will be expedited in case of detection of fake certificates, produced by applicants, along with their testimonials.

Hilli traders turn heat on BSF

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 5: The Hilli Exporters’ and Customs Clearing Agents’ Association today reacted sharply to the BSF’s allegation that sugar smuggling was rampant at Hilli Land Customs Station in South Dinajpur. Terming the allegation baseless, Mr Ashoke Kumar Mondal, the secretary of the association, said: “The BSF authorities are free to check the vehicles used for ‘export’ with the help of Customs officials. Instead of blaming the exporters, they should check the vehicles if they have any doubt.” Yesterday, a day after 300 quintals of sugar that was being smuggled to Bangladesh through the Hilli Land Customs Station was seized, Mr Rudra, a senior BSF Intelligence official of Malda sector, had reportedly alleged that traders routinely smuggle large quantities of sugar to Bangladesh through this Land Customs Station by showing forged documents.

Malda BSNL cell phone users in a fix

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 5: The problem of erratic account balances has become a major headache for BSNL cell phone users here. Some BSNL prepaid mobile users were flabbergasted when they received a “minus balance” report on their cell phones today.Mr Phani Bhushan Ray, a BSNL service subscriber, received a message on his cell phone last night that his current account was running a deficit of Rs 5,000 INR. Mr Ray’s cell phone, which is GPRS-enabled, received the automatic service message last night. Mr Ray contacted the BSNL customer service and filed a complaint this morning. It was learnt that Mr Ray and others pressurised the BSNL officials to restore their original account balance. Around mid-day today, the BSNL service providers restored Mr Ray’s original balance which was over Rs 1,000. Another BSNL subscriber, Mr Guru Prasad Roy, has allegedly been trying to recover Rs 700 from BSNL since 3 May this year. It was learnt that his cell phone’s auto service shows a deficit of Rs 700 in his account. Mr Roy had reported the matter to the BSNL authorities on 1 June 2006, but no response was allegedly received from their side. My Roy claimed that he too lost money due to BNSL’s erratic accounting system for prepaid cell phone subscribers. Mr Niladri Chakraborty, a BSNL official of Malda, said that erratic account balances were common among customers. BSNL would seriously look into the matter, he said.

Guho to be sworn in today

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 5: The new chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, today announced that Mr Biswanath Guho will be sworn-in as the new vice-chairman of the civic board tomorrow. It was learnt that a stiff debate had ensued on the issue of electing the EBM’s new vice-chairman, as there was more than one candidate for the post. It has been alleged that the Congress councilor, Mr Guho, offered his support to the new civic board in return for the post of vice-chairman of EBM. A few days back, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party had reportedly said that the EBM vice-chairman’s post would be claimed by them and argued that three parties ~ Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP, should hold three important posts in the EBM. But since Congress councillors have finally occupied the posts of EBM chairman and vice-chairman, Congressmen have decided to nominate candidates from all the three parties ~ Congress, Trinamul Congress and BJP to form the chairman-in-council. Reportedly, from BJP, councillor, Mr Amlan Bhaduri, has been elected as one of the members of chairman-in-Council. Another councillor would be elected as the in-charge of the PWD department.

S Dinajpur Customs officials under fire

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 4: The land Customs officials of South Dinajpur have come under severe pressure after the seizure of nearly 300 quintals of sugar that were being smuggled to Bangladesh via the Hilli border in South Dinajpur, yesterday, official sources said. The Hilli custom officials have been reportedly instructed by their superiors to stay away from the joint operation being carried out with the BSF jawans. The objective of the joint operation is to seize over 4,000 quintals of illegal sugar stored along the Bangladesh border. Following the instructions of higher authorities, the joint operation between the Customs and the BSF has apparently been suspended midway. The newly posted assistant commissioner at the Hilli land Custom station refused to comment on the problem on the phone and said: “The commissioner of Customs will provide the details on this matter. I have no comments.” According to border security officials, the three BSF officials leading the joint operation for seizing sugar from lorries and local godowns were also taken off the operation after Customs officials did not conduct raids yesterday. The BSF’s failure to check sugar smuggling along the unfenced border of South Dinajpur has been a constant source of embarrassment for the officials. A few days ago, the BSF had intercepted three lorries loaded with sugar near the South Dinajpur border. One of the lorries was handed over to the police and a case was filed under Rule-I-44 Cr PC. “The lorry was carrying sugar towards the border without the approval of the Central sugar board when we apprehended it,” a BSF official commenting on the operation, said. The BSF intelligence branch had gathered information that nearly 4000 quintals of sugar was stored in various godowns in Hilli, Trimohini and Balurghat. These areas are very close to the unfenced Indo-Bangladesh border. The BSF, along with customs officials, conducted a raid as huge lorries began to arrive near the Hilli land Customs station after the completion of the Indo-Bangladesh sugar export deal, yesterday. According to investigating officers, illegal sugar trade on the Bangladesh border is rampant. An investigating officer said: “Illegal sugar trade goes on continuously through a legal route. Sugar is smuggled via the legal route by providing documents that show other items instead of sugar.” A senior BSF official said: “Apart from the lorries carrying the sugar, smugglers have devised another method to take advantage of the unfenced border. Everyday, nearly 500 women, girls and children carry 10 kg sugar bags on their heads and hand them over to Bangladeshi traders across the border.” He further added: “Our jawans cannot chase women and girls as this can create unnecessary problems for the force.”

Release of Malda labourers demanded

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 4: The state government has approached the Maharashtra government to take initiatives to release the 17 Malda labourers, who were arrested by Maharashtra Police last month, on charges of being Bangladeshi nationals. A letter was reportedly sent to the Thane police station last month by the then Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri. The DM, in his letter, had requested the police officials of Thane in Maharashtra to release the 17 Malda residents. It was learnt that these labourers had gone to Thane in Maharashtra in search of employment and were arrested inspite of possessing residential certificates, said a Malda district administration official. The new Malda DM, Mr Chittaranjan Das, took up the issue regarding the release of the labourers today with the chief secretary. Mr Das also instructed Malda SP to contact the Mumbai Police and inquire the status of the arrested Malda workers. The latter has also been directed to find out why no initiative was taken to release the labourers despite possession of residential certificates issued by the district collector. Mr Chittaranjan Das was however, informed that no response could be elicited from the Thane police station when they were contacted via telephone today. Malda Police finally contacted Mr Niket Kousik, a senior police official in Maharashtra to look into the matter. It was learnt that Mr Kousik was the ASP in the Malda district few years ago, who was transferred to Maharashtra later. Mr Kousik has assured Malda Police that he would look into the matter personally.

Nabarb aid for Malda silk artisans

By Manas R Bannerjee

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 3: The National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (Nabard) has extended financial support to the silk cluster development programme in Malda’s Kaliachak area. The programme is designed to build up the artisans’ capacity and train them for export designing. Providing financial support to a NGO, the Nabard is planning to train about 300 to 400 artisans related to silk trade in this region. The Nabard will also bear expenses for the experts, who are scheduled to be sent by the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training, Hyderabad, to train the artisans. An NGO, Rajadighi Community Health Services Society, has been chosen to conduct a study for the selection of artisans for the development of textile industries based on silk yarn produced in Malda, a Nabard official said. RCHSS staff are working in Kaliachak, a place famous for silkworm rearing, production of cocoons, and manufacturing silk yarn. Recently, a large percentage of silk yarn producers here have shifted from production of fine silk to coarse silk to make more profits as it has more demand in export market. “The objective of this programme is to produce value added cloth based on silk yarn manufactured in Malda. A recent report shows that the Indian silk textile market collects 75 per cent of its total requirement of silk yarn from the Malda district,” Mr Sukumar Chattopadhayay, district development manager, Nabard, Malda unit said. Earlier the state’s small scale and cottage industries minister, Mr Manab Mukherjee, had decided to develop the handloom industry, producing quality textile in Malda after coming to known that Bhagalpur and Nepal traders produce high quality fabric using coarse silk yarn produced in Malda. Mr Chattopadhayay also said that this will be a three-year training programme under the guidance of Nabard. The RCHSS study would be completed within a few weeks and an action plan created for this project. The report of the study will also be sent to the regional head quarter of Nabard, Kolkata, soon for its formal approval, Mr Chottopadhayay informed. According to him the united nation industrial development organisation (UNIDO) will also provide financial assistance to the NGOs for the silk cluster development programme for artisan in Jalpaiguri district and neighbouring Bhutan. The RCHSS has conducted survey on it in Jalpaiguri and Bhutan, he said. It is interesting to note that before 1882, the year when rail tracks were introduced in the British era, Buxa Duar (Fort) was used as the ‘silk route’ to China. Silk yarn produced in Malda was sent to China via this route.#

Pic collected from Site

300 quintal sugar seized

Statesman News Service

MALDA. July 3: The Hilli Land customs and BSF jawans today seized nearly 300 quintal sugar that were being smuggled to Bangladesh, officials said. Traders had been trying to export sugar to Bangladesh through the Hilli Land customs station in South Dinajpur, allegedly without legal documents, sources said. Authorities said that after a recent prohibitory order issued by the Union commerce ministry, the land customs officials have been strictly monitoring the items being exported to Bangladesh through land customs stations in this state. Smuggling of sugar to Bangladesh from Malda and South Dinajpur was high and it was alleged that some exporters were smuggling essential commodities through Hilli land port. Officials said that some exporters show legal papers of a particular item but send many other items. Today they were trapped, they said. The BSF officials said they could not intercept the lorries despite having information as the matter of export was looked after by the Land Customs Station. “We can act only if the LCS officials allow us to do so,” they said. It will be recalled that on 29 June, nearly 100 MT of masoor pulses were allegedly exported to Bangladesh through the Mahadipur Land Customs station in Malda although export of pulses to that country was prohibited.

No headway in train robbery probe

Statesman News Service

MALDA July 3: Mr SK Darnal, the DSP of GRPF, Siliguri, reached here to probe the robbery that took place in the Kolkata-bound Darjeeling Mail at Kumargunj station on Saturday at midnight. Mr Darnal today held a meeting with the officers of the GRPF at Harishchandrapur, the area where the robbery took place. Although three days have passed, no arrests have been made nor any of the security personnel accused of negligence of duty, taken to task. Mr Darnal said: “From preliminary investigations, it is apparent that the group had manipulated the train signal to turn it red, in order to stop the train and commit the robbery. Raids are being conducted in the area to nab them.” He said they are not ruling out the possibility of involvement of some uncouth railway staff in the crime.

Water crisis in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 2: Owing to inadequate rains in the region since last year, the residents of English Bazaar are facing an acute crisis of drinking water. Officials of English Bazaar Municipality have admitted the present problem and blamed the low underground water-level for the crisis. Officials of the water supply department of the English Bazaar civic board are facing difficulties to provide adequate drinking water due to low ground-water level and are also facing difficulties to lift water through pumps. A senior official of the water department, said: “The water layer in English Bazaar town was 41 ft in April and May. After receiving some rains, the layer position now is 36 ft. But storage of water in underground-level is not adequate.” Water officials also said that heavy pump sets for deep tube wells cannot maintain heavy flow for lifting under ground waters. Not only that, the water-layer has going down at least 15 ft from the present position, after introduction of deep tube wells. Though the depth of deep tube wells is nearly 300 to 320 ft but the rate of water lifting flow is not satisfactory, they informed. The civic body officials fear that if the drought like situation continues, residents of English Bazaar as well as Malda will face acute drinking water crisis in future. A total of 39 deep tube wells are functioning for drinking water supply in English Bazaar town. There is no drinking water project based on surface water in Malda town. Though there was a proposal for conducting a survey for executing a drinking water project based on the Mahananda and the Kalindri Rivers but it didn’t materialise as the river Mahananda in English Bazaar town gradually dried up leaving no chance to set up a drinking water treatment plant for English Bazaar residents.

Pic: collected from site

Parties gearing up for Malda by-poll

Statesman News Service
MALDA, July 2: Though the Congress, Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have together formed the Malda Zilla Parishad and also the English Bazaar Municipality, this time the three political parties will contest individually in the forthcoming Malda Lok Sabha by-poll likely to be held in September. Even though the BJP and the Trinamul Congress share an official alliance at the state-level, in the Malda by-poll both will contest each other this time. Trinamul Congress leader of Malda Mr Dulal Sarkar, said: “ We have decided to nominate a candidate in the by-poll just to keep existence of our party. It is nothing but a struggle for existence after split of the Malda Trinamul Congress.” The former district Trinamul Congress chief, Mr KN Choudhury, was elected as an MLA on a Congress ticket during the last Assembly election and he had refused to contest on a Trinamul Congress ticket in English Bazaar seat. As a result, the Malda Trinamul Congress has no solid existence in Malda. Few leaders and workers lobbying against Mr KN Choudhury are struggling to execute party activities here. Though there was an official adjustment between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress during the last Assembly polls, the present decision has upset the district BJP leaders. On the other hand, the district BJP has sent nine names from Malda to the state committee for selection of one candidate for the Malda by-poll. The Malda Congress has already announced the name of its contesting candidate for the by- poll. After the death of Malda MP and Congress stalwart ABA Ghani Khan Chouhdury, his brother Mr Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury will contest here. The CPI-M is yet to announce the name of its candidate officially, but it was learnt that Mr Sailen Sarkar, the present state parliamentary affairs minister, will contest in Malda by-poll.

AIDSO balm for students

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 2: Members of All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), have threatened to launch a protest rally on 4 July demanding admission of hundreds of Madhyamik students, who scored below average marks in their board examination. It was learnt that AIDSO members have demanded seats of all those students in Class XI, who have secured below 370 aggregate marks in the Madhyamik exams this year. Leaders of the students’ organisation alleged that more than 150 students hailing from poor and backward families, who have passed their Madhyamik exams cannot take admission for pursuing higher secondary education due to poor grades. AIDSO members said that these students are being deprived of their right to education, as all the seven higher secondary schools in this block have already taken in the necessary number of students on merit basis. AIDSO leader, Mr Gopon Sarkar, said: “Some higher secondary schools have admitted their own students, who have secured below 370 marks in Madhyamik exam, but they are refusing to admit those from other higher secondary schools with poor results.” Mr Sarkar also alleged that though the government prescribed admission fees for class XI at Rs 77, all the seven higher secondary schools are charging very high admission fees from Rs 320 to Rs 720, including donation and other subscriptions. #

Pulses exported despite ban

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, July 1. — Despite a prohibitory order on export of pulses to Bangladesh, nearly 100 MT of masoor pulses were exported to that country through the Mahadipur Land Customs station in Malda on 29 June, officials admitted. To control spiralling prices of essential commodities in the country, something that is troubling the UPA government at the Centre, the ministry of commerce had issued an order to stop export of pulses to Bangladesh with effect from 27 June. The assistant commissioner of customs (Malda) has sought an explanation from the superintendent of Mahadipur LC station about violation of the prohibitory order to stop export of pulses. The commissioner of customs in Kolkata also detected the violation after a visit to the Land Customs station on 29 June. The officials visited the Hilli Land Customs station in south Dinjapur to check records of export of essential commodities like rice, wheat, sugar and pulses. To check price hike of essential commodities in the country, the government is trying hard to frame a specific policy for export to countries such as Bangladesh. An official source said essential commodities like rice, wheat, pulses and sugar have been exported though other LC stations in north and south Bengal even after the prohibitory order came into effect. Three Malda ’customs house agents’ (authorised exporters) have been identified in Malda who exported the processed masoor pulses to Bangladesh via Mahadipur LC station. India imports raw masoor from Australia and Turkey. The agriculture produce was processed in India, the source said. “It is an internal matter of our department. I cannot discuss it with the Press,” said Mr PK Kundu, superintendent of Mahadipur LC station. “Masoor pulses were exported to Bangladesh on 29 June morning. We received the prohibitory order (to stop export of pulses) after 1 p.m. We carried out our duty based on the latest orders. There is no question of violation,” Mr Kundu finally told The Statesman over the phone. The ministry of commerce has sent another order to restrict sugar export to Bangladesh, based on some conditions. “We are now following the latest orders from the ministry of commerce, but are in dark about wheat export to Bangladesh,” Mr Kundu said. SNS.

Pic collected from site