Tribals protest against transfer of Malda doctor

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 30 SEPT: A large number of tribal residents of Chanchal in Malda district today demonstrated in front of the assistant chief medical officer of health (ACMOH) Dr Swapan Biswas’s office, urging him to cancel the transfer order of a tribal doctor Dr Swapan Soren, is posted at the Chanchal-II block primary health centre (BPHC).

According to health department officials, Dr Soren has been promoted and transferred as block medical officer of health (BMOH) at Habibpur, which too is a tribal dominated block.

Seniors of the tribal community like Mr Nimai Soren, Mr Benoy Besra, and Mr Babulal Besra claimed that Dr Swapan Soren should not be transferred from Chanchal in the interest of the tribal and common people for his outstanding services in the area.

“Then there are some practical problems like the language barrier. As doctor Soren is a tribal himself, it is easier for the tribal patients to communicate with him. In addition to that, Dr Soren is a good doctor and committed to the cause. People of the seven gram panchayats of Chanchal-II block have been well served by him which is why they are demanding a stay on his transfer order,” they said.

The demonstrators also sent a copy of their deputation to the chief medical officer of health (CMOH) today.

Health department officials, however, said that the Chanchal-II BPHC had six doctors whereas five doctors were enough to run the centre. Neither the ACMOH, nor the CMOH were available for comment.

Locals rescue tortured 70-year-old

MALDA, 30 SEPT: Residents of Prantapally in English Bazaar town today rescued a 70 year-old man who was allegedly being tortured by his son.

The locals found the victim Mr Hari Prasad Keshri chained in the balcony of his house this morning crying helplessly for help.Angry locals assembled in front of the house and asked the victim's son Mr Gopal Prasad Keshri to free him but the son refused to do so.

Instead, he tried to argue with the locals justifying his action, which turned the locals angry, and they informed the media.

Enraged with the turn of events, the son threw the father out of the house.

The son apparently realised his mistake when media persons reached the spot and started taking photographs of the old man lying helplessly on the road.

He finally broke down before the public and confessed that his father had been ill from multiple diseases for long.

“He has been behaving strangely and fleeing home frequently. I lost my patience with him and today chained him up,” he said after taking back his father home.

The victim Mr Keshri used to be a solvent trader and his son now handles all his establishments. All property and trade, however, continues to remain in the victim's name. ;SNS

76 pandals accused of power theft

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 29 SEPT: A total of 76 puja committees have been blacklisted in Malda district by the West Bengal Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBEDCL) for malpractice over power connection.

The divisional manager of the WBEDCL has informed the matter to police and civil administration, and have asked them to take the next course of action against the Puja committees.

Also, that the committees seek permission before organising pujas in future, has been urged.

A total of 535 puja committees applied for power connection out of whom 76 puja committees secured connection illegally and consumed more power than its estimated load of consumption. Interestingly, more than 10 per cent puja committees including the big budget ones in English Bazaar town (district headquarters) consumed power illegally.

The judges’ team on behalf of the administration has decided that it would not recommend prize to the organisers who allegedly managed power illegally.

One of the judges said that some puja organisers had presented standard creation in their puja pandals and deserved prizes based on other criteria but we would cancel such recommendations for illegally consuming power connections.

The judges also suggested that from the time of the Pujas till immersion, police verification is mandatory to know if any particular puja committee, who had won appreciation for organisation, had any earlier bad report.

According to the divisional manager of the WBEDCL, Mr D Mondal, the department had detected malpractice in 12 puja pandals out of 64 ones on 24 September during a special raid. Similarly, on 25 September, the departmental officials identified 30 puja committees out of 90 who had consumed power illegally. Again on 26 and 27 September, the department detected 34 other puja committees out of 179 ones who had indulged in such malpractice.

On the basis of an estimated consumption, 535 puja committees had deposited Rs 7.90 lakh to the electricity department.

“After detection of malpractices we have charged a spot fine of Rs 50,957 from 76 puja organisers”, said Mr Mondal.

The electricity department had lodged an FIR against a puja committee located at Baharal in Ratua for hackling electricity staff and denying payment of power consumption.

CPM-Opp clashes continue, police fail to control situation

MALDA, 29 SEPT: Bordering Bangladesh, the Majampur village under Kaliachak police station in Malda district has been a victim of hostilities between Congress and CPI-M supporters for the past one month.

The violence has increased in the past few days and the police have so far failed to control the turf war.

Both sides run illegal border trade and the ongoing violence is its resultant factor.

The police had detained 20 persons linked with the violence in the area but the locals along with an army of women raided the Kaliachak police station and freed them yesterday.

The raiders fired on the police, injuring a police inspector and an EFR jawan. The police have re-arrested eight persons since then.

The CPI-M leadership including the Kaliachak CPI-M MLA Mr Biswanath Ghosh and the CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra blamed police failure in tackling the situation.

Mr Moitra said: “The Malda police super is working on the instruction of the Congress MPs.”

“The police are arresting CPI-M workers from Majampur but, they are sparing wanted criminals from the neighbouring villages of Narayanpur, Jadupur and other areas containing Congress supporters,” the CPI-M leadership alleged.

The Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay brushed aside the allegation and said: “ We need to concentrate on Majumpur to curb the hostilities between the two criminal groups and to pick up the accused persons and trouble makers.”

The English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury said: “Those villages are criminal infested and there is a stockpile of sophisticated arms in the area. The police should raid the are jointly with Central forces and recover the arms and ammunition.”

The Trinamul district president, Mr Goutam Chakraborty said that the police should be given a free hand to take proper action against the criminals.

“The CPI-M should not interfere with the police work,” he added. SNS

Father held on charges of raping daughter

MALDA, 29 SEPT: Police arrested a father on charges of allegedly raping his 16-year-old daughter and produced him to the court today in Malda. Police officials said the accused, Dilip Chakraborty, a resident of Bachamari under Malda police station, was arrested earlier on charge of allegedly raping another woman a few years back. According to the latest complaint lodged by the victim and her mother, Chakraborty, a driver by profession, took his daughter, a class IX student, to watch immersion procession last night. On way back the father went to a friend's house with his daughter and allegedly raped her twice. The shocked girl returned home and disclosed the incident to her mother, who lodged a police complaint against her husband following which, the police arrested Chakraborty last night. Police conducted a medical test of the girl and have started a case against the alleged culprit. SNS

Polls likely to stall development work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 SEPT.: Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh today announced that the development work may be stalled for at least one and a-half-months due to model code of conduct for the by-election in Sujapur.

“The election commission may issue notification for by-polls in Assembly segments including Sujapur in Kaliachak block I on 8 or 9 October. The work may get hampered till the by-polls are not completed”, said Mr Ghosh, the Malda DM.

He also said after Puja vacation official work would start on 5 October as after a few days officials will be engaged in by-polls. The development work was stalled due to a series of elections that included rural polls, Kharba by-polls and Sujapur by-polls and then Parliament elections in 2008 and 2009. In Sujapur, by-polls were conducted in the early 2009 after the demise of former MLA Rubi Noor and now the administration will have to conduct the by-polls after the resignation of MLA Miss Mausam Noor when she was elected as the Member of Parliament from north Malda Lok Sabha seat this year.

It may be noted that in the recent past, the model of code of conduct had been imposed over all the district for by-polls and administrations had been facing problem to execute developmental work.

Facing these difficulties the system of imposition of model code of conduct which was being criticised in various corners including political platforms, the commission finally decided to exempt the imposition of the code of conduct over all the district. However, now it would be imposed in Sujapur Assembly segment only. “It is correct that some essential work must be exempted from the code of conduct for election. But in practice we follow the system”, said Mr Ghosh.

He said: “The 100-days job (national rural employment guarantee scheme) is completely free from the elections’ model code of conduct. But in practice panchayat officials follow the model code conduct 'politically' in their respective areas.”

A mad rush to see18-hand Durga

Statesman News Service
MALDA, 27 SEPT: Revellers are gathering to watch small pujas due to their unique features. Last night, hundreds of revellers rushed to watch a Durga idol with eighteen hands at Mahesmati Ray-para in English Bazaar.
The idea was got from the ancient Nepali culture where it is a custom to worship Durga with eighteen hands.
Mr Sajal Pandit, an artisan, explained this ancient culture, where Lord Shiva had dreamt of Durga with eighteen hands.
The Durga idol was decorated with artificial tiger skin. Eight more weapons have been set up in extra eight hands, said Mr Santosh Roy, secretary of Arati Sangha.
“We did not think that thousands of people would come to our small pandal. This is second time that we have organised Durga puja”, Mr Roy said.
Thousands of revellers enjoyed roaming around, watching Durga puja last night. Police expect the same gathering tonight.
Due to good weather, people from rural areas came to English Bazaar town to enjoy puja. The largest gatherings have been at Shanti Bharati, Sabajoyee, Abhijatri, Shibaji Sangha, Aneek Sangha, Kalyan Samiti, and many others medium and small budget pujas.
Interestingly, many puja organisers had applied for permission for organising puja did not have official permission the reason being that they did not have time.
On the other hand, big budget puja committees like Aneek Sangha alleged that the SDO office did not issue a permission letter on time due to lack of staff. But many reputed persons, including top district officials and members of Parliament inaugurated puja pandals on 25 September evening even when the organisers did not give the permission letter.
At present, many puja committees have failed to show the permission letter to the judges visiting pandals in order to select the best pujas in Malda town.
West Bengal Electrictiy Distribution Company Limited charged fined many puja organisers who used electricity illegally.

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 SEPT.: A committee comprising Hindu, Muslim and Dalit members organised a Durga Puja, set aside from most others.

This small-budget Puja on KJ Sanyal road in English Bazaar town attracted huge crowds, for its uniqueness alone.

The Malda Press Photographers’ Association (MPPA) today announced that the puja committee was one of the best, judging it on the creative aspect.

The association has selected six best puja committees in the English Bazaar town out of the other 100 puja committees, who have performed well within a small budget.

In 2007 a group of Hindu, Muslim and Dalit people started their puja at Gazole taxi stand without even a proper permission from the administration.

The secretary of the Gazole Taxi Stand puja committee, Mr Bobby Ahmed said: “A small group of Hindu people who reside in this area wanted to organise puja here but they could not do it because the area was dominated by other castes like Dalit (Harijans) and Muslims. But we took the initiative to form a committee comprising more than 50 members and decided to arrange a puja here from 2007. Now we are happy because all families are enjoying here together.”

The assistant secretary of this puja committee, Mr Debasish Chanda said: “Our budget is only Rs 70,000. We have conceived a theme based on rural Bengal where poor people organise the biggest festival of state ~ Durga puja”.

Apart from the Gazole taxi stand puja committee, the MPPA has also selected five other puja committees such as Nat Mandir located at Hansagiri lane in a red light area, Baghajatin club in No 2 government colony, Jhankar club on BS Road, Mahananda club on Bandh Road and Mangal Samiti at Gayespur.

These small budget puja committees have been selected by the members of MPPA for creativity, environment of the pandal and presentation of the entire look in a disciplined manner who will be awarded Sarad Samman -2009.

Too much restrictions annoy puja revellers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 SEPT: Many, including political leaders of Malda have expressed unhappiness with the “excess” in traffic and other restrictions in the name of security and crowd control by the police in English Bazaar town since 5.30 p.m. yesterday.

People faced difficulty in reaching the district hospital, nursing homes and railway station yesterday as a profusion of drop gates rigged by the police prevented movement of small vehicles and rickshaws too. The drop gates are posing a restriction in accessing the National Highway 34, hospitals, railway stations and bus stands from 5.30 p.m. to 2 a.m. through the arterial roads in English Bazaar town.

“Yesterday was the last working day before the Puja holidays began. Many people had important jobs in offices till late evening. Many were returning home after office hours. There was no need to execute the system from yesterday. The police should have kept a few of the arterial roads open,” said Mr Indranil Biswas, a local.

The Left Front chairman and CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra said: “The police cannot and should not have blocked the arterial roads without having arranged alternative routes. Many people have suffered yesterday.”

“Hundreds of people had to reach the railway station to board the Gour Express around 8.30 p.m. The closed roads were a major hindrance for them,” he added. According to him, the police unnecessarily prevented some NBSTC buses entering into the corporation depot last evening as well. “Those buses were coming from distant areas including Kolkata. The police should have allowed those buses to reach the depot for maintenance and other requirements,” he added.

“Excessive” traffic restriction has offended the people as well. The elderly cannot move from one pandal to another on foot under a blazing sun and the rickshaws are withdrawn after 2 p.m. due to traffic regulations. The system is depriving them, is the common refrain.

Commenting that the police should redraw its plan, the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury said that the political parties should also have foreseen the problem and alerted the police accordingly during a meeting on the subject before the Puja began.

Puja club members beat up merchants

MALDA, 25 SEPT.: A group of members of a club have allegedly beaten up a few retail cloth merchants when they refused to give them subscription fees for Durga Puja at Bulbulchandi in Habibpur police station last night. The merchants said that the club members demanded an abnormal amount of money which they refused to pay. One trader Mr Narayan Karmakar, was injured and admitted to Malda district hospital with critical head injuries.

Traders alleged that an armed group led by Mr Rajib Daga, who is a member of Bulbulchandi gram panchayat belonging to Forward Bloc, attacked them. “They demanded Rs 1,000 as subscription fees from each of them for the Puja at Binapani club,” Mr Karmakar said.

After they attacked the traders, another group belonging to Biplab Smriti Sangha, attacked Binapani club and ransacked its pandal. Incidentally, Mr Narayan Karmakar is associated with the Biplab Smriti Sangha.

Additional police forces were deployed there to ease tension. Police had detained Ajay Prasad, a member of Binapani club, this afternoon. The other culprits fled the area after the incident and Binapani club had been asked to stop celebrating their puja. SNS

Probe ordered into panchayat foul play

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 SEPT: The Gazole block development official Mr S Santra today lodged a complaint with police against a gram panchayat and asked them to inquire into alleged financial irregularities concerning the Indira Awas Yojona (IAY) funds.

The BDO Mr Santra took this decision following a complaint lodged by a group of 45 local residents. A sum had been allotted in the name of Tala Soren, who died, for the purpose of building her a house.

Villagers like Mr Lakshman Mahata, Mr Jashthi Mahata and Mrs Jhuma Besra alleged that the pradhan of Salaidanga gram panchayat (Mrs Sakina Bibi) withdrew Rs 17,500, the first installment of IAY, in the name of Mrs Chuni Hembram which was officially allotted for Tala Soren before she died many days ago.

After the death of Tala Soren, the pradhan allegedly selected one Mrs Chuni Hembram, whose late husband's name was Ramkrishna Murmu.

They furnished an old Electoral Photo Identify Card of Mrs Chuni Hembram and a bank account was opened in Bangiya Grameen Bikash Bank, Krishnapur branch, to withdraw the money in the name of duplicate beneficiary Mrs Chuni Hembram.

The matter came to light after the withdrawal of the IAY funds and Chuni was deprived of the share. A relative of Tala Soren informed Opposition leaders of the gram panchayat showing the original Epic of Tala Soren and decided to lodge a complaint with the BDO to take action against the gram panchayat.;SNS

Milk union proposed in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 SEPT: The animal resources development (ARD) department in Malda has proposed that its new minister Mr Narayan Biswas forms a milk union after finishing the liquidation process of Gour Milk Union. Gour Milk Union which was formed in the '80s is now non-operation here and exists on paper only.After taking charge, the ARD minister Mr Biswas came to Malda and interacted with the district officials concerning the development of this district.“The minister has expressed his interest in forming a new milk union here following our proposal. We proposed that the minister end the existence of Gour Milk Union which is on paper only and to form a new union based on some milk producing blocks,” said Mr NK Sit, deputy director of the ARD. “A milk union is required for farmers producing milk. They are not getting proper prices for milk here. There is a demand for toned milk in Malda and its adjoining markets,” Mr Sit said. At present, Bhagirathi Milk Union in Murshidabad and Mother Dairy both are supplying their products to Malda market.According to a study conducted by the ARD in Malda, some blocks like Kaliachak- I, II and III, Manikchak, Gazole and Harishchandrapur-I and II are producing a huge amount of milk but farmers do not have milk cooperatives. According to Mr Sit, many farmers in Kaliachak-I produce posset and latex (chhana and khoa-khir) but they have to sell their produce at a low price owing to the lack of a milk cooperative there.“We have a plan to organise farmers to produce ‘paneer’ out of milk in Kaliachak-I,” Mr Sit said.

Trader’s house looted

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 24 SEPT: Armed dacoits looted a trader's house injuring three persons of the family at Dhantala near Kotwali in English Bazaar police station last night. According to the police, 13 armed men barged into a trader, Mr Madhusudan Das's house last night and asked the family members to hand over cash and jewelry. The gang took away all valuables that they could lay their hands on. The robbers beat the trader's son Mr Samiran Das severely when he tried to resist. They also roughed up Mr Das's wife Mrs Lakshmi Das when she refused to hand over her ornaments. The robbers snatched her earrings injuring her. Mr Das's neighbours had apparently been alerted while the robbery was on and had informed the police of the happening over phone. The robbers hurled bombs while leaving which injured a villager Mr Aniruddha Das. The villagers alleged that police arrived late on the scene, which allowed the culprits to get away. One of the villagers Mr Ashok Mandal expressed unhappiness over the police's role. The inspector in-charge of the local police station Mr Bipul Majumdar said: “The police have detected the gang. Efforts are on to arrest the gang members.”

Silver pandal sets shining example

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 SEPT.: A big budget Durga Puja organizer is building its pandal based on silver arts and crafts collected from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The pandal will be located at Prabalpally in English Bazaar town.

A replica of a nearly 50ft high chariot is being decorated with religious items and idols of Hindu gods and goddesses made from silver. Numberless objects of different sizes, made of precious metals, have been being made for the purpose at Jodhpur in Rajasthan since July of this year.

Many interested people, even members of other puja committees, have come to watch the construction of the pandal. Some have already expressed their desire to buy the crafts at the end of the puja in order to decorate their houses.

People are mostly demanding Ganesh, Shiva and Durga idols and other religious symbols made out of silver.

Mr Partha Charkraborty, a member of another puja committee, disclosed: “Extraordinary work. I have never seen a puja pandal like this - not in north and south Bengal or even in Kolkata.”

The senior members of the Malda Shibaji Sangha (MSS) at Prabalpally, popularly known as Budabuditala, a red bastion, in ward no 24, conceived the idea last year but could not present it due to lack of time.

But this year the senior members of MSS, Mr Ram Prasad Ghosh, Mr Hemango Sarkar and others rushed to Jodhpur in Rajasthan in July and gave a work order for required items to a manufacturer camping in Rajasthan.

Without any help from reputed decorators, the MSS have brought skilled pandal labourers from Purbasthali in Burdwan and appointed a local designer, Mr Pradyot Majumdar, to monitor the construction of the pandal and set the silver crafts artistically.

Mohd Farukh, an artisan of Kohinoor Art and Craft at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, said: “We have been manufacturing such replicas of religious items and idols in silver by mixing aluminum and white zinc metal. But this is the first time in our life that we are doing such work for a Durga puja pandal.”

Observing the demands of the local people, members of the MSS have brought more extra idols of Hindu gods and goddesses from Rajasthan to display, just to mark Durga Puja 2009. Revellers can buy these items at a good price according to their wishes.

Furthermore, members of Shibaji Sangha announced that after the end of the puja the silver craft items decorating the pandal will be auctioned to any interested persons. (END)

Nod for Fulohar anti-erosion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 SEPT: The chief engineers’ committee of irrigation and waterways department has approved a ‘permanent’ anti-erosion project on the left bank of the river Fulohar at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur.

The executive engineer of irrigation division in Malda, Mr S Misra will submit the project to the district magistrate tomorrow for its further progress and sanctioning of funds from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The district administration had asked the irrigation department to prepare a project for anti-erosion work and assured that funds would be allotted from RIDF (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund) which is contolled by NABARD.

The irrigation division in Malda had estimated Rs. 9.85 crore for the anti-erosion project and had sent for the chief engineer's approval on first week of September.

Mr S Misra said: “Now we have to wait for the final approval of funds from NABARD. If NABARD gives their nod in early 2010, we will be able to meet the project before monsoon”.

Mr Misra said: “There is no fear of flood in Ganga belt now. But the situation will remain a bit dicey along the Fulohar till the end of September. Heavy rain in north Bengal or adjoining Bihar area may come on the last day of September.”

According to him, a 350 metre long guard wall on the bank of Fulohar at Bhaluka Bazaar for protecting the villages from flood water is almost complete.

The irrigation officials were in tension when the water level of the river had gone over 26 metre from 25.75 metre a few days ago.

"But the water level is now receding. Today's water level is 26.10 metre below the danger mark. There is no flood fear due to erosion until the water level rises above 28 metres,” said Mr Misra. A few gram panchayats of Harishchandrapur and Ratua blocks were inundated when flood waters from the Fulohar destroyed its two embankments and a guard wall at Bhaluka Bazaar during mid-August.

Malda braces to meet shortfall of pulses

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 SEPT: Malda district has targeted enhanced production of pulses by four per cent in this rabi crop season, to make up for its shortfall under the Central government’s National Food Security Mission (NFSM) project.

The shortfall of pulse production in Malda district is nearly 67 per cent, as compared to the requirement of its population. According to the report of the district agriculture department, farmers in Malda produce a total of 15, 874 MT per year (33 per cent of total requirement). The district requires 48,093 MT at present.

It may be noted that NFSM has targeted to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses and has started working in six districts of this state since 2007-08.

The NFSM has selected Malda district to enhance production of pulses and to expand its cultivated area considering the abnormal shortfall of pulse production here from 2007-08 and decided to provide assistance.

Following the guideline of the NFSM, the district has formed committees from district level to block level involving panchayat officials for implementing this project.

Though the NFSM has decided to provide assistance including modern equipment for cultivation of pulses with a subsidised rate up to 50 per cent, many farmers do not have capacity to buy imperative equipment.

“We have informed the government requesting to increase the rate of subsidy on particular costly items which is imperative for better pulse cultivation. Though subsidy rate is 50 per cent many farmers are unable to buy such equipment. Now we are waiting for government's decision,” said Mr Soumendra Nath Das, agriculture (technical) development officer.

During this kharif season the agriculture department in Malda has provided assistance to the farmers for pulse cultivation out of funds of Rs 1.04 crore allotted by the NFSM in 2008-09.

The agriculture technology management agency (ATMA) is working here to encourage farmers for the production of pulses under Food Security Mission.

Besides programmes of NFSM, the district agriculture department has targeted to encourage farmers to cultivate pulses on char lands on the bank of the Ganga without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Trinamul leader held on cheating charge

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 22 SEPT: The police arrested a Trinamul Congress leader from Malda, Mr Nirmal Karmakar, under article 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act on the basis of a cheating case initiated by the Goa police.Mr Karmakar was the working president of Trinamul Congress in Malda and state committee member of the party when Mr Dulal Sarkar was the party district president a few months ago. The current Trinamul district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty, however, said that Mr Karmakar was never a working president, nor a state committee member. He also added that the Trinamul did not have a district committee at present.Former Trinamul district president, Mr Dulal Sarkar, who is also vice chairman of English Bazaar Municipality, was not available for comment.“Mr Karmakar phoned me this morning to let me know that he will surrender to the police. He is a victim of a conspiracy,” said the Trinamul district president.Mr Karmakar, the arrested Trinamul leader also said that he had not issued any cheque to any medicine company from Goa for buying medicine. “I have been arrested as a cheque to a certain medicine company from Goa was dishonoured but I have no connection with the dishonoured cheque,” claimed Mr Karmakar, who has a wholesale medicine distribution business. The Trinamul leader Mr Karmakar has been in the middle of other controversies recently. He was beaten up by a group of Trinamul workers at Malda town during a conference and the party's former district president Mr Dulal Sarkar said that a financial deal was the reason behind the assault.

Police issue guide map for security during Pujas

SILIGURI/MALDA 22 SEPT: Darjeeling district police today published a guide map of puja pandals in Siliguri. Publishing the guide map, the IG (North Bengal), Mr KL Tamta said: “The police would set up 40 assistance booths during Durga puja. Thirty mobile police vans would be pressed into service to maintain law and order.” Police would set up close circuit cameras in four important places of the town as well, Mr Tamta said. The police also published similar puja guides in Malda and Jalpaiguri today. Malda police officials said closed circuit TVs would be attached in some specific locations adjacent to the big budget puja pandals in the town.The Malda police super Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said traffic movement would be regulated in the English Bazaar town from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. during the Puja days. Thirty six drop gates would be set up to prevent vehicles from entering the town from 3 p.m. on the puja days Rickshaw vans (manual) would be allowed to ply up to 5.30 p.m. The police have earmarked five places outside the main English Bazaar town as parking places for vehicles. More than 25 police assistance booth would be set up across Malda town and its outskirts including the Old Malda Municipal area to help in controlling law and order and manage traffic with the help of NGOs. A large police force would also be deployed on National Highway 34. SNS

Stranded, passengers block rail tracks at Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 SEPT: Left stranded at Malda Town Station, angry passengers of the Mujaffarpur-Jasbandpur today blocked rail at the station for over an hour when they learnt that the train had been rerouted and would not come to Malda Town Station.

Around 150 stranded passengers included patients who had reservation tickets for Vellore and Bangalore and were to go to those places for treatment, could not board the train.

Trouble broke out after the passengers saw a notice declaring rerouting of the train.

They urged the Malda Town Station master to make alternative arrangements for travel to Vellore and Bangalore as they had appointments with doctors.

The stationmaster expressed his inability to accommodate all the passengers in the Bangalore bound trains and offered refund on their tickets instead.

Angered with the railway decision the stranded passengers blocked train movement at the station following which, the station authority asked police to disperse the agitators.

The agitators then gharoaed the station authorities demanding alternative arrangements as most of them wanted to travel and were not in favour of cancelling their tickets.

The stationmaster informed he would try to accommodate them if vacant seats were available on south India bound trains from Guwahati.

One of the stranded passengers, Mr Shankar Das, said: “We are in trouble. We had to block the tracks demanding an alternative arrangement but police roughed us up to withdraw the block. I do not know how my family would meet the doctors on schedule at Vellore.”

The DRM in Malda Mr MK Mathur said: “We can do nothing when trains are diverted due to some technical problem. I do not know if reserved seats would be available in other trains. They can avail general compartments now.”

District planning committee has not enough members

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 SEPT: The district planning committee, which looks after the development of the districts has not been formed properly here.

The state government could not nominate its members in the Malda district planning committee (DPC) due to difference of opinion between the chairman of the DPC and the Left Front district leaders.

At present the DPC is running without six nominated members since last year, ignoring guidelines of the government and the norms of the DPC.

Though the district magistrate had sent a list of more than six members demanded by the Congress and the LF leaders, the government could not take a final decision due to the difference of opinion among political leaders here.

Out of six members, the LF demanded initially five members and offered only one member for the Congress.

But the chairman of the DPC, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, also sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad, was determined to propose three members from their party.

When the LF leaders agreed to accept only two Congress members as members of the DPC, the chairman had submitted three names to the district magistrate.

The Congress leaders were Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, MLA English Bazaar, Mr Narendranath Tiwari, chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, and Mr Asit Bose, a Congress leader and senior member of the lawyers’ association at the state level.

Interestingly, the LF had submitted a panel of six persons to the district magistrate for nomination including one Congress leader Mr Tiwari.

Finding no alternative the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh had sent all names to the government but no one has been finalised yet.

After selection of chairman of the DPC last year, it has convened only two meetings.

The chairman of DPC Mrs Sabina Yeasmin said: “Following code of conduct, due to by-poll in Sujapur and Lok Sabha poll, meetings have not been convened regularly”.

Mehendi mishap rocks state

SNS & PTI

BURDWAN/MALDA/SILIGURI/BEHRAMPORE, 21 SEPT: A terrible mehendi tragedy has taken its toll on women and children all over the state on the occasion of Id. Seven women, including two housewives, began to vomit with eruption of rashes on the skin today after they applied mehendi on the eve of Id at Kalyanpur in Burdwan district. They were admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital.“We bought readymade pouches of mehendi from local markets and suffered from skin rashes and vomiting after applying them on the arms,” Rubita Chowdhury, a college student, admitted in BMCH said.“The patients were being administered saline and anti-allergic drugs. It's a mass psychogenic illness. The rumour of a death from similar symptoms fuelled the panic,” Dr Om Prakash Singh of the BMCH said.Reports of similar incidents reached from Asansol, Raniganj, Jamuria of Burdwan district and they were treated at the local hospitals.Hundreds of panic-stricken women and girls rushed to the hospitals and nursing homes on the eve of Id since last midnight following repeated caution from mosques in Burdwan and Bankura districts.Sheikh Motin, a maulana of an ancient mosque in Churulia village in Jamuria PS in Burdwan, was heard asking those women and girls who had put mehendi on their palms to wash their hands. Mr Motin told The Statesman: “I have been told by my counterparts in Asansol and local Hijalgara village to warn the women as a mess was apprehended.” He added: “Even we were told about certain casualties in Dhanbad and its adjoining localities like Katras over phone.”Police helped midnight transportation of the panicked girls and women to the Asansol SD Hospital. According to Dr Abu Ershad, CMOH, Burdwan: “It was just a rumour and the patients who rushed to the hospitals didn’t have any specific complaint.” The women within a few minutes of being cautioned by the mosques complained of paralytic symptoms in their palms and certain itching. Dr Ershad said: “It's just a resemblance to mass hysteria which didn’t have any link with medical science.” The hospitals, however, released the patients this morning. Seven girls and women were admitted to two different hospitals in Howrah today when they fell ill after using mehendi on their hands. Five of them were admitted to Uluberia Hospital while the rest two were admitted to Howrah State General Hospital.Meanwhile, hundreds of Muslim women were treated at Chanchal rural hospital in Malda after they felt “uneasy” applying “mehendi” on their hands. The victims had used “kulfi mehendi,” made of chemical bought from local markets.Nearly 250 women went to the hospital for treatment. The condition of two victims was serious. They had to be admitted and were on drip. Similarly, one Mrs Bajna Bibi stated experiencing similar sufferings and fell unconscious retching. She too was admitted.In Murshidabad at least one hundred people were effected by the same. The incident took place at Khargram area of Khargram block in Murshidabad. Fifty people were admitted to a local hospital at Khargram.

Bailed jail inmates gear up to celebrate Pujas

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 SEPT: While police are trying to keep “habitual offenders” in jail custody to stop crime during Durga Puja in English Bazaar town, a group of inmates have been staging hunger strikes in order to win bail before Puja.

Malda correctional home authorities have identified six such “habitual offenders”. Four of them have already managed bail and have been released from jail custody recently.

One Chhotan Karmakar, who was lodged in Malda jail on charges of theft and a snatching case, started a hunger strike demanding exemption of his “bond fee” fixed by the court for bail. Last night Karmakar was admitted to Malda district hospital.

Three offenders - Piku Sheikh, Dilip Ghosh and Mrinal Debnath - got bail and were released from jail recently. Police were upset as Piku Sheikh is one of the organizers of burglary, snatching and other crimes, Dilip Ghosh is a two wheeler lifter, and Mrinal Debnath is another habitual offender in ‘white coller crime’.

Demoralized police are sure that the three will commit further crimes. They are still tracking them.

Debnath had organised a hunger strike and forced the authorities to draw the attention of the chief judicial magistrate and managed bail. He also alleged against police that he was arrested on false charges for possessing illegal arms.

Following the order of the chief judicial magistrate, the superintendent of police Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay aked his deputy to start an inquiry against police officers of the English Bazaar police, as Debnath lodged a complaint with the judicial magistrate.

And now Chhoton Karmakar has started a hunger strike to manage bail.

The superintendent of Malda jail, Mr C R Gharai, said: “All are habitual offenders. They are trying to get release from jail so they can commit further crimes in the Puja market.”

“Chhoton is a notorious snatcher of ornaments from women on the road. There are nearly 20 such cases against him. He has got bail on bond. The court has asked him to pay Rs 8,000 for granting bail plea because he is a habitual offender. But he could manage the sum,” Mr Gharai said.

“Now he is demanding the reduction of his bond fee,” he added.

Security upped on the eve of Id

MALDA, 20 SEPT: Security has been beefed up in some sensitive areas of Malda district on the eve of Id to prevent clashes among local goons. One platoon of Eastern Frontier Rifles has been deployed since yesterday in Majampur area under Kaliachak police station to curb clashes that had been continuing over the past two weeks between two groups, over the rights of power in those areas. Two persons, identified as a CPI-M and Congress workers, were killed there during clash in the past two weeks. Apart from this, additional police forces in civil clothes police have been deployed not only in Majampur but other sensitive areas to maintain peace, law and order during celebration of Id festival tomorrow.Police arrested two persons from Majampur area today, one of whom is a resident of Jharkhand. Police said that a group of hired criminals hailed to Majampur area from Jharkhand with huge amounts of arms, ammunitions and crude bombs. A police picketing point has been assigned to monitor the situation round the clock. SNS

Draupadi of modern times !!

MALDA, 18 SEPT: This is Mahabharata all over again; only at stake was a daughter instead of a wife.

A father, after losing all his money and ornaments at the sweepstake, had wagered his daughter and lost her too.

The incident occurred at Satgharia in English Bazaar police station, Malda district on Wednesday.

“Though no one has lodged any complaint, the police have started an investigation into it,” the Malda superintendent of police Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay, said.

It is learnt that one Ismail Sheikh put his daughter Fatima Khatun, a class XI student of Mahananda Higher Secondary School on ante in a drunken state after he had lost all his money and ornaments in a gambling match with one Mustafa.

The girl had gone to the spot to bring back her father home.

Sheikh, who had lost all his belongings by then and was desperate to win it back, chose to wager her for a final roll of the dice.

Unfortunately for him, Mustafa won the last round too and decided to take the girl to his place against her will.

Others present at the spot informed the villagers and panchayat officials and a group of villagers rescued the girl from the Sultanpur village.

Mustafa is missing. SNS

After investigation police said nothing happend there.

DM takes up Anganwadi cause

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 SEPT: The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked the block development officers and panchayat officials to approach the people of the district so that they offer at least one decimal land for the construction of an Anganwadi centre in the minority dominated areas here.

The district administration said that it was facing difficulties to utilise funds allotted for the construction of Anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) owing to a huge dearth of land.

The minority affairs department has already allotted a fund of more than Rs 10 crore, fifty percent of the total fund allotted for this district and asked the district administration to begin the work.

“We are facing a lot of problem to begin the work due to the inavailability of land. The work can get much easier if the rural people donate at least on decimal of their lands for the construction of the ICDS centre,” said Mr Sridhar Ghosh.

The district development department has received some list of lands and presently they are carrying out the basic verification. But the number is not sufficient for the required number of lands in many blocks which are backward and minority dominated.

However, the Malda Zilla Parishad had also failed to build these ICDS centres because of non-cooperation from the contractors. The contractors did not participate in the tender terming it as a ‘non profitable’ work.

MP alleges improper appointments

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 SEPT:The district Congress president and South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury alleged that the social welfare department illegally issued appointment letters to 372 candidates as helpers for anganwadi centre under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Kaliachak block I.

Mr AH Khan Choudhury expressed unhappiness over the role of social welfare minister, Mr Biswanath Chowdhury for issuing appointment letter to ‘party cadres’ ignoring a writ petition in Kolkata High Court.

On 4 August 2009, the South Malda MP had written a letter to Mr Chowdhury and informed him that an attempt has been taken up from the official level to issue appointment illegally.

The MP had requested him to look into the matter about an illegal attempt that was taken to prepare a panel in 2007 without individual score sheet of selection committee members including the then MLA Rubi Noor and the then sabhapati of Kaliachak Block I panchayat samiti. The MP has asked the Congress workers to start agitation on this issue to stop such practice.

The district Congress general secretary and member of Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Mostaque Alam claimed: “Yesterday, the child development project officer (CDPO), Mr PK Ghosh issued a total of 372 appointment letters illegally.”

Mr Ghosh has been transferred just after issuing the appointment letters. Mr Alam also told reporters: “All appointment letters were issued illegally yesterday following the RSP leader’s direction”.

However, the district programme officer in Malda Mr Pratyarpan Singha Roy was reportedly directed by top officials on 10 August this year to take initiative to issue appointment letter for the post of helper in ICDS centres in Kaliachak block I.

While Mr Singha Roy declined to carry out the verbal order over phone he was immediately asked to hand over charges to the district social welfare officer.

Mr Singha Roy was transferred to Nadia on 11 August.

Before handing over charges, Mr Singh Roy issued a note in the file of the disputed panel for the appointment of helpers that “the entire panel should be cancelled to avoid legal and administrative complications”.

The individual score sheets, which was prepared by the members of the selection committee after interviewing the candidates in July 2007, ‘vanished’ and later the panel was made without a proper score sheet.

The Congress workers have sought the original score sheet of the applicants based on the Right to Information Act. SNS

PHE takes up new strategy to provide safe drinking water

MALDA, 18 SEPT: To supply safe drinking water in the fluoride contaminated Bamongola block of the district, the public health engineering has chalked out a unique plan to collect water from an almost desiccated Tangan river.

The PHE engineers have sought approval for the project, which envisages laying several horizontal strainers (filters) under the riverbed to collect drinking water.

According to Mr Swapan Maitra, executive engineer, PHE, the water such drawn would be stored in a big well and then distributed to different areas. The well alone would cost about Rs one crore.

“Though the Nalagola area in Bamongola block is fluoride contaminated, the water under the riverbed is fluoride free. We have come to this conclusion after testing water several times,” Mr Maitra claimed.

“If the department approves the proposed project, drinking water crisis will be resolved in large parts of Bamongola block. But, as the neighbouring Habibpur block does not have a river, we have to depend on underground water to meet the crisis,” he added.

According to the official, the PHE would also implement drinking water project based on underground water in Harishchandrapur block. Out of 10 proposed projects, at least five may be sanctioned soon for Harishchandrapur at an estimated cost of Rs1.5 crore each.

Surface water projects based on the river Fulohar has not been accepted due to lack of funds, he informed.

The department is also planning to prepare a few drinking water projects for Old Malda and Gazole. SNS

Malda to implement state’s housing project

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 SEPT: The Malda district administration has planned to implement state government's housing project for the downtrodden people here.

Following the instruction of the minister of state for minority affairs, Mr Abdus Sattar, the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked two sub-divisional officers to hold a meeting with the block development officers to prepare the list of beneficiaries by October this year.

The state has allotted a fund of Rs 1 lakh to each member for constructing their houses.

The Malda district has fixed a target of building at least 2,000 houses irrespective of all caste and creed, which also includes widows who do not own houses.

Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that the housing project was formulated by the state itself and at present the project has been introduced in four districts ~ Murshidabad, Malda, North and South Dinajpur.

Mr Abdus Sattar has been assigned for monitoring the project in all the four districts.

Initially the Malda administration has decided that members of a total of 2008 gram sansads would select one beneficiary from each sansad for whom a house would be constructed.

If block officials with the help of panchayat officials can select at least one beneficiary from one gram sansad the district administration will be able to achieve the target to build 2,000 houses here under the project, Mr Ghosh said.

“In Malda there are many people who do no have their own home. The state has decided to provide shelter for them. The administration would build their houses. “No fund would be handed over to them directly," Mr Ghosh said.

Congress leader attacks Trinamul councillor

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 SEPT: Congress leader and English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury allegedly attacked a councillor Mr Shantanu Saha, belonging to the Trinamul Congress of the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM).

Mr Saha's mother Mrs Babe Saha lodged a complaint with police this evening.

Enmity between Mr Choudhury and Mr Saha was brewing for the past few months over various issues including family matters which has presently turned into a political affair.

It may be noted that Mr Saha came to politics backed by Mr Choudhury's help, when he was former district president of Trinamul Congress and former chairman of English Bazaar Municipality (EBM).

The additional superintendent of police, Mr Kalyan Mukherjee had to interfere when trouble broke out over an apparent minor issue between the two neighbours ~ Mr Choudhury and Mr Saha.

Police interference brought the situation under control.However later it was learnt that followers of English Bazaar MLA assaulted Mr Saha at Golapatti today.

On being intimidated about the incident the Trinamul workers including the present district Trinamul president Mr Goutam Chakraborty came into the scene.

During an exchange of hot words Mr Chakraborty was allegedly humiliated.

“Every thing happened in presence of police and media persons today. I had lodged compliant against the Trinamul councillor with the police when he was repeatedly bad mouthing me”, said Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, the Congress MLA.

The Trinamul Congress took out a rally this evening in Malda town in protest against attack on Mr Shantanu Saha, Trinamul leader.

Citu men set Malda Cong office on fire

MALDA, 17 SEPT: The CPI-M backed Citu supporters set a Congress office on fire at Kharba under Chanchal police station last night after two CPI-M workers were severely assaulted by a group led by the Congress leader, police said.

Trouble broke out over the issue of formation of a union for illegal mechanized rickshaw vans at Kharba.

The Citu was working to form a union there based locally made three wheelers fitted with a motor.

The vehicle, popularly known as Bhutbhuti, is not approved by the transport authorities.

It was learnt that one CPI-M member, Mr Abdur Rouf was allegedly collecting subscription from the owners of motorised rickshaw in the name of fund collection by the local gram panchayat.

The Congress leader and Kharba gram panchayat pradhan, Mr Mahababul Hoque protested against the alleged practice and assaulted Akhtar Hossian, chain master of the illegal three wheelers.

Later Mr Hoque and his associates attacked Mr Rouf, a CPI-M local committee member.While the information about the attack on Mr Rouf spread, hundreds of people from Nijlamari village, a red bastion, rushed to Kharba and set fire on the Congress party office last night.

Police rushed to the spot and rescued some people from inside the office.

Police arrested four persons from the spot, who were identified as Sahorab Ali, Nazimul Hoque, Maleque Hossain and Jahangir Alam respectively. SNS

New revenue plans for country spirit

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 SEPT: To earn more revenue by selling country spirit (CS) the district administration has not only urged its authorised sellers to increase 30 per cent sales, but also started to curb ‘fake’ (spurious) country liquor manufacturing units here.

Last night excise department arrested two persons and seized 40 litre rectified spirit in English Bazaar town.

Acting on a tip off, excise officials intercepted an auto rickshaw in which one Samar Ghosh, a resident of Mangalbari under Malda police station, was travelling to deliver rectified spirit for manufacturing fake country liquor.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “A section of people are manufacturing ‘fake country liquor’ in Mangalbari. We have identified the illegal manufacturing unit there. More units are running in Mangalbari and other areas in this district”.

“These unscrupulous traders are selling country liquor at the rate of Rs 20 per bottle in the market (nearly half of its present rate fixed by the government). The consumers cannot make out the difference and buy ‘fake country sprit’ from them. This trade has been hampering business of CS supplied from the government's authorised bottlers”, Mr Ghosh said.

A section of people at Mangalbari sneek in rectified spirit illegally from Bengal-Bihar border in North Dinajpur area and supply across Malda district upto Raghunathganj in Murshidabad regularly.

It may be noted that the district magistrate held a meeting recently with the authorised CS sellers and bottler and asked them to achieve a target of at least 30 percent increase in sales in September this year as compared to September last year.

The selling rate of CS is lower than the previous year because of Ramzan being observed by a large section of people belonging to Muslim community.

The authorised sellers claimed that every year rate of consumption is increasing. Records show that rate is increasing more than 30 per cent than previous records sometimes. Every year rate of consumers is being increased by 10 per cent.

“But the selling rate of Indian made foreign liquor is increasing abnormally. The rate is nearly 130 percent in Malda. The rate of selling of foreign liquor in rural belt is also increasing steadily. The young generation prefers to consume country made foreign liquor than CS”, said Mr Saikat De, one of the leaders of liquor trade in Malda.

Festival ‘sugar’ for APL & BPL consumers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 SEPT: The district controller, food and supplies, today finally announced that consumers belonging to both BPL and APL (below the poverty line and above the poverty line) will be getting sugar just before Id and the Durga Puja festival.

It may be noted that since May 2009 no sugar has been allotted in this region for BPL people. The dearth of sugar had frustrated the modified ration dealers as they were under pressure from consumers.

Trouble cropped up after the state finance minister Mr Asim Dasgupta declared that sugar would be distributed to both APL and BPL people through the public distribution system.

The district controller, food and supplies, Malda, Mr Arunagshu Bhattacharya, said: “APL people can now procure sugar.” “The distributors have been asked to bring sugar from the Haldia Sugar Mill in East Midnapur for distribution to APL people through ration shops before Id and Puja. I hope MR dealers will be able to collect sugar by the end of this week or next week,” said Mr Bhattacharya.

“The APL consumers will be getting sugar at the rate of Rs 27.50 per kg. One APL family will be allotted one kg sugar per month,” he informed.

The present market rate for sugar is Rs 33 to 34 per kg in Malda. According to the district controller, food and supplies, the Essential Commodities Supply Corporation (ECSC) has got sugar allotted for BPL here.

The sugar for BPL people will be distributed soon for three districts - Malda, North and South Dinajpur.

The BPL people will be getting 125 gm sugar per head per week. ()

DI to look into school fee issue

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 SEPT: The district inspector (DI) of school (secondary), Mr Chinmay Sarkar, has asked the leaders of the AISA (All India Students’ Association) to submit the list of secondary schools, the authorities of which are yet to return the excess fees to the students. Yesterday, leaders of the AISA, backed by the CPI-ML Liberation, and more than 200 boys and girls and their guardians staged an agitation in front of the DI office and submitted a memorandum. The AISA leaders pointed out the names of nearly 25 secondary schools located in Gazole, Habibpur, Bamongola and Kaliachak areas. Such school authorities did not return excess fees received from the students during admission despite requests. In May of this year, the district inspector of school, Mr Sarkar, had issued an order to all government aided schools informing that he would take stern action against the managing committees and head of the institutions if they did not return excess fees to the students which had been collected from them violating a government order. In the order it was also pointed out that the district education department would report to the board against the headmaster of that school and would suggest dissolving the managing committee if a complaint was lodged after 16 July. “We have already taken stern action against a school (Bamongola High School) and reported to the board against its authorities suggesting that they dissolve the committee,” said Mr Chinmay Sarkar, DI (secondary) Malda. “The deadline of 16 July is over but still we are getting complaints. If the students can furnish a list of such schools and some evidence we would take action against them. We must send report to the board against the schools (based on the list and complaints) to take stern action,” Mr Sarkar said. It may be noted that the government has directed that an admission fee of Rs 63 be taken from each student in the rural belt and Rs 78 from each in the urban belt. But some school authorities have been demanding sums of Rs 200 to Rs 250 from each student. Interestingly, the school authorities issued money receipts for Rs 63 and Rs 78. But they did not issue money receipt for the excess amount to evade the education officials.

Pay too low for burying unclaimed bodies

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 SEPT: The Anjuman Mohammadia Anjuman Society (AMAS) in Malda, a committee for the disposal of unclaimed bodies belonging to the Muslim community, has demanded enhancement of the old rate of burial paid by the government.

The present government rate is only Rs 75 but the committee is bound to spend Rs 1,200 for disposal of each body.

It may be noted that this committee is responsible and entitled to dispose of the unclaimed bodies in the Muslim graveyard receiving from the district hospital following the recommendation of police, doctors and other authorities.

The secretary of the AMAS, Mr Ainul Hoque, submitted a representation to the sub-divisional officer and police super on 20 August, 2009 and demanded revision of the present rate paid by the government.

Mr Hoque alleged that despite several reminders the government has not considered their payer.

“Since 16 May, 1990 the government has been paying Rs 75 per body. But at present we have to spend at least Rs 1,200 for disposal of one ‘decomposed’ body,” said the secretary of the AMAS.

He also pointed out: “We need at least four labourers to carry the body. Labourers are not interested in carrying a rotten body. The hospital authorities hand over the body after one month from the morgue. Besides labour charges we need to buy bamboo, cloth and other items to maintain the rituals.”

Citing an example Mr Hoque said: “Today, we buried a rotten body. The General Railway Police recovered the body on 09 August, 2009. Postmortem was conducted the day before, on the eighth. Today, on 15 September, the hospital authorities handed over the body to us. We face difficulties to carry the body on the road as people feel uneasy due to the bad stench.”

The sub-divisional officer Mr Prakash Pal said: “We have to send the representation to the government, through the district magistrate, for reconsideration of the present rate.” END

Mob ransacks hospital after 12-year-old’s death in Malda

MALDA, 15 SEPT: A mob ransacked the male medical staff office at Malda district hospital following the death of a 12 year-old student today. The raiders alleged negligence on the part of hospital staff as reason for the boy's death. The victim Sagar Singh (12) died from breathing problem. He was admitted to the hospital today with fever and respiratory problem. He was administered oxygen. The victim's relatives alleged the oxygen pipe was slipping out of his nose frequently and the patient was not getting adequate oxygen, which led to his death. The angry relatives alleged that despite repeated urgings to fix the oxygen tube so that the victim could inhale adequate oxygen, the nursing staff delayed to do so, which proved fatal in the end. The boy's death turned the relatives and locals violent and they attacked the nursing staff near the male medical ward and ransacked their office. The chief medical officer of health, Malda, Dr Srikanta Roy said: “I have asked the superintendent of the district hospital to investigate the incident and find out whether it was negligence on the part of the hospital staff or not. It is difficult to ascertain the cause of death without a medical investigation. Moreover, the oxygen cylinder might have contained a fault,” Dr Roy pointed out. SNS

LF to protest against price hike in Malda

MALDA, 15 SEPT: While the Left Front is being voted out of power from not only the civic body but also from the Parliamentary elections, the Malda district Left Front has decided to launch movement in the interest of the common people on 23 September, just a day before Durga Puja, in front of Malda district magistrate office.

In a recent meeting the district Left Front leaders decided to raise the issue of price hike of essential commodities including patrol and diesel demanding food security.

In Malda prices of essential commodities including the potato, sugar, rice, pulses, spices and other vegetables have risen beyond .

The LF leaders have also decided to appeal to the government to change the definition of BPL and revise the criteria of selecting people who will be provided with more facilities to the poor in rural and urban areas.

Besides the LF leaders have also demanded the revision of BPL lists, restructuring and strengthening of the public distribution system.

It may be noted that since March no sugar was distributed for BPL through public distribution system in this region owing to dearth in supply by the Essential Commodities Supply Corporation.

On the issue of development of this district, the LF leaders have planned to expose allegedly malpractice in Congress led civic bodies like Malda Zilla Parishad and the English Bazaar Municipality. SNS

Authorities fail to build guard wall along Fulohar

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 SEPT: The irrigation department failed to complete a 350 long guard wall for flood protection, even after apprehending a second spell of flood in Fulohar river, at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur in northern part of Malda district. The embankments and emergency guard wall were washed away due to erosion and flood inundating the two blocks Harishchandrapur-II and Ratua-I in the last week of August. To prevent another spell of flood, the officials of the irrigation department had allotted Rs 1 crore to build an emergency guard wall to prevent flood waters from the river Fulohar River to enter into the vulnerable areas. The executive engineer Mr S Misra said: “The main portion of the guard wall, out of 350 metre, has been completed where the embankments were breached. “We will dump sand filled gunny bags in two sides to close the way of waters if the water level increases suddenly”. Mr S Misra further said: “There is no question of flood on Ganga belt but we fear the unpredictable Fulohar.” According to flood control cell, though the water level is rising in the Ganga but it is far below the danger mark till today. In next two weeks the water level will not increase abnormally following the forecasts in upper catchments. But in Fulohar River the water level is 25.95 metre, it could be increased at any moment if the Darjeeling district and Purnia in Bihar receive rain in next two weeks of September. “If we can complete guard wall we will be able to prevent flood water from Foluhar”, said Mr. Misra.

Upgrade of Malda rural hospital a far cry

MALDA, 14 SEPT: Though the district health authorities had proposed to upgrade Chanchal rural hospital as a sub-divisional hospital in the northern part of Malda district three years ago, the state health authorities have not approved the proposal yet. The chief medical officer of health, Dr Srikanta Roy had informed the matter to the health minister at a recent meeting here, but no initiative had been taken up till date. “We have planned to send a fresh proposal to re-build the infrastructure at Chanchal rural hospital so that we can renovate it as a sub-divisional hospital that will provide better health services to people," said Dr Srikanta Roy. “We need the present status report of the hospital to know its capacity and an approximate number of patients who visit the outdoor and indoor chambers of the hospital. It is only after this that we will be able to finalise its staff strength, number of bed for patients and the construction plan of the building as a sub-divisional hospital," Dr Roy said. “There should have been a sub-divisional hospital in the first place when Chanchal was declared a sub-division years ago," he added. Though the health department has its surgeon and gynecologist posted in the hospital, but owing to a dearth of blood storage doctors did not risk any serious operation. Serious pregnant mothers' cases are often referred to the Malda district hospital due to the lack of infrastructure here. The staffs posted at Chanchal rural hospital are less than its requirement and sanctioned earlier as rural hospital. SNS

Suci with Trinamul in fight against Capitalist Cong

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 11 SEPT: Protesting against capitalist exploitation, members of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) today said they will continue to support the Trinamul Congress. The decision, said Mr Sanjit Biswas, a state committee leader of Suci, was taken to protect the interest of the proletariat in West Bengal. At a meeting held to discuss the agenda of the second party Congress, Mr Biswas said at the national level, the Congress was fast becoming a party of the capitalists but in the state it is the ‘CPI-M led Left social democratic forces' that is creating trouble.“We must extend our support to the Trinamul Congress as it fighting the CPI-M led Left front here, but we also have to ‘control’ the Trinamul Congress so that it cannot support the Congress at the national level”, Mr Biswas said.He was also firm in saying that if in future, the Trinamul members extend support to aid capitalist forces, the body will snap all its ties with the party.After 1988, the Suci is holding its second party Congress in November. Communists’ leaders from 15 countries ~ Germany, France, Iran, Russia, Nepal, Bangladesh, have been invited to attend the meet to be held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi from 11 to 17 November.

New Farakka-Nabadwip train is all set for flag off

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 11 SEPT: Though officials of Malda railway division (eastern rail) are preparing for an inaugural run of a new express train from Farakka Junction Station in Murshidabad to Nabadwip Dham in Nadia from tomorrow, they are facing difficulties in maintaining rakes at the former station regularly.

Finally, the railway authorities have decided to bring the empty rake to Malda town station’s car shed for maintenance. After maintenance work is completed the train will go to Farakka station on time before leaving for Nabadwip Dham.

The new express train will leave for Nabadwip Dham at 4.20 pm tomorrow.

“Owing to lack of infrastructure at Farakka Jn station the empty train will ply twice between Farakka and Malda before leaving for Nabadwip. We do not estimate profit and loss of the train for running empty”, said Mr MK Mathur, the Malda railway divisional manager.

The distance between Malda and Farakka is more than 30 km.

“We have received instruction from the railway ministry to run the train from Farakka. At present we have to carry out the order of the ministry. In future, considering commercial viability of trains, the demand and sale of ticket from Malda town, we would propose the railway authorities to extend its route up to Malda town station”, Mr Mathur said.

Tomorrow, the top railway officials will also discuss the present problem of Farakka station with Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the finance minister and MP from the Jangipur, tentatively he would be present tomorrow to flag off the new train from Farakka.

The railway officials will urge him to develop infrastructure of the Farakka railway station to run two new trains from that station.

According to announcement of union railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee, it may be noted that another new train will run from Farakka town station to New Delhi soon.

That rake will also be coming to Malda town station for its maintenance and go back to Farakka before leaving for Delhi.

At present Farakka station does not have sufficient additional land for development. There is no scope to acquire land because of national highway 34 is passing close to station.

“Additional land is required for the construction of car shed for rakes and maintenance near Farakka station”, said the Malda railway divisional manager.

The Malda divisional railway manager Mr. M K Mathur said: “We will face problem in Malda when two trains will be coming from Farakka to Malda town station for maintenance. We need to develop either Farakka station or to extend the capacity of the Malda town station”.

4 held for fake currency racket

MALDA, 10 SEPT: Acting on a tip off the Intelligence branch of the BSF and Malda police jointly conducted a raid and arrested four persons close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, in Kalaichak-III block. Fake currency worth Rs 2 lakh was seized from their possession. The BSF had to seek help from police when the accused escaped along a border road in a Maruti van belonging to a local doctor. Police later intercepted their vehicle and caught them. Those arrested have been identified as Ainul Haque (27), Sultan Mia (25), Khoka Mia (25) and Ashok Ghosh (driver), all residents of Chori-Anantapur area in Kalaichak -III block. During interrogation they confessed before police and BSF that they were assigned to hand over the fake currency to a person in Kolkata. Both police and the Border Security Force have admitted that many Indians are engaged in fake currency business along the border and they are regularly smuggling in counterfeit notes from Bangladesh. The BSF commandant, Mr R Kumar said: “Many children and women have been engaged to bring counterfeit notes from Bangladesh. Lack of women officers hamper our search procedures.” ;SNS