More Bangladeshi nationals held

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 19: Cooch Behar Kotowali Police arrested fifteen Bangladeshi nationals for illegal entry into India without any valid documents. They were found waiting in front of the gate of Cooch Behar Palace last night. There are nine women and six children among the arrested persons. Police said they crossed the Indo-Bangladesh border at Controler-hat area in Dinhata. They came to Cooch Behar on their way to New Cooch Behar railway station from where they were to catch a Delhi bound train.

 

Yesterday, nine Bangladeshi nationals were nabbed from near the International border in Dinhata. They crossed the border at Karala and Boskotal areas. Boarding a minibus when they were going towards Dinhata the BSF jawans intercepted the vehicle at Natkobari and nabbed them. Later they were handed over to police.

 

It may be mentioned here that twenty-two Bangladeshi nationals including three middlemen were arrested from Cooch Behar on Monday. They had sneaked into India crossing the Indo-Bangladesh border at Kurshahat in Dinhata. They were also on their way to New Cooch Behar railway station with an intention to catch a Delhi bound train.

 

The rise of infiltration raised some questions from different quarters. Who are the men that are sending the Bangladeshis to Delhi promising jobs? Who are behind the human-trafficking racket? Why they selected the International border in Dinhata for their illegal activity? There is barbed wire fencing along the border and the BSF jawans are on duty round-the-clock, then how the people dare to cross the border to enter into Indian soil? Is the border so porous?

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar district unit of BJP, Mr Nikhil Dey said the BSF are reportedly busy in raising the height of the barbed wire fencing along the border. For that job the border is now open but there should be enough vigil to check infiltration, he opined. He said, they conveyed the matter to the state general secretary Mr Rahul Sinha. Mr Sinha told them that he would convey it to the party's National leadership so that they can discuss it with the Union home ministry, Mr Dey said.

 

The district magistrate of Cooch Behar, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha too expressed his concern over the rise of infiltration. He said he would discuss the matter with BSF authorities to stop the illegal infiltration. []

River erosion at Balabhut

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 19: Fresh river-erosion is worsening the situation of Balabhut area in Tufanganj sub-division. Union of five rivers – Torsa, Raidak-I, Kaljani, Ghargharia and Gadadhar – is gobbling up agricultural land and homesteads in the area. About twenty dwelling houses were eroded away by the rivers during the ongoing monsoon. The rivers grabbed about 900-bighas of farmland too this year. The entire Burirjhar village is under threat of Kaljani. The members of about forty families of this area are spending sleepless nights fearing fresh erosion.

 

Locals of Balabhut alleged that the whole area might be washed out if the erosion of Kaljani continues unabated. They demanded construction of an embankment to save their lives and properties several times but to no avail. Many are now preparing to leave for other areas to live. Already some left for outer provinces, said a villager.

 

Balabhut is an erosion prone area and absence of an embankment is making the situation worse. A large cultivable area is covered by sand because of yearly floods. When contacted, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sources said, a plan is under consideration to resist the river erosion at Balabhut to save the lives and properties of the locals. Construction of an embankment in that area may start after the monsoon, a CZP official said. []

 

Self help policy

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 19: Villagers of Falimari in Baxirhat started building up an embankment as a voluntary effort from yesterday. The village is under threat of erosion of Sankosh river. There was an embankment at South Falimari but that was eroded away this year during the floods. The villagers came up erecting the embankment on their own initiative at Uttar Falimari to save the local high school, Gram Panchayat office and residences of the village as the authorities took no steps though they had pointed out the problem several times. []

 

Husband arrested

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 19: Baxirhat Police arrested three persons yesterday for atrocities done on a housewife. Police said Mrs Anita Sarkar lodged a complaint against her husband Dipak Sarkar and other in-laws stating that she was undergoing torture in her in-laws' house since her marriage demanding more money as dowry. Her poor father gave a dowry of Rs 15,000 at the time of her marriage about two years ago. At last, failing to bear the torture she lodged a complaint on Monday. Following that complaint her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were arrested yesterday. []