Maoist leader produced at Alipurduar court

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 29: A top ranking Maoist leader, Mr Patit Paban Haldar was produced at the court of additional chief judicial magistrate in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri today. The judge, Mr Nirvan Khesang sent him to judicial custody for fourteen days.

 

According to Mr Samir Majumder, the government pleader of the case, the Maoist leader was produced in the court today in connection with a case of 2004. Following a meeting of top ULFA and KLO leaders held at a residence at South Shibkata village of Dakshin Salsalabari in Alipurduar two persons were arrested. During interrogation the arrested duo reportedly disclosed names and whereabouts of a few top-ranking leaders to the police. Following their disclosure the police came to know about Mr Haldar.

 

Police brought in the Maoist leader by Tista Torsa Express from Presidency Jail in Kolkata today. There he was suffering a life term in connection with another case related to a landmine explosion in Belpahari. A huge gathering was there at the Alipurduar court premises today to see the Maoist leader. A large contingent of police force was deployed to keep the situation under control. As no lawyer stood on behalf of the Maoist leader the court remanded him to judicial custody for fourteen days. []  

Visit for a women's college

 

ALIPURDUAR, Feb. 28: A two-member team from West Bengal Council for Higher Education visited Alipurduar in Jalpaiguri district today. The team members – Dr Jibendu Roy and Ms Papiya Bannerjee visited the demarcated site of the proposed women's college at New Town in Alipurduar. They also visited the Alipurduar Collegiate School where the proposed women's college is scheduled to function from the next academic session till erection of its own building.

 

Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das said the team members verified the reserve fund of Rs 13-lakh of the college and inquired different aspects for setting up of the women's college. The fund is needed before launching a college. Mr Das said the citizens of Alipurduar were trying to establish the women's college for the past eight years. Meanwhile, Alipurduar MP Mr Joachim Buxla extended Rs 25-lakh and Mr Das gave Rs 15-lakh from their local area development funds to build up the college in Alipurduar. Assistance from Uttar Banga Unnayan Parshad is also expected, he added. []

NRDC sit-in demonstration at four railway stations

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 28: The New Railway Demand Committee (NRDC) organised daylong sit-in demonstrations at New Cooch Behar and Changrabandha railway stations in Cooch Behar district and Jogighopa and Abhoyapuri railway stations in Assam today. The NRDC comprising of members from both states - West Bengal and Assam – staged the programme from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in support of their demand for speedy implementation of the New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway project.

 

During his address at the sit-in at New Cooch Behar railway station, a joint convenor of the NRDC, Mr Chandi Pal alleged that the Union Railway Budget failed to meet the aspirations of the people of this region, as there was no mention about adding momentum for speedy implementation of the long awaited project.

 

Natabari MLA Md Tamser Ali, Tufanganj MLA Ms Aloka Barman, Mr Akhil Pramanik (CPI-M), Mr Pallab Chaudhury (CPI), Mr Rajen Baid (CDMCC) and Mr Mahananda Saha (DYFI) too spoke on the occasion at New Cooch Behar. About five thousand people attended the programme.

 

"We believe that the proposed railway route will be of immense help to the progress of industrialisation in this region. It may boost up the trade and commerce scenario of the entire northeast region and so we want speedy implementation of the project", Mr Chandi Pal said. The new rail route may also encourage the regional economy to grow for better, he said. []

 

Folk festival

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 28: Cooch Behar district folk culture festival will be held at Chilakhana in Tufanganj on 2 March. State backward classes welfare minister Mr Jogesh Chandra Barman will inaugurate the festival. Beside different folk cultural programme a seminar will also be held on the problems of folk artistes and development of folk culture, according to the district information and culture officer Mr Tapan Sarkar. []

BJP initiates rural poll campaign

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 28: Cooch Behar district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party initiated its campaigning drive for the ensuing three-tier panchayat polls through a workers' convention that was held at Nazrul Sadan in Mathabhanga today. Prior to the convention the BJP supporters took out a large rally in Mathabhanga town.

 

Addressing the well-attended convention of the party workers at Nazrul Sadan, Prof Tathagata Roy, a member of the party's National Council, said they are eager about formation of an anti-CPI-M grand alliance. He called upon all political parties except CPI and Muslim League to join the alliance to pull down the CPI-M from power. The tyrant CPI-M has no right to stay in power in this state anymore, he said. He opined that a united effort could remove the CPI-M from the seat of power in panchayat bodies and elsewhere too. Mr Roy instructed the party workers to get ready for the rural polls.

 

Mr Nityananda Munsi, president of Cooch Behar district unit of the BJP, said that they started their drive of poll campaign for the panchayat elections from today's convention. Mr Anil Malakar, vice-president of district BJP and Mr Hemchandra Barman (ex-president) too spoke on the occasion. []

 

Citizens suffers from LPG problem

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 28: Submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate, the Nagarik Adhikar Raksha Committee (NARC) today demanded an end to the problems the citizens are suffering from due to crisis of LPG cylinders in Cooch Behar.

 

In the memorandum the NARC leaders alleged that the consumers have to book a cylinder after twenty-one days from getting delivery of a cylinder. It takes about twenty-three days to get a cylinder after booking for one. In this perspective the consumers have to face difficulties. The NARC leaders also alleged that one could get LPG cylinders against higher prices in the clandestine market. In the memorandum they urged the authorities to take steps to stop the malpractice and corruption over delivering of LPG cylinders.

 

When contacted, a senior government officer said that they would inquire into the allegations raised by the NARC. Corrupt practices over LPG cylinders will not be allowed, he assured. []

Govt to help Muslims to acquire education, ministers declare

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 27: Dr Abdus Sattar, the minister of state for minority affairs and Madrasa education, laid the foundation of a Rs 2.5-crore Muslim girls' hostel in Cooch Behar today. The proposed two-storied hostel will provide accommodation to two hundred girl students.

 

Md Abdur Rezzak Mollah, state land and land revenue minister, said the Muslims are suffering from identity crisis in several provinces in the country after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. But, in West Bengal, they are suffering from the unemployment problem. According to history the Muslims are minority in this country for so many years. Their position is not satisfactory enough till now even in West Bengal especially in the field of education and allied sectors, he said.

 

Mr Mollah advised the Muslims to go ahead by acquiring knowledge through education. West Bengal has the requisite environment for that, he claimed. Citing the examples of Bangladesh and Pakistan he said that the Muslim girls are coming up to take up responsible positions in those countries, then why they should not raise their heads here too. He reminded that the state government had issued instructions to spend fifteen percent of allotments in all departmental schemes for development of the members of the minority communities.

 

The minister alleged that America is playing a disastrous role in the name of combating the Islamic terrorism. He urged all to opt for secularism as the way out for social problems. If anywhere the minorities suffer the majorities also have to suffer from the threat of insecurity, he opined.

 

Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha delivered the welcome address. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy, Ms Mahfuja Khatun (MLA), Md Tamser Ali (MLA), DPSC chairman Md Nuruddin Mian and TDM Mr MK Seth too spoke on the occasion.

 

Dr Abdus Sattar said there is a plan to add a vocational training institute at the same site after launching of the new hostel. There are ten Muslim hostels running in this state and four were added recently. If needed the government will set up more hostels and Madrasas to extend the scope of education to the Muslim students, the minister declared. []

NRDC to demonstrate at railway stations tomorrow

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 27: Demanding speedy implementation of the New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway project the New Railway Demand Committee (NRDC) will organise daylong sit-in demonstrations at all railway stations between Cooch Behar and Dhubri (Assam) tomorrow.

 

The NRDC joint convenor Mr Chandi Pal said that Rs 60-crore only was allocated in the Union Railway Budget for the New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway project though they expected more. About Rs 200-crore was allocated till now for the project, he recalled. This time the Railway Budget failed to meet the aspirations of the people of this region, as there was no mention about adding momentum for speedy implementation of the project, he opined.

 

It may be mentioned here that the NRDC is engaged in organising popular movements for a long to get the proposed railway route from New Maynaguri in north Bengal to Jogighopa in Assam. A few days ago the chairman of Railway Standing Committee Mr Basudeb Acharya (MP) came to survey the progress of work of the project. He observed that the progress of work was not satisfactory enough and going on very slowly. The senior railway officials who accompanied him had promised him that they might be able to run trains between New Cooch Behar and Golokganj (Assam) by December 2009.

 

But, reviewing the Union Railway Budget the NRDC is not very happy because the Union railway minister failed to allot sufficient fund and said nothing about speedy implementation of the project, Mr Pal said.

 

"We believe that the proposed railway will be of immense help to the industrialisation of this region. It may boost up the trade and commerce scenario of entire northeast region and so we want speedy implementation of the project", Mr Pal said. The new rail route may also encourage the regional economy to grow, he hoped. []

The newly inaugurated "Maharaja Tourist Complex" in Cooch Behar.

Senior citizens felicitated

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 26: Ten eminent senior citizens from different walks of life from Mathabhanga, Cooch Behar, Dinhata and Tufanganj were felicitated at a programme held at Lansdowne Hall in Cooch Behar today. The persons felicitated were : Mr Alok Gangopadhyay, Mr Shyamal Kumar Dhar, Mr Bhabesh Guha, Mr Tarun Lahiri, Mr Ranendra Nath Adhikary, Mr Badal Sharma Chaudhury, Mr Tushar Kanti Chakraborty, Mr Subhas Mitra, Mr Basudev Singh and Mr Kailash Sonar. The district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha presided over the programme. CZP sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda and Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra were also present on the occasion. []

  

Cooch Behar Airport : Promises to be kept

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 26: Taking the advantage of the presence of the state fisheries minister Mr Kiranmay Nanda, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha made an appeal to the minister to take an initiative to make the defunct Cooch Behar Airport functional again. Supporting the appeal the minister too took up the issue.

 

At the inauguration ceremony of a Benfish operated luxurious tourist complex in Cooch Behar yesterday, the district magistrate drew attention of the minister over the airport issue. He said the long abandoned airport was thoroughly renovated recently. It is now ready for operation but no operator came up yet to resume the air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. As Cooch Behar has high potentiality for tourism industry the resumption of air service may boost up the process. The newly inaugurated tourist lodge may attract more tourists and visitors if the air service is resumed, he opined.

 

During his address the minister took up the cue. He recalled his earlier days as a minister when Vayudoot service was operational between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. As tourism is a flourishing industry in this region the air service is essential to boost up it, he opined. He however made no comment how and when he will take up the issue with the authorities concerned for resuming the long awaited air service.

 

It may be recalled that the DM did a similar thing in December. In a programme in Cooch Behar where the Union information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi was present the DM had requested the minister to take an initiative to make the long defunct airport alive by resuming air service as early as possible. Mr Das Munshi had announced that the service would be resumed after the polls in Gujarat but that promise too is yet to be kept. []

Appeal for resumption of air service

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 25: Taking the advantage of the presence of the state fisheries minister Mr Kiranmay Nanda, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha made an appeal to the minister to take an initiative to make the defunct Cooch Behar Airport functional again. Supporting the appeal the minister too took up the issue.

 

At the inauguration ceremony of a Benfish operated luxurious tourist complex in Cooch Behar today, the DM drew attention of the minister over the airport issue. He said the long abandoned airport was recently renovated thoroughly but no operator came up yet to resume the air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. As Cooch Behar has a high potentiality for tourism industry the resumption of air service may boost up the process. The newly inaugurated tourist lodge may attract more tourists and visitors if the air service is resumed.

 

During his address the minister took up the cue. He recalled his earlier days as a minister when Vayudoot service was operational between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. As tourism is a flourishing industry in this region the air service is essential to boost up it, he opined. He however made no comment how and when he will take up the issue with the authorities concerned for resuming the long awaited air service. []

Minister emphasises on ornamental fish culture

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 25: State fisheries minister Mr Kiranmay Nanda emphasised on breeding of ornamental fish in the state. He said the government would arrange working capital for the co-operative societies or self-help groups for the venture. Already an Rs 9-crore scheme was taken to provide financial assistance to the SHGs and co-operative societies for the purpose.

 

Inaugurating the Rs 2.5-crore Maharaja Tourist Complex of Benfish in Cooch Behar today, Mr Nanda declared that the government would provide forty percent subsidy to the ornamental fish breeding projects. These co-operative societies and self-help groups should be of women members only. There is a plan to build up at least a women's co-operative society or SHG in each block in this state for the sole purpose of ornamental fish production, he declared.

 

The minister said there is a ready market in India and abroad for various ornamental fishes. It has a great demand in neighbouring Nepal too. Domestic market is also a factor that can encourage the growers. Mr Nanda said they are considering a plan to set up a market in Siliguri for trading of ornamental fish produced in this region. He praised the initiative of two women's SHGs of Dinhata who already started breeding of ornamental fishes. []

Pleasure ride on boat is becoming a favourite pastime in the lake of Raj Palace Garden, adjacent to the historic Cooch Behar Palace in Cooch Behar of West Bengal.

Forward Bloc

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 22: The ten-member team of Forward Bloc MLAs led by the party's leader in the Assembly Mr Jiban Saha conducted a two-day visit to Dinhata from yesterday. Today they talked with some eyewitnesses of the police firing that claimed five lives on 5 February. They also visited the Dinhata Court complex where the incident occurred on that day. During their two-day visit the Forward Bloc MLAs met with the bereaved family members of the killed supporters and also talked with the injured ones.

 

Meanwhile, the forty Forward Bloc supporters who were arrested in connection with the violence of 5 February are still inside the jail. Though the High Court already granted bail to them they failed to come out due to different reasons. Party sources said that they were granted bail against surety of Rs 20,000 per head and they will not be allowed to stay in Cooch Behar till further order of the court. A hotel was earmarked at Alipurduar in Jalpaiguri district to accommodate them after their release on bail for the stipulated period, FB sources said. []

Maharaja tourist complex to attract tourists

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 22: In a bid to attract tourists to Cooch Behar the West Bengal State Fishermen's Co-operative Federation Limited (Benfish), a subsidiary of state fisheries department, took an ambitious initiative.

 

State fisheries minister Mr Kiranmoy Nanda will inaugurate an ultramodern luxurious tourist complex of Benfish named Maharaja in Cooch Behar on 25 February. Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on fisheries Mr Akshoy Thakur, Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha) Mr Hiten Barman and other dignitaries will attend the inaugural programme. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda will preside over the inaugural ceremony.

 

In the newly constructed complex there are two units – Mahal and Nahabat-khana. There is an air-conditioned guesthouse with modern amenities in the two-storied Mahal (8,000 square-feet) that is constructed taking the historic Cooch Behar Royal Palace as the model. A well-decorated conference hall is also there in the Mahal. In the 4,000 square-feet Nahabatkhana there are two air-conditioned stages for holding executive conferences. A Benfish operated restaurant will also come up inside this building.

 

In the complex the visitors will get an opportunity to enjoy boating at the clean waterbody. Colourful fountain and a children park will come up as added attractions. Benfish sources claimed that the luxurious tourist complex might be able to attract tourists to this region because they may shake off their uncertainty about availability of accommodations. As several industrial units are coming up in Cooch Behar the newly built complex may attract the entrepreneurs for holding meetings, a Benfish official hoped. []

International Mother-tongue Day observed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 21: International Mother-tongue Day was observed at the conference hall of Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad today. The CZP and District Information and Cultural Affairs department jointly organised the programme. The teachers, students and employees of Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal College too observed the day. Seminars on the relevance of celebration of International Mother-tongue Day and place of Bengali language at International arena were also held on the occasion.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the Governor through the district magistrate, the Cooch Behar district unit of Amra Bangalee demanded using of Bengali language as the medium in schools, colleges and universities and introduction of Bengali as the official language in offices and courts. They also demanded formation of Bengali Regiment in the Army. []

 

Bharat Jyoti Award

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 21: An eminent social worker and also an AICC member from Cooch Behar, Mrs Sabita Roy was declared as the recipient of the coveted Bharat Jyoti Award. The award will be conferred to her at New Delhi on 28 March. Conveying the news of her selection for the award, on behalf of India International Friendship Society, Mr Gurmeet Singh said they considered Mrs Roy for the award after considering her fight in life and her worthy example that inspired others towards certain achievement. []

GCDP remembers Chilarai, plans fresh stir

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 21: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) will organise a fresh and intensive movement in Cooch Behar to get a separate state. The decision was declared at a large gathering that was held on the occasion of celebration of the 498th birth anniversary of the great hero of the erstwhile Cooch Behar Kingdom, Chilarai (Shukladhwaj). The gathering was held today at Bhandijelas village in Tufanganj.

 

The GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said that they would field candidates in the next three-tier panchayat elections in Cooch Behar district. They may make an alliance with like-minded parties who will come forward to support their demand to implement the merger agreement following which the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar was included in India. It may be mentioned here that the GCDP believe that the agreement signed between the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the government of India was not implemented properly. Electing their representatives through the democratic system they will intensify their movement to get the agreement implemented properly, Mr Barma said.

 

The GCDP president recalled that the then chief of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) Mr Bangshi Badan Barman had to surrender and 57 others were arrested following their movement held on 20 September 2005. They were provided with the status of political prisoner but they are not receiving proper medical care inside the jail. Two of them had to die without adequate medical care, he alleged.

 

The GCDP vice-president Md Rabiul Islam said that they would organise massive movement demanding unconditional release of the leaders and activists who were arrested during the GCPA's movement. They are also to also organise movement against forcible acquisition of agricultural land in the name of industrialisation.

 

The GCDP wants the Cooch Behar Airport to be named after Bir Chilarai. Chilarai was a great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty. As the General in the regime of Maharaja Nara Narayan he became famous for his courage and might. Mr Barma said, "Bir Chilarai is our ideal hero and the youths of the new generation should learn about him. His biography should be included in the school syllabus". He pointed out that many reputed historians too described Chilarai as a great hero.

 

GCDP general secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Barman alleged that the government was doing nothing to save the holy tortoises (that are known as Mohan) of Baneswar Shiv Dighi. It will not be tolerated anymore, he said.

 

Hundreds of slogan shouting people started pouring in Bhandijelas village from this morning to attend the two-day celebration of the 498th birth anniversary of Chilarai. A large contingent of police was also deployed to maintain peace. Seeing the heavy police arrangement senior GCDP leaders quipped : They are trying to surpass the attendance of our men!

 

The second annual meeting of the party's central committee will be held tomorrow at Bhandijelas village in Tufanganj. []

Ganja trafficking continues unabated

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 20: When a comprehensive campaign is being conducted in Cooch Behar district against illegal trading and trafficking of ganja, interstate ganja smugglers are busy in making this district as their business hub. Recovering of huge quantity of ganja and arrest of some traffickers in recent times revealed the activities of the interstate gangs in this region.

 

Ganja is considered as a cash crop in many villages in Cooch Behar district especially that are situated in the bordering areas near the rivers. The sandy riverbanks are ideal places for its cultivation. It is alleged that the recent campaign against cultivation and trading of ganja and the punishment one may suffer if caught red-handed yielded a poor response in the villages.

 

It was learnt that ganja traders come from outer provinces to the villages and offer lucrative prices against the green crop. Dry and processed ganja can get higher price. They encourage the poor villagers to grow the plant to get lucrative returns with almost nothing invested. Recently police arrested a few ganja traders of Bihar and their local associates from different villages and seized huge volumes of ganja.

 

Some riverside villages in Mathabhanga, Dinhata, Sitalkuchi and Cooch Behar are known as ganja cultivated areas. A senior police officer claimed that the recent campaign against ganja cultivation was able to discourage the cultivation of the crop. Presently trading is going on with old and processed ganja that was kept hidden by the local growers. As regular drive is on against the illegal trading and cultivation of the crop the authorities will certainly be able to control the menace shortly, he hoped. []

 

PHOTO : A leaflet released on behalf of the district magistrate of Cooch Behar against ganja cultivation.

BJP team visits Dinhata

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 20: Following BJP's declared plan to raise the Dinhata firing issue in the Parliament a fact finding team of the party visited Dinhata today. They talked with the family members of the deceased Forward Bloc activists who were killed in the police firing during a law violation programme on 5 February. The team members also talked with some eyewitnesses of the firing incident. They visited the place where the incident occurred on that day. President of Cooch Behar district unit of the BJP, Mr Nityananda Munshi said that they would submit a detailed report to the party's central leadership over the unprovoked police firing. []

 

PHOTO : Say it with flowers – At a garden in Cooch Behar.

Commandant of 142Bn of Border Security Force, Mr Sindhu Kumar distributes stationary and sports materials to the students of local schools and clubs of border area at Sahebganj in Dinhata, Cooch Behar on Tuesday.

Education scenario reviewed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 19: A four-member team of Assembly Subject Committee on educational affairs led by Mr Gurupada Dutta reviewed the education scenario of Cooch Behar district at Circuit House today.

 

Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda and senior officials of education department attended the meeting. Different problems of education sector especially the dropout problem were discussed at the meeting. The team members are to visit functioning of schools in this district during their two-day visit. []

Huzur Saheber Mela concludes

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 19: The two-day Huzur Saheber Mela concluded at Haldibari in Cooch Behar this afternoon. It was the sixty-fourth year of the enormous fair.

 

Though originally it was a congregation of religious people the large Hujur Saheber Mela is now stands as an example of communal harmony. People of all sects of belief come here to attend the fair.

 

Cooch Behar District Police took several measures to maintain peace during the two-day fair. A large contingent of police personnel was deployed at the fair premises. Senior officials were also there to supervise the security measures. Two watchtowers fitted with closed circuit TV cameras were also erected to keep vigil on visitors.

 

Large number of visitors and devotees started coming to the fair from different areas of north Bengal and Assam since yesterday morning. They visited the holy Mazar of Huzur Saheb to pay respect to the divine Huzur Saheb. Usually the devotees offer incense sticks and candles at the Mazar but from this year they were allowed to offer flowers too. The flowers were sold against high price at the fair premises because there was a heavy demand for flowers among the devotees.

 

It was learnt that the fair organisers introduced use of flower from this year as a precaution to prevent fire incident in the crowded fair. Though thousands of people assembled at the two-day fair, no untoward incident was reported, Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar claimed. []

 

 

CPM-Cong clash at Gitaldaha in Dinhata, 4 hurt

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 19: Four persons were injured in a clash between CPI-M and Congress supporters at Gitaldaha in Dinhata last night. Three of the injured were sent to Dinhata sub-divisional hospital while the remaining one is under medical care in a private nursing home in Dinhata. No one was arrested in connection with the incident till now.

 

It was learnt that a dispute occurred between one Islam Mian and some villagers at Narayanganj village of Gitaldaha on yesterday morning over smuggling of cattle. At last the dispute rolled to a clash. As the area is adjacent to the Indo-Bangladesh border cattle smuggling is a regular event there. Later, at night, a clash occurred between CPI-M and Congress supporters over the issue in which four persons were wounded.

 

Following the incident a large contingent of police rushed to the area. Heavy police patrolling is going on though no fresh incident was reported so far. A bandh like situation is also going on in the area since this morning. Police however claimed that the situation is now under control.

 

Meanwhile, blame game started over the issue. The Upo-pradhan of Gitaldaha Gram Panchayat Mr Lakshikanto Kaloar (Congress) alleged that CPI-M supporters are engaged in cattle smuggling and that is the root cause of the trouble. On the otherhand, a senior CPI-M leader of Dinhata Mr Tarapada Barman refuted the allegation and blamed the Congress supporters for large-scale cattle trafficking. []

GCDP plan to launch fresh stir

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 18: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) is considering a plan to launch a fresh movement for the release of its undertrial leaders and activists who are staying behind the bars for a long. Presently there are fifty-six undertrials inside the Cooch Behar District Correctional Home (CDCH) including top ranking leaders like Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and Mr Dhirendra Nath Barman. The GCDP will discuss its movement plan at the party's central committee meeting to be held on 22 February.

 

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said that in the meeting of the central committee they would also adopt resolutions on organising of fresh movements for a separate state. Fielding of candidates and the strategy of campaign for the next three-tier panchayat elections will also come up for discussion.

 

The GCDP will observe the 498-th birth anniversary of the great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty, Chilarai at Bhandijelas village in Tufanganj. A two-day cultural programme will be held on the occasion on 21-22 February. On the second day of the programme the second-year central committee meeting of the GCDP will be held.

 

Mr Barma alleged that the police had harassed them in issuing of the no-objection certificate for holding of the programme for observance of Chilarai's birthday. Today they received the needed permission but it was issued under various unwanted terms and conditions, he alleged. When asked about it the Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said he already instructed the district intelligence branch (DIB) to inquire into the matter.

 

On the otherhand, Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and other fifty-five supporters of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) were produced at the court of district and sessions judge, Ms Anindita Roy Saraswati inside the CDCH today. Today was the settling date of trial for three cases pending against the GCPA men.

 

The lawyer of the GCPA Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said the judge ordered that witnesses will be examined from 7 April to 11 April for the case related to the bid to set fire to a petrol pump at Khagrabari on 20 September 2005. Examining of the cases related to the murder of two police constables and murder of an ASP will be held from 15 April to 19 April and from 21 April to 25 April respectively.

 

It may be recalled that Mr Bangshi Badan Barman had surrendered to the court on 25 May 2006 while the others were arrested in connection with the violence that was occurred on 20 September 2005, which claimed lives of three police personnel and two GCPA supporters. Meanwhile, two of the undertrials were died. []

SSK and MSK centres to come under new roofs

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 18: There are 61,212 students and 1,744 Sahayaks and Sahayikas (teachers) in 697 Shishu Shiksha Kendras (SSK) in Cooch Behar district. But, many of the SSKs are yet to get their own buildings. 566 buildings were constructed and 545 kitchens were provided in those SSKs till now. Sanitary toilet facility was extended to 543 SSKs and 590 centres got drinking water facility.

 

There are 82 buildings out of 116 Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras (MSK) in this district. The number of students is 21,386 and the number of Samprosaraks (teachers) is 619. As the midday meal scheme is yet to be launched in the MSKs there are no kitchens in the centres. Presently, a proposal is under consideration to introduce the midday meal scheme in the MSKs from this year.

 

District co-ordinator of SSK-MSK cell in Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad, Mr Amal Kumar Sengupta said there is a plan for establishing own buildings of all the SSKs and MSKs during the current year. The Gram Panchayats are to be entrusted to construct the buildings of the SSKs and the Panchayat Samities are to construct the MSK centres. Availability of fund for the purpose is not a problem because it will be provided from different development schemes.

 

As there is a shortage of own sheds in many SSK and MSK centres the classes are being held at rooms of local clubs and houses of residents. There are complaints from different quarters that the classes are being held under trees due to lack of adequate rooms at the centres in the villages. Denying the allegation Mr Sengupta said that they received no such report from anywhere. Instead, he claimed, the new centres are running under roofs, not under trees.

 

The district co-ordinator of Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), Mr Amalendu Naha said they would bring the SSKs and MSKs under TSC scheme and organise awareness drive among the students in the centres on the importance of sanitation.

 

Replying a question Mr Sengupta admitted that there was a problem in disbursing of honorariums to the teachers regularly. As the honorariums are disbursed from a certain bank the teachers in some areas have to suffer in areas where the bank has no branches, he said. The authorities are trying to iron out the problem, he assured. []

Roadblock stir

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 17: Protesting against the fuel price hike and condemning the recent police firing in Dinhata the Trinamul Congress staged a massive roadblock programme in Cooch Behar district today.

 

Vice-president of District Trinamul Congress, Mr Niranjan Dutta said the Trinamul supporters organised the roadblock programme from 11 a.m. to 12-noon at 41 places in the district. President of the party's district unit Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh, vice-president Mr Santosh Mukherjee and District Trinamul Youth Congress president Mr Rajib Narayan led the programme today.

 

Traffic movement was disrupted especially in Cooch Behar town and Ghughumari during the roadblock programme. Many Assam bound lorries had to wait for a long at Tufanganj near the Assam-Bengal border. []

 Visitors at the annual flower show at Raj Palace Garden adjacent to Cooch Behar Royal Palace in Cooch Behar of West Bengal on Saturday.

NRDC plans stir in rail stations on 28 February

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 15: Demanding speedy implementation of the New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway project the New Railway Demand Committee (NRDC) will organise daylong sit-in demonstrations at all railway stations between Cooch Behar and Dhubri (Assam) on 28 February. The decision was adopted at the meeting of the NRDC held at Rasik-bil in Tufanganj yesterday. Joint convenors of NRDC Mr Chandi Pal and Md Tajmul Haq, Cooch Behar MP (Rajya Sabha) Mr Tarini Roy, Natabari MLA Md Tamser Ali, Mr Rajendra Baid and other leaders attended the meeting.

 

NRDC joint convenor Mr Chandi Pal said today that they were organising popular movements for a long to get the proposed railway route from New Maynaguri to Jogighopa in Assam. A few days ago the chairman of Railway Standing Committee Mr Basudeb Acharya (MP) came to survey the progress of work of the project. He too observed that the progress of work was not satisfactory and going on slowly. The senior railway officials had promised him that they might be able to run trains between New Cooch Behar and Golokganj by December 2009.

 

Prior to the tabling of the Union Railway Budget the NRDC will submit a memorandum to the railway minister to allot adequate fund for the project, Mr Pal said.

 

"As we believe that the proposed railway will be of immense help to the industrialisation of this region and may boost up the trade and commerce scenario of entire northeast region we want speedy implementation of the project", Mr Pal said. The new rail route may also encourage the regional economy, he hoped.

 

Revival of the long defunct waterway through Brahmaputra river was also discussed at the meeting. The Union government should come up to resume the waterway as early as possible, Mr Pal demanded. []

Homestead of Panchanan Barma acquisitioned

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 15: The state government has acquisitioned the homestead of the great social reformer, Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma. A demand was there for a long to take over the land as a place of historic interest and also to pay respect to the great social reformer of this region. At last the government did it.

 

Declaring the take over, the state backward classes welfare minister Mr Jogesh Chandra Barman also laid foundation of a museum and a research centre at Khalisamari village in Mathabhanga of Cooch Behar on Friday. He went there to attend the 142-nd birth anniversary of Thakur Panchanan.

 

The minister said the work for setting up of the museum will commence in this year. Backward classes welfare department will extend financial assistance. Assistance from the Union cultural affairs department will also be sought for to make the museum and the research centre completed as full-fledged ones.

 

Mentionworthy, state chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had unveiled the bronze statue of Thakur Panchanan at Sitai Morh in Mathabhanga in February 2005. After unveiling the statue he had compared Thakur Panchanan with Shri Chaitanya and Rabindranath Tagore and declared of taking over of the homestead of the great social reformer. At last, the government came up to keep the promise after three years. []

No V-Day for her - A lone chicken survived from the recent culling drive. In a north Bengal village on Thursday.

Post bird flu situation reviewed, more fund sought

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 14: Though the state government has lifted the ban on trading and transportation of chickens the prohibitory order will continue in two blocks in Cooch Behar district till issuing of further order. These two blocks are Dinhata-I and Mathabhanga-I.

 

Samples collected from a few villages of the two blocks were tested positive of bird flu virus and massive culling drive was held in those villages. Officials of the animal resources development department however commented that the ban has no implication in the areas concerned because after the culling drive there are no backyard birds in those villages.

 

Meanwhile, state ARD minister Mr Anisur Rahman and health minister Mr Suryakanta Mishra reviewed the post bird flu situation through a videoconference on Wednesday. Cooch Behar ADM (Development) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra, CMOH Dr Sunil Kumar Shil and ARD deputy director Dr Tapan Kumar Roy participated in the conference.

 

Awareness about the ban on trading and transportation of chickens in bird flu affected areas, lifting of the ban in remaining areas, speedy enlistment of villagers whose birds were culled or died from bird flu and other related topics were discussed during the videoconference, the ARD deputy director Dr Tapan Kumar Roy said.

 

Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra said they asked for an additional fund of Rs 24-lakh from the government. Earlier, they had received Rs 50-lakh to combat the bird flu situation in Cooch Behar district.

 

The district administration had to spend a huge sum to pay wage to the labourers that were recruited to assist the culling teams, renting of cars, paying the drivers, buying of fuel, hospitality cost for the observers and experts who came to supervise the progress of culling drive and cost to maintain the members of the culling teams during quarantine period. The additional fund was asked for to meet these expenditures, the ADM (D) said.

 

Mr Mahapatra claimed that they had paid Rs 40 per culled chicken on the spot soon after culling. The total sum paid as compensation was Rs 26,49,970 and it was not included in the expenditure report as was submitted to the government, he added. []

Demonstration against killing of forest dwellers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 13: Demanding arrest and punishment of the forest guards involved in killing of Samuel Rava of Porobusti, a large number of people demonstrated at the office of the additional district magistrate at Alipurduar today. RSP dominated North Bengal Forest Mazdoor Union (NBFMU) organised the programme.

 

President of the NBFMU Mr Nirmal Das (MLA) and secretary Mr Manohar Tirkey (minister) submitted a memorandum to the Alipurduar ADM Mr Susanta Dutta and deputy field director (West) of Buxa Tiger Reserve Mr Ashok Pratap Singh. They demanded adequate compensation to the family members of the deceased Samuel Rava and implementation of the legitimate demands of the forest dwellers.

 

NBFMU president and also the Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das alleged that the poor dwellers of Porobusti got opportunity to work for only 14 days under NREGA scheme till now. Forest guards gunned down Samuel Rava, a boy of the village, without any provocation when he went to collect firewood for domestic use on 8 February. Six forest dwellers of the area were killed in the past two-and-half years, he alleged. The NBFMU is not in a mood to witness such happenings anymore as silent spectator, he declared. []

RSP memorandum

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 13: Condemning the recent police firing in Dinhata the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a major constituent of the ruling Left Front, organised agitations at the block development offices in Cooch Behar district today. Secretary of the party's district unit, Mr Gopal Chaki said they submitted memorandums to the district magistrate through the BDOs concerned demanding assurance that nothing of the kind of Dinhata incident be occurred in future and making of the administrative system transparent. []

Congress against tri-Nation Forum plan

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 13: The Congress came down heavily on the objectives of the 12-day tri-Nation rally that was concluded at Changrabandha in Cooch Behar on Tuesday. It was organised by India-Bangladesh-Pakistan People's Forum.

 

Condemning the lectures delivered by the chairman of the tri-Nation Forum, Mr Debabrata Biswas (MP) and others, the president of Cooch Behar District Congress Mr Shyamal Choudhury said, "We learnt that the Forum leaders called upon people for uprooting of the pillars of the barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border. We think it is nothing but an act of treason. Before talking about abolishing of the border the Forum leaders should convince the governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan about the non-necessity of the border."

 

Mr Choudhury believes violent clash may occur if anyone tries to uproot pillars along the International border or damage the fencing. The Border Security Force will not remain a silent spectator. In that case who will bear the responsibility of any loss of life, he questioned. Will the Forum leaders wash off their hands by organising a few protest rallies condemning BSF firing on innocent people? Mr Biswas is a responsible member of the Parliament and so he should not utter anything that goes against our motherland's interest, he opined.

 

The senior Congress leader said Pakistan is still allocating a huge amount in defence budget. Thousands of people had to die after the partition of India. A number of wars were happened among the three countries. And now, members of a Forum are saying of uprooting border pillars and to facilitate easy movement of people in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan as people can do to go to Bhutan and Nepal. "We cannot agree with the proposals of the so-called Forum and we like to condemn their plan", Mr Choudhury said. It will certainly create disturbance in this region, he opined. []

Row over death of NVF constable in Dinhata incident

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 13: The statement of AIFB general secretary Mr Debabrata Biswas over the death of the NVF personnel, Krishnakanto Barman, who had died in the clash between police and FB supporters on 5 February at Dinhata drew sharp reactions from senior police officials. Mentionworthy, five FB supporters were also killed in police firing on that day.

 

Mr Biswas had alleged that the NVF constable was killed by bullets fired by the police, not because of attacks by FB protestors. He also said that there was substantial evidence to prove that the NVF personnel had been killed in police firing. His statement has appeared in these columns of The Statesman today under title : "Bloc blames police for NVF jawan's death".

 

President of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh too believes that the NVF jawan, Krishnakanto Barman had died of police firing. He demanded a CBI probe into the Dinhata firing to unearth the truth. "We have no faith in the judicial inquiry or magisterial inquiry because it takes time to complete such an inquiry and the government keeps the report undisclosed if that goes against them", Mr Ghosh said.

 

When inquired about the matter, a top brass police official of Cooch Behar District Police termed the allegation as baseless. He however added that police officials couldn't reply such allegations raised by political leaders. "A political leader can say anything but we are not in liberty to say or reply their allegations directly", he said.

 

On condition of anonymity the official said that the NVF constable had received severe head injury and there were several marks of injury on his body. He was lynched by the mob. There were a number of eyewitnesses of the incident and video clippings too can prove it. The death certificate and the post-mortem report may be able to clear all confusions over the matter, he claimed. The deceased NVF man did not hurt anyone and his lone fault was that he was doing his duty at Dinhata, the official added. []

 

Timber haul

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 12: During a massive drive during the past three days the Cooch Behar social forestry division officials seized illegally felled timber worth Rupees one-lakh from some villages adjacent to Assam-Bengal border. Cooch Behar ADFO (SF) Mr SK Baroi said they seized logs and sawn timber like Sal and Teak during the drive. []