Much awaited Enclave exchange at midnight

 

Cooch Behar, 31 July : Official exchange of Chhitmahals (Enclaves) of India and Bangladesh will be done at mid-night today. By this, the enclave-dwellers will get all amenities as genuine citizens. Official sources said that 111 enclaves of India encircled by Bangladeshi mainland and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh encircled by Indian Territory will be exchanged between the two neighbouring countries at midnight today.

As the country is observing mourning following sudden demise of ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam, there will be no official programme to mark the exchange of Chhitmahals. On the otherhand, an organisation named Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Co-ordination Committee is going to observe the historic event by festive ceremony at Masaldanga enclave (till now a Bangladeshi enclave), according to a spokesman of the organisation.

It may be mentioned here that the dwellers of Chhitmahals of both countries have been suffering form statelessness and all other facilities offered to the genuine citizens of a country since Independence. A number of agreements and treaties were inked between the two countries but the much awaited exchange of enclaves have not done till now. At last, the dwellers of the enclaves are going to get their citizenships. 51,000 residents of the enclaves have made their mindset to choose the country they want to live in. They are now observing the Independence once again.

Chief Minister in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, 4 December : The dwellers of 162 Chhitmahals (enclaves) of India and Bangladesh welcomed the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nayarhat in Cooch Behar today. She addressed a huge gathering at Dakuarhat under Nayarhat Gram Panchayat in Dinhata Sub-division this afternoon today. The place is near India Bangladesh border and there are a few Chhitmahals nearby. This is the first time a CM addressed a gathering in such a place.

On behalf of the enclave dwellers the Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee (BBEECC) handed over a bouquet of 162 red-rose to the CM for her positive initiative toward enclave exchange between India and Bangladesh. Mentionworthy, there are 162 enclaves, 111 are of India and 51 are of Bangladesh. (An enclave of a country is a portion of land surrounded by land of other country.)

The CM expressed her desire of resolution of enclave problem and said the relation of two Bengals was sweet. It is still sweet and will be so. West Bengal Government already agreed to the proposal of enclave exchange and that was communicated to the Centre. The CM also spoke of the need of rehabilitation package for the enclave residents and their justified rights.

During her speech the CM highlighted the need of communal harmony. In this context she mentioned the names of Iqbal, Rabindranath and Nazrul. She also talked about Panchanan Barma and said that he was not merely a leader of the Rajbonshis, he was a leader of all people. She asked people of all religious beliefs to live peacefully.

The CM announced foundation of a bunch of new projects like Rs 20-crore Mother and Child Hub at MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar, bird sanctuary at Rasik-bil mini-zoo complex in Tufanganj, Haldibari Stadium, 500-seat auditorium in Cooch Behar etc. She also announced inauguration of a number of projects and services from the meeting dais. She asked her party workers to work for the people sincerely. Bengal will be the pathfinder of the India, Mamata hoped.  

TAX FREE ZONE

Tax Free Zone demand for North Bengal

The demand to declare North Bengal as a tax free zone rose again. Today, the Tax Free Zone Demand Committee for North Bengal sent a memorandum to the Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram requesting him to consider the longstanding demand.

The general secretary of the Tax Free Zone Demand Committee for North Bengal, Rajendra Kumar Baid said that they were struggling for a long to establish North Bengal as a tax free zone. It is necessary to boost up the industry sector of the region and also to combat the unemployment problem. A large number of local unemployed youths go to outer provinces as they fail to get jobs here. If ne industrial units come up here the situation may change for a good, he opined.

Arguing in favour of their demand, the TFZDC-NB general secretary said that Sikkim and the Northeastern states enjoy the facility but the corridor of these two regions, the North Bengal still fighting to get the justified status. In the memorandum they urged the Union Finance Minister to include the matter in the next Union budget for the greater interest of the people of North Bengal.

MP-LAD SCAM

MP-LAD scam : accused remanded in jail custody

Pradip Chakraborty, the main accused in the MP-LAD scam in Cooch Behar
was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sandip Kumar
Manna today and was remanded in judicial custody till 27 February. The
court received no prayer for his release under bail today. He will be
produced again in the court on 27 February.

It may be mentioned here that the District magistrate of Cooch Behar,
Mohan Gandhi filed an FIR against Chakraborty who is an employee of
his office. After lodging of the FIR on 11 January, Chakraborty
absconded. He was arrested from a house at Jamaldaha in Mekhliganj
sub-division on 29 January. On the next day he was produced to the
court of the CJM in Cooch behar and was remanded in police custody for
14 days.

Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha), Nripendra Nath Roy brought an allegation
to the DM against misappropriation of his Local Area Development fund
(MP-LAD fund). Considering the seriousness of the allegation, the DM
lodged an FIR against the employee who deals the matter for years,
Soon after it, Chakraborty absconded. Meanwhile, another MP (Rajya
Sabha), Tarinai Roy too came out with allegation of misappropriation
of his MP-LAD fund. The DM ordered a departmental inquiry into the
matter. The CID also took over the case from the Cooch Behar District
Police and started a thorough probe into the scam.

Manas Bhuina at Circuit House in Cooch Behar on Sunday.

COOCH BEHAR UNIVERSITY

New university to function soon : Education minister

Classes in the new university in Cooch Behar (Panchanan Barma University) will start in 2013 educational session. State Education minister Bratya Basu announced it in Cooch Behar on Thursday afternoon. He came here to inaugurate a workshop organised on teachers' training for the working teachers of the government primary schools.

 

The Education minister said that the Chief Minister wanted the university as early as possible in Cooch Behar and so she laid the foundation of it during her visit to Cooch Behar. She also wanted the university to start functioning from the 2013 educational session. According to that decision the classes in the new university will start from 2013 educational session. Basu said that they already appointed a vice-chancellor for the university and he has been entrusted to develop the infrastructure of the university. After receiving green signal from the vice-chancellor the state government will come forward to do the needful. "We are ready and we are waiting for the green signal from the VC", he said.

 

The education minister also recalled his visit to Cooch Behar with the CM to attend the foundation ceremony of the university and also to visit the proposed sites at Khalisamari and Ghughumari. He hoped that the new university will turn to a famous seat of learning in entire North Bengal in near future. It would be able to change the educational map of the region. 

MP-LAD SCAM IN COOCH BEHAR

Cooch Behar MP-LAD scam : Main suspect arrested

 The main accused in the MP-LAD scam in Cooch Behar, Pradip Chakraborty, was arrested last night from a residence at Jamaldaha. He was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Cooch Behar today and remanded to police custody for 14 days.

            An employee of the District Magistrate's office, Chakraborty was the main suspect in the MP-LAD scam. The Cooch Behar DM, Mohan Gandhi lodged an FIR against him on 10 January at Kotowali Police Station. Since then, he was absconding. It is believed that after arrest of Chakraborty it would be possible for the administration to know the other persons involved in the scam. The total money drained out from two MPs of the district may be around Rs 7-crore, sources said. Today, after producing at the court of the CJM, Sandip Kumar Manna, the judge remanded to police custody for 14 days. During the period he may be interrogated to find out the truth.

MP-LAD SCAM IN COOCH BEHAR

Rajya Sabha member alleges scam in MP-LAD fund

The MP-LAD scam in Cooch Behar got a new dimension on Tuesday. Cooch Behar MP (Rajya Sabha), Tarini Roy alleged that Rs 4-crore has been drained out from his Local Area Development fund towards 34 projects. He never recommended assistance to the said projects, he claimed.

Earlier, a few days ago, the Cooch Behar MP (Rajya Sabha), Nripendra Nath Roy (Forward Bloc) alleged of misappropriation of money from his MP-LAD fund. The amount of money that was cheated out from his fund was about 2-crore, sources said. Following Roy's complaint the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar, Mohan Gandhi inquired into the matter and lodged an FIR at Kotowali Police Station against the concerned dealing clerk of his office. Since then, the man named Pradip Chakraborty is absconding. Police however initiated a probe into the allegation.

In this perspective, another MP of Cooch Behar, a member of Rajya Sabha, Tarini Roy (CPI-M) today came out with a fresh allegation. He met the DM yesterday and while inquiring the status of his MP-LAD fund, the DM handed over a list of projects recommended by the MP. Examining the list he found that there were 34 projects that were never recommended by him. The estimated implementation cost of the projects was Rs 4-crore. An astonished Roy immediately submitted a written complaint to the DM and demanded inquiry into the matter. The DM, Gandhi, however assured that he already took measures against the concerned dealing clerk by filing an FIR and ordered a probe into the matter.

Tarini Roy, who is also the secretary of the CPI-M's Cooch Behar district unit, alleged that the misappropriation from the MP-LAD fund has been committed after change of power in the state. The main suspect, Chakraborty is also a Trinamul Congress man. A proper inquiry may unearth the truth, he believes.   

The sum of total money in the scam of MP-LAD funds of two MPs is more than 7-crore, sources claimed. Though the Forward Bloc is dealing the matter in a low tune, the CPI-M is trying to deal it otherwise. As the MP (Rajya Sabha), Tarini Roy disclosed his allegations to the media persons it is believed that the party may use the issue in the ensuing three-tier Panchayat elections. 

Cooch Behar (WB).
coochbeharcalling.blogspot.com

Fwd: Bibhu # 28-01-2013

Cooch Behar proud of Aneek

On the day of inauguration of Uttarbanga Utsav, a good news came in from Maharashtra. Annek Sarkar of Dinhata Byayam Vidyalaya won as Runners at the National Junior Power-lifting Championship competition organised by Indian Power-lifting Federation in association with Maharashtra State Power-lifting Association. The competition was held at Amaravati on Sunday. Aneek from Bengal team turned Runners in 110-Kg group. He lifted 550-Kg weight.

            Aneek is a student of Dinhata Byayam Vidyalaya in Cooch Behar. He resides at Alipurduar and goes to practice to the DBV daily by train. Earlier, he became Champion in the Sub-Junior National Power-lifting Competition.

            All in the DBV turned happy today learning Aneek's success in the National Junior Power-lifting Championship. The Secretary General of the institution, Bibhu Ranjan Saha said he received the news over telephone this morning from Amaravati. He hoped that Aneek would go ahead to attain more success in the field of Power-lifting. 

PANCHANAN UNIVERSITY

Sit-in demanding reconsideration of state government's decision.