Khan Choudhury's birth anniversary after death

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 31: Due to the 12-hour bandh today, called by the Trinamul Congress, the Malda Congress leaders observed a nominal death anniversary of Indira Gandhi at their party office. The low-key observance of their leader’s death anniversary has geared the Congress workers to mark the birth anniversary of former Malda MP ABA Ghani Khan Choudury tomorrow with more enthusiasm. The Congress leaders have planed to organise a motorcycle rally from Ghani Khan’s house to Malda Congress office in the morning. Later in the day they will organise Mashal Dour along the same route. A function will be also be organised at Malda party’s office. It will be attended by Malda Congress’ top brass like Mr AH Khan Choudhury, Malda MP and brother of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury; his sister Ms Rubi Noor; Sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty and former district president Mrs Sabitri Mitra. According to some sources, Mr PR Das Munshi might attend too. Mr Somen Mitra, former PCC president, will be also be present at the programme. The Congress leaders had organised a swimming competition here a few days ago and they will distribute the prizes at the function tomorrow. They will also distribute fruits, and clothes to the downtrodden including patients of Malda district hospital and railway hospital, and other orphanage homes. Throughout the day the Congress workers will organise blood donation camps in English Bazaar town and other block areas. It may be noted that veteran Congress leader, and former state and union minister ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury died on 14 April 2006. This is his second birth anniversary.

Fake Indian currency seized

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 31: The Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border after seizing fake Indian currency notes from Bangladesh. The DIG of Beherampur BSF, Mr. Dilwar Singh, said that acting on a tip off the BSF officials had intercepted one Indian citizen and seized fake currency worth Rs. 1 lakh from the Chorianatapur border outpost area on 18 October. According to him, on 21 October the BSF had again recovered fake currency worth Rs. 1,50,000, from the same areas and handed them over to the police. “They were carrying fake currencies from the Bangladesh side. The border vigilance has been intensified,” Mr Dilwar Singh informed. It may be noted that the border areas are under the Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar police stations, and Malda police had recovered fake currencies and arrested some linkmen of interstate racket based on the information of Jharkhand police. The Malda SP had claimed that the racketeers were collecting fake currencies from Bangladesh.

Silk worm shortage hits sericulture sector

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 30: Both the state and Central sericulture officials said today that privately licensed silk producers would be able to meet the acute crisis of silk worm eggs in Malda and other districts for the Aghrayani crop season.A scientist of the Central sericulture board in Malda, Mr Sudip Sen, said: “Licensed silk producers (LSP) have produced huge silk worm eggs of 'Jayarace' variety for the farmers for rearing silk worm here”. It may be noted that owing to bad weather, both Centre and state sericulture departments’ farmhouse could produce cocoons for collecting mother seed in West Bengal and high breed silkworm eggs in the state. Other sources could not produce such mother cocoons for producing silkworm eggs in last crop season. Mr Sen said: “At present, we have a shortage of silk worm eggs by 50 per cent due to bad weather in the last crop season, mainly in south Bengal. Our farm houses at Berhampur and Rampurhat in Birbhum could not produce cocoons for female moths though we had been able to collect other variety of cocoons (for male moths) from other states”. According to him, farmhouses of central silk board in Kaliaganj and Raiganj in North Dinjapur have been able to produce some mother seed to some extent. Nearly 75 lakh DFL (disease free laying) is required to meet up demand of the local farmers in this district. Out of that requirement we would be able to meet up 20 to 25 per cent. The rest would be depending on the state and private producers. According to the deputy director of state sericulture Mr. Bijan Mandal, the state officials have supplied 2.5 lakh DFL among the farmers. According to Mr. Mandal, one LSP Sahajahan has been able to procure 5 lakh eggs of 'Jayarace’ variety for this district from South India. Mr Sen said LSP used to cover more than 70 per cent demand of silkworm eggs in Malda, Birbhum and Murshidabad areas in every crop seasons. “There is no bar to procure Jayarace variety for private producer from different states. But we cannot procure Jayarace eggs officially and the cost of the eggs would be higher than the private producers here. The private producers are selling such Jayarace seeds here at Rs 250 per 100 DFL with a decent rate of profit”, Mr. Sen said. “At this moment of acute crisis of silkworm eggs for popular high breed variety the privately licensed producers can meet up the present 50 per cent shortfall by supplying other variety here”, said Mr. Sen.

Power cuts the order of the day

MALDA, Oct 30: After the end of the puja the electricity board has started frequent power cuts following directions from their authorities. The division engineer Mr AK Ghosh said: “We have to follow the instruction of the higher officials.” He said that during the puja, the department had tried hard to supply power without any interruption, but now instructions for power cuts have been given to them. Yesterday from 1.45 pm to 2.45 pm, 4.45 pm to 5.45 pm and again 8.20 pm to 9.20 pm, the department cut down the power supply for three hours in English Bazaar town. It may be noted that before the puja, the Malda traders’ body had started a movement and threatened to boycott electricity bills from 1 Oct. They had also proposed that the department could make up the crisis through power cuts during the day from 11 am to 5 pm, but not between 5 pm to 11 pm at night. “We would watch the trend of load shedding for a few more days. If power cuts continue, we would boycott electricity bills”, said the district secretary of Malda merchants’ chamber of commerce. The body had also raised the question of security of the traders and the local people in the market places, after the murder of a woman and her daughter and attacks on a jeweller in English Bazaar town during power cut. n SNS

Ration dealer to pay compensation

MALDA, Oct. 30:-Abdul Khaleque, a ration dealer at Ranghat village under the Chanchal police station, agreed to pay compensation. The decision was taken at a conciliatory meeting organised yesterday evening. The dealer said that he would pay Rs 2 lakh for the maintenance of a local mosque and a temple. The villagers were deprived of food grains for a long time, due to alleged malpractice in his ration shop. Martuza Ali, a local CPI-(M) member of Dhangara gram panchayat organised the meeting where a police officer was present. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal said: “ I do not have information regarding the matter. I will look into it. The police have been instructed to inquire into any untoward incident, following public outrage."Sources said that Abdul Khaleque is very close to the local CPI-(M) party members. n SNS

Villagers demand compensation from dealers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 29: Tensions prevail in Ratua police station area after people assembled demanding ‘compensation’ against the allegedly corrupt ration dealers since last night. The district controller of food and supplies has sent a team of inspectors to control the situation with the help of the local administration today. “I have received information that a group of people have campaigned by microphone to assemble people against some dealers to lodge a protest demanding compensation. The dealers are afraid to move out of their homes. I have sent a team to look into the matter,” Mr NK Saha, Malda DCFS said. According to them, modified dealer Mrs Masuda Begam and her family members are under tremendous pressure to pay compensation at their village under Maharajpur gram panchayat in Ratua. Similarly, another dealer at Ramnagar village under Sripur II gram panchayat has been threatened to pay compensation for failing to supply food grains according to the demand of the consumers. It was learnt that since Mrs Begam and her family members are close to the Congress party, Left local political leaders took the initiative to mobilise villagers against her. The victim dealer informed the ration dealers’ association that she was under pressure at kangaroo court (a local unauthorised court) held last night to pay more than Rs 15 lakhs and it was decided that she would have to pay Rs 6 lakhs. “We are investigating the allegation,” a food inspector said. It may be noted that the Malda dealers association has been instructed to lift food materials and distribute them to all consumers according to demand. Last week all ration shops were closed in this district following the movement of the ration dealers’ association. Dealers have started lifting food materials today from their respective distributors, Mr NK Saha said. “The total requirement of wheat for APL is 1700 MT for a month. There is sufficient stock in the FCI at present,” Mr Saha said.

Statesman News Service

MALDA, October 26:- Acting on verbal complaints from a girl’s parents, the Ratua police in Malda yesterday arrested a married couple on charges that the groom had persuaded the minor girl to marry him.

The Malda court dismissed the matter today after the girl proved she was an adult by age and had married the room Navin Mandal willingly.

The incident has left the police in poor light especially after it had slapped kidnapping charges against the groom under sections 363 and 366 of the IPC.

It so happened that Navin Mandal (24 ) and Ankhimoni Mandal ( a first year college student ) married on 21 October officially and returned home at Bhagabanpur village in Ratua on 25 October only to face police action on the say so of the girl’s parents.

Fearing she would be forcibly taken back to her parents’ house, the firl approached the locals for safety. The villagers organised a conciliation to solve the issue when the irls’s family members arrived at the scene and tried to take her away by force.

The villagers resisted the move, freed her and approached the Ratua police with the issue but the result was unreasonable. Ignoring the girl’s claim that she was an adult and that she had married Navin willingly, the police arrested Navin under section 41 Cr PC and forward the couple to court.

The girl proved her being an adult in court today and the court ordered their release. “ The couple was released according to the court’s orders. We are not aware where they are now”, said a thoroughly embarrassed Malda S P Mr. D K Mondal.

River pollution sparks row

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 26: Local Durga puja organisers who were prevented from dumping waste into the Mahananda river following the guidelines of the Calcutta High Court and the Environment Pollution Board, have criticised the authorities concerned for allowing several drains to meet the Mahananda river. "If wastes can pollute the river, so are the drains. There is a high drain on the bank of the Mahananda in English Bazaar town. This train is connected to the river. There are several other drains as well which meet the river and pollute it," said a local puja committee member. Mr Manoranjan Uapadhayay, secretary of a big puja committee, questioned: "Why should we follow the direction of the PCB if the English Bazaar civic body continues to pollute the river through drains?" Asked about the allegation, the English Bazaar municipality vice chairman, Mr Biswanath Guho, said: "Efforts are on to release the drain water into the river after treatment." The chief of the civic body, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, however, said that the state government should cooperate with them in executing the proposal. "The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore under the Mahananda Action Plan. However, while the Siliguri Municipal Corporation has got the amount to implement the project, the English Bazaar and the Old Malda civic bodies have been ignored," Mr Tiwari, said.

Preparation for varisty gain momentum in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, October 25: - The local committee for the proposed Malda University, headed by the environment minister Mr. Sailen Sarkar held a meeting at the Malda district magistrate office yesterday to finalise its own Act.

The committee has already drafted an Act for the proposed university and sought opinion from the members of the committee comprising public representatives, college teachers and principals, students' leaders and the government officials.

The district magistrate Mr. C R Das had convened the meeting where Mr. Sailen Sarkar, environment minister, Mr. Subimal Sen, vice president of Higher Education Council, Mr. Dilip Sarkar, Comptroller of Examination and Mr. Subrata Sanyal, Inspector of Colleges of the University of North Bengal, were present.

It was decided that the drafted Act would be sent to Mr. Subimal Sen, vice president of HEC by 10 November for finalisation. The copy of the drafted Act was distributed among the present members of the local committee.

Apart from the Act of the proposed university, the officials had sought suggestions from the members present at the meeting for selecting traditional and modern subjects related to modern and professional studies. The proponents of the proposed university said that members of the land subject committee has so far not been able to finalise the land for the varsity.

Two places - Narayanpur in Old Malda and Madhabnagar in English Bazaar has been earmarked for setting up of the university.

The resource mobilization committee for the proposed university held another meeting yesterday at Malda College to review its own fund position. They have decided to collect more funds for setting up of the university. #

Malda heaves a sigh of relief, but not S Dinajpur

Statesman News Service

MALDA/BALURGHAT, Oct. 25: While ration dealers in Malda district softened their stand today, things went out of control at Idrakpur under Balurghat police station area in South Dinajpur district where locals gheraoed a modified ration dealer, Mr Arun Choudhury, over alleged irregular supply of foodgrain.Members of the Malda Ration Dealers' Association today decided to open the ration shops from next week. They submitted memorandums to the district magistrate and the superintendent of police, seeking proper security. "We want to serve the people by maintaining public distribution system. The district administration, however, should look into our problems. The chief minister who functions from Kolkata would not be able to provide us security. Hence, the district administration has to take care of our safety and security," said Mr Pramod Ghosh, the district secretary of Malda MR Dealers' Association. The association today decided to renew its demands for transportation cost and mileage rebate system to make up the losses ration dealers had suffered during the stalemate."There is a general system of payment of Rs 10 for carrying foodgrain (APL) per quintal from source point (MR distributors' house) to a ration shop. However, we are not getting additional transportation cost of 57 paise for extra per km which was declared earlier by the government," Mr Ghosh, said. Meanwhile, residents of Idrakpur under Balurghat police station gheraoed a modified ration dealer, Mr Arun Choudhury, yesterday demanding full quota of foodgrain. They alleged that the dealer had been depriving them of their allotted quota of foodgrain and siphoning a part.The police had to intervene to bring the situation under control and the dealer had to give an assurance in black and white that he would be fulfilling the quotas henceforth. In a similar incident at Swaralbati of Vikahar under Tapan police station, the police had to intervene to control the people who were in a belligerent mood over alleged PDS controversy in their area. The district administration sent a deputy magistrate in the area and after inspection he detected imbalance in the stock shown by a dealer Md Rahimuddin Miah.The dealer's security deposit has been frozen and an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of foodgrains has been launched.

Recreational therapy boost for psychiatric patients

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 24: The newly reopened psychiatric unit of the Malda district hospital has successfully brought a few psychiatric patients into the mainstream, providing them with recreational therapy at various Durga puja pandals, the Malda CMOH, Dr Radha Raman Banik, said today. The 10-beded psychiatric unit had experimented the theory of the therapy during last Durga puja and observed improvement of those patients who were suffering from depression owing to social and family problems. The therapy was experimented on such patients."A senior district administration official was admitted to the Malda district hospital recently and returned home with healthy mental condition," said Dr Banik. He, however, refused the disclose the identity of the officer. According to him, the doctors and other staff of the hospital visited puja pandals and offered recreational therapy to the patients. "The patients responded positively," doctors said. Doctors discharged the patients within a short period and advised them to go home. The CMOH said that Dr PP Dasgupta and Dr KK Ghosh are handling the patients alternatively with the help of six sisters and four other staff of the Malda district hospital's psychiatric unit.

No end to ration deadlock

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 24: Members of the Malda district MR Dealers' Association today formally informed the district controller of food and supplies that they would not lift and distribute food and other material this week. Speaking to this correspondent over telephone, the district secretary of the MR Dealers' Association, Malda, Mr Pramod Ghosh, said: "We have taken the decision in consultation with our state leadership. Tomorrow, we will hold a meeting to discuss our next step." The Malda district controller of food and supplies, Mr NK Saha, said: "We are lucky enough to get five weeks in October. Hopefully, we would execute public distribute system in the last week of this month." It was learnt that the MR dealers wanted to lift and distribute food and other material fortnightly to avoid paper works. The government, however, refused to accept the proposal. "In a district it would be impractical because dealers do not have infrastructure for fortnightly distribution," Mr NK Saha, said. "We need to appoint accountants to furnish papers to the food and supplies department officials. However, since the government remuneration is so poor, we are unable to appoint accountants. We appoint minimum two staff for distribution of rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene from our shop," said a local MR dealer.

Ration dealers' stir continues in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 23: Though the state committee of Ration Dealers' Association called off their stir after a meeting with chief minister and food minister in Kolkata today, the ration dealers of Malda refused to lift food and other materials today, said Mr NK Saha, the district controller of food and supplies. "The ration dealers have decided against lifting foodgrain this week. Though their parent association called off the agitation today, the ration dealers of Malda did not meet me today to confirm their stand," Mr Saha, added. He said that in a bid to maintain PDS supply, he would request the local ration dealers to lift foodgrain meant for APL and BPL consumers.It may be recalled that local ration dealers yesterday informed the authorities that they would not lift food material for PDS.The ration dealers had also threatened to surrender their licences if the authorities failed to provide them adequate security. The DCFS, Mr NK Saha, however, claimed that the ration deadlock would be solved in a day or two in the district."We need to fulfill the demands of wheat for APL consumers because the market rate of wheat is too high in Malda," Mr Saha, said. According to a survey conducted by the food and supplies department, the price of wheat is Rs. 6.75 per kg; the present market rate is Rs 10 to 12 per kg in Malda. In 2005, the PDS price and market price was equal but in early 2006 the market price of wheat increased drastically. As a result, the APL consumers are demanding wheat from PDS. The government is supplying 250-gram wheat per adult unit and 125 gram per minor unit per week. "We should increase the scale of wheat distribution to bring the situation under control", Mr Saha, said. Many APL consumers are also demanding rice from PDS because the present market price of such rice is Rs 13 to Rs 14 per kg.The scale of rice distribution was 1 kg per adult unit and 500 gram per minor unit per week. For BPL consumers, though the government used to distribute 750-gram grains per head per week but now it is distributing 650 gram because allocation has been decreased by 100 gram, food officials, said.

Malda students' body unhappy with administration

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 23: Members of the Students' Islamic Organisation of India, Malda branch, have expressed their unhappiness over the Malda district administration's apparent reluctance to allow them from using Brindaboni Maath, a playground near the district collectorate here, to organise a programme. Mr Arafat Ali, Malda district organiser of SIOI, said: "We have been seeking permission from the officials concerned since 19 September to use the playground for some hours on 6 November, but to no avail. On 19 September, we had applied to the zilla school authorities for Brindaboni play ground. Latter we had applied to the district magistrate on 24 September. On 27 September we had approached to the I-C of English Bazaar police station. The Malda SP was approached on 28 September. However, the officials are simply misguiding us. Now we have decided to approach the Malda SDO." The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said: "I have instructed the English Bazaar I-C to forward their application to the Malda SDO. As far as I know the school authorities are reluctant to offer the playground to the SIOI." According to the SIOI members, three caravans will originate from Kolkata, Delhi and Tiruvanantapuram, respectively on 4 November. The caravans would cover three regions of the country and would hold a conversing convention in Mumbai on 25 November. "The objective is to review the position of our organisation after 25 years of its formation," they said.The caravan coming from Kolkata will cover Malda on 6 November and students of three to four districts would assemble here. The caravan will move to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh via North Dinajpur before reaching Mumbai, they added.

Ration row worries Malda police

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 21: The Malda district administration has decided to deploy additional forces in some areas to deal with the rising cases of ration protests by the locals. Several ration dealers were attacked in the town in the recent past over alleged faulty rationing system in the district. According to police, ration protests would increase in the town after the completion of the pujas. Terming the situation as alarming, police said that since the political parties have also taken up the issue, it needs to be dealt in a serious manner. Yesterday, the police had to rush to Bamongram near Sujapur in Kaliachak police station area where two dealers, including the widow of a former dealer, were confined in their room by the locals over alleged irregular foodgrain supply.“Though the police had been able in tackling the situation, tension still prevails in the area,” said a senior police officer. If the police investigation is anything to go by, local criminals are behind the ration dealers. “We have decided to curb the problem with iron hand. Additional police forces will be deployed in the sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident,” the Malda superintendent of police, Mr DK Mondal, said.

Ration dealer confined in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 12: Hundreds of angry villagers today gheraoed the house of a ration dealer at Kendua in Malda's Habibpur police station area to protest against alleged faulty rationing system. Locals, especially from the Scheduled Caste community, were demanding compensation from the dealer, Apu Saha, who allegedly failed to supply food and other materials allotted under BPL and Antadaya schemes. The locals confined the dealer demanding compensation.They alleged that the dealers are not supplying them allotted food materials despite several reminders and are instead misbehaving with the consumers. The block development officer, food officials and police rushed to the spot and requested the angry locals to call off their agitation. Meanwhile, the Habibpur BDO today convened an all-political party meeting on the issue of faulty rationing system. They discussed ways of activating the shop level monitoring committee. On the other hand, the CPI-ML Liberation today staged agitation in five places ~ Kaliachak I, II and III blocks, Manikchak, and Chanchal I ~ on the same issue. The Malda district magistrate has instructed the officials concerned to listen to the villagers' grievances and take initiative to maintain the rationing system during Id and puja festivals.Police officials have also been directed to remain alert following public outrage against the faulty rationing system. It may be recalled that a few days ago angry mob had agitated in Harischandrapur, prompting the food officials to suspend an accused dealer. Local CPI-M leaders said the Antadaya project for poorest of the poor people has created more problems here."The dealers are receiving only rice from the FCI. The government has not sanctioned funds for transportation and other expenses," they said.

Civic body, police at loggerheads in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 11: The English Bazaar civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, today claimed that not just the boundary wall, the entire construction of Rathbari police out post and its annex building was unauthorised according to the municipality records. The Malda superintendent of police, Mr DK Mondal, however, has termed the construction legal. The row over alleged encroachment of municipality land by the Malda police has affected the relation between the Malda police and the civic body officials. A meeting was held yesterday between police officials and the civic body chief over the issue. It may be recalled that alleging encroachment, the civic body had recently prevented the police from constructing the boundary wall of the Rathbari police out post along the Station Road here. Though the police had earlier agreed to follow the alignment fixed by the municipal overseers for the construction of the boundary wall, the then English Bazaar civic body chief and senior CPI-M leader, Mr Pravat Acharya, claimed that he had objected to the construction when he was the chairman of the municipality. "As far as I know, the land on which the police out post was constructed was a vest land," he said.Mr Acharya, who is now a CPI-M councillor of the EBM, today suggested the civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, to write a letter to the land and land reforms department seeking the status of the land and its records. Speaking to reporters, the civic body chief, Mr Tiwai, said: "After examining the records of municipality, we can say that the entire construction of the police out post was unauthorised. No plan was submitted to the civic body and there is no record of mutation of the land." Similarly, another former chairman of the civic body and present English Bazaar MLA, Mr KN Choudhury, there is no question of municipal records as the land was disputed. "Police have grabbed the land and are not paying taxes to the municipality," said a senior municipality official. The Malda SP, Mr Mondal, however claimed that the land (.67 acre) was owned by the police. "The then district magistrate had acquired the land and handed it over to the police," Mr Mondal, said. "I admit that we do not have sufficient papers to prove our claim. I will show whatever papers we have to the senior police officials," Mr Mondal, added. Mr Mondal said there was no need to take permission from municipality for the construction of the police out post because it was a government building.

Ration dealer's son commits suicide

Statesman News Service

NALHATI/BURDWAN/MALDA, Oct. 9: A ration dealer’s son committed suicide in Birbhum’s Nalhati block and policemen and CPI-M leaders were assaulted in Burdwan as public outrage against corruption in the public distribution system continued to rock districts of south Bengal today. Police said that Mr Utpal Narasundar (28), son of Mr Chandra Kishore Narasundar, a ration dealer of Sitalgram in Nalhati police station area, hanged himself from the ceiling of his house this morning. He was reportedly suffering from depression as ‘pressure’ was mounting on his family and father over the past two days following an increase in public outrage over corrupt rationing practices. Family members of Narasundar said the youth was suffering from depression and feared an attack on his house. Mr Chandra Kishore Narasundar said: “Last Sunday, villagers gheraoed my house and threatened us with dire consequences if we decline to pay them a lump sum.” Mr Narasundar further alleged that nearly 1000 odd villagers gheraoed his house this morning and asked him to come to a village court that would decide the fine he would have to pay. “They imposed a fine of Rs 27 lakh and told me to pay up soon. They claimed that the amount would be distributed among APL and BPL card holders. As it was impossible for us to pay the amount, my son raised his voice. Assuming that tension could escalate, I forced my son inside a room in my house where he committed suicide,” said Mr Narasundar. Mr Satya Shankar Panda, SPBirbhum, confirming the incident said: “He was under tremendous pressure. He feared that the villagers might attack him. A large contingent of police forces have been sent to the area.” Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at Writers’ Buildings today, state home secretary Mr Prasad Ranjan Ray said the panchayat department had been asked to look into continuing violence against rationing practices in the districts. “This is not just public outrage, but has been done through political instigation,” he said. In Burdwan, irate crowds attacked policemen and CPI-M leaders at several places in fresh ration-related violence today. At Belon village in Galsi PS area, Burdwan, three policemen and three CPI-M leaders were assaulted. An irate mob raided the premises of Mr Tanti Hazra, the local dealer operating in the village. They allegedly robbed foodgrain, damaged vehicles and furniture. A police contingent led by Mr Gour Mukherjee, the circle inspector, was also attacked when they came to Mr Hazra’s rescue. The mob flared up when police lobbed eight teargas shells. Local CPI-M leaders Mr Basudeb Majhi, Mr Sanjoy Chowdhury and Mr Subrata Mallik were roughed up allegedly by their own cadres when they tried to calm the mob down. They were rushed to the local Pursa block health centre. Eight villagers were injured when police resorted to a lathicharge. At Koichar in the Mongalkote PS area fresh violence erupted when local dealer Mr Arup Josh refused to pay Rs 10 lakh as ‘fine’ that was demanded by ration card-holders. Police brought the situation under control. Meanwhile, in Murshidabad, district magistrate Mr Subir Bhadra refused to accept mass resignation from the Modified Ration Dealers’ Association and requested them to reconsider their decision to surrender licences. Leaders of Murshidabad MR Dealers’ Association had demanded security for dealers after violence in Nabagram and other areas. “I did not accept their resignations and requested them to reconsider their decision in view of the forthcoming Eid and Durga puja festivals”, said Mr Subir Bhadra, the Murshidabad DM. “I also informed them that the administration would accord full protection to them and help them regularise the public distribution system, but conversely take stern action if the rationing system is hampered and if they are found guilty on the basis of public complaints,” he added. Mr Bhadra and the SP, Mr Rahul Srivastava, convened an all-political party meeting today in a bid to check protests against the faulty rationing system. At least five ration dealers have been suspended recently in this district.

FB fumes

KOLKATA, Oct. 9: A section of unscrupulous ration dealers in collusion with functionaries of different panchayats have cornered stocks of foodgrain and sold them in the open market depriving above poverty level consumers of their legitimate quota. This has fuelled the spate of violence, attacks on ration dealers and looting of their stocks in different parts of the state for the past few days, the Forward Bloc said today. Most of the state’s panchayats are controlled by the CPI-M.SNS

Erosion hits train services

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 9: Train services to and from north Bengal were disrupted after a long stretch of railway track was affected by erosion at Bazarsha near Katowa in Burdwan district this morning.The railway authorities have cancelled two trains which originate from Malda and North Dinajpur. The 3145 Up and 3145 Dn Radhikapur passenger train and 219 Up and 220 Dn Howrah passenger trains from Malda town station have been cancelled. Eastern Railway authorities said that the 5959 Up and 5960 Dn Kamrup Express, 3141 Up and 3142 Dn Teesta Torsa Express and 3163 Up and 3164 Dn Hate Bazaare Express have been diverted for the day. These trains will run via Rampurhat to Burdwan and Bandel. Similarly, the 2510 Guwahati-Bangalore Express will run on the same route via Rampurhat.The timings of two trains ~ Up Hate Bazaare and Up Jansatabdi Express ~ have been rescheduled. The departure time of these two trains are 1.30 a.m. and 3.15 pm, respectively. The Down Janshatabdi Express was detained midway and diverted later. Officials from Katowa under Howrah railway division have started restoration work.

Villages bear brunt of ration fury

Statesman News Service

BURDWAN/MALDA, Oct 8: Violence erupted in Nabagram area under Lalbagh subdivision in Murshidabad this morning in protest against alleged corrupt rationing practices while Nababhat locality in Burdwan town looked deserted today, a day after the violence at a dealers’ premises, police said.A 5,000-strong mob attacked police and set on fire four police vehicles in Nabagram. “A total of 32 persons were arrested. most of whom came from the Birbhum area. The area is just half a kilometre from Murshidabad, and more than 5,000 people attacked police,” Murshidabad SP Mr Rahul Srivastava said. Yesterday the house and shops of dealer Sheikh Fakir were ransacked, looted and his vehicles and furniture set ablaze by the mob. Twelve CPI-M leaders and activists were also beaten up when they went to rescue the dealer. The dealer suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1 crore. In retaliation, the CPI-M brought out a procession brandishing swords, lathis and chains. Burdwan also witnessed fresh ration violence at several places like Chaitanyapur in Mongalkote PS area, Buinchandi near Khandaghosh. At Chaitanyapur, a dealer, who refused to supply ration to about 5,000 consumers for the past eight months, was forced to give an assurance of paying Rs 7,000 each to the 5,000 consumers. The dealer, Mr Subhas Chandra Mondal, alleged: “I had sought assistance from police this morning when the crowd attacked my house but the securitymen were indifferent.” The dealer has been given 12 hours’ ultimatum by the masses. Trouble broke out when police lathicharged hundreds of people, who were fasting for Ramzan, belonging to both APL and BPL categories, assembled in front of the house of Naimuddin Mandal, a ration dealer, demanding foodgrain and compensation if the dealer failed to supply the essential items before Id.Diamond Harbour locals locked up a ration shop and confined its owner to a room for two hours this morning alleging that the ration dealer didn't give rice to card holders and sold it in the open market.

Cops, civic body lock horns

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 8: Now, the police, it seems, are infected by the land-grab wind blowing through the state. The English Bazaar Municipality has accused the police of grabbing its land for the construction of the boundary wall of Rathbari police outpost. Alleging that the police have grabbed the land they had earmarked for the rehabilitation of evicted traders, the English Bazaar civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, visited the spot today along with senior civic officials and forced the police to stop construction work. "We wrote a letter to the police on 6 October requesting them to stop construction work, but to no avail. It is surprising that the law keepers have now turned lawbreakers in the town," a visibly annoyed Mr Tiwari, said. The Malda superintendent of police, Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal, however, claimed that they stopped the construction work yesterday after receiving the letter. "We have planned to measure the land with the help of block land and land reforms officer tomorrow. We started the boundary wall construction work on the basis of the alignment fixed earlier," he said.

Ration protest on

Statesman News Service

BURDWAN/MALDA, Oct. 7: An angry mob, protesting against corrupt rationing practices, ransacked the house of a ration dealer, looted food materials and launched an attack on a procession and office of the CPI-M in Nababhat in the outskirts of Burdwan town today. The ration dealer is reportedly a Trinamul Congress supporter and the attackers were allegedly backed by the RSP. As protests and public outrage against corrupt rationing practices spread to the neighbouring districts, angry villagers in the Kandi sub-division area of Murshidabad ransacked houses and shops of five ration dealers, went on a looting spree and also set on fire their go-downs in a series of incidents since yesterday.In Burdwan, a mob broke into the house of ration dealer, Mr Sheikh Fakir Mohammed around 8.30 a.m., dragged him out of his house along with his sons and beat them up. Even the womenfolk of the house were not spared. The mob also torched a tractor, six motorbikes and a Tata Sumo while furniture worth Rs 12 lakh were set on fire as well. Ten television sets, ten VCDs, a sound system, two refrigerators were damaged when the house was ransacked. Gold jewellery worth Rs 8 lakh and Rs 14 lakh in cash were also looted. Soon after this, a group of CPI-M activists and leaders were also attacked when they tried to defend the dealer and a local party office was ransacked. Twelve CPI-M supporters, including two of their leaders, Mr Ganesh Chowdhury and Mr Arabindo Panja were rushed to the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob and eight villagers were arrested. Later, around 2000 CPI-M supporters, took out a rally in the village brandishing sword, lathis and chains. The ration dealer later alleged: “The intruders were headed by RSP activists. Yesterday they had demanded Rs 15 lakh to spare house of vandalism.” Reports say that the dealer, is also a rich farmer and according to the district administration, “there has been no complaint against him.” Mr Amol Halder, district CPI-M secretary said: “The miscreants are taking advantage of the current turmoil surrounding the rationing system. This dealer is a supporter of TMC, but our men went to his rescue as we are not tackling the issue politically.” Meanwhile, the Murshidabad SP, Mr. Rahul Srivastava said that 37 persons were arrested in connection with looting spree at shops of ration dealers’ and go-downs of distributors. “A large police contingent has been deployed in trouble prone areas to combat the situation,” Mr. Srivastava said. Police said that violence spread to Murshidabad following rumours that dealers in the district would compensate Rs 1000 each to ration cardholders. When dealers refused to do so, angry villagers looted the houses of ration dealers located at Sherpur, Simulia in Khargram today. At Sherpur, two vehicles and two go-downs of Mr. Nazir Khan, a ration dealer, were set on fire. 24 persons were arrested in this connection. At Simulia, villagers looted the house of Aleyara Bibi, a modified ration dealer, when her husband was away from home. It was alleged that villagers looted even ornaments from her house. “We do not have such information, but will enquire into the ornament looting case, if any. In fact, we do not have complaints and we are initiating suo moto cases here,” the Murshidabad SP said. Police said that distributors serving the Kandi sub-division area could not supply materials for this week and some dealers left their home after hanging a closure notice in front of their shops. This created further trouble.

Two held with explosive in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 7: Acting on a tip-off, police raided a house at Kothabari in Malda town today and arrested two persons with six crude bombs, one improvised pipe gun and three cartridges. Police said the arrested persons are the residents of Kamalpur in the English Bazaar police station area. According to police, the arrested persons were staying in a rented room at Kothabari. The police have sought help from the Border Security Force authorities to defuse the bombs. The Malda superintendent of police, Mr DK Mondal, said: "The arrested persons are probably criminals. From preliminary investigations, we can say that they are not extremists. They probably assembled here to commit robbery."

Row over airport wall continues

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 3: Demanding passage, locals today damaged the newly constructed boundary wall of the Malda airport for the second time in two days. Yesterday, hundreds of residents of slum areas under the CPI-M dominated Ward No 23 had flattened a part of the wall.Though the airport-in-charge sought police help for the protection of the wall, he refrained from lodging FIR on the issue, a senior police officer, said.The Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De, yesterday visited the spot to bring the situation under control and assured the residents that the district authorities would soon construct an alternative road seeking permission from the railway authorities.Speaking to The Statesman over telephone, Ms De, said: "I had visited the area six months ago to find out an alternative road for the local residents. We had sought no objection from the railway authorities for the construction of the road along the railway track. But they are yet to respnd. I have informed the matter to the additional district magistrate."The in-charge of Malda airport, Mr SK Chanda, said he had sought police help so that contractors could continue construction of boundary wall."The police, however, have so far not done anything," he alleged. "The contractors are feeling unsecured," Mr Chanda, added.The Malda additional superintendent of police, Mr SK Sarkar, said: "The contractors had sought police help to continue the construction of the boundary wall and we cooperated with them. The airport officials have not lodged any FIR over the incident."Expressing unhappiness over alleged administrative lapses and reluctance on part of the English Bazaar Municipality, the airport in-charge, Mr SK Chanda, said: "Despite several reminders from the AAI, the EBM has continued granting permission for construction of high-rise buildings on the eastern side of the airport. The Malda airport cannot be revived if the administration and the civic body officials do not cooperate with the AAI." The Malda DM, Mr CR Das, on his part, said: "I will try my best to ensure revival of the airport."

Bid to streamline rationing system

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 2: The Malda district administration has instructed the controller of food and supplies to monitor public distribution system to end faulty rationing system in the district. The district controller of food and supplies has been asked to submit the current report at a review meeting to be held next week. Talking to reporters, the Malda additional district magistrate (general), Mr PC Shit, said: "In a bid to prevent Birbhum-like protests against faulty rationing system, we have decided to hold a meeting with political leaders here next week. The date of meeting would be fixed after the district magistrate's return from Kolkata." The ADM added that five modified ration dealers were suspended recently. After suspension of one dealer in Manikchak, the department has so far not been able to replace him. It may be recalld that following breakdown of public distribution system, locals recently blocked road in Manikchak. The locals also protested against the decision to appoint a "corrupted" MR dealer "temporarily". The ADM has instructed the DCFS to monitor the situation carefully so public distribution system is not hampered anywhere. Officials said the entire distribution system, including BPL, APL, Annapurna and Antyadaya Yojona, would be discussed and reviewed at the proposed meeting. In April this year, people from various villages of Panchanandapur in Kaliachak II had staged a demonstration in front of the modified ration dealers' shop under the banner of CPI-ML (Liberation) demanding that MR dealers issue cash memos to them against the ration and other items they purchase. Villagers have accused the MR dealers of charging additional money from them and selling the items meant for PDS in the open market. The BDO had to settle the matter after issuing inquiry order for the allegation that MR dealers do not issue cash memos to the consumers in a bid to manage extra stock of rice, wheat, kerosene and sugar, allotted by the government.

Locals damage boundary wall

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 2: Demanding passage, locals damaged the newly constructed boundary wall of Malda airport today. People from CPI-M dominated Ward No 23 and 24 flattened the boundary wall in a bid to press the district administration to construct an alternative road for their easy communication. The Malda airport had no boundary wall and the people living in the extended areas under the English Bazaar Municipality had been using the field of the airport as their road to reach English Bazaar town. When the AAI started the construction of boundary wall to prevent its land from encroachment, the locals demanded an alternative road so that they can reach English Bazaar town without any problem. The civil administration officials visited the spot today with police. To bring the situation under control, the Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De, asked the local AAI authorities to stop the construction work till the settlement of the dispute. The SDO, political leaders, civic and airport officials had visited the spot recently to find out an alternative road. The then civic body chief had proposed a road along the railway track connecting Rathbari railway gate with a proposal of a subway to avoid a level crossing. The proposal, however, is yet to be implemented. The district administration officials would call a meeting to sort out the problem following the locals' demand. The proposed revival of the Malda airport is facing various problems. High-rise buildings on the eastern side of the airport and high-tension power lines on the western side are obstructing the project.

Murdered girl's laptop recovered

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 1: Police recovered a laptop of Anusha Sarkar from the house of Debapriya Pal, one of the two persons arrested on charges of murdering Anusha and her mother Maya Sarkar. The laptop was missing since Anusha and her mother were found dead at their Airview complex residence on Thursday morning. Police, however, are yet to trace the weapon used by Subhankar Sarkar and Debapriya Pal in murdering the murder-daughter duo. Both Debapriya and Subhankar are in police custody. Maya's elder daughter Ananya Sarkar, a student of Jadavpur University in Kolkata, who returned here a day after the incident, has not yet been able to enter her house as the police have sealed their residence for the sake of investigation. "We are doing our best to complete investigations based on circumstantial evidences. We have requested Ananya to cooperate with police for few hours," the Malda ASP, Mr S Sarkar, said. A local CPIM councillor, Mrs Sutapa Ghosh and her associates have extended all cooperation to Ananya to perform the last rites of her mother and sister. Today, members of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation organised a students' strike in the town to protest against the brutal murder of Maya and Ananya. Intellectuals and female teachers from various schools staged a demonstration at Head Post Office More yesterday to protest against the incident.

Two murder accused remanded

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 30: The Malda court today remanded the two youths arrested yesterday in connection with Maya Sarkar and her daughter Anusha's murder in police custody for three days. The English Bazaar police yesterday arrested Subhankar Sarkar (22) and his friend Debapriya Pal (19) in connection with the murder and produced them in Malda chief judicial magistrate's court today from where they were remanded in police custody. While Subhankar, a dropout, was the boyfriend of Anusha, Debapriya is a second year student of Malda College.It may be recalled that 52-year-old Maya, a teacher of Krishna Mohan Girls' High School and her daughter Anusha were found murdered at their Air View Complex residence here recently. A large number of people gathered outside the court premises today where the accused duo were produced. The locals criticised a section of lawyers for defending the accused in the court for "want of money". The lawyers, however, said what they did today was part of their duty. "A failed love story was the reason behind the murder," said Mr Sujit Kumar Sarkar, the Malda additional superintendent of police.