Strike in Cooch Behar

Two jewellers injured in attack

Jewellery shop owners observed a daylong strike in Cooch Behar on Wednesday in protest against attack of miscreants in which two of their fellow traders received serious injuries on Tuesday night. Police said three persons have been detained for interrogation in connection with the incident.

Members of the local jewellers' and gold traders' association said Mr Akhil Karmakar and his son Mr Dhananjay Karmakar were returning home after shutting down their jewellery shop at Biswa Singha Road on Tuesday night. They were in possession of two bags containing cash and jewelleries. At Palmtolla area adjacent to Madan Mohan temple at about 9-50 a gang of miscreants attacked them with sharp weapons. The rowdies also shot at the two men. The miscreants ran away with a bag leaving the two in a pool of blood. In a precarious condition they were shifted to MJN Hospital and later referred to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. It is believed that the miscreants appeared and fled away riding motorbikes. 

The bullion traders and jewellers observed daylong trade bandh in Cooch Behar on Wednesday. They took out a protest rally in the town. They also submitted memorandums to the Cooch Behar DM and SP demanding immediate arrest of the miscreants.

Police said a probe has been initiated into the incident. Already they detained three persons in connection with the crime. Interrogation is going on to know the whereabouts of the miscreants, a senior police official said.

Submitting a memorandum to the Cooch Behar SP, the general secretary of the Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid also demanded arrest and punishment of the culprits. He also demanded beefing up of police patrolling in the town prior to the ensuing pujas in the greater interest of safety of the members of the business community and the buyers. 

 

Workers' meet of the Janata Dal (United)

Empowerment of actual political power to the people of North Bengal, unconditional release of political prisoners, employment for the jobless youths, steps against corruption and price hike of essential commodities – these are some of the demands the Janata Dal (United) to highlight on the historic Quit India Movement Day at Bharat Sabha Hall in Kolkata.

JD (U) general secretary Mr Ashok Das said in Cooch Behar that on 9 August they will organise a workers' meet of the party on the occasion of the historic Quit India Movement Day. A large number of supporters are expected to attend the programme from Cooch Behar as well as from other North Bengal districts. State unit president of the JD (U) Mr Amitava Dutta would preside over the programme.

Mr Das said the 'Change the system not only the ruler' slogan is gaining popularity in North Bengal. With this slogan the JD (U) is coming up as a considerable force in this region. The people of this region are still suffering from backwardness and so they need proper empowerment, Mr Das said. 

MIHIR GOSWAMI AT JAIGAON

The newly appointed chairman of the Jaigaon Development Authority, Mr Mihir Goswami. At Jaigaon on Monday. 

DPSC'S PRAISEWORTHY INITIATIVE

PF paid on the next day of retirement

Following the 'wind of change' the District Primary School Council (DPSC) in Cooch Behar came out with a praiseworthy initiative by handing over cheques for payments from Provident Fund to four teachers on the next day of their retirement. The astonished teachers thanked the DPSC and the state government as well. They said they never thought that they would be able to get the benefits of the PF so early.  

Three headmasters and one teacher retired on 31 July from their respective schools. They are Mr Nabani Ranjan Deb of Nandichhechura First Plan Primary School (Tufanganj), Mr Ashutosh Chanda of Nirmala Devi Primary School (Tufanganj), Mr Santosh Kumar Das of Hatidoba Primary School (Baneswar) and Ms Maitri Dey of Sunil Smriti Primary School (Cooch Behar Sadar).

On Monday (1 August) afternoon these four retired teachers received their PF benefits by cheques from the DPSC chairperson Ms Kalyani Poddar. She told the reporters that she felt proud because she was able to handover the PF beneficial amounts to the retired teachers on her 29-th day in the DPSC. She also assured that the teachers would start to get their pension very soon.

Several teachers in Cooch Behar said there was no example that any teacher received their PF or pension on the next day of their retirement in Cooch Behar district. The newly formed DPSC has set an example by doing a commendable job. Earlier, teachers had to face many difficulties for a long to get the retirement benefits, they said.

DPSC chairperson Ms Poddar told the media persons that there was no work culture in the DPSC in earlier days (read 'during the leftist regime'). Chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee asked all to restore work culture and they are trying to follow it, she said.  

JDA to develop Jaigaon

State Trinamul Congress general secretary Mr Mihir Goswami took over charges of the Jaigaon Development Authority (JDA) on Monday. He promised that he would try his best to develop Jaigaon though the 21-year-old JDA failed to do any good during the past years.

The JDA was formed on 18 July in 1990 under West Bengal Town and Country Planning Act, 1979 consisting of 46 square-kilometre area. Jaigaon is adjacent to the border of India and Bhutan. It is an important small town but lack of proper development kept it lagging behind for a long. Mr Goswami assured that he would take measures to fulfil the aspirations of the locals by improving the condition of the picturesque township. 

NBSTC'S NEW INITIATIVE

City bus in Cooch Behar town

City bus service has been introduced in Cooch Behar town from Monday. President of Ramakrishna Math in Cooch Behar, Swami Chaitanyananda inaugurated the much-awaited facility at a programme that was organised at New Bus Stand on Sunity Road. NBSTC chairman Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh and senior officials attended the inaugural programme.

North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) sources said at the first phase the facility would be available in Cooch Behar town area only. But, if it were found viable the facility would be extended to suburb areas of the town too. Presently two vehicles of the NBSTC are being pressed into service.

The uniqueness of the facility is that for the first time the commuters of Cooch Behar will see women conductors in the passenger buses of the NBSTC. There are 71 female conductors in the organisation but they are engaged in different jobs except as conductors. From Monday they are going to come out for the first time in the city bus services. And, from now on they would be pressed into service in other bus routes of the organisation, NBSTC sources added.  

GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCPA's 13-day hunger strike ends

The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) lifted its
indefinite hunger strike on Sunday. On Saturday evening they decided
to lift the agitation following talks with senior officials of the
district administration of Cooch Behar. The police also heaved a sigh
because they had to keep a constant watch on the agitators for the
last 13 days to maintain peace.
The activists of the GCPA started an indefinite hunger strike in Cooch
Behar since 18 July. They had announced that they would continue their
agitation till the Centre invites them for talks over their demands.
They started the agitation demanding formation of a 'C' category
state, proper implementation of the agreement by which former princely
state of Cooch Behar was merged with India and formation of a
caretaker cabinet of ministers for Cooch Behar.
On Saturday evening GCPA's three leaders including its general
secretary Ms Namita Barman sat for talks with the district magistrate
Ms Smaraki Mahapatra and the superintendent of police Mr Kalyan
Bandyopadhyay. They demanded that the Centre should open dialogue with
their representatives in Delhi over their demands by Monday.
Otherwise, they would go to agitate in Delhi. As the officials
reportedly agreed to comply the GCPA too agreed to lift their 13-day
long agitation. Accordingly, the GCPA supporters left the ground near
the Cooch Behar Palace on Sunday morning. However, a similar hunger
strike is going on at Jantar Mantar in Delhi led by GCPA president Mr
Pabitra Ray, organisational sources claimed.

Cooch Behar DM Ms Smaraki Mahapatra said on Sunday that she conveyed
the matter to the higher authorities mentioning the GCPA's demand for
talks with representatives of the Union home ministry. On the
otherhand, GCPA general secretary Ms Namita Barman was not available
over phone on Sunday to make any comment over the development.

GAYATRI DEVI

Gayatri Devi remembered

Second death anniversary of Gayatri Devi has been observed at Cooch Behar Palace on Friday. The employees of the Archaeological Survey of India organised a brief programme in front of the Durbar Hall on the occasion. Palace museum-in-charge Mr Binay Das said Cooch Behar ADM Mr Godala Kiran Kumar and ASI personnel paid floral tribute to the portrait of late Rajkanya of Cooch Behar and Rajmata of Jaipur. 

PHOTO : Archaeological Survey of India, the guardian authority of Cooch Behar Palace depicts a board on the historic palace gate to aware visitors about the second death anniversary of Gayatri Devi. In Cooch Behar on Friday.

GREATER COOCH BEHAR

GCDP waits for CM's invitation

The leaders and supporters of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) are waiting eagerly for the release of their leader Mr Bangshi Badan Barman from Cooch Behar District Correctional Home. Mr Barman may come out in the first week of August, GCDP leaders and supporters believe.

The president of the GCDP, Mr Ashutosh Barma said they would organise a felicitation ceremony in Cooch Behar town to celebrate the release of the eminent leader of the Greater Cooch Behar movement. The programme may be held at Raas Mela Maidan or at Shahid Baag.

The GCDP president said after come back of Mr Barman they would reorganise their organisation thoroughly. Mr Bangshi Badan Barman will be offered with a honourable post in the refurbished GCDP, he hinted. After that they will adopt a fresh programme for movement. "We are now waiting eagerly as our leader is going to come back among us after a long-time following a series of movements and efforts", Mr Barma said.

Commenting on the ongoing indefinite hunger strike sponsored by The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), the GCDP president said they are not in favour of the hunger strike at this moment. "As a new chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee should get a little more time to understand all the things. Without considering her limitations one should not create pressure on her. At first she should get enough time for opening a dialogue. But, as that was not done we think the hunger strike is incredible and pointless. We can hope that during talks with the CM our demands may be fulfilled", Mr Barma said.

The GCDP president also said that they made an appeal to the chief minister to invite them for a dialogue. "When we are waiting for the release of Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and the invitation from the chief minister, the GCPA came up with a hunger strike programme. This is nothing but an effort to weaken the Greater Cooch Behar movement", he added. 

GCPA ON BANGSHI BADAN BARMAN

GCPA to continue fast till Centre's intervention

The indefinite hunger strike of The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCPA) stepped into its tenth day on Wednesday. The activists of the GCPA are on fast in Cooch Behar since 18 July demanding formation of a separate state, proper implementation of the agreement by which former princely state of Cooch Behar was merged with India and formation of a caretaker cabinet of ministers for Cooch Behar.

General secretary of the GCPA Ms Namita Barman told this reporter on Wednesday that they would continue their agitation till the Centre comes up for talks with them over the demands. "We want to talk with the Central government only", she said. But, no one from the Central government or from the state government approached them till now, she said. At the same time she said that similar hunger strike is going on in New Delhi led by the GCPA president Mr Nirmal Ray.

Claiming that about 50,000 supporters already joined in the hunger strike, Ms Barman said that the number is growing day by day. Though more than one hundred persons had to be hospitalised as their health condition turned worse, they came back to join the agitation again after attending medical care in the hospital, she claimed.

When asked to comment over the news of Mr Bangshi Badan Barman's probable release from the correctional home, the GCPA general secretary said they also heard of it. Is there any possibility about come back of the ex-supremo of the GCPA to the organisation again? Ms Barman said they are keeping watch over the matter. "At first we would have to learn his actual attitude because at present he is with the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP). The issue of his possibility of return to the GCPA may come up only after his release from the jail", she said.  - DEBASHIS BHAUMIK

CITY BUS IN COOCH BEHAR

Goswami turns Jaigaon Chairman

State Trinamul Congress general secretary Mr Mihir Goswami became the chairman of the Jaigaon Development Authority. Mr Goswami, who is an ex-MLA, said, "As desired by the honourable chief minister I have been assigned to take over the charges of the chairman of Jaigaon Development Authority." He sought active co-operation from all for all-out development of Jaigaon that is adjacent to Bhutan. 

City bus service in Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar is going to get the much awaited city bus service from 1 August. The decision has been adopted at a meeting of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) officials with its chairman Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh and managing director Mr Don Bosco Lepcha. The meeting was held at Paribahan Bhavan in Cooch Behar on Tuesday.  

The NBSTC chairman told the media persons that at the first phase the proposed city bus service would be extended to different areas of the town including Hospital Chowpathi, Court Morh, Gunjabari and Marapora-dighi. Two NBSTC buses would be pressed into the service. Commuters from all walks of society would be benefited by the facility, as the fare would be Rs 5 only per head. If the city bus service proves successful it would be widened to the outskirt areas of the town in near future, he assured.

The NBSTC plan has been welcomed by many including 'Concern for Cooch Behar', as it was a long-standing demand of the citizens. 

Minister Hiten Barman

Minister's surprise visit

State forest minister Mr Hiten Barman visited the office of the fisheries department in Cooch Behar on Monday. He expressed his displeasure as he found lesser employees in the office. During his meeting with the officials he asked them to work in a disciplined manner.

Mr Barman told media persons that Cooch Behar district is lagging behind in pisciculture. The government have adopted an ambitious plan to improve the situation. The fishermen are also suffering for a long, as they are not covered by the concerned schemes. From now on they would get the necessary benefits from different development schemes offered by the government, he said.

The forest minister also said that the wetlands and ponds in the district would be cleaned up to extend irrigation facilities to the cultivators. Pisciculture would also be done in those water bodies. The matter would be taken up with the state fisheries minister to make the plan a success, he added.