Book fair begins

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 28: State library minister Mr Tapan Roy inaugurated the Cooch Behar Book fair at Raas Mela Ground today. CZP sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda, Cooch Behar MP (Rajya Sabha) Mr Tarini Roy and ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra were present among the distinguished guests. Prior to the inauguration a colourful 'walk for books' was held in the town. There are about seventy stalls in the fair premises though many of them are yet to be completed. []

  

UBKV stir

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 28: University Officers' Association, UBKV, Cooch Behar, began their second phase of agitation with 'VC go back' slogan from yesterday. Vice-president of University Officers' Association, UBKV, Md S Rahman said they will agitate daily during the tiffin period till removal of the vice-chancellor from the UBKV. The VC has no right to stay in this university anymore because of his undemocratic and illegal activities, the UOA leader said. []

 

Bomb scare

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 28: Following an explosion occurred at the early morning of today the villagers of Tallipara in Maghpala under Cooch Behar Kotowali police station turned panicky. Locals claimed they heard blasting sound of four bombs. The incident occurred inside the residence of a local farmer, Anil Barman. The sleepy family members wake up following the explosion. Examining the remains it was found that placing some powerful crackers in a cooking pot it was blasted. The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. Cooch Behar ASP, Mr James Kujur said an investigation started into the incident. []

 

Case against police officer

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 28: Mrs Menaka Biswas, a housewife of Maghpala village in Cooch Behar, lodged a case at the court of chief judicial magistrate against a sub-inspector of Cooch Behar Kotowali police station today. Receiving the complaint, the CJM, Mr Manojyoti Bhattacharya, took up it in cognisance (CR Case No. 464/2007), said the lawyer of the complainant, Mr Shibendra Nath Roy.

 

According to the complaint the SI entered into the residence of Mr Rajkumar Roy on 25 December in the pretext of an inquiry. As the house-owner was absent the SI allegedly broke open a box and took out Rs 5,000 from it. He also took some ornaments of the housewife forcefully and when she tried to resist him he allegedly outraged her modesty. He also threatened her. Later, she tried to lodge a complaint at the police station but that was also refused.

 

When asked, the additional superintendent of police, Mr James Kujur said the housewife already submitted a complaint to him and a probe into her allegation is under process.

 

The lawyer, Mr Roy said the housewife failed to lodge complaint at the police station and so she had to lodge a case at the court to get justice. It should be considered as an act of bravery because ignoring the threat a simple village woman came to the court praying for justice, he opined. []