MISHAP

Senior BSF official killed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 30: In an unfortunate incident a deputy commandant of Border Security Force was killed at Gitaldaha in Dinhata, Cooch Behar today.

 

BSF sources said the deputy commandant Vijay Bir Singh of 127-battalion went to visit the situation of Indo-Bangladesh border at Gitaldaha today. When he was returning his vehicle skid off into a roadside channel near the Dharala river at about 12-30 noon. The vehicle (Maruti Gypsy) was immediately flown away along the channel by floodwater. Two others in the vehicle, the driver and a constable, came back safely from the water but the vehicle and the deputy commandant went missing.

 

At about 3-30 p.m. the body of Vijay Bir Singh was recovered by the swimmers and locals after a hectic search. The vehicle was also recovered, BSF sources added. []

Water, water, water everywhere

Flood fear in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 29: Following heavy downpour on the upper catchments and also on the plains the water levels of three major rivers of the region crossed danger marks today. Water levels of other rivers are also showing an upward tendency.

 

In Mekhliganj, the Tista crossed the Red danger level. Red signal was flashed upto Bangladesh border. At Hasimara, Red danger signal was flashed on the Torsa. Yellow signal was flashed along the unprotected areas on the banks of the Mansai in Mathabhanga.

 

As the water levels of the rivers are increasing, the authorities alerted all the SDOs and the BDOs to keep constant watch on the situation. They were asked to get themselves ready to face any untoward situation if flood occurre.

 

Today, heavy downpour during the day disrupted normal life in Cooch Behar. Streets and a large number of dwellings in the lower areas in the town got waterlogged. Curious citizens gathered on the embankment of the Torsa to get a glance of the heavy water flow along the river. As this dyke is the sole saviour of this heritage town many aggrieved citizens were found criticising the authorities for their indifference in maintaining the dyke since its construction in 1952. []

 

Left warning

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 29: The Left Front run gram panchayats in Cooch Behar district will not disburse shelters under the Indira Awas Yojana till removal of all errors in the BPL list. Today, submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate the leaders of the Left Front made it clear that they were not ready to shoulder the blame related to the incorrect BPL list. The Left Front leadership did it following a decision adopted at the LF meeting.

 

District LF sources said, as the BPL list was erroneous the actual poor people were not getting the benefit of the Indira Awas Yojana. This cannot go forever. Till preparing of a faultless BPL list the LF run gram panchayats will not engage themselves in implementing the IAY scheme, they warned. []

NEWS

Furore over newborn's body

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 28: Body of a newborn baby was found in a drain near the Mathabhanga sub-divisional hospital in Cooch Behar district on Thursday morning. Following the recovery a commotion surfaced up in the locality. Though the locals alleged that the body of the newborn was thrown off from the hospital but no one was identified as its mother.

 

Trinamul Shramik Congress staged a demonstration at the hospital demanding an inquiry into the matter. They also demanded a stop into the irregular functioning in the hospital. []

 

'Thana gherao' stir

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 28: Trinamul Congress organised a 'thana gherao' programme at Baxirhat in Tufanganj on Thursday. At a huge gathering held on the occasion district Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabi Ghosh, vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta, state Trinamul secretary Md Abdul Jalil Ahmed, Mr Rathin Mandal and other leaders demanded immediate measures against the CPI-M to stop the atrocities unleashed on Trinamul supporters. A large contingent of police was deployed to maintain peace at Baxirhat. []

RAIN RAIN AND RAIN

Rain disrupts normal life in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 27: Following incessant downpour for the last twenty-four hours the normal life being disrupted in Cooch Behar.

 

In this heritage town the rainwater submerged more than 2,000 residences in wards like 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11. Fire service station, office of the superintendent of post offices, police lines, police station, Rasmela ground, minibus stand, Keshab Road and other places turned water logged. The street in front of the Cooch Behar Palace became almost a river. Today, the office goers and students had to face tough times to attend their destinations.

 

On the otherhand, the heavy rainfall at plains and upper catchments made the rivers inflated. Yellow signal was imposed on Tista in Mekhliganj. Alert was flashed from Domohani to Bangladesh border on its unprotected banks. The water level of Torsa is also showing an increasing trend.

 

Cooch Behar Municipality sources claimed that they distributed dry foods to the affected poor citizens in the waterlogged wards.

 

Flood control room sources said 229.60 mm rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours in Cooch Behar. The rainfall was 148.40 mm in Mathabhanga and 175.40 mm in Tufanganj in the same period. Heavier downpour is predicted in the next 24 hours. []

For Healthy Healthcare System

Youth League's demonstration for a Medical College in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 27: Demanding setting up of a medical college in Cooch Behar, the Cooch Behar district unit of All India Youth League staged a sit-in demonstration at the office of the chief medical officer of health in Cooch Behar today. They also submitted a memorandum containing 12-point charter of demands to the state health minister through the district magistrate and the CMOH.

 

At the gathering organised on the occasion at the office premises of the CMOH, the general secretary of the Cooch Behar district unit of AIYL Mr Gopal Dey said the healthcare service system in Cooch Behar is almost on the verge of breakdown. There is a single medical college only for the six districts of north Bengal. Very often the patients have to depend on the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. A large section of the doctors in the government hospitals in the districts grew a practice to refer patients to the NBMCH to avoid their responsibilities. In this perspective a new medical college and hospital is needed in Cooch Behar, he argued.

 

The AIYL leader demanded introduction of CT scan facility at the MJN Hospital. The state government already approved the scheme and a fund was also allocated but there is no visible initiative to add this facility in the hospital, he complained. The CT scan facility should be made available against cheap rate to the economically weaker section of the people, he said.

 

Availability of blood bank facility in the sub-divisional hospitals for 24-hours, appointment of doctors in all vacant posts, halting of supplying of lower grade diet to the patients, appointment of gynaecologists in all block health centres, screening of all private pathological laboratories and x-ray clinics and discourage the middleman system in the blood banks are some of the other demands mentioned in the AIYL memorandum. []

Bridge not too far

Far from the madding crowed. This beautiful bridge attracts visitors to Kholta in Cooch Behar-II block.

HINDI EDUCATION

Hindi medium schools in problem

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 26: A large number of students, teachers and guardians of different Hindi medium schools took out a protest rally in Cooch Behar town on Tuesday demanding measures for betterment of the existing dismal condition the schools are suffering. They also submitted memorandums containing 14-point charter of demands to the district magistrate Mr RK Sinha and the chairman of district primary school council Md Nuruddin Mian. A gathering was also held in front of the district magistrate's office. Hindi Vikas Manch was the organiser of today's programme.

 

Citing their problems in the memorandum, the secretary of Hindi Vikas Manch, Mr RK Baid demanded filling up of all vacant posts of teachers in the Hindi primary schools. The teachers of Hindi primary schools must have passed school final examination with Hindi as a compulsory subject. He also demanded launching of a Hindi medium teachers training college in Cooch Behar.

 

The teaching and learning materials and reference books provided to the Hindi medium schools must be in Hindi so that they can be optimally used and at least fifteen new Hindi primary schools and three high schools should be launched in this district, the HVM memorandum says. They also demanded upgradation of Hindi high schools to higher secondary schools. In Cooch Behar town, at least two Hindi primary schools should be uplifted to junior high schools and a new Hindi girls' high school should be launched.

 

Mr Baid said that at the lone Hindi higher secondary school in Cooch Behar district (Sree Hindi Vidyalaya) arts and science streams should be added. Presently there exists commerce stream only. The DM and the DPSC chairman heard their problems and demands and assured all possible co-operations to solve the problems, Mr Baid said. []

AGITATION

Parents demand hanging of son's killers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 25: Parents of deceased Debabrata Pramanik – Mr Shyamal Pramanik and Mrs Usha Praminik - demanded hanging of the persons who shot dead their son. They expressed their desire for capital punishment at a large gathering that was organised at Tufanganj on Monday on the occasion of 'thana gherao' programme of Trinamul Congress.

 

Debabrata, a student of Tufanganj College, was killed in a clash occurred between armed CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters at Nakkatigachh in Tufanganj on 11 June.

 

Trinamul Congress leader Mr Niranjan Dutta said they organised the Monday's programme (daylong blockade of Tufanganj police station) demanding a halt of CPI-M atrocities unleashed on Trinamul Congress supporters especially in Tufanganj sub-division. They also demanded arrest and punishment of all the accused involved with the killing of Debabrata Pramanik. []

GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP's roadblock to get separate state

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 25: Demanding formation of a separate state within the framework of Indian Constitution the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party organised an one-hour roadblock programme in Cooch Behar district today. The GCDP activists staged the roadblock at twenty-five places like Harichawra, Dinhata Choupathi, Jajna Narayaner Kuthi, Gopalpur, Harirhat, Balarampur, Sitai, Sitalkuchi, Haldibari and Nishiganj in different blocks from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Traffic movement was heavily disrupted during the agitation as it was held at the busy hour.

 

The GCDP also organised a mass gathering at Dinhata Choupathi during the roadblock programme where senior GCDP leaders spoke. The police tried to lift the roadblock but the GCDP supporters resisted the bid, party sources claimed.

 

President of the GCDP, Mr Ashutosh Barma said they organised today's programme to highlight their demand to get a separate state following the agreement signed between the Maharaja of Cooch Behar and Indian government before the merger of Cooch Behar State with Union of India.

 

At the gathering at Dinhata Choupathi, during his address, Mr Barma also demanded introduction of national holiday on the birthday of Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma, inclusion of Cooch Behar's history in the curriculum of schools, setting up of a Central university in Cooch Behar and appointment of a senior representative of Cooch Behar royal family as the president of Debottar Trust Board (DTB). Mentionworthy, DTB is the guardian body of all religious places and temples of the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar.

 

The GCDP president said they would wait till 8 September for a positive response from the authorities concerned. Otherwise they will stage a massive roadblock along National Hoighway-31 on 9 September, on the death anniversary of Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma. []

NABARD & G-NESEP

NABARD's leadership programme for SHGs

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 24: A 20-day awareness and leadership programme for Self Help Groups (SHG) started yesterday in Cooch Behar district. National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (NABARD) is the sponsor of the programme and Godhulibazar North East Society for Empowerment of the People (G-NESEP) is the organiser. The programmes are being held at Guriahati, Haribhanga, Ghughumari, Putimari, Matalhat, Okrabari, Gosanimari, Soulmari, Bhetaguri and other places in Cooch Behar district.

 

Today, at the awareness programme at Guriahati, the district development manager of the NABARD, Mr Debashis Ganguli explained the concept of SHG, its importance in improving rural economy and families' economical infrastructure. Unity, equality, co-operation and fellow feeling are some of the qualities needed to make a successful SHG, he said. He also replied questions raised by the participating rural women on manufacturing and marketing of products by SHGs.

 

During the session, a few women SHG members complained of indifference shown by several banks in issuing of loans to the SHGs. The DDM of NABARD assured them that he would look into the matter. Director of G-NESEP Mr Partha Pratim Sarkar, Mr Birendra Roy, Mrs Shikha Barman and Mr Parimal Sarkar too spoke on various aspects of SHG sector. []