9 hurt in border clash

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 31: Nine people including culprits were seriously injured in two separate clashes between cattle smugglers and villagers along the India-Bangaldesh border under Habibpur Police Station last night. The injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment.Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, SP, Malda today instructed the deputy superintendent of police (head quarter) to keep the villages under surveillance in order to curb border crime.In an incident in Dhumpur grampanchayat area under Habibpur Police Station last night a group of villagers belonging to the BJP intercepted a gang of twelve cattle smugglers when they were smuggling cattles to Bangladesh.Trouble broke out when another group of villagers tried to allow the culprits to go to Bangladesh. It was alleged by the local BJP leaders that the other group of villagers belonging to the CPI-M took commission from the cattle- smugglers.Meanwhile, the culprits crossed the unfenced border of India-Bangladesh taking advantage of the clash between the two village groups.Two persons Mr Niranjan Barman and Mr Dwijen Barman, belonging to the BJP, and three persons belonging to other group were injured following the clash and were admitted to the hospital.In another incident in Harihaat village under Aiho grampanchayat u-nder Habibpur Block villagers armed with bows and arrows chased a group of four cattle-smugglers finally intercepted them and recovered the cattles from their clutches .The four culprits, who claimed themselves to be Indian nationals and residents of neighbouring villages, were beaten severely and handed them over to the police. They were later admitted to the district hospital.The culprits were identified as Mohitosh Mandal, Niranjan Sarkar, Santa Das and Sadhu Biswas. Mohitosh has been referred to Kolkata as he suffered bow injuries. Police are investigating the two incidents.

Lok Adalat held for erosion victims in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 30: More than 1500 erosion victims from Manikchak Block , who were rendered homeless and lost farm lands due to Ganges fury in the last 10 years, appeared before the Lok Adalat conducted by four honourable judges from Calcutta High Court on the premises of Malda College today.Hundreds of women whose husbands and male family members have gone to other states in search of jobs as daily labourers also appeared before the Lok Adalat today. Four judges from the Calcutta High Court, Mr Justice KJ Sengupta, Ms Justice Indira Banerjee, Mr Justice Partha Sakha Datta and Mr Justice Prasenjit Mandal conducted the Lok Adalat at 10 am today.The additional advocate general Mr Nishith Adhikari was also present here today to monitor the overall functioning of the Lok Adalat.The district magistrate, the district judge, the superintendent of police, the additional district magistrate (general), the chief medical officer of health, district land and land reforms officer and district inspector of schools and other officials were present to give required clarifications based on the statement of the erosion victims.The judges asked about the present condition of erosion victims and try to realise the plight of the erosion victims in various aspects.“The judges asked when and how we had lost our home and crop lands ...how many crop lands we had ... what I am doing...where we live now ... number of family members ... how we earn livelihood at present “, said Mr. Amzad Sheikh , Gubi Bewa and other victims who appeared before the Lok Adalat.The judges tried to observe what basic amenities including health and education the erosion victims can avail while living in a makeshift arrangement near the embankment.The district magistrate Mr CR Das said that the administration would carry out the order from this Lok Adalat after verifying the list of erosion victims prepared by the district administration for compensation based on the government order issued in 2003.According to the district magistrate, a total of 2755 people were identified as erosion victims in Manikchak Block. A total of 1.37 crore was allotted for them. Of 2755, the administration had distributed Rs 5,000 each among 1030 erosion victims in Manikchak.A total of 25 victims will be getting compensation for buying land for home soon.It may be noted that the state had allotted Rs 3 crore to compensate at least 6000 families identified as erosion victim in Malda district.A total of 6130 people, under the leadership of local citizen body, had appealed to the Malda district court in November 2006 demanding compensation and rehabilitation.Considering their plea the legal aid services took initiative to draw the attention of Calcutta High Court.It is learnt that a similar Lok Adalat will be held soon for rest of the victims of Kaliachak II Block area on the left bank of the river Ganges.Yesterday, the four judges held a meeting with the district administrative officials and asked them what steps they had taken for the erosion victims earlier.The team of judges will give judgment after returning to Kolkata. The copy of the order will be sent to the victim, the state government and district administration soon. The state as well as the district administration will have to carry out the order within the stipulated time according to the Lok Adalat order. #

BSF to intensify border vigil to check Bird Flu

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 28: The central observer Mr V Kumar has instructed Mr NK Shit, deputy director, animal resources development department in Malda, to keep strict surveillance up to the fencing of Indo-Bangladesh border on the eastern side, which covers more than 5 km from the epicentre of fresh Bird Flu outbreak at the state-run poultry farm in English Bazaar.Speaking to this correspondent, Mr NK Shit, said that the order came when Mr Shit informed Mr Kumar that a large part of Bangladesh area had come under the 10 km radius of the state-run poultry farm on the eastern side.The district administration has planned to urge the Border Security Forces (BSF) to keep vigilance at the Indo-Bangladesh border so as to keep a check on the Bird Flu menace, in its routine meeting with them.The officials of Malda ARD today completed a two day disinfection programme in the Bird Flu affected zone including the English Bazaar town.The department officials will start collecting blood samples of the ailing birds within a radius of 10 km in English Bazaar and its adjoining areas as a post culling routine surveillance for three months.The officials and labourers engaged in culling and mopping up drive are still quarantined under the observation of a special medical team.“Till date no Bird Flu contamination has been reported among the quarantined officials and labourers”, Ms Arunima De, the Malda SDO, said today.The department is also planning on how they would monitor the areas to check poultry rearing and selling for the next three months.The district administration is now preparing a a final list of families whose poultry were culled and which are entitled to a compensation of Rs 500.The district had made spot payment to the families, whose birds were culled, as per government rate of Rs 10 for chicks, Rs 30 and Rs 40 for each chicken.

Six Bangla women held at Malda BOP

MALDA, March 28: The Border Security Forces (BSF) intercepted eight women including six Bangladeshi nationals, who crossed the border illegally for negotiation of marriage of a Bangla girl, at Tikapara border out post in Malda district last night. Instead of marriage they are now police custody under Bamongola police station today. “Six Bangladeshi nationals, aged between 70 and 18 year old, were returning to their country illegally who came to Hanspukur village in India a few days ago to finalise marriage of a Bangladeshi girl,” Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, SP, Malda said.“The Bangladeshi women are very poor and could not arrange the marriage of their 18 year old girl. Along with the girl Safali they came to Bamongola area to finalise her marriage”, the Malda SP said. Police said that the girl and her family members were the residents of Dewlia village in Naogan district of Bangladesh, police said.It was learnt that one Vishnu Oran, resident of Hanspukur in Bamongola PS, presently living at Dewlia village in Bangladesh and fell in love with one Sefali Oran. They came to get consent of Vishnu’s mother. BSF intercepted all eight women including two Indian women, who were helping them to cross the unfenced border, and handed over to police. n sns

Institute proposed to assist Litchi and Mango cultivators

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 28: The Malda additional district magistrate (development) Ms Indrani Saha has prepared a project estimating nearly Rs 10 crore to promote mango and litchi in Malda district under the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojona (RKVY). The district administration would send the proposed project to the Centre to seek funds. The decision for the project was taken after receipt of a Rs 1.1 crore fund from the RKVY for setting up a horticulture institute in the district to provide technical assistance to the farmers. The institute would also forecast disease and provide training to tackle it. According to the Mango development officer in Malda, the horticulture institute would be set up at Gour Road in English Bazaar town. “Malda is the only district to have received funds for such an institute,” said the MDO Mr Samraendranath Khara. Today, the additional district magistrate (development) Ms Indrani Saha held a meeting and finalised a project to set up a cargo complex at Mahadipur, close to the land customs station, for export to Bangladesh. The district officials have estimated a Rs 4 crore expenditure for a proposed mango vapor heat treatment plant for export to the US and Japan. Export promotion centres for mango and litchi are included in the project. Export promotion centres would also be set up in the mango and litchi growing blocks, the mango development officer said.

Public hearing for erosion victims in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 28: The victims of erosion at Manikchak and Kaliachak II Blocks are gearing up to attend a public hearing to be held on 30 March at Malda college . Ganga Bhangan Pratirodh Nagarik Action Committee (GBPNAC), a local body, is mobilising the people to come to Malda town on this day and organise a rally in English Bazaar town and finally to assemble at the Malda College play ground.It may be noted that erosion victims in Manikchak, Kaliachak II and other blocks, who were rendered homeless due to erosion in the last few years and are still residing on the left bank of the Ganges temporarily had appealed to Court demanding proper rehabilitation and compensation.At the end of 2006, the National Legal Service Authority directed the district judge to hold a public hearing on this issue.This is for the first time that four judges from the Calcutta High Court including the additional advocate general would be present to hear the people’s plight at the lok adalat.According to the district administrative officials, the four honourable judges will hold a meeting with the district magistrate and officials concerned on 29 March to know about the problem of erosion and what has been done for the rehabilitation of the victims.The lok adalat will be held on 30 March at Malda college auditorium in presence of the additional advocate general.

Bird Flu: Disinfection programme initiated in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 27:- The officials at Malda animal resources development started a two day disinfection programme today at Bird Flu affected zones within three km radius from the epicentre, -- state run poultry farm in English Bazaar town -- following the end of culling and mopping up drive.

After fresh out break of Bird Flu, a total of 23,572 birds were culled in seven days. Though the department initially had estimated nearly 45,000 birds' population but later the figure was reduced to 23,500 following a survey during culling operation.

The private poultry farm owners have been asked to disinfect their farm houses immediately.

"Our staffs will disinfect the places of domestic bird habitats - the private poultry houses where the private farm owners are reluctant to disinfect the cage of poultry", said Mr. N K Shit, the deputy director, ARD in Malda.

"We will try to pick up stray birds from the infected zone, if our staffs spot then ", Mr. Shit said.

Sources said a few places still remained unattended. A particular area at Pirojpur, close to the Malda women's college staff quarters, has been left out and some backyard chickens are on the loose.

Following the death of dozens of pigeons at kalitala, the ARD officials took all living birds pegion from that area and finally culled them.

Hospital downs shutter, ailing animals suffer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 27: The district veterinary hospital, which is located at animal resources development farm campus, remained closed for the past one weekdue to fresh outbreak of Bird Flu. Several people faced problems with their ailing animals getting no medical treatment from the hospital. Many returned along with the ailing animals without treatment even today. “We had to shut down the hospital after confirmation of Bird Flu in the campus. We will reopen it after two days after completion of disinfection. Today we have started disinfection work there”, said Mr N K Shit, the deputy director, ARD in Malda.According to him, our employees who lived in the staff quarters of the campus had been shifted and they would be returning after complete disinfection of the farm. The deputy director, Mr Shit, also disclosed that not only the district animal hospital but also medical services in the block level centres had been hampered seriously due to fresh outbreak of Bird Flu. For culling operation veterinary officers and other staffs were engaged in culling and moping operation in the second phase. Earlier those staffs were engaged in the Murshidabad, Birbhum , South Dinajpur and Chanchal in Malda. Since the block animal health centres were being affected and people did not get medical services for their animals. “Besides many developmental programmes like artificial insemination and animal census have been hampered due to outbreak of Bird Flu in last two months”, said Mr. N K Shit. “But we have nothing to do at this moment”, he added.

Demolish risky school : Officials

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 27: In order to avoid an accident, the Habibpur block officials have recommended the Aiho Girls high school building be demolished.School authorities had appealed to the concerned officials seeking funds for reconstruction of the building. But the process was stalled following the notification of Kharba assembly by-poll. The district inspector of schools told the school authorities to approach the block authorities to find an alternative way. “The engineers of Habibpur block conducted stability tests of the building and recommended the building be demolished soon to avoid any untoward incident,” said Malda DI, Mr Chinmay Sarkar. “Construction of a new building and other matters will be finalised later,” he added.

Mopping up drive in Malda over

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 26: “The animal resource development (ARD) officials today completed the mopping up drive amidst tight security to control the spread of the avian flu virus in English Bazaar,” Mr NK Shit, deputy director, ARD, Malda said. The number of police personnel was increased in each rapid response team (RRT) after team members reported yesterday that villagers unwilling to hand over their poultry for culling threatened them to beat them up. “Apprehending attack from the people during mopping up drive the number of police personnel was increased. Yesterday, we had been able to collect only 510 birds after the mopping up drive. No untoward incident was reported today.“It is difficult to kill all birds in hideouts. We are just trying to control the spread of the virus in the area. We will chalk out another strategy according to the guide line of our higher authorities if we find stray birds in the area,” Mr NK Shit said.The Central observer, Mr V Kumar, yesterday reviewed the position of the culling operation and mopping up drive here and advised the ARD officials to monitor the affected zone in keeping with specific guidelines. The team from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) today met the deputy director of ARD in Malda to keep the affected zone under observation post culling. While the Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty claimed that many people were suffering from respiratory problems and were admitted to the Malda district hospital, the CMOH said: “We do not have any such information”.

Pigeon deaths spark flu scare

The fear of Bird Flu gripped English Bazaar town today following unusual death of pigeons at Kalitala. More than 10 birds were found dead in this area. Officials from the animal resources development department visited the area where the dead pigeons were found. They examined the ded birds and collected necessary samples for tests. Observing the symptoms, the deputy director, ARD, Mr. N K Shit said: "Pigeons may have died from paracide infection or due to lack vitamin B complex". Though fresh poultry deaths are being reported from several areas in English Bazaar and Kaliachak area, the deputy director said he was officially not aware of the development.” We had sent a team at Natun Nagharia but the team did not spot any dead or ailing birds there”.

Mother abandons new-born girl child

MALDA, March:26 A mother abandoned her newborn girl child at the Malda district hospital after being discharged today. It was learnt that the woman, a mother of two daughters did not want the “burden” of a third one.The police took custody of the infant and handed it to the hospital authorities for nursing and care till further development. The police are looking for the mother as well through the hospital records.The woman had disclosed her problem to another patient of the maternity ward about the third girl child. According to Alinoor Bibi, who was in the bed next to the elusive woman, she was undecided about going back home after giving birth to a girl child. “Her husband had warned her that he would not accept her if she gave birth to a girl for the third time,” Alinoor said.The elusive mother had discussed her problem and sought suggestions from Alinoor yesterday. Later when her mother-in-law Kohinoor Bibi came to visit her, she asked her to keep watch on her and left saying she had some work to attend. “I failed to understand her motive. I took her baby and kept waiting for her to return but she did not come back,” stated Kohinoor Bibi. n sns

Bangla national killed

MALDA, March 26: A Bangladeshi national was killed in BSF firing at the Bangladesh border under Kaliachak police station today. In another incident an Indian citizen was injured and a Bangladeshi infiltrator was held at the border. At Mirik-Sultanpur village under Kaliachak police station the BSF exchanged fire with anti-socials. According to the Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, BSF jawans chased the Bangladeshi intruder and asked him to halt. “Instead of halting, the intruder fired at the BSF jawans. The intruder died in retaliatory fire from the BSF,” he added. In another incident, an Indian was shot in the leg by the BSF also under Kaliachak police station. “The man was punching holes in the barbed wire fencing, the SP informed. At Doulatnagar village, BSF chased two Bangladeshi youths and intercepted one of them while another managed to flee inside Bangladesh. n sns

Academy to be set up at Ghani Khan's residence

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 26: The Congress here has moved a step ahead of the CPI-M in setting up a university prior to the panchayat elections. The proposed university, Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Science & Technology , is being set up at the residence of A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury as a result of the initiative taken by the Congress leadership. The institute would be affiliated to the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (deemed university), Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed institute of science and technology would, however, require approval from the state government to function. The Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury, brother of Ghani Khan Choudhury, had taken the initiative for the institute. The initiative was supported by Union minister Mr Arjun Singh. It may be noted that about 10 years ago Ghani Khan during an election campaign had assured the people of Malda that he would set up a university there. The Congress leadership showcased their project - Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Science & Technology yesterday in the presence of Prof. Kalyan Kumar, director of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology and other officials. Speaking at the occasion, the director of the deemed university Mr Kalyan Kumar expressed satisfaction with the project. “The institute would generate skilled manpower in the field of engineering and technology as well as applied sciences for the development of the region,” he said.

Labourers flee quarantine zone owing to lax vigilance

Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 25:- Owing to lack of strict vigilance and restriction a few labourers directly engaged in culling allegedly did not follow the guidelines for quarantine system and fled.

The administration was embarrassed today when a section of Press exposed few names of quarantined labourers who went out of the dormitory of the Malda district sports association and lived with their family members during culling operation.

They were separated following the directives of Central health authorities to prevent the contamination of deadly virus from one person to another.

Interestingly, one of the labourers Mr. Haripada Das who were not involved in culling operation owing to lung infection since first day of culling operation is still quarantined there.


The administrative officials today disclosed that no one discharged him and he was there to get good food and treatment.

It came to light this morning when a group media persons entered quarantine zone without personal protective equipment (PPE) due to lack of restriction and took photographs of the ailing labourer.

The media persons also exposed three names Tapan Das, Shymal Singh and Bapi Sahani, he is also a rickshaw puller, who fled the dormitory and stayed at their home with their families at night.

The administrative officials are now strictly checking the names from the master rolls so that they can bring back them with the help of police.

"Despite several directions if a few ignorant labourers flee the quarantine zone without reporting, what we can do", said Ms. Arunima De, the Malda SDO.

The deputy director ARD, Mr. N K Shit, today discussed the matter with the additional district magistrate, Ms. Indrani Saha, to strengthen police forces there.

“Vigilance will be intensified in front of the dormitory of the Malda district sports association so that none can flee. The administrative officials will check attendance of all quarantined labourers and officials every morning", said Mr. Shit.

Mopping up drive begins in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 25: The Malda district administration started the mopping up drive in English Bazaar area today after culling 22,318 birds out of the target figure of 23,500 to control fresh Bird Flu detected at the state-run poultry farm recently. Mr NK Shit, deputy director, (ARD) in Malda, said that the team would go door to door looking for birds and would cull them properly in the next two days of the mopping drive. “If we find stray birds in the affected zone even after the mopping drive another special drive would be undertaken to clear the area,” said Mr NK Shit.Mr Shit disclosed that the ARD was facing a problem in securing imported poultry from the local businessmen in Malda town who secretly kept the birds during the culling operation but the team would cull the birds as soon as it detects the hideouts. “It was very difficult to estimate the number of birds for ‘sale’ than domestic birds (backyard chickens) owing to the lack of registration system among the businessmen and private poultry farms. We have sent a proposal to the government to introduce a mandatory registration system for this business”, Mr Shit said. The district chief medical officer of health Mr RR Banik said that health workers have started a door to door visit in the affected zone to find out if people are suffering from fever, cough, cold or respiratory problems. Members of the ‘rapid response team’ (RRT) who were directly engaged with culling will be quarantined for 10 days at the end of the mopping drive on Wednesday. The administration has selected two places Binoy Sarkar Atithi Awas and dormitory of Malda district sports Association. The officials of ARD for RRT will be quarantined for 10 days at Binoy Sarkar Atithi Awas and labourers engaged in culling operation will be kept under surveillance at Malda district sports Association.

ARD reduces culling figure post survey in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 24: Mr NK Shit, deputy director, ARD has finally reduced the figure of poultry for culling from 45,000 to 23,500 in the English Bazaar Municipality and its adjoining areas within a radius of 3 km from the state-run poultry farm where fresh Bird Flu virus was detected recently.This decision to reduce the targeted figure has raised another debate regarding the fact and figures prepared by the administration for culling operation. It was alleged that many private poultry farms had shifted poultry to unaffected zones to avoid culling. The Malda administration has carried out culling operation today after extending it for two more days from Saturday, the dead line set up by the state authorities, to achieve the target. The decision to extend the culling for two more days was taken when cu-lling operation was stalled due to Holi festivities. The administration has called an all political party meeting this evening to begin the mopping up from tomorrow. The additional district magistrate (general) Mr PC Shit said: “Nearly 19,600 birds had been culled till yesterday. The rest of birds will be culled today and during the mopping drive”. Mr NK Shit, the deputy director of animal resources development department in Malda, argued that initially the poultry population was roughly estimated as 45,000 based on the 2003 poultry census report without an exact map of the affected zone. “After drawing a final map of the affected zone the poultry figure for cull-ing was reduced to 38,500 from 45,000. Initially we had calculated the figure based on the guideline of the government and the poultry census report of 2003. But practically after conducting survey we found that bird population has been reduced drastically in the private poultry farms.“In fact many private poultry farms in English Bazaar did not rear poultry fearing fresh outbreak of Bird Flu in the country. So, finally the figure was further reduced to 23,500 from 38,500”, Mr NK Shit told The Statesman over phone. “We do not have an exact list of private poultry farms running in our district to estimate the exact poultry population”, he added. The ARD officials also could not estimate the figure of imported poultry in the unorganised whole sale market of Malda due to lack of official documents. The traders are secretly selling imported birds in the district. The administration has, however, intensified police patrolling to curb the practice.

Parties gear up for Kharba bypolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 24: Both Congress and CPI-M candidates today filed nomination papers in Chanchal sub-division office for Kharba Assembly bypoll. The CPI-M nominated Mrs Anjuman Ara Begum and the Congress nominated Mr Asif Mehbub , son of deceased Kharba MLA Mahabubul Hoque.The BJP and Trinamul candidates will file nomination papers within 26 March separately. Yesterday, the BJP state leader Mr Rahul Sinha here criticised the role of Trinamul Congress for fielding its candidate individually. According to him, Trinamul Congress will make a way to win the seat for CPI-M following Balagarh asse-mbly bypoll. The Trinamul district p-resident Mr Dulal Sarkar said Mr Abdul Khaleque , the former contesting candidate , will contest here. “Miss Mamata Banerjee may come here for campaigning”, he said. Today, the CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra was present at the time of filing nomination papers in Chanchal and held LF workers’ meet at Chanchal Haat for election campaig-n with district leaders of the LF including the RSP and FB. The Congress is confident to retain the seat fielding their candidate Mr Asif Mehbub, who completed MA in fine arts from Santiniketan. Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, the PCC chief, has finally selected to nominate him ignoring other candidates for this seat which belongs to his parliamentary constituency.

Culling extended two more days in Malda

MALDA, March 23: The Malda district administration has said the culling operation, which was delayed by Holi festivities would continue on Monday. The district magistrate Mr CR Das earlier had extended it by one day and assured that the operation would have been completed by Sunday . Today the decision to extend the time frame of the operation was taken at an all-party meeting in Malda. The Malda SDO Mrs Arunima Dey said today that since the culling operation had been stalled due to the Holi festival the district administration has decided to extend it by two more days. The district magistrate Mr CR Das said animal resources officials would visit door to door to collect birds for culling on Monday. “Who did not hand over birds in last four day during culling operation would not compensated at the time of mopping up and government officials would take away birds from them forcefully for culling,” Mr CR Das told reporters. After the end of Holi festival, people today responded to the announcement and decided to hand over their birds in English Bazaar town and its adjoining block areas. Officials today claimed that culling progress was better today than the last two days. “People have decided to hand over their birds but unnecessarily they are delaying to hand over chickens at the last moment,” Mr NK Shit, deputy director, Malda ARD, said over telephone from a village Jagadishpur under Maheshpur gram panchayat in English Bazaar block. The administration had culled 13,729 birds on Thursday at state poultry farm. Then it had culled only 400 on Friday and 1822 on Saturday. It may be noted that local traders, ignoring banning order, had sold huge chickens in all markets of English Bazaar town on Friday and Saturday secretly following demand of Holi festival. n sns

Villagers nab Maoist action squad member

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 23: Village resistance group (RG party) at Tehatta village under Hariharpara police station in Murshidabad district intercepted one Maoist action squad member last night after a long battle. Villagers beat him up severely, tied him with a tree and handed him over to police this morning. Three persons including a minor boy were injured when the Maoist activists opened fire after a scuffle between villagers and Maoist group including a woman member. All of them were admitted to rural hospital with bulletwounds. A class-two student Jabbar Ali came out of his house when the Maoist group opened fire. Though three members of the action squad managed to flee, the resistance group intercepted one of them identified as Swapan Sutradhar alias Baman.The Maoist action squad reportedly failed to take on them when villagers chase-d them with bows and arrows. Swapan was admitted to Behrampore hospital with serious injuries. Police recovered an improvised gun from him. Murshidabad police int-errogated Swapan primarily at Behrampore hospital, who was wanted in police records in connection with police rifle snatching case, and detected other Maoist action squad members who managed to escape. Police got three more names Yesmin Sheikh, Jalalluddin Sheikh and a woman squad member Sujata who planned to go to Nowda police station area last night. It may be recalled in March 2007, a CPIM’s zonal party office was set on fire allegedly by the Maoist group in Nowda police station area.“The RG party, authorised by local police station, spotted four unknown persons including a woman around 11.30 pm and asked them to reveal their identity. But that gro-up, without disclosing th-eir identity, threatened them and fired two to three rounds of bullets. The members of RG party rai-sed alarm and hundreds of villagers chased them and intercepted one of their members”, said Mr Basabdas Gupta, SP, Murshidabad. “Villagers beat him up severely. Other senior educated villagers informed the matter to police this morning. Swapan is under going treatment. We wo-uld interrogate him further when he is stable”, he added. Neighbouring police stations have been alerted to nab three others members. The Nadia and Birbhum district police were also informed about Swapan Sutradhar.According to police, Swapan was a resident of Birbhum district and he was working as an active Maoist squad member in this zone. Police has started combing operation to nab three other members including the woman. #

Bihar police rescue 18 child labourers

MALDA, March 23: Malda police have planned to hand over 18 children, who were rescued by the Bihar police from a train yesterday, to their parents in Harishchandrapur police station. These 18 children were on their way to Samastipur in Bihar in search of job from Malda district with the help of labourers’ contractors. Yesterday, Bihar governm-ent railway police intercepted 18 children, aged between 12 and 14 , from a train at Barauni railway station. The Malda GRP got the information and took them in their custody from Bihar police today. The English Bazaar police station today forwarded 18 children to the Malda court. The Malda court asked police to hand them over to their parents today. After interacting with the boys named Hasabur, Akmal, Jalal and Jahangir police came to know that they are residents of Sadlichak, Dhanipara, Raghabpur villagers under Harishchandrapur police station area in northern part of Malda district. n sns

Festivals stall culling

MALDA, March 22: The Malda district administration has extended the culling programme for one more day due to Holi festival. The state had directed the district to end culling by Saturday. Speaking to the reporters, the Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das said, the culling programme was hampered due to three festivals of three religions on Friday. “We have to end culling by Sunday,” Mr Das said. Despite announcing this several times no one handed over their pet birds to the culling team. A total of 30 culling teams are working here with police protection. The district administration targeted private organised poultry farms in the culling today. District ARD officials have a goal of culling roughly 45,000 birds within a 3 km radius from the epicentre where the virus was found. On the other hand, chicken traders secretly shifted all saleable birds from English Bazaar town to Mangalbari market under Old Malda municipality, which is not under the 3 km radius. “This trend has raised controversy over the control system of the bird flu virus,” said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, the Malda SP. SNS

Govt. to blame for this Flu outbreak?

Pranesh Sarkar & Manas R Bannerjee

KOLKATA/MALDA, March 20: While the latest Bird Flu outbreak in Malda is being blamed on illegal trading in chickens by ignorant villagers in notified areas, a state-owned poultry farm in the district, where the H5N1 virus has been detected, seems by no means less guilty. According to reports received by the state animal resources department (ARD) and the Malda district authorities, the farm has sold chickens and eggs-for-hatching till 14 March though unnatural chicken deaths was reported there in 12 March. This revelation has unsettled the district as well as state animal resources department officials. They said that sale of chickens and eggs had been banned in the farm after Bird Flu hit Chanchol in Malda in January. District officials said they would try to locate the people likely to have bought poultry products from the farm since January and keep an eye on them as well as on the localities where they resided. Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das said: “I will ask the farm authorities to gives us details of the buyers. Once we find out their addresses or other contact details, we will try to know what they'd done with the poultry products.” Confirming that a ban had been placed on the sale of poultry products at the government's Malda farm, state animal resources department minister Mr Anisur Rahman said: “I don't know whether the order was flouted. I will look into it.” ARD deputy director, Malda, Mr NK Shit said: “No chicks were supplied to any of the government agencies in Malda or other districts. Only fully-grown chickens and eggs-for-hatching were sold locally. But even this had been stopped from 14 March.” A few ARD officials said the disease had hit the poultry farm, the second largest government farm of its kind in the state, before 12 March and chicken deaths were reported from that day. As the farm didn't heed the no-sale ban, the virus might have spread to other areas, they said.

Traders evade culling in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 20: Following the ‘action plan’ of animal husbandry and public health departments of the Central government, the Malda administration is not in position to conduct surveillance of a fresh outbreak of avian influenza in a large part within a radius of 10 km from the epicenter.The reason: That large area is under the control of Bangladesh government. It is found that the distance between the state poultry farm in English Bazaar town of the district and Indo-Bangladesh border is nearly 5.35 km and the rest of the areas on the eastern side belong to Bangladesh. The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das said: “I will point out the matter to the state government in my routine report with a map of the identified areas for surveillance after culling and mopping”. “Is it possible to implement necessary action plans, banning movement of poultry and its products, in Bangladesh for me?” Mr Das asked.Owing to the loss of time since the date of confirmation of avian influenza in the state poultry farm in Malda, several traders and poultry farm owners have allegedly shifted poultry outside the 3 km radius to avoid culling.The office bearer for animal resource development of Malda zilla parishad, Mr Soumitra Roy alleged that by the time they received information several traders had already shifted thousands of chickens out of the 3 km radius to avoid culling. He blamed the administration for failing to track them in time just after confirmation of avian flu by the Central government on 19 March. Quoting a letter to the chief secretary, written by Mr Arvind Kaushal, joint secretary, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, ministry of agriculture (No. 50-172/2007-LDT (AQ) on 19 March 2008) Mr Roy said: “In case of a positive result for H5 strain of Avian Influenza (AI) detected by tests conducted on samples collected from the areas bordering those already afflicted with H5N1 strain of AI, culling and destruction of eggs and poultry feed may commence immediately without waiting for confirmatory tests so as to control further spread of the disease without losing time. But nothing has been done here”. He also pointed out, reading the letter of Mr Kaushal: “The administration did not follow the government’s guideline to ban movement of poultry and its products within a 10 km radius from the epicenter”. The district administrative officials started the culling operation tod-ay and imposed restriction up to a radius of 3 km initially. Though announcements were being made in the district since last evening, traders sold off their poultry secretly in the market at various places in the town this morning.“A total of 15 teams led by the ARD officials culled nearly 15,000 birds including 13,000 chicks in the Malda state poultry farm today. From tomorrow this team will start the culling operation in other affected areas,” said the deputy director of Malda ARD Mr N K Shit.

Police detect opium cultivation near India Bangladesh border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 20: Malda police have sought names of land owners from the land and land reforms department after detecting a large scale of opium cultivation in Kaliachak police station area, close to India-Bangladesh border.Police are trying to curb the culture of opium cultivation across the district with the help of excise department. According to the Malda SP, police are identifying opium cultivated lands across the district and with help of the Bengal excise department are destroying the cultivated opium plants. Though the police identified 15 acres of land where opium cultivation was almost ready for harvest,it could not destroy the harvest completely yesterday.“The destruction is going on till today”, said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, the Malda S P. “We could not arrest any one on charges of cultivating opium . We have decided to identify the land owners. We have sought the names of land owners from the land departments. We will start the process of necessary action from land owners”, Malda S P said.

PS store rom gutted , foul play suspected

MALDA, March 20: A store room in the English Baazar police station was reduced to ashes after a fire broke out in English Bazaar police station today. Many documents were destroyed in the fire.Fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the flames but the fire had burned the store by then.Locals suspect the incident a sabotage to destroy vital documents pertaining to serious cases. The Malda S P Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, however, ruled out any possibility of sabotage. “I do not suspect it to be sabotage. We lost nothing important in the fire. An inventory is being prepared,” he added. One of the fire fighters disclosed that the fire broke out in an unlocked room of the store. n sns

Fresh Bird Flu confirmed in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 19: The Malda district administration would start culling birds in the district in the next 48 hours. The decision was taken following reports that blood samples sent to Bhopal for tests have tested positive for Avian flu.The district administration received instructions from the state authorities this evening to cull birds within a radius of 3 km from the epicentre. “The animal resource development officials will have to cull at least 15,000 birds at the state poultry farm. Over 1000 birds have died from Avian Flu since Wednesday,” said the Malda SDO, Mrs Arunima De. She further said: “The state government has instructed to stop sale of birds and poultry products in the affected zone. We would announce it publicly for precautionary measure.” The news has upset poultry traders, who were expecting a roaring business during Holi.After receiving information from ARD the Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das held a preparatory meeting for culling operation last night. The administration has informed the English Bazaar and Old Malda municipalities of the development.It is the second outbreak of Avian Flu in the district within a few months. The Malda SDO today held a meeting with the deputy director of ARD in Malda to estimate the population of birds in urban and rural areas. “We are listing the areas identified as Bird Flu affected zone within a radius of 3 to 5 km from the epicentre,” said the Malda SDO.

Child labourers rescued from Delhi factory

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 19: Mr Patit Paban Das, the assistant labour commissioner in Malda, today handed over six rescued ‘bonded’ child labourers with the help of police today. Following the instruction of higher authorities in the state and Central government Mr Das went to New Delhi and brought six children from Mukti Ashram, a home of Bachpan Banchao, an NGO, and arrived here today. The children have been identified as Mohd Sanu (9), Islam (10), Noor Islam (10), Masum Ali (13) and Mannan (11). Five of them are residents of Harishchandapur police station area and one of them was the resident of North Dinajpur. According to Mr Das, the officials of the labour department, police and members of the NGO jointly raided a sole (for shoes) manufacturing unit at Dariaganj and rescued 60 such children who were below 14 years of age. Of them six were identified as the residents of Malda and North Dinajpur . The local sub divisional judicial magistrate identified them as ‘bonded’ child labourers and issued an order to rehabilitate them, said Mr Das. We can provide financial assistance of Rs 25,000; here Centre will share Rs 20,000, until they are 14 years old, if they go to school on a regular basis,” said Mr Das, Malda assistant labour commissioner. One of the child labourers, Masum Ali, used to get Rs 800 per month from the factory where he was working. The owner of the factory also used to provide food for them. According to Mr Das, most of these children do not have primary education and went to New Delhi with their father or relatives for their livelihood. “There was no problem to work there,” said 10-year-old Noor Islam. Noor spoke fluent Hindi while talking to reporters and the assistant labour commissioner at Malda district magistrate office today.

Bird deaths plague state-run Malda farm

MALDA, March 18: Though the animal resource development officials in Malda suspect Bird Flu as the cause of recent bird deaths at the state poultry farm, they cannot claim so for lack of confirmation. Although blood samples of dead fowls have been sent for laboratory tests to Bhopal, the results are yet to arrive.Having failed to check the chicken deaths, which spread like an epidemic at the state-run farm, the ARD officials have culled hundreds of ailing birds at the farm to stem the spread of what is still an unknown disease. But poultry deaths continue unabated here since Wednesday. The state animal res-ou-rce development m-inister Mr Anisur Rahaman today informed the office bearer of the Malda zilla parishad Mr Soumitra Roy that the director of ARD has been asked to learn of the laboratory test report from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory at Bhopal at the earliest so that necessary steps could be taken to check the bird deaths. A total of 221 chickens have died since last night, administrative officials said today. Mr NK Shit, the deputy director, ARD, in Malda informed the Malda zilla parishad today that 772 birds have died since Wednesday. But unofficial sources at the zilla parishad claimed that at least 2000 birds have died in the current phase.The ARD officials are not disclosing the exact number of birds present in the farm. n sns

Malda gets two Parliament seats post-delimitation

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 18: The Malda district now has two Parliament constitue-ncies and an additional Assembly constituency following the delimitation process. The district had one Parliament seat and 11 Assembly segments earlier. According to the election department officials in Malda, the two Parliament constituencies would be North Malda and South Malda. Two Assembly segments from neighbouring Murshidabad district - Farakka and Samsherganj have been included in the South Malda Parliament constituencies.One the other hand, the Malda district now has a new Assembly segment, which has been named as Mothabari, taking the total number of Assembly segments to 12 in the district.The new election map for Parliament and Assembly constituencies has raised hope for the CPI-M here because two red bastions Habibpur and Gazole have come under the North Malda Parliament constituency. The Marxists now believe they can bag at least one of the two Parliament seats in the district.

Malda DM meets parties over Kharba bypoll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 18: The chief electoral officer Mr Debashis Sen will hold a meeting with the Malda district administration to conduct Kharba Assembly by-election scheduled to be held on 12 April. The Malda district magistrate today held a meeting with the all political parties regarding the Kharba by poll and informed about the notification of this by poll.The administrative officials urged all political party leaders to maintain model code of conduct till the end of the election. The leaders were also officially informed about the date of filing nomination forms and other formalities. It may be noted there were series of inauguration programmes in March, just before panchayat polls, but all the programmes were cancelled after notification of by poll. Though a few Congress leaders were vocal against the CPI-M leader and minister for environment Mr Sailen Sarkar on charges of violation of model code of conduct when he visited arsenic-free drinking water project at Kahala in Ratua to inaugurate the project, there was no official complaint.“Officially I do not have information that the arsenic free water treatment plant was inaugurated by anyone on 15 or 16 March”, said Chanchal SDO. It was decided that the polling officials will conduct votes through electronic voting machine and there will be armed forces at each polling station in Kharba Assembly constituency under Chanchal sub-division. “The CEO will review the situation to finalise the entire system including arrangement of armed police forces after interacting with the district magistrate and superintendent of police”, said Mr Debasish Sarkar, the SDO Chanchal.

Poultry deaths in Malda continue , ARD awaits reports

MALDA, March 17: Poultry deaths continue unabated in Malda district despite efforts of the animal resource development to stem the rot.Last night at least 132 chickens including chicks died in a state farm at English Bazaar. It takes the chicken death toll in the current phase to 551 since Wednesday, ARD officials said. “We could not check chicken deaths. We are waiting for the investigation report,” said Mr NK Shit, deputy director, animal resource development in Malda. The ARD officials have stopped the sale of birds from the farm as the chickens are ailing.Though ARD officials primarily claimed that the cause of chicken deaths was fowl cholera and found dross among several chickens, they are in no position to ascertain the cause of the disease.The office bearer for ARD in Malda zilla parishad, Mr Soumitra Roy today informed the matter to ARD minister Mr Anisur Rahman and requested him to check the investigation reports. “No body informed the minister about the serious situation at the Malda farm. Mr Rahman was surprised to hear it from me,” Mr Roy said. The Malda district magistrate, Mr C R Das said: “Let us see the laboratory test report. We must take necessary steps based on the lab report of the dead birds. There is no confirmation of Bird Flu here.” n sns

Parties announce candidates for Malda bypolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 17: While the CPI-M has planned to field Mrs Anjumanara Begam as a candidate for the upcoming by-polls, Malda Congress has proposed the name of a fresh candidate Mr Asif Akhtar, son of Mahababul Hoque, for Kharba Assembly by-poll to retain the seat on sentimental wave. The present voters were shocked at the death of Mahababul Hoque, former MLA, from Kharba who was elected several times from Kharba.The Malda Congress party sources said , Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, the PCC chief will announce the name of the candidate as soon as the high command confirms it. A local senior leader and office bearer of Malda zilla parishad is also in the race to contest in Kharba Assembly by-poll. Mr Das Munshi himself will monitor the entire election campaign in the Kharba Assembly by-poll as the constituency falls under the Raiganj parliamentary constituency. One the other hand, there is no chance of alliance between the Trinamul Congress and Congress because the Trinamul supremo Ms Mamata Banerjee has accepted the proposed name of its candidate Mr Abdul Khaleque, who had got nearly 5,000 votes in the last Assembly polls.The state BJP has also planned to field its candidate to test its strength in the Congress and CPI-M dominated belt. The by-poll will be held on 12 April. Filling of nomination forms will begin on 19 March. Counting of votes will begin on 16 April.

CID to probe forgery

Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 16:- Having failed to bust the racket involving around Rs. 40 lakhs, the Malda police have decided to hand over the case to the CID.

After detection of forged drafts on 12 February, the police have been able to arrest only two persons out of 11 who were supposed to be involved in these forged drafts' transactions.

The investigating officer of English Bazaar police station, Mr. Jayanta Choudhury, has already prepared a list of 11 suspected persons and informed the various banks authorities, where the transactions were made, and sought information in detail about their bank accounts.

Police also asked the bank officials to stop operation of their accounts registering the case on 20 February in English Bazaar police station.

So far the district police arrested two persons Prakash Ghosh and Biplab Ghosh. Police are looking for Subir Kumar Datta, a resident of Behrampur in Murshidabad, Shyamal Das alias Swapan and Pranesh Ghosh.

Besides, police have interrogated six other persons Kamana Ghosh, wife of Pranesh Ghosh, Kanak Ghosh, son of Pranesh Ghosh, Pawan Agarwal, Abdus Subhan and his friend Elamuddin and Akash Banthia, son of a big businessman in English Bazaar town , Prabin Banthia.

According to Malda S P, "Subir Datta had bought a draft of Rs. 1200 from Behrampur branch of a certain bank. The racketeers made several 'blank' drafts copying the draft, issued by concerned bank, with the help of high quality colour photo copier".

Investigation revealed that though the number of the draft was same but the racketeers put figure of according to their choice and forged the signature of bank officials. #####

Eviction notice to resolve waterlogging problem in Chanchal

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 17: The Chanchal sub-divisional officer has issued eviction notice on either side of the state high in Chanchal town for sewage construction to resolve water logging problem in the area. “If they do not shift the unauthorised structures soon the administration will demolish them,” said Mr Debasish Sarkar, Chanchal SDO. According to him, the sewage construction has begun and will have to be completed by 25 March.The Chanchal town is a victim of perennial waterlogging during monsoon. The Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad had allotted Rs 48 lakh for the drainage system a few years back but the project could not be executed due to encroachment and other technical difficulties.The administration had to stop demolition drive to remove encroachment earlier due to protest from a section of people. The administration sounded determined to complete the project this time though. #

We share good ties with Centre , says CM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 16: The Centre-state relation which was deteriorated earlier has been developed completely after UPA government came into power, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said today. Addressing the inauguration programme of an arsenic free drinking water supply project at Mahyampur village in Beldanga block in Murshidabad district today the chief minister said “We have a good relation with the Centre at present”, in presence of the foreign affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Both Mr Mukherjee and Mr Bhattacharjee today appeared before the people in this colourful inauguration programme showing an example of a good relation between them, praised each other and bargained requirements for development. Both leaders landed at Barua Football ground by helicopter, four km from the spot and arrived at Mahyampur in a car. “We have to do developmental works altogether forgetting all political issues”, said Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Expressing happiness over the inauguration of arsenic free drinking water treatment plant, Mr. Mukherjee said: “The state public health minister Goutam Deb has ensured me that arsenic free drinking water project; estimated cost of the plant was Rs. 70 crore, at Ragunathganj in Murshidabad will be completed very soon”. Narrating Central government's role for implementing drinking water projects, Mr. Mukherjee said: “During the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi such programmes were taken up but it was discontinued when the NDA government came to power. At present all such developmental programmes are being implemented gradually”. “The government has stressed to resolve the crisis of fresh drinking water and problem of erosion on the banks of Padma and Ganges”, the foreign minister said. According to public health engineering officials, the centre had allotted Rs. 4.87 crore and state had allotted Rs. 1.63 crore for setting up of the arsenic free drinking water project at Mahyampur for people of Beldanga. Another project located at Behrempur town, estimating Rs. 270 crore, is under progress. The chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that his government with financial assistance from the centre has planned to provide arsenic free fresh drinking water to 52 lakh people within three years, who are living in arsenic afflicted zone in Murshidabad. According to him, out of 26 blocks in Murshidabad under ground waters are contaminated with arsenic in 19 ones.

Model code of conduct 'breached'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March. 16: The Malda CPIM leader and the minister for environment and state parliamentary affairs Mr Salien Sarkar does not bother to follow model code of conduct which came into force from 13 March following notification of the Kharba Assembly by election in northern part of this district. Inviting all media persons Mr Sarkar yesterday visited the newly constructed arsenic free drinking water treatment project at Kahala in Ratua in the northern part of this district and inaugurated the plant to provide drinking water to the people with the help of the government officials of the public health engineering.Just before panchayat polls, which is scheduled to be held in May, the drinking water project was scheduled to be inaugurated by the chief minister Mr Budhhadeb Bhattacharjee on 16 March in presence of three other union ministers including Mr Pranab Mukherjee, rural development minister Mr Raghubansh Prasad Singh and information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and other state ministers including Mr Sailen Sarkar. The chief minister Mr Budhhadeb Bhattacharjee inaugurated another arsenic free water treatment plant at Beldanga in Murshidabad today but he did not come to Malda for inaugurating the plant at Kahala fearing a violation of model code of conduct. It may be noted that there are series of inauguration programmes in Malda before panchayat poll including Gaurbanga Vishwavidyalay in English Bazaar town and other big projects initiated by both the Congress and the CPIM with the help of the state government. But all have been cancelled due to notification of assembly by-poll. Due to imposition of model code of conduct, leaders are upset having failed to organise colourful programme of inauguration before panchayat poll but organisers belonging to the CPIM are adamant to campaign about tentative programmes of inauguration of various projects like university, Ratua stadium , another drinking water projects in English Bazaar and inauguration of bridge over Mahananda. Thousands of colourful leaflets have been circulated across the district silently. When the news of inauguration came to light yesterday evening, the congress leaders like Mr KN Choudhury , English Bazaar MLA and the Sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty came down heavily talking to reporters and informed their top brasses to lodge complaint with the election commission. The desperate minister Mr Sailen Sarkar told reporters “I did not see anything wrong. People were getting water from this plant earlier. After cancellation of its inauguration programme I just came to visit the newly constructed plant and asked the officials to supply water properly in the interest of the people”. After visiting the site of Ratua stadium he also claimed “There will be no colourful inauguration programme at newly constructed Ratua stadium but Kabadi competition will take place on the opening day which is on 21 March”. Interestingly, when the minister went to the arsenic free water treatment plant there was a national flag on his car but when he came out of the plant the nation flag was removed. When the district magistrate Mr CR Das was inquired about the inauguration he said “Officially I do not have any information about inauguration”.

Chicken deaths

MALDA, March 14: A large number of chickens have died in a state run poultry farm in English Bazaar town since Wednesday.

Observing the symptoms, animal resources development officials suspect the birds were attacked by bird flu.

The ARD officials have collected eight blood samples from the dead and ailing birds and sent those for laboratory tests at Belgachia, Kolkata.

The deputy director Malda ARD Mr N K Shit today informed the Karmadhyakshya Mr Soumitra Roy that more than 300 birds died in the farm till date.

But according to unofficial sources, about 500 chickens have died in the farm since yesterday. n sns

Model code upsets leaders

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 14: Both CPI-M and Congress leaders are upset at cancellation of a series of inauguration programmes just before panchayat election due to the model code of conduct, which came into force yesterday following notification of the Kharba Assembly by-election in the northern part of this district. The by-poll will be held on 12 April. Filling of nomination forms will begin on 19 March and continue till 26 March. Counting of votes will begin on 16 April. The model code of conduct will remain in force till electionday. Interestingly, the political leaders do not have a scope to organise the cancelled inauguration programmes after the by-poll because by this time another model code of conduct would be coming into force for panchayat polls which are scheduled to be held in May. The ruling parties plan-ned to organise two such major programmes with the help of the government officials just before panchayat election. Similarly the Congress, BJP and Trinamul led Malda zilla parishad had planned to execute a series of inauguration programmes of various schemes before panchayat polls. After receiving notification from the election commission the district magistrate Mr C R Das said: “The model code of conduct for by-poll will be coming into force in the entire district and all programmes including the inauguration of the arsenic free drinking water treatment plant at Balupur in Ratua and foundation laying ceremony for the Gour Vishwavidyalay in English Bazaar have been cancelled. Chief minister Mr Bud-dhadeb Bhattacherjee , foreign minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee, rural development minister Mr Raghub-ansh Prasad Singh , information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and other ministers from the states were scheduled to attend the inauguration programme of the arsenic free drinking water treatment plant on 16 March. For foundation laying ceremony of the Gaur Banga Vishwavidyalay, the Lok Sabha Speaker Mr Somnath Chatterjee and other dignitaries were scheduled to attend the programme on 23 March. The resource mobilisation committee for the university today circulated thousands of leaflets to inform the people of the programme. The district magistrate also received the invitation letter for this inauguration programme from the principal secretary of education department Mr Prasad Ranjan Roy today. Interestingly, the district magistrate, superintendent of police and chief medical officer of health today opened a three day health fair in Malda district hospital cancelling the inauguration programme which was sch-eduled to be inaugurated by Malda MP Mr. A H Khan Choudhury. The district magistrate, over phone, today asked the sabhadhipati Malda zilla parishad Mr. Goutam Chakraborty and the Malda M P Mr. Choudhury not to come here ... ‘please'. “In the interest of people and medical service to the public we opened the fair today”, said Mr. CR Das, the Malda D M. #

Answer scripts recovered

MALDA, March 14: Malda police recovered the lost answer scripts of Bengal second paper of Madhyamik 2008 from a rickshaw puller late last night in Mohonpur village, 15 km from English Bazaar town. An examiner, Ashok Barui, assistant teacher of Malda town school, had lost 71 answer scripts on way in English Bazaar town on 11 March afternoon. A rickshaw puller, Altaf Sheikh found the packet and took it to his home. n sns

Rally

MALDA, March 14: Malda Buddhijibi Shilpi o Sanskritik Kormi Mancha took out a rally in English Bazaar town today to protest against the police firing in Nandigram on this day last year. They staged a street drama to mark the incident as Martyrs’ Day. n sns

Polls

MALDA, March 14: The CPI-M leadership has proposed the name of Mrs Anjumanara Begam, as candidate for the Kharba by poll. The Congress, Trinamul and the BJP have not finalised their candidates yet. n sns

Sports

MALDA, March 14: The Mahadipur Exporters’ Association today organised a sports meet for disabled boys and girls at the Brindabony play ground. n sns

Awareness

MALDA, March 14: The Malda district administration is planning to organise an exhibition of the Red Ribbon Express as AIDS prevention awareness campaigning on 22 March at Malda Town Station. n sns

Child labourers rescued

MALDA, March 14: The police in Delhi have rescued five child labourers, residents of Malda and Murshidabad and have informed the respective district authorities to take them in their custody. The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das, said assistant labour commissioner Mr Patit Paban Das and other officials left for Delhi yesterday to bring them back. According to the district magistrate, four of the five rescued children are from Malda district and one is from Murshidabad district. The parents of four children have already reached New Delhi with the help of Union information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.n sns

Bangladeshi nationals await repatriation despite release order

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 13:- Hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals are languishing in various jails in the state but they are not in a position to go back to their country despite release order issued by the court. After visiting Bongaon jail in North 24-Parganas yesterday, where 70 Bangladeshis including 20 women and six children are waiting for repatriation , the chief of Malda Ram Krishna Mission, Swami Divyananda said that the Bangladeshi people were languishing in different jails despite release order from the court three months agodue to dillydallying of the system. The Malda RKM chief Swami Divyananda said: “In Indian part the district intelligence branch officials and departmental officials of the Writers’ Building should be more active to sort out the lengthy repatriation process to give them relief drawing the attention of Bangladesh High Commission”. “I have planned to write a letter to the Governor Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi about the matter requesting him to take up the matter so that hundreds of Bangladeshis can go back to their own homes”, said Swami Divyananda. There are 30 Bangladeshi children and their parents in Berhampore central jail in Murshidabad. Similar situation is in other jails like Suri, Bolpur in Birbhum, Krishnanagar in Nadia and other north Bengal district jails and even presidency jail. On 31 January 2008, Swami Divyananda wrote a letter to the national human rights commission about Bangladeshi children in correctional homes demanding formal education and proper care of them in jail.His letter said, “In West Bengal more than 100 Bangladeshi children of age group of 5 to 10 years are staying with their parents arrested as per Foreigners’ Act (amended in 2004) and they are subjected to an eight year sentence. The children would be unable to get proper care and formal education in jails during this period”. A copy of the letter was also sent to the chief justice, Calcutta High Court, the union minister of Law department and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. The Malda RKM is working in 40 correctional homes to uplift the lives of the jail inmates since last five years.Yesterday, the Malda RKM awarded a computer to Arun Debnath, an artist, outside the Alipur jail in Kolkata. Recently, he has been acquitted and released from the jail.

Chanchal SDO showcauses panchayat sabhapati over fake certificates

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 13: The Chanchal SDO Mr. Debasish Sarkar has asked the Chanchal-I panchayat samiti sabahpati Mrs. Dali Choudhury to explain why she would not be disqualified from the post possessing caste certificate managed by false statement and information from the government. After receiving a letter from the Darjeeling SDO with the copy of High Court order related to caste certificate, the Chanchal SDO Mr. Debasish Sarkar said that he issued a letter to the panchayat samiti sabhapati requesting her to submit that caste certificate to the Darjeeling SDO by 24 March. “I will conduct a hearing on the issue of ‘fake’ caste certificate sabhapati of Chanchal panchayet samiti next week before disqualify her following the order of the court. I have asked her why you should not be disqualified”, the SDO said. It may be noted that Mrs. Choudhury had filed a writ petition to the High Court challenging the government direction when it was proved that she had managed the schedule caste certificate giving false statement and information. The government had started investigation following a complaint lodged by the former Panchayat samiti sabhapati Mrs. Shova Das. ” I will remove her officially after conducting a hearing “, the SDO said.

Sabhapati in caste goof-up glare

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 12: The sub-divisional officer, Darjeeling (Sadar), has asked the sabhapati of Chanchal-I panchayat samiti Mrs Dali Choudhury to “deposit” her original caste certificate to the government within a fortnight of receiving the order.Though she refused to receive the letter issued by the SDO Darjeeling, finally she had to receive the letter yesterday.The letter was issued on 6 March this year following a recent court order where Mrs Choudhury could not prove herself that she was entitled to get the caste certificate.It may be noted that Mrs Choudhury had filed a writ petition to the High Court challenging the government direction when it was proved that she had managed the schedule caste certificate giving false statement and information.Official sources said that the former sabhapati of Chanchal-I panchayat samiti Mrs Shova Das had lodged a complaint with the government officials a few years back and claimed that ‘Mrs Choudhury does not belong to the SC category'.On the basis of the complaint, the Darjeeling SDO started investigation with the assistance of the Jalpaiguri SDO as she was the original resident of Jalpaiguri district where her bothers still live.The caste certificate was issued in the name of Mrs Dali Choudhury as SC from the office of the Darjeeling SDO (Sadar).The Chanchal SDO Mr Debasish Sarkar has been informed about the matter to restraint the sabhapati from official work.It may be noted that Mrs Choudhury belongs to the Congress and based on the caste certificate she had contested and finally she was elected and nominated as sabhapati of the panchayat samiti.The CPI-M leaders have planned to make it an issue in forthcoming panchayat polls in Chanchal.

Duo arrested for false complaint

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 12: Police arrested two persons, who lodged a complaint with the Ratua police station that their motorcycle was stolen, suspecting that the two persons Jamir Ali Biswas and Barek Sheikh were trying to claim the insurance money by lodging a false theft case.The duo, residents of Kaliachak police station area, was produ ced in court today.However, the lawyers of the two arrested persons alleged that police did not bother to entertain their complaints when they went to the police station on 10 March. According to them, police detained the duo when they approached the police again about the matter and finally arrested them on 11 March and produced them to the court today. It may be noted that the two persons went to the Ratua police station and alleged that their two wheeler went missing. “The officials of Ratua police station detained them on the basis of suspicion that they were lying about the entire incident. After interrogation police decided to arrest them”, a senior police officer said.There are several cases in Malda where motorcycle owners have managed insurance claim after police clearance by lodging an FIR, providing false statements. Police sources said that it was found that the owners sold off the two wheeler and claimed the insurance money.

Examiner loses answer scripts

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 11: An examiner lost 71 answer scripts of the Bengali second paper of Madhymik examination 2008 in English Bazaar town yesterday.Failing to recover the marked answer sheets the examiner lodged an FIR with the English Bazaar police station late in the evening, the Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay today said. The missing answer scripts remain untraced till now.Mr Ashok Barui, an assistant teacher of Bengali of Malda Town High School and a selected examiner for the second time in succession, stated before the police that he lost the answer scripts on his way home from school. “I noticed the bag containing the scripts missing at the B Ed College crossing and instantly came back to the spot in search of the bag but could not find it,” Mr Barui said today. “The examiner was riding a two-wheeler and did not notice when the bag containing the scripts fell off,” the SP, said. “The police are trying to find the scripts and an appeal has been sent out to the people,” he said. It is learnt that Mr Barui was to check 206 answer scripts and the lost lot was the first batch of papers. According to sources in the academic circle, the missing papers were of students from Cooch Behar. “Mr Barui had brought the answer scripts to school and was examining those here,” said the principal of the Malda Town High School.Speaking to media persons, Mr Barui today disclosed the marks obtained by some examinees. “All students got pass marks in Bengali second paper. The lowest number was 61. Two of them got more than 70 per cent marks,” he told the reporters.

Flu : Blood samples collected

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 11: The animal resources development officials in Malda have started collecting blood samples of back yard poultry in Chanchal sub-division where Bird Flu virus was detected. The deputy director of the ARD Malda, Mr N K Shit said that five km area from the epicentre was identified as the infected zone and the rest of the area within 10 km radius of the epicenter was considered as surveillance zone. “According to the instruction from higher authorities we have started collection of blood samples of backyard poultry from today to assess the situation in and around the infected zone,” Mr Shit said. “The surveillance of the affected zone would continue for a few days,” he said. According to him, sporadic bird deaths have been reported from some villages including Kaligram village in Chanchal. The ARD team visited that area today and collected blood samples for analysis. “The area is now under control and birds are safe,” said both Mr Shit and the Chanchal SDO Mr Debasish Sarkar. It was reported that people sold off dead chicken at low price before the ARD team reached.

Passengers agitate as Darjeeling Mail delayed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 11: Hundreds of passengers of Sealdah bound Darjeeling Mail came down heavily and expressed anger as the train in which they were travelling arrived nine hours late at the Malda town station this morning.The helpless and embarrassed eastern railway em-ployees failed to pacify the irate passengers blaming to Northeast Frontier railways for the delay of the train due to technical reasons. The Malda town station manager Mr A Roy had to be bear the brunt of the agitated passengers.The Darjeeling Mail, scheduled to arrive at Malda town station at 11.45 pm, reached here at 9.01 am and left for Sealdah at 9.23 am today, according to Malda railway officials.Passengers became angry when the train was detained for a long time at Tritla near Barsoi station in Bihar. The passengers ca-me to know from the railway employees that the train was detained here because of a crack found on the railway tracks.“Though the train left for its destination after few hours it was detained at Dalkhola in north Dinajpur due to the breakdown of its locomotive,” the passengers said.There were several passengers including Congres-s MLA, Mrs Deepa Das Munshi, who had a busy schedule in Kolkata today and were stranded due to the delay. “I am not in a position to appear for an interview for a job in private company due to this delay,” Mr Ajoy Agarwal told reporters. The Malda railway officials refused to comment on the exact cause of delay because NF railway is responsible for the maintenance of the Darjeeling Mail.

Man marries another girl as bride elopes

MALDA, March 10: Malin Mandal alias Munna, a vegetable vendor, did not have any idea that he would have to marry another girl within a few hours of his marriage to Dipali Mandal, a resident of Dashrath colony. The incident took place in Old Malda last night. Munna and Dipali’s marriage was solemnised in the presence of both the families and neighbours. At around 4.30 am, Dipali sneaked out of the room which was given to them to take rest, on the pretext of nature’s call but did not return. When the groom’s family found out the matter, one of the guests proposed marriage to the groom’s family with another girl Namita, daughter of a daily wage earner. It was later learnt that Dipali had a relationship with a local youth. n sns

Villagers against Gazole tax system

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 10: The CPI-M led Gazole gram panchayat has finally decided not to collect panchayat tax from January this year following public protest and considering forthcoming panchayat elections.Gazole gram panchayat had made a public announcement to pay taxes based on the system adopted by the centre as well as state government.It was stated in the announcement that residents would have to pay 2 per cent taxes on 6 per cent of total valuation of land and its building. The residents will have to pay this panchayat tax every year as per the system.After announcement, local citizen committee called Gazole Nagarik Unnayan Committee (GNUC) submitted a deputation to the Gazole Block development officer on 4 March in protest against the decision of the gram panchayat.The leaders of the GNUC, Mr Mujibuddin Ahmed, Mr Ranjit Ghosh, Mr Banshi Mohan Singh Sardar and others today submitted a deputation to the Gazole panchayat pradhan in protest against the decision to collect taxes from people.It may be noted that Gazole BDO had sought clarification from the Gazole panchayat pradhan Mrs Krishna Mudi and asked the panchayat on what basis they had planned to collect the tax from residents.Finally the Mrs Mudi assured the GNUC members that the panchayat would not collect such tax and the decision would be intimated to the public through an announcement.The GNUC members claimed that the present panchayat tax had hiked the rate of tax. Besides Gazole gram panchayat, no other gram panchayat took such decision to collect a 2 per cent tax on 6 per cent of the total valuation of land and property.

EBM to present budget on 17 March

MALDA, March 10: The Congress, Trinamul and BJP led English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) expects that it would be able to pass the budget for the financial year 2008-09 on 17 March without any protest from the Opposition councillors.On 7 March, when the CPI-M and its allies had made the fate of the 2008-09 budget uncertain by boycotting ‘adjourned’ meeting called by the Congress, Trinamul and BJP led Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati, the Opposition councillors were silent and cooperated with the English Bazaar civic body chief to submit its budget for 2008-09. After submission of the budget and discussion it was decided that the civic body chief would table the budget on 17 March and seek cooperation from all councillors to pass the budget. It may be noted that the present civic board chairman does not bother to seek help from the seven rebel leaders who have been expressing ‘no confidence’ against him because of full cooperation from the Opposition.“I don't know what will be the role of seven rebel leaders but I am expecting that everyone will cooperate to pass the budget,” the civic body chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari said. According to the civic body chief, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, municipality has prepared a budget of more than Rs 24 crore in the financial year 2008-09. Last year it was more than 23 crore.“This year we have stressed on resource mobilisation from its own sources of income to run the civic body independently,” Mr Tiwari said. “Besides proposed drinking water project through surface water treatment plant we have planned to develop public service in the civic body," Mr Tiwari said. n sns

Villagers protest against police arrogance

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 9: Hundreds of villagers, residents of Sadipur between English Bazaar and Kaliachak police station, blocked a state highway for over 14 hours today in protest against alleged police highhandedness.Police arrested three persons last night from that village in connection with a lynching case. Villagers claimed that three persons were innocent.Villagers alleged that police damaged their houses and tortured women members of their family in the name of raid.It may be noted that two youths were killed a few days ago there. Villagers suspected them to be criminals and hacked them to death.After the incident, Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said: “Police would not spare any one for taking law in their hands”.But police could not conduct a raid just after the incident in Sadipur and adjoining villages due to on going Madhyamik and Madrassa examinations.The police later raided the villages but failed to identify any one who killed the two youths brutally.Villagers dragged the two youths from their area, tied them with trees, killed them at night and lastly dumped their bodies on the other of the village.Though police asked the villagers to confess the crime and surrender them, no one agreed to come forward.Last night police picked up three persons from that village when villagers refused to confess and disclose the names of those who killed the two men. Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said: “Raid would be continued to nab others involved in this case. Action would be taken if police personnel were found guilty as per the allegations by the villagers.Villagers finally lifted the road block around 2 pm today which began at 6 am.

Row over Madrasa recruitment exams

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 9: Ignoring public interest litigation filed in Calcutta High Court the state today conducted examination for recruiting teachers for the state Madrasa across the state including Malda district amid protest from the youths belonging to the schedule caste and schedule tribes.A total of 686 teachers will be recruited for 506 Madrasas of the state. Minister in charge of Madrasha Education Mr Abdus Sattar told reporters over phone, “More than 94 percent candidates turned up in today’s examination”. No untoward incident was reported, he added. It was decided last year that instead of School Service Commission, Madrasha teachers would be recruited by a separate committee approved by state minority commission. Accordingly, initiative was taken in last October to take a separate written test for the candidates applying for the madrasha teachers. However, in the recruitment procedure there was no provision for the reservation for the SC, ST and OBC candidates.This infuriated the organisations for the SC, ST and OBC youths. One public interest litigation (PIL) case was lodged in the High Court demanding the reservation. The written test was postponed on the face of the case. Later it was known two more cases were lodged with similar demand of reservation.Bekar Yuba Sangram Samity approved by Confederation of OBC, SC, ST and Minorities of West Bengal lodged a protest against this examination.On 5 March they had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister claiming the reservation as per Indian government rule.Mr. Susanta Mandal, secretary of Samity, said, “How can this examination be held when the matter is still sub-judice?” “When govt is spending money from public fund to recruit teachers they have to follow the reservation policy as well. Otherwise, candidates falling under reserved category would certainly be deprived of the justice”, he said. Mr Sattar said, “We have formed a committee of seven members headed by Dr Osman Ghani to conduct examination.”He further said, “There is no sub-judice matter regarding this examination. We have proceeded only after talking to advocate general.”However, Mandal raised the question about the authority of such committee. “When you are by passing SSC with a new committee, does it have all the approval of President?”Meanwhile, Anagrasar Samaj Kalyan Samity also hinted to move to court again to stall the process of recruitment if the reservation policy is not cleared.

Historical site may turn into mango orchard

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 7: The excavation, which began in 2004 at Balupur on the banks of river Kalindri in English Bazaar Block to understand the nature of human settlement and the link between culture and the alluvial environment in the last 1300 years, is about to finish, said officials of Visva Bharati.

“We can tentatively surmise that this site has a dominant rural base in the earlier levels which was succeeded by increasingly brick building and industrial activity in the later phases identified with more urban based culture”, Dr Seena Panja, reader of Archaeology department in Visva Bharati said.

The researchers have chronologically traced four broad cultural periods at the site. According to them, the earliest is a culture which could belong to seventh to eighth century AD from the pottery found in the earliest levels.

The second earliest is Pala-Sena period stretching from ninth to twelvth centuries AD based on the remains of typical pottery of this period , a broken seal fragment inscribed in ten and eleventh century script, animal bones, terracotta objects and traces of mud floors.

Scholars have found that the Sultanate period stretched from the 13th to 15th century AD on the basis of the pottery recovered there.

“We see the beginnings of brick building activity including the construction of a big brick floor with bricks from an earlier level. The presence of imported Chinese celadon pottery and beads of semi-precious stones indicates that the era was one of prosperity. This phase was succeeded by a bigger flood activity,” claimed Prof. Arun Nag and Dr Seena Panja.

According to them, the last medieval period in the time of Hossain Shah and Mughal periods stretching from 16th to 17th and 18th century have evidence of rammed floors, mud floors, brick walls , brick structures and human burials, which were hastily buried due to some unknown calamity.

“This phase also shows evidence of bead making, iron works, shell and bone works and other industrial activity. This was the time when probably the river Kalindri became more active in the north and the river Bhagirathi became a stagnant channel,” Dr Panja said.

“The site became a more important administrative centre which is shown by the construction of a moat in the northern part of the site and the presence of the large structures in that zone,” they claimed.

Addressing a press conference Prof. Arun Nag expressed his concern and said: “This historically important site is being destroyed by the locals. It will be destroyed within a few years. A group of villagers are converting lands into mango orchards. The site can be protected if the state archaeology department takes initiatives”.

“More detailed analysis of the findings including scientific tests within a year will give us a more comprehensive view of human settlements in this area during the last 1300 years”, the team said.