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Three held for running illegal FM stations in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 FEB: Illegal FM radio stations are mushrooming in Malda district while the administration remains silent on the issue. The Malda district magistrate has received a confidential report against the FM radio statons from Chanchal sub-divisional officer.

“The Chanchal SDO Mr Subho Mukherjee recently submitted a report to me on the issue. The report has been forwarded to the Malda SP for necessary action”, claimed the Malda DM Mr Sridhar Ghosh. Expressing surprise with the development the DM added: “I do not know how they are using frequency modulation without permission. I have urged the police to look into the matter.”

While the Chanchal SDO Mr Subho Mukherjee said the permission from the information and broadcasting ministry was an absolute must to operate such radio stations, the ASP Malda Mr Kalyan Mukherjee said that police would follow up the DM’s letter and take necessary steps. The administration is apprehensive that such illegal radio stations may be misused by the organizers and worse still, anti national elements could use it to their gains.

The former Union information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had laid foundation stone for setting up an FM radio station in September 2008, but the project lingered du to his illness. “But the local youths , who are radio and cell phone mechanics , set up FM radio stations in the northern part of the district a few months ago and are successfully running their business”, alleged a Chanchal resident Mr Debashis Ghosh.

“There is a demand for an FM radio station in the district but officially no such station has been set up here. As a result, local youths have set up several such stations”, acknowledged a senior police officer.

For no, however, the locals are lapping up the jazz pouring out of their radios on the FM band and local traders are providing advertisements to reach out to the population.

Kit for short range FM is available in the local markets and experienced radio makers are using the kit and other accessories to expand their area in running the illegal radios stations.

Three held for running illegal FM stations in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 9 FEB: The police have arrested three persons for allegedly running illegal FM radio stations in Malda district. According to the police more such illegal radio stations are operational in the district.


“The raids would continue till the last one is brought to book”, said the Malda ASP Mr Kalyan Mukherjee.


According to the ASP, two persons were arrested from Manikchak police station area and materials being used to run such stations were seized from three illegal FM radio stations under the same police station. Another person was arrested from Chanchal police station for similar reasons in the raids continuing since yesterday.


The police cracked into action yesterday after the Chanchal sub-divisional officer Mr Subho Mukherjee sent a confidential report about the presence of several illegal FM radio stations in the district to the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh requesting him immediate action. The DM forwarded the report to the Malda SP for necessary action.


“We learnt of several other issues while raiding the FM stations. The owner of one such FM station Mr B Saha showed us a trade license issued by the English Bazaar Municipality and claimed the document authorised him to run an FM station.


On examination we found that the trade license had been issued for trading and selling electronics goods. Although we did not arrest the owner, we have asked him to furnish documents permitting him to run an FM radio station or else stop running the station until further instruction,” the ASP Mr Kalyan Mukherjee said.

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