Bomb squad at Raas Mela

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: This is the first time an unit of bomb disposal squad will be kept ready at the traditional Cooch Behar Raas Mela that is going to start on 24 November. If situation arises the BDS personnel will be deployed to check anti-militant activities. They will examine unclaimed articles left anywhere in the town during the fortnight-long fair. Cooch Behar District Police will distribute pamphlets to aware people against subversive activities, said Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar.

 

The SP said they like to offer maximum convenience to the visitors and devotees during the Raas Mela. Checking of vehicles coming from neighbouring districts and Assam will be intensified on security ground. There will be seven no-entry zones for vehicles. Two separate VIP car-parking places will be set up. No stalls will be allowed to make the roads narrow inside the Mela. Police are not ready to leave any opportunity for the militant outfits of this region to take advantage of the mammoth crowd, Mr Kumar said.

 

A permanent metal detector doorframe was placed at the main entrance of Madan Mohan temple complex. Close circuit TV was also introduced inside the temple complex. CCTV will be set up in and around the Raas Mela Ground to keep vigil on troublemakers. There will be six close-circuit cameras to keep eye on the crowd. An inspector will be posted as Mela OC to supervise the police deployment and functioning of CCTV.

 

Not only this, additional forces were asked from outside to assist their local counterparts. The Cooch Behar SP said they made an appeal to the state Police Directorate to send two DSPs, three inspectors, 30 SIs or ASIs, five lady SIs or ASIs, 200 constables and 50 lady constables.

 

Mr Kumar said they would insist the fire services department to issue no-objection certificates to stall holders and eateries in the Mela site after examining the fire fighting facilities arranged in those stalls. Policemen will also check the sweetmeat shops, eateries and fast food stalls to prevent illegal use of LPG cylinders and inflammable things. []

 

Minister ill behaved with trainee teachers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: Members of All Bengal Primary Teachers' Trainee Association (ABPTTA) met the state school education minister Mr Partha Dey at Circuit House and submitted a memorandum demanding appointment of unemployed trained teachers in primary schools. ABPTTA president Mr Bhajan Barman alleged that the minister ill behaved with them and asked them to seek job elsewhere. Mr Dey reportedly told them that till settlement of cases running in High Court the government is not able to do anything for them. Condemning the education minister's unsympathetic attitude Mr Barman declared that they will gherao the district primary school education council office in Cooch Behar on 23 November.

 

The minister Mr Dey inaugurated the three-day workshop on school health programme at District Institute for Education and Training in Cooch Behar today. This district is going to enter into the third phase of the programme. Cooch Behar district primary school council organised the workshop in association with state primary school council and health department. The minister also inaugurated another three-day workshop on academic calendar, total and continuous valuation and grading system at Vivekanda Vidyapith in this town today.

 

The school education minister declared that they are going to set up more primary schools in this state to ensure primary education for all children. All guardians should come out to send their children to schools. To ensure school education for all children the existing infrastructure will be developed. The minister hoped that the experienced teachers would take the initiative to make the effort successful. He declared that inspection system will be improved and in the new system the school inspectors will have to act properly. []