Undertrial still at large

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 31: Police are yet to trace out the undertrial prisoner who escaped from MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar last night. It is suspected that he may have fled away to Assam. All concerned police stations were alerted about the incident.

 

Police said one Haradhan Das (35), stated to be a thief, was arrested from Tufanganj on 21 July. Since then he was in the Tufanganj Sub-divisional Correctional Home. On 22 August he was shifted to MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar with different ailments he was suffering from. He was kept in the medical cell in the hospital. Last evening at about 8 p.m. he went to the toilet and fled away by breaking open the window. At that time the entire area was under a power cut and he took that opportunity to run away.

 

As the person is a resident of Tufanganj the police started a massive raid there to re-arrest him. A senior police official said that they are not winding up the possibility of his crossing over to Assam. []

 

Martyrs Day observed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 31: Cooch Behar district unit of the SUCI observed Martyrs Day today in memory of the martyrs of the food movement of 1949 and the movement against price hike of essential commodities in 1990. A street corner meeting was organised at Kachhari Morh on the occasion where leaders like Mr Kajal Chakraborty, Mr Purna Mandal, Md Achharuddin Ahmed, Ms Rina Ghosh and Md Ali Hossain spoke. After the meeting the SUCI supporters took out a procession in the town and later submitted a memorandum containing a 12-point charter of demands to the state Governor through the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO. []

Demand for resumption of Haldibari-Sealdah train service

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 31: Fresh demand for resumption of the long abandoned railway service between Haldibari and Kolkata through Bangladesh is rising at Haldibari and adjoining areas in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts. The plying of locomotives from Haldibari to Sealdah through Bangladesh can reduce the present 15-hour journey to 6-hour only.

 

Former Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha) Mr Amar Roy Pradhan is among the front ranking proponents who want resumption of the train service. Chairman of Janabadi Forward Bloc, Mr Roy Pradhan, also a resident of Haldibari, recalled, it took about eight hours in those days to reach Sealdah by train from Haldibari. Steam engines are replaced by diesel engines these days and the journey time may reduce accordingly, he opined. Resuming of the train service may also act as a booster to promote tourism among the member countries of South-Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), he hoped. It will be easier to reach Dhaka through this route.

 

Mr Roy Pradhan mentioned that the Haldibari-Sealdah train service through Bangladesh was alive for some years even after Independence but later it was discontinued for undisclosed reasons. Now, to resume the service it will require laying of railway line along a stretch of seven-kilometre only between Haldibari and Chilahati in Bangladesh. The rest portion of the route is still alive in Bangladesh. The veteran leader said he would try his best to convince the authorities concerned to reintroduce the railway service.

 

The argument behind the demand for resumption of Haldibari-Sealdah train service through Bangladesh is that one may reach Kolkata by about six hours. At present it takes about fifteen hours for the journey through New Jalpaiguri. The members of the local business community of Haldibari and some political parties too are coming up with the demand. Recently, on behalf of the local unit of the All India Youth League a memorandum was submitted to the Union railway minister Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav through the Forward Bloc's all-India general secretary Mr Debabrata Biswas. Vice-president of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress, Mr Niranjan Dutta said they are too considering a plan to organise a popular movement to get back the abandoned train service. []

 

Cheques disbursed

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 31: Cheques of Rs 10,000 per head were disbursed among 143 beneficiaries under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) at Netaji Bhavan of Pundibari in Cooch Behar-II on yesterday afternoon. Rs 14,30,000 were distributed for the fiscal year of 2006-2007.

 

Sabhapati of Cooch Behar-II Panchayat Samity Mr Dhaneswar Roy presided over the programme. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad karmadhyaksha Ms Pratima Sarkar, Cooch Behar-II Panchayat Samity karmadhyaksha Ms Bani Roy and Cooch Behar-II BDO Ms Sonam Doma Bhutia were present on the occasion.

 

143 beneficiaries from Ambari, Bara-rangras, Chakchaka, Dhangdhing-guri, Gopalpur, Marichbari-Kholta, Madhupur, Patlakhawa, Pundibari and Takagachh-Rajarhat Gram Panchayat areas under Cooch Behar-II block received the cheques at yesterday's programme. []

For want of a bridge over Shewli

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 30: The residents of Pakhihaga village under Jamaldaha Gram Panchayat in Mekhliganj sub-division are considering a movement plan demanding a new road-bridge replacing the old one over Shewli river. Presently the old bridge made with wooden and iron parts is lying in a deplorable condition. Locals alleged that the road-bridge was lying in bad shape for a long but the authorities concerned took no initiative to renovate it. To straight out the situation they are demanding construction of a new concrete bridge over the river.

 

Vice-president of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress Mr Niranjan Dutta said they are planning a movement for a new bridge for the interest of the suffering villagers. The proposed movement may be organised prior to the next three-tier Panchayat elections, Mr Dutta said.

 

An aged resident of the village pointed out that more than four thousand people live on both sides of Shewli river. They have to use the existing damaged bridge daily. The villagers pass through this bridge for going to health centres, markets and schools. A number of planks of the platform of this bridge were damaged or destroyed and for that it is hard to cross the bridge safely. Richshaw-van pullers pass through this narrow bridge cautiously with their vans loaded with goods because at any moment they may fall down from the bridge. Another villager alleged that the bridge turned into an accident prone one. Several incidents occurred over this bridge during crossing over it, allege others. Bicycle riders have had to face such incidents regularly, they said.

 

To many, the existing Shewli bridge is nothing but a sort of death trap these days. Almost all wooden and iron parts of this bridge have rotten. It will be better to construct a new concrete bridge than to repair the old one, residents opined. The pradhan of the Gram Panchayat and others concerned were informed of the pathetic condition several times but nothing happened till now, they alleged. "Now we have left with no alternative but organising a movement to get a workable bridge over Shewli river", an aggrieved villager said.

 

Jamaldaha Gram Panchayat sources said they have no ability to construct a new bridge or renovate it thoroughly because of lack of adequate fund. They made the bridge usable temporarily for the locals by fixing a few bamboo poles on the bridge. The situation was conveyed to the Mekhliganj Panchayat Samiti, the sources claimed. On the otherhand, sources in Mekhliganj Panchayat Samiti said they are considering a plan to construct a new bridge over Shewli river to improve the situation. []

Roadblock on NH-31

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 29: Local residents of Dawaguri village staged a roadblock on National Highway-31 at Dawaguri in Cooch Behar against ill functioning of the midday meal scheme in Shiksha Mandir Shishu Shiksha Kendra. They alleged that a Sahayika (female helper) of the SMSSK was taking out huge quantity of rice packed in three large sacks from the SMSSK last night. The rice was supplied to the school for running the midday meal scheme. The villagers caught her red-handed but the puller of the rickshaw-van fled away. After threatening the Sahayika they released her out.

 

Following this incident the villagers of Dawaguri alongwith students and their guardians closed the school with lock and key and started demonstrating in front of the school this morning. They also staged a roadblock on NH-31 demanding measures against the Sahayika and an end to the ill functioning of the SMSSK. Traffic movement was disrupted due to the roadblock that lasted for about one-hour. The roadblock was lifted and the locks were removed when senior officials and police personnel rushed to the spot and assured the agitators of taking steps to improve the situation. []

 

Central University demanded

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 29: Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), a constituent of Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF), wants setting up of the proposed Central University in Cooch Behar.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the Additional District Magistrate (Development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra yesterday the GCDP leaders argued that Cooch Behar should be considered as the right place for setting up of the proposed Central University.

 

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said the then ruler of Cooch Behar State, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan established Victoria College (now known as Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal College) in 1888 for higher studies. Post Graduate and Law courses were offered in the college in that time. There was a flow of large number of students from far and near areas. After the merger of Cooch Behar State with Union of India the postgraduate courses offered in this college were discontinued, he alleged. Now the students of this region have to go to North Bengal University in Darjeeling district for continuing their higher studies. It is hard for the students of poorer section of the society to avail the opportunity of higher studies at the NBU, he said.

 

The GCDP leaders believe once the proposed Central University established the students of not only of Cooch Behar but also a large number of them from Jalpaiguri district and lower Assam would be benefited. The GCDP delegation that met the ADM (D) urged him to take up the issue with the proper authority so that the proposed Central University come up in Cooch Behar. []  

Rakhee tied to Bangshi Badan Barman

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 28: Lions Club of Cooch Behar (Greater) observed the Rakhee Bandhan festival by tying sacred Rakhees to the inmates of Cooch Behar District Correctional Home today. President of Cooch Behar Ramkrishna Math Swami Ajarananda, superintendent of CDCH Mr Bimalendu Mukhopadhyay, LCCG president Ms Maya Chakraborty and DC (PR) Ms Dipanwita Roy were present on the occasion. The LCCG members tied Rakhees to 270 inmates of the CDCH including The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman. Mr Barman is an undertrial inmate of the CDCH. A brief cultural programme was also held on the occasion. []

 

PHOTO : Members of Lions Club of Cooch Behar (Greater) tie Rakhee to GCPA chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home on Tuesday.

PHOTO : An under construction road-bridge over Karala river along Shantipara-Dinbazar road in Jalpaiguri on Tuesday.

Success of united women power

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 28: Two hundred women, mainly housewives, are fighting tirelessly to stand on their own feet through a united effort. They already achieved mentionworthy success. Others are eyeing on them with an intention to follow the path they already explored out.

 

The story is as follows : Two hundred women from twenty self-help groups (SHG) of Jadavpalli in Falakata of Alipurduar formed a joint platform named Manabi Sangha in 2003. Ms Shefali Barman is their team leader.

 

The members of Manabi Sangha had taken a loan amounting to Rs 2-lakh from Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank and purchased a strip of land. They started a poultry farm there. Within two years they paid back the loan amount and purchased a pond of about 4.5-bigha by taking a fresh loan. In that pond the members of the Manabi Sangha started pisciculture. Meanwhile the volume of the poultry farm and its business were expanded.

 

Ms Shefali Barman said they took a loan of Rs 2.5-lakh under Mahila Samriddhi Yojana scheme and with that they paid back a portion of the loan amount that was taken from the bank. With the rest amount they bought a new plot of land and started cultivating vegetables there. A nursery was also established to grow plant saplings.

 

Ms Arati Pal, Ms Urmila Basak, Ms Pranati Barman, Ms Shefali Aich, Ms Kinkari Sarkar and other members said they are not taking out their share of dividends. They have a plan to make their business efforts more flourished. "We understood the power of joint venture and we want others to learn this", they said. And as expected, the womenfolk of neighbouring areas are also getting interested and inspired. They are too considering following the steps of Manabi Sangha to add some additional bucks to their families. []

 

Bandh in Tufanganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 28: Except some stray incidents the bandh called separately by Trinamul Congress and BJP in Tufanganj passed off almost peacefully today. Police said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere during the bandh period.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh alleged that CPI-M supporters tried to foil the bandh by opening some shops forcefully at Kalibari area this morning. But later the shopkeepers pulled down the shutters spontaneously to make the bandh successful. He said they called the bandh in six Gram Panchayat areas of Tufanganj today to protest against forcible eviction of nine hundred shops of local traders from a haat at Uttar Chhatjaigir Chilakhana in Tufanganj.

 

District BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi alleged that they also called the bandh on the same issue. Police arrested twenty-four BJP supporters for pro-bandh campaigning, Mr Munsi claimed. He also alleged that CPI-M supporters forced shop owners to keep their shops open at Andaran Fulbari area.

 

CPI-M sources claimed that the bandh sponsored by BJP and Trinamul Congress was failed to gain support from the people. The people rejected their plan to disturb the peaceful situation in Tufanganj, a senior CPI-M leader commented.

 

It may be mentioned here that a few hundred shops were demolished by the district administration at a haat in Tufanganj on Saturday morning. The shops were demolished to clear the site for construction of the proposed building of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya that was inaugurated by state education minister Mr Kanti Biswas on 27 February last year. []

Bandh called in Tufanganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 27: Trinamul Congress and BJP separately called bandh in Tufanganj on Tuesday.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said they called a 24-hour bandh in Tufanganj on Tuesday to protest against forcible eviction of nine hundred shops of local traders from a haat at Uttar Chhatjaigir Chilakhana in Tufanganj. "We will not accept the atrocity done on the poor traders in the name of acquisition of land for a school", he said. On the otherhand, district BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi said they also called a 12-hour bandh on the same issue. State level BJP leaders will also come to express their solidarity to the affected poor traders, Mr Munsi said.

 

Both the BJP and the Trinamul Congress held CPI-M responsible for the eviction drive. Denying the allegation CPI-M sources said that the government took over its own land for construction of the school building.

 

It may be recalled that a few hundred shops were dismantled by the district administration at the haat controlled by the Tufanganj Regulated Market Committee on Saturday morning. The shops were dismantled to clear the area for construction of the proposed building of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Mentionworthy, state education minister Mr Kanti Biswas had inaugurated the functioning of the JNV in Tufanganj on 27 February last year. []

 

CCTV plan at Madan Mohan temple

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 27: In a bid to strengthen the security system Close Circuit TV will be installed in the Madan Mohan temple complex. By placing a few cameras inside the complex it will be easier for the temple authorities to monitor the movement of visitors and suspected persons. Checking of all visitors and devotees at the entrance of the temple complex through metal detector will also be mandatory.

 

The decision to increase security measures at Madan Mohan temple was adopted at a recent meeting of the Debottar Trust Board, the temple's guardian body that runs under state tourism department. The CCTV system is going to be introduced from September, DTB sources said.

 

DTB sources also said they requested the police authorities to increase security arrangements at all the twenty-nine temples and religious places under DTB in Cooch Behar district.

 

A senior police official said the police keeps watch on all the temples of the DTB regularly. There are permanent police deployments at Madan Mohan temple and Baneswar Shiva temple. The police install CCTV system at Madan Mohan temple complex and adjoining areas during the annual fortnight-long Raas-mela days. Installation of this facility to keep watch round the year will be helpful for the security of the temple, DTB sources hoped.

 

It was learnt that the DTB would arrange training for some of its selected staff to run the CCTV system. Additional police personnel will be posted at the main gate of the temple complex to check each visitor with metal detectors in addition of the metal detector doorframe. []

Madan Mohan puja to be dearer by a rupee

  

The devotees of Lord Madan Mohan will have to pay one-rupee more to buy a coupon for offering puja to the deity from September of this year. The decision of price hike of coupons was adopted at a meeting of the Cooch Behar Debatra Trust Board recently. The CBDTB is the caretaker body of the temples and places of worships that were established in the regime of erstwhile Maharajas. It runs under state tourism department.

 

CBDTB sources said till now a coupon is sold at the rate of Rs 2 only at Madan Mohan temple. From September it will be available against Rs 3. The devotees who come here to offer puja to the deity have to buy coupons at the entrance of the temple complex. The accommodation charge of the adjacent Anandamayee Dharmashala was also raised. Boarders will have to pay Rs 50 and Rs 60 per head instead of Rs 40 to get accommodation at the dormitory.

 

It may be mentioned here that in a bid to increase income of the Madan Mohan temple for its maintenance the DTB introduced the coupon system in 1998. At first the price of a coupon was Re 1 only. In 2002 the rate rose to Rs 2. DTB sources claimed that the decision to hike the coupon price was taken to offer more amenities to the devotees and visitors at the temple complex. []

Awareness drive to save wild pachyderms

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 26: In an aim to save wild elephants from being electrocuted by live wire fencings the forest department started an awareness drive in Dooars. Forest officials hope that the awareness drive may be helpful to draw an end to the menace.

 

Forest division sources said the dwellers of forest-villages and other villages adjacent to forestlands in Dooars very often connect the fencings of their cultivated land with live wire to save the cultivation from the wild elephants. Unaware of the power fencing four wild elephants were electrocuted in last year. After considering all aspects the forest department has adopted a plan to aware the villagers about the conservation of elephants and other wildlife and the punishment for killing these animals.

 

A senior forest division official said the villagers are interested in protecting their cultivation only. They are unaware of the punishment for killing the scheduled wild animals. Once aware of the punishment for the crime they will not dare to commit the crime. The awareness drive was planned mainly to aware the villagers about the punitive measures, the forest official said.

 

At the first phase of the drive the forest officials are teaching the Gram Panchayat pradhans and other Panchayat functionaries about the nature of punishment for killing wild animals and taking power connection from overhead cables by illegal hooking. In the second phase the Panchayat functionaries will convey the warning message to the villagers by organising awareness camps. Forest division officials hope that this step will discourage the villagers from extending power connection to the fencings.

 

The senior forest official said that no such awareness camp was organised in the past to save the wild elephants from being electrocuted. They will continue the drive as an uninterrupted one so that no elephant death occurs in future by electrocution, he added. []

Mathabhanga bridge fights for survival

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 24: A road bridge that connected Mathabhanga town with rest of Cooch Behar district is lying unattended for years. The bridge was constructed about 35-years ago and named after the legendary Bhawaiya artiste Abbasuddin. The condition of this much important bridge is getting worse day by day due to lack of regular maintenance. Weeds and parasitic plants are making the condition even worse. Locals alleged that the public works department and others concerned are paying no heed to the need to repair it to keep it usable. Chairman of Mathabhanga Municipality Mr Arun Chaudhury however assured that he would look into the matter.

 

The Abbasuddin Setu is situated along the road at the entrance of Mathabhanga town. There is no arrangement of light on this bridge and this turned it a centre of antisocial activities, district Trinamul Youth Congress president Mr Shibendra Nath Roy alleged. He mentioned that there was arrangement of illumination on this bridge when Mathabhanga town was under a town committee. Now the town is under care of Mathabhanga Municipality but the bridge stays dark at night. He feared that Mathabhanga might be disconnected from outer world by road communication if this bridge collapses any day. He alleged that neither the civic body nor the PWD taking any interest to improve the condition of this bridge.

 

The general secretary of Cooch Behar district unit of All India Youth League Mr Gopal Dey demanded immediate renovation and painting of the bridge. He also demanded regular maintenance of the bridge to keep it usable for years to come.

 

When contacted, the chairman of Mathabhanga Municipality Mr Arun Chaudhury said that he would take up the matter with the officials of public works division. He claimed that the civic body had arranged lighting on both sides of the bridge, as there is a cremation ground nearby. He assured that if needed they will add more lights there. A senior official of public works division said they were considering a plan for thorough renovation of the Abbasuddin bridge. []

Cold storage turns hot over compensation issue

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 23: The Cooch Behar Samabay Himghar Samiti Limited (CSHSL), a co-operative society that runs a cold storage at Chakchaka, is considering knocking of the doors of the court against the district administration of Cooch Behar.

 

The district administration had advised the society not to operate the functioning of Chakchaka Samabay Himghar (cold storage) till reducing of its height to pave the way for resuming of air service from the nearby Cooch Behar Airport. Accordingly the cold storage at Chachaka stopped functioning for about a year. As compensation the cold storage authority claimed about Rs 1.5-crore from the district administration but the amount is yet to be recovered.

 

The chairman of CSHSL Mr Kedarnath Ray said they had to keep the clod storage defunct for about a year and following that they suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 58-lakh.

 

Meanwhile, the downsizing of the height of the 62-feet high Chakchaka Samabay Himghar was going on since 1 August following a notice served by the administrative authorities of the district. The work was going on under supervision of public works department to decrease the height by 18-and-half feet. On 13 August one labourer was killed and several others were injured when the rooftop of the building collapsed during dismantling of the roof. As a result the work was suspended.

 

A CSHSL official said the cold storage might lose its functionality due to reduced height but they had agreed to downsize the height considering the necessity of resumption of air service from the nearby Cooch Behar Airport.

 

Following the CSHSL's claim for about Rs 1-crore as compensation for the reduced height the district administration conducted a study and settled an amount after examining all aspects. But that sum is yet to be paid, a CSHSL official said. He mentioned that though no compensation was paid they never hesitated to extend co-operation to the administration to continue the downsizing process.

 

The CSHSL chairman said they are considering of legal action as the payment of compensation is pending for a long.

 

Commenting over the issue the Cooch Behar ADM (Development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra said the delay was being caused by some rules and norms. All documents related to the compensation were sent to the superintending engineer of Jalpaiguri division of public works department. Paying of compensation will not be delayed after getting the necessary instruction from the competent authority because there is fund with the administration for the purpose, he assured. []

Locals suffer for a road-bridge in Mekhliganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 22: The construction of the road-bridge over Saniajan river in Mekhliganj sub-division in Cooch Behar is yet to be completed. The work for it began in 2003. The site of the road bridge is at the entrance of Mekhliganj town from Changrabandha.

 

It was learnt that construction of the road-bridge was started with financial assistance extended from Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) in 2003. The work was scheduled to complete within two years. Since then four years have been passed off but the construction is yet to be completed.

 

Finding no other alternative the locals are using an old iron made bridge to cross the river risking their lives daily. This bridge was constructed during the regime of Maharajas. It was never repaired in the recent past. It is feared that this bridge may collapse any day. As the bridge turned weak and tottering and unusable for heavy traffic the authorities concerned prohibited plying of lorries and vehicles carrying more than 10-ton of goods through this bridge. But there are few takers to obey that order. As a result the condition of this old bridge is getting worse. The initiative to construct a new concrete bridge was taken to replace the old bridge but no one is visibly serious about its completion. It is now merely an election issue, locals alleged.

 

Sources said state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary, a resident of Mekhliganj, reportedly instructed the concerned officials to complete the work speedily. The public works department was asked to complete the job as early as possible but it is yet uncertain when the bridge will come up for daily use. []

GKUF to observe hunger strike

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 21: Supporters of Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) will observe a six-hour mass hunger strike in front of the office of the district magistrate of Cooch Behar on 24 September. The decision was adopted at a meeting of the GKUF on Sunday night according to its secretary Mr Ashutosh Barma. During the hunger strike they will demand proper implementation of the agreement by which Cooch Behar State was merged with Union of India. They will also demand recognition of their mother- tongue. GKUF sources said that they would fight jointly till their demands fulfilled.

 

Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) organised its first anniversary at Prantik Bazar in Dinhata yesterday. As an incarnation of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) the GCDP was formed on 20 August last year. The GCPA was a non-political organisation, but the supporters of GCPA chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman formed the GCDP to run it as a political party. Mr Ashutosh Barma was appointed as the president of GCDP. As an undertrial Mr Barman is now staying inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home.

 

It may be recalled here that three pro-Kamtapur organisations had formed a joint platform named Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) on 24 October last year. The participating organisations are Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) and All Assam Koch Rajbangshi Students' Union (AAKRASU). Mr Atul Roy of KPP was appointed as the president of the GKUF and Mr Ashutosh Barma of GCDP became the secretary.

 

Yesterday, GCDP organised a daylong programme at Prantik Bazar. After different cultural programmes a mass gathering was held there. In his address GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma disclosed that they would field candidates in the ensuing three-tier Panchayat election in Cooch Behar district. They will launch an intensive campaign drive. He made it clear that they will challenge the CPI-M in the Panchayat polls. During the election campaign they will use the rich local folk-culture as a weapon and certainly Bhawaiya will be the main instrument to woo the voters, Mr Barma said. []

Bandh plan to demand resuming of air service

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 19: Annoyed with the postponement of resuming of air service from Cooch Behar Airport that was scheduled for last Wednesday (Independence Day) the business community is considering calling of a bandh in Cooch Behar.  

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce (CDMCC) Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid demanded intervention of the Union civil aviation minister Mr Praful Patel and state chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee into the matter. "We are not ready to accept mere promises any more", he said. He threatened that if the authorities concerned fail to resume the air service by 15 September they will have to call a 24-hour bandh in Cooch Behar district as a mark of protest.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said that the authorities had promised several times about resumption of air service but those promises were not kept till now. This time too they repeated the same thing. Now it is hard to believe that air service from Cooch Behar ever be possible. Cooch Behar is a downtrodden and neglected area for a long and the government too is not eager to improve the situation. He alleged that no agreement was signed between Airport Authority of India and any airlines operator about flights so far. At first an operator should agree to fly their aircrafts and then one should promise of resumption of air service, he said. "Catch fish at first and them promise us serving of fish fry," Mr Ghosh ridiculed.

 

District BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi too criticised the governments both at state and Centre for their failure to resume the much awaited air service from Cooch Behar Airport.

 

Referring a news report circulated by a news agency, Md Saukat Ali of Concern for Cooch Behar commented that the existing situation of Cooch Behar Airport was disclosed in the statement of the director of Tantia Constructions Ltd (TCL) Mr Shaleen Khemani. According to a news item posted at "monstersandcritics.com" of Glasgow (UK) on 16 August the TCL director said in an interview with that news agency, "We are going to complete the new airport terminal at Dibrugarh by the end of this calendar year. The mobilisation work for Cooch Behar terminal in north Bengal is under process as well. We are expecting to complete it in the next 12 months from now". If the post was to believe the much talked about resumption of air service might not start soon though the authorities are trying to convince people of starting of the service within a month, Mr Ali said.

 

When asked, district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said he has no new information about the resumption of flights from Cooch Behar Airport. []

Air service demand

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 17: Resumption of air services from the Cooch Behar airport, scheduled for the Independence Day, was postponed. No aircraft had landed at the Cooch Behar Airport or took off from there on that day. But the business community of Cooch Behar is not ready to accept it easily.

 

Terming the postponement of resumption of air service as dejection the secretary of Industrial Federation of Cooch Behar (IFC) Mr Depak Mundra demanded intervention of Union civil aviation minister Mr Praful Patel into the matter. He demanded resuming of air service as early as possible from Cooch Behar Airport in the interest of improvement of trade, commerce and industry of this region.

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce (CDMCC) Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid too demanded intervention of the Union civil aviation minister Mr Praful Patel and state chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. He threatened that if the authorities concerned fail to resume the air service by 15 September they will have to call a 24-hour bandh in Cooch Behar district as a mark of protest.

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said that the authorities had promised several times about resumption of air service but those promises were not kept till now. This time too they repeated the same thing. Now it is hard to believe that air service from Cooch Behar ever be possible. Cooch Behar is a downtrodden and neglected area for a long and the government too is not eager to improve the situation. He alleged that no agreement was signed between Airport Authority of India and any operator about flights so far. At first an operator should agree to fly their aircrafts and then one should promise of resumption of air service, he said. "Catch fish at first and them promise us serving of fish fry," Mr Ghosh ridiculed.

 

District BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi too criticised the governments both at state and Centre for their failure to resume the much awaited air service from Cooch Behar Airport.   

 

When asked, district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said he has no new information about the resumption of flights from Cooch Behar Airport. []

A waterlogged street after a heavy downpour. In Jalpaiguri on Thursday.

I-Day observed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 16: The members of Lions Club of Cooch Behar (Greater) observed the Independence Day through different programmes in Cooch Behar. Beside cultural programmes they distributed sweets and fruits among the destitute boys and girls and elderly persons at different orphanage and old age home yesterday, according to the president of LCCG Ms Maya Chakraborty.

 

In Alipurduar, Netaji Subhas Birth Centenary Committee observed the day at the foot of the statue of Netaji. At Ward No. 11 an open-air stage named Nazrul Mancha was inaugurated. It was erected with financial assistance extended from the local area development fund of Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das. Members of Suryanagar Club too observed the Independence Day through plantation of saplings. []

 

Mamata's meeting at Sitalkuchi

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 16: Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Bannerjee will address a gathering at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar on 1 September.

 

District Trinamul Yuva Congress president Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said the gathering will be held to stage protest against the "forcible cremation" of a girl that was allegedly occurred at Dakshin Nalgram village of Sitalkuchi in Mathabhanga sub-division on 22 June. The 1 September gathering will be a mammoth one, Mr Roy hoped.

 

It may be recalled that Ms Sonali Guha (MLA), a close confidant of the firebrand leader Miss Mamata Bannerjee had visited Dakshin Nalgram village with other leaders of the party on 30 June. They had submitted a detailed report to Miss Bannerjee. It is believed that after reviewing that report she agreed to attend a protest rally at Sitalkuchi to demand high-level inquiry into the gruesome incident and arrest of all the seven accused that are stated to be CPI-M activists. []

Bomb found, destroyed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 14: A bomb like object was recovered from a bamboo bush at Purba Khaterbari village in Mathabhanga last night. Acting on a tip-off from Army intelligence sources the police recovered the bomb and placed it at the alluvial land of Mansai river. Police said gunpowder, kerosene and a detonator were found concealed in a can of paint as the explosive. Senior police officials from Cooch Behar and Mathabhanga visited the spot and inquired into the matter. Today, bomb disposal squad personnel of Criminal Investigation Department came from Siliguri and defused the bomb at the bank of Mansai. When asked Cooch Behar ASP Mr James Kujur said an inquiry started into the matter but it is yet to be ascertained who kept the thing in that bamboo bush. []

 

Flight plan crash-lands

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 14: This time too the promise to start flights from Cooch Behar Airport turned futile. No aircraft will land at or take off from Cooch Behar Airport tomorrow. Earlier it was promised that air service would resume from the Independence Day.

 

As per schedule a trial flight was planned on 10 August but no aircraft came up on that day. And now it was learnt that the entire programme might be delayed for a month.

 

When asked about it, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that the officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Air Deccan assured that flights along Cooch Behar-Kolkata air-route might be conducted within a month. But the Air Deccan officials did not disclose to him the actual date or timetable of proposed flights. He also said that Cooch Behar Airport is ready for operation and Air Deccan is the probable operator of flights.

 

It may be recalled here that there was a plan to introduce the air service through Kolkata-Cooch Behar-Guwahati route. When asked about it Mr Sinha said nothing was finalised yet.

 

Earlier, a number of tall buildings were identified for demolition to pave way for safe flights from Cooch Behar Airport. Hearing was also held for that purpose. But at present no demolition is needed along the side where the official bungalows of SP, DFO and others are situated. The opposite side is now clear enough for resuming of air service, the DM said. Meanwhile, AAI sources said efforts are on to resume flights within three weeks. []

 

Collective leadership to run Forward Bloc

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 14: The day-to-day functioning of Forward Bloc in Cooch Behar district will be supervised by a collective leadership of the party. After recent demise of Kamal Guha the chair of the party's district general secretary turned vacant. But that post will remain vacant till the end of November following a resolution adopted at the meeting of the district committee of the party that was held last night. Party sources said that the nine-member district secretariat body would run the party till 30 November.

 

FB sources said at Cooch Behar today that a three-day special council meeting of the party would be held on 1-3 December. In that meeting the issue of appointing a new general secretary will be discussed. Till then the nine-member district secretariat will conduct the party's political affairs collectively. These nine members are : Mr Paresh Adhikary (minister), Mr Nripen Roy, Mr Akshoy Thakur (MLA), Mr Udayan Guha, Mr Debashis Banik, Md Tairuddin Mian, Mr Hiten Barman (MP), Mr Dipak Sarkar (MLA) and Mr Rebati Mohan Das.

 

In last night's meeting it was also decided that the Forward Bloc would raise a demand to name the Cooch Behar Airport after their late leader Kamal Guha. In support of the demand the party will organise a massive campaigning drive in different corners of the district, FB sources said. []

Cold storage collapse claims 1 life, 19 hurt

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 13: The rooftop of a cold storage collapsed at Chakchaka in Cooch Behar today leaving one dead and 19 injured.

 

It was learnt that downsizing of the height of the 62-feet high Chakchaka Samabay Himghar (cold storage) run by a co-operative society was going on since 1 August following a notice served by the administrative authorities of the district. The work was going on under supervision of public works department to decrease the height by 18-and-half feet. The demolition work was undertaken to pave the way to resume the air service using the nearby Cooch Behar Airport.

 

Today, at about 11-30 a.m. the rooftop fell down suddenly when the workers were busy in dismantling it. Soon after the incident 20 injured workers were sent to MJN Hospital where one person died. Some injured were released after first aid and eleven persons are under medical care. The killed one was identified as Suleman Mian (35). The condition of another one is serious, hospital sources said.

 

On getting the information Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar and a large contingent of police from Kotowali police station rushed to the spot. Arriving quickly there, the fire service personnel started rescue operation and sent the injured to the hospital. Cooch Behar-II Panchayat Samity sabhapati Mr Dhaneswar Roy, Chakchaka Gram Panchayat pradhan Mr Abani Das and other officials visited the place of occurrence.

 

Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar inquired the condition of the injured workers at MJN Hospital. He demanded Rs 5-lakh as compensation for the death and Rs 1-lakh for each injured. Demanding an inquiry he opined that more safety measures should have to be taken during the dismantling of the roof. Alleging lack of proper safety measures for the workers the Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh and district BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi demanded a high level probe into the incident and adequate compensation for the victims. []

Speculation over FB secretary's chair in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 13: High speculation is going on over the general secretary's chair of Forward Bloc in Cooch Behar. A heavyweight leader like Kamal Guha was the general secretary till his death. Now the party is suffering from indecision to elect a leader for that post. Will a new one ever be able to retain the image of the late leader in that post? The general secretary should have to take the responsibility to strengthen the organisation by retaining the its leftist attitude and at the same time he have to earn confidence of the grass root level supporters by continuing fight against the CPI-M. One should not forget that in Cooch Behar almost all FB supporters dislike the CPI-M's "big brotherly attitude" and the party enjoys support from the people for its anti-CPIM stance.

 

After recent demise of Kamal Guha some names are coming up as probable candidates for the post of general secretary of the party. Mr Akshoy Thakur is on the top of the list. Among others there are Mr Udayan Guha and Mr Paresh Adhikary. All-India general secretary Mr Debarata Biswas is to take the final decision, party sources said. He reportedly discussed the matter with senior leaders in state and district level. Not only the state secretary of the party Mr Ashok Ghosh but also some other state secretariat members are keeping regular contact with the local leaders to feel the pulse over the issue.

 

Mr Akshoy Thakur is the MLA from Cooch Behar (West) Assembly constituency. He had served the All India Youth League as its district unit general secretary and he has adequate experience to run an organisation. Though he is a follower of late Kamal Guha he has his own personality too. He has the ability to make his presence felt everywhere. Like Kamal Guha he also never spares any issue to criticise the CPI-M. District AIYL sources said they would be happy if Mr Thakur become the party's general secretary because he is acceptable to all in the party.

 

Mr Udayan Guha of Dinhata is also a candidate for the post. He is the son of late Kamal Guha and a state committee member. His father left the Dinhata seat in favour of him in the last Assembly election but he failed to retain it. A senior leader said mere sentiment couldn't be a qualification for Mr Guha to get the post. He has little influence over party supporters in the entire district. He preferred to confine himself in Dinhata and so he is not acceptable for the whole district, another leader said.

 

A staunch follower of Kamal Guha, Mr Paresh Adhikary is the food and supply minister. He is a resident of Mekhliganj. But he is not a leader acceptable to all sections of the party. At the same time following the existing norm in the party a man cannot hold two responsible posts – in party and in ministry – both at a time, FB sources said. And in this perspective the possibility of Mr Akshoy Thakur is bright. []

 

PHOTO : Mr Akshoy Thakur, Mr Udayan Guha and Mr Paresh Adhikary.

Speculation over FB's unity with CPM in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 12: State CPI-M secretary cum Left Front chairman Mr Biman Bose believes left unity (read unity with Forward Bloc) is a must in all districts of this state even in Cooch Behar in the ensuing three-tier Panchayat elections. He said this yesterday while he was replying a question from media persons at Rabindra Bhavan at Cooch Behar. His opinion is significant because soon after the last Assembly elections the Cooch Behar district committee of Forward Bloc under leadership of late Kamal Guha had declared that they would not participate in any programme or movement jointly with CPI-M in this district. And they are still following that decision.

 

It may be recalled here that Forward Bloc lost its two seats in this district in the last Assembly elections. Trinamul Congress candidate Mr Ashok Mandal defeated the Forward Bloc candidate Mr Udayan Guha at Dinhata and Congress candidate Dr Md Fozle Haque defeated the sitting Forward Bloc MLA Mr Nripen Roy at Sitai. Forward Bloc alleged that some local CPI-M leaders were behind the game and demanded measures against them. Later, displeased with the CPI-M's role they declared boycotting of all Left Front programmes jointly with CPI-M. After recent demise of Kamal Guha the CPI-M is expecting a change in Forward Bloc's attitude. As the main decision maker of the party Guha was known for his anti-CPIM stance. He was the chairman of the party's Bangla committee and general secretary of Cooch Behar district committee.

 

Meanwhile, district CPI-M secretary and Left Front convenor Mr Chandi Pal called the Forward Bloc to get back to the main platform of Left Front by leaving all disputes behind. He said Forward Bloc is a leftist party. It has basic difference with BJP or Trinamul Congress. "We should organise movements jointly everywhere as we did on earlier occasions." Only a few days' of difference between the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc should not be considered as a permanent one, he opined. He even hinted that they might invite the Forward Bloc to participate in the next meetings of District Left Front by sending letters to their (FB's) leadership.

 

When asked, a senior member of Forward Bloc's Cooch Behar district committee said that they are not considering anything over the matter at this moment. At the same time he said that the party leadership might adopt the right decision when time will come for that. He however reminded that Forward Bloc workers should follow the path shown by their passed away leader (Kamal Guha). Echoing him another FB leader said, as the elder partner of the Left Front it is the CPI-M's responsibility to make both ends meet. Political observers believe that if things go well both the Left Front parties may join hands before the next Panchayat polls. []

 

PHOTO : Traffic jam is a daily problem at the Railway level crossing along Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road in Jalpaiguri.

Plea to Divisional Commissioner

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Divisional Commissioner, Jalpaiguri, Mr BL Meena heard the arguments for creation of a separate district carved out of Jalpaiguri district. Submitting a memorandum to the DC at Alipurduar Circuit House today, the Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das mentioned that it is a popular demand for a long. He pointed out all aspects of the proposal to upgrade Alipurduar sub-division as a district.

 

Mr Das also urged the DC to consider the proposal to constitute a Jaigaon-Alipurduar Development Authority (JADA) following the model of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). With formation of JADA the socio-economic condition of Jaigaon and Alipurduar will be better, he said. He also requested Mr Meena to intervene into the stalemate over establishment of a women's college in Alipurduar.

 

The Jalpaiguri DC, Mr Meena heard his points and assured that he would took up these with proper authorities, Mr Das said. []

ABN Seal College wins

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal College of Cooch Behar secured the first position in the state level Youth Parliament Quiz Contest for Colleges (2006-2007) that was held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata yesterday. Two other colleges of north Bengal – Sonada College (Darjeeling) and Malda College (Malda) were ranked second and third positions. The winners received their prizes from state parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar.

 

The Youth Parliament Quiz Contest for Colleges was organised by state parliamentary affairs department. Almost all colleges of the state participated in the contest. There were 27 teams. The subject matter of the contest was Freedom Movement, Parliamentary System and Constitution. The ABN Seal College team consisting of Dipankar Sarkar and Khokan Das of department of History guided by Prof Dhananjay Bhattacharya became topper by defeating other teams.

 

ABN Seal College sources said that the district level contest was held at Rambhola High School premises in Cooch Behar on 30 July where 22 teams from almost all colleges of Cooch Behar district participated. Qualifying in the district level contest the ABN Seal College team participated in the state level contest and bagged the first position in the final round that was held at Kolkata yesterday.

 

Principal of ABN Seal College Dr Bijay Krishna Roy congratulated the winners. He will receive them personally alongwith others when they arrive at New Cooch Behar railway station tomorrow. The teachers and students of the college are also getting ready to offer "heroes' welcome" to the wining team. A felicitation ceremony will be held to honour them, college sources said. []

Blood donation camp

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Pashchimbanga Group-D Sarkari Karmachari Samiti organised a blood donation camp at Karmachari Bhavan in Cooch Behar today where 44 persons donated blood. Earlier, another camp was held at Mathabhanga where 38 persons donated blood according to district PGDSKS secretary Mr Shekhar Pal. []

 

Outbreak of enteric disease

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: As post-flood effect outbreak of enteric disease came up at Taurakuthi village under Angarkuthi Paradubi Gram Panchayat area under Mathabhanga-II block. Already a woman (30) died of the disease there on Wednesday. Her husband and son were also admitted to a health centre. A medical team was sent to the village today. Mathabhanga ACMOH Md Rabiul Islam Gain said all health workers of the area were alerted. He admitted that 16 persons are affected of the disease. The outbreak may have originated from local water sources and so halogen tablets are being distributed to get pure and disinfected drinking water, he said today. []

 

AIYF's demand

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Cooch Behar unit of All India Youth Federation (AIYF) demanded renovation and regular maintenance of the embankment of Torsa that is guarding Cooch Behar town since 1954. Submitting a memorandum they urged the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO to look into the matter immediately.

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar AIYF unit Mr Ramen Pal said they submitted a memorandum containing 15-point charter of demands. They demanded rehabilitation of footpath hawkers and cleaning of all age-old ponds of the town. They also demanded abolition of the middleman system in employment exchanges and offices of motor vehicles department and food and supply department in Cooch Behar, Mr Pal said. []

 

PHOTO : Traffic jam is a daily problem at the Railway level crossing along Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road. In Jalpaiguri on Friday.