No order to stop primary teachers' salaries yet

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 31: The chairman of the district primary school council in Malda, Mr Uttam Sarkar, said today the government has not yet issued any order to stop salary for the primary teachers who were appointed as trained teachers in the last few years.

The DPSC chairman acknowledged that hundreds of teachers are worried about their "uncertain future" following the Calcutta High Court declaration of 138-odd primary teachers’ training institutes in West Bengal illegal.

“A rumour is being spread like wildfire that their salary would be stopped and they will be sacked later,” he said. Since 2004 hundreds of trained teachers were appointed in this district who secured their degrees from primary teachers’ training institutes which are presently illegal. “If we follow the High Court verdict, their salary should be stopped and their appointment would be cancelled. But the council does not receive any such government order for execution,” Mr Sarkar said.

In Malda, state government's Sovanagar primary teachers’ training institute could not manage accreditation from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). A team from NCTE in Bhubaneshwar came to the Sovanagar primary teachers’ training institute and suggested some changes to achieve the accreditation after expressing dissatisfaction over the present infrastructure of the institute. The NCTE had said the main gate of the institute is narrow, it should be extended so students can move out in case of any fire incident within the institute, an education official said.

Thousands of candidates had completed training from this institute in the last few decades and they are working in many primary schools.

Such trained teachers are worried about their fate and hoping for a positive decision following a media report that the Centre promised to find a solution when school education minister Mr Partha De met Union human resource development minister Mr Arjun Singh in New Delhi yesterday. Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had also requested the external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee to resolve the row.

Soothsayer arrested for witch-hunt

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 31: Acting on a tip off, a soothsayer (Janguru) Bishnu Seal was arrested from his residence located under Chakulia police station in North Dinajpur last night on charges of witch hunting.

This is being considered as a great breakthrough on the part of the Malda police as the soothsayer, allegedly responsible for several witch-hunting cases in the district as well as in the north Bengal region, had been evading police for a long time. Gazole police is still on the look out for a woman soothsayer who is supposedly in South Dinajpur at present.

Sources said that police had rescued three people including a woman belonging to Paharia community from the clutches of a group of locals at Kotwali who had hatched a plan to kill them after branding them as ‘witches’ on 27 October.

Villagers collectively attacked the residence of Nagen Pahari, Rabi Pahari and Shanti Pahari after they were identified as ‘witches’ by the soothsayer Bishnu Seal. Police have traced Bishnu going by the information collected while interrogating a number of people detained in connection with the recent witch hunting case at Kotowali. Police produced Bishnu Seal in the court today and appealed to remand him for at least five days for more interrogation to get details about his network in north Bengal.

Commenting on the matter the inspector in charge, English Bazaar police station, Mr Bipul Majumdar said that people from far flung areas in the north Bengal region had been accustomed to consulting Bishnu on domestic problems. “He kept exploiting the gullible, uneducated tribal people and amassed a huge wealth in the process,” he said.

Malda prepares for CM's visit

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 30: Security arrangements at Old Circuit House were reviewed today due to the chief minister's upcoming visit to the district.

The state environment and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar held a meeting with the Malda district magistrate and superintendent of police to take stock of the situation. He asked the district superintendent of police Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay to ensure foolproof security for the CM's visit.

Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would come to Malda on a two-day visit starting from 15 November. He is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the upcoming University of Gour Banga in English Bazaar on 16 November. There would be a public rally near the proposed university site to be addressed by the chief minister. He would stay at the Old Circuit House.

The minister also discussed matters pertaining to the upcoming university with the outgoing district magistrate Mr CR Das and reviewed the administrative steps to be taken regarding the development of the new university.

Mr Das is scheduled to hand over responsibility to his successor Mr Sreedhar Ghosh tomorrow. He would discuss the matter with Mr Ghosh before his departure from Malda so as to ensure that university building work was not stalled.

The admission process of the students for seven PG courses has already started. The session is scheduled to commence from December this year.

Colleges in three districts such as Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur would come under the new University of Gour Banga.

Inauguration of relocated primary school

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 30: A newly constructed building for a primary school which was relocated near Satya Choudhury Indoor Stadium in Malda district sports’ association ground in English Bazaar town was inaugurated today.

The minister for environment and state parliamentary affairs minister, Mr. Sailen Sarkar, who was closely involved in completing the construction of the primary school, inaugurated the new building, said Mr. C R Das, the Malda district magistrate.

The district administration had to shift the primary school from its earlier location due to the construction of an approach road for a second bridge over the river Mahananda connecting Saharpur in Old Malda with English Bazaar town.

The chairman of the district primary school council, Mr. Uttam Sarkar, appreciated the role of the present district magistrate to provide a plot of government land for this school. Mr. Uttam Sarkar said the council had plans to run the primary school as a model school in its new building.

“However, at present we are facing a crisis to provide adequate number of teachers to make it a model school,” he added.

“It will be difficult to reinforce more teachers here from other schools because we are short of atleast 2,000 primary school teachers due to litigation of primary school teachers’ recruitment,” Mr. Sarkar said.

At present only three teachers are working here and one of them will retire soon but over hundred students from slum areas are studying here.

” We will seek suggestions from the present teachers about whether they are willing to accept ‘promising’ staff from our council office as part time teachers to run the school well,” he added.

CM to lay foundation for new university in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 29: The chief minister, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will lay the foundation stone for the University of Gour Banga in English Bazaar town on 16 November. The registrar of UGB, Mr Tapas Chatterjee announced this today.

According to the university sources, the chief minister will arrive in Malda on 15 November in the afternoon by a train to address the state conference of WEBCUTA (West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association) at Malda College auditorium.

On 16 November, he will lay the foundation stone for the UGB campus building and then leave for Kolkata by the Kanchenjangha Express tentatively.

Earlier it was planned that the Lok Sabha Speaker will lay the foundation stone for the UGB campus, but it was later cancelled due to notification of Kharba by poll just before panchayat polls.

The Congress sources, however, said that with the next Parliamentary elections approaching fast the ruling party might try to milk the matter in electoral terms.

According to UGB sources, a four- storied building will be constructed initially and once it is constructed the post graduation courses for science and arts faculties will start. Besides, the building would house the administrative building and the library.

Nearly 30 acres of land have been earmarked for the UGB campus close to Malda Central Bus Terminus, which is under construction in English Bazaar Municipal area.

The UGB sources said that there was work being done on the architectural design and the estimated plan for the university campus.

The estimated plan and its design will be submitted to the state higher education authorities in the first week of November, said Mr. Tapas Chatterjee, the registrar of the UGB.

At present, the UGB has been functioning from a camp office in Malda College and it has plans to introduce seven campus post graduation courses from December this year.

Institute awaits sanctioned development funds

MALDA, Oct. 29: Though the minority development minister Mr Abdus Sattar told reporters here that his department had sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for the University of Gour Banga to use for vocational studies for minority development, the sanction letter is yet to reach the UGB campus office.

UGB registrar Mr Tapas Chatterjee said he had heard about the matter through the media. “We have not received any departmental sanction letter regarding the above mentioned fund,” he said.

The registrar said the fund would be meant for vocational studies in UGB where minority students hailing from three districts ~ Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur ~ would get preference. “The proposed short-term course would enable the students to have access to several employment avenues,” he said.

Mr Sattar said the matter had already been discussed in detail with the vice chancellor of UGB.

“The registrar is expected to send a proposal soon for the vocational studies of minority students,” Mr Sattar added.

The minister also stated the minority development department would set up 23 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in minority concentrated districts across the state.

The Central Government had launched the project in 2004 for the education of girls belonging to backward classes.

The minority development department has allotted Rs 20 crore for "women empowerment schemes" meant for those belonging to the minority community.

Thieves lynched by locals

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 29: Two suspected thieves were lynched by local residents at a village under Sreerampur gram panchayat, close to Indo-Bangladesh border, in Habibpur police station last night, police said.

They have been identified as Nitai Onrao (30) and Basrai Onrao (35), residents of neighbouring gram panchayat called Dhumpur. The incident took place when a group of 12 thieves and two local residents, Nitai and Basrai were plotting cattle robbery at a village, the local resistance group (RG), recognized by the local police station, chased them.

Two members of the RG party were injured when the dacoits attacked them. The injured members sounded alert for villagers to fight back. Hundreds of villagers chased the dacoits with weapons like bamboo rod, chopper, bow and arrow.

They intercepted two of them who were injured during the clash. The others dacoits escaped by taking advantage of the unfenced border.

Villagers alleged that the two locals used to provide shelter and information to Bangladeshi dacoits ‘professionally’ for stealing cattle from these bordering villages.

Police informed the matter to the nearest border out post of the BSF and started investigations. Villagers attacked the two thieves with sharp edged weapons, bow and arrows. Police found several injury marks on the bodies of the deceased.

Fake currency seized , two arrested

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct.28: Two persons were arrested for having carried fake Indian currency close to the Bangladesh border in Kaliachak police station areas last night. Police seized around Rs 1.75 lakh fake Indian currency; all in 500 rupee notes, from their possesion.

According to Malda SP, the Border Security Force had intercepted one person at Golapganj along border and handed him over to the police.

“BSF seized around Rs. 50,000 fake notes from him. He has been identified as Rajesh Sheikh,” the police official said.

The Kaliachak police, in course of a routine check, have arrested one person under suspicion at Alipur area today. Police recovered around Rs. 1 lakh fake notes from his possession. The arrested has been identified as Arabul Sheikh.

The Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay has expressed concern over the growing menace of fake currency circulation along the sensitive points in the border areas.

Special drive in Malda , more than 150 held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct.28: Launching a special drive Malda police arrested more than 150 gamblers and criminals across the district in the last five days as preventive measures to maintain law and order during Kali puja and Diwali celebrations.

Police have so far seized more than Rs 70, 000 from the gamblers following raids in different areas, said Malda SP.

Last night, police intercepted a group of motorcyclists near Amriti under English Bazaar police station. Police arrested six persons and recovered two firearms from them. One of them had been allegedly involved in a robbery case. Two policemen were injured in the scuffle with them.

It may be mentioned here that the English Bazaar police had also arrested one Rupchand Ghosh recently in connection with the robbery case.

According to police, Rupchand was involved in looting money meant for a government office near Mahedipur, a few months back.

The Malda police would continue patrolling round the clock the sensitive zones across the district to maintain law and order and communal harmony during festivals.

Outgoing Malda DM reviews performance

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 27: Before handing over charges to the new district magistrate, Mr Sreedhar Ghosh for Malda, the present DM Mr CR Das reviewed his performance during his tenure. Mr CR Das will tentatively hand over responsibility to Mr Ghosh on Friday.

The Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das, has disclosed that despite constant monitoring and efforts, three projects are yet to materialise. These are Malda Airport, expansion of state highways from Sustani to Mahedipur land customs station and from Mangalbari (Old Malda) to Bulbulchandi (Habibpur).

“To re-run Malda Airport, survey and identification of land for acquisition of extension of runway was completed and proposals have been sent to the government. After Cooch Behar, Malda is on the priority list in the state but funds are yet to come for land acquisition. Problems of encroachment and state electricity's power have been taken care of in due process,” Mr Das said.

“Despite constant monitoring, the road expansion work from Sustani to Mahedipur border outpost and another road from Mangalbari to Bulbulchandi under Asian Development Bank funding implemented by the PWD (roads), it could not be completed in last two years,” he added.

Besides three projects, Mr CR Das is happy with so many initiatives taken by him for good governance with "honest, transparent and people-friendly administration" in the district and in the interest of the people.

He pointed out 16 efforts and initiatives at office level including clean recruitment system in all departments in collector's office, information kiosks, computerised central letter receiving and monitoring system, coordination with judiciary, police, health, forest and line departments, compulsory photographic evidence with signature of responsible officer, uniform system of allotment of government sponsored schemes, promotion of self-help groups, facelift of collector's building and second administrative building including a separate office for SDO.

For overall improvement in the district Mr CR Das has listed 25 other initiatives and programmes including long pending schemes taken during his tenure which are being implemented successfully. (END)

Tribals branded 'witches' saved by police

MALDA, Oct 27: Acting on a tip off the English Bazaar police station today rescued three tribal people including a woman from the clutches of a group of local people at Kotwali who had hatched a plan to kill them branding them as ‘witch’.

According to police, Buli Pahari, the wife of Mr Sitesh Pahari, a resident of Paharipara of Kotwali gram panchayat under English Bazaar police station, died a year back and since then the villagers, have been trying hard to find out the reason behind the daeth.

A group of tribal people did not take the incident easily and finally a team from the village headed by Sitesh Pahari left for North Dinajpur on 25 October to consult with a soothsayer. One Bishnu Singh, alais jaanguru (soothsayer), a resident of Hatimari near Raigunj, reportedly held a family of Nagen Pahari of the village Kotwali responsible for all the evils. The villagers’ suspicion against the family further grew as another woman died of snakebite in the village a few days back.

On Sunday the irate villagers colectively mounted an attack on the residence of Nagen Pahari and Rabi Pahari and Shanti Pahari. However, the self-proclaimed leader of the village, Lalu Pahari somehow restrained them and decided to arrange a reconciliation meeting today.

Police had to encounter the villagers’ wrath as the team had arived to rescue the helples three.

“Based on the victims’ statement, police have registered a case against Saneka Pahari, Thakurdas Pahari, Mira Pahari and Sitesh Pahari. n SNS

Worshipping ten-headed Kali

MALDA, Oct 27: Members of Byayam Samiti in English Bazaar town traditionally worship a ten-headed Kali idol just a day before Kali puja and the puja is held during the day unlike the traditional puja which takes place at night. The Puja begun this morning with the regular chanting of Sanskrit hymns. There were no illuminations on the occasion of this puja. Yet many devotees assembled here to offer puja. The Samiti was established in 1930 and was closely involved with the struggle for independence. According to the puja organisers, the freedom fighters derived strength from worshipping Kali to take on the might of the British regime and the tradition has continued with a million people coming from far away places to offer obesance to the goddess of srength. n SNS

Malda land reforms dept detects land scam

MALDA, Oct. 26: The district land and land reforms department has detected a land scam in the Malda district collector's premises and informed the departmental principal secretary seeking assistance to deal with the land-related irregularity.

The Malda district land and land reforms officer (DL&LRO) has already lodged an FIR with the English Bazaar police station on 23 October, against six members of a reputed zaminder family on charges of forgery.

Investigation revealed that the government had given a plot of 16 decimal lands to one late Ramprasanna Roy and his wife Minoti Roy in 1957-58 on the basis of long-term lease settlement for 30 years.

“With the term having ended in 1987-88, the heir of Ramprasanna Roy did not take any initiative to renew the long-term settlement of the government's land from the Board of Revenue department. Yet in clear defiance of the settlement rules, the family sublet a building constructed on the vest land to a bank, claiming themselves as owner of the land by submitting false papers," said Mr A Biswas, DL & LRO.

The Malda district magistrate and collector, Mr CR Das, has issued an order to the higher officials of the nationalised bank concerned to stop payment of rent to any person and informed him that it was government land.

“It is a unique land scam. But none detected it in the last few decades. The credit for its recent detection should entirely go to the land reforms department. The inquiry has been going on in full swing,” said Mr Das.

The nationalised bank, the main branch in the town, has been functioning here for a few decades on a rental basis. It may be noted that such leasehold land cannot be sublet or subleased in accordance with the prevailing laws. The bank authority has stopped rent payment with the irregularity having come to light.

The land reforms officials have detected the fraudulent means having been employed by the family to strengthen its legal position vis-a-vis the land in the agreement signed on 6 August 2007 between the bank authorities and six members of the family (for the payment of Rs 52,000 per month as rent). n SNS

RTI endorses application for final nod

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct.24: The district RTI (Right to Information) cell today endorsed an application of an information seeker to the secretary of the state Information Commission for his final judgment.

The decision was taken when the office of the district registrar refused to show answer scripts of a competitive examination for its departmental recruitment.

A Scheduled Caste candidate, who had appeared for the written examination conducted by the district registrar office for the recruitment of 14 lower division clerks, applied to the Malda RTI cell to show his corrected answer script thus challenging the panel which was made by the authorities.

On 18 September, Mr Bijoy Kumar Ram, a resident of Tulshihata in Harishchandrapur, submitted his application to see his answer script after being dissatisfied with the final panel published recently, in which his name had not featured.

The nodal officer of the Malda RTI cell forwarded the application to the office of the district registrar and asked him to show the marked answer script to the applicant.

However, the district registrar was reluctant to follow the RTI Act even for the second time, despite the approval of the officer in charge of the Malda RTI cell, Mr P C Sit.

The additional district magistrate, Mr PC Sit, was also the chairman of the selection committee of the recruitment board of 14 LDCs for the office of the district registrar, who asked the district registrar to show the answer sheets.

The nodal officer of the Malda RTI cell Mr Pratyarpan Singha Roy said: “According to the RTI Act nothing can be kept in secrecy but the district registrar had not complied with the instruction”. Mr Ram, who had expected to obtain more than 51 percent marks, alleged that the office of the district registrar did not examine his answer script ‘honestly'.

“The district registrar, as information provider, will be liable to a penalty for failing to convey information within 30 days as per the RTI Act 2005,” said a senior officer of the district administration. He added: “We will be waiting for the judgment of the State Information Commissioner”.

Pradhan defies CPM diktats...

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 24: The Socialist Party, one of the constituents of the Left Front, has succeeded in electing its candidate as Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat with the help of Trinamul Congress members in overt defiance of the CPI-M diktat on the matter.

Mr Dinesh Khan of the Socialist Party, defeated Mrs Popy Das, a CPI-M member, by one vote and got elected as Pradhan of Muchia Gram Panchayat in Old Malda block. The block panchayat official today conducted the election in the Muchia GP office. Mr Ujjal Sarkar, a CPI-M member, who had been elected as the Pradhan of the Muchia GP in the last rural polls, had to step down following a complaint.

It is learnt that Mr Sarkar, a high school teacher, did not inform the school authorities after being elected as Pradhan of Muchia Gram Panchayat and continued drawing salary from the school.

When the matter came to light the school authorities lodged a compliant with appropriate authorities and Mr Sarkar had to step down from the post in accordance with the panchayat rules.

Interestingly, when the Mr Sarkar was elected as Pradhan, a Socialist Party member was elected his deputy (upa pradhan). But, today, the Socialist Party members decided to field its candidate for the post of Pradhan. The Trinamul Congress supported his candidature. The Muchia Gram Panchayat comprises 13 members. Of them the CPI-M has six members and SP has two.

DM asked to find land for development

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 23: In order to develop the infrastructure of Mahedipur land customs station in English Bazaar, the Malda district magistrate Mr. C R Das has been asked to identify at least 10 to 15 acres of land for acquisition near the existing customs station, close to India-Bangladesh border.

Apart from the Malda district magistrate, three other district magistrates of South Dinajpur, North 24-Parganas and Darjeeling have been asked to identify land to be acquired for the infrastructure development in their respective land customs stations. A high level meeting was held in Kolkata on Monday with four districts officials where the decision to acquire land near the existing land port was taken. Apart from the district officials the top officials of the state and the Central government including the Customs Commissioner were present.

The Central and the state government officials instructed the district officials to identify the required land preferably close to the existing portland like Mahedipur, Hilli, Fulbari in north Bengal and Ghojadanga in south Bengal. According to official sources, it was also decided that the land port should be developed in both India and Bangladesh to facilitate the development of foreign trade. To develop the basic infrastructure of a land port it was decided that a cargo complex (truck terminal) covering 10 to 15 acres of land would be set up and it should be equipped with a capacity for parking 600 to 800 trucks along with wire house, weigh bridge, customs office, immigration office, banks, waiting room for passengers and other persons related to trade. The Malda district magistrate Mr. C R Das said that he would conduct a survey along with the district land acquisition department to identify the required land close to the existing Mahedipur land customs station in English Bazaar and would send details about the identified land to the government soon.

Migrant labourers stage dharna

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 23: Hundreds of migrant labourers including women locked up the main gate of Kaliachak-II block development office at Mothabari today and staged a dharna demanding wages of Rs. 75 per day for each labourer under 100-days job scheme.

The agitation continued for more than three hours and it was stopped after a meeting with the leaders of migrant labourers and the BDO in the presence of a huge police force.

Nearly five hundred migrant labourers from three gram panchayats like Bangitola, Panchanandapur I and II of this block, engaged in 100-days job under the national rural employment guarantee schemes (NREGS) were demanding full payment of wages (Rs. 75) per day instead of a payment of Rs. 19 on an average per day, settled by block officials.

A total of 12 members on behalf of the labourers met the BDO Kaliachak-II Mr. Debanjan Roy today and asked him to explain the solution to fix such ‘poor’ wages (Rs.19) for each labourer per day.

In reply, the BDO Mr. Roy said that the wages were fixed on the basis of the measurement of soil dug by the labourers and not on the basis of per day work.

Speaking to The Statesman, the Kaliachak-II BDO Mr. Debanjan Roy said: “We pay Rs. 75 to a male labourer if he can dig 80 cft soils (per day). A woman is entitled to get Rs.75 if she can dig 75 cft soils. The rate varies on the basis of character of soils (hard or soft). The rate is high for hard soil”.

The labourers claimed that they had to spend over 10 hours every day and had to incur travelling expenses of Rs.24 per day to reach the site every day, at least 17 km from their locality.

“The block authorities, initially, could not provide them with jobs in areas that were closeby. Finally they were engaged in jobs under NREGS at least 17 km away in block areas,” said Mr. Tarikul Islam, leader of a local citizen forum.

Five hundred migrant labourers, returning from Maharashtra fearing attacks by MNS activists, demanded 100-days job from block authorities. According to migrant labourers like Rafikul Sheikh and Ershad Ali, hundreds of migrant labourers remain untraced in Maharashtra after being intercepted by the MNS.

The local citizen forum - GBPNAC (Ganga Bhangan Protirodh Nagarik Action Committee) had contacted Ms. Medha Patkar to release them from police custody.“Recently Ms. Medha Patkar informed them that the migrant labourers were not handed over to the police by the MNS and could not be traced,” said Mr. Tarikul Islam.

To resolve the stalemate, the Mr Roy today finally assured the GBPNAC leaders that a senior engineer from the district headquarters would review the measurement at the site and check for any procedural error to make the final payment to the day labourers under this 100-days job scheme.

Juvenile court opens in Malda

Memorandum against BSF

RPF personnel booked for snatching

Dept to look into minority community's grievances

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct.21: The state minority development department has formed a task force to ascertain whether the people belonging to minority community are being benefited proportionately from the various government-sponsored schemes in the state.

The objective of this task force is to build exact database and prepare a regular status report of minority people in the state in comparison with the other states in the country. The state minority development minister Mr Abdus Sattar said that previously the state government had no separate infrastructure to maintain detailed records regarding the minority-centred projects being implemented in the state.

 “It is proving difficult to ascertain correctly the extent of the beneficial effects of the projects being implemented among the minorities as there are no records. The Sachar Committee has pointed out this lapse on the part of the state government in its report. We have thus decided to take corrective steps," Mr Sattar said.

“If we can properly keep records of the benefits reaching out to the minority people in course of the implementation of several government schemes the position of West Bengal would be better at the national level", he said. The district minority affairs department would be entrusted with the task of preparing and maintaining data base on regular basis.

According to him, the task force has been monitoring for the present nine government (state and central) sponsored schemes to ascertain the number of minority people engaged in nine ongoing government sponsored schemes. Citing an example, the minister claimed that 30 percent of the widows belonging to minority community had been brought under widow pension scheme.

“On the other hand, 18 percent of the minority people have got land right deeds in this state. Whereas the number of teachers in school and madrasha was 32,973 in 2006; the figure would certainly go up considerably with the review report to be prepared by the task force,” the minister asserted.

Fund sought for Wakf land survey

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 20: The state land and land reforms department has sought Rs 30 lakh from the minority development department to continue survey for identification of encroached Wakf land and properties in the state, the state minority affairs officials said today.

Earlier, the minority development department had allotted Rs 40 lakh for identification of Wakf land and properties allegedly grabbed by others, including some local promoters. The survey has been going on in several districts.

The state minister for minority development Mr Abdus Sattar, said here on Saturday that following the survey across the state being conducted by the land and land reforms department his department had succeeded in restoring many of the Wakf properties.

“At present the number of Wakf assets stands at 19,000 but earlier the number of assets was only 8044”, Mr Sattar claimed adding that the department would recover more Wakf land and properties from the clutches of the encroachers and would chalk out a plan to earn revenue from them to be used for minority development.

According to departmental officials, 28 Wakf inspectors would be appointed in 11 districts.

The district office of the minority affairs would also conduct the audit of accounts on a regular basis

Talks to regulate rickshaw movement

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 20: Both officials from the Congress and Trinamul Congress-led English Bazaar Municipality and the officials of the Left Front-led Old Malda Municipality will hold a joint discussion on Wednesday to formulate restriction on rickshaw movement in Malda town to ease the growing traffic congestion.

The decision for joint discussion was taken following the intervention of the district administrative officials on receiving complaints from the Old Malda Municipality that the English Bazaar civic body officials had been preventing rickshaws, registered from Old Malda Municipality, from entering Malda town.

The English Bazaar civic body has, however, agreed to relax the restriction on the rickshaw movement from Old Malda area. But the ban would continue as far as the rickshaws coming from the gram panchayat areas are concerned. The Malda SDO, Miss Arunima De, instructed the officials of both the civic bodies to ascertain the number of registered rickshaws plying in two municipalities.

She also asked them to seek help from the deputy superintendent of police to estimate the capacity of rickshaws to be allowed on the roads in Malda town, under the English Bazaar municipal areas.

When the English Bazaar civic body officials restricted movement of registered rickshaw from Old Malda into English Bazaar town a few days ago, there was protest from a section of the residents of Old Malda. A group of rickshaw pullers in Old Malda had blocked NH-34 on Tuesday in protest. According to a survey conducted by the English Bazaar civic body, more than 10,000 rickshaws are plying every day in Malda town, creating traffic congestion.

Yet the official figure of registered rickshaw under English Bazaar is 3,200 and nearly 2000 rickshaws have registration under Old Malda civic body. “We suspect that many unregistered rickshaws are plying on the roads with bogus number plates. We have planned to issue freshly designed number plates at the time of renewal of license to identify the unregistered rickshaws”, said Mr Dulal Sarkar, vice chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality.

State government identifies 12 minority concentrated districts

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 19: The state government has identified 12 "minority concentrated" districts, including Kolkata, in the state and has planned to establish offices for minority affairs in each district.

According to state minority development officials, the department has identified Malda and Murshidabad (both bordering Bangladesh) where Muslim population is more than 50 percent. One such district office is already operational in Cooch Behar. Yesterday, the minister for minority development and madrasah education, Mr. Abdus Sattar, inaugurated another office at Satya Choudhury Indoor stadium here.

Mr Sattar claimed that the offices would be the first of their kind in India. The minister informed that the district-level offices, which would come up in the first phase of the overall plan, would start functioning for overall minority development, including madrasah education, financial assistance and schemes for minorities, development of wakf properties and other related matters.

The other districts which have been identified as "minority concentrated", are Cooch Behar, North and South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and Burdwan.

The department plans to set up minority cells in seven other districts. The cells' functions would be under the direct supervision of the district magistrates. Kolkata will not have any minority cell as the department will directly control the issues related to the minority community.

In the second phase, beginning with Murshidabad, where the population of the minority community has exceeded 60 percent, minority affairs departments will be set up in the districts identified as minority concentrated.

The government plans to appoint one District Officer for Minority Affairs (DOMA) in each of the 12 districts along with Minority Development Officers (MDO), Assistant Inspector of Schools and Sub-Inspector of Schools (Madrasah Education), Inspector of wakf and other office staff, including computer assistant.

The total staff strength for the 12 districts will be 210.

Delhi team talks with arrested workers' families

MALDA, Oct 19: A team from New Delhi recently visited areas inhabited by the migrant labourers in Malda district and interacted with the relatives of the labourers who are now behind bar in other states like Maharashtra. They had been arrested on suspicion of being Bangladeshi. Sources said following the intervention of Union home ministry and after receiving complaints from the district level, a team came to Malda and talked to the relatives of the arrested labourers in Manikchak, Ratua and Kaliachak II block areas with the help of local police station. The district intelligence branch has also started collecting information regarding the matter after the visit of the team from Delhi. It may be noted that a few weeks ago hundreds of migrant labourers who were working in Maharashtra, as day labourers, were allegedly beaten up by the activists of Shiv Sena and Nava Nirman Sena. They were handed over to police, who arrested them as suspected Bangladeshi citizen.The leaders demanded release of the migrant labourers and reasonable compensation for violation of human rights.

n SNS

71-year-old in fetters... Safety or slight ?

MALDA, Oct 17: Following a media report the Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das today instructed social welfare officers to visit a village Barkol in English Bazaar police station where a 71-year-old mentally-challenged woman has been living her life tied in chains.

The welfare officers indeed found the old woman on the veranda of her house tied in chains,

The 71-year-old widow Katriatul Bewa became mentally unstable after the death of her elder son a few years back. Her condition has not improved since then.

Mother of three, she stays with her two sons, their wives and also her widowed elder daughter-in-law. The three daughter-in-laws supposedly look after her.

Rajeda Bewa, wife of the dead son, who takes care of her mother-in-law today told the social welfare officers that “they were forced to chain their mother-in-law to save her life because she runs indiscriminately ‘in search of her own home’ ignoring speeding trucks or other vehicles on roads.

“We are helpless because she is beyond any control”, she added.

The social welfare officers reported the matter to the district magistrate and sought the right ways to deal with the elderly woman.

The social welfare officers have also suggested that at least a medical officer should examine her clinically to know her present health position.

It may be noted that her younger son is a migrant labour and he is working in other states for the construction of mobile towers.

The family members, particularly Mrs Rajeda Bewa, were not ready to shift Katriatul Bewa to any home or asylum in reply to the proposal of the government officials.

No body will be able to take care of her better than family members. n SNS

Sanitation honour for panchayat

MALDA, Oct. 17: This is for the first time that a gram panchayat of Malda district has attained the status of ‘Nirmal Gram’ for implementing sanitation programme.

For the last few years, since the execution of the sanitation programme started in earnest at the panchayat level, Malda district was lagging far behind in comparison with other districts in the state.

This time, 17 gram panchayats in the state have been declared ‘Nirmal Gram’. Of them Pirganj Gram Panchayat (GP) in Ratua-II block in northern Malda district is one.

Mrs Shibani Mahaldar, pradhan of Pirganj GP has been asked to receive the award from the President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil, in Guwahati to receive the Nirmal Gram award

It may be noted here that the Pirganj GP has achieved the Nirmal Gram distinction on the basis of the performance of the previous civic body run by the Congress.

But, interestingly, the CPI-M came to power this year after rural polls and the CPI-M pradhan Mrs Shibani Mahaldar would leave for Guwahati today to receive the award from the President of India.

Mrs. Patil would present the ‘ Nirmal Gram’ awards on 20 October.

According to Mrs. Shibani Mahaldar , prodhan , Pirganj GP, a team had recently visited the G P area and interacted with the people regarding sanitation awareness.

The team has also examined system of sanitation and hygiene implemented in drinking water sources.

Malda official 'violates' RTI

MALDA, Oct. 17: Despite the approval of the officer in charge of Right to Information cell in the Malda district magistrate office, the district registrar is allegedly reluctant to show answer sheets and other related papers, for the recruitment of lower division clerks (LDC), to the applicants.

This is for the first time that a Scheduled Caste candidate, who had appeared in the competitive examination conducted by the district registrar office for the recruitment of 14 LDCs, applied to the Malda RTI cell to show his answer sheet.

Emboldened by the Right to Information Act, Mr Bijoy Kumar Ram, a resident of Tulshihata in Harishchandrapur, decided to see his answer sheet unsatisfied as he was with the final panel published recently in which his name had not figured.

Mr Ram claimed that he had correctly answered 74 percent out of the papers on the basis of which he had expected to obtain more than 51 per cent.

The department allegedly selected candidates from the Scheduled Caste who had obtained up to 50 per cent marks.

The Malda RTI cell had forwarded the application, submitted on 18 September, to the district registrar and asked him to follow RTI Act. However, the registrar so far has not complied with the instruction.

n SNS

Gour Express delayed , rly officials blamed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 16: Kolkata bound Gour Express could not start on time from Malda Town station yesterday due to mismanagement of railway authorities.

Passengers including political persons like MP Mohd Salim criticised accountability of Malda divisional railway officials for failing to manage excess passengers who were in waiting list yesterday.

He reportedly said that he would lodge a complaint with the railway authorities in New Delhi pointing out his experience in Malda Town Station.

The Gour Express left after 11 pm yesterday; it was scheduled to leave at about 9.35 pm from Malda Town Station.

Initially, an extra coach was placed on time and managed only 72 passengers. When huge passengers were demanding more extra coaches the railway authorities had to allot another extra coach and accordingly an announcement was made. Though the railway authorities prepared another confirmed reservation list of 72 passengers and hanged it on the notice board but passengers did not find any extra coach for them.

Interestingly, the TEE and railway officials could not answer properly about the second extra coach.

The situation turned critical following the agitation of the confirmed passengers who were demanding the allotted extra coach which was announced by the station manager's office. At last the top railway officials from the divisional railway office came and managed the situation after placing an extra (second) coach for them.

The MP, Mohd. Salim who was one of the passengers for Gour Express along with another MP of Balurghat Mr. Ranan Barman and state environment minister Mr. Sailen Sarkar protested allotment of reserved seats for A/C compartment.

Mr Salim found his seat was allotted in A/C two-tier but he had confirmed reservation ticket for A/C first class. But his name was not in the final list of A/C first class.

Despite several attempts both the DRM of Malda Railway Division and ADRM were not available for comment today.

Malda central bus terminus by December

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 16: The district administration has decided to complete Malda central bus terminus by December 2008. Initially, it had planned to complete the construction work by October, but it was delayed due to monsoon.

“The construction work at the site of the proposed central bus terminus was stalled for three months due to monsoon. We would, however, finish the work by December”, said Mr C R Das, the Malda district magistrate.

“The central bus terminus is important to ease the growing traffic congestion in English Bazaar town. If we can complete the project by December we would be able to shift private bus terminus from Atul Chandra Kumar market, which is located in the heart of the town, to the proposed central bus terminus", Mr Das said.

With the shifting of the private bus terminal from the heart of the town excessive load of heavy vehicles would be automatically reduced on the principal roads of this town, traffic police officials said.

The district administration has planned to use a large space for the construction of the private bus terminal to facilitate a permanent parking zone in the area. In the absence of a permanent parking zone hundreds of vehicles including private cars are being parked on both sides of the roads creating traffic snarl.

According to the district magistrate, Rs. 1.35 crore was allotted for the project. Apart from this, Rs. 1.22 crore has been sanctioned for the completion of the central bus terminus, including electrical work.

The central bus terminus project was conceived a decade ago. If things move as per schedule the ‘distant dream’ may come true in December this year.

Mueder case against BSF men

MALDA, Oct. 16: Baishnabnagar police station in Kaliachak III registered a murder case against two BSF jawans after a local youth Ali Hossian (27) was found dead on the side of Bangladesh. The body was sent for post mortem today.

Ali Hossain (27) of Par Deonapur village was reportedly picked up by two BSF personnel Mr S N Singh and Mr Habildar Onkarnath of Battalion No 108 . He was taken away by Hossain at about 5.30 p.m by boat from Par Anantapur Ghaat on 11 October. The villagers thought that Hossain was arrested and his father Mr Saddam Ali came to Baishnabnagar police station on 13 October to find that police were not informed at all.

He lodged a missing complaint with the police, according to Mr Anil Roy, IC of Baishnabnagar PS. “We informed the BSF officials on the basis of Saddam's diary”, Mr Roy said.

However, being traceless for two more days, finally Hossain's body was found yesterday on the Bangladesh side of the fencing. After a flag meeting with Bangladesh counterparts, the body was handed over to police.

Police found injury marks on the body. According to police, “The BSF officials had informed police that although they picked up Hossain, he managed to escape from their custody”.

However, police had begun the probe filing a murder case against the two BSF personnel along with the boatmen who were present while they picked up Hossain from Perdeonapur on the bank of the Padma.

The commanding officer of 108-battalion BSF Mr. JSND Prasad said, “The person was involved in smuggling and was killed in their internal feud”.

Villagers, on the other hand, refused to accept such explanation. Hossain's father alleged that the BSF jawans were responsible for his son's death. n SNS

Child welfare home reopens in Old Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 15: The Malda district administration today reopened Sahapur Child Welfare Home in Old Malda after it was closed for three months.

Authorities had to shut down the state-run home on 3 July this year due to violence after Rajib Soren, a minor inmate, died from electrocution.

The district magistrate, Mr CR Das, officially reopened the home today and asked the home authorities to look after the inmates carefully.

After the closure of the home the district administration completed electric wiring. A toilet block and kitchen are under construction at present.

A police picket has been posted at the home to ward off any untoward incident.

The committee in charge of the welfare centre has decided not to allow 12 senior inmates who were arrested in July on charges of violence to return.

“They have been asked to take their belongings from the home at the earliest,” said the Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De, who is also the chairman of the home's managing committee.

A total of 35 inmates, below 18 years of age, belonging to economically backward class today came back to the home.

The chief of the Bharat Sebashram Sangha (BSS), an NGO close to the home, has been requested to supply breakfast and dinner for the present inmates till tomorrow. “The administration would pay the BSS. The home would supply food to the inmates normally from tomorrow onwards,” said the Malda SDO.

Cops fail to nab puja committee goons

MALDA, Oct 15: The Malda police could not meet the district magistrates deadline today to arrest four accused persons who allegedly beat up an 85-year-old woman who had refused to comply with Durga Puja subscription of Rs 300.

The district magistrate Mr CR Das said he would draw the attention of higher police authorities if the district police failed to nab the accused within 24 hours.

Yesterday, the district magistrate instructed the police to arrest the accused named in the FIR.

The matter came to light yesterday when the district magistrate was visiting the Malda district hospital and casually met the old woman, Mrs Tulubala Saha, who was undergoing treatment for a broken rib.

“She fell down when a group of Puja committee members attacked her on 10 October and broke her rib," her relatives informed the district magistrate.

The district magistrate called on the DSP (D&T) over phone from the hospital and asked him to receive the FIR from Mrs Saha for necessary action against the Puja committee members.

The additional SP, Mr Sujit Sarkar said today the police raided the area, but the accused are absconding at present.

The relatives of the victim alleged the police had refused to receive the complaint from them following the incident.

The injured old woman was initially admitted to the Molpur block health centre, but later she was referred to the Malda district hospital in view of her deteriorating condition. n sns

Train service disrupted, passengers face trouble

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 13: Train services were disrupted for more than 14 hours since last night as a goods train derailed at Chamagram under Malda railway division (ER).

Six bogies of a north Bengal bound goods train derailed around 11 p.m last night near Farrakka Barrage due to some technical difficulties, railway officials said. The double line of the main track was completely blocked by the bogies.

More than 12 passengers’ trains including important mail trains like Brahmaputra mail, Darjeeling mail, Kamrup Express, Saraighaat Express, north Bengal express, Puja special trains were stranded because of this.

Passengers including tourists coming from north Bengal faced a lot of inconvenience at different stations as basic amenities were out of reach.

Water tanks dried up. Passengers faced difficulties in using toilets on trains due to lack of water, railway sources said.

Passengers of the stranded trains at Malda town stations did not face such problems but passengers of the trains which were stranded at the Old Malda stations in Malda or in Dhulian station in Murshidabad and other stations were in deep trouble due to scarcity of waters.

South Bengal bound trains originating from Malda town station were canceled this morning due to the accident.

The railway officials were not in a position to clear the track last night. They started the job when a heavy crane reached the spot this morning under the supervision of the ADRM, Malda railway division, who rushed to spot ..The DRM visited the spot this morning and probed to ascertain the exact cause of derailment.

Around 12 pm the officials of the eastern railway cleared the down track and restored it. After a few hours the up tracks were also restored, railway officials claimed.

The Malda divisional railway authorities issued a probe order.

Malignant malaria hits Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 12: Malda district health officials have decided to conduct blood tests on migrant labourers who have recently returned from different states after two malignant malaria cases were detected.

According to chief medical officer (health), Dr Radha Raman Banik, two migrant labourers have been identified in Manikchak and Habibpur respectively as suffering from malignant malaria. They are undergoing treatment in respective hospitals.

“We are planning to spray DDT in the area around their houses and will conduct blood tests of migrant labourers suffering from fever across the district,” said Dr Banik.

In Malda, thousands of people go to other states as wage earners and many of them may return home as carriers of malignant malaria.

District health officials said the number of fever cases among the migrant labourers was abnormally high and Orissa was singled out as the state most prone to malignant malaria.

Labourers did not get sufficient medical facilities in some states like Orissa and finally returned to the district as carriers of malignant malaria and other diseases including HIV/AIDS, according to officials.

"I wrote a letter to the state health officials last month informing them about the plight of migrant labourers of Malda district and requested them to ask the Orissa government to regularly monitor the health condition of those who migrate to other states for livelihood,” said Dr Banik.

“I don't know whether our state officials have taken the matter up with the Orissa government or not,” he added.

Tribal widow murdered

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 12: A fifty five- year- old tribal widow, Baha Murmu, was murdered at Raghunathpur village last night under Gazol police station.

Police are investigating the incident to ascertain whether she was killed because people suspected that she was a witch or there were other reasons behind the murder.

It is being reported that she might have been killed following a property dispute as she possessed three-bigha farmland.

Baha reportedly identified one Rupai Murmu during the assault and in her dying statement she named Rupai as the principal assaulter.

Three to four persons attacked the victim at her residence and murdered her.

Police are looking for Rupai Murmu. Police also detained her two sons Sunil and Raju for interrogation. Sunil, who was asleep in another room, rushed out as her mother was screaming for help.

“I woke up hearing my mother screaming”, he said. During interrogation Raju said that he had not been at home last night when the incident had taken place.

It was also learnt that one of the victim's brothers, who lives close-by, called her a ‘witch’ and said that as she was responsible for his son's prolonged illness. No one has been arrested so far.

ATM closure hits card holders

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Oct 10: The closer of the SBI ATM at Malda Tourist Lodge since a month back is causing the public considerable difficulties.

The SBI authorities had to close it down a month back after a robbery attempt and did not reopen since then.

People have facing a lot of problems in consequence. Before the Pujas there was a long queue in front of the ATM located near its main branch, close to the district magistrate office. People had to wait for an hour to get money.

The chief manager of he SBI Mr. S K Chakrabarty said: “We had to close down the ATM because a group of robbers tried to rob the ATM at night. Though goons could not take money from the machine, they damaged the machine”.

“We are trying hard to install a new machine there by 15 October. We brought a new machine and service engineers have already visited the spot”, the chief manager said.

“Before replacing the damaged ATM we need to deploy security personnel there. We had informed the matter to the police and we will also request district police to keep vigil on the ATM, near the Malda Tourist Lodge on N H 34”. SBI officials said.

“We did not have security personnel. Hence we requested our authorities to provide us with security guards as criminal activities are high in English Bazaar , which is very close to the India Bangaldesh border “. Mr. Chakrabarty added.

Meanwhile two more ATMs will come up near Narayanpur BSF camp and Malda district collector’s office.(END)

Father kills his girl baby

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Oct 10: Police exhumed a one and a half year old girls’ body from Rathbari village in Kaliachak II block this evening in the presence of a magistrate to prepare an inquest report. The child was killed when her father tried to hit his wife with a rod last night. According to the locals, the victim’s father Uttam Sarkar, a daily wage earner, attacked his wife Shefali with a rod last night over a dispute . “Shefali was holding the child Priya and rod hit the child on the head and she died on the spot”, an eyewitness said. According to the locals, the couple was arguing over whether to go out or not on Dashami and it turned nasty. The locals rushed to their house after the incident and decided to bury the victim. But the police learnt of the incident this morning and exhumed the body. The accused is absconding. (END)

Distance causes difficulties in supply of arsenic-free water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct 10: A large part of Kaliachak-I block including the Sujapur area is not getting sufficient arsenic free drinking water since the past few months due to its distant location.

Though Sujapur is under the area of Dariapur surface water treatment plant for southern sector, the public health engineering (PHE) officials are facing problem in supplying arsenic-free drinking water to those areas from its source located at Dariapur in Kaliachak III.

On the other hand, the PHE officials were not in a position to supply arsenic free water from its sources located in Manikchak and English Bazaar to cover northern sector areas as Sujapur is located at a considerable distance from these areas.

As a result, those living in a large part of Kaliachak-I block, situated between the two places are being deprived of adequate arsenic free drinking water.

It may be noted that since 1995 the PHE started working on setting up surface water treatment plants. During Id minority dominated areas like Sujapur, Jalalpur, Jadupur and even Shershahi and Majampur in Kaliachak -I did not get sufficient safe drinking water from the southern sector's pumping station. They are still facing this problem.

Initially the executive engineer of PHE (arsenic division) for southern sector Mr. Debashish Banerjee said: “Due to unstable power supply we are facing difficulties to supply water to distant areas like Sujapur. The power supply situation is not expected to improve even as the Pujas concluded yesterday. We are getting only 390 to 405 volts than the required 440 volts. How can we run our plant?”

He disclosed that it is very difficult to supply sufficient water from a distant location to some areas like Sujapur, Jalalpur, Bhagalpur, Majampur which are facing problems.

“To resolve the problem of the areas which are far away from the sources of southern and northern sectors, we have prepared a master plan. We have to set up additional reservoirs and pumping stations to supply arsenic free water to those areas”, Mr. Banerjee said.