March 2010

Infosys to get 50 acres near Kolkata

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 30 (IANS) The West Bengal government will allot 50 acres of land to software major Infosys in New Town on the northeast fringes of the city in the next 10 days, Housing Minister Gautam Deb said here Tuesday.

"Infosys have agreed to take land in the state. We will sit with the IT minister (Debesh Das) and Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation officials to finalise the modalities. It will be done in 10 days," said Deb.

Deb said each acre would cost Rs.1.5 crore.

Neither Infosys nor the state government have specified what the land would be used for.

Another IT company, Wipro, got 50 acres in January at the same price.

Both Infosys and Wipro had pulled out of the state after the government scrapped the IT hub project in Rajarhat last year following allegations that land sharks had been involved in acquisition of plots in the township.

Kolkata airport modernisation cost up by 20 percent

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 30 (IANS) The modernisation cost for Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport has gone up by around 20 percent from Rs.1,942 crore to Rs.2,325 crore, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said here Tuesday.

"The board of AAI approved the cost escalation of the project about 15 days back," airport director R. Srinivasan said here on the sidelines of a press meet organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He attributed the cost escalation to the increase in raw material costs since 2006 (when the cost was earlier approved) and also partly to certain baggage handling facilities that were later included in the plan.

The project, however, is on schedule and would be commissioned by August 2011, Srinivasan said.

The runway extension is behind schedule, he said. It will be completed by June 2010, instead of September 2009.

"Close to 40 percent of the project work is complete and we are absolutely confident of completing the project on time," he said.

A consortium of ITD of Thailand and ITD Cementation India Ltd had bagged the construction contract for the modernising project of the NSCBI Airport.

The AAI has now decided to double the area to be developed for commercial purpose from the earlier planned 45 acres to 90 acres.

"We have found out that there is additional scope for developing commercial space and we would be freezing the decision within the next 2-3 months," Srinivasan said.

"It would be up to the developer to decide whether they would build hotels or convention centres or such other facilities," he said.

Reduce VAT on cell phones: Lobby asks Bengal

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 26 (IANS) Handsets manufacturers body Indian Cellular Association (ICA) Friday asked the West Bengal government to adopt a uniform 5 percent value added tax (VAT) on mobile phones.

It said Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta's proposal in Budget 2010-11 to increase VAT on mobile phones costing more than Rs.3,000 from 4 percent to 12.5 percent would adversely impact their sales in the state.

"We strongly urge the government to adopt a uniform 5 percent VAT on all mobile phones instead of the proposed differential rate. At a uniform 5 percent rate, we expect legitimate sales to be impacted only marginally and the overall mobile handset industry would continue unhindered to touch the projected size of Rs.2,300 crore by 2010-11," ICA President Pankaj Mohindroo said at a press meet here.

He said revenue collection in the state would decrease due to the split VAT structure.

Also, a higher VAT would lead to an influx of mobile sets from neighbouring states with lower VAT rates.

Assam has a VAT rate on mobile handsets at 5 percent while Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand have at 4 percent.

Around 8.5 million handsets have been sold in West Bengal this fiscal (2009-10), of which 5.9 million are in the sub-Rs.3,000 category.

Nine bodies found in Stephen Court rubble, death toll 43

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 29 (IANS) Nine more bodies were recovered from the rubble in Stephen Court Monday, taking the death count of the March 23 blaze to 43.

The West Bengal government has formed a 11-member probe panel to find the cause of the tragedy.

According to police, two bodies were identified with the help of identity cards found with the corpses. Those identified are Bidyut Acharya, 22, an employee of call centre firm Wiltech Computers, and Sangeeta Kumari. Seven people are still missing.

The charred bodies recovered Monday were all found on the fifth floor of the fire ravaged building, where civic workers and firemen are working 24x7 to clear the rubble amidst an unbearably foul smell and dirt.

"Two of the bodies were found in the wee hours. Another was found in the morning. Five bodies were later discovered in the afternoon," Joint Commissioner of Police Jawed Shamim told IANS.

The ninth body was found around 4 p.m.

According to Shamim, the corpses have been handed over to the state-run SSKM hospital for identification by the families of the victims, who have been on a round-the-clock vigil at the hospital premises for the past six days with the hope of seeing their near and dear ones - dead if not alive.

The probe panel set up by the government will be led by former home secretary Sourin Roy and will include former state director general of police Dinesh Vajpai.

Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee demanded setting up of a probe panel to unearth the reasons for the fire.

"A probe is needed. It should look into why the mishap occurred, whether proper safety measures had been taken," Mukherjee, who is also the state Congress president, said.

Going a step further, main opposition Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee pressed for a time-bound judicial inquiry under a serving judge.

"And if they cannot do it, then they should seek a CBI probe. And mind you, the CBI probe should be impartial," she said, after walking in a two kilometre procession from Birla Planetarium to Stephen Court alongside families of the victims and those missing.

Leaping flames engulfed the upper floors of the iconic building on Park Street last Tuesday. Only 22 of the bodies have been identified beyond any doubt so far. Several bodies have multiple claimants. DNA tests are being conducted to identify the disputed bodies and those that are completely unrecognisable.

Six people died after jumping from the top floors in a desperate bid to save themselves from the fire. Thirty six other charred bodies have been found till Monday afternoon.

Built by Armenian Stephen Arathoon in 1910, Stephen Court also housed the iconic Flurys tea room, the famous eatery Peter Cat, besides Cafe Coffee Day and One Step Up restaurant.

On 150th anniversary, Tagore's 'Muslomanir Golpo' is made into film

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
New Delhi, March 29 (IANS) With the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore being celebrated this year, Bengali filmmaker Pranab Chaudhari has decided to pay homage to the Nobel laureate with his film "Muslomanir Galpo", based on a story written by Kabiguru a few months before his death.

"Muslomanir Galpo" is about Hindu-Muslim harmony and atrocities against women. In the story, the lead character Kamala transforms herself into Meherjan and leads her life for the welfare of abandoned and repressed Hindu girls.

"I was searching for a different story for my film. Tagore wrote the story just one and a half months before his death (on Aug 7, 1941). Probably he wanted to tell his readers to stop these atrocities," Chaudhari told IANS over phone from Kolkata. He plans to release the film May 9 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.

Chaudhari says the story of "Muslomanir Galpo" is relevant even 68 years after Tagore's death.

"I have made this film to give the message to the wider section of viewers to stop atrocities against womanhood and to keep Hindu-Muslim amity, the main essence of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's story.

"The story is still relevant in the prevailing socio-economic condition of our country as well as in several parts of the universe. Perhaps at the fag end of his life he (Tagore) just reminded us about the atrocities against womanhood and also the need for communal harmony," added the director, who has been in showbiz for 30 years.

Chaudhari, who has made documentaries, feature films and television series, said Tagore still remains the main motivating factor for the Bengali-speaking people.

"Bengali culture and mindset is totally encompassed with the writings and philosophy of Tagore. He is an embodiment of Bengali culture. As a minuscule student of literature, I have not come across any writer who has dealt with so many aspects of life," he said.

Produced by Pitrashish Marketing Enterprises Pvt Ltd, "Muslomanir Galpo" is made at a shoestring budget of Rs.85 lakh. Shooting for the film started Feb 17 and has since been completed. Post-production work is going on now.

The film was shot at Itachuna Rajbari, Khannan, Hooghly, West Bengal and the surrounding villages of Itachuna.

Made in the Bengali language, the film will be released in West Bengal, Tripura and other Bengali-populated areas of India.

"At the same time English-subtitled print will be made available for release in different major cities of India as well as English-speaking foreign countries."

For Chaudhari, it will be the most privileged moment if any member of Tagore's family sees the film.

"In our country atrocities and discrimination against women and Hindu-Muslim riots are still continuing with great vigour. We shall be able to pay our real respect to Tagore when we can eradicate these injustices prevailing in our country," said Chaudhari.

Another body found, opposition wants probe into Kolkata fire

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) As one more body was extricated from the ruins of the Stephen Court Sunday, taking the deaths in the city's worst fire accident to 34, West Bengal's opposition parties demanded a probe by the judiciary or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"One body was recovered from the debris in the evening. It has been sent to the SSKM hospital," an officer manning the city police control room told IANS.

Five days after the tragedy, 13 people who were in the iconic building on Park Street when leaping flames engulfed its upper floors, continued to be missing.

The opposition parties jumped in to derive political mileage from the tragedy.

Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee demanded a probe to find if the inferno occurred due to "some negligence". Describing Tuesday's blaze as "heart-rending" and "pathetic", Mukherjee told reporters the probe should establish whether proper safety measures had been taken by the authorities.

"A probe is needed. It should look into why the mishap occurred, whether proper safety measures had been taken," said Mukherjee, who is also the state Congress president.

"The probe should find out whether it occurred because of some negligence, so that such incidents don't recur," he added.

Going a step further, main opposition Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee pressed for a time-bound judicial inquiry under a serving judge.

"And if they cannot do it, then they should seek a CBI probe. And mind you, the CBI probe should be impartial," she said, after walking in a two-km procession from Birla Planetorium to Stephen Court alongside families of the victims and those missing.

The fire swept through two upper floors of the residence-cum-office block on the bustling Park Street Tuesday afternoon, trapping scores of people.

Six people died Tuesday after jumping from the top floors in a desperate bid to save themselves. Twenty-six other charred bodies have been found till Sunday.

Built by Armenian Stephen Arathoon in 1910, Stephen Court also housed the iconic Flury tea room, the famous eatery Peter Cat, besides Cafe Coffee Day and One Step Up restaurants.

CPI-M for inducting minorities in the party

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) Facing a dwindling support base in West Bengal, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday laid stress on inducting younger people and women besides minorities, labour classes and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the party.

CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose said here the party needed to be more alert in mobilising the workers in the organised sector.

Addressing the state committee members, Bose said the CPI-M-led Left Front, despite its recent poll setbacks, stood a good chance in the coming elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 81 municipalities in the state. "We have to fight the elections keeping intact the LF unity."

"We have to build up an intense campaign against the efforts of the anti-LF forces to create lawlessness, anarchy and terror in the state," he said.

Pranab wants probe into Stephen Court blaze

Monday, March 29, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee Sunday demanded a probe into the Stephen Court fire tragedy, saying it was necessary to find if the inferno occurred due to "some negligence".

Describing Tuesday's blaze, which claimed 33 lives, as "heart-rending" and "pathetic", Mukherjee told reporters the probe should establish whether proper safety measures had been taken by the authorities.

Replying to a query as to whether he would blame the authorities for the tragedy, Mukherjee said: "Before doing that, I first need to know what really happened."

"A probe is needed. It should look into why the mishap occurred, whether proper safety measures had been taken," said the state Congress president.

"The probe should find out whether it occurred because of some negligence, so that such incidents don't recur," he added.

Earlier, Mukherjee held a meeting with the district Congress presidents on forging an understanding with the Trinamool Congress in the coming municipal polls in West Bengal.

"In some districts, discussions on adjustment have already started with the Trinamool, while in some they are yet to start. If there are problems, we will see," he said.

The elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 81 municipalities in the state are being regarded as a semi-final contest between the struggling ruling Left Front and the opposition Trinamool and Congress, ahead of the assembly polls next year.

Siddhartha Shankar Ray hospitalised

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) Former West Bengal chief minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray was admitted to a nursing home here Saturday, family sources said. Ray had fallen down at his home a few days back.

An aide to Ray, who was also a former Punjab governor and ambassador to the US, said the veteran leader had a kidney ailment and was weak in the knee.

Ray, 89, was taken to the Woodlands Nursing Home in south Kolkata where he underwent a C.T. scan and a series of blood tests.

"The scan has not revealed anything. He is fine. Basically he has been admitted as a precaution," a nursing home spokesperson told IANS. "Two or three doctors have seen him. He is on fluids."

Ray was chief minister from 1972 to 1977, the year when the Left Front took power in West Bengal.

Fire breaks out in West Bengal's Panagarh army base

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 26 (IANS) A major fire broke out in the ammunition depot of the Indian Army base in West Bengal's Panagarh early Friday, gutting one of the sheds, an official said.

There were no reports of any loss of human lives, defence ministry spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani told IANS.

The fire in the Burdwan district base began at 1.30 a.m. and was controlled in two-and-a half hours by eight fire engines.

"Our crisis management team led by the ammunition depot Chief Executive Officer, Colonel A.D. Shetty, fought through the night to douse the fire. However, shed number 16 was gutted. By 4 a.m. the blaze was controlled," Upasani said.

An army fact-finding team led by Major General Choudry has been rushed from Kolkata to ascertain the cause of the fire, which had led to panic in nearby villages.

Reports from Panagarh said people from 20 villages near the base had fled their houses as the leaping flames were accompanied by big explosions.

The ammunition depot in Panagarh, about 120 km north of Kolkata, is one of the largest of the Indian Army.

Ray used Soumitra, I trust Rahul Bose: Aparna Sen

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) Aparna Sen, whose long-awaited film "The Japanese Wife" will soon be seen in the theatres, says she couldn't trust anyone but old favourite Rahul Bose to play Snehamoy, the Sundarbans schoolteacher who falls in love with a woman he's never met.

"To play Snehamoy, I needed an actor who would give me 200 percent," Sen, who gets back to direction after "15 Park Avenue", told IANS in an interview.

"What is very difficult about Snehamoy's character is that he is a humdrum little man and yet he has something extremely extraordinary in that humdrum life. He has a Japanese wife whom he has never met. The bizarreness of the whole premise is utterly charming. It was difficult to trust anyone with that character except Rahul."

After "Mr. & Mrs. Iyer" (2002) and "15 Park Avenue" (2005), this is Sen's third film in a row with Rahul.

"You know what happens... a kind of understanding establishes and then it becomes very easy to work with that same actor. Many directors have done this. Satyajit Ray had used Soumitra Chatterjee in so many films," she said.

"The Japanese Wife", based on a book by Kunal Basu, revolves around Snehamoy, a schoolteacher in the interiors of Sundarbans, West Bengal, and Migaya (Chigusa Takaku). They start off as pen pals, fall in love and even get married through letters. They don't meet each other even through 15 years of marriage.

Prior to "The Japanese Wife", the story of every film the award-wining director had directed was her own.

"See, I would not be able to do anyone's story because I have always done film on my own story. In this case Kunal Basu and me... our mindset was similar. When I read the story, I used to often discuss it with Kunal. I used to send him my script at certain points. We talked over phone, exchanged SMSes, etc.

"I found it very easy to remain true to his story while I was fleshing it out. The film, of course, has its nuances. For instance, he didn't give the widow (played by Raima Sen in the film) a name in his story - as if it was a trivial character. In the film, I have given her a name and importance to her character too," said Sen.

Sen's story has some resemblance to Anjan Dutta's Bengali play "Priyo Bondu", where two classmates start communicating through letters. They continue even when they are middle-aged. In due course, they realise they are in love with each other but prefer to maintain the relationship over letters.

Asked to comment on that, she said: "I have also heard 'Priyo Bondhu'. There they have met each other. In 'The Japanese Wife', they don't meet until the end of the story."

Though she has earlier acted in her directorial ventures like "Paroma" and "Paromitar Ek Din", Sen now finds it difficult. And that is why, she said, she roped in Moushumi Chatterjee to play Maashi in the "The Japanese Wife".

"You know it's too much trouble directing and acting in the same film. Even in 'Iti Mrinalini', I have acted. But here I thought Moushumi is far more suitable than me.

"Moushumi has a very good sense of timing that makes her a very good actor also. Her eyes sparkle all the time. I wanted someone very vibrant and she was the only person I could think of. Where Rahul and Raima are very shy, don't talk too much, she is like a contrast to all of them," she added.

Sen gave instructions to Japanese actress Chigusa Takaku through an interpreter.

"She can't speak a word of English so I directed her through interpreters. I don't know Japanese. Even when she came India for shooting, we had to keep interpreters for her. A girl studying Japanese in Santiniketan used to stay with her like a shadow. I was scared... what if she falls sick in the middle of the night, she won't be able to convey that to anyone."

Kolkata still burning - with anger and rage

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 26 (IANS) Three days after the Stephen Court fire that snuffed out 24 lives, including many youngsters, Kolkatans were Friday seething at the authorities' callousness that triggered and aggravated the tragedy.

With West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee admitting that a "vicious cycle" existed in connivance with a section of the administration that allowed construction of additional floors on buildings like the century-old Stephen Court, a nexus involving the city civic body, state administration, the police and unscrupulous promoters has come to the fore - though not for the first time.

Dilip Naskar, who runs a tea stall in South Kolkata's Bhowanipore, does not mince words while talking about the "illegal constructions".

"What happened to those in Stephen Court could have happened to me also. Or you. These old buildings are death traps. They look majestic only from the outside. There is virtually no upkeep. It is very difficult to even locate the actual owners in many cases," Naskar told IANS.

"And with a large section of the bureaucrats and Kolkata Municipal Corporation employees sitting with waiting arms to get their palms greased, all illegal constructions by unethical owners get passed," he added.

The fire in the heart of the city's happening Park Street broke out Tuesday afternoon and rapidly spread in the residence-office block, trapping scores. It blazed for several hours, leaving 24 dead and a dozen untraced.

Some of those trapped died when they jumped from higher floors to escape the leaping flames. Most others were caught in the blaze unable to escape after finding the only fire exit shut and blocked. Their charred bodies were discovered Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

The anger is palpable and widespread.

Sukhendu Roy, a mathematics teacher in a private school, said people should speak out strongly and send a clear-cut message that they would not tolerate such wrongdoings on the part of the people they elect.

"The government has to take the blame. Why was the police not vigilant enough? How did the construction happen before their very eyes?" he said.

"People should speak out against corruption in the administration and among the political leadership that allows such illegal constructions to take place," Roy said.

Mohammed Motiur Rahman, the caretaker of a housing complex in South Kolkata, was more forthright. "The only language the powers-that-be understand is of force. We should forcefully tell them that enough is enough. They should either rectify themselves or get lost."

Upcoming painter Biswa Bose blamed the "ill-equipped fire services department" for the high death count.

"Only if the firemen had nets, people who jumped out of the upper floor windows would not have perished," said Bose.

"The fire brigade brought the skylift and the browsers late again. I read in the newspapers that the skylift kept close to the spot was out of order. So they had to bring skylifts from far-off places. That took away a lot of precious time. Had the skylifts come quickly, more lives would have been saved."

Tulsi Prasad Dutta, a banker, said the government lacked the courage to take strong action against those involved in nefarious activities.

"Nowadays there are frequent fire incidents. And every incident causes devastation. But the state government only seems to make lofty promises, which they forget later," he said.

"I have never seen them take any visible steps. The government only makes announcements. But they are reluctant to take tough action. They seem to be afraid of what consequences such actions may have ahead of next year's assembly elections."

Reduce VAT on cell phones: Lobby asks Bengal

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 26 (IANS) Handsets manufacturers body Indian Cellular Association (ICA) Friday asked the West Bengal government to adopt a uniform 5 percent value added tax (VAT) on mobile phones.

It said Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta's proposal in Budget 2010-11 to increase VAT on mobile phones costing more than Rs.3,000 from 4 percent to 12.5 percent would adversely impact their sales in the state.

"We strongly urge the government to adopt a uniform 5 percent VAT on all mobile phones instead of the proposed differential rate. At a uniform 5 percent rate, we expect legitimate sales to be impacted only marginally and the overall mobile handset industry would continue unhindered to touch the projected size of Rs.2,300 crore by 2010-11," ICA President Pankaj Mohindroo said at a press meet here.

He said revenue collection in the state would decrease due to the split VAT structure.

Also, a higher VAT would lead to an influx of mobile sets from neighbouring states with lower VAT rates.

Assam has a VAT rate on mobile handsets at 5 percent while Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand have at 4 percent.

Around 8.5 million handsets have been sold in West Bengal this fiscal (2009-10), of which 5.9 million are in the sub-Rs.3,000 category.

Body of one Maoist recovered, two held in Bengal

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) Body of a suspected Maoist was recovered and two members of Left wing guerrillas' action squad arrested in West Bengal Saturday, police said.

The police recovered the body of a suspected Maoist from a well in Chhotokalsidanga forest. "He had a cartridge belt in his waist which shows he was involved in combat," West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

The security forces also arrested two Maoists, Sanatan Pal and Prashanta Patra from Jahrgram sub-division. The duo was Saturday brought before a court which remanded them to police custody till April 4.

"Pal is a big catch. He was involved in all big and small Maoist raids in Belpahari and Banspahari areas in the last three years," Verma said.

Meanwhile, heavily armed Maoists torched vehicles at Ranibandh in Bankura district after asking the passengers to get down. No one was injured, district Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg told IANS.

In West Midnapore, the rebels exchanged heavy gunfire with the security forces in various jungle areas including Chhotokalsidanga and Jamboni, where the ultras also triggered a landmine.

Padma Bhushans have strings attached, says veteran Bengal artist

Sunday, March 28, 2010 | AA
Kathmandu, March 27 (IANS) At 74, veteran Bengal artist Suhas Roy is willing to explore new ventures and collaborations in Nepal and elsewhere. However, what the creator of the acclaimed "Radha" series is not even willing to contemplate are honours conferred by his own government.

"Padma Shris and Padma Bhushans don't come openly," he says. "They always have stories behind them. You need affiliations to the government, parties."

The statement by the former head of Kala Bhavan at Viswa Bharati, West Bengal, comes after the controversy triggered on the state awards last month.

They were refused by the grande dame of Hindi literature, Krishna Sobit, and West Bengal's theatre doyen Badal Sircar while the government's nomination of US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, who faces criminal complains, came under criticism.

Roy, whose paintings are in the Vatican, 10 Janpath Road, the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and galleries and private collections all over the world, came to Kathmandu for his first solo exhibition in the Himalayan capital, organised by the Siddhartha Art Gallery and Kolkata's Akar Prakar in collaboration with ITC's joint venture, Surya Nepal.

The exhibition, inaugurated by the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Rakesh Sood, and on till Friday, brings to Nepal Roy's famous "Radha" series - the portrayal of the ideal, universal woman, like Mona Lisa.

Begun in the late 1980s, Roy has painted over 12,000 Radhas, and plans to continue painting more.

"I did landscapes for 10 years," he says. "Then I got bored and wanted to do something different."

Asked by a gallery to paint something for an exhibition on Krishna, the mythical Indian character famed both as a warrior-statesman and as a lover, Roy says he was inspired to paint Radha instead, Krishna's legendary consort.

"Radha became an iconic character even though she was considered to be Krishna's aunt and married and their love was illegitimate," Roy says. "For me, she became the symbol of perfection, the eternal woman who would never age, like Mona Lisa."

The first Radha images, drawn against trees or foliage, were inspired by the Santhal tribal women who used to work at his residence in Shanti Niketan, Roy says.

Besides the Radha series, he is also continuing with his Durga and Christ images.

Roy says he is happy with the public admiration he receives and steers clear of hype.

"My Radhas have no gimmick like Maqbool Fida Hussain," he says. "Hussain never had a relationship with (Hindi film star) Madhuri Dixit and yet his series, (said to be inspired by Madhuri), became the talk of town for other reasons. Hussain is talented but gimmicky at the same time, like Picasso.

"I don't want to be like anyone. If my paintings are appreciated by the future generations, I will live through them and I am happy with that."

Mamata lays foundation for coach factory

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday laid the foundation for a Rs.860-crore rail coach factory in West Bengal that is expected to supply 500 EMU and Metro coaches annually.

The state-of-the-art unit at Kanchrapara would be set up by the railways in joint venture with a private partner and is expected to begin production in a couple of years.

Speaking on the occasion, Banerjee said once completed, it will be one of the best coach factories in the world. The project will be spread over 153 acres, which is already in possession of the railways, she said at the Kanchrapara Railway Stadium.

Maoists trigger blasts, fire on security forces

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) Maoists triggered landmine blasts and exchanged fire with the joint security forces in two separate incidents in West Bengal's Bankura and West Midnapore districts Sunday, police said.

Maoists, hidden in the jungles, fired on a security forces' team conducting a raid in Lakshmanpur village under Lalgarh police station of West Midnapore. The raid followed a landmine blast triggered by the rebels Saturday.

The security personnel returned the fire and the gun-battle continued for half an hour till the ultras fled the area, police sources said.

No one was arrested.

The other incident took place at Telijat village under Bankura's Sarenga police station area.

The Maoists exploded two landmines and fired on a security forces team visiting the village to set up a new camp to replace the one at nearby Bhalukchira, which had been withdrawn after the Feb 15 Maoist attack at Silda.

The exchange of fire continued for over two hours before the ultras withdrew, the sources added.

The Maoists are active in about 30 police station areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts.

Maoists derail Rajdhani, train services hit hard

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata/Bhubaneswar/Patna, March 23 (IANS) Maoists targeted railways - the nation's lifeline - blasting tracks to derail the Rajdhani Express and throw train services haywire in vast parts of eastern India on the second and final day of a shutdown in six states Tuesday.

The Maoists have called the protest in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh besides three districts of Maharashtra - Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli - to oppose a sweeping crackdown on them.

The guerrillas also killed a policeman and a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader besides abducting four traders.

The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed after the rebels blasted a rail track in Bihar's Gaya district late Monday, leading to the cancellation of three trains and diversion of 17, police said.

Eight coaches, including the engine, went off the tracks between Paraiya and Kastha stations on the Gaya-Mughalsarai section, about 100 km from Patna.

"Maoists blew up three to four feet of railway track," Inspector General of Police S.K. Bhardawaj told IANS over the phone from the accident site.

According to railway sources, three trains, including the Patna-Ranchi Janshatabdi, were cancelled.

Seventeen trains, including the New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express, were diverted from Mughalsarai to Patna.

A pamphlet left at the site by the Maoists claimed responsibility for the incident.

In Orissa, Maoists blew up rail tracks and derailed an empty freight train Tuesday with a landmine, hitting rail services on the Howrah-Mumbai route.

The incident took place between Bishra and Bandhamunda stations around 1.30 a.m. in Sundergarh district, over 500 km from Bhubaneswar.

According to V.K. Srivastav, a senior divisional commercial railway manager, three wagons of the Manoharpur-bound train were also damaged.

Several long distance trains were stranded at different stations due to the sabotage.

In West Bengal, train services were disrupted for several hours as the Left radicals blew up a railway track in West Midnapore district.

The Maoists triggered a landmine between Gidhni and Khatkura stations of South Eastern Railway causing heavy damage to the down line.

A South Eastern Railway spokesman said several trains had to be detained or diverted due to the explosions in West Bengal and neighbouring Orissa.

The ultras also shot dead CPI-M leader Hemanta Pradhan of West Midnapore's Kuldiha village.

In Jharkhand, a policeman died in Sareikela-Kharsawan district after Maoists opened fire on a police patrol party near Chouka police station around 1.30 a.m.

Suspected Maoists also abducted four traders from Jharkhand's Bokaro district.

Maoists blow up track, kill CPI-M leader

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 23 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas killed a Marxist leader and blew up a rail track in West Bengal, disrupting train services for several hours on the second day of a shutdown in six states.

The Maoists shot dead Hemanta Pradhan, a local leader of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), in Kuldiha village in West Midnapore district.

Police sources said Pradhan was abducted from his daughter's house Monday night by around 15 armed men. His bullet-riddled body was found Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Maoists exploded a landmine between Gidhni and Khatkura stations causing heavy damage, the sources said.

A South Eastern Railway spokesman said several trains were detained or diverted after that in West Bengal and neighbouring Orissa.

The Maoists have called a two-day shutdown in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh besides three districts of Maharashtra including Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli to oppose a sweeping crackdown on them.

West Bengal doubles funds for Muslims, madrasas education

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) In an apparent bid to woo the Muslims ahead of next year's assembly polls, the West Bengal government Monday proposed to more than double the plan outlay for minorities and madrasa education from Rs.121 crore to Rs.300 crore next year.

Presenting the state budget for 2010-11, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said special priority has been accorded to the improvement of vocational and technical education in madrasas along with expansion of education and improvement of standards.

He said this was needed so that the students belonging to the minority community can have wider opportunities of employment and income.

The state government last month announced it would reserve 10 percent of government jobs for economically, socially and educationally backward Muslims by including them in the OBC (other backward class) category.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee then said his government would adopt the Ranganath Mishra Commission's recommendations for bettering the lot of the state's underprivileged Muslims.

Sops for all in West Bengal budget (Lead)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) Apparently eyeing next year's assembly polls, the West Bengal government Monday sharply hiked the outlay for minorities, promised rice at Rs.2 a kg to the lowest 20 percent of people above the poverty line and proposed an Urban Employment Scheme (UES) for youth.

Presenting the Left Front government's last full budget ahead of the polls, regarded as the toughest for the combine in its uninterrupted rule since 1977, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta announced wide-ranging sops hoping to touch a sympathetic chord with a vast majority of the people.

A highlight of the Rs.4 crore deficit budget is the scheme aimed at tapping the support of the urban youth in a state where unemployment figures have been spiralling every year and the government's much publicised industrialisation drive hitting a speed breaker after stringent opposition protests on land acquisition.

Under the UES, unemployed youth in urban areas can be engaged either as a worker or as a supervisor for implementation or maintenance of any project of the state government or the municipality or municipal corporation concerned. The scheme has an initial outlay of Rs.250 crore.

The worker will be paid a daily wage of Rs.100 and supervisor Rs.120.

The plan outlay of the department of minorities' affairs and madrasa education was more than doubled from Rs.121 crore to Rs.300 crore next year.

The state government had last month announced it would reserve 10 percent of government jobs for economically, socially and educationally backward Muslims by including them in the OBC (other backward classes) category.

While promising to continue distributing rice to people below poverty line through ration shops at a price of Rs.2 per kg, the minister said "depending on procurement of rice", initiatives will be taken to expand the programme to cover the lowest 20 percent of the people living above the poverty line.

Dasgupta also proposed to increase monthly pensions of the aged, the disabled, widows, artisans, handloom weavers, farmers and fishermen from Rs.750 to Rs.1,000.

The tea gardens also had some good news.

"With an objective of incentivising the reopening of the closed gardens and investments in this (tea gardens) sector, I propose to extend the exemption from payment of (education) cess for a further period of one year and grant another one year time for liquidation of the arrear cess," he said.

With sugar prices still exorbitant, Dasgupta announced that sugar would continue to be exempted from value added tax (VAT) up to March 31, 2011.

Films made in Bengali, Nepali and Santhali languages would now attract an entertainment tax of 2 percent from the existing rate of 10 percent.

The rate of sales tax on foreign liquor was raised to 37 percent, with an option to pay tax at the rate of 23 percent on maximum retail price.

Mobile phones costing over Rs.3,000 will be dearer, with the minister sharply hiking the rate of tax on them from four percent to 12.5 percent.

The total plan and non-plan receipts for 2010-11 will be Rs.76,432.07 crore, with an initial deficit of Rs.114 crore.

However, with Dasgupta proposing additional resource mobilisation of Rs.110 crore, the final deficit will come down to Rs.4 crore.

West Bengal received Rs.7,000 crore investment in 2009

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) West Bengal received Rs.7,000 crore of investment in 2009, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here Saturday.

Addressing a State Summit organised by Bengali news channel Chobbis Ghanta, he said the figure was a vast improvement over 2008, when only Rs.4,000 crore had come in to the state.

Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said the state had received expressions of interest of Rs.44,390 crore for 206 units in 2009.

Bhattacharjee said the state registered an agricultural growth rate of four percent last year.

Agriculture constituted 22 percent of the state gross domestic product of West Bengal, whereas industry contributed 18 percent and the service sector 59 percent.

"As far as the contribution of agriculture is concerned, it is not a happy situation. Industry should overtake agriculture," he said.

The chief minister conceded that in education, children from poor families had been a neglected lot. "Economist Amartya Sen has pointed this out. We have to correct this."

The state government was also trying to reach out to six lakh children who were outside the education system, he added.

West Bengal to hike women's quota in civic agencies

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday said the women's quota in the elected seats of panchayat and municipal committees will be raised to 50 percent.

"I have told the panchayat and municipality and municipal affairs departments to amend the acts for this," Bhattacharjee said at a State Summit organised by Bengali news channel "Chobbis Ghanta".

The chief minister hoped the women's reservation bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha earlier this month, would be passed by the Lok Sabha soon.

Talking about women welfare measures of the government, Bhattacharjee said 80 lakh women were employed with 9.26 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) in the state. "The total bank deposits (of the SHGs) are Rs.800 crore. Their total business with banks involves Rs.2,500 crore," he said.

Serious implications of strike at Haldia: Tata Chemicals

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 19 (IANS) Issuing a veiled threat, Tata Chemicals Friday said the ongoing strike of contractors' workers at its factory in West Bengal's Haldia will have "serious implications" on the unit's future and the industrial township may not be seen as a preferred business location.

Describing as "unreasonable" some fresh demands made by the contractors' workers, the company, in a statement, said that following tripartite meetings attended by the contractors, district labour commissioner of East Midnapore and the workers, a consensus had been reached Jan 8 regarding a fresh settlement that was due on Jan 1 last year.

Though a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by all the parties, the employees' union raised fresh demands which hampered the signing of a long term tripartite settlement Jan 18, it said.

"Some of the demands had long term implications on the sustainability of the factory. Owing to uncertainty of material availability and infrastructure related issues, the plant operations and profitability were constantly under pressure. These unreasonable demands will have serious implications on the future of the factory," the company said.

While a section of the loading and unloading contract workers went on a strike from Feb 18, the remaining contractors workers joined it from Feb 24.

The company alleged that though some of the contract workers were willing to resume work, "a section of the contractors' workers are opposing and obstructing entry of these workers".

"They are also obstructing the movement of other material at all gates hampering the essential operations of the factory undermining the safety and environmental issues. Our deep concern is that the ongoing illegal strike will severely impact the future of the factory. If this continues Haldia may not be seen as a preferred industrial location in West Bengal," the statement added.

Bill upgrading Presidency College to university passed

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 19 (IANS) The West Bengal Assembly Friday passed a Bill upgrading the 192-year-old Presidency College into a university.

The Presidency College, which played a sterling role in the 19th century renaissance besides churning out scholars and luminaries in various walks of life, would become a unitary university without the burden of affiliate colleges. So far, it was an affiliate of Calcutta University.

The Presidency University Bill, 2009, was moved by state Higher Education Minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury and passed by a voice vote in the absence of any of the opposition parties, who had staged a walkout protesting against some remarks by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday.

Roy Chowdhury later told media persons that it would have been better had the opposition benches not been empty on such a historic day.

He said the university would have a teacher selection committee which could recruit teachers from any part of the country.

The minister said the post-graduate courses will start from the coming session itself, but was not sure whether the under-graduate studies could also begin simultaneously.

The Left Front government seemed determined to push through the bill disregarding the opposition's demand to send it to the assembly select committee for further discussions.

The left-leaning West Bengal Government College Teachers' Association (WBGCTA) had also opposed the move to make Presidency a unitary university, demanding that all 35 government colleges in the state be brought in its ambit. It also called for a "ceasework" in all government colleges Friday on the issue.

Though Presidency, with around 2,500 students, still churns out talent, there has been criticism of its falling standards due to politics in teacher recruitment and frequent student unrest. Founded in 1817 as Hindu College, the institution was christened Presidency College in 1855.

Among its alumni, the college can boast of poet Rabindranath Tagore, social reformer Swami Vivekananda, freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Marxist legend Jyoti Basu, economist Amartya Sen and scientist Satyendranath Bose.

The demand for granting autonomous status to the college was first raised in the early 1970s by students, teachers and alumni.

Two education commissions set up by the Left Front government had also recommended autonomy for the college, but the idea was stalled, thanks to teachers' bodies affiliated to the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that feared losing control over the college.

The move to give the college university status was spear-headed by none other than Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who himself is an alumnus.

One killed, six injured in bison attack

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) One person was killed and six others injured in a bison attack in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Saturday, police said.

"The incident took place near Birpara area at Alipurduar sub-division as a bison killed one and injured six others in a village," Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K.L Tamta told IANS.

Buddhadeb favours consensus on land acquisition policy

Saturday, March 20, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) Calling for a consensus among the government, corporate houses and locals to sort out the vexed issue of acquiring fertile land for industries, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddahdeb Bhattacharjee Saturday said the opposition parties were not cooperating in the state's industrialisation.

The chief minister unveiled a three-pronged formula - careful identification of land, attractive prices and a rehabilitation package - to lessen the pain for those whose fertile land is acquired for industries.

"Our policy is that as far as possible do not touch fertile land. But the major problem is that in our state only one percent of the total land is fallow, as against the national average of 19 percent," he said.

"Wherever we acquire fertile land, we identify it carefully so that the minimum number of people are affected. Then, we give attractive prices to the affected farmers and also rehabilitate them," he said, addressing a state summit organised by Bengali news channel 'Chobbis Ghanta'.

"We need consensus among the government, corporate houses and the spontaneous participation of locals wherever we take agricultural land for industries," Bhattacharjee said.

Lambasting the opposition, Bhattacharjee said: "They not only blocked Singur, but are also opposing other projects. They are opposing a power project in Burdwan district and the chemical hub project at Nayachar island."

The Trinamool Congress-led opposition had led a peasant agitation in Hooghly district's Singur demanding return of 400 acres of the acquired land to farmers. The stir ultimately forced Tata Motors to shift the plant for its small car Nano to Gujarat.

After scrapping Nandigram in East Midnapore district as the site for a chemical hub due to another agitation, the government has now zeroed in the Nayachar islands in the same district. However, the opposition has started an agitation there too, claiming the hub will have an adverse impact on ecology.

Bhattacharjee said his government was trying its best to convince the opposition by citing the example of other states where the opposition parties cooperate with the government on issues like industrial investment and development.

The chief minister said during the last two years his government has prepared a land bank, identifying vast stretches in Burdwan, Birbhum, Purulia and Bankura and acquired 4,000 acres, without facing any opposition from the locals who gave land spontaneously.

He said the state was getting big-ticket investment in steel, petrochemicals, IT and IT enabled services and food processing.

Sundarbans fisherman seriously injured in tiger attack

Friday, March 19, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 18 (IANS) A fisherman, severely mauled by a tiger Thursday in the Sundarban forests of West Bengal, is now battling for life in a state-run hospital.

The big cat attacked the victim in the Chulkathi jungles, through which a group of fishermen was passing, a forest department official said.

Those accompanying the victim rescued him by beating the tiger with whatever they could lay their hands on.

He has now been admitted to the Patharpratima Hospital in South 24-Parganas district.

Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest criss-crossed by rivers and canals and covering 4,262 square km. Part of the Sundarbans is in Banlgadesh.

The alluvial archipelago, formed by nearly 56 islands, has been declared a World Heritage site by the Unesco for its rich bio-diversity. It is home to the famed Royal Bengal tiger.

'Camp level failure may have led to Silda attack'

Friday, March 19, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 18 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday absolved senior officials of any blame in the Maoist attack that left 24 Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) personnel dead last month at Silda, saying there could have been some failure at the camp leadership level.

Replying to questions in the state assembly, the chief minister said an inquiry was on to find out the lapses at various levels that led to the attack.

Bhattacharjee said there were no intelligence reports about the impending attack with the police top brass. "But there were some intelligence report in the local network at Silda (in West Midnapore district). It was at the camp leadership level."

"If it is true that the leadership turned a deaf ear to the intelligence report, that is a serious mistake. But to ascertain this, we have to wait for he inquiry report," the chief minister said.

The three-member committee probing the Feb 15 attack is headed by Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen, and includes Additional Director General (Criminal Investigation Department) Raj Kanojia and Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Zulfikar Hassan.

Reiterating that there was a lack of alertness in the camp preceding the attack, the chief minister said the probe panel was investigating the matter thoroughly.

He said five Maoist ultras also were believed to have been killed when the EFR jawans fired back at the rebels.

The chief minister disclosed that 191 people, including 21 policemen, were killed in Maoist attacks in the state between Jan 1, 2008, and Jan 31, 2010.

Police allowed to quiz Maoist leader Dipak for 14 days

Friday, March 19, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 17 (IANS) A city court Wednesday allowed police to question arrested Maoist guerrilla leader Venkateswar Reddy alias Telegu Dipak for two more weeks till March 31.

The addditional chief judicial magistrate of Alipur gave the order following a plea by the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The CID sought 16-day remand, arguing that Dipak needed to be quizzed further on his role in carrying out attacks on the security forces and other subversive activities in different parts of the state.

Deepak, a mechanical engineer, was arrested from Kolkata's adjoining South 24-Parganas district March 2. He was in charge of all city units of the Communist Party of India-Maoist in the state.

Police claim there are at least 40 cases pending against the arrested Maoist leader. Reddy operated his network in Kolkata and its adjoining districts and his focus areas were East Midnapore's Nandigram and Khejuri in the past three-four years.

Dipak was arrested under the Arms Act and also on the charge of waging war against the state.

Health train takes epilepsy treatment to villages

Friday, March 19, 2010 | AA
Sasaram/New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) When the health train chugged to a halt at Sasaram station in Bihar, there was a doctor on board to treat a condition that villagers had given up hope of ever finding a cure for - epilepsy, a neurological disorder that affects 10 million people in India.

The doctor, Mamta Bhushan Singh, assistant professor in the department of neurology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), saw around 180 patients at Sasaram during the around two days she spent as part of the Lifeline Express, the world's first hospital on a train, which stopped at Sasaram last month.

The AIIMS doctor was the first expert the villagers had ever met to treat epilepsy, leaving it earlier to faith healers and quacks.

"Barely any of the epilepsy patients in Sasaram was on any treatment other than faith healing!" Singh told IANS.

The people were so happy to get good doctors to treat them - a rare occurrence in rural India - that none of the patients or their families left the station while the train was parked there. They didn't want to miss meeting the doctor.

The Lifeline Express, run by the non-profit organisation Impact India Foundation, has doctors to treat disablities like cleft lip and to perform cataract surgeries, free of cost. It expanded its medical services to treat epilepsy over a year ago and Singh is invited to come on board whenever the train embarks on a healing journey.

Speaking of her interaction with the patients and their families, Singh said she begins by trying to overcome their embarassment about speaking of their health condition.

"This invariably would get some of them sobbing while relating the symptoms of their kin, while some parents would ask in hushed voices, 'How will I get my epilepsy-afflicted daughter married?'" she said.

Recounting one epilepsy case, she said there was a tribal woman in her 30s who had come to meet her with her child and her elderly mother. The woman and her child had been abandoned by her husband because of uncontrolled epilepsy and her widowed mother was very poor.

Singh gave the woman medicines from the stock she carries on such journeys. But what happens after the medicine stock finishes? Where do the patients get their medicine from since epilepsy requires continuous treatment for a long duration.

"I wish the government could have a programme to provide assistance for continuing medical cover to such patients. Almost every day, I think of the woman and what she will do once her free medicine samples are over," she said.

Singh said she is trying to link up with neurologists in different cities who would act as volunteers and be there at the station when the train visits - coordinating at the local level with her efforts. Another aim is to push for the setting up of small clinics in villages where epilepsy patents can be treated and get medicines free.

"It is no fault of a child with epilepsy that he or she is born in a village. The medicines are affordable," she said, adding, "At least 50 percent and as much as 75 percent of patients in the country can be treated with one medicine."

"The treatment gap in epilepsy, which means patients not getting treatment or getting inadequate treatment, is huge - around 70-90 percent. This is a dismal state of affairs," said Singh.

Singh has earlier been with the train to Piardoba in West Bengal's Bishnupur, where many patients approached her for treatment.

She is now trying to set up a database of patients, with their names and addresses, to follow up cases and also a system where patients can make a call to a single number for assistance when required.

The well-equipped train stops at Dabra, Madhya Pradesh, next week.

The Lifeline Express was launched on July 16, 1991. The train has designed air-conditioned coaches, a surgical operation theatre along with three operating tables, a sterilising room, patient wards, on-board power generators, pantry car, storeroom for medical provisions and lodging for medical staff.

Two Maoists arrested in West Bengal

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) Two members of the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist were arrested Monday in West Bengal's West Midnapore district, police said Monday.

"Two PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) members were arrested from Jhargram sub-division in a joint forces' operation. One of them is Parameswar Mahato. The identity of the other person is yet to be known," West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma told IANS over phone.

He said at least 20 people were also detained at Chandra village in the same district.

"We suspect at least six of them are active Maoists. One of them suffered a bullet injury in a gun battle a few months ago," Verma said.

Manipuri militant outfit's chief held in West Bengal

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) Three militants, including the chief of the outlawed Manipuri insurgent outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), have been arrested from West Bengal's Darjeeling district, police said Monday.

According to police, N. Tomba alias Koireng, 57, the commander-in-chief of the KYKL, was arrested from Siliguri sub-division Sunday night.

"We have arrested three militants including the commanding-in-chief of the KYKL. We have recovered one satellite phone, a laptop, two hard discs and some other electronic gadgets from them," Darjeeling police chief D.P. Singh said.

He said Tomba operated his militant network from Kurseong sub-division in Darjeeling.

"We have also seized some documents from him," Singh said.

Sources said Tomba had been absconding for long and there were several cases, including for attacks on security forces, against him.

KYKL was formed in 1994 with an objective to 'rebuild' Manipuri society by cleansing it of all immoral activities.

West Bengal home secretary visits Shilda camp

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 14 (IANS) West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen Sunday visited the violence-hit Shilda Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) camp in West Bengal's West Midnapore district that was stormed by a group of armed Maoists Feb 15.

Sen reviewed the security scenario in the entire area along with senior state police officers, including state Criminal Investigative Department (CID)'s Additional Director General of Police Raj Kanojia and Inspector General (Western Range) Zulfiqar Hassan.

The officials refused to speak to mediapersons during their visit to the incident site.

The Maoists attacked Shilda EFR camp last month and killed 25 people -- 24 EFR troopers and a civilian -- during the attack.

The home secretary also held a meeting with senior police and administrative officials to discuss the security infrastructure in the district.

Knight Riders asked to abide by all guidelines at Eden

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 16 (IANS) West Bengal government Tuesday asked the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) management to abide by the guidelines during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the Eden Gardens.

"We have asked the KKR management to follow the guidelines during the IPL matches. They have also assured us saying they will abide by the rules and regulations," state Sports Minister Kanti Ganguly told reporters here.

"It's necessary to put an end to the ongoing stalemate regarding the temporary gallery set up by the KKR management at the Eden Gardens," he added.

"I have already spoken to the chief minister (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) regarding the entire matter. No one should violate any norm during the IPL," he said.

Ganguly said he has asked the KKR management to carry out checking at all entry points and take action against the fake IPL tickets.

Earlier, state Fire Services Minister Pratim Chattopadhyay said his department would take action against the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for not following the fire safety norms while setting up a temporary gallery for Sunday's IPL match.

"I have given a suggestion to the KKR management not to use the temporary gallery from today's (Tuesday) match on," Chattopadhyay said.

Bengal for equal rights for backward sections: Buddhadeb

Sunday, March 14, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 13 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday said his government would work towards ensuring equal rights for the socially and economically backward sections - including Muslims - in the state.

"We can only progress if we can provide equal rights to the economically and socially backward sections of our society. We have to provide facilities so that the poor and minority communities can also come forward and get proper education," Bhattacherjee said while addressing a programme in Nadia district, more than 100 km north of Kolkata.

He said his government had finally succeeded in securing 10 percent reservation in jobs under OBC (other backward classes) category for the educationally, socially and economically backward Muslims in the state.

"If we can provide them with equal facilities, we will be able to benefit in the future. It will not be a proper growth story if we only think about one particular section. We must do something good for the poor population as well," he said, adding "We cannot let it happen where one particular section will have enough food and the rest will simply starve".

Talking about initiatives the state government had taken, Bhattacharjee said: "The Left Front government is now focusing on how to improve the basic income scale of poor people living in West Bengal."

The chief minister also urged the backward population to participate in educational activities.

"We don't want anybody to claim that he cannot study just because he or she belongs to the backward communities," he said.

Mamata Banerjee inaugurates auto hub in West Bengal

Sunday, March 14, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 13 (IANS) Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday inaugurated an automobile hub at Shalimar in Kolkata's twin district Howrah.

"The first automobile hub has been opened up in record time and we also have plans to set up nine similar hubs in different parts of the country. These automobile hubs will be set up at places like Ernakulam, Nasik and Pune," Banerjee said while addressing the gathering at Shalimar, about 10 km from here.

During the occasion, she also flagged off two new trains through remote control - the Howrah-Gandhidham weekly express and Kolkata-Amritsar bi-weekly express.

As part of Banerjee's rapid industrialisation drive, the first phase of the auto-hub was inaugurated within 100 days of the foundation stone being laid at Shalimar.

Initially 320 vehicles will be accommodated and there is provision for another 320 in the second phase.

Jharkhand, West Bengal launch major hunt for Maoists

Thursday, March 11, 2010 | AA
Ranchi, March 11 (IANS) A major drive has been launched against Maoist guerrillas in five districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand, and Orissa will soon join the campaign, a senior officer said Thursday.

An unspecified number of police and paramilitary personnel are pursuing the guerrillas in the coordinated operation called Green Hunt that began three days ago, the officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.

"Initially, the operation was kept a secret," the officer said.

"The operation has been launched in five bordering districts. The paramilitary forces and state police are sanitising the jungle areas. Some landmines have been recovered and four Maoist camps have been destroyed."

"The operation has air surveillance. Security forces have made a makeshift helipad in Saranda jungle area (in Jharkhand)," the officer added.

In Jharkhand, the operations are going on in three places. In West Bengal, the Maoists are being chased in Purulia and West Midnapore districts.

"The move is to zero in on Maoists in bordering areas," said the officer. Orissa would join the campaign soon, he added.

Vijay Raman, the special director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Wednesday met the Jharkhand police chief here to reportedly discuss the inter-state operations against Maoists.

On Feb 9, Home Minister P. Chidamabram met the chief ministers and top officials of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa, reportedly to give a final shape to the anti-Maoist drive.

Kolkata-based realtors to start management institute

Thursday, March 11, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 11 (IANS) Real estate players PS Group and Srijan have joined hands to set up an institute here to impart training in business management and entreprenuership from July this year.

The Institute of Leadership, Entreprenuership and Development will offer Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with specialisations in marketing, finance, retail, risk management and diploma courses in real estate management.

"We are offering such courses that have a very high demand in the market. Placements for us would not be a problem as we are training people according to industry needs," PS Group chairman Pradip Chopra said Thursday.

The total investment for setting up the campus would be Rs.25 crore, he said, adding this was being done through internal accrual.

The institute plans to rope in faculties- permanent and guest - from the US and the UK.

"We have also plans to set up a similar institute in Chennai," Chopra said.

Bengal BJP stages blockades over price rise

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 10 (IANS) Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists Wednesday staged road blockades across West Bengal protesting the rising prices of essential commodities and proposed reservation for Muslims in the state.

The protest caused severe traffic disruptions in Kolkata and many other towns as BJP supporters took out long rallies and blocked important road crossings during peak hours.

"We staged blockades at more than 1,623 places across the state. Our activists blocked 32 important crossings including Hazra, Shyambazar, Howrah Bridge area and Esplanade in Kolkata itself," BJP state president Rahul Sinha told IANS.

He said several BJP supporters were arrested for carrying out the state-wide protest.

"We held this programme in West Bengal mainly opposing the issue of skyrocketing food prices and Muslim reservations," Sinha added.

West Bengal has recently taken a decision to allot 10 percent quota in government jobs for Muslims under the backward class category.

"This is politics of appeasement and the state government is playing the Muslim card ahead of next year's state assembly polls. This will only help wedge a divide between Hindus and Muslims," Sinha said.

Bengal assembly adopts condolence motion on Jyoti Basu

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 10 (IANS) The West Bengal assembly Wednesday adopted a condolence resolution on former chief minister and veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu, who died Jan 17, terming him a "legislator par excellence".

"Basu, the tallest man of contemporary Indian politics, consistently stressed upon international peace and friendly relations with all neighbouring countries and very rightly won the acclaim of all the peace-loving people of the world," the resolution said.

Basu was the chief minister of West Bengal for 23 years.

"He was a symbol of secularism, democracy, integrity, consensus and pragmatism and was held in high esteem for his tireless crusade against all sorts of obscurantism and for his deep belief in the unshakable basic values that he had championed throughout his political career," Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim said while reading out the resolution.

"Basu will be ever-remembered for the speeches he delivered at different times as the leader of the opposition and also as the chief minister and the deputy chief minister in this august house," Halim said.

Terming Basu as an "eminent statesman", Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said: "He was the first politician who brought the workers and the farmers to the political platform."

'Keep forest land, animal corridors safe from unplanned tourism'-Sujit Banerjee

Sunday, March 7, 2010 | AA
Panaji, March 5 (IANS) Union Tourism Secretary Sujit Banerjee Friday cautioned that tourism, if pursued in an unplanned fashion, could be a threat to forest land and animal corridors in the country.

"Everyone has to keep a vigil in ensuring that the forest land and animal corridors do not shrink because of the pressures of unplanned tourism activities," Banerjee said at the inauguration of the tourism ministry's domestic tourism roadshow where tourism industry stakeholders from all over the country participated.

He also encouraged the industry stakeholders to "adopt solid waste management practices, encourage alternative energy sources and protect fragile mountain ranges from the impact of unrestricted growth".

Regretting the fact that other countries in Southeast Asia were virtually running away with the larger share of the foreign pie in this part of the world, Banerjee said that it was essential to create awareness amongst Indians that tourism is "bread and butter".

"How is it that our neighbouring countries get foreign tourists in greater number? Indonesia gets 19 million, Singapore gets 14 million, Malaysia gets 12 million and India which is larger than all three of them gets only 5 million? For the last three years we have been going at a slow pace," Banerjee said, adding that tourism was one of the driving forces in an economy plagued by recession.

He said that domestic tourism was the way ahead for India. "For years now we have been going abroad holding such roadshows for foreign tourists. But how many foreign tourists could we attract? 5 million," he said.

"On the other hand, there are nearly 563 million domestic tourists. And what are we giving them? Dirty trains, dirty platforms, dirty civic amenities, pot holed roads... but things are changing now," he said.

The roadshow in Goa is the fourth such event held by the tourism ministry to promote domestic tourism in the state in the current fiscal. Similar roadshows have earlier been held in West Bengal, Bangalore and Bodh Gaya to cater to the eastern and the southern tourism markets respectively.

All hacking attempts on government computers unsuccessful: Sachin Pilot

Sunday, March 7, 2010 | AA
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) There have been attempts to hack into the government computer network, but till date there has been no loss of vital information, says Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Sachin Pilot.

"Yes, there have been attempts but I can categorically say that not one attempt has been successful," the minister said. "The government's computer network system, maintained by the National Informatics Centre, is highly efficient," Pilot told IANS in an interview.

Earlier this year, hackers tried to penetrate government computers in vital ministries including the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). These attacks, officials said, originated in China.

According to the Computer Emergency Response Team, a cyber security advisory and referral agency of the Department of Information Technology, 570 Indian web sites were defaced by hackers during January this year, against 271 during the like month of last year.

During the whole of last year, a total of 6,023 cases of defacement were reported.

The agency also said that during January, out of 246 cyber-security incidents, as 63 percent related to spamming, 18 to phishing, 8 percent to malicious viruses, 76 percent to unauthorised scanning and the rest to other categories.

Former NSA M.K. Narayanan, who is currently West Bengal governor, had stated that his office and other government departments were targeted on the same date that US defence, finance and technology companies, including Google, reported cyber attacks from China.

The hackers had sent an e-mail with a PDF attachment containing a Trojan virus. But the virus, which allows hackers to download or delete files, was detected and officials were told not to log on until it was eliminated.

Pilot pointed out that such hackers were usually scanning the entire system to find weak spots. "But our people are very efficient and well trained. Safeguards have ensured that national security has not been breached."

The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies have instituted stringent protocol on the use of e-mails by serving officers, which includes frequently changing passwords and using e-mails only for routine communication.

Besides, the ministry has instituted a periodic security review of all computers to ward off cyber threats.

Employees' union protests during Azad's visit to hospital

Sunday, March 7, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 6 (IANS) Members of a Congress-Trinamool Congress-led employees' union staged a protest at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital Saturday and demanded better medical infrastructure at the hospital during the visit of central Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The members of West Bengal Government Employees Federation (Unified) submitted a memorandum to the health minister demanding improvement in healthcare services. They also sought advanced medical equipment and better facilities at the hospital.

The protesters shouted slogans and demanded the resignation of state Health Minister Suryakanta Mishra who was also present on the occasion.

"I have discussed the administrative development and faculty related issues with the hospital authorities today (Saturday) in the meeting. All the issues would definitely be looked into," Azad told reporters.

He said: "I came to see the progress of the ongoing upgradation work at the hospital."

"A total of Rs.120 crore will be spent on the project for setting up an OPD (out patient department) and a new administrative building at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital this year."

Central Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi said: "I personally requested the minister to look into the issue of the college's infrastructure upgradation. Thus, he (Azad) came to review the progress of work."

Blaming the state government for slow implementation of the project, Trinamool Congress leader Trivedi said: "The upgradation work is being carried out very slowly. It should be put on fast track."

Azad, during his day-long visit to the city, also visited Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital in the morning to inaugurate a specialised therapy unit.

Family of abducted teacher appeals to Maoists

Sunday, March 7, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 6 (IANS) The family of an abducted school teacher in West Bengal Saturday appealed to the Maoists to show mercy and release him, even as police and joint forces launched search operations.

"We request the abductors to release my father as he is the only earning member in our family. Earlier, we heard the Maoists had released a police officer. We hope they will listen to our appeal this time," school teacher Rajat Dule's son, Raunak, told reporters while breaking down in tears.

Dule, a former Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter, was abducted by a group of suspected Maoists in Bankura district's Sarenga village, 160 km west of here, Friday.

Raunak said his father was not involved in any political activities in the village.

"My father recently became the headmaster of Sarulia Secondary School," he said.

The Sidhu-Kanhu Gana militia, the armed wing of Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

They have demanded the immediate release of six people recently arrested from the same village for allegedly carrying out Maoist activities, local sources said.

"We are probing the matter. We cannot say anything about the abduction now," Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Zulfiqar Husan told IANS.

Mentally challenged man climbs atop Howrah Bridge

Sunday, March 7, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, Mar 6 (IANS) A mentally challenged man Saturday climbed atop the Howrah Bridge, blocking traffic into the city for more than four hours as a huge crowd gathered at the spot, officials said.

The man climbed atop of the bridge at around 2.30 pm and started shouting. The local police was informed, as a crowd gathered at the spot.

Police officials, along with fire service department officials, rushed to the spot, and after more than three hours of effort, persuaded him to come down.

"The man climbed on the top of the bridge and threatened not to come down. Officials of fire services rushed to the spot and convinced him to come down. The man, in his mid-thirties, is mentally challenged," a fire service official said.

The incident resulted in traffic congestion, blocking the gateway to Kolkata for more than four hours.

Industrialist G.P. Birla dead

Saturday, March 6, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 6 (IANS) Noted industrialist G.P. Birla died late Friday night after a prolonged illness, a source close to the family said here Saturday. He was 86.

"He breathed his last at his Kolkata residence. He is survived by his wife Nirmala, son C.K. Birla and daughter Lekha Poddar," the source told IANS.

His last rites will be performed Saturday at the Keoratala crematorium.

G.P. Birla of the GP-CK Birla Group was the son of late Braj Mohan Birla.

The GP-CK Birla Group has diversified business activities across four continents in both manufacturing and service sectors.

The group's manufacturing activities include automobiles and components, engineering products, building products, industrial chemicals and paper.

The group companies include Orient Paper & Industries Ltd, Hindustan Motors Ltd, Indian Smelting & Refining Co. Ltd, Hyderabad Industries Ltd, B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Nigeria Engineering Works Ltd, Nigeria, and Pan African Paper Mills (EA) Ltd, Kenya.

Large fire breaks out in Kolkata slum

Friday, March 5, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) A huge fire broke out in a slum area on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata Friday, a state fire department official said. No casualty has been reported in the incident so far.

According to fire department sources, at least 20 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames at the slum on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass near Science City auditorium.

"The slum was full of combustible items and leather products, which aggravated the fire at a massive pace. The fire broke out at around 11.30 a.m.," a fire department source said.

"We cannot ascertain the exact reason of the fire now," he said.

Huge explosives haul from Maoist den in West Bengal

Friday, March 5, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) Nearly 250-kg explosives were recovered from a Maoist den in West Bengal's West Midnapore district Friday, police said.

"Acting on a tip off, we carried out an operation and recovered about 250-kg of explosive from Shirshi area in the district," state Inspector General of Police (Western range) Zulfiqar Husan told IANS.

Asked about the character of the explosives, he said: "We mainly recovered ammonium nitrate, gun powder and a gas cylinder from that area. These things are mainly used by the Maoists for making high-intensity landmines."

Police sources said the explosives were recovered near the residence of a villager Gajen Mahato in a forest-covered belt.

"We will send all these items to laboratories for further test," Husan said.

He said the police and joint forces' personnel had also opened fire at the Maoist ultras this (Friday) morning while carrying the operation in Shirshi.

West Bengal special force to protect industrialists

Friday, March 5, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 4 (IANS) The West Bengal government Thursday decided to raise a special security force to protect industrial units spanning across the state, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said.

"The force - one battalion for Kolkata and another for rest of West Bengal - will look after the security of industrialists and industrial units across the state," Sen told reporters here.

He said the proposal had been forwarded to the finance department for approval.

The announcement came a week after three city-based industrialists allegedly received telephone calls from undisclosed destinations demanding hefty ransom.

Earlier, Sen said the government had instructed all three industrialists to "restrict" their movements. Their security has also been tightened.

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan visits Shantiniketan

Friday, March 5, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 4 (IANS) West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan visited Visva Bharati University, popularly known as Shantiniketan (abode of peace), in the state's Birbhum district and held meetings with senior university officials Thursday.

"The West Bengal governor, who is also the rector of the Visva Bharati University, came to Shantiniketan today on a scheduled visit. He interacted with several senior university officials and discussed various issues with them," Visva Bharati University spokesperson Amitava Chowdhury told IANS by phone.

He said Narayanan also held a meeting with Vice-Vhancellor Ranjat Kanta Roy.

Asked if the university authorities informed the governor about Saturday night's brawl between two groups of students, Chowdhury said the officials had pointed out several issues to Narayanan concerning the Visva Bharati's administration.

"But we don't know what the university vice-chancellor and the governor discussed during their closed-door meeting," he added.

A recent clash between two groups of students played spoilsport in the celebration of Basanta Utsav (spring festival) at Shantiniketan this year and it finally led to cancellation of a play Basanta Sunday evening.

The cultural programme organised Sunday morning was also curtailed following the students' clash that broke out late Saturday night at the university campus.

According to sources, some students were injured and artworks made under the direction of artist Nandalal Bose and housed at the hostel were damaged in the clash.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, Narayanan went to Shantiniketan Thursday on a two-day visit. Besides meeting Visva Bharati University officials, he will also hold meetings with Birbhum district authorities.

Titan Industries expects 25 percent growth in watches sales

Thursday, March 4, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 3 (IANS) Jewellery-to-watch maker Titan Industries expects a growth of 25 percent in watches sales in 2010-11 financial year, up from a 17 percent growth expected in 2009-10, a top company official said here Wednesday.

The company expects a revenue of Rs.3,300-3,500 crore from jewellery, Rs.1,100 crore from watches and Rs.150 crore from other operations, namely precision engineering in 2009-10, the company's managing director Bhaskar Bhat said here at a press conference.

"Our revenue growth from watches would be higher next year than what we expect this year as we keep on introducing more products in the premium segments," he said, inaugurating a Titan showroom here.

The jewellery division is expected to post a growth of 30 percent this fiscal and 30-35 percent next fiscal.

He said the average price of its just-introduced Purple range is close to double of its Titan range of watches.

"We will continue to focus on our value-for money Sonata range, but the higher range of watches is where most of our revenues are coming from," Bhat said.

Talking about export market, Bhat said Titan is exploring South Africa to sell its Titan range.

At present, the company sells watches to the Middle East, and to Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam under its Indian brands as well as some locally developed brands.

West Bengal committee to address solid waste management

Thursday, March 4, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 3 (IANS) The West Bengal government has formed an expert committee to address municipal solid waste management and recycling in various urban areas across the state, a minister said Wednesday.

"The state government has a deep concern about the whole issue, considering the urbanisation boom taking place in various parts of the state," West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said while addressing a seminar on solid waste management here.

He said the government had already taken up a number of waste management projects totalling Rs.212 crore that would benefit nearly 35 lakh people across the state.

Bhattacharya said: "We must look for alternative areas to dump solid wastes that we collect from various municipal areas.

"The government is now trying to develop proper infrastructure and waste recycling units to manage the issue," he added.

Lifer to five Kolkata cops upheld for murder

Thursday, March 4, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 3 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court Wednesday upheld the life sentence to five police personnel convicted of killing a city police sergeant in 2003.

A division bench of Justice Amit Talukdar and Justice Raghunath Ray upheld the sentence of five Kolkata Police Reserve Force constables for killing Bapi Sen, a traffic sergeant with Kolkata Police.

Sen was severely assaulted by the five constables for protesting when they tried to molest a woman riding pillion on a motorcycle with one of her friends on the night of Dec 31, 2002. Sen, then 30, died at a city hospital after five days in coma.

They were convicted of murder by a city court in 2004. Justice Basudeb Majumdar of city sessions court sentenced them to life imprisonment July 1, 2004.

The convicts later moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging the lower court's judgement. The high court too upheld their conviction and punishment.

Bengal speaker not to contest 2011 assembly polls

Thursday, March 4, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 3 (IANS) Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Hasim Abdul Halim, who has been the West Bengal assembly speaker for the last 28 years, said Wednesday he would not contest the next year's election due to his deteriorating health.

"I don't want to contest 2011 state assembly election because of health reasons. I had told my party leadership about that during 2006 assembly polls also but they forced me to contest that time," Halim told IANS.

"Now, I have also informed them about my desire to take retirement. I am awaiting their response," Halim said.

He added: "We generally don't take any decision on such matters but yes, we do inform our party about whatever problem we face."

Halim won the last state assembly election in 2006 from Kolkata's Entally seat on a CPI-M ticket. Earlier, he used to contest from North 24 Parganas' Amdanga assembly seat.

Halim had suffered cardiac and respiratory problems last month and was admitted to a hospital in Singapore. He was on his way to London and was making a stopover in Singapore when he suffered the health hazard.

Three held in Kolkata techie abduction case

Thursday, March 4, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 3 (IANS) Three more people were arrested Wednesday for the abduction of a software engineer from Kolkata's satellite township Rajarhat last week, police said.

Two people were arrested earlier in connection with the case.

"We have arrested the main accused Sanjoy Pal today (Wednesday) along with two other people who are believed to be involved in the abduction case. We have also recovered Rs.1.90 lakh from Pal," Superintendent of Police (North 24 Parganas) Rahul Srivastava told reporters.

Police said Sandipan Das had taken a taxi from Rajarhat New Town area Friday evening. But he did not reach home that night.

According to police sources, after Sandipan had boarded the taxi, the driver stopped the vehicle near a deserted crossing.

Three people who were waiting nearby muscled into the taxi and overpowered Sandipan as the driver drove off to a hideout in Dakshineswar area. The abductors also allegedly threatened Das's family members and asked for hefty ransom, police said.

Later, Das returned to his Kasba residence Sunday morning.

Police arrested two people, Ash Mohammad and Mohammad Ahesan, from Barahanagar area in connection with the crime.

"Interrogating the duo, the district police could zero in on the mastermind Sanjoy Pal and two other associates," Srivastava said.

Maoist leader held near Kolkata

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) A key Maoist leader was arrested Tuesday from Kolkata's adjoining South 24-Parganas district by West Bengal's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), police said.

"Venkatesh Reddy alias Deepak was a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) state committee member and he also headed its state military commission," Additional Director General of Police (CID) Raj Kanojia told IANS.

According to CID sources, Reddy was arrested from Sarshuna area in Behala Tuesday evening following a tip-off. Behala in South 24-Parganas is around 15 km from Kolkata.

Reddy was an explosives expert and very close to Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, the sources said.

There are several cases pending against him in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

Tuesday's operation to nab the Maoist leader was carried out by CID's Special Operation Group, Kanojia said.

After threat calls, businessmen told to curb movements

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) West Bengal government Tuesday asked Kolkata-based businessmen to restrict their movements to avert any kind of untoward incident after they received threat calls from unknown destinations a couple of days back, officials said.

"I have asked the industrialists to restrict their movements in view of the threat calls. Everyone should be conscious about his or her own security. It's their responsibility as well," state Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters here.

"The industrialists should also not move around those places which could be of risk," Chakraborty said.

He added: "Some of the industrialists who had received threat calls for hefty ransom also met me Monday."

Chakraborty said police were looking into the case.

Poor visibility disrupts flights at Kolkata airport

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) Flights were disrupted at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport here following poor visibility Tuesday morning, an airport official said.

"Altogether 15 domestic flights were delayed by almost two hours at NSCBI airport this morning (Tuesday) due to morning fog. The flight movement was disrupted between 6.10 a.m. and 7.40 a.m.," NSCBI airport director R. Srinivasan said.

Air services resumed around 8 a.m., he said.

According to Kolkata's Alipur weather office, a southerly wind formed a thick layer of morning fog in some Gangetic West Bengal districts Tuesday morning.

15 monkeys found dead in army swimming pool

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) At least 15 monkeys were found dead in a swimming pool in West Bengal's Darjeeling district Tuesday under mysterious circumstances, a senior forest official said.

The incident took place in Bangdubi area of Siliguri sub-division. The bodies were recovered from a swimming pool that belonged to the Indian Army.

"We have received the information this morning (Tuesday) from the army personnel and we have sent our teams to the spot. Our officials are investigating the matter," the state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Atanu Raha said.

He said the forest department officials would determine whether the monkeys were deliberately poisoned or if they died of some disease.

"It's really very alarming. Such an incident never happened in any part of this state earlier. We'll send the bodies for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death," Raha said, adding the army personnel were cooperating with the state forest department officials to probe the case.

Three policemen killed in West Bengal road accident

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) Three policemen were killed and one critically injured in a road accident in West Bengal's Hooghly district late Monday night, police said Tuesday.

The accident took place near Rukeshpur under Balagarh police station area in the district as a speeding truck hit a police vehicle on patrol, killing the three men on the spot.

"Three police men - two constables and the driver of the vehicle - died on the spot while a sub-inspector was critically injured and admitted to a district hospital," an officer of the Balagarh police station told IANS on phone.

He said the accident occurred when the police vehicle was on night patrol in the area.

"No one has been arrested in connection with the case as the offending vehicle fled the scene immediately after the accident," the police officer said.

Three Kolkata industrialists receive threat calls

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) Three city-based industrialists allegedly received threat calls, a West Bengal government official said Monday.

State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said: "Yes, three city-based industrialists received some threat calls from unknown destinations. Out of three, two complaints have been lodged with police."

According to police sources, a hotelier and two prominent shoe barons received these threat calls.

"We don't have any information whether the calls were made from abroad," the official said.

He said the callers asked for ransom and threatened that the businessmen would be abducted if they fail to pay up.

"They (industrialists) have been provided security," Sen said.

West Bengal celebrates Holi

Monday, March 1, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) A day after Bengalis celebrated Dol Yatra, the mainly non-Bengali population in West Bengal Monday marked Holi with the usual gusto and enthusiasm.

Reports from across the city and elsewhere spoke of people celebrating the festival of colours with songs, dances and thandai, a drink made during Holi.

Many visited houses of neighbours and friends, hurling water balloons and smearing 'gulal' colour powder.

The festival is a marriage of north Indian and Bengali cultures in Kolkata.

Kolkata pays last tribute to theatre doyen Kumar Roy

Monday, March 1, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) The members of Kolkata's cultural fraternity Monday paid their last tribute to noted theatre personality Kumar Roy, the pioneer of the Bengali theatre movement for decades, who died Sunday.

Roy was suffering from cardiac enlargement and lung problem, and passed away at a city hospital early Sunday. He was 84.

Born in Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh), Roy was associated with popular Bengali theatre group Bohurupee. He was also the president of the Bengali Theatre Academy.

"It was a great loss to Bohurupee and to the Bengali theatre community as a whole. I have never seen such a great personality who devoted his entire life to theatre. He loved the profession so much," veteran film-maker Mrinal Sen said.

"Roy led Bohurupee from the front and shouldered all responsibilities his entire life," he recalled.

Besides Sen, many eminent personalities from Kolkata's cultural arena also thronged at Rabindra Sadan. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also paid his floral tribute to the mortal remains of Roy there.

Later, his body was handed over to the anatomy department of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital for medical research.

Hands crippled by polio, girl writes exam with pen in mouth

Monday, March 1, 2010 | AA
Kolkata, March 1 (IANS) Nasima Khatun, 16, cannot hold a pen in her hands and write. A polio attack when she was five has left her hands crippled. But she has appeared for the Class 10 board exams in West Bengal and wrote the papers holding the pen in her mouth.

"Crippled hands and penury could not stop Nasima from appearing in the board exam. She is very studious and always scored good marks in her school exams," said Sheik Shafi Alam, headmaster of Golabari Pallimangal High School where she studies.

"Now, she has become an inspiration for other students also. It is her willpower that made Nasima so strong," he said.

Nasima of North 24-Parganas' Baro Mallika village is described by her teachers as a sincere student who always scored above 70 percent marks in all exams.

Nasima is the only daughter of Ajan Ali, a daily wage earner. She has two elder brothers and both of them are engaged in small-time jobs to support their family.

Alam recalled those days when a local doctor said she would never be able to write again and Nasima would cry her heart out. Later, she was admitted to a primary school and that changed the course of her life forever.

"Nasima with the strength of her willpower started using her mouth to hold the pen and write," he said.

According to Alam, Nasima wants to pursue higher studies and work for the awareness of the polio programme, as she understands the importance of polio vaccination and eradication.

West Bengal celebrates Holi

Monday, March 1, 2010 | AA
A day after Bengalis celebrated Dol Yatra, the mainly non-Bengali population in West Bengal Monday marked Holi with the usual gusto and enthusiasm.

Reports from across the city and elsewhere spoke of people celebrating the festival of colours with songs, dances and thandai, a drink made during Holi.

Many visited houses of neighbours and friends, hurling water balloons and smearing 'gulal' colour powder.

The festival is a marriage of north Indian and Bengali cultures in Kolkata.

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