Planning panel officials in Malda for job scheme

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 30: Mr US Bhandari, senior research officer at the Institute of Applied Man Power, Planning Commission, will visit Malda’s villages to monitor and evaluate the 100-days’ job programme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Mr Bhandari discussed the matter with district and block development officials regarding the progress of and impediments to the NREGS. Speaking to The Statesman over phone, Mr Bhandari said: “The programme has not been implemented properly”. He said the objective of this visit to the district was to learn how many schemes have been adopted and how many have been implemented. “We need to know the number of people that have benefitted and whether the implementing officials are facing problems during execution of the scheme,” he added. “I visited some places at Habibpur and Old Malda blocks yesterday and will visit other areas as well,” he said. After interacting with block development officials, he said the district administration was facing a problem of shortage of technical staff required for implementation of the scheme. A group of people backed by the CPI-ML (Liberation) today submitted documents to him regarding alleged malpractice in the implementation of NREGS. Mr Bhandari said he had received complaints about irregularities and said: “I have got some information, which needs to be verified.” The official will leave Malda on Wednesday and go to Assam and Meghalaya to evaluate the NREGS programme in those states.

Central funds 'embezzled'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 29: The state panchayat commissioner, Mr S Gupta, has instructed the Malda district magistrate to immediately remove a Congress panchayat pradhan for allegedly misappropriating government funds allotted as “food for work.” The instruction reached the Malda district magistrate and other officials concerned on Friday. The copy of the letter has been sent to the alleged offender, Mr Mizanur Rahman, and the block development officer has been instructed to take action against the pradhan. The state panchayat commissioner convened a hearing on the subject recently and concluded (under Section 213 of the Panchayat Act) that the pradhan of Silampur II GP under Kaliachak I Block should be removed from his chair. The instruction also states that he would not be able to contest in any elections in future. The Malda zilla parishad had in the 2005-06 financial year allotted funds of more than Rs 5 lakh, including value of grains, for implementing two schemes under the Central government’s food-for-work project. District officials said residents of Silampur Gram Panchayat II had lodged a complaint with the district administration that the local body chief, Mr Rahman, submitted false bills to show utilisation of funds allotted for the two projects without executing excavation work of a pond and a roadside canal for waterways. On the basis of the complaint, the authorities had deputed an executive engineer and the deputy secretary of the Malda zilla parishad to inquire into the matter. When it was found that no work had been done for the two FFW schemes and that all vouchers had been faked, the former district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhury, put up the matter to the principal secretary of state panchayat and rural development, Mr MN Roy. Mr Roy had forwarded the matter to the panchayat commissioner for action.The Malda district administration has been receiving similar complaints regarding defalcation of Central government funds under the same project, which is presently known as 100-days’ National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Bird-flu scare in Kaliachak

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 26: The Malda animal resources development officials today sent a surveillance team to Balutola village near Indo-Bangladesh border in Kaliachak III block after the death of six pigeons, even as bird-flu scare has gripped the residents of the border villages in the wake of pigeons’ death. Authorities said a few days back some pigeons died all of a sudden at Balutola village. “To ascertain the cause of the pigeons’ death, we have sent a team to the village,” Dr NK Shit, deputy director, Malda ARD, said. It may be recalled that following outbreak of bird-flu in Bangladesh, the Malda district administration had recently convened a meeting to review the situation. A bird-flu alert was also sounded in the villages situated close to the Bangla border. The border security forces and the animal resources development officials were instructed to keep vigil along the border. The ARD officials were also instructed to disinfect the wheels of the trucks, which enter India through land customs stations like Mahadipur. Spray of sodium hypo-chloride on wheels of the trucks entering the country from Bangladesh has continued at the land customs stations on the Indian side of the Bangla border, the ARD officials, said. The ARD officials had also requested the forest employees to report about movement of birds in the jungles. Recently, the forest officials sent a dead owl with having bird-flu symptoms to the ARD. The ARD officials, meanwhile, are also collecting blood samples of birds by visiting poultry firms. The ARD officials said in case of having suspicion, they send the blood samples of the birds to the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory in Kolkata for test. On the other hand, after the death of pigeons, the block officials are coordinating with the border security officials to get proper information regarding dead birds along the border. “There is no fear of bird-flu in the area,” Dr Shit claimed. Meanwhile, poultry firm owners are fearing a fall in their businesses following the bird-flu scare in the area. Officials, however, said there was nothing to panic as all steps have been taken to prevent the disease from spreading in the area.

Criminals lynched in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 23: Two criminals were lynched by locals at a crowded place in English Bazaar town around 9.15 a.m. today. Police said the locals caught the criminals when they were trying to snatch a bag from a rice trader on NH-34 at English Bazaar this morning. One of the miscreants opened fire when the trader, Mr Gopinath Saha, tried to resist. Mr Saha, however, escaped unhurt. While two snatchers were trying to grab the bag from the trader, one of their partners was waiting on a two-wheeler alongside the highway. After Mr Saha shouted for help, locals rushed to the spot and caught the snatchers. The angry people then assaulted all the three snatchers. While two of the snatchers succumbed to their injuries on way to Malda district hospital, the third one was seriously injured. Police have seized the two-wheeler and started an investigation. Senior police officials said the snatchers were probably the members of a local criminal gang, either from Kaliachak or Sujapur. The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has demanded a proper inquiry into the incident. According to them, Mr Saha was going to his rice shop at Netaji Market with Rs 12,000 in cash with him when the criminals attacked him. The Malda ASP, Mr S Sarkar, said efforts are on to identify the criminals.

Cheat slur on Malda ration dealers

Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 20: - People from various villages of Panchanandapur today staged demonstration in front of the modified ration dealers’ shops under the banner of CPI-ML (Liberation), demanding that the M T dealers issue cash memos to them against the ration and other items they purchase.

The villagers accused the MR dealers of charging additional money from them and selling the items meant for public distribution system (PDS) in the open market.

The locals alleged that the dealers do not supply materials to the consumers according to the specification of the food and supplies department.

The Kaliachak II block development officer, Mr. Debanjan Roy, told The Statesman that he had received such complaints from the people and approached the food inspector to inquire into the matter.

“The inquiry report is yet to be submitted. Once I get the report from the food and supplies department officials s, I will suggest them to take necessary action against the dealers”, he said.

The CPI-ML (Liberation) leaders have also lodged a complaint with the BDO against the dealers and informed him that they would stage an agitation against the unscrupulous MR dealers for “cheating” the poor people.

It was alleged that MR dealers do not issue cash memos to the ration cardholders and consumers in a bid to manage extra stock of rice wheat, kerosene and sugar allotted from the government.

“It is a common practice among the MR dealers who sell shock of materials allotted for PDS in open marker to earn profit”.

Mr. Mrityunjay Das, a CPI-ML (Liberation) leader, said: “ The M R dealers have started issuing cash memos to the consumers after today’s agitation”.

Minister slams mango growers, exporters

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 18: State parliamentary affairs and environment minister Mr Sailen Sarkar today criticised the Malda's mango growers and exporters for their "traditional business mentalities". Addressing a mango growers' meeting here today, Mr Sarkar, said: "Mango growers should adopt the modern methods of production to stay in the market in this era of competition. Exporters of mango and litchi should also raise their standards." He added that exporters export mangoes via Mahadipur land customs station in English Bazaar adopting illegal ways. "A group of exporters, on paper, send 10 MT mango on one truck but the truck actually carry 15 to 16 MT mango (5 to 6 MT overloaded item is being exported without papers). As a result, the Malda exporters are facing problem to collect price of mango, exported illegally, from Bangladeshi importers", the minister, said. He expressed unhappiness over the apparent reluctance of the Malda Merchants' Chamber of Commerce to develop mango industry in the district and inspire the exporters to export mangoes to the European countries. "Please get rid of the habit of exporting mangoes to Bangladesh via Mahadipur land customs station ignoring the system of post harvest management and packing for mango and litchi", the minister told the exporters.

Bird-flu alert at Bangla border

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, April 17: Following an outbreak of bird-flu in Bangladesh, the district administrations of north Bengal are taking precautionary steps to prevent the disease from spreading in the region. Since most of the north Bengal districts share border with Bangladesh, a bird-flu alert has been sounded in the border areas.The Malda district administration today convened a meeting to review the situation. Officials of Border Security Force (BSF), animal resources development, health, police and common people were present at the meeting. The ARD officials were instructed to disinfect the wheels of the trucks which enter India through the Mahadipur land customs station, at the port. The health officials were also asked to coordinate with the ARD officials in conducting medical check up of the drivers and assistants of the trucks which enter into the country from Bangladesh. The BSF jawans posted at Mahadipur land customs station at English Bazaar have been urged to stay in touch with the district administration officials. It may be recalled that officials at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas had started the anti bird-flu drive yesterday following an instruction from the Union agriculture ministry. In South Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts also, the drive has already been launched. The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De, said: “The BSF officials have been urged to keep a vigil on the border and report to the administration in case of detecting dead birds or birds with having bird-flu symptoms. They have also been requested to keep a watch on the ailing birds.”The PWD officials, meanwhile, have been instructed to coordinate the matter in case of large scale culling. The ARD officials would also visit poultry farms along the Indo-Bangladesh border to observe the condition of the birds. On suspicion, they would collect blood samples and send the same for test to Bhopal via the state officials, Ms De, said. Meanwhile, import of chicken from Bangladesh has been restricted after the outbreak of bird-flu in the neighbouring country.

Citu, RSP activists clash in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 13: A clash between activists of two labour unions ~ one backed by the Citu and the other by RSP ~ threw traffic out of gear on NH-34 at Rathabari, in the heart of English Bazaar town, for more than four hours this morning.Trouble broke out after a private bus driver was allegedly beaten up by a group of motor vehicle workers, backed by the Citu, for stopping the bus at Rathabari traffic signal post early this morning. The incident later snowballed into a clash between activists of the Citu-backed union for small motor vehicle workers and the RSP-backed union for private bus and mini bus workers.The RSP activists blocked NH-34 and other connecting roads, including the flyover at Rathabari, to protest against the Citu’s alleged highhandedness. Senior police officials rushed to the spot to control the situation. The situation, however, turned violent after the police allegedly resorted to lathicharge to disperse the clashing activists of the two groups. Later, Malda SDO Ms Arunima De reached the spot and assured the agitators that they would inquire into the incident. She reportedly told the agitators that Malda SP had not ordered for the lathicharge.Protesting against the attack on the bus driver, all private buses and mini buses stayed off the roads for a better part of the day today. Bus services, however, resumed in the evening. It was learnt that recently an altercation took place between the bus operators and small contract carrier workers over the issue of picking up passengers from Rathbari. The carrier workers were not in favour of the bus operators picking up passengers from Rathabari. Anti-Citu workers’ unions, backed by Trinamul Congress and Congress, also joined the RSP-backed union in today’s clash.After the attack on the bus driver around 6.00 am today, all private bus owners, workers and union leaders raided the area with iron rods and other weapons. They also ransacked the Citu’s temporary office at Rathbari. Several persons were injured in the clash. The Citu supporters, however, escaped unhurt when their office was raided this morning. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said that the SDO would convene a meeting with both groups to sort out the dispute. He, however, denied allegation that the police resorted to lathicharge to control the situation. “I have no such idea,” he said. No one has been arrested yet.

Solid waste management plant faces land hurdle in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 12: The CPI-M-led Old Malda Municipality is finding it difficult to tackle the movement launched by the locals against the alleged land acquisition bid for the setting up of a solid waste management plant here. The state environment department has given green signal to the unit and, in the first phase, allotted Rs 2 crore for it. The locals, it may be recalled, has launched an agitation to stop acquisition of vest land for the establishment of the chemical unit. The land in question has been occupied by businessmen and some downtrodden families.Today, the CPI (ML) Liberation submitted a memorandum to the Malda district administration, alleging that the OMM authorities are evicting poor families for the materialisation of the chemical unit project. It was also learnt that some of the people, who are likely to be affected, had applied to the concerned department seeking deed of rights for living here. Trouble broke out after the OMM authorities issued a notice to the locals, instructing them to vacate the land with immediate effect. Asked to comment on the issue, the CPI-M’s Malda district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said people have occupied the land illegally.

Bus terminus , road to be named after Ghani Khan

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 11: The Congress leaders of Malda are set to observe the first death anniversary of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury on 14 April. Two programmes would be organised to mark the day, Congress leaders, said. Leaders of the Congress-led Malda Zilla Parishad and English Bazaar Municipality would also observe the death anniversary of Ghani Khan. The MZP sabhadhipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, has planned to begin work on the proposed central bus terminus near Rabindra Bhawan along NH-34 on 14 April. "The project would be named after Barkat da", Mr Chakraborty, said. "Work on the proposed terminus would begin with an estimated expenditure of Rs 1.35 crore. The total cost of the project is Rs 6.52 crore. The terminus would be named after Ghani Khan," Mr Chakraborty, said. It may be recalled that the central bus terminus idea was conceived in 1995 by the CPI-M and its foundation was laid in 2001 by Mr Susanta Ghosh, the then state transport minister.He had allotted funds for the project. However, the project is yet to materialise. Meanwhile, to mark Ghani Khan's death anniversary, the English Bazaar municipality has taken up an expansion work of the station road leading to Ghani Khan's residence at Kotwali in English Bazaar. This road would also be named after Ghani Khan.

Hospitals lack technical hands in Malda

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, April 10: Members of Malda district health executive committee today decided not to purchase sophisticated medical equipment due to lack of technical hands in various hospitals of the district, including the Malda district hospital. The decision was taken after the superintendent of Malda district hospital pointed out that the hospitals lack technical hands to handle these sophisticated equipment.The health committee members said that modern medical equipment were gathering dust in store rooms.“Under the circumstances, we had no other option but to hand over these equipment to government-run health institutions in Kolkata,” they said.Malda district administration officials and members of the health executive committee also raised the question of accountability of the staff and doctors in various the hospitals in the district. The officials and members of the committee instructed the health authorities to chalk out a plan for infrastructure development in the hospitals. The health authorities were also asked to take strong decision vis-à-vis placement of staff and doctors. The Malda CMOH has been instructed to make a report on infrastructure in hospitals and prepare a proposal for the placement of the staff for better management of the district hospitals. “The step has been taken to ensure that if the health officials face any problem in taking action against the errant hospital staff, the committee can easily take responsibility to manage the problems”, said a senior district official. The CMOH has been instructed to submit a list of irresponsible and absentee doctors to the committee. “Since the CMOH can not transfer a doctor, the committee would recommend proposal for transfer to the government”, said Mr Abdul Khaleque, Malda additional district magistrate (general).

Malda gears up for welfare of minority commuinity

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 10: Based on Sachar committee recommendations for Indian Muslims, the Centre has instructed the state government to expedite Prime Minister’s 15-point programme in all the districts. The Malda district administration today convened a meeting, for the first time, to form a district committee to implement the PM’s 15-point programme, officials said. State chief secretary Mr Amit Kiran Deb has instructed the Malda district authorities to form the committee for this new project, said Mr Abdul Khaleque, the Malda additional district magistrate, who has been selected as the director of the minority development and welfare committee. “Henceforth selection panel will comprise a member from minority community for the appointment. If more than 10 persons are to be appointed from minority community, it is imperative to include a minority member in the selection panel”, Mr Khaleque, said.It was further decided that 15 per cent of the funds for any developmental project would be spent especially for an area where the minority people share at least 25 per cent of population. Officials said that the state government has decentralized the minorities directorate, dividing it in two parts ~ Madrassa Education Directorate and Directorate of Minority Development and Welfare. The PM’s 15-point programme include setting up educational centres of Sarba Siksha Avijan, Kasturba Gandhi Schools and ICDS in the minority dominated areas. Apart from modernisation of Madrassa Education, the programme aims at developing Urdu education.This programme stresses on the requirements of minority people in railways, army, banking and other sectors, officials said. A portion of the funds in the schemes such as Swarna Jayanti Swarojgar Yojana or Indira Awas Yojana would be shared by the minorities. Apart from the technical education, minority students would also get bank loans on priority basis. It may be recalled that more than 50 per cent people belong to minority community in Malda and Murshidabad districts. The minority dominated blocks, such as Chanchal, Kaliachak and Ratua, would be taken special care of, officials said.

Govt plans silk park in Malda

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, April 9: The state government is planning to set up a silk park in Malda to boost silk production in the district. Three state ministers ~ Mr Manab Mukherjee, Mr Narayan Biswas and Mr Sailen Sarkar ~ today held a meeting with the officials concerned and representatives of small scale industrial units to discuss ways of setting up the proposed silk park. Mr Manab Mukherjee reportedly requested the Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das and sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, to select a suitable plot of land in Kaliachak area, where the farmers produce cocoons, for setting up the silk park. It was also discussed that the state government would develop infrastructure for the new silk park and welcome the private entrepreneurs. According to the proposal, there would a group of units, based on sufficient local production of cocoons, for reeling of silk yarn and twisting of yarn. “The department is planning to promote value added silk (textile) industries here”, the minister, said. Mr Bijan Mandal, deputy director of sericulture, micro small enterprise and textile, said: “Mr Manab Mukherjee held a meeting with us to review the progress of sericulture here and its prospects. The three ministers also interacted with the local entrepreneurs about the proposed silk park. If private entrepreneurs do not show interest in this concept, it would become difficult for us to materialise it.” According to officials, Mr Mukherjee today visited Piasbari near Gour in English Bazaar. Pisabari is a model unit of quality mulberry plantation and rearing of cocoons. The minister also visited a private silk unit at Danga near Sujapur in Kaliachak and the entrepreneur reportedly expressed his interest to be a part of the proposed silk park.The annual estimated production of raw silk yarn in Malda district is about 85 percent of the total output of West Bengal. If considered in terms of money, it amounts to approximately Rs 4 crore. In Malda, 1,124 MT of silk yarn (including the fine and coarse varieties, motka, among other types) is produced. The target is to produce up to 1,500 MTs of silk yarn in the next three years. Officials said that at a time when the silk producers were facing a financial crisis in adopting modern technology for producing fine silk yarn here, DCM (Dupion Coarser and Motka) is the best way to develop the silk industry here. “Malda is dominating the Indian market of Dupion and Motka,’’ Mr Mandal, said.

Woes for AIDS patients

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 9: Swami Divyananda Maharaj, chief of Malda Ram Krishna Mission, today said that Kolkata is not a proper place for the treatment of poor AIDS patients. Citing an example, he said: "The doctor of a reputed medical institution in Kolkata recently handed over a long prescription to a poor and illiterate patient from Malda, advising more than 10 medical tests." "The patient, a woman, returned from Kolkata and showed me the prescription, seeking medicines. I was taken aback and requested the doctors of Malda district hospital to conduct tests on the patient as advised the doctors in Kolkata. The doctors have conducted the tests and confirmed presence of AIDS virus in the woman."Divyananda Maharaj said the woman's husband, who is also an HIV + patient, was admitted in the same medical institution in Kolkata and that he too has returned here complaining negligence on the part of doctors in Kolkata. The couple are the residents of Sahapur in Old Malda block. With the help of the NGOs, especially the Malda RKM, they had gone to Kolkata for treatment. It may be recalled that one of the family members of the couple was sacked by her employer after it came to light that she belonged to an AIDS-hit family. The elderly woman then sought the help of the Malda RKM to save the lives of her family members.

Leaders in relief race

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 5: Political leaders have made a beeline for Ratua, Harishchandrapur and Habibpur blocks to provide relief material to the fire victims. More than 1,000 houses were destroyed in various villages of these three blocks in separate fire incidents over the past two days.State relief minister Mr Mortaza Hossain visited the affected villages today. Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi is also in touch with the local Congress leaders. The worst affected Naya Bilaimari and Maniknagar villages fall in Mr Das Munshi’s Lok Sabha constituency. State environment minister Mr Sailen Sarkar is the MLA from this area. Relief minister Mr Mortaza Hossain who visited some of the affected villages today, said; “Those whose houses were completely destroyed in the fire would get Rs 4,000 each and owners of the partially damaged houses would get Rs 2,000 each.” The minister admitted that ongoing relief operation was not adequate for the massive losses caused to the villagers. He announced that the victims would also get cash relief for continuing their business. “Those engaged in small trade would get grants from our department,” he said.On the other hand, the Malda fire brigade officials today said that at least 200 houses were gutted in yesterday’s fire at Shirsi Kaliabari at the Indo-Bangla border in Habibpur block. The officer-in-charge of Malda fire brigade, Mr PK Saha, said: “We had started work around 3.30 p.m. and the fire was brought under control at 2.30 a.m. Due to communication problem, we faced lots of difficulties to deal with the situation.” Senior Malda district Congress leader Mr Soumitra Roy also visited the affected areas today. Mr Roy was accompanied by sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty. “We have approached the Centre through Mr Das Munshi for the grant from Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana,” Mr Chakraborty, said. The Malda additional district magistrate today held a meeting with the fire brigade officials to discuss how to deal with frequent fire incidents in the district. The Malda fire brigade officials have suggested setting up of fire stations at Mangalbari in Old Malda, Kaliachak, Ratua, Harischandrapur and Gazole. Currently, the district has only two fire stations ~ one at English Bazaar and the other at Chanchal in northern Malda.

Malda DM mulls fire control cell

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 4: The Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das, today said that a fire control cell would be set up here to deal with the rising fire incidents in the district.Meanwhile, state relief minister Mr Mortaza Hossain has instructed the Malda district administration to immediately provide compensation to the fire-affected villagers of Ratua and Harishchandrapur blocks, even as 50 huts were reduced to ashes in a fresh fire at Sirsi Kalaibari in Habibpur block today. The minister is likely to reach here on Thursday to supervise relief works in the wake of yesterday’s devastating fire that rendered over 4,000 people homeless in the two blocks of the district. The Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das, today confirmed that a four-year-old boy died of burn injuries in Harishchandrapur block yesterday.The DM told reporters here today that a fire control cell would be set up to deal with fire incidents which has become a menace in the district. According to officials, eight separate fire incidents have been recorded in the district over the past seven days. They, however, said that incidents of fire between March and April are a “common phenomenon” in the district. The district relief department today sent a primary report to the state government, making it clear that 730 huts were gutted and 4,000 persons rendered homeless in yesterday’s twin fire. At Naya Bilaimari and Maniknagar alone, 600 houses were destroyed and 50 cattle heads died, the report said. The estimated loss is Rs 3 crore, they said. In Harishchandrapur block, 130 huts were destroyed at Dangi and Satrai villages. Addressing a Press conference here today, the DM, Mr Das, said: “We have urged the state government to provide us Rs 1 lakh as cash government relief, besides allotting 10,000 tarpaulin sheets for the fire-affected people.” Mr Das admitted that due to a poor communication link, relief operation has been affected in the villages. “We are finding it difficult to distribute relief material to the victims. It is an arduous task to reach the affected villages which are surrounded by the Fulohar river. Waterways is the only means of communication there,” Mr Das, said.He added that 34.79 quintal of dry food and grain, 600 tarpaulin sheets and garments have been supplied to Naya Bilaimari and Maniknagar villages in Ratua block. On the other hand, 15.60 quintal of food packs, including grains, has been supplied to Harishchandrapur.

Row over mango orchard leads to clash in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 1: Residents of Sujapur village in Malda’s Kaliachak police station area confined five policemen in the room of a police camp yesterday following a family clash over the right of a mango orchard. While locals alleged that the police fired at least five rounds at the public, district authorities said that the police fired a single round to disperse the attackers.Nobody was wounded in the police firing. Additional forces had to be sent to the spot of occurrence to rescue the policemen under attack. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said the miscreants bombed the roof of the kitchen attached to the police camp and locked up five policemen as they entered a room to fetch their rifles to resist the attackers.The police camp had been set up in the house of Mohammad Saidul Alam at Sujapur.The house had been attacked by Alam’s family members over the right of a mango orchard and other property, the police said. The Malda SP said that there was a feud between Md Saidul Alam and neighbour Dost Mohmmad over the controversial property which included a mango orchard. On Friday, Dost Mohammad and his associates allegedly broke down the wall of the orchard. A complaint was lodged with the police and two persons were arrested in connection with the offense. The situation flared up yesterday when Alam and his people were collecting the bricks of the broken wall. The police have raided the village twice since the confinement incident but nobody has been arrested so far.

Inter-community marriage sparks row in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 18: The English Bazaar police have decided against lifting pickets that were set up at Hyderpur in Malda town last evening to defuse tension following an inter-community marriage. The Malda police have also decided to forward the newly married couple to the court tomorrow to seek judgment in the case because the girl is allegedly underage at 17 year and six months. Police officials said that there was tension in the area following a clash between the family of the newly weds. Trouble broke out when locals forced the groom's father to divide a plot of land equally among his son and the daughter-in-law, police said. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said that 19-year-old Hindu boy Pitam Das married the Muslim girl Manti Biswas after Holi and started a conjugal life in their home with the permission of their parents. "The girl who has started applying vermilion to her head as does a Hindu bride was leading a happy married life with the boy's Hindu family but someone created problem to disturb the peace," Mr Mondal, said. It was simply a love marriage and the couple had sought help of a marriage register but could not register their marriage because the girl was underage. They have made an affidavit according to the suggestion of the marriage register, the police said. "We have picked up the couple and the parents. No one has so far lodged any compliant against the other," the SP, said.