Firemen assaulted, vehicles damaged

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 9: Agitated locals assaulted three fire service personnel and damaged two vehicles alleging their delayed arrival to douse an incident of blaze. Police and BSF jawans had rescued the fire fighters and sent them to Dinhata hospital. The incident occurred at Gitaldaha market in Dinhata last night.

 

Locals alleged that fire broke out at a grocery shop owned by one Santosh Ghosh at Gitaldaha market at about 9-15 p.m. but the fire fighters arrived there with two engines at about 10-05 p.m. only to pour water on the completely gutted shop. This aroused anger among the locals who manhandled the firemen and damaged the two vehicles.

 

On the otherhand, Dinhata Fire Service Station sources denied the allegation and said they got the information at about 9-50 p.m. and reached quickly at the spot. Soon after their arrival some locals started brick batting on them.  Among the 13 firemen that went there Mr Amiya Kumar Roy (leader), Mr Bimal Kumar Mazumder (fire engine operator cum driver) and Mr Jogen Ram Singh (constable) were injured during the trouble. Two vehicles were also damaged severely. But ignoring the attack the firemen started their duty of controlling the fire. Later, Police and BSF jawans appeared to rescue them and shifted the injured to Dinhata hospital.

 

A fire service station official said they had received more than thirty telephone calls informing them of the fire incident. They rushed to the spot immediately. He suspected that there were some inflammable items like kerosene in that shop. The wind too fanned the blaze, he added. []

 

Man killed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 9: One Faijuddin Mian (26), a resident of Karala village in Dinhata was gunned down by BSF jawans last night when he was engaged in trafficking out cattle crossing the Indo-Bangladesh border. Police said the incident occurred at about 1-30 a.m. under Karala border outpost area. []

 

Law violation in Tufanganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 9: Trinamul Congress supporters organised a mass disobedience programme at the Tufanganj SDO office premises today. The agitated Trinamul supporters were demanding restoration of rationing system in Cooch Behar district and rehabilitation of the affected traders at the market in Tufanganj from where they were evicted recently. A few hundred people were courted arrest led by the party's district unit president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh.

 

Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta declared that a mass gathering would be held on 16 October demanding settlement of demands of the affected traders of Tufanganj. A mahamichhil (grand rally) will be held on 30 October and a law violation programme will also be held on that day on the same issue, Mr Dutta said.

 

Meanwhile, Trinamul Congress supporters led by the party's district unit vice-president Mr Santosh Mukherjee too demonstrated at the Cooch Behar SDO office today. They also submitted a memorandum to the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO. Mr Mukherjee alleged that the general public are not getting the commodities at the MR shops. He demanded withdrawal of all fake ration cards, disbursement of the scheduled commodities on every week and measures against the corrupted MR dealers. []

 

Silent protest rally against police attack

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 9: Citizens of Cooch Behar witnessed today a large rally different from others. There were no slogans. Demanding legal actions against the policemen involved in the attack on two media persons the aggrieved journalists organised a massive silent rally wearing black badges in Cooch Behar town. Not only journalists but also hundreds of citizens from various walks of society have participated in the rally. Ignoring incessant rain the rally started from Shahid Baag and ended there after walking along different streets in the town.

 

            Media persons from Dinhata, Mathabhanga, Mekhliganj, Changrabandha, Haldibari, Tufanganj, Cooch Behar Sadar, Falakata, Maynaguri, Alipurduar and other places came to join the rally. Many intellectuals and persons associated with different organisations and NGOs too participated the silent rally. Large presence of women participants was also noteworthy.

 

It may be recalled here that some policemen assaulted two pressmen - Mr Partha Chakraborty and Mr Ashok Dey - attached with a Bengali TV channel, brutally on Thursday morning when they were filming an act of extortion by some policemen from a vehicle driver who was carrying patients to MJN Hospital. Between the two injured journalists Mr Chakraborty is still under medical care at a nursing home in Siliguri.

 

Cooch Behar Press Club sources alleged that by suspending two assistant sub-inspectors the police are trying to wash their hands of all the crimes they did. The FIR lodged at Kotowali police station by a victim was recorded as a mere general diary (GD). They demanded specific legal action against the tainted policemen.

 

A mass signed appeal will be sent to the state Chief minister through Cooch Behar DM within a few days requesting the CM of his intervention into the matter. In that appeal the signatories will demand initiation of legal action against the tainted policemen involved in the attack on the pressmen. []

The making of a Kumari for puja

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 8: Six-year-old Shinjini is getting ready to be worshipped as the Kumari during the Durga Puja at Ramkrishna Math in Cooch Behar. Presently she is being trained for the holy performance.

 

The father of little Shinjini is Mr Rajat Chattopadhyay. He is the agricultural extension officer of Cooch Behar-I block. Her mother Mrs Shravani Chattopadhyay is a teacher of Ramgopal Lakhotia High School at Pundibari. Shinjini is a student of Upper KG in a private school in Cooch Behar town. They reside at Ghoshpara by-lane in Cooch Behar town.

 

Recently, when the Chattopadhyay family received the proposal for Shinjini to be worshipped at the Kumari puja ritual they turned astonished. Discussing the proposal with all family members and close relatives they expressed their consent. Then the members of Sarada Sangha visited the house to see her. Examining her with all religious criteria and aspects she was selected. At last, the president of Cooch Behar Ramkrishna Math, Swami Ajarananda approved her selection as the Kumari of this year, family sources said. Ramkishna Math sources too confirmed her selection.

 

In a bid to keep her well for the Kumari puja ritual she is undergoing some instructions about eating and consuming of foods. Training is also going on at the residence of a member of Sarada Sangha about the right physical posture that she will have to do during the Kumari puja. She is also hearing sacred Stotras from Veda and participating in the prayers at the Ramkrishna Math regularly. In her home, her parents engaged them daily in telling and explaining the greatness and dignity of Devi Durga and Kumari puja ritual.

 

Little Shinjini is a very jolly, lively and lovely girl. She is not very aware of the importance of Kumari puja or the large gathering that is expected to throng there to witness the puja of her. She only knows that she will be worshipped as the Kumari and for that reason she has to follow several instructions and restrictions. []

 

PHOTO : "Kumari" Shinjini with her parents in Cooch Behar.

Dr Binayak Roy examines a boy at a de-worming and anaemia prevention camp held at Kanchamari village in Cooch Behar on Sunday. At the camp 107 children were examined and administered with needed medicines. Lions Club of Cooch Behar Greater organised the camp.

Artisans busy in making the idol of Devi Durga at the 117-year old puja at Mahamaya-pat in Dinhata.

Silent protest plan against tainted policemen

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 7: Demanding legal actions against the policemen involved in the attack on two media persons the aggrieved journalists are going to organise a silent rally wearing black badges in Cooch Behar town on Tuesday. Not only journalists but also citizens from various walks of society are expected to participate in the rally. The decision on holding of the rally was adopted at a meeting of journalists held last night in Cooch Behar.

 

At the meeting the participants opined that a section of police practice corruption regularly and the two pressmen were assaulted when they were trying to disclose an example of misdeed.

 

It may be recalled here that some policemen assaulted two pressmen - Mr Partha Chakraborty and Mr Ashok Dey - attached with a Bengali TV channel, brutally on Thursday morning when they were filming an act of extortion by some policemen from a vehicle driver who was carrying patients to MJN Hospital. Between the two injured journalists Mr Chakraborty is still under medical care in a nursing home in Siliguri.

 

Cooch Behar Press Club sources alleged that by suspending two assistant sub-inspectors the police are trying to wash their hands of all the crimes they did. The FIR lodged at Kotowali police station by a victim was recorded as a mere general diary (GD). This cannot bring justice, they alleged. They demanded specific legal action against the tainted policemen.

 

Meanwhile, Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar denied meeting the members of Press Photographers' Association on Friday. When they contacted the SP over phone he reportedly misbehaved with them. This was nothing but a bid to shield the corrupted policemen for shady reasons, they alleged.

 

After Tuesday's silent rally a mass signed appeal will be sent to the state Chief minister through Cooch Behar DM requesting his intervention into the matter. In that appeal the signatories will demand initiation of legal action against the tainted policemen involved in the attack on the pressmen and begging of apology by the SP to the photographers with whom he misbehaved. []

Computerisation of North Bengal State Library

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 5: North Bengal State Library is going to step in the computer age very soon. Following an ambitious computerisation drive a list of about 80,000 books of this library will be computerised. And, in addition, about 4,000 rare books copied in compact discs (CD) will be made available for all concerned. After launching of the proposed facility it will be easy for any book lover or researcher to find out a certain book from among the vast collection of books kept in this library. Moreover, anyone can see or read any book by accessing the network of this library through Internet.

 

The librarian of NBSL Mr Ranu Dey said they adopted a plan to computerise the list of books and functioning of the library within a year. Before launching of the facility the librarian and some other staff will have to undergo a special training in Kolkata, he said.

 

As the NBSL is a huge storehouse of books, magazines, periodicals, manuscripts, scriptures and rare scripts, it is hard for the readers or booklovers to find out a particular book. The card system is not sufficient in searching of books. Computerisation may ease the situation. After completion of the computerisation plan the readers will be able to get the right books of their choice. At the same time the readers or researchers of any country can be able to get any information of the books kept in this library through Internet.

 

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata, a Central government unit, already completed digitisation of about 4,000 rare books. Under this scheme the books were digitally included in CDs. The digitisation work had started in June 2005.

 

The librarian Mr Dey said he will go to avail training in Kolkata about functioning of the proposed computerised library. After him, three technical assistants will also be trained. He hoped that the computerisation system would be completed within a year.

 

It may be mentioned here that the then ruler of Cooch Behar, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan had established the library in 1870. Then it was known as Cooch Behar State Library. In 1969, the State Library and the Cooch Behar District Library were amalgamated as North Bengal State Library. []

 

Scribes demand case against tainted policemen

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 5: The members of Cooch Behar Press Club requested state forest minister Mr Ananta Roy and food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary to take an initiative so that a specific case starts against the police personnel that were involved in the attack on two journalists at Cooch Behar yesterday. Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar already suspended two assistant sub-inspectors following a demand raised by the aggrieved media persons but no specific case started against them.

 

The FIR lodged at Kotowali police station by Mr Partha Chakraborty, one of the victims of police beating, was recorded as a mere general diary (GD). This cannot bring justice as promised by the district magistrate and the SP, Press Club sources said. They demanded specific legal action against the tainted policemen.

 

It may be recalled here that two pressmen attached with a Bengali TV channel – Mr Partha Chakraborty and Mr Ashok Dey - were assaulted brutally on yesterday morning when they were filming an act of extortion by some policemen from a vehicle driver for carrying patients to MJN Hospital allegedly without "ambulance licence". The injured two journalists are still under medical care in MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar. []

Smuggler killed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 4: A gang of Bangladeshi miscreants were trying to cross the Indo-Bangladesh border at Changrabandha in Mekhliganj sub-division in Cooch Behar district with some cattle last night. Seeing them the BSF jawans on patrolling duty challenged them but they had to open fire when the members of the gang tried to run away. One of them, identified as Atiar Rahman alias Halan (22) was gunned down and others escaped, police said. He was a resident of Burimari of Khatiarbari in Bangladesh. The body was sent for post-mortem to Mathabhanga today. It may be handed over to BDR tomorrow. []

Forest minister orders Wildlife Week celebration

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 4: State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy instructed Mr Apurba Sen, divisional forest officer (social forestry), Cooch Behar, to arrange celebration of Wildlife Week in Cooch Behar. Today, the minister told The Statesman over phone that it would be a shame for him if the Week were not observed in his home district. He admitted that a communication gap was occurred between the officials of wildlife division and social forestry division over observance of Wildlife Week that began on 1 October in this state. The closing ceremony will be held at Dhupjhora in Jalpaiguri district on 7 October.

 

The minister said a programme would be held at Rasik-bil in Tufanganj on 5-6 October as a part of the Week like other areas under Cooch Behar forest division.

 

It was learnt that the minister got annoyed yesterday when he came to know from reporters that there would be no programme in his home district, Cooch Behar, to observe the Wildlife Week. He talked with senior forest officials including chief conservator of forests, north Bengal, Mr Silvant Patel over the matter and following his instruction a brief programme was chalked out for Cooch Behar district.

 

When contacted, Cooch Behar DFO (SF) Mr Apurba Sen said a meeting was held today and it was decided that sit-and-draw, nature study and wildlife awareness programmes would be held at Rasik-bil tomorrow. On the next day the Nature and Adventure Study Group (NASG) will organise a nature study camp at Rasik-bil for poor students. On the evening an on-the-spot quiz competition on wildlife will be held at Raj Palace Garden premises near the Cooch Behar Palace, Mr Sen said. He however denied to make any comment over the alleged "communication gap" with wildlife division.

 

Expressing his pleasure over the development the NASG secretary Mr Arup Guha said it would be better if seven days were devoted for observance of the Week in Cooch Behar. "But now we are happy that the forest minister admitted the importance", Mr Guha said.

 

It may be mentioned here that yesterday the forest minister told reporters that the officials concerned told him that as there are no wild animals in Cooch Behar so observance of the Week is not necessary in Cooch Behar. Sources said lack of co-ordination between wildlife division and social forestry division was reportedly the main reason behind the non-observance of the Week in Cooch Behar. At last, the minister had to intervene to straighten up the controversy. []

 

Vehicle seized, 4 held

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 4: Tufanganj Police seized a Scorpio vehicle from near the Raidak Bridge in Tufanganj yesterday. Four persons including a woman were arrested in connection with car lifting. Police said the vehicle was brought in from Asansol and it was going to Silchar. The arrested persons are residents of Benaras. It is suspected that the vehicle was stolen from somewhere and was on its way to be sold in clandestine market in Silchar. []

 

Police attack on scribes, inquiry starts

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 4: Some policemen engaged in extorting money from vehicle drivers assaulted a reporter and a cameraman of a TV channel (E-TV) this morning near the MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar town. Following demand raised by the pressmen a DSP-level inquiry was initiated into the matter. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy too instructed the district magistrate and SP to take action against the offenders.

 

It is alleged that the reporter of a TV channel Mr Partha Chakraborty and a cameraman Mr Ashok Dey appeared on Sunity Road near the MJN Hospital at about 4-45 a.m. today. They had got a tip-off that some policemen were extorting money from vehicle drivers who were coming from outer places with patients. The plea of the extortion was that they had no special permission to use their vehicles as ambulances. When Mr Chakraborty and Mr Dey started taking visual shots of the extortion an ASI started throwing filthy languages to them. Soon after, some policemen arrived there and started beating the pressmen. The ASI, identified as Bablu Ray, led the beating and snatched the mobile phone from Mr Chakraborty's possession when he was trying to contact a senior police officer.

 

Locals shifted the two to the MJN Hospital with serious injuries. Later, a complaint was lodged to Cooch Behar Kotowali police station on behalf of Mr Chakraborty seeking justice. Lying in his hospital bed Mr Chakraborty said the ASI was asking Rs 2,500 from a driver who came from Balarampur with patients. "The ASI abused us with filthy languages and led the attack on us", he said. Some onlookers too alleged that extortion from drivers is a regular feature at the entrance of the hospital complex.

 

State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy visited the injured pressmen at the hospital and inquired about their treatment. Condemning the attack on the media persons he said he instructed concerned officials to make an inquiry into the matter and take stern actions against the offenders. Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar too went to the hospital to see the injured reporters.

 

The members of Cooch Behar Press Club met the district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha and Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar and submitted memorandums. They demanded punitive measures against the accused police officer.

 

Cooch Behar DM, Mr Sinha said that he would ask the SP to inquire into the incident. He assured that he would certainly take actions after studying the allegations and the incident. He made it clear that stern actions will be taken against police personnel on receiving of specific complaints of extortion.

 

Cooch Behar SP Mr Kumar too said that he would not tolerate such incidents. Declaring a DSP-level inquiry into the incident he assured that "drastic actions" would be taken after examining the inquiry report. At the same time he admitted that extortion of money from vehicles carrying patients is a dirty offence and actions will be taken on getting complaints.

 

It was learnt that DSP (Headquarters) Mr Swapan Kumar Das was entrusted to carry on an inquiry into the attack on pressmen and extortion of money from drivers.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the DM addressed to the state Governor, Cooch Behar District Trinamul Yuva Congress president Mr Shibendra Nath Roy demanded a judicial inquiry into the attack over the media persons. []

Rs 400 for blood to maintain tradition

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 2: As Prabhat Chitrakar is maintaining the tradition of making the clay idol of Baro Devi (a form of Devi Durga worshiped by Cooch Behar royal family), Shiben Ray is also a part of the tradition. The Cooch Behar Debottar Trust Board knows him as Kamsanait. It is the hereditary duty of Kamsanaits to give blood for the puja of Baro Devi by piercing his finger. He is doing the job for about twenty years.

 

Shiben Ray is a resident of Dargapara at Kaljani village in Cooch Behar. He has to offer blood on the Mahashtami night during the Gupta-puja ritual of Baro Devi. This is an act to maintain the tradition of Nara-bali (human sacrifice). Human sacrifice was being done during the regime of Maharaja Nara Narayan who initiated the puja of Baro Devi. As the system of human sacrifice is no longer but the Debottar Trust Board is maintaining the tradition though it is functioning under the state tourism department.

 

During the Gupta-puja on the night of Mahashtami, a little human figure made of rice-dust is sacrificed to maintain the tradition of human sacrifice. Human blood is needed at that time. As a hereditary Kamsanait Shiben Ray is offering the needed blood for the past twenty years. The Debottar Trust Board will give him Rs 400 for the act. Though he demanded Rs 500 this year it was not sanctioned as the budget was approved earlier, DTB sources said.

 

Shiben Ray is working as a Deuri engaged at DTB-run Siddheswari temple. He gets Rs 1,000 per month for the job. He maintains his family with that sum. Depicting his economical condition he had appealed to raise the honorarium but that was not sanctioned. "I will have to act as Kamsanait as my forefathers did because it is our hereditary duty that started in the regime of the Maharajas", he said. []  

 

Cong demands probe in foodgrain scam

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 2: Raising allegation of gross irregularities and corruption in implementation of Sampurna Gramin Rojgar Yojana scheme (SGRY), the Cooch Behar District Congress demanded a thorough inquiry into it. Yesterday, submitting a memorandum alongwith some relevant documents to Mr BL Meena, divisional commissioner, Jalpaiguri, they urged him to intervene and order a probe against the persons involved in the corrupt practice. Among the delegation there were leaders like Cooch Behar District Congress president Mr Shyamal Choudhury, vice-president Mr Dipak Neogi, general secretaries Mr Robin Roy and Mr Sudha Ranjan Mukherjee.

 

Cooch Behar District Congress president Mr Shyamal Choudhury said they demanded the probe based on the government reports and correspondences. The period of the alleged foodgrain scam is 2001-2007. Some time back, the anomaly was detected in Haldibari block under Mekhliganj sub-division and an inquiry was also ordered. But conducting of that probe was merely eyewash because it revealed the tip of the iceberg only, he alleged. Mr Choudhury believes the actual picture may come out if a thorough inquiry conducted. The Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner however assured them of taking necessary actions into the allegations, Mr Choudhury said.

 

Mr Choudhury and other Congress leaders told the divisional commissioner that a section of dealers, distributors, political leaders, panchayat and zilla parishad functionaries did the corruption in connivance with a section of government officials. Citing an example of Haldibari block (from 2001-02 to March 2007) they pointed out that the distributor concerned had lifted 52, 298.72-quintal of rice or Rs 7,84,48,080.00 as per official record though the allotment was 63,620.88-quintal or Rs 9,54,31,320.00. The unlifted quantity was 11,322.16-quintal.

 

Mr Choudhury said that the secretary-in-charge, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad had lodged a FIR against a distributor of Haldibari on 19 June of this year. He mentioned that following an interim report furnished by the regional accounts and audit officer, Jalpaiguri division, the divisional commissioner had ordered on 19 March 2007 for a specific inquiry against pradhans of three Gram Panchayats and two SGRY foodgrain dealers and entrusted the additional executive officer of CZP to inquire and take legal action. But no action was taken yet to stop the corrupt practice in the entire district, the Congress leader alleged. []

Agitation of trainee teachers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Members of All Bengal Primary Teachers' Trainee Association (ABPTTA) resisted the employees of District Primary School Council from entering in their office today. After a commotion for about an hour the DPSC chairman Md Nuruddin Mian and other employees entered with police help.

 

It may be recalled here that the employees of the office, even the DPSC chairman had failed to enter in the office due to the agitation on Friday. The agitators had locked the main gate on that day which was later broke open by the Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra with police help.

 

ABPTTA president Mr Bhajan Barman, said, they were demanding for a long for dissolving of cases related to Primary Teachers' Training Institutes (PTTI) running in the High Court and appointment of trained candidates in vacant posts in the primary schools. But the authorities concerned did nothing to meet their justified demands. Finding no alternative they decided to start an intensive stir at the DPSC office in Cooch Behar, Mr Barman said.

 

Today, after entering into his office the DPSC chairman met the ABPTTA leaders and assured them that he will meet the state school education minister soon to discuss the issue. He told them that after the puja vacation he would sit with them again to convey the development. Getting the assurance the ABPTTA members lifted their agitation today, Mr Barman said. []

 

Exam centres demanded at Kalchini

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Demanding setting up of Higher Secondary examination centres at Kalchini the members of Progressive Students' Union (PSU) organised a rally at Kalchini in Jalpaiguri district today. Later, they submitted a memorandum containing a 15-point charter of demands to the Kalchini BDO, Dr Reshmi Komal. Mr Ramkumar Lama, Mr Rajesh Dorjee, Mr Pasang Sherpa and Ms Anuradha Lama led the programme today.

 

PSU leader Mr Ramkumar Lama said there are 13 high schools in Kalchini block and higher secondary units were introduced in six schools. But there is no examination centre for the higher secondary students in Kalchini. They have to go to Alipurduar or Birpara to appear in the examination. In this context higher secondary examination centres are needed for the students of the block, Mr Lama said.

 

Kalchini block PSU secretary Mr Rajesh Dorjee demanded Madhyamik examination centres at Hasimara. In the memorandum the PSU leadership demanded question papers in Hindi for Hindi speaking students and permission for writing answer scripts in Hindi in degree course examinations.

 

Many students from nearby villages and tea gardens participated in today's agitation. Mr Lama said their demands should be met by December otherwise they will have to start a massive movement like roadblock and even hunger strike. The Kalchini BDO heard their demands and reportedly assured that those will be conveyed to the higher authorities. []