Flood protection scheme dropped

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 30: The irrigation and waterways department in Malda has dropped several flood protection schemes across the district due to ‘technical difficulties.’ The works were scheduled for completion before the monsoons. The department had to suspend execution of flood protection schemes before the panchayat polls due to the election rules after floating tenders in March this year. And now, with the approaching monsoons, it seems too late to take up the work.The executive engineer, irrigation department, Malda Mr S Misra said: “The chief engineer has suggested not to revive the process now because officially we can not give work order to the contractor in June, just before the monsoons.” The irrigation department had planned to take up raising, strengthening, building inspection roads on the existing and reaming retired embankments and marginal embankments on the left bank of the Ganges from Manikchak to Kaliachak block II areas. Besides the Ganges area, the engineers had also taken up several schemes on the banks of Tangan, Punarbhaba, and Mahananda rivers in Old Malda, Gazole and the adjoining blocks. A total of Rs 4.22 crore was estimated for flood protection job in this region. This fund was allotted from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund XIII, a loan granted by the NABARD. According to Mr Misra, the department has received Rs 10 crore from the 12 Finance Commission. Several schemes for flood and erosion protection measures have been taken up for execution from November. On the other hand, the Farakka Barrage Project authorities have taken bank protection work on the left bank of the Ganges.A 1700 metre long bank line will be protected from severe erosion in the affected areas such as Domhat in Manikchak.

MALDA, May 30: A tribal student of Popra High School, Biswanath Mardi who had failed in the Madhyamik examinations, committed suicide last night by consuming poison. The student died at his residence at the Bagmara village under Malda police station. n SNS

No drinking water for five days

MALDA, May 29: The supply of arsenic-free drinking water has been suspended in parts of English Bazaar for the past five days but public health officials are unaware of it. Executive engineer of PHE (arsenic division) Mr AK Das said: “The supply was disrupted for a day at Amriti in English Bazaar due to leakage in the pipeline." He was surprised to hear water supply to areas from Laxmipur village to ward no. 24 and 25 in English Bazaar Municipality have been without water for the past five days. nSNS

Snehalata Sarkar tops Malda Madhyamik chart

MALDA, May 28: Snehalata Sarkar alias Piya scored 790 marks in the Madhyamik examinations 2008 from Barlow Girls’ Higher Secondary School to become the topper in Malda district. Snehalata, who got 100 marks in Mathematics, is expected to figure in the top-10 merit list. “I did not expect such a result. Yes, I am very happy,” said the girl giving all credit to her teachers and private tutors. The girl wants to serve the people and pursue medical studies. Her father, Binoy Sarkar, a state government employee, was taken aback with his daughter's result and said: “I am proud of her.” Her mother Mrs Maya Sarkar, a health employee, inspires her to become a doctor.

Rajarshi Bhattacharyya , another successful candidate from the district scored 787 from Malda Ramkrishna Mission Vivekananda Vidyamandir. “I want to be a scientist and continue my studies in Science,” Rajarshi said ruing the “poor marks” he got in Bengali and History. Rajarshi's father, Prasanta Bhattacharyya, a bank employee, said: “We shall appeal to the board for scrutiny of two papers --- Bengali and History. I hope that the number of these two subjects will increase.”

Achyut Das and Ranadip Das, students of the same school, got 786 each. A total of four students including Rajarshi, Achyut and Ranadip got 100 marks in Mathematics. The Vivekananda Vidyamandir authorities are not happy with the evaluation in certain subjects. “Evaluation in Bengali paper is not up to the mark. Had it been evaluated properly, more students of our school would have ranked in the state,” said Sumanasananda, principal of Vivekananda Vidyamandir. n sns

'Misappropriation of NREGS funds, a mojor issue in panchayat polls'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 28: After declaration of election results in the district it was revealed that one of the issues in rural poll campaign at lower tier was misappropriation of funds allotted for national rural employment guarantee schemes (NREGS).The political parties could not retain its existing board where many registered labourers were deprived and ruling party in gram panchayat levels was defeated. In many blocks CPI (M), LF and the Congress and other Opposition parties could not retain seats in this rural poll on this issue. The Congress has recaptured the Olionda gram panchayat in Chanchal sub division which was under the control of CPI (M) and it could not retain the board this time. On charges of misappropriation of funds allotted for NREGS the chief of the board at Olionda, belonging to the CPI (M), was arrested on the basis of the FIR lodged by the administration. Similarly, the Congress could not retain the Malatipur gram panchayat on the same issue. After inquiry administration had found that the Congress led Malatipur gram panchayat misappropriated funds allotted for NREGS.Administrative action was taken against the office bearer of the board after lodging FIR with the police. Finally, based on the issue the CPI (M) has recaptured the Malatipur gram panchayat in Chanchal sub division in this panchayat poll.

Environment dept concerned about mobile phone towers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 27: The principal secretary of the state environment department Mr ML Meena has urged local authorities to follow the guidelines before giving permission for installation of mobile phone towers on residential buildings, schools, hostels and hospitals in the districts. The department had issued the order on 24 April 2008 and its copy was forwarded to all concerned including cell phone service providers, district magistrates, municipalities, zilla parishads and panchayets for information under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. The principal secretary Mr Meena pointed out in the copy that the principal secretary, Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi has already issued a circular in respect of guidelines for installation of the mobile towers. According to the order copy, the state environment department has received a number of complaints regarding indiscriminate installation of mobile towers in residential and school buildings and hospitals, which have a harmful electro- magnetic radiation. One of the strict guidelines is to avoid installation of Base Station Antennas within the premises of schools and hospitals because children and patients are more susceptible to Electro-magnetic Field. The department has directed to avoid installation of BSA in narrow lanes in order to reduce risk caused by any earthquake or wind related disaster. It has been strictly mentioned that BSA should be at least 3 metres away from the nearby building and antennas should not directly face the building. The environment department has suggested that in case of multiple transmitter sites at a specific locality, sharing of a common tower infrastructure should be explored as far as possible. There must be ‘warning signs’ in the prohibited zone, where BSA has been installed, for common public entry containing the text: ‘Danger! RF radiations... Do not enter!

Municipality goes 'bankrupt'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 27:- The Congress MLA in English Bazaar has claimed that the Congress led board English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) is becoming ‘bankrupt'. A team from directorate of local bodies today visited the EBM, inquired into the matters and interacted with the chairman of the civic body Mr. N. Tiwari on the basis of the complaint lodged by the MLA Mr. K N Choudhury. On the basis of the complaints from English Bazaar residents regarding bankruptcy of civic board I informed the matter to the party as well as the directorate of local bodies, said Mr. K N Choudhury. “The public service system of the board has been deteriorated. Expenditure of the board has been increased than its income”, claimed Mr. K N Choudhury. It may be noted that a few months ago Mr. Choudhury had raised the issue against the board and draw the attention of the directorate of local bodies and seven councillors belonging to Mr. Choudhury's lobby started ‘non cooperation’ movement against the chairman , who belongs to the Congress. The chairman Mr. N Tiwari had sought help from the district congress president to sort out the crisis. “The MLA Mr. Choudhury is trying to tarnish the image of a Congress led board because we do not accept some proposals of his own which are related to his vested interested”, said Mr. N Tiwari. The chairman of the EBM was so busy today with the officials of the directorate of local bodies to give satisfactory clarifications on the basis of the complaints lodged by the Congress MLA.

Doc, nurses blamed for snake bite

MALDA, May 25: After the death of a snake bite patient, relatives today lodged a complaint with the police against a government doctor and two nurses for negligence of duties. The incident took place at Chanchal hospital in the northern part of Malda district. The husband of Lovely Bibi (20) who died at the hospital this morning blamed the hospital authorities for her death. The CMOH claimed there was no negligence.. He, however, said the charges would be probed. n sns

New Malda ZP sabhadhipati yet to be announced : Priya

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 23: The West Bengal PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today said that the name of the new Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati was yet to be decided upon. He asked his party supporters not to dwell on media reports on the subject.He also admitted that his party was in a quandary on the saha sabhadipati issue. The Malda saha sabhadhipati's post is reserved for a Scheduled Tribe candidate and the Congress does not have any ST candidate among its elected ones to the ZP. Under the circumstances, it either has to look towards the BJP or the CPI-M as they have one victorious ST candidate each.Appealing to party workers and the elected candidates to accept the candidate the high command would finally select, Mr Das Munshi said that the supporters were free to suggest any name they wished to the district leaders but not create any rift in the party on the matter. “The sabhadipati's name would be finalised very soon,” he assured.The WBPCC chief, however, admitted that the Congress needed to consider the matter of filling up the saha sabhadhipati's port seriously before taking a decision on the matter. It is being speculated that taking a queue from the Delhi line of politics, Mr Das Munshi could approach the CPI-M, which has an elected tribal candidate.

Malda Congress faces a dilemma

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 22: The Congress in Malda is faced with a dilemma. Though the party has come to power in Malda zilla parishad bagging the majority of seats on offer, it is short of a saha sabhadhipati candidate. The post is reserved for Scheduled Tribes and the Congress has no elected tribal candidate among its 18 elected ZP members.The Congress would either have to look towards the BJP or the CPI-M now as both organisations possess elected Scheduled Tribe candidates. The question that is dong the rounds here is, who would the PCC chief and Union information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi now approach. While the BJP leadership said that it was prepared to offer its candidate Mr Mohan Tudu, who hasbeen elected to the ZP from Habibpur, as saha sabhadhipati to bail the Congress out of the embarrassing position of having to approach or support a CPI-M candidate, the CPI-M leadership believes the situation is a political test for Mr Das Munshi.Upset with the Malda zilla parishad and panchayat samity results in the district, the CPI-M leadership has decided to field Mrs Surajmoni Tudu, elected to the ZP on a CPI-M ticket from Gazole block, for the saha sabhadhipati's post. “With no candidate of its own, the Congress would either have to cast its vote in favour of the BJP candidate in the saha sabhadhipati election or approach the CPI-M if it wants to maintain a secular image,” said the district CPI-M secretary Mr Jiban Moitra. The CPI-M leadership including the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhatta-charjee had earlier objected to Mr Das Munshi's style of campaign prior to the panchayat polls as he had asked the people to cast votes in favour of the BJP where Congress candidates were absent. It would be interesting to watch what the Congress does now. #

Cong gains ground in Malda ZP

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 21: The Malda Congress has been able to retain Malda Zilla Parishad and finally bagged 18 Zilla Parishad seats out of 34 ones. In 2003, the Congress had won 15 seats out of 33 and formed the board with the help of the one BJP and one Trinamul Congress candidates . In this rural poll though the BJP has been able to retain one seat in Habibpur but the Trinamul Congress candidate has lost one seat in the same block. The Left Front has bagged only 15 seats. The CPI and RSP both have got one seat in Bamongola and Ratua respectively. The Forward Bloc has lost its seat in Harishchandrapur area. The CPI-M candidates have won 12 seats and one Socialist party candidate has been able to defeat its nearest Congress candidate. Interestingly, the Congress has snatched all four seats from Harishchandrapur I and II blocks. In 2003, the Left Front had won three seats there. After seat adjustment with the RSP, though the CPI-M expected it would be able to recapture Malda Zilla Parishad, two RSP candidates in Kaliachak I and III have been defeated by the Congress candidates. In English Bazaar, the CPI-M has gained one new seat, after delimitation, but the Congress has been able to retain its two seats here. The English Bazar MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, said: “I said earlier that the Congress would win the majority of seats in Zilla Parishad. Today's results have proved that all speculated results in favour of the CPI-M were wrong”. The upset CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra said: “Money power of the Congress leaders has played a vital role here”. He expressed unhappiness over the LF's bad results in Kaliachak III and Harischandrapur I and II. In Kaliachak III, the CPI-M had won one seat out of three in 2003 but lost three seats. “It is unexpected for us how people can choose the Congress there (Kaliachak III) where 16 elected Congress members of that panchayat samiti were arrested on charges of corruption,” Mr Moitra said.

Malda results frustrate CPM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 21: The Malda CPI-M district leaders were frustrated after the results of Malda Zilla Parishad, losing their expected seats in several blocks. The Malda CPI-M leaders were taken aback by the leading trend of the Congress in Zilla Parishad and panchayat samiti seats in this district. At about 12 noon today, the Malda CPI-M leaders "unofficially" informed Allimuddin street that the party would not be able to "recapture" the Malda Zilla Parishad. The Congress may be formed "solely" or with the help of the BJP. At about 6.30 p.m. today, the Congress was leading in 18 seats out of 34 ones where the BJP candidate was declared winner. The CPI-M tried hard to regain one seat from the BJP in Habibpur block but it failed to win the seat at the last moment. Though the CPI-M has been able to snatch two seats from the Congress unexpectedly in Kaliachak I block out of three, it has lost all seats in Kaliachak II and Manikchak blocks. The CPI-M leaders did not expect the Congress would win all seats in Kaliachak II and Manikchak. These two blocks were erosion hit areas and people were not happy with the CPI-M leaders here. On the other hand, the CPI-M and Forward Bloc did not get single seat in Harischandrapur I and II blocks areas. In Kaliachak III, where all 16 Congress members of the panchayat samiti are in jail on charges of misappropriation of funds allotted for flood relief, the Congress candidates won in two seats out of three, Congress and CPI-M candidates are fighting neck to neck. In Old Malda, Bamongola and in Gazole, particularly in Barind belt, the CPI-M and its LF partners have been able to retain their seats. The Socialist party has been able to snatch one seat which was under clutch of the Trinamul Congress. The CPI-M and the RSP have been able to snatch two Zilla Parishad seats from the Congress but in the northern part of Malda, CPI-M could not improve results in the Congress-dominated belt under the leadership of Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.

Re-poll 13 malda booths

Bomb explosion kills two at Kaliachak

Administration lists poll duty neglectors

Malda DM seeks permission for repoll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 19: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das today sought permission from the state election commission for repolling in 12 polling stations in northern part of Malda district where polling procedure was violated due to major violence and clash between political parties since last afternoon. “We have decided to conduct re-poll in 12 polling stations where election was halted due to exchange of bombs , ballots were snatched , the polling personnel left the polling booth fearing attacks, polling process was halted”, said the Malda DM. “We have received several complaints from political parties but we have selected 12 polling stations based on the report of the presiding officers , local magistrates , sub-divisional officers and other senior officials’ reports including the observers appointed by the state election commission”, he said. “We are waiting for the approval of the state election commission and preparing to conduct repolling amid tight security tomorrow at six polling stations in Ratua II block, at four booths in Ratua-I, at one booth in Harischandrapur-I and another one was selected in Harischandrapur -II”, the Malda D M said. The district magistrate disclosed: “Though classically the security arrangement was enough (two armed forces at each polling premises) but due to inadequate security forces polling procedure was violated in 12 polling stations”. The district CPI (M) secretary Mr. Jiban Moitra said: “Inadequate police force could not combat the situation due to lack of coordination to mobilize central reserve forces on time.. Many reserve forces were sitting idle in the headquarters. But in the sub-divisional headquarters in northern part there was no state police official, the particular officer was in another spot, who can guide central forces”. It may be noted that the Congress demanded repolling at five polling stations at Ratua II block area. It demanded repolling in 12 booths. The CPI (M) and F B demanded re-poll in 20 booths.The district magistrate said the polling completed at dawn today in some polling stations and the last polling team arrived at 11 am today in their respective block head quarters.

CPM,Cong clash; 100 injured

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 19: More than 100 people have been injured in post panchayat poll clashes between the CPI-M and the Congress in Malda district as each side continues to blame the other for the hostilities.The Congress MLA from Araidanga Mrs Sabitri Mitra alleged that CPI-M activists captured many polling stations and rigged votes with help from the administration and the police. “In a few places, the CPI-M workers snatched ballots and dumped those in the Mahananda river,” she added.According to Mrs Mitra, some polling officials could not complete polling on time. “About mid night they announced that polling would continue in the morning but when the tired voters went off to sleep, the polling officials left the polling premises. Under the situation, we have demanded a second polling in more than 10 polling stations including five polling stations in Araidanga Assembly constituency in Ratua II,” she said.Conversely, the CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra alleged that 25 CPI-M activists were injured by Congress supporters. Congress workers attacked and kidnapped Mr Sadiqul Islam and Ajijur Rahaman last evening and confined them in a house at Rajapur in Ratua II area. The driver of their vehicle was missing over few hours. Finally the police rescued them,” Mr Moitra said. The Congress leader Mrs Mitra denied the charges and said: “Mr Islam was attacked by rival CPI-M people over the issue of nomination.”The CPI-M district secretary further alleged that the Congress workers had attacked CPI-M polling agents and captured several polling stations in Ratua I, and II, Harichandrapur I and II and other blocks. “Failing to resist the atrocities of the Congress workers many polling agents had to leave the polling stations. We have demanded a second polling in 20 polling stations,” he added.

Cong-CPM clash in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 18: The police had to fire three rounds in the air to stop a clash between Congress and CPI-M supporters at Palashbona village in Ratua-II block during panchayat polls in Malda district today. Tension prevails at Sreepur-II gram panchayat over allegations of booth jamming and rigging by the political parties. The police fear more violence will occur later this evening. The Chanchal SDO Mr D Sarkar said: “Political workers from both the CPI-M and the Congress were preventing voters from entering the polling premises, which led to the clash." Booth jamming and rigging was also reported from Sholmari village under Chanchal-II block with the Congress and the CPI-M trading charges against each other. The CPI-M leadership today lodged at least 20 complaints against the Congress till 2 p.m. and demanded re-polling in three booths. The Congress accused the CPI-M with booth capturing for poll rigging. The Congress has also lodged complaints against the CPI-M following reports of booth capturing at Majampur in Kaliachak I, at Noorpur in Manikchak. The police had to take a hard stance to bring the situation under control at Noorpur where Congress and the CPI-M supporters engaged in repeated clashes. Congress supporters allegedly beat the CPI-M workers at Mahisbathani polling station in Old Malda this morning. The CPI-M workers were allegedly dragged out of the polling station premises. Three houses were damaged in the skirmish. The CPI-M has demanded re-polling at Mahisbathani and at two other polling stations at Batna in Ratua-I. Polling process was stopped for a few minutes at Dhangar in Chanchal-II block. At Bamongram village in Kaliachak-I block both the Congress and the CPI-M workers charged each other with booth capturing. Four Congress polling agents were assaulted by the CPI-M here. The police recovered bombs from the house of Congress workers at Bamongram and brought the situation under control.

Statesman News Service (Manas Banerjee)

The Malda district magistrate Mr C R Das today said that no polling official had breached the election guideline inside any polling station in the district including the questionable one at Majampur in Kaliachak block I. The DM was reacting to media reports of a polling official rigging at Mjampur. The clippings aired by a section of the electronic media showed that a woman voter apparently was casting votes in front of the polling officer and on his table. That voter was handing over ballots to one polling official and he was dropping those in respective ballot boxes.The district magistrate immediately instructed an inquiry into the incident, which was carried out by administrative officials and the report submitted to the DM.“Sector officials visited the polling station and found nothing wrong about the procedure. There was no report of malpractice inside the polling station in question,” Mr Das, said.

Cong supporter shot dead

MALDA, May 17: Manirul Islam (27) a Congress supporter was shot dead allegedly by CPI-M goons at Uttar Lakhipur under Kaliachak police station at 8 p.m. today. Three other Congress supporters were injured as a result of the clash that took place in Malda between Congress supporters and CPI-M candidates. The injured people were admitted to Malda district hospital. Mr Ali Jahan, who was injured said, “Four CPI-M supporters named Khalekh, Malekh, Montu and Fitu shot bullets from behind and attacked us. When I tried to rescue my brother Manirul from the CPI-M goons they beat me up and I tried to escape from the spot.” Mr Jahan said they were returning from Harirampur village in South Dinajpur district and they did intend to enter into a scuffle with other parties. “CPI-M goons first attacked us and killed my brother," said Mr Jahan. Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, SP (Malda) said, “We have heard the news just now and we suspect similar violence to follow tomorrow at Malda.” Police arrested Khalek, Malekh, Montu and Fitu at around 10.30 p.m. Mr Jiban Maitra, CPI-M district secretary (Malda) said, "The clash occurred due to family tensions. Police arrested a few candidates including the husband of a CPI-M candidate." SNS

PWD minister decries Marxist atrocities

MALDA, May 15: Mr Kshiti Goswami, the state PWD minister and RSP leader, today said that CPI-M’s heinous attack on the RSP supporters in Basanti would certainly have impact on third phase of rural polls where the CPI-M will have to pay the price for its misdeeds. Speaking to reporters during panchayat poll campaigning at Bangitola in Kaliachak-II block, where CPI-M and RSP candidates are contesting each other, Mr. Goswami said: “Our supporters were being tortured by the CPI-M men for over a few years in Basanti. The CPI-M men had targeted our supporters in connivance with the administration, particularly police, to win all seats without contesting”. “At least 56 houses of our supporters were gutted in these areas following attacks by the CPI-M men in Basanti. I had specifically warned the district and state administration regarding this. But they were reluctant to take action against them,” he said. “They wanted to win all the seats in Basanti in the way they won more than 700 seats in Hooghly, Arambagh sub-division without contest. But Basanti, Gosaba areas were the stronghold of the RSP where our workers did not agree to surrender before the CPI-M terror tactics,” he claimed.Today, amid slogan raised on the issue of Basanti Mr Goswami addressed a public rally at Bangitola, in favour of RSP candidate Mr Ainul Hoque who is contesting against the CPI-M candidate Mr Rabijuddin Ahmed. “People of Basanti did not surrender before the CPI-M. You should learn from them. Our ideal of democracy does not match with theirs who want to rule the state without Opposition”, Mr Goswami said. It may be noted that hundreds of RSP candidates are contesting against the CPI-M candidates in gram panchayat and panchayat samiti level mainly in Bamongola, Manikchak, Ratua and other block areas. Reacting to the comment of the CPI-M state leader Mr Binoy Konar, Mr Goswami said: “ Let him keep his mouth shut... he knows nothing about the ground reality of Basanti and adjoining villages”. The PWD minister also criticised the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee on the issue of his initiative today of restoring peace in Basanti at the last moment. n sns

Absent labourers give parties cold feet

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 15: Political leaders in the rural belt are apprehensive ahead of the polls owing to the absence of their committed voters in the rural polls. The reasons: Many migrant labourers,working in different states have not yet come back from work.Though the political leaders had approached them through their relatives, there is no chance of their return before the polls. Both the Congress and the CPI-M leaders are apprehensive about what the poll results would bring for them in absence of their vote banks. They fear that the absence of migrant labourers may be a decisive factor in the polls where the margin between two candidates varies from 2-10 for a seat in gram panchayat level. Observing the situation of this district, political leaders have expressed concern over the failure of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme here. “Nearly 5-6 lakh labourers including women from the district are working in different states due to lack of job in their own district as we have been unable to provide them jobs through the NREGS,” said Mr Goutam Chakraborty, the out going sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad. Women from Malda’s Barind belt are working as domestic help in different cities of the country.A few of them have returned from Delhi and adjoining areas to cast their votes in rural polls. According to the CPI-M district secretary and the LF convener, many labourers are working out side of the country to get decent wages. “Hundreds of labourers who are working in Delhi, Mumbai and other big cities of different states get decent amount of wages and food than the wages allotted under the NREGS,” claimed Mr Jiban Moitra , the CPI-M district secretary.

Jaipur blast victim

MALDA, May 15: Mrs Meeni Pervin , a resident of Harishchadrapur in Malda left for Jaipur in Rajasthan today to collect the body of her husband , Abdul Manan ( 30 ) killed in the serial blasts on Tuesday. The Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das said that the district administration did not have official information about the deceased. n sns

Pre-poll violence rocks Malda -- Tension subsides after 'abducted'party men return

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 14: Tension in Kaliachak areas has subsided after the two ‘abducted’ people returned home. Both the CPI-M worker and the Congress candidate have returned home following police intervention in the matter. The CPI-M and the Congress leaders came down heavily on the police yesterday when two of their men were found missing form their respective areas. Police are trying hard to crack the actual mystery behind the ‘kidnapping’ story. According to the statement by the two ‘victims’ political leaders are not sure whether the incident has political undertones. Police had traced Mr Sentu Sheikh, husband of Mrs Jarisa Bibi, a CPI-M candidate of a gram panchayat seat at Chori Anantapur in Kaliachak-III Block, at Barharwa in Jharkhand. It was learnt that a group of unidentified people picked up him on Monday night when he was returning home after campaigning for his wife. Sheikh did not give any specific clue to the police regarding the abductor. Sheikh was forced to stay there for at least four days. But he managed to flee the spot. On the other hand, Mr Ataur Sheikh, the Congress gram panchayat candidate has returnedhome from Durgapur in Burdwan district with the help of police. He told the police that he was picked up by some people and he suspected that they belonged to his rival CPI-M leader and candidate there.The CPI-M district leaders claimed that Ataur suspected the CPI-M leader because of his ‘personal enmity'. The Malda district police and administration have decided to pay special attention in some areas under the Kaliachak police stations for deployment of armed forces based on its past records of poll violence and crime records.Kaliachak police station is trying hard to nab some criminals who belong to various political groups like the CPI-M, RSP and the Congress and play active role in elections. Past records revealed that both the political parties had tried to capture and jam some booths under Sujapur and Kaliachak assembly segments. #

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 14: Tension prevails across Malda district following stray political violence in the face of rural polls to be held on 18 May. Two groups of people exchanged heavy bombs in Kharba under Chanchal police station areas last night. Though the Congress claimed that the CPI-M members trying to capture the area are terrorising the people before rural polls, the CPI-M district leadership brushed aside the allegations . The CPI-M claimed that the clash in Chanchal area was not political, two groups of anti-socials clashed over the rights of their areas. In Old Malda, the CPI-M alleged that the Congress workers damaged its temporary election office last night. The area Balarampur near Sahapur under Malda police station is tense after the incident. Tension is mounting high over the rights of area at Gopalpur in English Bazaar where the RSP and the CPI -M candidates are fighting to prove their existence in gram panchayat polls. The RSP had also alleged that one its active worker Mr Firoz Sheikh was beaten up by the CPI-M worker at Balatali village in Old Malda, and the district RSP leaders lodged a diary with the police a few days ago. At Fulbaria and Nagharia villages the Congress is trying to retain its secured votes this year to win the three-tier polls particularly to bag a Zilla Parishad seat against the CPI-M. Tension is brewing following a scuffle between the workers of the Congress and the CPI-M here since last night.

A quarrel between two families over an love affair turned into a political clash between the CPI-M and the Congress at Sreepatipur village in Chanchal police station last night. While the CPI-M took the boy's side who had refused to marry a girl, the Congress sided with the family of the pregnant girl. In the scuffle bombs were hurled, which injured 12 persons.

Nanda campaigns against CPM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 13: The state fisheries minister Mr Kiranmay Nanda today campaigned in Gazole villages against the CPI (M)'s Zilla Parishad candidate and appealed for votes for Socialist Party candidate Mrs Sefali Sarkar. Villagers of Jalsa and Oltor sometimes could not diff-erentiate the minister of the LF government from a Congress or Trinamul or other anti Left party leader from his speech today. “It is a matter of regret that even after 31 years of L F regime, we could do little for tribal dominated backward areas like Gazole”, Mr Nanda said.“We claim to be the government for the poor and backward people but could not provide basic amenities for them. Villagers here have no road, drinking water and electricity”, he claimed. Addressing a rally in Gazole Mr Nanda said: “I have heard that our supporters are being threatened here. Our supporters would not be given ration card. Those who failed to provide you the basic amenities now are threatening in fear of defeat. Some people are propagating that our candidates are independents. I categorically claim that they belong to Socialist Party, a partner of the LF government”. It may be recalled that despite several attempts the district CPI (M) leaders failed to pacify SP district leaders for seat adjustment offering one Zilla Parishad seat to the S P's district secretary Mr Milan Das in Habibpur block area when it had claimed one more ZP seat in Gazole. A top CPI (M) leader Mr Surajit Roy in Gazole joined Socialist Party last year and decided to field its candidate here to prove SP's straight against the CPIM. On 11 May the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee campaigned at Bulbulchandi in Habibpur from where Mr Milan Das is contesting. Socialist Party district secretary Mr Milan Das claimed, “CPI (M) ignored our claim in the district LF meeting regarding seat adjustment although we had won 6 out of 14 GP seats in this area. Thus we had to field candidates looking at our strength and popularity among the people.” “It is true that we wanted alliance in all the area but it could not materialize. Partners are used to take this panchayet election as an opportunity to strengthen their organization. It is nothing new. In Midnapore East CPI (M) has fielded its candidate against ours,” Mr Nanda argued.

Cong leaders not hopeful in Malda

MALDA, May 13: Though the Malda Congress has fielded its candidates in all 39 seats for panchayat samiti in Kaliachak-III, the district leaders are not hopeful about positive results to retain the board. The reason: A total of sixteen Congress members of the Kaliachak-III panchayat samiti including sabhapati and saha-sabhapati are now in Malda jail on charges of misappropriation of funds allotted for flood relief. The CPI-M has taken this opportunity to regain the board campaigning against the Congress focusing administrative action against those Congress members who could not execute several government programmes in the interest of the people in Kaliachak-III panchayat samiti. Now almost all people of this area are aware of the corruption charges against sixteen Congress members of the board. It may be recalled that the district administration had lodged an FIR against 20 Congress members of the board on the charges of misappropriation of funds of Rs 17 lakh allotted for the poor who were rendered homeless due to flood in 2006. Police arrested 16 persons in this connection including the sabhapati Mr Rajendranath Das and saha-sabhapati Mrs Bharati Razak and 10 office bearers of the board. Four of them are still absconding. n sns

Congressmen block N H - 34

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 13: More than one thousand Congress workers and leaders blocked National Highway-34 at Kaliachak Chouranghee More this morning with a demand to rescue its ‘kidnapped’ candidate, Mr Ataur Sheikh.The Congress workers became furious when they came to know that a Congress gram panchayat (GP) candidate was allegedly kidnapped by the CPI-M men about 8 p.m. yesterday. The Congress workers continued with the road block for more than an hour with a demand to rescue its candidate within 24-hours and alleged that the CPI-M men kidnapped him fearing defeat in the Silampur-II gram panchayat in Kaliachak-I Block.The Congress workers lifted the road block follow-ing an assurance by the inspector-in charge of Kaliachak police station to rescue the ‘abducted’ candida-te. Police rushed to the sp-ot to sort out traffic snarl on the National Highway-34.Mr Ataur Sheikh was the CPI-M elected member of Silampur-II gram panchayat but later he joined the Congress and decided to contest on behalf of Congress this year. At 3 p.m. Kaliachak po-lice came to know that Mr Sheikh was in a village in Burdwan district. Police have decide to send a team to rescue him from Burdwan.“At 8 p.m. yesterday, we came to know that Mr Ataur Sheikh was missing. Despite repeated attempts, we failed to locate him. Police have ensured that it would send a team to rescue him from Burdwan,” a local Congress leader Mr Enarul Hoque said. Police officers said: “We will have a clear picture of the abduction story once we are able to speak with Mr Ataur Sheikh.”Tension prevails in areas of Kaliachak-I Block in the face of the rural polls as the CPI-M is trying hard to recapture the Kaliachak-I panchayat samiti from the clutches of the Congress. The CPI-M has won 10 out of 18 seats at gram panchayat (GP) level without contesting in Kaliachak-I Block.The Congress has won 8 gram panchayat seats in the same block. The CPI-M has also won two more panchayat samiti (PS) seats in Kaliachak-I Block where the Congress and other political parties could not field candidates in the red bastion fearing attacks. The CPI-M has also won two more gram panchayat seats in Manikchak and Ratua Block areas without contesting.

Abducted Cong candidate rescued

Statesman News Service

DURGAPUR, May 13: A Congress candidate, who was allegedly kidnapped in Malda, escaped and took shelter in a mosque in Durgapur ~ about 300 km away from where he was held. Police rescued him this afternoon. The imam of the mosque said Mr Ataur Sheikh, the Congress candidate for Silampur-II panchayat seat in Kaliachawk area, Malda, talked to his family members and party colleagues several times over his cell phone while sitting inside the mosque. A police team from Malda is scheduled to arrive in Durgapur by this evening to take him back to Malda where the election is scheduled on 18 May. Mr Ataur Sheikh was allegedly kidnapped yesterday evening when he was on his way home after campaigning. He escaped from the kidnappers’ grasp from City Centre area this afternoon while his tormentors were eating lunch at a roadside restaurant. He reached the said mosque at Polashdiha village, located opposite City Centre, around 1 p.m. Mr Kamal Sheikh, imam of the mosque, said: “He asked for shelter and, of course, we could not refuse him. But when he narrated his story we suggested he first go to police and then return to the mosque. He was in constant touch with his family members and party workers over his cell phone.” The imam said the candidate had told them he was kidnapped by three men yesterday evening from Kaliachawk area. “He told us he was hit on the back of his head with a rod, after which he fell to the ground,” the imam added. Police said the candidate had told them he was taken to Durgapur in a Tata Sumo vehicle by the group of kidnappers, who told him he was to stay on here till polling gets over in Malda. A police team rescued Mr Ataur Sheikh from Palashdiha village around 1.30 p.m. today. Police, however, failed to nab the criminals and also failed to impound the vehicle that Sheikh said had been parked near a park. Mr DS Rudra, ASP, Durgapur, said he was aware of the incident. “The SP, Malda, has informed me over the phone that a police team will reach here soon to escort the candidate back to Malda.” He added that since a case had already has been registered at Kaliachawk police station, Durgapur police would not interfere in the investigation. “The Malda police will inquire into the case,” he said. #####

Early claims of victory by Left Front

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 12: Raising the issue of major corruption charges against the Congress-led panchayat samiti and Zilla Parishad, the CPI-M and Left Front leaders are confident that it would come to power in Malda ZP with an overwhelming majority. Addressing a rally of chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Bulbulchandi yesterday, the state environment and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar had announced: “Out of 34 Zilla Parishad seat the Left Front candidates would win in 30 seats”. He did not name the four ZP seats where the LF candidates will be defeated. Mr Sarkar criticised the role of Malda ZP in the last five years, run by the Congress-led Trinamul and BJP Alliance and pointed out several corruption charges and misappropriation of funds in several gram panchayats and panchayat samitis. The other CPI-M leaders have calculated the LF candidates will bag more than 20 zilla parishad seats.In 2003, the LF had bagged only 16 seats out of 33 ones and the Congress had won 15 seats and formed the board with the help of elected BJP and Trinamul members. The district secretary of the CPI-M and convener of the district LF, Mr Jiban Moitra said: “Due to disunity among LF leaders and candidates we had lost five seats in rural polls 2003. Five CPI-M candidates were defeated due to disunity factor where RSP candidates had secured decent number of votes narrowing down the margin of the CPI-M candidates”. “But this year we have been united in ZP seat adjustment with the RSP and expected better results,” Mr Moitra added.Mr Moitra said: “We cannot claim all panchayats run by the CPI-M or LF are absolutely corruption free but there is no such instance like Congress where whole Congress members of a panchayat samiti are lodged in jail.” Pointing out corruption charges against the Congress led Kaliachak III panchayat samiti (PS) Mr Moitra said: “Almost all members of Kaliachak III PS including sabhadhipati, saha-sabhapati and karmadhykshya are in jail custody on charges of misappropriation of funds allotted for flood relief”.

'CPM has filed dummy candidates'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 12: Malda RSP alleged the CPI-M has fielded several Independent dummy candidates in gram panchayat level, breaching the seat-sharing agreement between the parties. The district RSP leader Mr Sarbananda Pandey said: "We had adjusted eight seats with the CPI-M in GP level in Gazole block but it was found in four seats there were dummy CPI-M candidates". “The local CPI-M leader Mr Sahadad Hossian is working for these dummy candidates at Katalhati, Fatepur, Ranidighi and Laxmipur in Gazole block area. Even the CPI-M leader Mr Hossain threatened our candidates when they were in field for election campaign,” added Mr Pandey. Mr Pandey has drawn the attention of the CPI-M district leaders to sort out the problem. He also pointed out Mr Babesh Rajbanshi, an Independent candidate, who is contesting in gram panchayat seat in Gazole has published a leaflet where he has begged the voters to put their votes in the boat symbol. Two other CPI-M candidates Mr Nagendranath Sarkar and Mr Ranjit Biswas who are contesting in panchayat samiti and Zilla Parishad respectively are reportedly alleged to be doing the same thing. But the district CPI-M leaders, who were busy with the CM's political rally, could not pay attention to the RSP's plea. According to Mr Pandey, the RSP candidates are facing similar problems in Habibpur and Old Malda. At Sahapur and Muchia under Old Malda block the CPI-M and RSP candidates are in ‘friendly fight’, disclosed Mr Pandey. Though the CPI-M has been finalised seat adjustments with the RSP in Zilla Parishad level but in lower tier there is no seat adjustment between the two Left Front partners.

C M says first round of polls peaceful

Statesman News Service

BULBULCHANDI (Malda) May 11: The chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that a section of media and some newspapers predicted more violence and untoward incidents in rural polls but today’s first of phase panchayat polls was conducted peacefully.Addressing a political rally at Bulbulchandi, tribal dominated backward area of the district, this evening, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “A section of media is always canvassing that the Left Front government is grabbing land from farmers for industrialisation. Those who propagate against us do not have any relation with the land. We did a lot to establish land rights for farmers”. Criticising the role of UPA government, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “We need to find out an alternative way to form another government ~ a third alternative force ~ in the Centre to control price hike of essential commodities. The NDA government could not check price hike. The Congress-led UPA government has failed to control price hike. This Central government will not able to check price hike of essential commodities”. “A state government can not control price of essential commodities. Has the Delhi state government controlled price of goods there? Only the Centre can control the price hike”, he said. “The Congress is running the present government with our support in Delhi. If we withdraw our support the government will fall apart.” The chief minister also criticised the role of Congress in this state and said: “The Congress is sleeping here”. Mr Bhattacharjee also countered the election campaigning organised by the Union minister for information and broadcasting and state PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and said: “Mr Das Munshi has urged people to cast votes in favour of the BJP where there is no Congress candidate in panchayat polls in Malda. What does it mean?” He said that two Congress- led Zilla Parishads in Malda and Murshidabad did nothing for the development of these two districts in comparison with other districts in the state where the LF is in power. These two districts are lagging behind due to Congress backed by the Trinamul and the BJP, he added. “We have surplus electricity but could not provide it in all villages in the state. Only panchayats can provide three essential amenities like road, water and electricity”, he said.

CM criticises Sacher report

Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee today described the Sacher Committee report as fictional in Kaliachak, a minority dominated belt. The CM said this while addressing a political rally at Karbala Maydan in Kaliachak this evening. “I had asked chairman of the Sacher Committee why the number of minority people in the government sector have been considered. There are lots of Muslims who are working in private and semi-government organisations like panchayat, primary schools and other educational institutions. Had the committee considered all sectors the report would have been complete.“I also told the chairman that many Muslim people depend on agricultural sector in the state. The state government has provided assistance for their development in this sector but it has not been reflected in the Sacher committee report”, he argued. He also pointed out that the state government had been trying to development Madrassa education. “The state government is seriously considering more development of Madrassas where they are lagging behind,” he added. “I have heard that Maoists exploded a vehicle of ‘police forces’ in Purulia. Except this, today’s panchayat polls ended peacefully”, the chief minister said.

Priya flays govt on Nandigram

MALDA, May 11: The Union minister for information and broadcasting Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today staged a dharna at Netaji More in English Bazaar town in protest against the administrative decision to stop intellectuals on their way to Nandigram at Bagnan in Howrah yesterday.Wearing black badges Mr Das Munshi along with other district congress leaders protested against the highhandedness of the CPI-M in Nandigram. He criticised the state election commission for issuing its second letter to intellectuals asking them to reconsider their decision to go to Nandigram after giving permission to the civil rights group earlier.The union minister pointed out the situation of Nandigram prior to the rural polls and criticised the CPI-M for snatching electoral photo identity card (epic) from family members of farmers in Nandigram, who are in support of the Opposition.He also predicted that driving out Congress and other political party supporters from a particular area the CPI -M’s cadres would rig and cast vote for a few Opposition party candidates there to “establish democracy” after securing 80 per cent seats in their favour. Since yesterday Mr Das Munshi has been campaigning in Malda for upcoming rural polls and urged the people to cast votes even in favour of the BJP at gram Sansad level where there is no Congress or other candidates who are anti-CPI-M or Left Front. n sns

Malda faces shortage of election staff

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 9: The district administration is facing scarcity of staff to deploy for polling duty because of the new system of stationing a six member polling team at one polling station. At the same time, hundreds of people, mainly teachers, are trying to delete their names from election duty.Following an order by the state election commission, the district administration has requisitioned staff from even voluntary organisations to act as polling personnel, The staff of the electricity department have however been left alone. Even banks are being stripped of their staff for poll duty, although this has left many rural bank branches, where there are only two or three employees in any case, nearly paralysed.According to Mr Tushar Bhattacharya, chairman of District Cooperative Bank Ltd, said that bank branches at Manikchak, Samsi, Mothabari and Chanchal, apart from the evening branch of English Bazaar, all the staff were requisitioned for the election. “Only the manager and one female worker were exempted. But the function of the bank needs minimum three persons. Banking operation will suffer for at least four days. Our several requests to the administration did not yield any result,” Mr Bhattacharya said.In an additional headache for the district administration, large numbers of staff have sought exemption from electoral duty.Political leaders are in great demand from an unexpected quarter ~ and teachers, quasi-government personnel, all intent on escaping election duty. A secondary school teacher said, “For this election I became an active worker of Congress, at least on paper, as I don't want to go on poll duty.” It is learnt that about 1000 names have already been recommended by CPI (M) to the district administration for exemption of election duty.

Same name, same GP seat

Manas Banerjee

MALDA, May 8: Two housewives sharing the same name are contesting against each other in a gram panchayat seat. Adding to the confusion, they are both canvassing for the same Congress candidate for a Zilla Parishad seat. That's rural politics for you.Mrs Smritikana Mandal, wife of Mr Anil Mandal, is contesting as a Congress candidate for one seat of Bilaimari gram panchayat in Ratua-I block. Another woman, Mrs Smritikana Mandal, wife of Mr Dinesh Mandal, is contesting as an Independent in the same seat to prove she is the original Congress candidate after being denied nomination by the party here. Interestingly, Mr Dinesh Mandal is the younger brother of Mr Anil Mandal and the two families live in the same courtyard of Bilaimari village. Still both candidates are canvassing for themselves.Though the two woman are contesting against each other, they are seen soliciting votes for one Congress candidate for the Zilla Parishad, Mr Soumitra Roy, who is the outgoing office bearer of the Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP), so the Congress can retain the Malda ZP.The erosion hit the village of Bilaimari, which is located in northern part of this district on the bank of Fulhar river under the number 17 Malda Zilla Parishad segment, is the seat from where Mr Roy is contesting for the second time. Though there is no specific rural poll issues for the two women candidates who are fighting against each other, Mr Roy has specifically raised the issue of "more development" in the area after fulfilling some basic amenities for the local people of Bilaimari area.Five years ago, on the issue of development, Mr Roy had canvassed for votes from the people urging them to oust the CPI-M from Malda Zilla Parishad terming it a "corrupted" board. His nearest rival candidate, who belongs to the RSP and backed by the CPI-M, is Mr Abdur Rahim Boxi, who has raised the issue of "corruption" against the Malda Zilla Parishad run by the Congress, BJP and the Trinamul in the last five years.Interestingly, another Left Front candidate, Sheikh Naimuddin belonging to the CPI, is contesting in this seat against both the Congress and the RSP candidates. The district LF leadership has failed to bring total unity here. The Congress candidate Mr Soumitra Roy is trying hard to cash-in this disunity factor. He alleges that "the RSP candidate is luring voters by offering them jobs in ICDS" (Integrated Child Development Scheme). Besides ICDS, the adamant RSP candidate Mr Boxi has no other way to take on the Congress candidate who had been instrumental in building several roads and setting up tube wells in his segment during the last five years, Congress leaders say.

9 killed by lightning

MALDA, May 8: Nine people including women, children and a contesting candidate in the upcoming rural polls died after they were struck by lightning in several places of Malda district this afternoon. The death toll is feared to increase.Habibur Rahman (42), a CPI-M candidate for Bhado gram panchayat in Ratua, was struck by lighting when a storm lashed through the northern part of the district at 12.30 p.m. The district magistrate, Malda has instructed block officials to estimate damages and loss of life due to storm. The storm killed one Jagannath Mandal (55) and destroyed more than 50 huts in an island in the Ganga in Kaliachak-II.District officials said, three people were struck by lightning at Bilaimari, another island on the bank of river Fulahar, in Ratua police station. Eight wounded people were admitted to the Ratua health centre. At Khempur village in Ratua, Afjal Hossain (25) and Nasiruddin (42) were killed by lightning at Samsi. Hazi Bassar Ali (40) was struck by lightning while shopping at Samsi Haat. Lightning also killed one Prasenjit Saha (13) in English Bazaar and injured his friend Sanju and two others. They had to be admitted to Malda district hospital. n sns

School prepones vacations

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 8: Bullied by political people, the authorities of a school at Khaskol in Malda district have preponed the summer vacation, “to avoid further intimidation.”The incident stems from the large number of failures in the rural schools this year. With a few days left for the panchayat polls, the politicians have smelled an opportunity in the situation and are mounting pressure on the school authorities to promote the failed students. The calculation is simple ~ secure votes from the family of the affected student by arranging an unfair promotion.Worst affected by this practice of the politicians is the Khaskol Junior High School of English Bazaar. The son of a Congress panchayat candidate Sheikh Tajiuddin is a student of the school. He failed in Class VI this year. The Congress candidate immediately demanded a pass certificates from the school authorities for his son and several other unsuccessful candidates. The school authorities refused to comply.Angered with the denial, Sheikh Tajiuddin chose to flex muscle and set loose hundreds of his followers on the school. They stormed the school, shouting slogan against the teachers. The show off, in effect terrorised the teachers and the students alike and to avoid a confrontation with the demonstrators, the school authority decided to close down the school for summer vacation from 6 May instead of the official 9 May.“The demonstrators threatened us with dire consequences. Scared by their attitude and considering the security of the teachers and students, we had to declare the vacation. The school will resume on 26 May,” said Mr S Shome, principal of the school. A teacher of another school confirmed that political parties were approaching them to promote failed students in view of the panchayat polls.

Bus owners' association assures free travel for thalassemia patients

MALDA, May 8: The Malda bus and mini bus owners’ association has finally agreed to issue free travelling pass for thalassemia patients below poverty line. The Malda District Voluntary Blood Donors’ Forum (MDVDDF) and Malda Medium Club jointly requested the bus owners’ association to issue free travelling pass to thalassemia patients who have to travel to English Bazaar town for blood transfusion once a month.There are 88 children across the district at present who are suffering from thalassemia and their family members are bound to come Malda town for blood transfusion.“But they do not have the capacity to bear transportation costs. It is impossible for the families of daily or migrant labourers to bear transportation expenses for blood transfusion frequently.“A daily labour earns Rs 60 per day. The travelling cost from Bamongola to Malda is more than Rs 60. How he can mange such expenses?” Mr Soumitra Dutta, secretary, MDVDDF said.The Malda bus and mini bus owners’ association has decided to allow free journey for one family member of thalassemia patients below five year old. The bus owners’ association today handed over 20 free passes for thalassemia patients at a programme organised by MDVDDF in English Bazaar Municipality.It may be noted that the members of the voluntary blood donors’ forum supplied blood and required medicines free of cost to 88 thalassemia patients below the poverty line. n sns

Teachers dismayed by early vacations

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 7: Though the Malda district inspector of schools (secondary) has circulated the government order to declare summer vacation from 9 May in secondary and higher secondary schools, many school authorities are not willing to carry out the order. Teachers belonging to the CPI-M backed teachers’ association (All Bengal Teachers' Association) have expressed unhappiness over the order since it will cause technical difficulties for their schools. Following the government's order, the Malda district primary school council has issued an order to declare summer vacation in all of its schools from 10 May to first week of June. Even, the Madrassa board has issued order of summer vacation from 9 May to 25 May. The Malda DI (secondary) received the order from the Madrassa board today and he was trying to convey the order as soon as possible to all 69 Madrassas in this district. The government order for summer vacation has raised controversy here over issuing early summer vacation just prior to rural polls. Though the government has said due to prevailing heat wave it decided to declare summer vacation earlier, many teachers said that due to upcoming rural polls the government has decided to declare summer vacation to fulfil other objectives. A group of teachers argued this early summer vacation was not for the students, it is for the teachers in primary, secondary and Madrassa education institutes who are involved in politics and can play an active role in favour of the ruling parties in this state. “I strongly object to the decision of early summer vacation. If the government declares vacation for a few days for rural polls it would be acceptable because many school teachers would be engaged by the government for polling duty and they would not able to attend school for students,” said Mr Subhro Maitra, a teacher of higher secondary school. He also said: “The early summer vacation will create problem for the students for many reasons. In fact we could not begin session from 2 May in all schools. The admission process for Class V is going on. Book distribution for the students, who are entitled to get government's books from panchayat and blocks, is yet to start. Book list for new classes have not been prepared for all students. There are more jobs for Class XII students after publication of results of Class XI”. The teacher in charge of Malda academy, Mr Pradip Dutta, also an active member of ABTA, said: “We will not declare summer vacation on 9 May. The decision is not practical. There are lots of work for the students in school before vacation.” “In Malda the heat wave will be more in June than the present early vacation time when the students need vacation,” many teachers said. The Malda DI (secondary) Mr Chinmay Sarkar said: “Many teachers are asking me about the order facing some technical problems to declare vacation. I told them to carry out the government order. If I get any complaints regarding violations of the government order, I would report it to the board.”

'Relics' unearthed in Malda

Manas Banerjee

SHANTIPUR (Old Malda) May 6: Excitement spread in Malda today following the excavation of what appears to be the crown of a temple or Buddhist monastery while digging a pond at Shantipur village in Old Malda. Equally excited with the discovery, the Malda district administration has decided to summon the Archaeological Survey of India to inspect the site.The site was unearthed while workers were digging a pond at the spot yesterday. News of the discovery spread today fetching hundreds of curious onlookers who believe the structure was the crest of some Buddhist monastery or shrine. The belief comes from the fact that 23 years ago, labourers found a Budhha idol made of black stone from a nearby spot while excavating the same pond. The idol, six-feet high with a seven-feet wide base is in the Kolkata museum now. The Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay today instructed the IC of Malda police station to visit the area. “The police have asked the owner of the pond not to destroy the structure found. Police are maintaining a strict vigil at the site. The area is historically important because a Buddha idol was found there many years ago,” Mr Bandyopadhayay said. The owner of the pond, Mr Narayan Ghosh, said: “I had found a Buddha idol 23 years ago about 20 feet away from the structure now found. The Idol was found buried eight feet deep in the soil and the structure was lying covered under 14 feet.”

Former CPM member held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 6: The CPI-M party member and elected member of Malda Zilla Parishad Abdur Rouf was arrested last night in connection with two pending cases of rioting and attempt to murder, police said. The arrest of Rouf, who was a former CPI-M district committee member and contesting candidate from the Sujapur Assembly segment, prior to the polls, has created a sensation in the political circle of the district.The CPI-M strong man of Kaliachak police station area became frustrated when he was dropped from the district committee this year and denied a ticket because of anti-party activities. He came to the limelight as husband of former sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad Mrs Sefali Khatun when the CPI-M was in power. He was produced in Court today and has been sent to custody for 14 days. “He was arrested in connection with two pending cases of rioting and attempt to murder. We are conducting a raid to nab wanted criminals following instructions from the state election commission for ensuing polls”, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, the Malda SP said. “We have arrested more than 100 wanted criminals in last few weeks, he is one of them,” he said. He was charged with several cases and many of them were disposed except two cases, police said. Police were trying to nab a notorious criminal Bakul in connection with a murder case, who was sheltered by the CPI-M leader, but failed. Yesterday, there was clash between two groups in Kaliachak area and police suspected that Rouf was the mastermind behind the clash. The Malda CPI-M district leaders were in trouble due to this “Frankenstein” character in the last two years and failed to control Rouf, who exploited the party to keep his own interests. Sources said that the present CPI-M leaders suspected that he would be harmful to the party’s contesting candidates in Kaliachak area before panchayat polls. It was learnt that the CPI-M could not field its candidates in a particular gram panchayat where he used to live. Lastly he had to leave his own village Naoda Jadupur under Kaliachak police station following attacks from his rivals who are presently with the Congress. In 2001, two Bangladeshi youths were arrested on charges of intrusion and having links with ISI during the tenure of the then Malda SP Mr Debasis Roy. In their statement to the Court, they had confessed that they were directed to contact Abdul Rouf.Mr Jiban Maitra, CPI-M party secretary said, “Law has taken its own course, we have nothing to say.” Regarding the impact of Rouf’s arrest on the poll he said: “I don’t think this arrest will affect our prospects in the polls in anyway”.

Villageers lynch killer after woman's body found

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 6: Villagers today lynched one Sukesh Madhu (35) in Dhantala village under English Baazar police station for killing a 55-year-old woman.The woman was killed at Dhantala village last night and her body was found by the villagers early in the day today.According to police, Jhantu Gharami (55) was collecting mangoes from an orchard last night when Sukesh Madhu attacked her with a sharp weapon and killed her on the spot. “Sukesh had a criminal background and he was driven out of the village. He attacked the woman to in vengeance as she disclosed information about him to other villagers,” Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, SP, Malda said. “He used to come to his village secretly. The woman came to know of his whereabouts and told the villagers about him,” he added. The villagers suspected Sukesh after they discovered the woman’s body and got hold of him. While confronting him they understood that he committed the crime and started beating him, which eventually led to his death.“We have registered the woman’s death as a murder case and have registered the another incident as lynching,” Mr Bandopadhyay said.Villagers said: “Sukesh was associated with several anti- social activities. A meeting was organised where he was held guilty of theft, snatching and misbehaving with women. A month ago he was driven out of the village because of his misdeeds.”

'Stop river erosion'

Manas Banerjee

MALDA, May 5: Candidates for the upcoming panchayat polls campaigning door-to-door in Malda's Kaliachak-II block are being forced to declare in writing that they would initiate measures to arrest river erosion.A local citizens' forum called Ganga Bhangan Pritirodh Nagarik Action Committee (GBPNAC) has been organising the villagers of Panchanandapur, one of the worst erosion affected areas in Kaliachak-II block.A few days ago activists of West Bengal Education Network and the GBPNAC carried out a campaign in the villages of Kaliachak-II and Manikchak blocks and made villagers aware of their rights during a crisis situation like erosion. The forum has circulated printed formats of a declaration to the voters and suggested they ask candidates of all political parties to sign the declaration when they visit door-to-door to seek their votes. The voters are giving the printed declaration, carrying a 20-point charter of demands, to the candidates including employment guarantee scheme, health service, education, public distribution system, drinking water, and electricity. Villagers are asking the candidates if they are ready to fulfil the 20-point charter of demands after they win the election. If the candidates agree, they are being asked to put their signature on the declaration where all voting-age members of a family would also put signatures in another column as witnesses of the candidate's promise. This programme has evoked a good response among the villagers before the panchayat polls in this area and some candidates have agreed to sign the declaration to confirm votes in this panchayat poll. For example, Mr Kuddus Sheikh, a Congress candidate for gram panchayat at Jot-anantapur village in Bangitola gram panchayat in Kaliachak-II, has signed the declaration to ensure votes. Mrs Manoara Khan, Mr Lome Mian and Mrs Renu Bibi of different parties have signed the charter at Sadipur village in Bangitola gram panchayat. Two CPI-M candidates, Mr Abdur Sattar and Mr Saifuddin Sheikh and Mrs Nazema Bibi, a CPI (ML) Liberation candidate were forced to sign the charter when they went to Panchanandapur. “After the election, the declaration forms of the winning candidates collected by villagers will be preserved carefully to voice the villagers’ demand during the meeting of Gram Sansad," said Mr Tarikul Islam, a member of GBPNAC.

Poll boycott forces candidates to opt out

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 5: Residents of Pirpur village under Araidanga gram panchayat in Ratua-II Block have compelled four gram panchayat candidates to withdraw their names from the rural polls demanding for basic amenities in the village.Villagers compelled a Congress candidate, a CPI-M backed Independent candidate and two others to withdraw their nomination papers after the villagers decided to boycott the polls to draw the administration’s attention to the need for basic amenities in the area.The villagers may also boycott polls at the panchayat samiti and Zilla Parishad levels demanding construction of bridge on Kalindri river, roads, education centres, electricity supply and other basic amenities in the area.It may be noted that nearly 1,000 children below five years of age were not administered pulse polio drops when the villagers had earlier boycotted two Pulse Polio immunisation programmes to press for construction of a bridge over Kalindri river and development of roads for better connectivity.The block authorities have informed the higher authorities about the matter.The district election officials said:“The people of Pirpur are likely to cast votes for panchayat samiti and Zilla Parishad polls. We have to make arrangements for everything except at the gram panchayat level as no one is contesting at this level.”Mr Asharul Hoque, the Congress candidate and Mr Muhammad Washed, the CPI-M backed independent candidate said: “We cannot ignore the decision taken by villagers in the interest of people. We are unable to appeal to them for votes in the present situation.” It was learnt that candidates who are contesting for panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad could not enter the village to appeal for votes and that they were trying to contact people from outside to cast votes for them. The Ratua-II Block authorities said: “The demand for a bridge is legitimate. Not only Pirpur but villages of the adjacent block will also benefit from the bridge”.

CPM uses 'terror tactics'prior to polls : Congress

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 5: The Congress candidates for panchayat samiti and Zilla Parishad have alleged that the CPI-M is resorting to ‘terror tactics’ and ‘mental torture’ prior to the polls.The allegation came after Mr Khejabuddin Ahmed, a Congress member and pradhan of Jalalpur gram panchayat under Kalikchak police station was attacked by the CPI-M supporters at Dharara late in the evening yesterday. Mr Ahmed, who was admitted to Silampur health centre, lodged an FIR with the police today.Mr Ahmed was attacked by the CPI-M activists when he tried to enter the village along with the staff of electricity department to erect electric poles to facilitate power supply in the village.The CPI-M supporters prevented him from appealing for votes by providing electricity just before rural polls. The Congress candidates are alleging that the CPI-M leaders are spreading terror in areas like Shersahi, Maruabadi, Chandpur in Kaliachak-I Block. “In the name of motor cycle rally the CPI-M members are raiding several villages in the evening and threatening Congress supporters,” Mr Enarul Hoque, a Congress candidate for Kaliachak-I panchayat samiti said. Mr Farizuddin, former local committee secretary and presently zonal committee member of the CPI-M, is contesting against Mr Enarul Hoque here. Tension also prevails in Sujapur area, close to Jalalpur gram panchayat, following attacks on the CPI-M leader and candidate for Zilla Parishad, Mr Ketabuddin. Mr Ketabuddin, the CPI-M local committee secretary, lodged an FIR against four assailants with the police on Friday. The CPI-M district leaders fear that Mr Ketabuddin may be attacked again by his rivals in Sujapur area, which is a Congress- dominated belt. The district administrative officials said that they would identify sensitive booths for deputing security forces after completion of ballot paper printing.The district election officials have decided to appoint armed forces at highly sensitive polling stations to avoid booth capturing by political leaders.

Dip in Class V admissions hints SSA 'failure'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 5: While the district education committee is trying hard to implement the national flagship programme ~ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to achieve universal elementary education in Malda, education officials here are surprised with reports of poor enrollment in Class V in government-aided schools located in English Bazaar town.This report came to light at a meeting held on 28 April on the issue of ‘admission problem’ in Class V in 29 government aided schools in English Bazaar town. “While the total enrollment of Class V students were 3906 in 2003-04 in 29 high and junior high schools, the total enrollment was recorded 3996 in 2007-08”, Mr Chinmay Sarkar, district inspector of schools said.The Malda sub-divisional officer, the district inspector of schools, the district project officer, chairman of primary school council and other officials including a the heads of 29 institutions were present at the meeting to form a committee to resolve the admission crisis.However, teachers of some reputed schools claimed that “guardians do not face any crisis or problem regarding admission in Class V but they do face a problem in choosing a school for admission in this town”.Against the backdrop of decreasing number of students in Class V, Mr Sarkar raised questions on the necessity of funds allotted by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to the schools for building additional class rooms in upper primary sections.“We have allotted Rs 2.37 crore in the last five years to increase the ‘in take’ capacity in 29 schools but the rate of enrollment every year is decreasing.“Reputed schools like the AC Institution in Malda has received Rs 13.08 lakh from the SSA to increase the ‘in take capacity’ of students in last five years but the real picture shows that the number of students in Class V has gone down in the institution with thenumber of students dropping from 237 students in 2003-04 to 177 in 2007-08,” Mr Sarkar said.This shows that the administrative officials have failed to check ‘drop out’ rate among students in upper primary level in comparison with increased population in last five years.Mr Sarkar has planned to collect total number of enrollments in Class IV in private kindergarten including English medium and government primary schools in English Bazaar town to monitor the exact number of drop outs in the town.“Nearly 900 guardians collected admission forms this year. Finally the school authorities selected 305 students based on the results of admission test. But only 191 students were enrolled in Class V this year,” Mr Chanchal Jha said.Education officials said that while the rate of enrollment had decreased in certain schools, it had also increased in several schools out of the 29 schools.

Survey starts in Malda to restor feeder lines

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 4: Following the request of the Malda district magistrate the electricity department has started a survey to restore feeder lines connected with block development offices across the district to supply uninterrupted power. Observing recent power cut situation, the Malda district magistrate had urged the electricity department to supply uninterrupted power to block offices from a day before the rural polls begin till the end of counting and results. The circle manager of the Malda electricity distribution, Mr Amalendu Maity, said: “We have started survey across the district for checking feeder lines connected to all block development offices. It would be brought under a special network to supply uninterrupted power for on going emergency official job for rural polls in the administrative offices”. “Hopefully we will be able to maintain uninterrupted power supply to all block offices and those offices will be coming under load shedding free zone for a few days,” added Mr Maity. The official sources said that the electricity department was trying hard to supply uninterrupted power for printing press in Malda town to avoid any loss of time for printing thousands of ballot papers for the rural polls. Following administrative decision before Mrs Sonia Gandhi's visit in Malda, uninterrupted power was supplied for two days in the scheduled areas of this district where she visited. Mr Maity said: “We are trying to supply uninterrupted power in Malda district hospital, during routine load shedding. We have estimated the cost of the project in our budget. But fund for this project is yet to be sanctioned”.

Two CPM leaders expelled for violating guidelines

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 4: Two CPI-M leaders at the block level have been expelled for violation of party guidelines for panchayat polls 2008. Mr Tapan Bikash Saha , a CPI-M member in Chanchal -I block , who protested against the decision to nominate a candidate from Congress family , was expelled when he filed nomination in Zilla Parishad seat as an independent candidate ignoring the decision of the district leadership. The district CPI-M had nominated Mr Afzul Hossain , as an independent candidate in Chanchal -I ZP seat. It may be noted that Mr Hossain is the son of Mr Muhammad Sahid, a rebel Congress leader and out going office bearer of Malda Zilla Parishad. Another CPI-M local committee member Mr Abani Mandal of Old Malda, who had filed nomination in gram panchayat as an independent candidate, has been expelled from the party for ignoring the decision of the party.The Malda CPI-M is gearing up election campaigning where it has filed candidates in tiers. After Mrs Sonia Gandhi's visit at Sujapur under Kalichak police station, the CPI-M has planned to organise a rally where the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will address a meeting. According to the CPI-M party sources, the CM will also address another meeting at Bulbulchandi on 11 May afternoon and will go to Kaliachak in the evening. Mr Bhattacharjee will leave for Farakka in Murshidabad after the end of programme in Kaliachak and will campaign for rural polls in Murshidabad on 12 May. Series of state leaders and MPs have been listed by the Malda CPI-M for election campaigning here. Yesterday, CPI-M state leader Mr Shyamal Chakraborty came to Malda and held organisational meeting and visited some areas to gear up election tempo.Speaking to the reporters here yesterday, Mr Chakraborty expressed his confidence that the CPI-M candidates will be able to recapture the Malda Zilla Parishad seat this year.In last panchayat polls, the Congress had bagged 15 seats out of 33 and captured the board with the help of the BJP and Trinamul Congress.

CPI, SP defy L F unity in rural polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 2: Though the Malda CPI-M has struck a chord with the RSP leaders over the seat adjustment issue at the Zilla Parishad (ZP) level, it has been unable to convince the CPI and Socialist Party (SP) leaders.Last year the RSP fielded nine candidates defying unity with the Left Front (LF). This year the CPI-M has allotted three seats to the RSP against its demand for five.However, the CPI-M has not been able to reach a consensus over the seat issue with the CPI and SP. The CPI-M has allotted one seat to the CPI in Barid area against its demand for four seats at ZP this year.The district CPI leaders have fielded three more candidates in areas of North Malda from where a CPI-M candidate, a CPI-M backed independent candidate and a CPI-M backed RSP candidate is contesting.The candidates fielded by the CPI at ZP level are Mr Tapan Das in Chanchal -II Block, Mr Abdul Latif in Chanchal-I where a CPI-M backed independent candidate who is the son of a rebel Congress leader and office bearer of Malda Zilla Parishad, is contesting. Sheikh Mainuddin, another CPI candidate, is contesting for ZP in Ratua-I Block. On the other hand, though the district CPI -M has given one ZP seat for the Socialist Party, it has fielded its candidate for ZP in Gazole against the CPI-M. Despite several requests the SP leaders have not withdrawn its nomination. The CPI-M district secretary and the LF convener have finally welcomed those candidates who have challenged the CPI-M.