Train passenger falls on tracks, dies unattended

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 30: An unidentified passenger fell off a moving train at about 5 a.m. today and died after struggling for his life lying between two railway tracks (Up and Down) for nearly five hours.

This inhuman incident took place at Jadupur village in English Bazaar police station area.

Neither railway officials nor government railway police (GRP) attended him since morning despite several reminders from the local villagers and eyewitnesses.

After receiving information from local journalists, who reached the spot at 9 a.m., the English Bazaar police and GRP officials both reached there at 9.45 a.m., when the injured passenger had succumbed to his injuries.

Not only the villagers but also the guards for railway tracks on night duty found the injured man (around 30 years of age) and tried to communicate the information to the Malda town station. But this information was finally conveyed to the GRP about 8.20 a.m.

A woman, Mrs Kostila Mandal, found the injured man with Nepali features, and informed other villagers when he was begging for medical assistance.

Villagers tried to stop several Malda station bound trains showing red cloths seeking help to send him to the town station. They even tried to draw the attention of the "key man" of several trains passing along the busy tracks since dawn but no one responded to them.

“I tried hard to stop trains to intimate the serious condition of the injured man who fell off the train at dawn. No driver of any train responded to my appeal,” said Mr Gedu Sarkar.

Mr Sarkar also came to a nearby railway gate at Malanchapally in English Bazaar town later to inform the matter to Malda station.

Villagers admitted that they did not take risk to rescue the wounded man (to send him to a nearby district hospital) fearing police harassment if he succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.

“Had we sent him to hospital he would have survived,” they now said.

The inspector-in-charge of Malda GRP, Mr Swapan Dasgupta said: “We have received information officially from the railway at about 8.20 a.m. On receiving information our staff rushed to the spot and found him dead.”

“The passenger fell off the train in any case. We took photographs of him for sending messages to concerned police and GRP stations for public information to trace his address and relatives,” Mr Dasgupta said.

The body was finally sent for a postmortem at 10 a.m. today.

MP plays role of mediator

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 30: After the intervention of the Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury, the chairman of English Bazaar Municipality Mr Narendranath Tiwari took over charges as district Intuc president at its office located at Rathbari today.

Though Mr Tiwari got the final approval from the state Intuc president Mr Subrata Mukherjee but he could not take charge due to factional feud. One Mr Nazrul Islam alias Kazi who claimed as president of the district Intuc did not agree to accept Mr Tiwari as president. Mr Islam became working president with the consent of the state president after the murder of then district Intuc president Biswanath Guho.

Today, Mr Tiwari came to office and took the chair of president in presence of the Malda MP amid tight security. There was tension between the two groups and supporters of Mr Tiwari and Mr Islam who assembled there since morning. No untoward incident was reported.

The Malda MP managed the situation tactfully declaring Mr Tiwari as president and Mr Islam as working president of Malda INTUC.

"If we do not maintain unity among the leaders within an organisation, Left as well as CPI-M backed trade union leaders will take opportunity of the situation”, Mr A H Khan Choudhury said.

After pension and BPL cards, ration cards elude tribals

MALDA, Nov. 28: After the pension amount it is the ration cards that the tribals allegedly are deprived of. “Many tribals in Malda district do not have ration cards. Those who have managed to get one have to keep them with the modified ration dealers,” stated a report submitted to the Malda district magistrate yesterday.

The report also stated that the tribals often have to do without the commodities. Its is the wish of the ration dealers on which they have to depend for acquiring items. It may be noted that the Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Kumar Ghosh, had assigned district project officer (ICDS) Mr Pratyarpan Singha Roy to study the problem that the tribals put up with in the area. The move came in the wake of the chief minister recent visit in Malda. Mr Singh Roy has also pointed out that many of the tribals do not have Electoral Photo Identity Card (Epic). Many Epics in the name of tribal people are with the local political leaders.

After visiting some parts of the four blocks ~ Habibpur, Bamongola, Gazol and partly Old Malda ~ Mr Singha Roy said: “Though most of the tribal people are peeved with the dealers and local political leaders since they have not been able to benefit from the government sponsored schemes, they have also been careless about important documents like Epic, Ration Cards and BPL cards. This is how they are.”

Many of the tribals do not go to schools due to languages problem. They prefer to read in their mother tongue. The report also stated that due to poverty and lack of education most of the tribal population are deprived of basic facilities such as drinking water, and face crisis of water for irrigation. Good roads are a distant dream.

In the survey report, Mr Sigha Roy suggested the district magistrate Mr Ghosh to form a team comprising tribal employees of various government and semi-government sectors to organise awareness campaigning. Tribal population in Malda is a total of 2.27 lakh tribals are living, according to the census report made in 2001. n SNS

Malda faces DPT vaccine crunch

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 28: The district health department is facing acute problem in continuing the DPT (Diphtheria Pestusis Tetanus) vaccination programme due to acute crisis of vaccination.

The chief medical officer of health (CMOH) of Malda, Dr Srikanta Roy, said that the available DPT vaccination is nearly 30 to 40 per cent less than what is required in the district.

Women gone to the health centres with their babies said that the health workers could not administer vaccine within the due date because of the present crisis.

The CMOH, Dr Roy, said: “Not only Malda, almost all districts are facing such crisis due to inadequate supply of DPT vaccine from the Centre to state in last six months."

“I have heard from my seniors that the Central authorities had cancelled contract of some suppliers for DPT and other vaccines after detection of poor quality of vaccines supplied by them. The Central authorities, however, could not make any alternate arrangement to supply required vaccines to the states,” said Dr Roy.

The district used to receive excess vaccines earlier and sometimes Malda health officials had to destroy such vaccines after they exceeded its expiry dates.

In last few months, the Malda district health department had to use old stock of vaccines to run the immunisation programme but at present it is facing acute crisis.

Tribals deprived of pension

MALDA, Nov. 27: Many tribals, above 60 years of age falling below the poverty line and who are entitled to receive pension amount of Rs 500 per month, have not been getting  their full pension amount on time. The funds meant for tribals’ pension are getting released either for three months at a time and at times after six months.

It has been reported that despite block officials releasing the pension to the tribal beneficiaries through money order for three or six months, the pension holders are not getting the exact amount released by the government officials.

“It has come to our notice that middlemen such as some panchayat leaders and some staff of some post offices dupe the tribal people and pay Rs 1,000 each when the block officials have released pensions for three months amounting to Rs 1,500 together,” said the Habibpur BDO, Mr Rajesh Kerketta, today.

The practice of cheating the tribal pension-holders has come to light following a survey by the Malda district administration. The Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, had instructed the survey after chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee expressed concern about the tribal population and inquired about the practice of witch-hunting during his recent visit in Malda.

According to the Habibpur BDO, the block development officer , gram panchayat officials are reluctant to make a fresh list of tribal pensioneers. “But the panchayat officials have not bothered to reply,” Mr Kerketta, said.

On the other hand, it was detected that some block post offices are reluctant to receive more than 100 money orders meant for tribal people as the offices were not equipped with iron chests. It is also alleged that in the rural belt, post office or sub-post office staff do not visit the beneficiaries’ house to deliver the pension. They call the beneficiaries through middlemen to their offices instead and make payments and at times not in full.

Experiencing such problems, the district administration is planning to open bank or post office accounts in the name of each pension holder so that middlemen cannot cheat the tribals at the time of payment.

“It is a serious complaint that tribal people are being deprived of their legitimate claims. We need to get a specific complaint in this regard. We must take action against the culprits,” said the Malda DM, Mr Ghosh.

Reacting to the situation, the state backward classes welfare minister Mr Jogesh Barman said over phone: “We have received complaints that middlemen were robbing the tribals of their legitimate claims. To end the corruption we have planned to open accounts in the name of pensioners so that the middlemen can be avoided. I have already spoken to post master general to open savings account for the beneficiaries.” SNS

Candidate urges Central forces in Sujapur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 27: The Congress candidate for the Sujapur by-poll, Miss Mousam Noor, urged her maternal uncle, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, Malda MP, to seek Central forces before election allegedly after being terrorised by the CPI-M workers.

She also requested her maternal uncle to invite Mr Rahul Gandhi here for a day to campaign for Sujapur by-polls when she came to know the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would pay only a short visit here and he would not attend any public rally even in Malda town on 7 December.

Speaking to the reporters last evening, the Malda MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury told reporters that without presence of central forces it would be very difficult to conduct free and fair election to defeat the CPI-M candidate in Sujapur.

“I had told the chief electoral officer Mr Debasish Sen twice to send central forces to conduct by-poll here. I am trying to draw the attention of the election commission in Delhi about the terrorised situation of Sujapur”, Mr AH Khan, brother of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, said.

On 7 December, when the PM would be coming to their home Miss Noor has planned to inform about the matter the PM seeking central forces here.

In a bid to stop rigging and booth capturing, yesterday, at all political party meeting convened by the district magistrate for by-poll, the Congress representatives urged the district magistrate and the superintendent of police to deploy central forces in some many sensitive booths.

The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said: “Is it a state like Jammu-Kashmir that central forces would be required to conduct by-poll? Central forces are required where there is no law and order. People of this state and Sujapur is conscious.”

Parties seek air-strip removal from English Bazaar

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 26: When the Airports Authority of India is preparing to issue eviction notice to encroachers from the existing area of the Malda airstrip, political leaders here including that of the CPI-M, Congress and Trinamul Congress want the airport to shift from English Bazaar town altogether.

The AAI is currently constructing a boundary wall to protect its existing land. The district administration has also sent a proposal to the state government for acquisition of an additional 55 acres on the western side of the airport following the instruction of the state transport department and the Malda MP has been trying hard to obtain Central funds to revive the Malda airport.

But the political organisations, including the Congress, are not quite convinced with the idea. For instance, the English Bazaar Congress MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, reportedly does not want the airport in its present location. Earlier, when Mr Choudhury was the English Bazaar Municipality chairman, he had urged the district administration to earmark land outside the English Bazaar town to relocate the airport.

Although the former CPI-M MLA from English Bazaar, Mr Samar Roy, had urged the AAI and aviation minister to keep the airstrip in the existing position for the development of the district, the current CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, want its relocation.

“The existing land should be handed over to Mr Goutam Deb, minister for state housing department, to build a planned new town. In exchange, the district administration should acquire land on the northern side of Malda town close to the Narayanpur industrial belt in old Malda along National Highway 34 for the relocation of the airstrip,” said Mr Jiban Moitra.

The district Trinamul president and vice-chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Dulal Sarkar, said: “Following the district administration's instruction we are not permitting further extension of high-rises on either side of NH-34 for the Malda airstrip. But it is a difficult task and could lead to complications in future.”

The CPI-M MLA from old Malda, Mr Subhendu Choudhury, said: “We will be able to provide four times the size of the existing land of Malda airport if it is shifted to old Malda.”

Trinamul fields candidate in Sujapur race

MALDA, Nov. 26: Though the Malda MP and the district president Mr AH Khan Choudhury reportedly requested the Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee not to field its candidate in Sujapur by-polls, the Malda Trinamul Congress has recommended two names of its candidate for nomination.

The district president of Malda Trinamul Congress, Mr Dulal Sarkar told reporters that Miss Mamata Banerjee has asked to select candidate for Sujapur by polls. Mr Sarkar, however, denied that the Malda MP urged Miss Mamata Banerjee not to field its candidate in Sujapur by polls. Trinamul supremo will announce the name of its candidate soon, out of the two names already recommended from Kaliachak area, he said. The district Trinamul Congress had selected Mr Mantu Masaraf and Mr Majahar Hossain following the instruction of Miss Banerjee.

The Congress has a strong hold in the Sujapur assembly constituency and in the last three decades CPI-M candidates could not defeat a Congress candidate like late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury and his sister late Rubi Noor. Thought the Trinamul has no base in the area, it would likely be bagging some anti-left votes. Sources said that since the Congress had nominated a new candidate, daughter of Rubi Noor, the Malda MP wanted to unite all anti-left vote to defeat the CPI-M candidate here. It may be noted that the BJP would not field its candidate in the by-polls in the Muslim population dominated Sujapur constituency.

It is also learnt that a Muslim League candidate would be contesting from here. n SNS

Silk worm death affects sericulture in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 26: The Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Kumar Ghosh, has asked the deputy director, sericulture department, to report the loss after a large number of silk worms in Kaliachak area died. Several sericulture farmers in Kaliachak areas are not in a position to produce cocoons due to the silkworms getting affected with a disease.

It may be noted that central sericulture, state sericulture and private producers supplied huge quantity of silk worm eggs in the silk producing areas for Aghrayani crop.

The state sericulture officials blamed sericulture farmers for not taking the preventive measures and disinfecting rearing houses.

According to sericulture officials, a section of farmers who procured silk worm eggs from unlicensed producers and did not take any preventive measures when silk worms were seen to be dying.

The disease was spread from those cultivators and it infected other silk worms just before the maturity worms for producing cocoon.

The sericulture official suspects that fluctuation of climate may be another reason for the spread of the disease here.

A senior field officer of sericulture department said that there is no method to check the death of silk worms.

“Preventive measures are only solution to save the silk worms,” he added.

After receiving letter from the district magistrate, the sericulture department will start a survey in the affected zone to estimate loss from tomorrow.

Agitation now in N Bengal

MALDA, Nov. 25: The Lalgarh tribal agitation is showing signs of spilling over to other parts of the state as hundreds of tribals today took out a rally in Gazol town demanding basic amenities and protesting against police excesses.

Demonstrating in front of the Gazol rural hospital, the protesters, calling themselves ‘Citizens’ Forum’, demanded suspension of the doctor-in-charge. The tribals alleged that doctors’ negligence led to a child’s death last week. The CPI-ML (Liberation)-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA) backed the protesters.

The agitators were out with their traditional drums (dhamsa and madol) and expressed support towards the ongoing tribal movement at Lalgarh.

AISA Gazol block secretary Mr Emanuel Hembram said: “Police selectively detained tribals when they demanded publication of stock position of medicine in Gazol hospital.” The police detained three tribal youths, later released on personal requisition bond, when they were agitating in front of the hospital last week.

The agitators demanded the development of health and education for the tribals. “While many reserved seats are lying vacant in higher educational institutions, tribal students do not get the chance due to absence of caste certificates,” they alleged.

“Some tribals have grievances about various government services but there is definitely instigation from outside to unite for such a movement,” said Mr Sridhar Ghosh, the Malda district magistrate.

The administration has decided to transfer the doctor in charge of Gazol hospital after the furore. n SNS

CPM chooses by-poll candidate

MALDA, Nov. 25: The CPI-M would field Sheikh Ketabuddin, as the Left Front candidate for the forthcoming Sujapur by-poll in Malda.

The Malda CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra had suggested his name to the state committee for the final nod a few months back considering his performance in the rural polls.

Sheikh Ketabuddin is an elected member of the Malda zilla parishad. He secured a record-winning margin in the last rural polls. He is also the secretary of CPI-M's Sujapur local committee.

Meanwhile, the Congress nominee for the by-poll, Miss Mousam Noor launched her campaigning in Sujapur constituency three weeks ago. Miss Noor, a BA and LLB student, is appealing for votes assuring to fulfil her mother's (who was the previous Sujapur MLA) dreams. n SNS

PM to pay a short visit to Malda

MALDA, Nov. 24: The model code of conduct for the Sujapur Assembly by-poll, which came into effect last night in Malda has caused many a change in the programme of the political parties including a shortened visit by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on 7 December.

Although it was scheduled that the PM would spend two hours in Malda on 7 December, visit late ABA Ghani Khan's residence, attend a party public meeting and lay the foundation stone of the sanctioned Central technical school, a shortened PM visit now has forced the Congress to reschedule its programmes. The Malda police received a fresh schedule of the PM's itinerary today stating that he would spend a little more than an hour instead of two hours.

The director security in West Bengal, Mr A K Maliwal, is scheduled to reach here today to supervise the Prime Minister's security cover before the arrival of the special protection group.

The English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury could not enlighten about the programme of the PM and said: “The Malda MP, Mr A H Khan Choudhury is in New Delhi. I will be able to know about the PM's exact programme after talking to him.”

The Malda congress has already announced the daughter of late Rubi Noor, former Sujapur MLA, as its candidate for the Sujapur by poll. The CPI-M will announce its candidate soon. The by-poll would be held on 27 December.

n SNS

Idol found burried

 MALDA, Nov. 24: Malda police recovered Rs 1.88 lakh and an idol last night from the house of Danesh Ali at Bagmara village in Kaliachak police station.

Danesh Ali, 50, died after police raided his house yesterday morning. He died while trying to flee during the raid.

Police also arrested two persons ~ Samsul Alam and Masidur Sheikh ~ resident of Hooghly district. Police had picked up the two persons on a tip off from villagers from the house of Danesh on Saturday night.

Police got to know from the two persons that Danesh wanted to hand over an idol made of gold and took nearly Rs 2 lakh from them in advance.

Police finally found out the location where Danesh kept the idol and the money. Police said Danesh had been able to shift more than Rs 10,000 after the deal on Saturday night. According to senior police officer, Danesh had buried the Krishna idol including the money received from the two persons as advance before handing over the idol.

Police will examine the idol to know whether it was made of gold. It also informed its other quarters to find any theft case in connection with the idol recovered. n SNS

DM asks people not to ransack hospitals

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 23: The Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Kumar Ghosh, today urged the people not to take law in their own hand in protest against negligence of doctors in hospitals in case of death of a patient.

Addressing the 6th conference for voluntary blood donors’ organisations in north Bengal at Malda college auditorium, the district magistrate said: “Please don't start any violent movement against a health centre and ransack government property, attack doctors and nurses."

“There are several ways of protesting against negligence of hospital doctors and staffs. But if you damage necessary items like medical equipment and ambulances other people in need would suffer,” Mr Ghosh said citing an example of Gazol Rural Hospital where an agitated mob ransacked the hospital after the death of new born baby a few days ago.

Mr Sailen Sarkar, minister for environment and state parliamentary affairs, inaugurated the conference which was organised by the Malda district voluntary blood donors’ forum (MDVBDF). The MDVBDF published its first Blood Donation Bulletin today.

Addressing the blood donors’ conference, the English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, said that the Malda district hospital authorities do not display the stock position of blood in its bank.

Mr Choudhury was also criticised poor service of the Malda district hospital and said that some outsiders deal with patient illegally in the emergency department.

The member of National Task Force, Mr Apurba Ghosh, also the state secretary of West Bengal voluntary blood donors’ forum, expressed concern about violation of government's direction in Malda blood bank.

He said that the stock position of blood must be displayed in all 53 blood banks across the state according to government direction.

Man runs to death in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 23: Danesh Ali (50), a contractor, died after police raided his house at Bagmara village under Kaliachak police station this morning.

To evade police arrest Danesh started runingbefore police arrived at his house. While running he fell down and died on the spot. Police allegedly forced Danesh’s wife to give them a written statement that her husband was ill.

Two police men suddenly raided the house of Danesh last night and picked up two persons who had came to his house from Hooghly district. After interrogating the two persons, police got to know that Danesh had received huge amount from them for handing over some ‘stolen idols'. Police later got to know that Danesh planned to inform police with the help of his neighbour about ‘ unknown’ persons and did not have any relation with them .

But after the death of Danesh police are in no position to unearth the mystery of financial transaction among them.

When villagers came to know about Danesh's death, they rushed him to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. Villagers informed the police after the incident. Police then sent the body for post mortem.

Police are still interrogating the two persons.

Malda SBI under scanner

MALDA, Nov. 23: The additional district magistrate (general) in Malda, Mr P C Sit, has criticised SBI officials for not cooperating with the registered daily labourers regarding opening their bank accounts in rural belts under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

Addressing a customers’ meet at Malda college auditorium yesterday, organised by the SBI authorities, Mr Sit said: “Though the SBI officials are claiming that they always cooperate with the rural farmers for financial transaction but in reality they do not extend cooperation with the registered labourers”. He requested them to extend cooperation to ensure the payment of wages to the labourers through banks. At the customers’ meet, right from the general customers to top officials and political leaders, expressed unhappiness with their service especially from its main branch in English Bazaar town.

The general customers including the leader of consumers’ rights protection society Mr Samar Mishra alleged that consumers are being harassed and suggested them to develop infrastructures especially in the main branch requesting them to undertake development in the present core banking system. Political leaders and top government officials expressed their grievances more about the service and rough attitude of SBI staffs in office counters. “The staff do not consider common people in its office. I had to give my identity to sort out a problem with my ATM card”, said Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, MLA, and English Bazaar. The lead bank manager in Malda, Mr Prabhat Kr Satpathy also said that he had been receiving various complaints against banking services. He promised to look into the matter.

The SBI regional manager, Mr B Haldar said: “Two new branches will come up in Malda and five in South Dinajpur. Another 10 new branches will come upby 2009”. n SNS

Eviction of encroachers from airstrip ordered

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 21: Airports Authority of India officials today met the Malda district magistrate seeking administrative help to evict encroachers from the land earmarked for Malda airstrip in English Bazaar town.

The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, asked the AAI officials to issue eviction notice to the encroachers mentioning a stipulated timeframe to vacate the land owned by the AAI.

The decision was taken today at an emergency meeting convened by the district magistrate with the concerned officials where political leaders and civic body representative were also present.

Mr Subhendu Choudhury, the CPI-M MLA from Old Malda, and English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury were also present in the meeting to ascertain the modalities for the proposed eviction drive.

The DM is, however, against evicting some families who received ‘deed of right’ from the refuge rehabilitation department. The RR department had once officially ‘acquired’ the land from the AAI along the present railway tracks and distributed deeds of right to some displaced families. A few of the residents have valid papers from the English Bazaar Municipality including mutation papers.

“We are against the encroachers but in favour of those who got papers from the RR department,” said Mr Subhendu Choudhury, the CPI-M MLA.

The district magistrate Mr Ghosh told reporters: “We have asked the AAI officials to issue notice to the encroachers. We will take steps after the notification and after observing the reaction of encroachers. The administration would not evict residents possessing deeds of right.”

Decades to implement a drainage plan!

MALDA, Nov. 21: Over two decades ago, the then chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Prabhat Acharya, had formulated Lakshmipur drainage scheme to solve the problem of water logging in the town. But the plan is yet to be implemented due to litigation.

After Mr Acharya, the Trinamul BJP combined board came to power and in 2001, the civic body as well as the administration took initiative to revamp the drainage scheme. The project is yet to be implemented due to lack of proper plan, political indecision and reluctance of the concerned department engineers. Though the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad (UBNP) had allotted funds, the administration had to divert them to other projects. The district administration today planned to revive the project following the intervention of chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, when the diversion of fund was pointed out. The land acquisition department had started the process of land acquisition but due to villagers’ objection and non availability of funds stalled the project. n SNS

Gour Banga University seeks more land

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 20: The registrar of the University of Gour Banga Mr Tapas Chatterjee today approached the state government to hand over more land from the adjoining areas close to the present land earmarked for the new educational institution.

In reference to the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's speech during the foundation laying ceremony of the UGB on 16 November, Mr Chatterjee today wrote a letter to the principal secretary and the commissioner of land and land reforms requesting them to handover 5 acres and another adjoining land measuring 3.38 acres owned by the agriculture department..

The chief minister had said that merely 30 acres is not sufficient for the university and more land will be required from its adjoining areas. The minister for environment Mr Sailen Sarkar approached the district magistrate for a meeting to take initiative to transfer the land and he held a meeting with the district land and land reforms officers and other concerned officials including the registrar of the UGB.

It was decided that the university authorities would approach the government for seeking land. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar K Ghosh said more land would be required for the construction of staff quarters, quarter for vice chancellor, students’ hostel, and play ground. Though the chief minister had promised that he would sanction Rs 20 lakh from the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad for the development of university, the registrar of the UGB today sent another approach letter to the Jalpaiguri Divisional Commissioner, the member secretary of the UBNP, seeking Rs 34.27 lakh for the construction of library building with supporting papers today.

Fake notes' haven across border

How the (fake) money flows...

Manas Bannerjee

MALDA, Nov. 19: Even as the state government grapples with the menace of fake Indian currency flooding the districts, including Kolkata, evidence has emerged indicating that Chapai Nawabgunj is one of many centres in Bangladesh where counterfeit Indian notes are printed.

According to BSF and Intelligence sources, the kingpin of the fake currency manufacturing unit is a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader who allegedly has links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

The sources said interrogation of some fake currency couriers hailing from Bangladesh revealed that the network of "agents" who enjoy the patronage of a few Malda-based political leaders are directly linked to the BNP leader. Chapai Nawabgunj district is across from Malda and the numerous entry points on the porous international border, serve as a corridor for the inflow of fake currency.

Over the past couple of years, Malda and adjoining Murshidabad have become important transit points through which high-denomination fake currency notes are smuggled in for "distribution" and eventual circulation in the Indian market.

In the past five weeks, the BSF's 108st battalion, stationed in Kaliachak, intercepted eight Indians, including a woman, who tried to sneak into India carrying over Rs 4 lakh in fake currency notes, all of Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 denomination.

Earlier, fake Indian currency would be manufactured at printing presses in Pakistan from where they would be transported to Nepal for smuggling into India. Over the past few years, some districts in Bangladesh appear to have become the printing centres. The BSF has been able to identify Chapai Nawabgunj, but most arrested "couriers" belong so far down the hierarchy that they do not have knowledge of the printing places, Mr JSND Prasad, commandant of the 108th battalion said.

The BSF claims to have notified the Bangladesh Rifles about the fake currency menace, but so far there has been no crackdown against these manufacturing units. On its part, the BSF has identified Mahabbatpur, Hajinagar and Chori-Anantapur villages in Kaliachak block where some residents are actively involved in the fake currency racket. In the recent past police from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, working in tandem with Malda police, conducted raids in and around Kaliachak to nab these agents.

In December 2007, a UP police team arrested a woman and her husband from Kaliachak and seized Rs. 12 lakh in fake currency. In February 2007, on a tip off from the Jharkhand police, Malda police arrested a man and seized fake currency worth Rs.7,62,500 from his house in Baishnabnagar.

Since March this year Malda police has arrested 10 people and recovered Rs. 11.50 lakh fake notes. (END)

Inflation kick to child labourer's school

MALDA, Nov. 19: The setting up of a residential school for child labourers under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in Malda has hit a roadblock because of the ongoing financial crisis ~ inflation and price hike ~ in the country.

In spite of advertising for a non-government organisation (NGO), keen in taking up the project, in June this year, the labour department failed to select an NGO to set up the school for child labourers even after having financial assistance from the government. “We received five applications from different NGOs but ultimately all of them refused to take up the responsibility against the proposed government assistance of Rs 750 per child labourer per month,” said Mr PP Das, assistant labour commissioner, Malda.

“According to him, inflation and price hike are the reasons why the NGOs have been keeping away from the project. “According to them, the financial assistance offered by the government is inadequate,” Mr Das said. It may be noted that the ALC had also approached the secretary of the Malda Ramkrishna Mission Swami Divyananda so that the school could be set up but he failed to convince him due to similar reasons.

“The state government should rethink about the project and increase the amount sanctioned for setting up the school. The financial support of Rs 500 to Rs 750 per month is not enough for a child labour with food, education and other expenses to be taken care of,” Swami Divyananda, said. The ALC and other district officials today interacted with the director of NCLP in Kolkata on the matter.

Initially, it was decided to set up a residential school for child labourers with the help of an NGO and government's financial aid. It was decided that the government would provide Rs 500 for food and Rs 250 for breakfast and other necessary educational expenses per student, per month. But with the ongoing tug-o-war over the amount sanctioned by the government, the project is far from kicking off in Malda. SNS

News born's death in hospital sparks off row

MALDA, Nov. 19: After the death of a new born baby, an agitated mob ransacked the state run Gazol rural hospital this afternoon and blocked the state highway around 4 p.m.The block administration and police failed to control the mob and a section of irate people who later ransacked staff quarters including that of doctors and nurses and damaged the private car of a doctor this evening.

Fearing attacks nursing staffs, doctors and others managed to escape. At 8.30 pm police were successful in bringing things under control. CPI(ML) backed All India Student’s Association(AISA), demonstrated in the hospital premises. Police resorted to lathi charge and in the fracas that followed, six policemen were injured. Six AISA supporters were arrested on charges of inciting violence.

Last evening, Belly Biswas, resident of Panchpara village, was admitted with labour pain to Gazol rural hospital. She was shifted to the labour room about 8 a.m today but allegedly remained unattended for few hours. About 2.30 pm she gave birth to a baby who died after delivery. Though the hospital doctors claimed that the baby was premature and some organs were not fully grown, the relatives blamed the doctors for negligence. The chief medical office of health (CMOH) Dr. Srikanta Roy said that a team from the district would visit the Gazol rural health centre for inquiry.

“Doctors and nurses are always on duty. It is very difficult to comment on the matter without a proper inquiry”, Dr. Roy said. “Steps will be taken after going through the inquiry report”, he added. n SNS

GP pradhan 'charges' NREGS workers to open bank accounts

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 19: At least 50 registered day labourers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) today submitted a memorandum to the block development officer at Kaliachak II against a gram panchayat pradhan.

Labourers backed by the CPI (ML) Liberation informed the BDO, Mr Chirantan Adhikari, that the pradhan of Panchanandapur II gram panchayat Mr Haripada Ghosh allegedly asked them to pay Rs 27 to open a bank account.

“A local man assigned by the pradhan already collected the money from us without receipt,” they added.

After hearing the workers’ complaint, the BDO reportedly talked to the pradhan over telephone and told him not to do this.

The district nodal officer, NREGS, Mr Ranjit Mandal said labourers would not have to pay money for opening a bank account. “The government will bear all expenses from NREGS fund for opening their bank accounts,” said Mr Mandal, adding that he would look into the matter.

The Malda SDO Mr PC Pal said he would talk to the BDO and asked him to conduct an inquiry into the allegation if necessary. According to the nodal officer, NREGS, all block officials have been asked to open bank accounts for the registered day labourers to pay them for 100 days work.

The objective is to check irregularities of payment to the labourers. The block officials will deposit labourers’ remuneration in the bank from where they would withdraw the payment. The GP officials used to pay their remuneration earlier in exchange for "cut money", the district officials said.

Minority office remains shut

MALDA, Nov. 18: The minority affairs department had officially opened its district headquarters office in Malda in the third week of October, but has kept it under lock and key from the day after its inauguration.

Since that day several people from the minority communities have been coming to the office to inquire about various matters but they have been returning without any answers.

When asked about the matter, the minister of state for minority affairs, Mr Abdus Sattar, said over phone: “It will take time to appoint staff in the office. The finance department wants to appoint retired government employees for sanctioned posts on a six months contract basis. It is still under process.”

When informed about the sufferings of the people, he said: “We were not aware of this. I'am looking into the matter. From tomorrow onwards an office staff member will attend to the people and guide them properly.”

After identifying 12 ‘minority concentrated’ districts including Kolkata, the minority affairs department had set up a district office in the border district of Malda.

The MOS minority affairs, Mr Abdus Sattar, informed that the district level offices which would come up in the first phase of the overall plan will start functioning for the overall minority development.

This includes madrasa education, financial assistance and schemes for minorities, development of Wakf properties and other related matters. n SNS

Arsenic-free water supply project cancelled

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 18: The English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) has finally called off the arsenic free drinking water supply project due to technical reasons said the the vice chairman of EBM, Mr Dulal Sarkar. This project had been proposed by the minister for municipal affairs, Mr Asok Bhattacharya.

A few months ago, Mr. Bhattacharya had ensured the civic body officials that his department would allot funds for the arsenic free drinking water project here. They had also asked the then district magistrate to hold a meeting with the public health engineering (PHE) officials and civic body officials to chalk out a scheme. Their objective was to bring excess drinking water from a rural surface water treatment project to the people in Malda town.

After a meeting, it was decided that the civic body would provide a place where the PHE body would supply drinking water from its rural project at Niamatpur in English Bazaar block. The PHE will also prepare a scheme in a selected place in English Bazaar town.

However, recently after a joint survey by the civic body and PHE officials, it was revealed that the quantity of water which would be supplied from the rural project will not be sufficient for a single ward in EBM.

“Not only is the estimated cost of that project too high but also it will not serve the purpose of the people in the future. As a result we have decided to drop the project,” said Mr Dulal Sarkar.

Mr. Sarkar further said that the municipal engineering officials were preparing another surface water project separately which involves lifting water from the confluence point of the Mahananda and Kalindri rivers in this town.

A few days ago, the civic body collected a certificate from the district irrigation department regarding the availability of water in the Mahananda River all through the year and sent it to the chief engineer of the municipal engineering department in Kolkata, sources said.

According to Mr Sarkar, the chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari has approached the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee about the proposed surface water treatment plant seeking his interference for implementation. At present, the civic body needs to collect over 2 lakh gallon water every day and the municipality is completely dependent on water lifting from underground channels.

BSF seizes motor parts near border

MALDA, Nov. 18: The border security force (BSF), acting on a tip off from its 123-battalion, seized at least 14 big sacks full of spare parts of four motor cycles, near Nadirkhana village along India-Bangladesh border under English Bazaar police station today morning.

According to BSF officials, a group of more than 10 people were trying to cross the border from the Indian side carrying those sacks at 3 a.m. They fled the spot leaving the bags behind after the BSF jawans chased them, officials said.

The BSF officials suspect that these people were trying to smuggle the parts of four motorcycles that were allegedly stolen from the Indian side. The BSF officials also found three number plates of motor cycles in the packets such as WB 66-D-3301 and WB 66-B 3387. One number plate was blank like that of a new motor cycle. n SNS

MLAs set CM on expansion mode

MALDA, Nov. 17: The chief minister yesterday advised MLAs belonging to Opposition to hear grievances and suggestions from their assembly segments in Malda.

The chief minister told the present CPI-M MLAs to ‘talk less’ and allowed the MLAs belonging to the Congress and other parties to speak during an interaction with them at Old Circuit House after laying foundation stone for the University of Gour Banga.

The MLA suggested to the chief minister that the state should look into the expansion of Malda town including some part of gram panchayat areas in English Bazaar and Old Malda.

On the issue of Lakshmipur drainage scheme, the chief minister ensured that he would sanction more funds for the scheme from Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad (UBUP) for execution of the scheme.

The English Bazaar MLA pointed out that the fund allotted for the drainage scheme was diverted to another project and the scheme was yet to be started.

The drainage scheme was conceived in eighties but was yet to be carried out due to several difficulties including litigation. Though the UBNP had sanctioned funds but it was diverted to finish the project of central bus terminus in English Bazaar.

The district administration took initiative to revamp the project and assigned the irrigation department to prepare a fresh scheme and diverted the fund for proper utilisation. It was also decided that the administration would seek fund from UBNP for the scheme latter. n SNS

Meet proposed for building embankment

MALDA, Nov. 17: The irrigating department in Malda will send a proposal to the newly appointed district magistrate, Mr Sridhar K Ghosh, to call an all-party meeting to adopt a resolution for the construction of a ninth retired embankment on the bank of the Ganga in Kaliachak II.

During monsoons, the irrigation minister came to Malda and instructed the district administration to call an all-party meeting immediately for the construction of ninth retired embankment for flood protection. It was to give priority to build a retired embankment in the winters when there is no alternative flood protection measure on the left bank of the river for next year. The present district magistrate, Mr Shidhar K Ghosh, was briefed about the problem of villagers’ resistance before building the ninth retired embankment at an introductory meeting a few days ago. The executive engineer of the irrigation department Mr S Misra today decided to send reminder about the all-party meeting to the present district magistrate. n SNS

CM's visit to Malda does not please all

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 16: A dream has indeed come true as the chief minister had laid the foundation stone of the much awaited University of Gour Banga. Yet the common people, enraged in the wake of the security excess during the CM's visit, were a frustrated lot, praying that the town might be spared such high profile visit in time to come.

Police had blocked the principal roads of the town roads including the ever-busy NH~34 thrice each time at least for half an hour as the CM's convoy was whizzing past from one place to another. The common residents seem to have heaved a sigh of relief as the chief minister left the town for Kolkata by train.

The frequent roadblocks in the name of the security seem to have the put the people in fix, forcing them to reschedule the day's programmes.

Even the vehicles carrying the patients to the hospitals or the doctors’ chambers were stalled. The pedestrians were not also spared due to the security measures, according to the annoyed residents.

“We are glad that the education dream of the region has come true, we are also concerned with the chief minister's security in view of the recent happenings in West Midnapore. But our inconveniences should also be addressed at the proper level. We cannot afford to waste a couple of days for a high profile visit,” said the aggrieved people of the town.

Some even go to the extent of saying that the volume of security had confirmed the fast deepening isolation of the public leaders from the common people. “A day may come when such foundation laying ceremony would be done by remote control. If this comes about we would be spared the security excess-related inconveniences,” opined some.

' Education and jobs tops the list'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 16: The chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today laid the foundation stone for the University of Gour Banga in English Bazaar town this morning.

Speaking on the occassion the chief minister said that education system should be upgraded keeping in mind the employment opportunities for the next generation in the state. “We have achieved tremendous progress in agriculture over the years, but our dream of the state's rejuvenation in the industrial and educational spheres has remained unfulfilled. We must endeavour hard to translate the dream into reality with the cooperation of all,” he said.

Stressing upon the development of minorities in education Mr Bhattacharya said that his government had sanctioned Rs 44 lakh for the University of Gour Banga to arrange for the vocational training of Muslim boys and girls from three districts Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur.

“Muslims have become the majority community in terms of population in Malda, yet they are lagging behind as far as the quality of life is concerned,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to the university authorities to turn the new educational institution into a centre of excellence, announcing that Rs.20 lakhs had been sanctioned from Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad fund.

The state higher education minister, Mr Sudarshan Roy Choudhury said that he would demand more funds from Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, the chairman of the University Grants Commission to develop the infrastructure of the colleges.

“The chairman of the UGC would be coming on 18 November. I would meet him and demand more funds for the development of colleges and universities in the state,” he said.

The chief minister also said that his government was contemplating in terms of setting up a medical college in the district. Addressing the 78th state conference of West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association last evening, the chief minister admitted that the primary education in the state was not upto the general expectation. “We are trying to plug the loopholes,” he assured.

The chief minister also expressed concern over the alarming growth of the religious fundamentalism and its concomitant terrorism in the country as well as in the state. “We are facing problems over the separate state hood demands in Darjeeling, Cooch Behar and other parts of the state like Bankura and Purulia. Development would gradually erase collective grievances,” the chief minister said.

CM's visit: Strict vigil in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 14: The police have literally taken over the Malda town to provide security to chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who will be in town till Sunday.

Dozens of special security personnel have already reached here and inspected all the programme venues and routes through which the CM's convoy would travel. They have also checked and doublechecked technical matters including the communication system. Special Intelligence officials in plainclothes have been deployed in the town to coordinate with the senior police officials. An expert team has also arrived to spot out the presence of improvised explosive device if any, on the tentative routes and the two venues. Leaving nothing to chance, the district police have asked the railway administration to keep its dog squad ready in addition to asking the BSF to keep an extra cautious eye at the Bangladesh border.

The short route from Malda Town Station to Old Circuit House and Malda College and campus of University of Gour Banga will be under the control of police for the next two days.

The district authorities have been rehearsing the security exercise since morning. It was learnt that the police could sterilise the Station Road, Rabindra Avenue and National Highway 34 junction when the CM's convoy passes the spot. Monitoring mobile networks is also being contemplated. The Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay, ASP Mr S K Sarkar and other police officials today walked and rehearsed the policemen on the CM's intended travel route from Malda Town Station and checked all the roads. The police also staged a mock drill of escorting the CM's convoy to review traffic management system.

Administration ‘pulls up its socks’

The district administration is preparing an overall report of Malda district including developmental schemes and its implementation ahead of the visit of chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar K Ghosh today asked the district planning and development officer to prepare a ‘booklet’ compiling overall developmental works and its present position. The Malda DM Mr Sridhar K Ghosh said it is expected of the chief minister to know about the overall position of the district from the DM and SP. “If he enquires about the status of the developmental project this booklet would be of help”, Mr Ghosh said.

Contractors boycott tenders process

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 14: A section of armed contractors today prevented other contractors from submitting tenders at the Malda Zilla Parishad.

The armed contractors allegedly barricaded the entrance of the Malda Zilla Parishad to prevent other contractors from participating.

With the chief minister scheduled to visit Malda for two days starting tomorrow, the incident has caused some unrest in the district administration. Hence, the Malda district magistrate had to take up the matter with the Malda Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati.

The Malda Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, criticised the incident. According to the Malda DM, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, the contractors ‘boycotted’ the tender s process today in protest against the wide publication of tenders on its website.

“Since we have published tenders on our website, following the government's guidelines, the contractors have united to boycott the tenders process,” Mr Ghosh said.

It was learnt that a section of local contractors allegedly monitor the tenders from outside and allow selected persons to take part in the tender process to earn ‘pack money’ without work.

Earlier, the Malda Zilla Parishad had to invite tenders in the presence of the police to avoid such incidents.

Unclaimed case triggers panic ahead of CM's visit to Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 13: An abandoned brief case found at Rathbari along the National Highway 34 in Malda town, close to the Rathbari police outpost has created serious concern among the district administration and the public, more so, because chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is expected in the town next week.

Failing to learn what the case contained, the Malda police sought the CID bomb squad's help from Siliguri. The unclaimed luggage has been brought over to the Rathbari police outpost and has been stored under a protective jacket.

District Intelligence officials tried to unlock the case but stopped short after checking it with a metal detector. Even the special security unit of the chief minister, which is currently monitoring the CM's security arrangement before his visit here, did not risk opening the case and suggested the service of the bomb squad.

The Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay said here that he sought the CID bomb squad's service and the squad was on its way. The bomb squad is expected to reach Malda in the wee hours. “We cannot rule out any possibility and so are not taking any undue risk,” the SP, said.

Mr Anup Sarkar, a tea stall owner had found the briefcase in the morning and had informed the local traders about it. The traders looked for the case's owner and failing to locate one, informed the police. The special security unit officials today visited the spots where chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would attend two programmes on 15 and 16 November in English Bazaar town.

All police stations in the district and adjoining areas have been asked to send required forces. Police personnel from different police stations have started reporting to the headquarters. They would be trained tomorrow for the CM's duty. The chief minister will be arriving by train on 15 November afternoon and attend the state conference of the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association in Malda College. Next day he would attend the foundation laying ceremony of the University of Gour Banga.

The special security officials today measured the routes the CM's convoy would travel through. The district administration is still undecided whether it should ask the unauthorised small traders along the route to keep their shops closed or not during the CM's visit.

Once bitten, twice shy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 12: With the failure of the state's security establishment to detect a landmine set off by Maoists in the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's convoy in Salboni still fresh on its mind, the state administration has decided to dispatch advance special security teams to Malda ahead of the CM's visit here.One group of the advance security officials is already here and has begun making preliminary arrangements prior to the visit. Once the second team arrives tomorrow, the security personnel will work in tandem with the district police before putting into place the security paraphernalia for Mr Bhattacharya's visit, scheduled to be held here on 15 and 16 November.According to sources, the special security teams will also guide the district police to put in place fool-proof security arrangements. Sources said that the offices of the District Magistrate and Superintendents of Police received confirmation of the arrival of the teams this afternoon.The town and its adjoining areas is already under a security umbrella. This time around, it is evident that those in charge of Mr Bhattacharya's security are not taking any chances. There was a visible presence of policemen across the town and vehicles were searched at random in the evening. Special surveillance apparatuses is also likely to be used to monitor not just the route the CM's convoy will follow in Malda, but also the venues where he will address gatherings. As an added precaution, the district administration, acting on instructions from Kolkata, will not make public Mr Bhattacharya's schedule in advance.The DM, Mr Sridhar K. Ghosh was only willing to say that Mr Bhattacharya will attend WEBCUTA's state conference on the afternoon of 15 November and lay the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the University of Gour Banga on the morning of 16 November in English Bazar.

'Enemy land' used as playground

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 12: The Malda district administration has permitted the Malda District Sports Association to use two vacant plots of land identified as ‘enemy property’ as playgrounds. The former district magistrate, Mr CR Das, had given conditional permission for using the two plots as sports coaching centres. In response to a proposal from the DSA secretary, the former district magistrate had granted the appeal and allowed its use for sports activities “till otherwise utilised” by the Enemy Property Authority, Mumbai. In November, 2006, Mr Das had restored the enemy property located at Regent Park in Ward No 24 at English Bazaar after influential promoters attempted to deal in the plot of land. The administration has estimated the present value of the land at Rs 2 crore. The present secretary of the Malda DSA, Mr Subhasis Sarkar, said he had sought permission to use the land for setting up coaching camps for football, volleyball, cricket and other sports. “The former district magistrate had permitted us use of the land conditionally. We too want to save the land from the promoters and use it for sports activities,” the DSA official said.

ART unit to be set up soon

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 12: An expert team from the headquarters of the state health department visited the proposed site in Malda district hospital for setting up an anti-retroviral therapy (ART) unit for HIV/AIDS two weeks ago. The district health department had proposed the plan in January, 2008. According to the chief medical officer of health, Dr Srikanta Roy, the team has chalked out a plan to estimate cost before sanctioning funds for the project. The ART unit will be set up close to existing blood bank in Malda district hospital for the benefit of hundreds of patients in Malda and adjoining districts who belong to poor families. The unit is a joint venture of the National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) and the state AIDS prevention and control society, district health officials said. “The PWD will be assigned to construct the building and infrastructure of the ART cell. After completion of building we can ensure when the ART unit will start functioning here,” the Malda CMOH Dr Srikanta Roy said. Hundreds of HIV/AIDS patients usually go to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Darjeeling district or Kolkata School of Topical Medicine for treatment and collecting free medicine. It may be noted, many poor patients of Malda and adjoining areas discontinue their treatment due to poverty. They just cannot afford the transportation cost to go Kolkata and Siliguri. On an average more than 20 HIV patients, many of them migrant labourers and their family members, from Malda district have to go to Kolkata or Siliguri. A few weeks ago an HIV victim, a taxi driver in English Bazaar town, committed suicide out of his frustration failing to continue free treatment due to poverty.

Buddha's 'visit' to Malda sends everybody into tizzy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 11: The leaders of West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association and the officials of University of Gour Banga have already announced the chief minister's visit in Malda on 15 and 16 November but the administration does not have any information from the CM's office regarding security arrangement here.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar K Ghosh and the superintendent of police Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay are in a dilemma relating to arrangement of security measures before the chief minister's visit. CPI-M party workers at Malda said the CM's office was waiting for the announcement of the by-poll notification at Sujapur assembly segment in Malda, Nandigram in East Midnapore and Paro in Purulia for finalising the CM's visit in Malda.

Though the CEO Mr Debasish Sen reportedly told district administrative officials through video conference that the notification for the by-poll would be announced after 10 November, but there was no indication, CPI-M party sources said.

The registrar of the University of Gour Banga, Mr Tapas Chatterjee said: “We are circulating invitation letters for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the University campus. If the by-poll notification is announced before 16 November the programme would be postponed. We are prepared for any decision”.

It may be noted that the chief minister is scheduled to address the state conference of WEBCUTA at Malda College on 15 November afternoon and on 16 November morning he would lay the foundation stone for a new university.

The CPI-M has also chalked out an alternative plan to organise a political rally on 16 November in Sujapur to campaign for the upcoming by-polls.

According to the district election officials, the commission has hinted that by-polls would be over by 15 December. The officials are expecting the notification to be announced before 16 November.