Minor ‘gangraped’, villagers lynch accused

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 30 AUG: Villagers turned violent and lynched a person at Bagbari village, three kilometers west of Malda town, today over the issue of a 17-year-old minor girl who had been allegedly abducted and ‘gang raped’ by a group of youths belonging to another community. A large contingent of police is camping at the villages and political leaders are holding meetings in the village appealing to the villagers not to exacerbate the charged atmosphere. The name of the person lynched is stated to be Manoj  Mondal.

The irate villagers ransacked at least four houses of the accused youths at Bahanno-Bigha, the neighbouring village, and blocked the state highway at Bagbari for more than four hours since morning, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

It was only after the accused were arrested and political leaders including MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury and Malda sub-divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal intervened, the demonstrating mob withdrew the roadblock.

According to police sources, a group of six armed youths abducted the girl, when she was returning home with her relative, and forcibly took her to a nearby field last evening.

The relative of the girl, who was accompanying her, was beaten when he tried to resist the molesters. Later, he returned to the village and informed the girl’s family of the incident, police officials said.

The villagers finally rescued the girl from a deserted place last night and informed the police. Police rushed to the spot and admitted the victim to a near by hospital for medical tests.

Police arrested three out of the six accused but did not disclose their identities.

The situation took a grim turn this evening when the villagers lynched one of the accused. Police have been deployed to maintain peace in the village. “We are keeping a close eye on the village's situation,” the police

officials said.

Fulohar gets emergency flood protection

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 30 AUG: The irrigation and waterways department has started fresh flood protection work at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur-II block on the left bank of the river Fulohar.

Nearly Rs 1 crore has been allotted for this emergency work where the river Fulohar has eroded away two embankments and finally broke the last guard wall made by the local administration for flood protection a few days ago.

Engineers of the Mahananda division of the irrigation department are working to build a 350m small embankment day and night for preventing flood waters from entering the countryside from the river Fulohar. The department has planned to finish it before the coming next spell of flood waters in September.

It may be noted that flood waters from the river Fulohar inundated a few gram panchayats in Harishchandrapur-II and Ratua-I blocks. The Debipur gram panchayat areas were badly hit by the flood waters rendering more than 1,790 families homeless.

Flood victims are still in makeshift arrangements because the administration have not been able to clear stagnant flood waters rapidly from Debipur gram panchayat areas due to villagers’ resistance.

Though the district administration had decided to flatten embankments which blocked waterways in Debipur it did not take risk this because several villagers would have inundated.

At present, the stagnant waters are draining out slowly through alternative routes. As a result, the irrigation department is building an embankment where some areas on the bank of the river are under water.

Dyke not flattened, residents continue to suffer

MALDA, 28 AUG: Though the district administration took a decision of flattening an embankment in Debipur gram panchayat area in Ratua block I to clear stagnant water, no such measure has been taken till today.

Last evening, administrative officials and all political party leaders held a meeting to adopt a resolution in this regard, but the meeting did not come out with fruitful results. A team of officials visited the spot where the embankment was to be flattened but finally they had to return empty handed as the loacls protested. They did not let the officials reach upon the decision of flattenning the dyke citing practical problems.

“Some villages will be inundated if the embankment is flattened. Several families will have to shift to clear the stagnant water”, said Miss Debjani Datta, the Chanchal SDO. Finally it was decided that water will be cleared from Makaia village near Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur block II.

The PWD's executive engineer and other senior officilas would visit the spot soon to take stock of the situation.

Though there is no fresh report of flood in the district but stagnant water had created health hazards in Debipur gram panchayat areas where more than 1,790 families became homeless and had been facing the woes over the past six days. The local MLA from Harichandrapur, Mr Tajmul Hossian, alleged accused the Congress-led panchayat samitis for the irregular distribution of relief.

Though the administration has asked the CMOH to send medical teams to the flood-hit areas but the Forward Bloc MLA did not find any medical team who were eager to attend the flood victims.

Meanwhile, the north Malda MP, Miss Mausam Noor is finally camping at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur since yesterday. SNS

MZP cancels tender for the second time

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 AUG: The Congress-led Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) had to cancel a tender for the construction of 53 Integrated Child Development Centre (ICDS) centres and three Shishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK) for the second time following objection from the additional executive officer (AEO) of the MZP. The amount of the tender was more than Rs 1.5 crore.

Yesterday, the sabhadhipati of MZP Mrs Sabin Yeasmin and the AEO Mr Kajal Banerjee held a meeting with other concerned officials and decided to cancel the tender for the construction of 53 ICDS centres and three SSK (Shishu Shiksha Kendra) across the district.

The decision was taken when they found that the tender was not published on MZP's website. Interestingly, it was also found that none had participated in the tender when it was published in local newspapers, early in the month of August. However, no contractor had participated when the same tender was floated first time.

The MZP is facing difficulties to use the fund which was allotted from the social welfare department in early 2008-09 financial year.

According to the MZP officials, the contractors are not interested to take part in the job because the amount allotted for the construction of each ICDS centre is not sufficient. They argued that cost of building materials have been escalated. The contractors have termed it as a ‘non profitable tender’.

Reacting to the comment the sabhadhipati of MZP summoned the leaders of the MZP's contractors’ association and criticised their attitude for taking part in the tender for roads where they can earn more profit.

Mrs Yeasmin finally urged the contractors to take part when it would be published. Yesterday, the MZP officials took the decision to renew the tender following the government's e-tender process.

The setting up of ICDS centres, which is running in make shift arrangements in the district is being delayed due to non availability of land, said an administrative official of the MZP.

PHE takes up water theft issues in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 AUG: The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has sought administrative help from the block level and local police station to stop the menace of arsenic-free water thefts in different places of the northern zone in Malda.

The executive engineer of PHE Malda division, Mr Swapan Maitra had informed the matter to BDO of Manikchak and Kaliachak II after detecting two such cases which had disrupted water supply in many areas since the past few days.

According to Mr Maitra, some locals had cut off the main pipe line located at Nazirpur in Manikchak block area twice for distributing arsenic free water.

“After repairing the pipeline on Tuesday the criminals damaged it again. We have informed the BDO of the matter.

“If such incidents continue to occue, we would lodge an FIR against the culprits identified through our preliminary investigation,” Mr Maitra said.

On the other hand, the owner of the Uttar Banga Women’s B Ed College located at Babla-Gita More in Kaliachak block II, took water connection from the main pipe line for its reservoirs in different areas without seeking permission from the authorised officilas.

The PHE officials disconnected their connection line and brought the matter to the notice of the local administrative officials. A few days ago the PHE officials refused to allow water connection to a government-aided training college at Sobhanagar in English Bazaar. “I have asked college authorities to apply for water connection legally”, said Mr Swapan Maitra, executive engineer, PHE Malda division. “Water supply has been hampered several times due to the menace of water theft,” he added.

State takes over shrine loot case

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 AUG: District magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has sent all the inquiry reports regarding the shrine located at Peeranapir in English Bazaar, to the state government. Two Malda MPs were allegedly involved in a loot case at the shrine and they had gone for anticipatory bails in Calcutta High Court on 25 August.

The original land records and the police report on the shrine, which was allegedly looted, have already been sent to the Writers’ Building. Following instructions from the top most officials of the state secretariat, the additional district magistrate (land reforms), Mr KN Dew was asked to find out the original land records of the shrine.

Mr Dew submitted his inquiry reports to the district magistrate on Tuesday. According to records of the land and the land reforms department, a total of 2.27 acre belongs to “Shas Hazari Wakf’ which has been identified as Peeranapir Dargah.

The Wakf board has sent a letter to the district magistrate following the incident that occurred at the shrine and asked the administration to co-operation with the present caretaker, Mrs Sehnaz Qadri for the protection of the Wakf property.

The letter also said that Rubi Noor, former MLA of Sujapur and also the sister of AB Ghani Khan Choudhury, along with Mrs Sehnaz Qadri were the caretakers of the Wakf property.But after Noor's death, Wakf had appointed Mrs Qadri as caretaker of the property.

However, the English Bazaar police station has started a suo-moto case of robbery against six persons including two Malda members of Parliament (north and south) ~ Miss Mausam Noor and Mr AH Khan Choudhury.

They had been charged under Section 143/341/186/353/323/379 of IPC  R/W 188 of IPC for allegedly looting money and valuables, prevention from government duty, rioting and other offences. On 25 August, the accused have sought  anticipatory bail petitions that were filed at the Calcutta High Court.

Solution for garbage strife

MALDA, 27 AUG: The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) not to dump garbage any more at the present vat located near Chandan Park.

In a letter to the civic body yesterday the district magistrate Mr Ghosh informed the civic body that the administration has planned to build a hostel for Muslim girls there.

It may be noted that the decision was taken following the proposal of Mr Abdus Sattar, minister of state for minority affairs and madrassa education.

Mr Sattar had asked the district administration to prepare a project for the construction of a hostel and a training institute for Muslim girls when he came to know the land was Wakf property.

Recently, following locals’ resistance against garbage dumping by the EBM at the present vat, the district administration came to a decision that the EBM would be allowed to dump garbage at that place for 30 more days only from 7 August.

The Malda SDO Mr Prakash Pal had also asked the civic body to find another place for dumping garbage within these 30 days.

In the meantime, following the instruction of the minister of state for minority affairs and in consultation with the district magistrate Mr Ghosh, the additional district magistrate (land reforms) Mr KN Dew, had earmarked the land, presently used for garbage dumping, as Wakf property.

According to records of the district land and land reforms department, a total of 2.75 acre of land belongs to Abdul Aziz Khan Wakf Estate out of 3.12 acre. A total of 0.37 acre out of 3.12 acre has already been sold off in the name of three persons.

It may be noted that the property of Abdul Aziz Khan Wakf Estate is under the direct management of the Wakf Board.

The additional district magistrate (land reforms) has proposed that the heir to Abdul Aziz Khan Estate, Mr Tousique Khan, a resident of Pandua Kutub Shahar in Gazole, donate the land to the government for the construction of a hostel for Muslim girls. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh will finally send a proposal to the minority affairs department for setting up the girls’ hostel near Chandan Park. SNS

Dyke to be flattened in Ratua after floods

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 AUG: The district administration has decided to flatten an embankment in Debipur gram panchayat in Ratua-I block to relieve more than 1,790 families rendered homeless and trapped by stagnant flood water from the Fulohar river since Sunday.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh today held a meeting with the irrigation and other concerned officials and asked the Ratua-I block development officer to hold an all-political party meeting by this evening to adopt a resolution to flatten the dyke and clear the stagnant water.

Arguing that floodwater would destroy their dwellings were the dyke flattened, the villagers have been opposing the administration’s bid to level it since Thursday night. The executive engineer, irrigation division, Mr S Misra, who has taken additional charge of the Mahananda embankment division recently ultimately had to point out the problems arising out of stagnant water.

According to Mr Misra, the locals have been guarding the embankment day and night so that the local administrative official could not flatten the dyke. They also went to the extent of damaging a police jeep when the administration had earlier tried to level the dyke to let out the stagnant water.

According to the Chanchal SDO, Miss Debjani Datta, 1,450 families have been confined in their homes in Harishchandrapur-II block due to floodwater and 1,790 families were rendered homeless at Debipur gram panchayat in Ratua-I block.

The block officials have started distribution of relief material among the affected. Irrigation officials said that water level in the Fulohar has receded by noon today and is expected to go down further in the next 48 hours.

“To prevent flood water in the next spell we need to build another guard wall at Bhaluka. Constructing it would be difficult without clearing the stagnant water and for that we have to flatten the embankment at Debipur,” Mr Misra said. The irrigation officials fear the next spell of flood would come around September. “It is imperative we take precautionary measures now and construct the guard wall,” Mr Misra said.

Chanchal flood situation improves

Press Trust of India

Malda, 27 AUG: The flood situation in Chanchal Sub-Division of Malda district has improved with the water level of Fulohar decreasing, official sources said today.

The water level of Fulohar river has decreased and there has been an improvement in the flood situation and the red signal has been withdrawn from the protected area, sources said.

The Executive Engineer of the Mahananda Embankment Division Mr BN Das was today told by the government to proceed on one month leave, superintendent engineer of Malda, Mr Mohanlal Mitra said.

There were reports that Mr Das was not prompt in attending to the flood situation, so he was asked to go on leave, Mr Mitra said.

Mr Mitra added that it was decided that the damaged portion of the emabankment would be repaired immediately.

Hundreds flee Fulohar flood, homeless in relief row

MALDA, 26 AUG: Due to fresh inundation by floodwaters from Fulohar, more than 550 families have been rendered homeless. They have taken shelter in different areas since yesterday.

According to a report of the Chanchal sub-division, at present 1,790 families have taken shelter after their houses were inundated in Debipur gram panchayat area in Ratua block-I. Earlier a total of 1,237 families were rendered homeless.

Mahanandatola and Bilaimari gram panchayats in Ratua-I block are some of the new areas which had been affected by flood waters. Thousands of families had been left homeless in Islampur of Ratua block I and Doulatpur gram panchayats in Harishchandrapur block II.

Flood situation has turned critical because of the lack of management here. The local administration could not clear the water that had earlier flooded the areas due to locals' resistance. On the other hand, water from the Fulohar is still flowing into the villages inundating many areas at the same time. As a result water level is gradually rising at Debipur and its adjoining areas.

Flood victims, who are at the makeshift shelter of Debipur High School, expressed unhappiness over the process of distribution of relief materials when the block officials in Harishchandrapur block II and Ratua block I started distributing relief today. The Chanchal sub-divisional officer, Miss Debjani Datta admitted that there was a problem while distributing relief to the flood victims.

“Though the water level of the Fulohar is receding but on the other hand water is still gushing down its old course," said Mr Salil Pal, assistant engineer of Mahananda (irrigation) division.

“Our senior officials will arrange a meeting with the district magistrate tomorrow to take up restoration work in order to prevent flood waters enter the area where the embankments and the guard wall were washed away at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur," said Mr Pal.

The irrigation department has planned to build another guard wall, which is absolutely necessary before the next spell of flood waters wash away the adjoining areas further. According to the irrigation officials, the situation will be worsening in September when water will come down to Fulohar from Darjeeling and Purnia in Bihar. SNS

Agitation

MALDA, 26 AUG: Demanding recognition as workers, the All West Bengal Sales Representatives’ Union today staged agitation at the Head Post Office More in English Bazaar.

“Despite recommendations, the Centre does not recognize the sales representatives as labour. And though the state government has recognized them as ‘labour’, it is reluctant to implement the Act,” the agitators alleged. ;SNS

Protest on vehicles ban

MALDA, 26 AUG: Protesting against the state government's decision to ban more than 15-year-old vehicles, the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce-backed Commercial Vehicles Owners’ Forum today staged agitation in front of the district magistrate office.

The leaders also criticised the regional transport department's inefficiency to stop illegal motorised van rickshaws from transporting passengers on state and national highways. ;SNS

Govt files recovered, DM wants dept clarification

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 AUG: After the recovery of more than 100 important government files from a house in English Bazaar, the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, now wants clarification of the departmental heads about the incident.

The district magistrate said that he might issue an inquiry order after receiving report from the police.

“After examining the reports from the departmental heads and the police, we will take the next course of action,” Mr Ghosh said. Most of the files belonged from to the office of the District Inspectors of Schools.

Besides, there were many files belong to health department, treasury, sub-divisional office, railways and other important departments.

The officials of the District Inspector of Schools in Malda detected a person, identified as Mr Sajal Sinha, on Monday who was taking away some papers from the office. The education officials, without informing police came to the house of Mr Sinha at Krishnapally to look for the lost files.

When the locals came to know the matter they informed the media.

Finally police got the information when the district inspector of school informed the matter to the SDO. The police raided the house and recovered the hundreds of files collected from different offices. Police sorted out the files till last evening for reporting to the concerned departments.

When the matter came to light, a section of government officials raised allegations of being “careless” and “callous” on the part of the departmental heads who did not inform the police about the missing files. Some departmental heads even did not know about the missing files. Both the police, sub divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal, identified the man, who used to steal and collect the files, as "mentally challenged".

Police registered a general diary after the recovery of files. “It is a shocking and surprising incident,” said the DM of Malda.

Customs officials assaulted in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 AUG: A group of criminals today dragged raiding customs department officials out of their vehicles and assaulted them at two separate locations in Malda. The criminals also abducted two of the officials, thrashed them for information and then released them. The victims did not lodge any police complaint, which has surprised police.

The first incident took place on MK Road in English Bazaar town and the second one on National Highway 34 near Narayanpur under Malda police station.

A group of criminals attacked the vehicle in which the customs officials were travelling near the Manaskamana Temple. They dragged out Mr AB Singh, circle inspector, customs, Raiganj and Mr Anjan Ghosh, superintendent, customs in Dalkhola, of the vehicle and took them to the Malda Town station. The second team of customs officials was attacked at Narayanpur.

One group of the customs officials intimated police of the attack on them following which police swung into action and succeeded in rescuing both the teams subsequently.

Police were, however, puzzled when the victims refused to lodge an official complaint against the criminals. The officer-in-charge, English Bazaar, Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury refused to comment on the matter but admitted that the customs officials had not lodged any official complaint.

One of the victims Mr Anjan Ghosh, superintendent, customs, Dalkhola said that they had come from adjacent North Dinajpur district to conduct a raid in Malda. He admitted that their Malda counterparts were not aware of their action. “The assailants had information of the raid and were prepared in advance,” he alleged. Asked why they had not lodged a police complaint despite the attack on them, Mr Ghosh, said: “We would like to sort it out among ourselves.”

DM starts probe into shrine looting case

At Peeranapir

MALDA, 25 AUG: The additional district magistrate (land reforms), Mr KN Dew has started an inquiry into the original land records of the shrine located at Peeranapir in English Bazaar. The shrine was allegedly looted and is now the subject of a suo-moto investigation.

Following the instruction of the top officials of the Writer's Building, the state secretariat, Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh yesterday asked the ADM (LR) to look into the original records of land of the shrine and its present status. However, according to administrative officials, the land records officials will not investigate into family matters and altercations over the rights of the shrine.

The land department would submit the report on original land records by Thursday.

It may be noted that the two Malda MPs met top officials of the Writers’ Building yesterday and briefed them about the incident at Peeranapir, blaming the police.

Police had started a suo-moto case over alleged shrine looting at Peeranapir on Saturday, against two Malda MPs, Miss Mausam Noor (Malda North), her elder sister Miss Sahida Noor, citizen of Canada by birth, Mr AH Khan Choudhury (MP, Malda South), Mr Mostaque Alam, Malda Zilla Parishad member, Mr Hasan Ali Shah, another Congress leader and Mr Asadul Sardar. Today Mrs Sehnaz Qadri, one of the claimants of the shrine, met top police officials on this issue. According to the English Bazaar police station, Mrs Qadri had requested police to guard the money and valuables showing a status-quo order from the Calcutta High Court.

After the death of Rubi Noor, Mrs Qadri was the only caretaker of the shrine, according to the minority affairs department. SNS

Bail pleas

KOLKATA, 25 AUG: Anticipatory bail petitions for Malda MPs Ms Mausam Benazir Noor and Mr AH Khan Chowdhury were filed in Calcutta HC today. FIRs have been filed for alleged defalcation of funds. SNS

Religious leaders come in way of communal clash

Manas Bannerjee

MALDA, 25 AUG: Timely intervention by a section of religious figureheads helped subside what was developing into a major communal conflagration at Malda.

Tension was brewing in Dakshin Alipur village under Mahishbathani gram panchayat, in Malda since Saturday after a group of drunks from the minority community abused the sanctity associated with a grave and exhumed a body in an inebriated state, all for some money and more liquor. The ‘samadhi’ (grave) in question was that of a Hindu's and the act led to communal tension in the area.

Saner heads, however, prevailed and a major problem was averted. Taking the initiative to bring the stir caused by the effrontery to an end, the Mahishbathani gram panchayat pradhan, Mr Monirul Jaman and a religious figurehead of the minority community Muhammad Kabiruddin held a reconciliation meeting on the issue and declared that the five youths responsible would pay the affected family a sum of Rs 7,500 for the last rites of the exhumed body. The adjudicators also decreed 50 cane lashings for each of the offenders. The ruling, it was learnt, was accepted as fair and pacified the affected family and the Hindu community as well.

Trouble broke out after five Muslim youths Mehedi Hassan, Motiul Rahman, Saiful Haque, Rabiul Haque and Mehmuddin Sheikh exhumed the body of a hooch seller Bablu Saha in an inebriated state in search of alchohol. The youths had fallen short of liquor and wanted some more. Learning that their supplier Saha had died a few days ago, they decided to exhume his body in the hope of finding some more alchohol. They had also wagered among themselves on the issue.

Realising in the morning what they had done, they absconded. People from the Hindu community, however, came to know of their exploits and informed the matter to the gram panchayat pradhan, who in turn intimated the religious leader Mohammad Kabiruddin and the two decided on the above verdict. “The matter has been put to rest,” claimed Monirul Jaman today. 0

What the floods left

MALDA, 25 AUG: A total of 1,237 families have been rendered homeless by floods in Debipur gram panchayat area in Ratua-I block since yesterday.

All families have fled to high lands and the top of embankments in different locations. Flood waters from the Fulohar river directly hit the villages under Debipur gram panchayat inundating vast areas since Saturday night when the flood protection work finally washed out at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur-II block.

A total of 535 families located at Banikantatola took shelter atop the embankment on the bank of Fulohar. At Bajitpur at least 50 families have been shifted to safer places.

More than 550 families of different villages like Ghoshpara, Durgapur, Balarampur and others fled to different high lands. A section of people built barricades to block the waterways to save their villages. As a result other villages have been inundated. The people of Debipur gram panchayat in Ratua-I are facing the problem of stagnant waters due to resistance by another group of villagers who have blocked the water ways to save their homes. The irrigation officials suggested making a way to clear the flood waters to avoid a critical situation in Debipur gram panchayat areas but the local administration could not pacify the irate villagers.

“The flood situation could worsen if we do not clear the stagnant water now,” said Mr Salil Pal, an irrigation official.

Though the water level has been receded and flowing below the Extreme Danger Level (EDL) the river is still discharging waters through the its old course where the embankment breached at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur-II.

Rehabilitation

MALDA, 25 AUG: Demanding rehabilitation, hundreds of homeless people residing on railway and vest lands in English Bazaar town, today submitted a representation to the additional district magistrate (land reforms), Mr KN Dew. The Udbastu Colony Committee in Ward no 24 of English Bazaar town demanded deed of right where they live and where the land is identified as vested. SNS

Recovery

MALDA, 25 AUG: Police recovered some important files of government offices from a house located at Krishnapally in English Bazaar town today. The police are investigating the matter but chose not to disclose any further. SNS

MP dumps Malda during floods

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 AUG: At a time the Fulohar river washed away a guard wall and flooded a large part of Harishchandrapur-II block, affecting about 800 families of 11 villages in Harischandrapur-II block and parts of Ratua-I block, the North Malda MP, Miss Mausam Noor, has left for Kolkata ostensibly to avoid police action in a case of alleged shrine looting. Her absence has drawn criticism from her supporters, who are unhappy with her for leaving the constituency when north Bengal is combating floods.

The administration is finding it difficult to convince the flood affected to shift to the rehabilitation camps. Many residents of Banikantatola took shelter on the nearby embankment but refused to go to the flood shelters, leaving their dwellings. Only 103 people from 12 families have shifted to the Mohinimohan Vidyapith flood shelter at Bhaluka. They alleged the panchayat had not provided them with relief.

Besides, thousands of people at Islampur and Daulatpur gram panchayat areas in Harishchandrapur are marooned. “The block development officers have been asked to start assessing damage,” said the Chanchal SDO, Miss Debjani Datta.

On the agriculture front, the flood has caused massive damage. The floodwater swept away jute stacked in the canals and damaged transplanted aman paddy, maize and betel. The overflowing waters have also taken toll of the wetlands used for pisciculture. Taking advantage of the situation, some traders have jacked up prices of essential commodities. Officials hope the situation would improve once the waters in the rivers recede.

Malda MP flees fearing arrest

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 AUG: Accused of looting a shrine, the North Malda MP Miss Mausam Noor  has left for Kolkata ostensibly to avoid police action on the matter. Her absence, however, has drawn criticism from her supporters, who are unhappy with her for leaving the constituency when it is combating a flood situation.

Commenting on the MP's absence, the Congress MLA from Kharba, Mr Asif Mehbub said: “She should have stayed in Malda during this crisis.”

It may be noted that the officer in-charge of English Bazaar police station Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury has started a suo-moto case against two Malda MPs, Miss Mausam Noor (Malda North) and Mr AH Khan Choudhury (Malda South) and four other persons including two district Congress leaders in an alleged shrine looting case at Peeranapir on Saturday.

They have been charged under several sections of the IPC, including non bail-able sections. The two MPs got into trouble after the police informed the matter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking permission to carry out the next course of action.

Failing to manage the situation, both the MPs Mr Khan Choudhury and his niece Miss Noor left for Kolkata last night. They are reportedly trying to meet top police officials in Kolkata. They may leave for Delhi after consulting lawyers.

Denying the charges made against him and his MP niece, Mr Khan Choudhury yesterday said: “It is impossible to count money kept in locked donation boxes. This alone proves that the story of looting a huge amount of money is false. It is defamatory.”

The officer in-charge of English Bazaar police station Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury, however, has reported to his superior authority that the South Malda MP Mr Khan Choudhury along with his associates including Miss Noor had ordered their supporters to break open boxes containing money and valuable articles donated by the devotees.

“The valuables and money along with the containers were collected in a vehicle bearing number plate WB-65/0443. Both the MPs and two Congress leaders accompanied the boxes in the vehicle and one Asadul Sardar assaulted me and snatched the key of the vehicle, which I took back to prevent them from fleeing. They, however, escaped,” reported the police officer. The MPs are still not available for comment. Another accused Mr Mostaque, who is a karmadhyakshya of the Malda Zilla Parishad, today said: “The police do not have the right to start a suo-moto case against the MPs” while another of the accused Mr Hasan Ali Shah, a Congress leader said: “The money which has been taken away would be deposited in the bank.”

Case against two Malda MPs for loot and riot

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 AUG: English Bazaar Police started a case of loot against six persons, including two Malda members of Parliament (north and south) ~ Miss Mausam Noor and Mr AH Khan Choudhury ~ and two district Congress leaders here today.

They have been charged under Section 143/341/186/353/323/379 of IPC and R/W 188 IPC for allegedly looting money and valuables, prevention from government duty, rioting in the religious places of worship at Peeranapir yesterday.

Police have also informed the matter to the Speaker of the Parliament seeking permission for carrying out the next course of action.

Mr Jayanta Lodh Chowdhury, in-charge of English Bazaar police station, said: “The accused persons entered the Peeranapir Dargah along with more than 250 people, broke boxes containing money and valuable articles that are donated by devotees and took away a decent amount of money and valuables under the direction of both the MPs”.

“Following the status quo order from High Court when we tried to prevent them they pushed us and took away the box containing money. A person called Asadul Sardar assaulted me and my colleague, Mr Moniranjan Sarkar and snatched the key of the cars with which they managed to escape”, Mr Lodh informed his higher authorities.

Police have arrested Sannam Sheikh, a resident of Chandipur and one of the attackers, from the spot. He was produced in the court today.

“We have received complaints and have started inquiring into the matter”, said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, the Malda SP.

It may be noted that Mrs Sahanaj Kaderi, one of relatives of Miss Mausam Noor and her rival, lodged complaint with the police and had informed the minister of state for minority affairs, Mr Abdus Sattar on this issue and sought administrative help to maintain a status quo at Peeranapir.

Mr Sattar said over phone: “I have heard about the incident. I will ask the Wakf Board to inquire into the matter”.

When the matter came into light, since yesterday morning a section of Congress leaders expressed their unhappiness over the incident and said: “When the Central government is trying hard to develop minority people how can the MPs loot the donation of the minorities from a religious places?”.

Both the MPs ~ Miss Mausam Noor , north Malda MP, and her maternal uncle Mr AH Khan Choudhury, south Malda MP, who is also the Malda district Congress president~ denied all charges.

“The place is our family property. I frequently visit the place. Yesterday I went there but nothing of that sort happened,” said Miss Mausam Noor. However, the Congress MP, Mr AH Khan Chowdhury said that the charges were politically motivated. “Some forces are trying to malign us as part of political vendetta,” he said.

Fulohar washes away its banks

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 AUG.: The Fulohar river broke the guarding wall at two places and started to gush into villages at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur block II this morning. Hundreds of families residing close to the river where it broke its banks have already shifted to safer areas from last night following an announcement.

The river was flowing nearly 20 cm above its ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL) at 28.35 metres, eroding away its bank to make the lives of people more vulnerable at Bhaluka. The local administration is still fighting to prevent floodwaters from entering into the countryside, but the embankment collapsed by the evening inundating large swamp of lands.

People have been shifted by the administration to the local schools. The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “We are monitoring the situation. The government officials including police are working to bring the situation under control. At present, the civil defence volunteers are standing by."

On the other hand, when the floodwaters started to gush into the villages the irrigation officials were facing difficulties to ‘restore’ the damaged guarding wall as a section of villagers’ were resisting. “Villagers opposed the restoration process so that they can shift according to the water level in their villages. They said they would face problem if the guarding wall is washed away at mid night”, said Mr Salil Pal, assistant engineer, irrigation (Mahananda) division.

But the district administration intervened and sent police officers to start restoration of the damaged guarding wall, which was built after the collapse of two embankments over the past few days. “The flow of the waters have been checked after restoration,” irrigation officials reported to the administration.

According to the Chanchal sub-divisional officer, Miss Debjani Datta, four gram panchayat areas in Harishchandrapur block II may be affected by floodwaters. If the river continues to flow, another three gram panchayat of Chanchal block II may be affected. Hundreds of families are already suufering under the waterlogged situations in Islampur and Daulatpur gram panchayats in Harishchandrapur block.

The executive engineer of Malda irrigation division, Mr S Misra said: “The water level will rise till tomorrow morning and it may start to recede if the river’s upper catchments do not receive heavy rainfall. Presently the trend of water level in upper catchments is falling”.

Irrigation dept to blame for embankment collapse

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 AUG.: A section of administrative (civil) officials and political leaders blamed the irrigation department for collapse of old and new embankments at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur-II. According to them, a section of local people were also responsible for the damage of the embankment.

Though three years ago engineers of the Mahananda division of irrigation department realised that the Fulohar was changing its course and would be meeting its old course at Bhaluka Bazaar, no appropriate measures was taken to accommodate this change. Last year, when the river Fulohar changed its course, coming in close contact with the slope of the embankment, narrowing down its safe distance for erosion, nothing was done for saving the dyke despite several reminders from the local leaders and even from the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh. “The top officials of the irrigation and waterways department did not care about its importance and did not send an efficient executive engineer in Mahananda division for at least three years”, said local FB MLA Mr Tajmul Hossain.

Though the department had finally sanctioned Rs 20 lakh during monsoon as palliative measures for checking erosion and some more funds for flood protection but nothing effective came up on the front of erosion and flood water management. The present executive engineer Mr B N Das, who is just at verge of his retirement, has failed keep matters under control. His visits to the spot in this moment of crisis has also been limited.

The local administration did nothing when local people were taking away bricks from the structures built by the irrigation department in the river to stem floods. “After stealing all bricks from the structure some people gradually have constructed their houses”, said Miss Debjani Datta, Chanchal SDO.

Chief secretary visits Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 AUG: The state chief secretary, Mr Ashok Mohan Chakraborty (in picture) today visited Malda to take stock of the flood and erosion situation in the district. He expressed concern over the two issues but did not visit the affected spot, which drew flak from some quarters.

Assuring that he would look into the flood preventive measures taken in the northern part of the district, Mr Chakraborty added that despite announcements to shift from their areas 72 hours before inundation, Mekhliganj flood affected victims in Cooch Behar district refused to shift to safer areas. “As a consequence they are suffering a lot,” he rued. According to the official, the flood situation in north Bengal was not very serious at the moment. “Funds have been set aside for relief and restoration work in the flood hit areas,” the chief secretary said.

Mr Chakraborty visited an arsenic free surface water treatment plant at Ratua this morning and left for North Dinajpur later in the day.

The district administration has in the meanwhile, built a dwarf embankment to prevent floodwater from entering the densely populated areas at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh ensured that funds for the construction of the dwarf embankment would be allotted from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). On the other hand, Malda MPs drew the attention of the general manager Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) to check erosion of the Fulohar river at Bhaluka.

The North Malda MP Miss Mausam Noor informed the district administration that the FBP general manager would visit the site. The water level in the Fulohar is still rising along with that of the Ganga and the Mahananda rivers and irrigation department officials fear the water level would rise more in these rivers in the next 48 hours.

Locals demand arsenic-free water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 AUG: Several arsenic afflicted people including women backed by the local leaders like the sabhapati of Kaliachak panchayat samiti today staged a dharna in front of the district magistrate's office demanding supply of arsenic-free water in their villages.

The leaders and arsenic afflicted people planned to submit a representation to the top officials of the public health engineering department including the chief engineer II, Mr Bappa Sarkar, who was on a visit to Malda this morning.

On receiving information of the representation, the officials of the PHE left for Ratua to visit their arsenic free water treatment plant at around 8.45 am just before the people of Kaliachak arrived here.

Locals started agitating at the main gate of the district magistrate’s office where the SDO, Mr Prakash Pal assured them that he would draw the departmental engineers’ attention over this issue. Interestingly, though it was decided that PHE officials would return to the old circuit house and its own guest house around afternoon, but they did not return. The locals believe that they were trying to avoid the agitators who were waiting for them all day long. Finally, after waiting for a long time, the agitators also left the Malda town.

The sabhapati of Kaliachak panchayat samiti, Mr Lutfur Rahman, said: “The PHE department had started supplying arsenic-free water in Kaliachak eight years ago but no drinking water has been supplied for nearly four thousand people living at Khikirbona village. More than fifty percent of them are afflicted fordrinking arsenic contaminated under ground water”.

The Malda Zilla Parishad member from Majampur, Mr Gulam Kibria Biswas, claimed that the arsenic free water treatment plant at Dariapur in Kaliachak II do not provide pure water to villages like Majampur and Narayanpur.

“Three years ago the department had allotted a fund of more than Rs 5 crore but nothing has been done for the supply of pure water to those villages”, said Mr Biswas.

“Many projects after laying pipelines have been lying defunct”, he said. Both Mr Biswas and Mr Rahaman pointed out that the executive engineer, Mr D Banerjee had been working here since seven years and that he had spent the allotted funds here for ‘unproductive’ purposes.

The local people sent the copy of their representation to the district magistrate, sabhadhipati and minister in charge of the PHE. But the PHE officials including the chief engineer were not available for comment.

To check the unpredictable...

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 AUG.: The Fulohar river washed away its embankments including the new one, whose crest was eroded upto 100 meter, out of its 130 metre length, at Bhaluka Bazaar here today.

Having failed to save the embankment, the irrigation department had finally started building a barricade along the river with the help of gunny bags filled with sand just to prevent flood waters from entering the locality today.

Hundreds of labourers have been employed there for building a barricade, where the embankment got eroded.

“We are helpless because of the unpredictable river. The river tends to meet its old course at Bhaluka Bazaar which is close to the damaged dyke, before inundating any vast area”, said Mr Salil Pal, the assistant engineer of the Mahananda embankment division.

Fearing the possibilty of a flood, the district administration had already made an announcement to shift people to safer areas in more than eight gram panchayats under five blocks in Chanchal sub-division.

“We have identified some shelters and requisitioned boats for rescue operations. A fresh requisition for relief materials have been sent to the headquarters”, said Miss Debjani Datta, the Chanchal SDO.

According to the district flood cell, the situation is grave and gradually deteriorating following the rising water level. It was found that the three rivers ~ the Ganga, the Mahananda and the Fulohar ~ are rising following torrential rain in their upper catchments.

Though the water level of the Fulohar is 27.65 metre at present, but it would be rising further within the next 48 hours following rainfall at Purnia in Bihar and in Darjeeling districts where the Mahananda was flowing at 45 cms above the ‘extreme danger level’ around 2.30 a.m. today.

The Malda district administration has set up camps in the nearby areas of Bhaluka where official staffs have been engaged for night duty to monitor the situation and additional police force have also been deployed to control the situation when the river will wash away its banks.

For better NREGS performance

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 AUG.: To maintain a better rank in the performance league table measuring the implementation levels of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) the Malda district has planned to cultivate banana and papaya in four blocks of this district.

With the help of the host oganisation, Comprehensive Area Development Corporation (CADC), the district administration has planned to cultivate banana and papaya in Habibpur, Bamongola, Gazole and Kaliachak block areas under the NREGS.

The district administrative officials have already held series of meetings with all the departments and urged the respective heads to submit action plans and its implementation procedures with the help of NREGS, so that the district can utilise their allotted funds properly providing 100 days job to numberless registered labourers.

According to the additional district programme co-ordinator (ADPC) for NREGS, many departments have submitted their action plans. The district authorities have accepted some programmes from horticulture department for cultivation of banana and papaya. Besides, nursery and social forestry programmes have also been adopted under the NREGS.

The ADPC for NREGS in Malda Mr Kajal Banerjee said: “Malda district is the pioneer of its ‘convergence programme’ receiving action plans from all government departments like irrigation and public works departments (roads)”.

The NREGS cell in Malda has also been spreading awareness among the people including the registered labourers in remote villages about the NREGS through a drama called Jiban Ebar Badlai Dile-Hey.

The district administration has produced the drama with the help of local artists of Malda Theater Platform based on district's traditional folk tune Gambhira.

The team has been performing across the district since last week.

The district has also assigned another agency to make a documentary film based on successful projects under the NREGS.

Under the NREGS the district administration has engaged hundreds of labourers for anti-erosion work for protection of the embankment on the bank of Fulohar for flood protection at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur. The work is still under progress.

EBM in a fix over garbage disposal

MALDA, 20 AUG.: Despite the order given on 7 August by the Malda sub-divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal to find a different place for dumping garbage, the chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) is in a fix over selecting a suitable place for the purpose within the given period of 30 days.

Following protests from locals, the SDO had allowed the EBM to dump garbage at its old vat located at Chandan Park only for thirty days from 7 August. The chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, said: “It is not possible to select a land and complete obtaining its ownership rights for the EBM within 30 days. Our staff are in search of suitable lands for the purpose. We have found a plot of land in Ramchandrapur under Kazigram gram panchayat and talks are going on for buying it. Another plot of land has been selected at Soudulahapur but nothing has been finalised yet," he said. Following the proposal of the civic body, though the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh has decided to offer a vested land for garbage dumping in the English Bazaar block, the surveyor of the EBM has rejected the land due to its distance from the town. The SDO plans

to issue another letter to the EBM as a reminder and would ask them to dump garbage at the new location. SNS

Defence to look into dyke breach

Statesman News Service

MALDA/BALURGHAT, 19 AUG: After alerting the Army yesterday, the Malda district administration today deployed civil-defence workers at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur block II apprehending a breach in the dyke. The decision was taken after the Fulohar River eroded an embankment at Bhaluka Bazaar last evening.

The Chanchal SDO, Miss Debjani Datta said: “Civil defence personnel are in the affected area ready to render service.”

The district administration is continuing with the dumping of sand filled gunny bags to arrest erosion. In addition, an island opposite Bhaluka Bazaar is being trimmed to divert the water and check erosion. The administration has alerted the locals to shift to safer areas. It is learnt that nearly 250 families have started to shift from the Bhaluka Bazaar and adjoin areas.

The administration has started preparations for disaster management and is procuring boats for rescue operation if needed and earmarking flood shelters. The district magistrate has convened an emergency meeting for flood management.

Meanwhile, the Tangan and Punarvaba rivers have flooded fresh areas in Banshihari and Tapan blocks in South Dinajpur district and waterlogging was reported from the low lying areas under Gangarampur Municipality.

According to the South Dinajpur district magistrate Mr Asoke Banerjee, the Punarvaba has breached embankment to inundate fresh areas in Tapan block. According to the DM, the river breached embankment at Sutail in Ajmatpur gram panchayat, Tapan block and then at Bajrapukur. “Ten families from the two villages were shifted to safer places and the irrigation department has started repair work on the damaged embankment,” the DM informed.

According to the DM, the Banshihari BDO is supervising relief and allied work in his block after the Tangan River inundated several villages in the block. An irrigation department official Mr Asis Sahu, said the Tangan was flowing above the danger mark and the other rivers were in spate.

Waterlogging has also occurred in some areas of Balurghat town following rise in the water level of the Atraye River. The residents complained of drinking water problem.

Husband guilty in identity mix-up free

MALDA, 19 AUG: The Malda district judge, Mr BC Maity, today discharged Phekan Mandal and two others implicated erroneously in the murder of Phekan's wife Sita Mandal on 3 July, 2004. The police had recovered the body of an unidentified woman near Panchanandapur in Kaliachak-II and had assumed it as Sita's.

The supposedly ‘dead’ Sita appeared in court on 30 May this year, proving that her husband had not murdered her as presumed by the police. SNS

Jewellery shop loot

MALDA, 19 AUG: Criminals hurled bombs inside a jeweller’s shop and threatened its owner Prasanta Sarker with arms before looting the shop at Eight Mile under Malda police station last night.

According to the owner, they looted gold and silver ornament plus cash amounting to about Rs 1.50 lakh. SNS

Food poisoning

MALDA, 19 AUG: Six members of a family were admitted to the Malda district hospital with food poisoning. Abdul Hamid, the head of the family, and his five children fell unconscious around 10 p.m. last night at home in Ratua after dinner. SNS

Funds flood for Madrassa students

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 AUG.: The minority affairs and madrassa education department has sanctioned huge amount of funds for term loan and scholarship in 2009-10. To provide term loan to the minority people, the department has sanctioned Rs 4.56 crore for Malda, Rs 3.18 crore for north Dinajpur and Rs 4.62 crore for south Dinajpur districts.

The department has allotted more than Rs 1.46 crore for post-matriculation scholarships and Rs 2.75 crore for pre-matriculation, that are to be distributed in Malda district during the sessionof years 2009-10.

Again a scholarship funds of Rs 1.39 crore for the students of post matriculation and Rs 2.61 crore for the pre-matriculation students in north Dinajpur are to allotted.

In south Dinajpur district, the amount of scholarship funds is less than other two districts. A total of Rs 70 lakh has been allotted for post-matriculation students and Rs 1.35 crore for pre-matriculation students.

In south Dinajpur, the minority affairs department has allotted Rs 35.70 crore for Madrassa and the Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP). The North Dinajpur has got the allotment of Rs 76.50 crore under the MSDP.

On the other hand, the department has also allotted Rs 68.70 crore to Malda district under the MSDP out of which Malda has already received Rs 10.50 crore, according to the minister of state for minority affairs, Mr Abdus Sattar.

ADM asked to earmark land for girls’ hostel

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 AUG.: The minister of state for minority affairs and madrassa education, Mr Abdus Sattar, has asked the additional district magistrate (land reforms) to earmark a plot of land for the construction of a hostel and training centre for Muslim girls.

During a review meeting with the district officials for minority development , yesterday, Mr Sattar spoke of a plot of land, that presently belongs to a ‘private wakf’, located at Ward no 25 in English Bazaar municipality, and asked the district officials to prepare a project for the construction of a hostel and training centre for Muslim girlson the plot. Theland at Chandan Park is presently being used as a garbage dumping zone by the English Bazaar

municipality.

Recently following resistance from the locals, the district administration has allowed the civic body to use the land as a dumping ground for a month and have asked the civic body chief to find out another land for the purpose.

According to records of the district land and land reforms department, a total of 2.75 acre of land belongs to a private wakf out of 3.12 acre. In the mean time, a total of .037 acre land out of 3.12 acre has already been sold off in the name of three persons. The land records show that a person called Mr Abdur Rashid Khan was the caretaker of the land. The additional district magistrate, Mr KN Dew said: “We need to find out Mr Rashid Khan to discuss the project proposed by the minister”.

“If the owners of the wakf land do not agree to our proposal we have to initiate another course of action to declare it a vested-land. It is a time consuming method,” Mr Dew said.

Following the proposal from Mr Abdus Sattar, the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “We have to formulate a plan so that we can utilise the land for the project proposed by the minister”.

The Malda Zilla Parishad had been looking for a plot of land for the construction of another hostel for Muslim girls in Malda town but due to the scarcity of lands, the board is yet to begin the proposed project. The additional executive officer of the Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Kajal Banerjee said: “We shall discuss the matter proposed by the minister, in the next meeting which will be held soon for the construction of a hostel for Muslim girls”.

The helping hand

It may be a bad news for medical waste recycling racketeers who used to collect waste from Malda district hospital and other hospitals in English Bazaar town, but it is indeed a good news for English Bazaar municipality who does not have autoclave machines to dispose medical wastes scientifically, that are collected from huge number of nursing homes.

Following the guidelines of the pollution control board and under the bio-medical waste management programme, the government has selected some organisations that will collect medical wastes from hospitals and nursing homes for its proper disposal and scientific treatment.

The chief medical officer of health in Malda, Dr Srikanta Roy said that the government has assigned an organisation the task of collecting garbage and medical wastes from the Malda district hospital on the basis of a contract.

“A Matigara based organisation, near Siliguri, will collect medical wastes on regular basis and they will dispose them scientifically to control pollution," said Dr Srikanta Roy, the Malda CMOH.

“It was decided that the assigned organisation would start collecting garbage from 17 August, the hospital authorities now are developing the system in all wards," said Dr Roy. The system of bio-medical waste management has been started in other districts of north Bengal as well. “We have started to follow the method since last month. If the nursing homes do not follow the guidelines of medical waste management they would not be allowed to run under the clinical establishment Act”, said Dr RR Banik, the Cooch Behar CMOH.