Priya’s dream unrealised...

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 30 OCT: Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, former Raiganj MP and former Union Information and Broadcasting minister, wanted to build a sub divisional sports stadium at Chanchal in North Malda, which was believed to be his dream project.

But in Mr Das Munshi’s absence the project is yet to kick off.

Mr Das Munshi had allotted a fund of Rs 30 lakh from his MP funds in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and he managed some additional fund from various sources including Rs 15 lakh from a Rajya Sabha MP for the construction of that stadium.

Though the present MP in North Malda, Miss Mausam Noor, had promised during her election campaigns that she would implement this project but no initiative has been taken up till date. But she had assured during the polls campaigns: “Priya mamar unnoyoner asampurno kaj aami sampurno korbo” (I will fulfill Priya uncle's unfulfilled dream).

According to the district administrative officials, the Centre had allotted MPLAD funds of Rs 1 crore, half of the total funds in a year, for Miss Noor, but no proposal has been submitted to the district planning and development department till date.

However, Miss Noor was not available for comment because she had left for Japan.

“He had also asked us to finalise a day for laying the foundation stone of the proposed stadium at Chanchal on the last meeting with him, after which he fell ill seriously,” said an official of the district planning and development department.

According to the officials of the district planning and development department, the funds allotted by Mr Das Munshi had been mostly utilised in the power sector.

A few funds allotted for madrassa, school and construction of burning ghaat were yet to be utilised.

According to the officials, due to technical reasons the then SDO Mr Debasish Sarkar could not give work orders to a particular firm who had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) based on the verbal instruction of Mr Das Munshi.

Later it was decided that the Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) would be implementing agencies for the construction of the stadium.

The additional executive officer of the MZP, Mr Kajal Banerjee said: “We could not begin the work as Mr Das Munshi could not give his approval due to his illness.”

The present Chanchal sub-divisional officer, Mr Subho Mukherjee said: “We have already decided to arrange a meeting with the Chanchal stadium committee, formed by the then MP, to review the situation so that we can begin the project”.

Killers hired to murder teacher: Police

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 29 OCT: The secretary and two other assistant teachers of Raniganj High School in Gazole were interrogated today in connction with the murder case of Utpal Sarkar, an assistant teacher of the school.

Police would interrogate the secretary of the school, Mr P Saha again along with Mr Prasanta Haldar, who was present at the time when Mr Sarkar was shot in a car on the night of 2 October on NH 34 under Gazole police station.

Teachers of Raniganj High School shut down their school for three days from 21 October demanding arrest of the main culprits behind the incident.

The family members of Sarkar and his associates belonging to the ABTA, submitted representations to police officers several times demanding arrest of the criminals.

Though police had arrested two persons who had allegedly targeted the car in which Sarkar was coming to Malda, but they could not nab the culprits who ‘masterminded’ the murder.

Though police had not yet arrived at any definite conclusion, they suspect Mr Ashok Saha and his relative Mr P Saha, secretary of the same school.

A few years back there was conflict between Sarkar and Mr P Saha, secretary of the school, on various issues relating to the institution, police sources said.

After thorough investigation police believe that Sarkar was shot dead by some “contract killers” who plotted the entire plan of looting Mr Ashok Saha’s car by which Sarkar was coming to Malda town.

However, Mr Saha, who is also the headmaster of another school in Gazole, was driving his own car. Mr Saha's staff Mr Prasanta Haldar, who was also shot at by the criminals, was sitting in the back of the car.

Police suspect that it was not a case of robbery but a well planned murder because the night when the incident occurred, the criminals did not take other valuables kept in the car apart from a sum of Rs 10,000.

To add to it, Mr Ashok Saha, who was driving the car, was almost unhurt.Police interrogated Mr Haldar, who has returned from Kolkata PG hospital, and planned to interrogate him.

However, during interrogation he said: “I do not know anything before the incident because I was sleeping”.

Erosion victims demand compensation

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 29 OCT: Thousands of erosion victims, who lost their homes in Kaliachak block II, Manikchak and adjoining block areas in the past few years due to the raging Ganga, staged demonstration infront of the Malda district magistrate's office, demanding compensation announced by the justices of Calcutta High Court.Victims under the banner of Ganga Bhangan Pratirodh Nagarik Action Committee today met the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh and claimed their due compensation which was announced by senior judges of the Calcutta High Court in a public hearing held at Malda College one-and-a-half years ago.They alleged that despite the High Court's order, the district administration has not provided the Rs 5000, which each family was entitled to. During the hearing, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that following the Court orders, he sought funds from the government's relief department to compensate them. Besides seeking compensation, the committee members also demanded basic amenities for the people who live in charred lands devastated by the Ganga. The district magistrate Mr. Ghosh assured them that after the end of the Sujapur bypoll he would visit the affected areas to take stock of the situation there. He had also suggested them to avail the housing scheme, which was recently launched by the state government for poor people who are homeless.The DM said if the victims were facing any trouble due to all the political infighting at the gram panchayat and block level they can seek the Malda SDO's help immediately.The committee also alleged that after the construction of Farakka Barrage over the Ganga, the problem of erosion had aggravated rendering many people homeless in Kaliachak, Manikchak, English Bazaar block areas.

No BJP candidate for Sujapur, voters asked to trust conscience

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 OCT: The BJP, which once boasted of a strong presence on Malda district has failed to nominate a candidate for the Sujapur Assembly by-poll on 7 November.

Its leaders have decided to ask the supporters to cast conscience vote and the party as a whole is expecting some organization or the other to seek its support. So far, none has.

“Though our party policy is to maintain equidistance from the Left Front and the Congress and its allies, we ask our workers and supporters to cast conscience vote wherever we cannot nominate a candidate,” said senior BJP leader Mr Tapan Sikdar today.

The local BJP leadership, however, expects either the Congress or the CPI-M to seek its support.

Since the BJP is supporting the Congress to run the Malda Zilla Parishad and the parishad's saha-sabhadipati is an elected BJP member, it expects the Congress to seek its support in the by-poll.

The BJP district president Mr Jatindranath Ghosh, however, said: “If the CPI-M seeks our support we would ask our supporters to cast votes in favour of the CPI-M.”

Neither the Congress nor the CPI-M have approached the BJP for support till now though.

The CPI-M led Left Front and its candidate are depending more on their organizational strength than anything else. They are also cautious in seeking support.

The Congress on the other hand has its task cut out. It first has to douse the controversy that had almost denied candidate Mr AN Khan Choudhury the ticket.

Moreover, the constituency has been returning a Congress candidate for years and so the anti-incumbency factor is another hurdle for the Congress in addition to underdevelopment.

Mother to lose job after son’s inter-caste marriage

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 OCT: Mrs Rubi Kumari, an upper division clerk of Jamalpur block II in Munger, today sought Malda district magistrate's help so that the Bihar government can not terminate her from service.

Seeking security, Mrs Kumari, in her written application, informed the Malda DM Mr Sridhar Ghosh that she had to flee the area seven months ago and could not return to join her service fearing fresh attack on her.

She alleged that her neighbour in Jamalpur, Mr SP Yadav, threatened to kill her and her husband when their son got married to Mr Yadav's daughter, as was against their inter-caste marriage.

Mrs Kumari fled the area and came to her in-law's house at Mathurapur in Manikchak block in Malda. They here organised a marriage ceremony of Mrs Kumari's son and arranged for their registery marriage.

However, the newly married couple is presently staying in Gujarat along with Mr Goutam Choudhury, Mrs Kumari's husband.Mrs Kimari decided to seek help from the Malda DM following a notice published by the Munger administration in a Hindi daily asking her to report by 1 November, 2009 otherwise threatened that necessary action would be taken against her.

“I had informed the matter to the authorities seeking security but no action was taken,” she said when the district magistrate asked her to inform the matter to the collector of Munger.

The Malda DM said he would forward her plea to the district magistrate Munger requesting him to reassess her prayer.

The DM Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that he could not provide security to anybody who belonged to somewhere outside the district or the state.

Malda civic body fails to acquire land for dumping garbage due to funds crunch

MALDA, 28 OCT: Owing to a fund crunch the Old Malda Municipality (OMM) could not acquire a plot of land for implementing the garbage and waste management programme following the norms of the pollution control board.

However, the environment department had allotted a fund of Rs 50 lakh for implementing the solid waste management programme in OMM.

“It is very difficult for us as well as the other civic bodies to follow the guidelines of the pollution control board for garbage management as we do not have enough fund,” said Mr Biswanath Sukul, chairman of the OMM.

He also disclosed that owing to such a fund crunch the civic body could not take up a land from the government on lease either.

“At least Rs 16 lakh will be required to get a land from the government,” he added.

However, the OMM had selected a land measuring nearly 6.5 acre near Nawabganj and with the help of the administration it had evicted encroachers from the land. But finally it could not take possession of the land from the government due to the non-availability of huge funds required for the purpose.

“We have approached the government to hand over the land with minimum charges. A negotiation is going on but nothing has been finalised yet,” the chairman said.

It was reported that the OMM had no specific area where the garbage would be disposed. “Though we do not have a particular garbage dumping ground but we dispose it in suitable places not disturbing the local people,” said Mr Sukul, chairman of the OMM. ; SNS

Hazelnut a threat to pisciculture

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 OCT: Hazelnut cultivation on wetland earmarked as fishery by the state government could lead to a breach in law and order situation in Chanchal sub-division in Malda district.

Wetlands leased out for fishery development to local co-operatives and fishermen are being illegally sublet to traders for hazelnut cultivation against kickbacks.

Pisci-culture and the small time fishermen who are cooperative members are being ignored in the process.

Under the circumstances, resentment is brewing and could explode any day.

The administration had to recently deploy the police to quell a clash between two groups over the right of wetlands and hazelnut cultivation in Harishchandrapur where even the people's representatives including panchayat members were involved in the trade as stakeholders. Commenting on the situation, the Chanchal SDO Mr S Mukherjee said: “The situation is under control but rear up in other areas of Harishchandrapur block where people are interested to cultivate hazelnut for more profit ignoring pisciculture.”

A number of businessmen have grabbed many government wetlands in Harishchandrapur where the common people used to use those for multiple purposes. The people are being prevented from using the wetlands for their daily chores and that is turning the situation complex.

The fisheries department is also suffering directly from the development as pisciculture has been hampered seriously.

“The department could not develop integrated fish cum hazelnut cultivation in the region to make up for the shortfall in fish production in the government controlled wetlands,” lamented a fishery department official.

EBM violates court order, expands road

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 OCT: Despite the injunction issued by the civic judge in Malda Court that ruled out all constructions along the Station Road, the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) is allegedly continuing the road's expansion and building construction on its sides.

The civil judge (senior division), Mr Justice S Chattaraj asked the civic body to stop work on 22 October following a petition from the land owner Mr Gopinath Seth.

Mr Seth along with others claimed that the EBM had taken possession of the land illegally and had started construction without acquiring permission from the authorities.

The applicant also claimed that the EBM initially encroached a plot of land measuring 64 decimal (plot no 94) under Mahesmati mouja without informaing the authorities.

Later the land owner and his lawyer today sought administrative help to stop the construction work of the EBM.

The EBM vice-chairman, Mr Dulal Sarkar said: “We have been constructing a building on plot no 73, not on plot no. 94. The applicant is not the owner of the plots of land where the construction is being carried on”.

Mr Sarkar also said that the objective of the construction of a building was to rehabilitate some traders evicted from the roadside lately following the expansion of the Station road.

However, it was reported that the traders were evicted earlier but the EBM could not rehabilitate them.

Mr Bipul Datta, Mr Seth's lawyer, claimed that land records proved that plot no 73 was identified as a plot for cutting drains owned by the EBM but the construction was actually going on a private land identified as plot no 94.

Officials in a fix over DPSC functions after chairman resign

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 OCT: The officials of the primary education department in Malda are facing a lot of trouble to run the District Primary School Council (DPSC) after the resignation of its chairman, Dr Uttam Sarkar, at a time when the process of teacher recriutment is under way.

Following several pleas, Dr Sarkar was finally released yesterday afternoon.

Dr Sarkar again joined the physics department of Malda College today, where he used to work as a senior lecturer earlier.

Speculations are brewing in various quarters, after the matter came to the limelight.

A section of primary school teachers and others are saying that Dr Sarkar had to resign following a difference of opinion on the issue of primary teachers’ recruitment.

However, Dr Sarkar denied such speculations and said: “They can call me ‘selfish’ because I decided to join college service again to build my career. My promotion was due in May 2009".

“I needed to study more to be a reader following the guidelines of the University Grant Commission. So I decided to quit the post for my career,” he said.

The CPI-M party leaders, who play a vital role to nominate a man as chairman of the DPSC, said that Dr Sarkar was suffering from financial problems while working as the chairman of the council.

Moreover, he was in no position to become the principal of any college if he continued as the council's chairman.

The district secretary of the CPI-M, Mr Jiban Moitra said students of Malda College had been complaining that in Dr Sarkar's absence its physics department was facing problem.

After completion of the Sujapur bypoll a new chairman would be nominated to run the DPSC in Malda.

Participation in sports a dream for UGB pupils

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 OCT: Students under the newly formed University of Gour Banga (UGB) have not been able to take part in the inter-university sports meet since the past one year and the fate of athletes in different colleges under the UGB seems to be uncertain this year as well.

Some interested students contacted the sports officials of the University of North Bengal so that they could participate in the inter-university sports meet but the students were told that they could join the event only through the UGB.

The UGB was formed last year comprising the colleges of three districts ~ Malda, North and South Dinajpur, which were under the University of North Bengal's control.

After formation of the UGB, the authorities could not start a games and sports event under its banner. As a result, students could not take part in the inter-university sports meet representing UGB.

The registrar of the UGB, Mr Tapas Chatterjee said the University authorities had already formed a sports broad under the leadership of Mr PC Das, a teacher of the UGB's Sanskrit department.

According to Mr Das, after formulating the rules and regulations of the sports board, it will hold another meeting on 28 October to prepare its budget and programmes till 31 March 2010.

“The students would be able to take part in the inter-university tournament from December and January onwards,” Mr Chatterjee said.

Passengers inconvenienced after rly ticket counter shifted

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 OCT: Railway passengers are in a fix after the railway ticket counters have been shifted from the main building of the Malda town station to other newly constructed building which is located at around 150 metres from the station. Passengers have been protesting against the sudden decision to shift the ticket counters after they had to face a lot of problems to enter the railway station. Last night passengers started agitating against the railway officials when they had to travel all the way to the ticket counters situated at the new buildings and again come back to the railway station. The senior divisional commercial manager (DCM), Mr NN Singh said: “I know that the passengers are facing some problems at present. The ticket counters have been shifted permanently to the newly constructed building and the objective is to implement different developmental plans in the Malda town station.”“We are trying to make a passage and a platform that will connect the new ticket counter so that passengers get to enter the platform directly. We have a plan to implemen it soon,” Mr Singh added. The Senior DCM also explained that following the instruction of railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee, the Malda town station would be converted into an ‘Adarsha’ station.“To make it a model station we need to provide more facilities for the passengers according to the guidelines of the railway authorities. We need more space in Malda town station. Many works have been started and some others will be started soon for which funds have also been allotted,” he said.

Trinamul activists agitate against price hike in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 OCT: The leaders and workers of the Trinamul Congress today staged an agitation in front of the Malda district magistrate's office protesting against the price hike of essential commodities and other issues in the state. The Trinamul leaders took the opportunity to focus on the price hike issue during their agitation following the upward trend of price of some essential items in the local markets. Since the past few days the price of sugar, onions, potatoes, pulses and other essential commodities have gone up drastically. Based on quality the rate of sugar in the wholesale markets is Rs 3,100 to Rs 3,300 per quintal. The officials of the food and supplies department have admitted that the rate of sugar was under control during the festive season when the government was providing sugar through the public distribution system for both the APL and BPL consumers. On the other hand, potatoes that come from Burdwan, are being sold at Rs 19 per kg in Malda town and Rs 20 per kg outside the town. The wholesale rate of potato was Rs 820 per bag (containing 50 kg of potatoes) but at present the rate is more than Rs 850 a bag. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that he would look into the matter so that traders did not demand abnormal price of the essential commodities. He also disclosed that he was not in a position to hold a meeting on this issue at present owing to the bypoll in Sujapur.

Malda seeks Central forces’ help for bypoll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 OCT: The Malda district administration has sought the help of seven companies of paramilitary forces for conducting bypoll in Sujapur. Today, the Malda police forces marched into different sensitive areas of the Sujapur Assembly segment, under Kaliachak police station. The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: "We have organised a routine march here as preventive measures."According to him, the district magistrate has asked the election commission to provide the deployment of seven companies Central forces in almost all poll premises to ensure a peaceful by-election. “If required the Central forces will be available and we would also deploy our police forces to maintain law and order in other areas,” Mr Mandal added. The IG north Bengal Mr KL Tamta met the Malda police officials today and visited the Majampur area again to take stock of the situation. The Malda SP claimed that the situation there was under control and no report of turf war between the two anti-social groups had been reported. He also admitted that despite several attempts, police could not trace the main criminals behind the trouble. It was reported that both the groups of criminals were backed by the Congress and the CPI-M. The CPI-M leaders criticised the police highhandedness in Majampur and said that they were carrying on raids unnecessarily, where innocent people were being harassed. English Bazaar police yesterday seized fake Indian currency worth Rs 1.61 lakh and arrested one person near Madhughat, close to the Kaliachak police stations. Acting on a tip-off, last evening the Malda police forces recovered four pipe guns and cartridges from Asit Kundu in Malda town, who allegedly bought the arms from Sujapur under the Kaliachak police station.

Campaigning yet to hot up in Sujapur

MALDA, 25 OCT: Though a few days are left for the Sujapur bypolls that is to be held on 7 November, and despite five more candidates apart from the Congress and the CPI-M contesting the election, no remarkable poll campaign has yet attracted the voters in the Sujapur Assembly segment, where the Congress has been maintaining a stronghold since the period of Malda Congress patriarch, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury.A large section of Congress leaders has already accepted their candidate Mr AN Khan Choudhury, brother of Ghani Khan and the present South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury. A mad rush has been noticed running after the Mr AN Khan Choudhury's campaign vehicle just to get a glimpse of the Congress candidate, who resembles Ghani Khan.This time the Congress leaders demanded that the party should select a local leader for this by-poll, when Miss Mausam Noor, the newly elected MLA from Sujapur, was elected as an MP from North Malda. On the other hand, the CPI-M has projected a local young man from the Congress family, having failed to nominate a heavy weight candidate. Even the CPI-M leader, Mr Ketabuddin, who contested the last bypoll, did not agree to the party's proposal. Similarly, the two Congress MPs are out of the district due to their respective jobs. At present other candidates like Mr Ajaruddin of the Muslim League, Mr Ebrahim of the CPI-M (ML) Liberation, Mr Manjur Elahi Munsi of the Indian People's Forward Bloc, and the Independent candidates ~ Mr Ajoy Ray and Mohd Samaul Hoque ~ have started campaigning in their local areas.The CPI-ML leaders are influencing people in their pockets where they have a strong base due to their continuous movement on issues of legitimate remuneration for silk reeling units, 100-days job, public distribution system and others. ;SNS

SMP lags behind in implementing NREGA

SILIGURI/MALDA, 23 OCT: While the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad is lagging behind in implementation of the NREGA, presently known as Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Malda district administration is expecting to rank second in the state in performance for the month of September in implementing the 100-day job guaranteed Act.The Siliguri administration ascribed lack of experience among the panchayat pradhans and members responsible for the slow implementation. Majority of the 20-panchayat pradhans in the SMP are new in the job. “The new panchayat pradhans are facing problems to execute jobs of a panchayat, which has many responsibilities to perform,” said the SMP sahakari sabhadhipati, Mrs Jyoti Tirkey. To extend help to the panchayat, the Darjeeling DM along with the SMP sabhadhipati and sahakari sabhadhipati would visit the panchayats soon. According to Mrs Tirkey, the new measurement system of payment in the project is also affecting the implementation. “People apparently are not inclined to participate in NREGA works,” said Mrs Tirkey.On the contrary, The Malda district officials claimed that the district has provided 27-day job till September to enlisted people under the NREGA, while the state average is 21 days. The district has also done well in women participation.Speaking on the matter, the additional district programme coordinator, Mr Kajal Banerjee said the district was lagging behind in one out of six parameters. But at present the performance of MIS (management information system) has been developed. “The district had secured only 32 points in MIS before, now it has secured 199 points. We have targeted to achieve 350 points,” Mr Banerjee said. Malda ranked third in the state in implementing the project till August.Yesterday, the district administration showed documentary films, Adhikar, a documentary based on the performance of 100-day job in Malda. To increase awareness and to include more people in the project, the district authorities have decided to screen the documentary in blocks and gram panchayats. Mr Banerjee said that another documentary film would be made featuring some families to show the development after implementation of the Act. SNS

Malda to have its first pulp processing factory

MALDA, 22 OCT: The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has approved the feasibility study for establishing a pulp processing as well as aseptic pulp packaging plant at the Malda Food Park.

The deputy director of Agriculture (Fruits) under the department of state food processing industries and horticulture (FPI&H) has finally agreed to begin the feasibility study following the approval from the TIFAC for setting up of the plant here with the financial support from the Department of Science and Technology.

The state officials of the FPI&H will have to complete the feasibility study within four months following the guidelines framed by the Central authorities.

The TIFAC had indentified Malda Food Processing Cluster as one of the identified clusters under TIFAC’s Micro Small and Medium scale Enterprise (MSME) programme and commissioned study on “Technology Gap Analysis” for food processing cluster of Malda with Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulutre (CISH) in Lucknow as the “knowledge partner”.

The findings and recommendations of the report were presented in the third reconstituted MSME apex committee meeting held on 10 August 2009 under the chairmanship of Dr T Ramasami, secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Dr Debabrata Majumder, principal scientific officer, and co-ordinator of the MSME, said: “The state will have to provide land at Food Park in Malda for setting up of the pulp processing and aseptic pulp packaging plant. The state would have to bear its recurring expenditure and others to run the plant. The TIFAC will provide capital support for the plant and machineries”.

According to the Central government officials, experts of CISH, assigned for studying “Technology Gap Analysis” for Malda, have proposed that TIFAC should sponsor the University of Gour Banga to open a department of food processing so that students can study BTech and MTech from here.

The objective is to build man power in the vicinity to run food processing industries here based on mango and other fruits. ;SNS

Khan Choudhury to contest debut bypoll

MALDA, 22 OCT: Finally, Mr AN Khan Choudhury would contest the Sujapur bypolls on a Congress ticket.

It would be Mr Khan Choudhury's first Assembly election although he had contested in the Lok Sabha poll from Malda in 1996 as an Independent candidate, allegedly backed by the CPI-M, against his brother and Malda Congress patriarch Ghani Khan Choudhury.

The district election officials today accepted Mr AN Khan Choudhury's nomination papers amidst fears that the CPI-M might lodge an objection.

No objection was lodged against Mr AN Khan Choudhury though.

Prior to the nomination, the political circle was agog with speculation that the CPI-M would lodge an objection to Mr AN Khan Choudhury's candidature to prevent a member of the Ghani family from contesting in Sujapur by-poll.

Despite the opportunity arising out of Mr AN Khan Choudhury's citizenship and voters’ identity controversy, the CPI-M refrained from doing so.

It is learnt that the CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra was monitoring the situation and had asked his party workers not to file a complaint against Mr AN Khan Choudhury.

After the hearing and inclusion of Mr AN Khan Choudhury's name in the electoral rolls of Malda, the district election officials disclosed: “Had any Malda resident lodged a complaint against Mr AN Khan Choudhury challenging his citizenship, it would have been impossible for us to include his name in the voters’ list on 20 October due to the time factor involved.” ;SNS

Khan Choudhury files nomination for Sujapur bypolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 OCT: Mr AN Khan Choudhury, brother of South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury, filed his nomination as the Congress candidate for the Sujapur bypolls today. Yesterday, the electoral registration officer in Malda included his name in the voters’ list. However, Mr Hamidur Rahman also filed his nomination today as an alternative candidate for the Congress in the bypolls.

According to the district election officials, the Congress leaders today submitted the letter of symbol where the West Bengal PCC chief, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, authorised by Mr Keshava Rao, has allotted party symbol to Mr AN Khan Choudhury as the “main” candidate and also authorised Mr Hamidur Rahman as an alternative one.

Political observers said Mr AN Khan Choudhury would contest the Sujapur bypolls as a Congress candidate if the Opposition does not object to the nomination, during the scrutiny that is to be held tomorrow.

Today thousands of people belonging to the Congress and the Trinamul assembled infront of the district magistrate's office when the Congress candidate came to submit his nomination papers. They did not bother to follow the election commission's guidelines in the office of the returning officer.

Interestingly, the South Malda MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury and the North Malda MP Miss Mausam Noor were not present today.

A total of nine persons belonging to various parties including the CPI-M have sumitted their nomination papers to take part in the Sujapur bypolls.

Malda SP seeks for police report on illegal house possession

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 OCT: Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal has asked the inspector-in-charge of Harishchandrapur police station to submit a report against the persons who allegedly took possession of a house illegally at Tentulbari-Mahuapara, quite near to the police station, as soon as possible.

The owner of the house, Sheikh Mafijur Rahaman, alleged that he lodged a complaint with the local police station on 7 October but no initiative to nab the accused were taken up.

Later he appealed to the chief minister by e-mail seeking justice and also informed the top police officiers including the IGP of north Bengal.

According to his complaint four “criminals” in-league with some government officials of the registry office made a false deed and managed to make it registered with the help of false signature or thumb impression and took possession of his house located at Tentulbari, which is at a stone throwing distance from the Harishchandrapur police station.

Mr Rahaman, who presently stay at Gurgaon for his service, tried to contact the local police and urged the Malda SP over phone to take action against them.

He also mentioned the name of four persons ~ Mohd Alauddin, Mohd Abdus Salam, Mohd Abdul Kalam and Mohd Asraful Alam ~ residents of Harishchandrapur, who threatened Mr Rahman over phone with dire consequences for lodging complaint with the police.

The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “Police have started a case on the basis of his complaint. I have sought a detailed report from the IC of the Harishchandrapur police station to take necessary action.”

Teachers shut down school, protest against colleague’s murder

MALDA, 21 OCT: Teachers of Raniganj High School in Gazole shut down the school for three days from today protesting against the “murder” of their colleague and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

The teachers took the decision yesterday after police failed to arrest the mastermind behind the murder of one of their colleagues Utpal Sarkar.

Utpal Sarkar (46), an assistant teacher of Raniganj High School was shot dead at Chhitka-Mahal on National Highway 34 under Gazole police station on the night of 2 October when he was returning to Malda in a car accompanied by Mr Ashok Saha, the owner of the car and the headmaster of another high school in Gazole.

Police had arrested only two people in connection with the attack and seized a pick-up van based on some statements, but failed to arrest the driver of the car, who is believed to be the owner of the car also.

Police also identified another person as the "prime suspect" but could not arrested him yet. According to the Gazole police station, the suspect had and police were still searching for him. Police said that if they arrest the suspected person along with car owner, the driver who was also the owner of the car, they would be able to ascertain the motive behind the murder of Utpal Sarkar.

However, the night when the incident occurred, the criminals did not take other valuables kept in the car apart from a sum of Rs10, 000.

But the two arrested persons ~ Rintu Sheikh and Bablu Sheikh ~ both residents of Kaliachak, had revealed during their interrogation that they wanted to rob them.

Police had interrogated Mr Ashok Saha, a business man, and his staff who was also shot at but had a narrow escape.

At present police have planned to check the call lists of some cell phones used by the persons connected with the incident to gather more details and to trace the accused.

The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “Local people suspect that it was not a case of robbery but a well planned murder. We are trying our best to take the necessary actions for arresting the suspected persons”.

Information commission seeks citizenship report

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 OCT: The state information commission has directed the Malda sub-divisional officer and the state information officer working under the Malda district magistrate to provide information to applicant Mr Ashoke Agarwala regarding Mr AN Khan Choudhury's status of citizenship.

The state information commission wrote the letter to the Malda district administration on 1 October in response to the application filed by Mr Agarwala.

Mr Agarwala, an advocate, wanted to draw the attention of the commission when the district administration failed to provide information regarding Mr AN Khan Choudhury within 30 days, according to the Right to Information Act 2005.

The administration had conducted a magisterial inquiry following the instruction of the commission in February 2009, but it could not provide the information to the applicant despite several reminders filed to the district nodal officer (RTI cell) and even the additional district magistrate (general).

Mr Agarwala had submitted an application to the nodal officer of the RTI (Right to Information) cell in Malda on 1 April, 2009.

The advocate finally wrote a fresh application to the state commission on 14 September when he did not get any information regarding the status of citizenship of Mr Khan Choudhury.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that he did not have the information about the letter sent to the state information commission, which was later transferred to his RTI cell.

But Mr Ghosh admitted that the district information cell could not provide information within 30 days because of lapses of staff posted at RTI cell.

“The application must be disposed of and I will reshuffle staff in RTI cell soon,” Mr Ghosh, Malda DM, said.

The responsible officials, who failed to follow the RTI Act 2005, will have to charge penalty for these lapses, the DM disclosed.

Mr Agarwal had also lodged a complaint with the election commission in February when Mr Khan Choudhury was not in a position to contest the parliamentary elections due to his controversial citizenship issue but he possessed an Indian voter card despite being a Swiss citizen.

ERO includes AN’s name in electoral rolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 OCT: The electoral registration officer (ERO) in Malda today included the name of Mr AN Khan Choudhury, the proposed Congress candidate for the Sujapur bypolls, in the voters’ list after conducting an uninterrupted hearing today.

After the ERO announced his final verdict on whether Mr Khan Choudhury’s name would be considered in the voters’ list or not, the latter said that he would file his nomination as a Congress candidate tomorrow.

While the symbol that had been allotted to Mr Khan Choudhury was for the Sujapur by-election, Mr Pradip Bhattacharya, the working president of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, has already sent the letter of symbol allotment to the Congress leaders in Malda. Earlier, the Congress leadership had mentioned Mr Hamidur Rahman's name as the authorised “alternative” candidate for the allotment of party symbol if in case Mr Khan Choudhury's nomination was cancelled during scrutiny.

“We have already received the party symbol on Mr AN Khan Choudhury's name”, said Mr Masidur Rahman, vice-president of Malda district Congress committee.

A section of Congress leaders were apprehensive that the CPI-M might launch a protest against the acceptance of Mr Khan Choudhury's nomination during the scrutiny that would be held on 24 October.

But now with the approval of Mr Khan Choudhury's appeal, his followers are happy with the AICC.

“The party had to announce the name of Mr Hamidur Rahman as the “second candidate” as it was apprehending certain difficulties that might arise due to Mr Khan Choudhury’s citizenship issue Mr Khan Choudhury, who is the brother of South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury, could not contest the parliamentary election from North Malda over the controversial issue of his citizenship.

Finally he got Indian citizenship proof in August this year after receiving a clearance from the Swiss government.

Today, the CPI-M’s nominated candidate, Mr Esaruddin Mandal, filed his nomination papers in front of the Malda election officials to contest the Sujapur bypolls.

Some CPI-M leaders including the district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra said: “How can the election commission include Mr Khan Choudhury’s name based on a fresh application? A person needs to reside for at least six months in a constituency to have his name included in the voters’ list. But Mr Khan Choudhury had submitted an application to the election authorities claiming that he was a permanent resident of New Delhi and he had also urged for the deletion of his name from the electoral rolls in Malda a few days back”.

CPI demands special compensation for landlosers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 OCT: The CPI leaders today demanded publication of special compensation package for farmers on the issue of land acquisition following the recommendation of the MS Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.Addressing a workshop organised by the CPI's peasant wing at Malda Town Hall today, the leaders including MP Mr Probodh Panda, discussed the problems of farmers at length to make them aware about their rights before organising a movement based on their eight-points demand, across the state. Besides, bank officials were present to inform them about facilities of loan for the farmers.A CPI leader said that the government should provide agricultural loan upto Rs 3 lakh to a farmer without mortgage with four per cent interest. He pointed out that in other states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala farmers get loans with three per cent and zero per cent interests respectively. Mr Probodh Panda said that this was a workshop to inform the farmers about their rights including irrigation, bank loan, compensation, insurance coverage, reasonable market price of their crops and others.Mr Panda said that the peasant wing will start an agitation with their eight-points demand across the state in the interest of farmers and rights.The CPI leaders claimed that the state should finalise decent supportive costs of paddy, jute and potato. Mr Panda also demanded the implementation of Teesta Barrage project in north Bengal. The district secretary of the CPI, Mr Tarun Das said that the party would demand a publication of compensation package for land acquisition following the recommendation of Swaminathan Commission during their agitation across the state.

Khan Choudhury to be Sujapur candidate: Congress leadership

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 OCT: Mr Pradip Bhattacharya, working president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, said that Mr AN Khan Choudhury would be the party candidate in Sujapur by-election, if his name is included in the electoral rolls in Malda tomorrow.

“There is no confusion about the nomination of a candidate. If the electoral registration officer (ERO) includes Mr Khan Choudhury's name in the voters’ list tomorrow, he would contest the Sujapur bypolls as the Congress candidate,” Mr Bhattacharya told The Statesman over phone from Kolkata today.

“The party had announced the name of Mr Hamidur Rahaman as "the second alternative candidate" in any case Mr Khan Choudhury's appeal is rejected,” Mr Bhattacharya added. Controversy broke out over the Congress candidate's ticket for the Sujapur bypolls after Mr Khan Choudhury's name was rejected due to some technical problem related to electoral roles and the AICC finally announced the name of Mr Hamidur Rahman as the Congress candidate for the polls following the South Malda MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury's recommendation.

The working president of Malda district Congress committee, Mrs Sabitri Mitra said that the South Malda MP, who is also the district Congress president, informed her over the phone from New Delhi yesterday, that he would talk to Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the PCC chief and Union finance minister, for the reconsideration of his brother's name as a candidate.

The vice-president of the Malda Congress committee, Mr Masidur Rahman said: “We are waiting for the final verdict from the ERO tomorrow when we will be also get the letter of symbol allotment.”

The ERO Mr Prakash Pal will conduct a hearing tomorrow to take the final decision to include Mr AN Khan Choudhury's name following his application.

Mr AN Khan Choudhury is not a voter at present as his name was struck off from the voters' list initially in New Delhi and after a few days from Malda following his appeal.

Mr AN Khan Choudhury, who is the brother of the South Malda MP, applied again to the ERO on 12 October requesting him to include his name in the voters’ list so that he could file the nomination to contest the by-poll.

The ERO, Mr Pal, who is also the Malda SDO, had issued a public notice on 12 October for inclusion of his name.

A section of Congress leaders are still apprehending that the CPI-M may lodge a protest against the acceptance of Mr Khan Choudhury's nomination during scrutiny that is to be held on 22 October, while the last of date of filing nomination is 21 October.

Hamidur gets Sujapur bypoll ticket

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 OCT: Following the controversy that broke out after Mr Abu Nasser Khan Choudhury’s name, as a Congress candidate for Sujapur bypolls, was scrapped, the AICC finally announced the name of Mr Hamidur Rahman as the candidate for the polls following the recommendation of South Malda MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury.

Under conditions of anonymity, a section of Congress leaders explained that Mr AN Khan Choudhury, brother of MP Mr AH Khan Chouhury, had been a victim of "family conspiracy" where a few Congress leaders wanted to mislead him.

“He will contest the by-polls as an Independent candidate if his name is included in the electoral rolls”, they said.

A disappointed AN Khan Choudhury said: “I have been victimised and misled repeatedly by a group of leaders. I will explain everything in details after 21 October, which is the last date of filing nomination”. Mr Khan Choudhury deposited the required amount of money to Malda treasury on Friday for collecting nomination papers, but said that he was clueless as to why his brother finally did not recommend his name as the candidate for Sujapur by-polls.

“I decided to deposit the money following the assurance from my brother".

“Large sections of people in the Sujapur Assembly segment want me as the candidate but the party nominated Mr Hamidur Rahman. He contested as the CPI-M candidate against my sister Rubi Noor in Sujapur,” he said.

However, state Congress leader Mr Pradip Bhattacharya told the Malda Congress leaders Mr Rahman's name was the only one proposed for Sujapur.

It was reported that Mr Hassan Ali Shah and Mr Mostaque Alam, the two district Congress committee leaders, had sent the name from the Malda Congress office.

Mr Ali Shah was the legal advisor of Mr AN Khan Choudhury here.

The working president of Malda Congress, Mrs Sabitri Mitra said: “I was of the idea that Mr AN Khan Choudhury was the proposed candidate. Now Mr AH Khan Choudhury alone would be able to explain why the AICC has nominated Mr Hamidur Rahman.”

Mr Rahman came into the fray as a dummy candidate though many leaders did not accept him in the last meeting convened by the working president of Malda Congress party.

Mr AN Khan Choudhury is awaiting the hearing that is to be called by the Malda SDO after 19 October for including his name in the voters’ list.

Police fail to nab girl abductors

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 OCT: A 14-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped near Baharal in Ratua police station on Thursday but police have reportedly failed to rescue her till date. The superintendent of police, Mr Bhuban Mandal said police were carrying on raids at various possible hideouts. “A police team is on its way to other locations to nab the suspected persons who kidnapped the girl,” Mr Mandal said.When the local Congress MLA, Mrs Sabitri Mitra, spoke to the Malda SP about the minor's abduction on Saturday, the Malda SP asked for 24-hours time to trace the location of the minor girl and abductor. Mr Mandal said: “If the local police fail to rescue her they will have to face consequences”.The abductors demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh from the victim's family over phone. The girl's father, Mr Sheikh Rafikul, resident of Pukuria under the same police station, was worried and alleged: “Police know about the criminals very well but they are not taking up any initiative to rescue my daughter on purpose.” The minor girl, a student of class IX, was kidnapped allegedly by some local goons when she was on her way to tution riding a by-cycle. “I have asked the Malda SP that police have failed to find the girl within 24-hours, as promised by the police SP. It is a shame that the local police are afraid of the accused goons backed by the CPI-M,” said Mrs Sabitri Mitra, the Congress MLA from Araidanga. She also alleged that the group of criminals had been creating a lot of trouble in that region regularly but all the complains seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. “I am waiting for the police to come out with some fruitful results. If people turn violent and stage agitation having lost faith, the situation will go beyond control,” Mrs Mitra said today. The Malda SP said: “Police are working hard to trace their exact hideouts. The accused will be traced soon.”

Hindus from Bangladesh prevented from offering puja

MALDA, 18 Oct: Hindus residing in Bangladesh, including women, were prevented from crossing the border and entering into the Indian Territory for the purpose of offering puja to Goddess Kali due to security reasons, here today. The place where Goddess Kali was being worshipped was located at Mehdipur near Gour along the Indo-Bangladesh border, famous for historical ruins, under the English Bazaar police station. Traditionally, people particularly belonging to the “Ghosh” community used to organise Kali puja, popularly known as Smashan Kali. Earlier, fencing along the border was not restricted and people from both the countries used to offer prayer here.Today, though the Hindus from Bangladesh were prevented from crossing the border, but with the help of the BSF personnel they offered prayers standing along the border fencing. Kali puja ended peacefully here besides stay incidents. There was no restriction to check sound pollution in this district. Youngsters bursted a pretty good number of firecrackers that were beyond the permissible limit. Police and other people were mute spectators in many places. Adequate police personnel were deployed in many places where thousands of people were assembled to visit Kali idol, pandal and the traditional sacrificial offerings. SNS

Silk farmers likely to suffer this season

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 OCT.: Farmers in Malda may face a crisis of silk worm egg in Aghrayani crop season, believed to be the best commercial crop season, due to the scarcity of parental seed cocoon.

Producers of silk worm egg including the government and private sector had faced a lot of problem while collecting exotic high breed variety of parental seeds from Karnataka, the main source for Malda farmers, due to recent natural calamity there.

To meet up the demand and to produce silk worm eggs, the private egg producers, with the help of state authorities, have collected parental seed cocoon not only from Kashmir, Dehradun but from Bangalore and Koraput in Orissa.

According to the Malda sericulture department, though the government rate for parental seed was Rs 120 per kg but it was sold off at Rs 300 per kg this year in Gazole, a notified area for seed cultivation, and other places in this district due to this scarcity.

The sericulture officials are not in a position to estimate the shortfall of silk worm eggs according to its requirement in this district because the production of silk worm eggs is in process only for this Aghrayani crop season.

The state sericulture department has decided to distribute silk worm eggs between 24 to 28 October.“It is difficult to estimate the shortfall of silk worm eggs right now. After some days we will be able to estimate the shortfall.

“We had a hard time to bring and supply the parental seed cocoon for production of eggs from other states so that all farmers can cultivate high breed variety in this commercial crop season”, said Mr S Das, deputy director of sericulture in Malda.

According to him, the total requirement of silk worm egg is 70 lakh units. Since the past two years farmers are interested in producing high breed silk cocoon in Aghrayani commercial season.

According to farmers, two years ago the rate of silk cocoon was Rs.2400 for 40 kg (Ak-Mon) but at present rate is nearly Rs.5, 500 for 40 kg.

The deputy director Mr S Das said: “We expect that this year the rate would go up to Rs 6, 000 for 40 kg based on demand from south India. Due to natural calamity the production of silk in south India will be suffered and traders from across the country would try to collect cocoon from this region”.

Horticulture dept campaigns for off-season mango cultivation

MALDA, 16 OCT: The horticulture department in Malda has been campaigning for the cultivation of “off-season mangoes” apart from traditional ones in this district since 6 October.

The horticulture officials have been meeting farmers across the district, encouraging them to cultivate off-season mangoes to get better prices at the local markets between the months of October and December.

According to the mango development officer in Malda Mr SN Khara, some farmers have been interested to create orchards in small form for off season variety of mango experimentally.

According to Mr Khara, farmers may cultivate some variety of mangoes like Baromasia, Dofalla, Vastara, China Vastara, Topala and others in this district.

Farmers of Bandel and Adi-Saptagram in Hooghly have already created many orchards for cultivation of mangoes in off season.

Following the guideline of the state horticulture department, a nursery owner at Raikhandighi in Gazole, who is also a mango grower and National prize winner in mango cultivation, have imported many off season mango samplings for cultivation and started cultivation experimentally. ;SNS

Cong selects candidates for Sujapur by-election

MALDA, 15 OCT.: The Congress in Malda today selected two alternative candidates for the Sujapur Assembly by-poll as, it is uncertain whether the party's proposed nominee so far Mr A N Khan Choudhury would be able to file nomination for the by-poll on time or not.

The Congress leadership today faxed all the three names to the South Malda MP and district president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury in New Delhi.

Though the Congress leaders did not disclose the names of the two alternative prospects, the party’s district vice president Mr Masidur Rahman said: “A section of party leaders from Sujapur did not accept the name of Mr Hamidur Rahman, as an alternative candidate."

The South Malda MP had proposed Mr Rahman’s name as an alternative candidate.

The party’s district working president Mrs Sabitri Mitra said that all 14 gram panchayat presidents, who attended today's selection meeting have accepted Mr AN Khan Choudhury’s candidature for the Sujapur bypolls but consented to keep two alternative names handy in case he failed to file nomination.

A citizenship controversy dogs Mr AN Khan Choudhury. He has not been able to include his name in the Malda voters’ list till now.

“The South Malda MP would take the final decision on the candidate,” Mrs Mitra said.

There is apprehension among the Congress leadership that the CPI-M or someone at their behest may file objection against the inclusion of Mr Khan Choudhury's name in the Malda electoral rolls as a time killing tactics, which eventually would deprive Mr fKhan Choudhury from filing nomination on time.

The CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra, however, rubbished the contention: “We do not have any plan to lodge objection against Mr Khan Choudhury's inclusion in the Malda voters’ list. We are concerned only with the Representation of The People Act.”

Mr A N Khan Choudhury, the proposed Congress candidate for Sujapur submitted an application to the election authority claiming he was a permanent resident of Delhi. He had also urged for deletion of his name from the electoral rolls.

“How can he again claim inclusion of his name in the rolls here within seven days? A person has to reside at least six months in a constituency to have his name included in the voters’ list,” Mr Moitra pointed out. ;SNS

BSNL services collapse, consumers suffer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 OCT: Cellphone users had to face a lot of problems since this morning as the BSNL's mobile phone services collapsed here, affecting consumers during the pick hours till afternoon.

The divisional engineer of BSNL in Malda, Mr S Hossian, admitted the problem and said that cellphone services were disrupted because the optical fiber cable line was damaged between Rosakhaoa and Islampur last night.

“Around 1.30 pm damaged parts of the optical cable line was restored. The system will be normal soon,” said Mr Hossian.

According to the consumers, the cellphone services were disrupted not only in pick hours today but a couple of times since last week.

But the divisional engineer said: “We do not have such an information and never found any problem in our cellphones. But we must take care of the problem that has occurred today.”

Consumers were tired of seeing messages like “network busy”, ‘error in connection’, ‘out of range’ and ‘switched off' whenever they wanted to dial a number. One of the BSNL consumers said that "error in connection" was a common "automatic message' every day.

They also complained that sometimes they find "the incoming facilities to the dialed number to be unavailable" but after retrying they get the same number.

During power cuts, many people in some areas of English Bazaar town get the network. The network get restored only when power resumes after some hours.

The BSNL officials admitted the problem that occurs during power cuts and said that in many places they could not supply power alternatively through generators due to the local people's objection.

Locals protested against operating heavy-load generators close to their houses for sound and environment pollution, which they assume were operated without seeking permission from the pollution control board.

Women BSF constables deployed along Malda border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 OCT.: For the first time the Border Security Force (BSF) today deployed female constables along the border in Malda and South Dinajpur. Six female constables have been deployed at Mehdipur border outpost in Malda and six others have been deployed at the Hili border outpost in South Dinajpur.

These BSF’s female constables were posted initially at the checkposts to carry out duty related to the land customs station and immigration checkposts centres and other related jobs in the International check posts in West Bengal.

Most of the constables were Bengali, with some belonging to the minority community and others residents of Murshidabad, Nadia and other districts.

The DIG Malda BSF sector, Mr PS Tomar said that the authorities will later deploy female constables in other border areas also gradually so that they could curb crimes committed by women villagers along the borders.

“At present six female constables are posted at Mehdipur and six others in Hilli of this region. The female constable have been deployed in other districts and other states as well”, Mr Tomar said.

After fresh recruitment the female constables would be posted according to the requirement along the border providing them with separate accommodation, a BSF official said.

Without female constables, the BSF jawans had to check women carrying many smuggling items including fake Indian currencies along the border.

Facing such difficulties the top BSF officials proposed to appoint female BSF constables along the border.

New SP takes charge, normalises Majampur situation

MALDA, 15 OCT: Taking over the charges of Majampur, where turf war was going on over a month under Kaliachak police station, Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal has urged locals to lead normal life, reopening shops and markets.

In the last two weeks police carried on massive raids to curb the continuous clashes between two groups of criminals allegedly backed by the CPI-M and the Congress in the bordering villages.

Male members from five villages fled their home fearing police raids and attacks by the opponents. Schools, markets, even small shops were shut down.

In the meantime police have seized a number of crude bombs from different areas belonging to both the groups and some muskets from few areas.

Mr Bhuban Mandal, said: “Situation of Majampur is under control now. People are gradually returning home. We have asked them to lead normal life reopening shops and markets”.

Mr Mandal also said that police patrolling and raids will be continued in trouble-torn areas to curb crime so that the criminals can not create any fresh trouble.

The SP pointed out that some areas have been identified across the district where thousands of people assembled for Kali puja. Some police teams will begin march there tonight. ;SNS

Cong to finalise candidate today

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 OCT: While the Congress in Malda has decided to keep handy an alternative candidate for the Sujapur bypolls due to the uncertainty hovering over Mr AN Khan Choudhury’s candidature, the Left Front candidate for the by-poll Mr Easaruddin Mandal of the CPI-M is projecting himself as a follower of the Malda Congress patriarch the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury believing it would work as an effective political tool against the Congress in the by-poll.

The Congress district working president Mrs Sabitri Mitra today said that the South Malda MP, who is also the party district president, has selected a second candidate for the Sujapur bypolls in case Mr AN Khan Choudhury fails to contest in the end over the citizenship and voter controversy.

Mrs Mitra said she would convene a meeting tomorrow to finalise the name of the alternative candidate for Sujapur.

She, however, sounded confident that Mr AN Khan Choudhury would be able to contest the by-poll after getting clearance from the electoral registration officer.

“We hope that Mr A N Khan Choudhury would be able to include his name in the voters’ list by 19 October. He can then file nomination either on 20 or 21 October, the last two dates for filing nomination,” said Mrs Mitra.

Meanwhile, the CPI-M candidate for the by-poll Mr Easaruddin Mandal today disclosed he was with A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury before joining the CPI-M.

“After Ghani Khan's death I joined the CPI-M's youth wing since I realised the rest of the Congress leaders were not interested in the people's welfare. I was a Congress worker and worked for Ghani Khan in the elections,” he claimed.

According to Mr Mandal, he would follow the Ghani Khan model to serve the people if he wins the by-poll. (END)

Polls hold up work along river

Statesman News Service
MALDA, 14 OCT.: Though the irrigation department in Malda has planned to build a 400 metre long embankment at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur, where a large of part of the existing embankment was eroded away by the river Fulohar last week, the entire process has been delayed following the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for the Assembly bypolls.
“Fund is ready for constructing a part of the embankment on the left bank of the river at the down stream of Bhaluka Bazaar but we are not in a position to float the tender due to the ongoing model code of conduct for bypolls”, said Mr S Misra, the executive engineer of the irrigation (Malda) division.
The top officials of the irrigation and waterways department had sanctioned a fund of Rs 70 lakh for the construction of a 400 metre long embankment which will connect the old embankment, which is still existing for protecting flood and is also covering other areas in Harishchandrapur block.
It may be noted that a total of Rs 1.72 crore was allotted from Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) on an emergency basis for flood protection when Fulohar broke its banks damaging a part of its embankment.
The irrigation division has already spent around Rs 1 crore out of Rs 1.72 crore for the construction of a 350 metre long guard-wall and embankment for flood protection recently after the Fulohar eroded away a large part of existing embankment at Bhaluka Bazaar in during mid-August this year.
“The department has given consent to utilise the rest of the funds allotted from CRF and we will be able to float tender after 17 November when the model code of conduct will be over”, said Mr Misra.
“We need to complete the job by winter season”, he further added.

Resistance surrounds railway project

Statesman News Service

RAIGANJ/MALDA, 13 OCT: Resistance is brewing against proposed land acquisition for laying railway tracks between Gazole in Malda district to Itahar in North Dinajpur district.

While political parties in North Dinajpur have demanded adequate compensation for the tribals who would lose land to the project, residents of several villages in Gazole block of Malda district have unanimously demanded complete rehabilitation and compensation at ongoing market rate for land to be acquired.

The villagers at Gazole have decided to form a committee to protest against the land acquisition. They have convened a meeting at the Nalpur mosque on the issue on Friday and have come up with posters at Nalpur, Dalilpur and other villages protesting against the proposed land acquisition.

In North Dinajpur, the CPI-M, Suci and CPI-ML have demanded rehabilitation and adequate compensation for the potential land losers to the project. The organizations have threatened to organize a movement if the railway authority acquired land without settling the compensation package first.

While the North Dinajpur CPI-ML secretary Mr Suleiman Hafiji said that in addition to tribal land losers, the railway authority must also compensate farmers whose multi-crops land would be used for the purpose, the district Suci secretary Mr Dulal Rajbanshi said: “We welcome the railway project but, the tribals should not be evicted without rehabilitation and adequate compensation. We would send a letter to the railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee on the matter and urge her to declare compensation as per the grade of land.”

Welcoming the project, North Dinajpur CPI-M leader Mr Subir Biswas said: “We demand a transparent package for the tribal and other land losers before acquisition.”

CPI leader and state water resource development minister Mr Nanda Gopal Bhattacharjee who was here yesterday threatened a movement if the tribals and farmers are deprived during acquisition at Itahar for the project.

The Congress too is for compensation as per prevailing land price.

Assuring cooperation to the project, the North Dinajpur Congress president Mr Mohit Sengupta said: “If compensation for multi-crop land acquired is lower than the ideal price, we would launch a movement in favour of the land losers.”

The North Dinajpur Trinamool working president Mr Tilak Chaudhury, however, assured all. “Adequate compensation to land losers is part of our movement. We would request Miss Mamata Banarjee to ensure the tribals and farmers are not affected during land acquisition.”

There is anxiety in the Gazole block of Malda, however.

“We will not give up land without total rehabilitation and compensation at market price,” is what the villagers like Kausar Ali, Anwar Ali and Abdul Samim claimed.

“We would fight till the last,” they added.

According to another villager Kausar Ali homestead land in their area was about Rs 25,000 per cottah. “Based on that rate the current price of one acre land at Gazole proper is about Rs 15 lakh,” he added.

CPM announces candidate for polls, Cong still in dilemma

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 OCT: While the Congress is still in search of a candidate for the Sujapur by-poll, the CPI-M today announced its candidate in Mr Esaruddin Mandal for the same.

Mr Mandal alias Ruku is from the party's youth wing. He was nominated after another leader Mr Haji Ketabuddin refused to contest the by-poll despite the party’s urging.

Mr Ketabuddin, an elected member of the Malda zilla parishad had contested in the last Sujapur bypolls and was defeated by Miss Mausam Noor. He is also the secretary of the local committee.

The CPI-M might have its share of problems on the Sujapur by-poll issue but the Congress faces an even steeper hurdle.

The Congress high command has already asked its state leadership to nominate someone as the potential candidate Mr AN Khan Choudhury is facing problems in filing nomination due to complexities arising out of his citizenship issue.

Though Mr Khan Choudhury applied to the ERO in Malda yesterday to include his name in the electoral rolls so that he can contest the Sujapur by-poll on 7 November, it is uncertain whether he would get required time to file nomination.

Despite that, the Congress has not been able to nominate its candidate so far. It is learnt that one Mrs Sehnaz Qadri, a niece of the South Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury, is trying to secure a Congress ticket to contest the Sujapur by-poll.

But the Congress is yet to finalise her as, she is allegedly no the North Malda MP's favourite and a family dispute over the rights of properties exist between them.

In the meantime, three popular Congress leaders from Sujapur, Mr Hamidur Rahman, Mr Humayun Choudhury and Mr Mahibur Rahman are in the race for a Congress ticket.

A section of Congress leadership does not want to accept any female candidate for the seat even if she is from the Ghani Khan family.

Congress in a dilemma in Sujapur

MALDA, 12 OCT: The Congress in Malda may have to keep an alternative candidate ready for the Sujapur bypolls as, the proposed candidate Mr Abu Naser Khan Choudhury is facing problems in filing nomination due to complexities arising out of his citizenship issue.

Mr AN Khan Choudhury, who is the brother of South Malda MP, Mr Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, today applied to the electoral registration officer Mr Prakash Pal, requesting him to include his name in the voters’ list so that he could file nomination to contest the by-poll.

Incidentally, the PCC chief Mr Pranab Mukherjee has raised questions about Mr AN Khan Choudhury and has asked the party state leadership to keep an alternative name handy.

It may be noted that Mr AN Khan Choudhury could not contest in the last Parliamentary elections due to a citizenship controversy.

He had thereafter applied for Indian citizenship and reportedly got it on 10 August this year after receiving proper clearance from the Swiss government.

He included his name in the Delhi voters’ list and asked the Malda administration to strike off his name from the Malda voters’ list to avoid fresh controversy, which was complied with.

He, however, later learnt that he had to be a voter of the state he intended to contest a by-election from and has now urged the electoral registration officer to include his name in the Malda voters’ list.

“I was not aware about the rule. I wanted to delete my name from the Malda voters’ list as, it was illegal and enlisted when I was not an Indian citizen. I have deleted my name from the Delhi voters’ list and today I appealed to the Malda administration to include my name in the Malda voters’ list,” Mr Khan Choudhury said here today.

While the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said the electoral registration officer would take action in accordance with the election commission guideline, the ERO Mr Prakash Pal issued a public notice on the matter today and would inquire into Mr AN Khan Choudhury's citizenship status, it is learnt.

The ERO will have to wait for seven days after issuing the notice today for objections if any and other information before including Mr Khan Choudhury's name in the Malda voters’ list.

The candidates would have to file nomination between 14 October and 21 October to contest the Sujapur bypolls. Under the circumstances, there just might not be time enough for Mr Khan Choudhury to file nomination and, that is the Congress’s dilemma. ;SNS