01-06-2007

Ganja seized

COOCH BEHAR, June 1: Mathabhanga Police seized eleven-quintal of processed ganja from Pashchim Maghpala village today. Acting on a tip-off Mathabhanga SDPO Mr Ananda Roy conducted raids in Pashchim Maghpala village today and seized the contraband. The value of the ganja in clandestine market is worth Rs 11-lakh. It was stocked there to smuggle out to Bangladesh and Nepal, police believe. Later, the seized ganja was destroyed by setting fire, police said. No arrest was possible in connection with this. []

Smallpox alert in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, June 1: Following rumour of smallpox outbreak in neighbouring Bangladesh all areas along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar district were alerted today. Though the dreaded disease was eradicated world wide in 1979 the authorities is not in a mood to take any chance.

Chief medical officer of health (CMOH), Cooch Behar, Dr Sunil Kumar Sil told The Statesman that they got the caution notice last night. Today they alerted all block medical officers of health (BMOH) to keep close watch in their areas concerned on all fever cases especially cases accompanied by rashes. The BMOHs were asked to thoroughly examine and report immediately such cases if found any, the CMOH said.

Yesterday, a meeting of the Cooch Behar District Health and Family Welfare Samiti was held at the conference hall of Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad. The meeting was a routine one to review the ongoing health projects, the CMOH said. It was not possible to discuss the smallpox caution notice at that meeting because it arrived Cooch Behar at night, the CMOH clarified. []

Renovated Keshav Ashram to be inaugurated on Saturday

COOCH BEHAR, June 1: State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy will inaugurate the renovated Keshav Ashram, its Upashana Griha (prayer hall) and Ranibagan tomorrow. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda, Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar and Cooch Behar Municipality chairman, Mr Biren Kundu will attend the inaugural programme as distinguished guests. District magistrate and also the president of Debottar Trust Board, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha will preside over the programme.

Keshav Ashram is the place where the funeral ashes of the then ruler of Cooch Behar, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan and other members of the royal family are kept with specially erected memorial columns. The Upashana Griha too was established during the reign of the Maharaja who converted to Brahmo religion.

It may be mentioned here that Brahmananda Keshav Chandra Sen was the founder of Brahmo sect of religion. He married off his daughter, Sunity Devi with Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Following that event the Brahmo society of Bengal was divided into two segments – Nava Brahmo Samaj and Adi Brahmo Samaj. Maharaja Nripendra Narayan and Sunity Devi are considered as the light-bearers of modern Cooch Behar.

Presently, Keshav Ashram, its Upasana Griha and the Ranibagan are under Debottar Trust Board. DTB is also a body under state tourism department. As these are parts of the history of Cooch Behar these were thoroughly renovated recently and are going to be inaugurated for the general people tomorrow. []

PHOTO : The renovated Keshav Ashram in Cooch Behar on Friday.