Police firing hurt five in Malda

LF lodges complaint with CM against police atrocities

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 JAN: Five persons sustained bullet injuries when police opened fire to quell a mob at Harishchandrapur block II in Malda in the early hours today.

Three of the injured were admitted in Malda district hospital and the condition of one Sariful Islam is critical. A bullet struck him in the small of the back. The villagers also injured the SDPO, Harishchandrapur Mr NN Bhutia in an attack. Mr Bhutia was admitted to the Malda district hospital and had to under go a CT scan.

The SP, Malda Mr Bhuban Mandal, said that police had to fire six rounds in self-defence. Ten police personnel were injured in the mob attack.

Protesting against the police firing agitators backed by the CPI-M led Left Front attacked the Harishchandrapur police station in the afternoon while the Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal and civil administration officials were holding a meeting with the LF leaders in the police station to control the situation at Mashaldah.

The police had to lathicharge to disperse the mob. The Left leadership expressed frustration with the police for firing at the villagers who, according to them, were organising a movement in favour of pisciculture in the wetlands that are being usurped for illegal cultivation of hazelnut. Following a suggestion from the police, the civil administration has decided to impose Section 144 Cr PC on the Mashaldah wetland to control the situation.

Trouble broke out last night following a police raid to stop a conflict between the residents of two villages Talgachhi and Kamalbari on the right of Hazelnut cultivation in a wetland under Mashalda in Harishchandrapur police station.

Rejecting the police allegation, the critically injured Sariful Islam’s mother Mrs Taslima Bibi today said: “The policemen who raided our village last night were in an inebriated condition. They deliberately fired at he residents”.

Frequent rows over the right to water bodies for hazelnut cultivation were causing concern in the administration since last year. It is learnt that wetlands leased out for fishery development to local co-operatives and fishermen were being illegally sublet to traders for hazelnut cultivation ignoring the cooperative members.

The wetland in question had been leased out to the Bhaluka Fisheries Cooperative Society in Harrishchandrapur II. Being a member of the society on Mr Basir Ahmed, brother of the Congress led Harishchandrapur –II panchayat samiti sabhapati Mr Kashem had allegedly started hazelnut cultivation in the wetland.

In October 2009 the SDO Chanchal Mr Subho Mukherjee had to hold meeting on the issue and urged the political leaders not to cultivate hazelnut in the wetlands belonging to the cooperative societies.

It is learnt that a section of businessmen has grabbed some government wetlands in Harishchandrapur for hazelnut cultivation depriving the common people who used those wetlands for multiple purposes. The growing resentment developed into a clash last night. (END)

LF lodges complaint with CM against police atrocities


MALDA, 22 JAN: The CPI-M backed LF leaders in Harishchandrapur today lodged a complaint with the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in protest against police atrocities over common people here.


The decision was taken against police firing at Kamlabari village in Harishchandrapur block II and the incident when police lathi-charged on villagers in front of the police station yesterday where five persons were critically injured.


Trouble broke out since Wednesday night following a police raid to stop conflict between villagers mostly fishermen and hazelnut cultivators who work on the local wetlands. The CPI-M district leadership asked the party members to fax a complaint to the chief minister and other top officials including the state home department, district magistrate and the superintendent of police.


A CPI-M district committee member, Mr Jamil Firdous, who is also a former Malda Zilla Parishad officer bearer, alleged that the additional SP Mr Kalyan Mukherjee, even slapped and abused him on the day of the incident.


Yesterday’s meeting between the LF political leaders and Malda SP concluded when the leaders demanded an apology from Mr Mukherjee.


Fresh trouble again broke out when Mr Mukherjee refused to apologise. Police had to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas in front of the police station as a section of villagers wee hurling crude bombs. The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal said that he had informed the agitators that he additional SP would apologise but the leaders demanded for a public apology, where they were staging their agitation.


According to him 16 persons were arrested yesterday and were taken to court.


“Political leaders do not know law but always try to take an upper hand in every such agitation. The situation is now under control” Mr Mandal said.


Though the CPI-M and LF leaders planned to stage another demonstration in front of the police station on 24 January, the Mala SP requested them to postpone their plans till after 26 January, keeping a minimum distance of at least 1.5 km from the police station.


More than seven acres of wetland (called Kati-danra Mangura Bil) was leased out for fishery development to the local co-operative and a section of members belonging to the Congress again sublet the wetlands to hazelnut traders illegally, ignoring other members.


A section of people are interested to cultivate hazelnuts as it is a profitable business because many traders from Kolkata and outside the state come to buy hazelnuts for export or manufacture fast food and baby food.


Recently hazelnut has been polarized for high protein without fat and cholesterol. A trader investing Rs 3000 per bigha wetland can earn Rs 8,000 to 10,000 as net profit in the current market. SNS

State-level women's football torunament to be held in Malda

kakak

Locals want alternative bypass along NH-34

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Drainage scheme a dream still

A dismal Saraswati puja without mangoes

Urge to review SSC appointment

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 JAN: The district inspector of school (secondary) in Malda, Mr Chinmay Sarkar, has urged the chairman, school service commission, northern region, to verify the candidature of Mr Kanti Ray, who joined as the Malda Academy’s headmaster following an SSC recommendation.

According to Mr Sarkar, the decision for verification was taken following a complaint against Mr Ray’s educational qualification and degree. Mr Ray is currently working as a headmaster on provisional approval from the DI.

The secretary of the SSC, northern region, Mr Joydeb Saha said: “We shall send the DI’s letter to the chairman of the Central SSC for the next course of action”.

Mr Ray allegedly completed Masters Degree in Physics in regular course from B N Manda University in Madhepura, Bihar, while working as assistant teacher of Madhabnagar Badalmoni High School in English Bazaar town.

The managing committee of the Malda Academy in English Bazaar town and also the district education officials detected anomalies in the certificate, mark sheet and other papers related to his MSc degree obtained from BN Mandal University.

The school authority has questioned how Mr Ray secured an M Sc degree through a regular course from Bihar while working as an assistant teacher in a school and drew his salary regularly for two years.

Primary investigation revealed that the secretary of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, Mr A Chatterjee had directed the secretary of the Badalmoni High School to grant leave to Mr Ray for appearing in the M Sc exam in Physics in 1993, with effect from 14 November in 1994 to 20 December 1994.

A standing order of the state government says that certificates of degree for post graduate courses or bachelor of education and others obtained from the B N Mandal University between 1987 and 1996 would be accepted after detail verification and clearance from the Cabinet Vigilance Department of Bihar.

“We have nothing to do now when the SSC has recommended his name as headmaster. We suspect about the certificate obtained from the B N Mandal University. So we have urged the chairman, SSC to authenticate his candidature, particularly M Sc degree seeking clarification from the Cabinet Vigilance Department of Bihar”, said the DI Mr Chinmay Sarkar.

“It is questionable how an assistant teacher, working in a school regularly, can complete M SC in Physics without being granted leave for at least two years”, Mr Sarkar added.

The headmaster in question Mr Kanti Ray said in defence: “I can not understand how and why the managing committee of my school raised the question and suspects my M Sc degree when the SSC has recommended me”.

Seed seller yeilds, pays compensation to farmer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 JAN: While the agriculture department in Malda is apparently reluctant to take responsibility of compensating poor farmers of Gazole and Old Malda, a state agriculture department licensed seed seller, Mr. Achinta Sarkar, who is accused of having sold spurious seeds to the farmers, has agreed to compensate the victims.

To prevent the agriculture department from cancelling his license Mr Sarkar held a meeting with the victim farmer and agreed to compensate Rs 1,500 for each bag of seeds he had sold.

However, he has attached some conditions.

According to the farmers Mr Sarkar has asked them to give in writing that they did not have any complaint against him.

The victim farmers had – with backing from the CPI-ML (Liberation) – submitted a memorandum to the agriculture department officials demanding compensation from the licensed seed seller.

According to them, the seller and his agents had deceived them by selling fake ‘aman’ paddy seeds six months ago, which had cost them dear.

Two CPI-ML (Liberation) members – Mr Emanuel Hembram and Mr Jayanta Das were present along with the farmers yesterday during the negotiation with the accused seed seller.

According to the CPI-ML (Liberation) state committee leaders, Mr. Nabakumar Biswas , the farmers have agreed to receive the compensation. “The farmers would give the accused seed sell money receipt against compensation but they would not withdraw the complaint against him”, said Mr Biswas.

“Seven more farmers of Gazole, who had lodged complaint with the agriculture department against Mr Sarkar, would also demand compensation from him. We would latter demand cancellation of his license”, he added.

It is learnt Mr Sarkar had sold 40 bags of seeds through his agent Mr Bhanu Das to the farmers in 8-Mile in Old Malda. It has been decided he would pay Rs 60,000 in all to the farmers on Friday. The agriculture department started an inquiry against Mr Sarkar on the basis of the farmers’ complaint and the agriculture development officer in Gazole Mr Tushar Roy has submitted the inquiry report to the sub divisional agriculture officer. The deputy director of the agriculture department in Malda, Mr Satinath Palit, said: “The department will take action according to government guide lines on the basis of the inquiry report”. (END)

Controversy over registrar appointment at Gour Banga

MALDA, 18 JAN: The Gour Banga University (GBU) registrar, Mr Tapas Chatterjee would resign on 28 January handing over char to Mr Apurba Chakraborty, lecturer, History department.

The GBU had earlier appointed Dr Bikash Mukherjee as the new registrar through an advertisement and interview, but the appointment of Dr Mukherjee has been kept in “abeyance”.

According to the outgoing registrar, Mr Tapas Chaterjee, the GBU authority has asked Dr Mukherjee not to join till fresh instructions following a plagiarism complaint against him is sorted out.

Dr Mukherjee is currently a senior information scientist in Burdwan University. It is learnt that it would take at least some months to appoint a new registrar of the present ‘one man’ panel for registrar is cancelled.

The GBU council met on 15 January and decided against allowing Dr Mukherjee to join registrar till the plagiarism dispute is cleared.

According to the complaint, Dr Mukherjee had allegedly copied an article from a foreign journal for writing a paper, which was published in his name seven years ago without giving credit to the foreign writer.

“The council members have sought a report form the Burdwan University authority on the alleged plagiarism incident”, Mr Chatterjee informed.

The newly appointed registrar Dr Bikash Mukherjee, admitted that he committed a mistake by not acknowledging the name of the foreign writer though he corrected it later.

“After receiving no objection certificate from the Burdwan University I applied for the registrar’s post. The Burdwan University allowed me to go to university in Sudan. I cannot understand why my rivals are raising such plagiarism issue and dishonesty charges against me”, Dr Bikash Mukherjee said over phone from Burdwan.

“Some candidates who were not selected as registrar by the interview board, has lodged the complaint against me”, he claimed. SNS

Efforts to control sugar price intensified

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 JAN: In order to control the price of essential commodities, particularly sugar, the district enforcement branch will evaluate and check the wholesale price of sugar given by the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) after 22 January.

The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal said that they had not been able to verify the whole sale rate of sugar and other essential commodities and its retail prices demanded by the retail traders in the markets, due to lack of staffs over the past few days.

“Almost all staffs of the DEB have been posted at Sagar. They will be retunning shortly. We will start verification of the market prices of essential commodities including the sugar. The verification process will be concluded after comparing market prices with wholesale and retail prices and then steps according to the law”, said Mr Bhuban Mandal.

Though the MMCC leaders claimed that the rate of sugar will be Rs.43 to Rs44 per kg in the retail market, many traders were allegedly claiming rate to be Rs 46 to 47 per kg.

The whole sale rate of sugar has gone up as compared to last week.

According to the MMCC secretary, today’s whole sale rate of sugar is Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,100 per quintal. Last week, the whole sale rate of sugar ranged between Rs 3,800 to Rs 3,900.

“The retail traders will be selling sugar at Rs 43 to Rs 44 per kg”, said Mr Jayanta Kundu, the secretary of the MMCC.

“I have got information that the whole sale rate of sugar in Kolkata has been reduced. We hope that sugar rate will be falling within the coming two days”, Mr Kundu claimed.

The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked Mr Kundu to check the abnormal price hike of sugar that has been caused it seems by the local retail traders.

Registrar appointment kept in 'abeyance'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 JAN: The appointment of the new registrar of Gour Banga University in Malda has been ‘kept in abeyance’.

The council members of the university held a meeting on 15 January and took the decision following charges of plagiarism against the newly appointed registrar.

Dr.Bikash Mukherjee, a senior information scientist in Burdwan University, was appointed as Gour Banga University.

Though the appointment letter was issued to join the university from 18 January, on 15 January, the authorities faxed a message to Dr Mukherjee saying that he would not be allowed to join the post until fresh orders were given to him.

The present registrar of the Gour Banga University, Dr Tapas Chatterjee, said: “It was me who had conveyed the message to Dr Mukherjee following the decision of the council. His appointment has been kept in abeyance for the time being”.

It was reported that Dr Mukherjee had allegedly copied an article from a foreign journal which was published in his name but there was no credit line acknowledging the foreign writer’s name.

Following a complaint lodged by the foreign writer Burdwan University authorities had stopped his two increments.

According to one of the council members, the university authorities have asked the Burdwan University about the ‘plagiarism’ incident. After they receive the report from the Burdwan University, the council members will take the final decision.

The Gour Banga University sources said: “His appointment letter is likely to be cancelled”.

“A group of rivals in Malda, who applied for the post of the registrar in Gour Banga University, have raised the issue of plagiarism. I was selected by the interview board on the basis of my resume”, said Dr Bikash Mukherjee, over phone.

“I committed a mistake by not acknowledging the name of the foreign writer but later I corrected it. It’s true that the Burdwan University had stopped my two increments after the incident but I got promoted later”, he claimed.

Seminar on historical development concludes in Malda College

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 17 JAN: The UGC sponsored two-day seminar on political economy, national, development and environment – a historical perspective of India between 1707 and 1960 ended successfully at Malda College today.

The Post Graduate department of History of Malda College organised the seminar.

Professors, scholars from different universities including national level took part in the seminar. Prof Michael Mann, Globe and European Studies Institute, University of Leipzig, Germany addressed the seminar yesterday and today.

He presented a lecture on the impact of the Telegraph in 19th century around the world including the history of Telegraph in India in colonial rule.

In an interactive session, the former principal of the Malda College Prof. Santosh Chakraborty raised a question to Prof Mann about the fate of telegraph in the era of 3G mobile.

He pointed out that district telegraph office recently refused to accept an appeal to send a message by telegraph and the staff had suggested him to send a text message.

Prof Mann said that in those days telegraph was the only mode of communication that was fast. Now telegraph would be costlier when mobile services have come up with cheap prices.

“Once telegraph and telegram were only mode of communication and journalists of international new agencies and news papers used telegram for filling reports”, Prof Mann said.

Cong cries foul over surging sugar price

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 JAN: The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) today claimed that sugar price would come down to Rs.38 to 40 per kg within 10 days. The secretary of the MMCC, Mr Jayanta Kundu, said that sugar price has already started to come down after the announcement of duty-free imports.

“Today, we submitted a report on sugar price to the Malda SP where the wholesale rate of sugar is nearly Rs. 3,800 to Rs. 3,900 per quintal. The retail price of sugar will be Rs.42 to Rs. 43 per kg in the local markets at present”, he claimed.

When pointed out that the retail traders today claimed the price of sugar to be Rs. 46 per kg in some particular markets, Mr. Kundu said: “I must look into the matter so that the retailer can not claim more price of sugar”.

The English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr. Krishnendu Choudhury today submitted a representation to the district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh and asked him to control the sugar price in local markets conducting a raid with the help of the district enforcement branch.

Mr Choudhury claimed that a section of traders had old stock of sugar but they jacked the price of sugar to Rs.46 to Rs.48 per kg. The administration should take action against the hoarders, he added.

In reply Mr Ghosh said: “Action can not be taken against the traders at present without the direction of the government when the Central officials including the Prime Minister and other state officials are looking into the matter. Traders always demand present market price of his old stock”.

The secretary of the MMCC Mr Jayanta Kundu said: “The MLA English Bazaar is trying to indulge in politics in the matter. At present stock of sugar are 22,000 bags (22,000 quintals) for this district. We need to maintain such average stock of sugar for every day. In Malda, there are no such big sugar merchants for storing 1,000 bags every day”.

“In Malda more than 20,000 retail traders are running their business. At present stock of sugar for each trader is only one bag”, he claimed.

The sub-divisional controller, food and supplies, Mr N K Sarkar, said he did not have information about the programme of sugar distribution through public distribution system for the BPL card holders. The distribution of sugar has been suspended form mid November in ration shops in this district, he said.

One of consumers in a local market said: “Distribution of sugar through PDS can control the market price of sugar”.

Inspection on erosion control work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 JAN: A team of GFCC (Ganga Flood Control Commission) led by its director Mr. RK Sinha, today visited sites of ongoing anti-erosion work on the bank of the Mahananda in the district along the India-Bangladesh border.

The irrigation and waterways department in Malda was carrying out anti-erosion work along the border to save the Indian land and had erected a barbed wire fence on the bank of the river in Old Malda and Habibpur.

A total fund of Rs.35 crore was allotted for this project. The executive engineer Mr. S Misra said: “Ninety percent of the work is almost complete”.

According to him, the team will clear other proposed projects in Malda, North and South Dinajpur districts , sanctioning more funds for other anti-erosion works in the vulnerable sites on various rivers along the India-Bangladesh border. The Indo-Bangladesh joint technical committee had approved the proposed projects earlier for execution. The irrigation department, as implementing agency, was waiting for the clearance of the fund allotments from the Central authorities.

Today, the GFCC team held a meeting with the state officials of the irrigation and waterways department for sanctioning more funds for the proposed projects.

The executive engineer of irrigation department in Malda, Mr. S Misra said that they would float another tender for another proposed project for anti erosion work in Malda next week for Bamongola area. The border security forces are facing problem to save their existing barbed wire fence along the border in Bamongola area due to erosion of the river Punarbhaba.

The mystery behind power cuts in N Bengal

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 14 JAN: The “mystery” behind protracted power cuts throughout north Bengal over the past few days, stands unraveled. Power is being diverted to south Bengal districts to irrigate the boro paddy fields.

Power department officials have been facing public ire in north Bengal the past few days for the prolonged power cuts. They, however, had been trying their best to play it close to their chest keeping the lid on. The cat is, however, out of the bag.

“Suspend power and supply it to the sought Bengal districts for boro paddy cultivation, is our current directive”, divulge a senior power department official here today.

Speaking on the matter, the divisional manager of the state electricity distribution company limited in Malda Mr D K Mondal today said: “The demand for power to aid boro paddy cultivation in the sought Bengal districts have increased unusually. The current demand is for 1000 to 1200 mega watts. The department is committed to supply power to the farmers in the given situation”.

According to him, the other reason for the shortfall is malfunctioning power generating units. “More than four power generating units have collapsed, which has added to the shortfall.

Meeting the farmers’ demand for more power at this juncture is taking the toll”, he added.

He, however, could not assure when the situation would normalize.

According to the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh, farmers in Burdwan, Midnapore, Bankura and Birbhum districts are consuming extra power to lift ground water with the help of pumps throughout the night to irrigate the boro paddy fields, which has caused the shortfall in north Bengal.

Speaking on the subject, agriculture department officials said north Bengal two would require power for irrigation of boro paddy after a few days. Farmers of south Bengal start boro cultivation earlier than in north Bengal.

Resurrection of dead son...or is it?

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 JAN: Giyasuddin Momin had been declared dead by no other than his father a year ago. Suspecting foul play and on the basis of the father’s complaint, police had arrested one person in connection with the murder as well. Giyasuddin returned from the land of dead today to depose before the chief judicial magistrate in Malda and to save the accused.

Giyasuddin ( 16), a resident of Momintala in Kaliachak police station, was missing since 7 November 2008 after a quarrel between his father Mr. Galli Momin and neighbour Mr. Sabiruddin Momin over a plot of land.

Mr Sabiruddin Momin had reportedly threatened Giyasuddin with dire consequences following the quarrel with his father. His father lodged a missing complaint with the Kaliachak police station on 13 November after he went missing from 7 November. Meanwhile, the police came across a decomposed male body in the Pagla River on 29 November in Kaliachak and registered a case of unnatural death (no 41/ 2008). Residents of Momintala village including Giyasuddin’s father claimed that body of that of the missing Giyasuddin.

Based on the statement of the father and villagers, the police thereafter started a case (no 36/2009) on 17 January 2009 against the alleged murder of Giyasuddin. Seven persons including the neighbour Mr. Sabiruddin Momin were accused on charges of conspiracy and murder under Sections 302, 201 and341 IPC in the case. Although the police could not the arrest others, they arrested Mr. Sabiruddin Momin on 20 April 2009. The arrested person was sent to jail but, the granted his bail plea in July 2009.

The episode took a new turn after a group of migrant workers from the village spotted Giyasuddin in Mumbai in September 2009. They informed him about the incidents that had followed his alleged murder. Scared with what had happened Giyasuddin fled Mumbai to take up a hob in New Deli. Finally, the accused Mr. Sabiruddin Momin’s family members and migrant workers traced him down in Delhi and brought him to Malda Court.

The CJM has asked police to conduct a fresh inquiry and submit the report on 21 January. The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal told reporter: “Giyasuddin’s father, who had identified the body hand misled the police by claiming that the body was his son’s”.

Central govt scheme to help farmers in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 JAN: In order to implement Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojona (RKVY), a Central government programme for the development of farmers, the Malda agriculture department has been selecting co-operative societies in order to provide agricultural equipments to the farmers.

Recently the department has selected a society at Krishnanagar along Barind belt to develop tribal farmers.

According to the assistant director (plant protection) of the agriculture department in Malda, Dr Tamal Kumar Sarkar, the Krishnanagar co-operative society in Habibpur will be getting modern agriculture equipments worth Rs 8 lakh under RKVY’s fund allotted in 2009-10.

The decision to select co-operatives was taken following the positive responses and good experiences from the other co-operatives under the RKVY, he added.

“The objective of the supplying modern equipments under RKVY is to develop co-operative societies as well as local farmers. The co-operatives will provide the farmers with power tillers, pump sets, sprayers, modern machineries for harvesting and sowing on rental basis. The income through this system will develop the resources of the co-operatives”, Dr. Sarkar said.

According to the agriculture department two co-operative societies located in Gazole, another tribal dominated area, and in Chanchal are functioning sell in this regard. The department had allotted a fund of Rs. 6.75 lakh to each co-operative society in 2008-09 under the RKVY.

The agriculture department had provided power tillers, pump sets, sprayers and other modern equipments to the Gazole large scale cooperative society and Arbora co-operative society in Chanchal.

The manager of the Arbora co-operative society, Mr. Syed Alamgir Ali said: “We had got four power tillers, 16 sprayer machines, five pump sets and other equipments last year. Farmers are using these equipments on a rental basis. We have reduced the rental charges of those equipments by more than 20 percent compared to the rate at the local markets. This system has developed our earnings by helping farmers”.

EBM fails to provide civic services, Cong demonstrates

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 JAN: The Congress, Trinamul and BJP led English Bazaar Municipality authority today faced ire from the Congress for allegedly failing to extend civic service in areas under its jurisdiction.

Criticizing the EBM authority, the Congress today held a demonstration in Malda. The English bazaar congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury and town congress president Mr Debapriya Saha led the demonstration.

Though Mr. Choudhury was at pains to describe their demonstration was aimed both at the EBM authority and the district administration, the EBM chairman and senior Congress leader Mr. Narendranath Tiwari has taken the issue hard.

“The English Bazaar Congress MLA is trying to malign the Congress led civic body and the Congress party as well”, he reacted.

According to the MLA, they were demonstrating against unkempt traffic system, poor drainage system, disorderly garbage disposal and management, poor condition of drinking water supply, uncontrolled price of sugar and other allied issues.

Rejecting the MLA’s claim, Mr. Tiwari said: “The movement over the issues concerned including the shooting price of sugar would go against the Congress”.

In the EBM vice chairman and Trinamul leader Mr. Dulal Sarkar’s opinion, however, the demonstration was the outcome of a “faction feud in the Congress between the two leaders Mr. Choudhury and Mr. Tiwari”.

Ignoring the criticism of the other Congress leaders, the English Bazaar MLA Mr. Krishnendu Choudhury said: “The civic body is responsible for the poor garbage and solid waste management, poor drainage system and acute traffic congestion in Malda town. The district administration is reluctant to develop the services of the civic body. The public health engineering department is similarly reluctant to carry out drinking water projects despite allotment of funds from the South Malda MP LAD and other sources”. The MLA further alleged that the district administration was reluctant to take action against the sugar hoarders.

“Some traders had old stock of sugar but they jacked the price of sugar to Rs.50 taking advantage of the situation”, he added.

Malda paralysed by transport strike

CHILDREN MISS EXAMS, DM OFFICE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND IMPACT OF STRIKE BEFORE HAND

Statesman News Service
MALDA, 12 JAN: Transport strike in Malda district today threw life out of gear. A number of children could not reach school and missed their final examination due to strike.


The strikers called off the agitation in the evening after the Malda district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh ensured them that the administration would take steps against the unauthorised vehicles, including motorised three wheeler vans from tomorrow.


“We would ban unauthorised vehicles from carrying passengers in the state and national Highways without permit and valid papers”, said the DM after a meeting with the strikers today.


Transporters in the district had convened the strike in protest against the district administrations’ failure to check the movement of illegal morotised vans on the state and national Highways.


“We understand the inconvenience the strike created for the people and we are sorry for that”, apologised Mr. Uttam Roy, secretary of the bus and mini bus owners’ association.


The strikers ignored the Malda district magistrate’s appeal to call off the strike called at the last minute yesterday robbing the district administration the scope to arrange alternative transportation at least for the school students.


According to the strikers, they had sent the notice to the DM with enough time to spare but the receiving section at the DM office delayed the process.


Caught unawares, the DM Mr. Sridhar Ghosh said: “My staff could not understand the importance of the letter. They gave it to me yesterday evening. I tried to talk the agitators out of the strike but by then it was too late”.


Defending their act Mr. Uttam Roy, secretary, bus and mini bus owners’ association, said: “We were forced to convene the strike after the administration failed to take action against illegal morotised three wheelers and some unauthorised four wheelers”.


The association had convened the strike in mid-December but called it off following the district magistrate and police department’s requests.

Right over Wakf land sparks off controversy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 JAN: A controversy has developed between the Malda district administration and the English Bazaar Municipality authority over the right of use of a Wakf Estate at Chandan Park in Malda. While the Malda district magistrate has forbidden the EBM authority to use the land for any purpose, the latter is determined to use the land as parking lot for its vehicles.

The EBM chairman Mr. Narendranath Tiwari had recently approached the district magistrate, Mr. Sridhar Ghosh, staking claim of the land. The EBM earlier used the plot of land as a dumping ground but stopped doing so after minister of state for minority affairs, Mr. Abdus Sattar, intervened and urged it from doing so. The minority affairs department had planned to set up a girls’ hostel cum training centre for Muslims girls at the spot instead. Although the EBM chairman has proposed to the DM that the EBM has planned to use the land as a parking lot for its water tanks, tractors, garbage carriers and other vehicles, the DM reportedly told them that the civic body could not use the Wakf land and neither could anyone take it over.

As custodian of the land, the district judge can hand over the land to the state government can use it for development “, the DM said.

Despite the DM’s instruction, the EBM authority has planned to construct a boundary wall on the land and stow its vehicles there.

“We would start constructing a boundary wall on the premise soon. We would not dump garbage on thee land but would park our vehicles. The EBM has been using the land since the 60s. We would not give up our claim on the land”, said the EBM vice chairman Mr. Dulal Sarkar.

Malda Ramkrishna Mission adopts tribal villages

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 JAN: Malda Ramkrishna Mission has adopted six tribal villages in Gazole block to help villagers come to par with the mainstream.

Centering a village called Ansol, the Malda Ramkrishna Mission has set up a mobile medical centre for free distribution of medicines and milk thrice a week along with a basic education centre for the tribal children.

The Mission has already distributed blankets and garments among 200 tribal people there. Addressing the media, after observation of National Youth Day today, Swami Parasharananda, secretary of the Malda Ramkrishna Mission, said: “We have observed that tribal people in six villages, nine km from Gazole town, are most neglected, alienated, and also isolated. Many of them have been forcefully converted to Christianity”.

“As per the principles of Swami Vivekananda, they should not be forced to change their religion. We cannot reconvert them but we shall try to arrest them so that they can be brought back to the mainstream of Indian culture and heritage”, said Swami Parasharananda. Malda Ramkrishna Mission has also set up another medical camp and education centre at Palashbari in English Bazaar, close to a centre of the Misionaries of Charity, located at Nityanandapur. Swami Parasharananda said they planned to select another cluster of villages in Chanchal sub division, where the tribal population is also being neglected.

The Ramkrishna Mission today took out a colourful procession and garlanded Swami Vivekananda’s full length statue by important dignitaries on Bandh Road. Nearly three thousand girls and boys from different schools, including students of Vivekananda Vidyamandir, took part in the procession.

Students of Vivekananda Vidyamandir organised a cultural programme to mark the national Youth Day at their school premises today. The deputy director of education department, Mr. Dibyagopal Ghatak , and other officials were present.

Transport Strike

MALDA, 11 JAN: Rejecting the Malda district magistrate's request, owners of private buses and other passenger vehicles, including trekkers and maxi-taxis, have stuck to the indefinite strike decision from tomorrow, protesting against the alleged apathy of both the police and motor vehicles department to check the movement of the illegal motorised vans on the state and National Highways. ;SNS

Cong politics behind pulse polio boycott

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 11 JAN: A faction feud in the Congress led local people in Ratua to boycott the national pulse polio immunisation programme. The boycott continues since yesterday.

According to the civil administration in Malda, a faction in the Congress instigated the villagers to boycott the pulse polio immunization programme in Ratua demanding roads in that area. Villagers in Ratua and Harishchandrapur blocks in Chanchal sub division boycotted pulse polio immunization yesterday as well demanding road and electricity.

Though the local administration succeed in convincing the locals to avail of the programme at Dhangara, Bishanpur and Sadlichak villages in Harishchandrapur block, they failed to persuade the residents of Chandmoni-I and Chandmoni-II gram panchayats, who are rigid on their stand. Residents of the two villages today rejected health workers who were carrying out the immunization programme.

The chief medical officer of health in Malda Dr Srikanta Roy today reported the matter of the villagers’ resistance at Chandmoni-I & II to the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh and the sabhadhipati of the Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin. The CMOH has also sought the sabhadhipati's help to carry out the programme in the two above-mentioned areas. The sabhadhipati in turn contacted the Kharba MLA Mrs Sabitri Mitra on the issue. Mrs Mitra reportedly told the sabhadipati that the decision to boycott pulse polio immunization was not new.

“Last year too the people of those areas had boycotted the pulse polio immunization programme against the same demands. It is regrettable that I failed to construct roads in that area although I have been an MLA for the past 20 years. The people are aggrieved with the poor road conditions in that area. I support the people's decision,” Mrs Mitra said.

She went on to add: “I had requested the former sabhadhipati of the Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, to construct a road between Maharajnagar and Motinagar under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojona scheme. The proposal was accepted but not implemented. I was latter told that the road would be constructed with funds from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund but, nothing has been done till now.”

Concerned with the development, the Malda district magistrate today asked the Chanchal SDO and the concerned block development officers to take initiative to subside the people's grievance and ensure the immunization programme in the areas of resistance.

Most mothers prefer new arrivals at home

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 11 JAN: Though the state health authorities are trying hard to increase the rate of institutional delivery of newborn babies than deliveries at home with the help of midwives, more than 60 per cent of pregnant women prefer giving birth to their babies at home.

According to the district health department the rate of institutional delivery is nearly 40 per cent and more than 60 per cent women are giving birth to their babies at home.

This was revealed by a report prepared by the district health officials recently and was also submitted to the chairperson of State Women's Commission during a meeting on women's rights held at Malda on Friday.

The chief medical officer of health of this district, Dr Srikanta Roy, had to explain several reasons behind the poor rate of institutional delivery compared to the percentage of home deliveries.

The report said: “A total of 1,10,527 babies were born in this district in 2009 of whom 30,537 babies were born in various health centres. The rest 79,990 babies were born at home”.

A total of 15,979 male babies were born in health centres and out of them 2,653 ones died after birth. Similarly a total of 2,120 female babies died out of 14,558 after birth in 2009.

On the other hand, a total of 41,298 male babies were born at home and of them 5,964 died. A total of 3,203 female babies died out of 38,692 born at home after birth, the report said.

The report also pointed out that a total of 936 still born babies were recorded in health centres but only 13 cases were of home deliveries this year.

The CMOH, Dr Srikanta Roy said: “Two years ago, the rate of institutional deliveries was less than 30 per cent. Now the rate has however increased.

“The rate of institutional babies is high, nearly 60 and in English Bazaar, Old Malda and other blocks, the rate is even much higher. But the rate of home delivery is higher in many blocks like Harishchandrapur blocks I and II, where rate of home delivery is more than 80 per cent. As a result the rate of institutional delivery is nearly 40 percent in this district”.

“Despite several efforts and schemes, there are several reasons for the increased rate of home delivery. Inaccessibility in remote villages, education, social and cultural prejudices have created problems to increase the rate of institutional delivery,” Dr Roy said.

Citing examples, the CMOH said: “We have trained many midwives to encourage pregnant mothers to come to health centres from remote villages. Each midwife who brings a pregnant mother to a health centre will get Rs 125.”

To increase the rate of institutional deliveries, the state government has been providing a aid kit worth Rs 350 to each mother and her newborn along with other facilities, since the past two years.

Work picks up as civic polls knock at the doorstep

MALDA, 11 JAN: With elections to the English Bazaar Municipality in Malda slated in May, the civic body authority has stepped up its effort to finish a number of ongoing projects before the election code of conduct comes into play. Moreover, there is also the question of convincing the voters that the outgoing board had been an effective one.

Prime in the civic body's list of priorities seems to be the installation of a giant statue of the former Congress patriarch of Malda A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury. The civic body is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the nine feet statue is installed by 26 January at the Rathbari crossing.

At the same time the civic authority is trying to complete the ongoing widening of the Station Road from Rathbari to Kanimore connecting Malda town station. The two-lane facility would be named after A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury.

The EBM is constructing a two-storied commercial building close to the Rathbari police out post and plans to rehabilitate more than 50 traders who currently run trade from the Station Road footpath near Rathbari. A smaller road connecting the new commercial complex with National Highway 34 a cloakroom, a rest house and pay toilets would be added to the complex.

Claiming they were doing their best to have Ghani Khan's statue installed by 26 January, the EBM vice chairman and Trinamul leader Mr Dulal Sarkar said: “The station road is being widened with financial help from the border area development project and Uttar Banga Unnayan Parshad funds in addition to other funds. Traders, who are currently trading from the sidewalks, would be housed in the new commercial building, which is nearing completion.” ;SNS

Parted from cellphone, girl kills self

MALDA, 10 JAN: Mani-sha Singh, a student of (15) Shyamsukhi Girls’ School committed  suicide by hanging herself at Shankarpur under Gaz-ole police station last evening after her father took away her cellphone, police said. Manisha’s father, Mr Manik Singh asked her not to ignore her studies wasting time over the phone and took away the cellphone. She was supposed to appear for the Madhyamik examination this year. Mr Manik Singh had noticed that she spent a lot of time talking over the phone, so he asked her to hand over her phone until her board examinations are over. According to police, Manisha recently got romantically involved with a local boy. Today she wanted to attend a function at her school. Her parents, both health workers, did not permit her and had left for work. When Mr and Mrs Singh came back home they found Manisha talking over her cellphone. She got a bad bashing and was asked not to use her cellphone. Later, Manisha was found hanging in her bedroom. SNS

CP retains union at Chanchal College

MALDA, 10 JAN: Chhatra Parishad was able to retain its union in Chanchal College today where it won all the 27 seats. The Chanchal College students' union was under the control of CP since many years. Last year the college authorities could not conduct election following a court order. This year, however, the SFI was able to file nomination papers for 18 seats out of the 27 ones.

The CP won nine seats without contest. The CP won all 18 seats today after the election. The students' union election was conducted amidst tight security. The district administration deployed huge police force apprehending violence during the students' union election.

Earlier, the district administration had to impose Section 144 Cr PC, within 200 metres of the college campus on the day of nominations in the first week of January. There was clash between police forces and CP supporters when the students’ leaders went to college in order to collect nomination forms. In Malda, the CP has been able to retain students union in three colleges ~ Gour College, Chanchal College and South Malda college ~ out of the eight in total. In five colleges the SFI has been able to retain and capture students unions including Malda College and Malda Women's College, where the CP could not contest against the SFI. ;SNS

Road mishaps kill five

MALDA, 10 JAN: Five persons were killed in several road mishaps in Gazole since last evening. The victims are Binoy Hazra, Nitai Burman, Rabindranath Singh, Subrata Sarkar and Masidur Rahman, informed the police. ;SNS

27th Zilla annual utsav

MALDA, 10 JAN: Around 200 students participated in the 27th Zilla Barshik Shishu Krida Utsav, which was inaugurated by the Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, at Chanchal today. A torch rally was also organized to mark the inauguration of the utsav. The authority distributed blankets to the participants on the occasion. ;SNS

Agri dept turns blind eye to farmers’ sufferings

MALDA, 8 JAN: The agriculture department authority in Malda is apparently reluctant to take responsibility of compensating poor farmers of the district victimised by spurious seeds sold by a seller licensed by the state agriculture department.

On the contrary, the agriculture department authority has asked the farmers to move court with their grievance or squeeze out compensation from the licensed seed seller on their own. Having suffered incalculable financial loss already, the hard hit farmers are a confused lot.

Alleging that the licensed seed seller in question Mr Achinta Sarkar of Gazole and his agents had sold them spurious paddy seeds six months ago, the farmers under the banner of “Pashchim Banga Krishak Samiti” had demonstrated at the Gazole agriculture development office yesterday demanding compensation.

Speaking on the compensation issue, the deputy director, agriculture department in Malda, Mr Satinath Palit, said: “The farmers will have to demand compensation from the seed seller and the only way to press for damage charges is through the consumers’ court. The department cannot compensate them.”

It may be noted that based on a complaint lodged by the aggrieved farmers on 24 December on the subject, the agriculture development officer at Gazole Mr Tushar Kanti Roy had instructed the authorised seed seller Mr Achinta Sarkar to stop sale of seeds for 21 days and keep his shop closed.

Meanwhile the CPI-Ml (Liberation), which is backing the farmers have demanded cancellation of the seed seller's license.

“The matter is being investigated. I cannot at this point say whether the seed seller's license would be cancelled or not without going through the inquiry report.

“The department will take action against the licensed seed seller on the merit of the inquiry report,” the deputy director Mr Satinath Palit said. The Gazole ADO Mr Roy is investigating the matter and would send the report to the deputy director, it is learnt.

The agriculture department authority's advising the farmers to move court for compensation has come as a surprise to many.

It has also given rise to the question whether the department acknowledges the farmers’ grievance or not. If yes, how then is the department suggesting the farmers to move court against the seed seller authorized by the department and not taking the responsibility to compensate them through its offices instead?

Protesting against the agriculture department authority's advice to the farmers, the CPI-ML (Liberation) state committee leader Mr Nabakumar Biswas, said: “The farmers do not have the capacity to move court. They will not go to the court. Instead, they would launch a movement to earn their right.” SNS

Disinfectant suggested to check chicken deaths

MALDA, 8 JAN: To check unusual rate of chicken deaths from different causes including Bird Flu, the state animal resources development department has recommended a costly disinfectant to the poultry farmers.

The departmental officials have come to a decision to recommend a particular India made disinfectant ‘D-125’ for the purpose after getting positive response from its application during Bird Flu in north Bengal.

“When Bird Flu surfaced in Mirik near Darjeeling last year, the disinfectant was applied over the birds and the mortality rate arrested remarkably,” claimed Mr N K Sit, deputy director, ARD in Malda.

“The objective of using the disinfection method is not only to check unusual mortality rate of birds but also to check the spread of virus and reduce panic among the chicken farmers and poultry owners. The department has sufficient stock of the disinfectant,” he added. ;SNS

Confined


MALDA, 8 JAN: Guardians confined the teachers of Harinkol Primary School near Debipur under Ratua police station today for alleged negligence regarding distribution of mid- day meal among students. The police controlled the situation. ;SNS



Beneficiary

MALDA, 8 JAN: The Malda Zilla Parishad has selected Wasim Momin, a minor, as beneficiary for a house building grant under the state government project, called Ashray. According to the MZP sabhadhipati, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, the minor lost her relatives in a train accident near Khaltipur railway station under Kaliachak police station yesterday. ;SNS



Meeting

MALDA, 8 JAN: The state women's commission chairperson, Mrs Malini Bhattacharya held a meeting with the district officials today to review several problems including early marriage, trafficking and violation of women's rights. ;SNS


Lorries seizedMALDA, 8 JAN: Malda police seized 14 coal-loaded lorries in Kaliachak area today. A probe has been ordered to enquire into coal-smuggling allegations, informed the Malda police superintendent, Mr Bhuban Mandal. ;SNS

Sabhadhipati unhappy over poor progress of electrification scheme

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 JAN: The Sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, today expressed unhappiness over the poor progress report on the Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana in Malda district. She summoned the officials of the private implementing agency assigned for this project and instructed the project manager Mr. P K Banerjee to complete the project within stipulated time.

According to the ZP officials, the private agency had received the work orders eight months ago and it was asked to complete the project by October 2010. The cost of the project was estimated to be Rs 121, taken up to provide electricity to the BPL families. The private agency, however, started work in eight blocks out of 15 ones in this district.

“We need to fulfill people’s demand immediately,” Mrs. Yeasmin said. The project manager Mr Banerjee saidd that they have constructed only 2,000 polls out of 70,000 electric polls. A total of 4,432 locations had been selected under the project. Addressing the media, in presence of the sabhadhipati, the project manager alleged that workers of the implementing agency were facing resistance from the villagers.

“A section of villagers want to get electricity connection immediately but waht they do not understand is that they have to wait and will be getting connection only after some days. Such incidents took place in Old Malda and Ratua very often,” Mr Banerjee said.

Uncertainty looms large over state’s poverty alleviation scheme

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 7 JAN: Gram panchayat officials are not sure about the future of their programme on action against hunger and destitution, called Sahay. They have doubt as to how long the Sahay will continue if market prices of essential commodities go up following the ongoing trend. The matter was discussed yesterday when the district magistrate Mr. Sridhar Ghosh and other district officials inaugurated a Sahay centre at Malatipur in Chanchal for the have-nots.

Sixteen members of three destitute families of this gram panchayat will be getting cooked food every day from Sahay, said Mr Ghosh. The Sahay is one of the various poverty alleviation programmes with an objective to provide economic development and social justice to the poor and helpless people.

According to the state government guidelines, Rs 10 will be allotted per head for supplying food to these people. The panchayat and rural development department will provide Rs 7 and the gram panchayat will pay rest of the amount. The local self-help group will be engaged for cooking their food.

Such Sahay programmes have been started in various gram panchayats in the state as well in Malda district to achieve the target of having poverty and destitution free district. But the gram panchayat officials are facing problem in providing meal to them for Rs 10 per head. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “The recent price hike may create problem to provide quality food to them at the rate of Rs 10 per head. At least Rs 20 is required to cook quality food for an individual.”

Price hike costs dear to BPL cardholders

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 7 JAN: Distribution of sugar to the below poverty line ration card holders remains suspended since mid-November 2009 in Malda due to lack of stock in the Essential Commodities Supply Corporation.

The scarcity of sugar has caused a sharp rise in the price of sugar in the open market. Sugar is being sold anything between Rs 45 and Rs 46 a kg in the open market much to the anguish of all.

Yesterday, the wholesale price of sugar in Malda was Rs 4,200 per quintal in the morning but the price went up to Rs 4,400 per quintal by evening.

Commenting on the situation the district controller food and supplies, Mr B K Malakar, said: “We could not distribute sugar to the BPL card holders since the past few weeks due to lack of stock in the ECSC. We would be able to supply sugar through the public distribution system when the ECSC has the stock. We had distributed sugar through PDS before Durga Puja as the ECSC had supplied it then,” Mr Malakar said.

It may be noted that the wholesale price of sugar was between Rs 2,700 and Rs 2,800 per quintal during the festival period.

The market price of sugar went down further after supply of sugar through the PDS.

Admitting that public grievance over the shooting price of sugar was being reported from different corners, the sub divisional controller, food and supplies, Mr N K Sarkar, said: “Suspension of distribution of sugar through the PDS is causing public resentment in many places.”

The food and supplies department has, however, not informed the district magistrate about the shooting price of sugar.

When asked about the situation, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “I shall ask the food and supplies department about the situation and take necessary action thereafter. I shall also discuss with the traders’ bodies about the abrupt hike in the price of sugar and other essential commodities,” the DM said.

Meanwhile, the hike in the price of sugar has caused the hundreds of tea stalls in the district to increase the rate of a cup of tea from Re 1 to Rs 2 since Monday and the sweetmeat shops have followed suit increasing the price of every piece of delicacy by at least 1 Re with a threat attached to increase it further if the price of sugar continues to remain sky high.