PCAPA members ransack houses in Jhargram

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, June 6 (IANS) Suspected members of a pro-Maoist tribal organisation early Sunday ransacked a few houses near Jhargram town in West Midnapore district of West Bengal and fired shots in the air, police said.

Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said that members of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) were behind the incident that occurred three km from Jhargram.

‘PCAPA members ransacked some houses. We have unconfirmed reports that a few shots have been fired as we have recovered used cartridges from the spot,’ Tripathi said.

The PCAPA is considered a frontal organisation of the Maoists. Their posters were also recovered from the site of the accident of the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express in which at least 150 people were killed and over 200 injured.

Jhargram is 155 km from Kolkata.

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Telenor India unit expands to five more zones

June 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 1 (Reuters) – Telenor’s (TEL.OL) India unit expanded mobile services to five more telecoms zones in the country, giving it a footprint in some of the most lucrative regions in the world’s fastest-growing mobile market.

Telecommuncations Services

The company, which operates under Uninor brand name, said in a statement on Tuesday it launched mobile services in the Mumbai, Maharashtra and Goa, Gujarat, Kolkata and West Bengal zones.

With the expansion, Uninor is now present in 13 of India’s 22 telecoms zones and holds licences for the remainder.

The company, which started India services in December, had about 5 million mobile subscribers as of end-April. (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)

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Separated in train, reunited in copter

May 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tiya Haldar, a four-month-old baby who escaped unhurt from the Jnaneswari Express accident, is lucky to be back with her mother Ranjana (30) and elder sister Sujata (5), who were both injured critically. Shifted from the accident site by helicopter to Midnapore on Friday, they were transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on Saturday.

In fact, it was in the helicopter that Tiya was joined with her mother and sister as Ranjana and Sujata were unconscious when they were rescued from the S-3 compartment, and the security personnel failed to identify Tiya’s parents after she was taken out from the damaged compartment. Although they were rescued by different groups, the three were shifted by the same helicopter from the accident site. Ranjana recognised her baby lying in the lap of one policeman when she regained consciousness.

“Tiya is fortunate that she was shifted in the same helicopter along with her mother and sister. Otherwise, Tiya would have lost her mother too,” said Niranjan Roy, Tiya’s maternal uncle. While Ranjana was hurt in the leg, Sujata suffered a head injury.

However, Tiya lost her father, Bablu. Five of her family had boarded the train at Howrah on Thursday night. Bablu’s younger brother Shankar — they both worked in a private company in Mumbai — was also killed in the accident.

Now, Tiya is spreading happiness in CIB ward of the SSKM Hospital under the care of nurses, who fed her and played with her on Sunday.

As for Ranjana, she enquired about her husband repeatedly. “But she was not told the truth as per the doctor’s advice,” Roy said.

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West Bengal train mishap death toll rises to 120

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Jhargram (West Bengal), May 29 (ANI): The death toll into Friday”s Gyaneshwari Express mishap near Jhargram in West Bengal”s West Midnapore District is reported to be 120 by Saturday evening.

The number of the injured stood at 250, as rescue operations were still being carried out at the site located some 135 kilometres from Kolkata.

According to reports, the death toll is likely to exceed 150, as one badly smashed bogie is yet to be looked into.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, when the Mumbai-bound train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations. (ANI)

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Left, Mamata try to corner each other

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, May 29 — With municipal polls across West Bengal scheduled for Sunday, both the ruling Left Front and Trinamool Congress sought to use Friday’s tragedy to score political points. As Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee is also Union railway minister, the CPI(M) lost no time in demanding her resignation over the railway disaster.

The Railways, it said, had clearly failed to check tracks closely in a Maoist area, despite regulations to that effect. “The railway minister should accept responsibility,” said CPM state secretary, Biman Bose.

Banerjee in turn, rushing to the accident spot, demanded a central enquiry as she had no faith in the Left Front ruling the state. “It is very unfortunate so many innocent lives have been lost.

We should not play games with innocent lives,” she said, without directly blaming the Maoists. Though the official statements of both the CPM and Left Front made no reference to it, some CPM leaders did not hesitate to refer to Banerjee’s alleged proximity to Maoists.

The rebels had supported her during Banerjee’s campaign against forcible land acquisition in Nandigram. “Mamata Banerjee has never been critical of the Maoists.

Even today she did not criticise them, though so many innocent lives have been lost,” said Mohammed Salim, former MP and CPM central committee member. Banerjee has often claimed that the ‘terrorism’ of the Left Front cadres is worse than the Naxal menace.

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Bagan ride on controversial penalty to win CFL

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A controversial penalty decision helped Mohun Bagan retain the Calcutta Football League (CFL) premier division title defeating Chirag United 1-0 at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK) on Tuesday. Edeh Chidi scored from the spot in the 71st minute after Chirag defender Eduardo Chacon (Du) tackled Ryuji Sueoka inside the box and referee Minanshu Bhattacharya awarded the penalty despite the fact that the challenge appeared to be perfectly legal. The mayhem that followed saw Chirag players attack the referee and the police had to intervene to restore sanity. Play started after a five-minute stoppage and Du and Denson Devadas were given marching orders.

The incident came on the heels of a power failure at the stadium that halted play for 24 minutes. Stadium authorities blamed it to a technical snag. Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra, however, hit out at a section of the IFA officials saying: “They (the officials) wanted the match to be delayed to ensure Chidi didn’t take any further part in the proceedings.” Chidi had an 8.30pm flight to catch from the Kolkata airport.

Chirag were chasing a dream. They stood on the brink of creating a piece of history. A win, or even a draw, would have landed them the premier division title and it would have made Chirag the first club outside the Big Three in the Maidan — Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting — to win the league since Eastern Railway won it in 1958. Subrata Bhattacharya’s boys, however, were not lucky enough.

Bagan finished the league with 39 points from 15 matches, while Chirag were the runners-up with 36 points.

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Tripura hosts a craft fair to promote inter-state trade

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Agartala, May 20 (ANI): Entrepreneurs from most parts of India now want to tap the business potential of Tripura as there is now a view that insurgency is on its last legs.

Entrepreneurs from Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana recently gathered for a 15 day-long handloom fair in Agartalas’s Children Park.

They were not only able to do good business, but also establish links with businessmen from the region.

“A fair means a place where people get together. Moreover, we get products of different states at very reasonable prices. We have met many people here and done some shopping at the exhibition,” said Bani Dutta, a customer from West Bengal.

“This fair has been organized to give a boost to the handloom and handicraft sector. This place has become a hub for selling a variety of handmade products from different states. A customer has a choice of products at very reasonable prices,” added Sudarsan Mandal, an organizer from Kolkata.

Sponsored by the Union Textiles Ministry and organized by the Manipur Handlooms, the fair has been organized to boost inter-state trade.

The response both from indigenous traders and visitors has been overwhelming.

“This fair is a common platform where people from different backgrounds and states come together. This helps in maintaining harmony among people. It also shows that Tripura is a peaceful state and so people from outside are coming here for business,” said Debabrata Singh, a visitor.

“I really liked this fair, as it has been profitable for me. Sale of handloom and handicraft products will popularize my products. It’s a good effort,” said Leshna, a Manipur trader. (ANI)

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Mamata for early Assembly polls in Bengal

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, May 13 (ANI): Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sought early Assembly elections in West Bengal.

Talking to reporters here, Banerjee said West Bengal could have Assembly polls by this year itself, instead of May 2011 as scheduled.

She said she was confident about the Trinamool sweeping them.

However, Left Front leaders say the demand cannot be accommodated for want of Constitutional provisions.

“There is no possibility of early elections. The schedule cannot be changed as it does not depend on the whims of a political leader, said CPM spokesman Benoy Konar.

A section of the CPM leadership believes that all forms of alliance between the Congress and the Trinamool will collapse, if the elections are held as per schedule. (ANI)

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Spicejet plane makes emergency landing in Kolkata after alleged terror scare

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, May 5 (ANI): A Spicejet plane made an emergency landing at Kolkata Airport on Wednesday following a terror scare.

Initial reports quoted airport officials as saying that two male passengers traveling on the Pune-Delhi-Kolkata SG-203 flight were overheard discussing a hijacking plan.

Flight crew said one of the suspicious males was dressed as a woman.

The plane made a priority landing in Kolkata and was taken to an isolated spot. The two suspects were taken off the aircraft and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for interrogation. Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Rampant ball-tampering on in IPL-3 : Akram

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Apr.17 (ANI): Former Pakistan captain and incumbent Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach Wasim Akram has said that rampant ball tampering is on in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season- three.

Akram said he has seen many bowlers deliberately rubbing the ball with soil, so that it is difficult to spot for batsmen under lights.

“I won’t name anyone but I have seen quite a few cricketers who have been rubbing mud on the ball and that is also tampering,” Akram said.

“Around the 18th, 19th over in places like Rajasthan, Mumbai or Ahmedabad where there is red soil it is difficult to see the ball under lights and by putting the mud on the ball these players are trying to contain the batsmen or get wickets,” he added.

He also questioned as to how such acts are not noticed either by on-field or television umpires.

“If umpires are not watching then I don’t know who is. In this IPL, umpires should look for players who are putting mud on the ball because you can’t alter the state of the ball with anything,” The News quoted Akram, as saying.

Akram, arguably one of the greatest swing bowlers of his time, however, said that rubbing soil on the ball would not help bowlers to get reverse swing, and also clarified that the act of spinners rubbing their hand in soil before bowling can not be seen as tampering.

“That is different, that is just to get some grip on the ball but here someone is just going berserk rubbing the mud on the ball,” he said. (ANI)

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Anti Naxal operations in West Bengal

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lalgarh/ Kolkata, Mar 27 (ANI): The government offices in Lalgarh have been closed following operation ”Green Hunt” by the state and central forces in West Bengal.

All the government offices here are closed that includes the offices of the Block Development Officer (BDO), the ration department and the forest range.

Authorities have contended that the offices have been closed for security reasons and thwart possible attack by Maoists.
Maoists are doing their best to provoke villagers, who find it difficult to carry on their routine activities due to the closure of government establishments.

“We are facing too much trouble. We can”t do any work from BDO office. We are poor people and farmers. All our relevant paperwork has come to a standstill,” said Hiren Mahato, a local farmer.

“Ration card – exchange card, certificates for children, all are pending,” he added.

Lalgarh is regarded as the stronghold of suspected Maoist rebels and it has witnessed a spate of violent and bloody incidents over the past couple of months.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata some leftist groups demonstrated against anti-Maoist ”Green Hunt” operation.

“We are opposing it because this is aggression against the people,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist-Lenin) General Secretary Santosh Rana.

“The government wants to hand over a large area of land and forest and what-not to multinationals and, for that purpose, it is being launched. So, we are opposing it,” Rana added. (ANI)

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Communists protest against Centre”s anti-Maoist operation in Kolkata

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 27 (ANI): Scores of Communists took to the streets in Kolkata on Friday to protest against the Central Government”s anti-Maoist ”Green Hunt” operation.

Gathering under the banner of the ”Struggling Left Consolidation”, the protestors took part in a rally that demanded the suspension of ”Operation Green Hunt”.

“We are opposing it because this is aggression against the people,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist-Lenin) General Secretary Santosh Rana.

“The government wants to hand over a large area of land and forest and what-not to multinationals and, for that purpose, it is being launched. So, we are opposing it,” Rana added.

Earlier this week, the Maoists had called for a 48-hour shutdown in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, and three districts of Maharashtra, protesting against the Union Government”s operation.

The Maoist rebels had on February 22 offered a conditional 72-day ceasefire through the media, and said they are willing to talk to the government if it aborts Operation Green Hunt. Many believe the truce offer is a ruse to regroup.

The Maoists contend they are fighting for the rights of the poor, marginal farmers and the landless labourers.

Most Maoist rebels have ignored repeated calls from the government to renounce violence and negotiate. Instead, they have stepped up their attacks in recent months, prompting the government to go after them in a concerted manner.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had on February 12 defended the use of force against the Maoists, saying it was the legitimate right of the government to establish law and order, build infrastructure and set up welfare measures.

He expressed confidence that the Centre would be able to get rid of the Maoist menace over the next four years. Once the areas are cleared of Maoist elements, development work would be pursued expeditiously.

Referring to a reported offer of talks made by the Maoists through the media recently, Chidambaram said, “Why aren”t the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?” (ANI)

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Global warming sinks disputed island in Bay of Bengal

March 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 25 (ANI): Reports indicate that global warming has claimed its latest victim, namely, a low-lying island in a sprawling mangrove delta in the Bay of Bengal, which has been disputed by India and Bangladesh for almost 30 years.

According to a report in The Independent, the New Moore Island has disappeared beneath the waves, which is an alarming indication of the danger posed by rising sea levels brought about by global warming.

“It is definitely because of global warming,” said Professor Sugata Hazra of Jadavpur University in Kolkata.

“The sea level has been rising at twice the previous rate in the years between 2002 and 2009. The sea level is rising in accordance with rising temperatures,” he added.

Known as New Moore Island in India, and South Talpatti in Bangladesh, the uninhabited outcrop in the Sundarbans delta region measured barely two miles in length and one-and-a-half miles in width.

Yet, the island had been angrily disputed by the two countries, almost ever since Bangladesh secured independence from Pakistan in 1971.

The disappearance of New Moore Island, which was never more than two metres above sea level, may be a doom-laden portent for many islands in the delta.

According to Professor Hazra, countless other islands were threatened by sea levels that for the past decade have been rising by around five millimetres a year.

Before that, they were rising by around three millimetres a year.

Indeed, several islands in the Bay of Bengal have already had to be abandoned.

The island of Lohachara was abandoned in 1996, while 48 per cent of Ghoramara is reportedly underwater.

Thousands of so-called climate-change refugees have already fled. At least 10 other islands are said to be immediately at risk. (ANI)

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Tendulkar steers Mumbai to IPL victory

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

An unbeaten 71 by Indian veteran Sachin Tendulkar has led Mumbai to a seven-wicket win over Kolkata in Monday’s sole Indian Premier League fixture.

Tendulkar smashed 71 off just 48 deliveries, as Mumbai chased down the target of 156 with nine balls remaining in the match.

The Indian great’s innings overshadowed Chris Gayle’s 75 for the Knight Riders as the visitors made 3 for 155 in their 20 overs.

-AAP

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Railways ad places Delhi in Pakistan

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 20 (ANI):In yet another blunder by government departments, an advertisement issued by the Indian Railways has placed New Delhi in Pakistan and Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal.

The Easter Railway issued the advertisement to newspapers during a flag off ceremony of the “Maharaja”s Express.”

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was to flag off the Maharaja’a Express trail at Kolkata Station on Saturday.

A box inside the advertisement panel showed the train route from Kolkata to New Delhi via Gaya, Varanasi, Bandhabgarh, Khajuraho, Gwalior and Agra.

As the faded background of the outline of a small map of India showed Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal and Delhi in Pakistan.

Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Samir Goswami accepted the mistake and apologised for the same.

He also informed that the Easter Railways has suspended the advertising agency.

Meanwhile, the advertising agency claimed that the route alignment had been given for the benefit of passengers.

“The map and the alignment are an artist”s impression and not to scale. It is never our intention to create a controversy,” the advertising agency said.

In January, the Union Women and Child Welfare Ministry had issued an advertisement containing former Pakistan air force chief’s photograph. (ANI)

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Delhi Daredevils to lock horns with Chennai Super Kings at Kotla

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Delhi Daredevils will take on Chennai Super Kings at the Feroze Shah Kotla here on Friday in the third edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

Both sides will take the field without their respective captains.

Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ruled out of IPL for 10 days due to an elbow injury. He was hurt by a Shane Bond delivery during their match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir too is nursing a hamstring injury that makes him a doubtful starter for today”s match.

Suresh Raina will lead the side in Dhoni”s absence and Dinesh Karthik will lead the Delhi Daredevils. (ANI)

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Two poachers held with 80 tortoises in Uttar Pradesh

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lucknow, March 16 (IANS) Two poachers were arrested Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district and 80 tortoises were recovered from their possession, police said.

The two men from Kolkata, in their mid 30s, were arrested from a railway station in Jaunpur, some 250 km from Lucknow.

‘The two have admitted that they have been working for a poaching racket that operates from Kolkata, Nepal and several districts of Uttar Pradesh,’ government railway police (GRP) inspector R.K. Singh told reporters in Jaunpur.

‘The two have also confessed their involvement in smuggling wild animals’ skins, hides, antlers on several occasions in the past. The two have been into the illegal trade for nearly last six years,’ he added.

According to GRP officials, some of the tortoises were alive and were handed over to the forest officials.

The officials were yet to ascertain the place from where the duo had brought the tortoises. ‘They are giving contradictory statements about it,’ said Singh.

India has banned the trade of tortoises under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act but the huge premium and lax laws are increasingly luring poachers to the trade.

‘A case under Section 9 (prohibition of hunting) and Section 49B (prohibition of animal trading) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 has been lodged against the two,’ Singh said.

Tortoises are killed for their meat and are used in preparation of some medicines, officials said.

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Six arrested in Kolkata for misbehaving with air hostess

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 16 (ANI): The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took into its custody six youths after being offloaded from a Patna-Kolkata-Bangalore Indigo flight on accusations of misbehaving with an air hostess.

Sources said the six unruly youths began to misbehave with the air hostess soon after the flight took off from Kolkata and did not stop their act despite objections by her and the other crew-members.

After landing at Kolkata, they were offloaded by the Indigo officials and handed over to the CISF.

One of the accused, however, defended himself in front of TIMES NOW news channel saying that he was simply annoyed with the service as the crew refused to provide him with hot water. (ANI)

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Protestors block roads in Kolkata over price rise

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 16 (ANI): Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) activists blocked roads in Kolkata on Monday as a mark their mass protest against the rising prices of essential commodities.

Holding banners, placards and party flags, the activists of SUCI raised slogans against the price rise in the country and also stalled vehicular traffic for over half-n-hour.
“It is against price rise and for example, high oil price, petrol, diesel hike including 12 demands, twelve number of demands,” said Shyamal Guha Majumdar, a member of SUCI staging the protest.

The high inflation was mainly due to the continued rise in food prices, which climbed 17.8 percent from a year earlier in February.

Annual wholesale price inflation accelerated to 9.89 percent in February, the highest since October 2008 and well above the Reserve Bank of India”s end-March projection of 8.5 percent and the 8.56 percent January reading.

The inflation data comes on the heels of a 16.7 percent annual jump in industrial output in January, with the unexpectedly strong economic pickup also backing the case for the central bank to raise policy rates by at least 25 basis points. (ANI)

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Gorkha Janmukti Morcha pays tribute to Shilda martyrs

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 15 (ANI): The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists on Monday held a candle light vigil to pay tributes to the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) personnel, who were killed by Maoists in West Bengal’s Shilda last month.

On February 15, the Maoists attacked the EFR camp at Shilda in West Midnapore District and killed 24 personnel.

Over 100 Maoists fired indiscriminately, threw grenades and torched the camp in one of their worst strikes against security forces. Of the 24 killed personnel, 13 were from the Darjeeling hills.

The GJM activist Asha Gurung, said the 13 slain soldiers were very much Indian and sacrificed their lives for the country.

“The main purpose of this candlelight vigil is that our soldiers, who were killed in Shilda were are all citizens of this nation and sacrificed their lives for the country. Yes, it is true that they were Gorkhas but were Indians first,” said Gurung.

Gurung also expressed hope that the tripartite talks between GJM representatives and the Union Government, scheduled for March 18 New Delhi, would work in their favour.(ANI)

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