Malda: The bodies of two babies, who died in Malda on Thursday after receiving vaccination, were exhumed on Monday following complaints against health officials.
On Sunday, Akhtari Begum, mother of 3-month-old Najim Ansari and Mastarina Biwi, mother of 6-monthold Rehan Reza — lodged complaints with police.
Both babies had died the day after they were administered BCG and DPT vaccines. The mothers alleged that the vaccines had got spoiled and that the health officials were trying to hush up the matter by asking them to bury the bodies. The bereaved mothers also claimed compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
District magistrate Swapan Kr Rakshit, BDO Ajmal Hossain and Gajole police exhumed the bodies of the two babies. These would be sent to North Bengal Medical College on Tuesday for post-mortem.
Srikanta Roy, CMOH in Malda, said: “Routine immunisation of DPT and BCG was not the cause of death, as our records show both deaths took place after 48 hours of immunisation.” TNN published on 18.05.10
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The die is cast, punters bet big bucks on race to KMC
Debashis Konar & Subhro Maitra | TNN
Kolkata/Malda: Speculation about the outcome of the civic poll is big business for Burrabazar bookies, who are minting money ahead of Wednesday’s counting. And, with exit polls favouring Trinamool Congress in the city, most are betting in favour of the Didi brigade.
Most gamblers predict that Trinamool will bag 79-plus KMC wards. If the results prove them right, they stand to earn 40 paise on every rupee invested. Some other bookies have given Trinamool 91 KMC wards — way ahead of the exit poll figures. If they end up smarter than the psephologists, they would earn a whopping Rs 2.60 on every rupee spent.
Other bets centre around probable mayors if Trinamool wins, with some giving Javed Khan the city’s first citizenship while others gun for Sobhan Chatterjee. Should Khan replace Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, those who’ve bet on him will earn 40 paise for every rupee invested, while who’ve put their money for Chatterjee will win only 20 paise on every rupee spent.
The bookies are also betting on crucial seats. As a former CPM MP, Sudhangshu Sil has a better chance of winning against Trinamool’s Tapas Ray. It’s 20 paisa for every rupee spent on Sil, while Ray would get 25 paise. Even Mala Ray of Congress has a better chance than Trinamool’s Anup Chatterjee, as the bookies are giving a return of 20 paisa for Ray and 30 paisa for Chatterjee against a Re-1 investment.
Bookmakers are also guessing on the number of seats that CPM will bag. It’s clear that they are not favourites. Most give Left Front below 40 seats. If the LF wins KMC, the gain will be a spectacular Rs 4.50 against Re 1. Speculations are also on whether CPM can control any one of the two boroughs in Jadavpur, or if the party would be totally routed in Behala. The number of seats Congress and BJP are going to win is also being speculated.
Betting fever has also reached Malda. In Nawabgunj, which has a tradition of betting, some are making a fortune out of the probable results of Old Malda Municipality. It may be recalled that in Old Malda, the LF board is facing a challenge from Congress. LF won this Congress bastion in 2005 for the first time, winning 12 of the 18 seats. “Unlike traditional betting, you often get 100% returns in most cases. If you place Rs 500 in favour of CPM candidates, you’ll get Rs 1000 if he wins,” said a bookmaker. Betting is rampant in wards 9 and 14, where the margin is expected to be less than 200 votes. In ward 14, CPM councillor Swadhin Ghosh, who is contesting against Congress, conceded that betting is on.“Most gamblers are putting money in my favour,” Ghosh said.
CPM MLA Khagen Murmu said: “I have heard that betting is going on. Earlier, there was no one to place money on CPM, but the scenario has now changed.” Similar bets are on in favour of RSP candidate Tripti Pandey and her Congress rival Kartik Ghosh in Ward 9 as well.
Money is also being placed on the board as a whole. “You’ll get double your money if your party gains control of the municipality,” said a bookie. The bet amounts can go as high as Rs 50,000. Even children are involved, with stakes of Rs 10-Rs 20.
Punters said that the betting has turned hi-tech in Malda, even as computers and mobiles are being used to keep track of investors. There is even a home delivery service for the winning amounts, it was learned!....published in TOI on 2.6.10
Kolkata/Malda: Speculation about the outcome of the civic poll is big business for Burrabazar bookies, who are minting money ahead of Wednesday’s counting. And, with exit polls favouring Trinamool Congress in the city, most are betting in favour of the Didi brigade.
Most gamblers predict that Trinamool will bag 79-plus KMC wards. If the results prove them right, they stand to earn 40 paise on every rupee invested. Some other bookies have given Trinamool 91 KMC wards — way ahead of the exit poll figures. If they end up smarter than the psephologists, they would earn a whopping Rs 2.60 on every rupee spent.
Other bets centre around probable mayors if Trinamool wins, with some giving Javed Khan the city’s first citizenship while others gun for Sobhan Chatterjee. Should Khan replace Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, those who’ve bet on him will earn 40 paise for every rupee invested, while who’ve put their money for Chatterjee will win only 20 paise on every rupee spent.
The bookies are also betting on crucial seats. As a former CPM MP, Sudhangshu Sil has a better chance of winning against Trinamool’s Tapas Ray. It’s 20 paisa for every rupee spent on Sil, while Ray would get 25 paise. Even Mala Ray of Congress has a better chance than Trinamool’s Anup Chatterjee, as the bookies are giving a return of 20 paisa for Ray and 30 paisa for Chatterjee against a Re-1 investment.
Bookmakers are also guessing on the number of seats that CPM will bag. It’s clear that they are not favourites. Most give Left Front below 40 seats. If the LF wins KMC, the gain will be a spectacular Rs 4.50 against Re 1. Speculations are also on whether CPM can control any one of the two boroughs in Jadavpur, or if the party would be totally routed in Behala. The number of seats Congress and BJP are going to win is also being speculated.
Betting fever has also reached Malda. In Nawabgunj, which has a tradition of betting, some are making a fortune out of the probable results of Old Malda Municipality. It may be recalled that in Old Malda, the LF board is facing a challenge from Congress. LF won this Congress bastion in 2005 for the first time, winning 12 of the 18 seats. “Unlike traditional betting, you often get 100% returns in most cases. If you place Rs 500 in favour of CPM candidates, you’ll get Rs 1000 if he wins,” said a bookmaker. Betting is rampant in wards 9 and 14, where the margin is expected to be less than 200 votes. In ward 14, CPM councillor Swadhin Ghosh, who is contesting against Congress, conceded that betting is on.“Most gamblers are putting money in my favour,” Ghosh said.
CPM MLA Khagen Murmu said: “I have heard that betting is going on. Earlier, there was no one to place money on CPM, but the scenario has now changed.” Similar bets are on in favour of RSP candidate Tripti Pandey and her Congress rival Kartik Ghosh in Ward 9 as well.
Money is also being placed on the board as a whole. “You’ll get double your money if your party gains control of the municipality,” said a bookie. The bet amounts can go as high as Rs 50,000. Even children are involved, with stakes of Rs 10-Rs 20.
Punters said that the betting has turned hi-tech in Malda, even as computers and mobiles are being used to keep track of investors. There is even a home delivery service for the winning amounts, it was learned!....published in TOI on 2.6.10
Monday, May 24, 2010
Breaking taboos to forge a path
WOMAN Central
Subhro Maitra | TNN
She has been fighting a quiet battle for the uplift of the minority community in this part of the world. And her weapon — the mighty pen. Or rather, the printing press.
Shahnaz Begum doesn’t have a moment to spare. Even at midnight, you may find the lights on in her Gorabazar house in Behrampore. Peeping in, you’ll find a pair of busy eyes running a final check through the drafts to be sent to press the next day. It is, after all, the publication day of Pratyush, the fortnightly newspaper Shahnaz calls her second child.
But life is certainly not easy for the 39-year-old. A wife, a mother, a part-time history teacher at two colleges, editor-cum-publisher of a newspaper — Shahnaz dons many a hat. After five hours of bus journey a day, teaching at Behrampore and Nagar colleges and daily household chores, she is left with little time for the newspaper she started publishing four years ago. But she insists that she has no “option”. “It is my passion. How could I live without it?” she smiles.
The popular teacher makes sure she doesn’t miss a single college day if she can help it. “Students will be looking for me.” After all, they voted her the ‘best teacher’ in college.
So, whatever little time Shahnaz can spare for her ‘baby’ is spent giving vent to her views on reservation of seats for Muslims or the condition of minority women. And, hers is not armchair journalism. Fighting against all odds, Shahnaz’s life is an example for all downtrodden Muslim girls.
Born in a conservative family at Dakkhin Garibpara, a remote village in Domkal subdivision of Murshidabad, Shahnaz’s childhood was, to put it in her own words, “lost in darkness”. The eldest of four children, Shahnaz grew up to find girls of her family did not have the right to go to school.
“My mother wore a burqa all the time. We did not even have the right to go out of home. I studied at home up to Class III under a tutor. We would take the exams at a nearby madarsa, that too, with our faces covered.”
Given the circumstances, it could well have been the end of road for Shahnaz had she been at her father Ahmed Hossain’s house for too long. “The girls of our house studied till Class V or VI before being married off. But I was determined to pass Class X at least. With my mother’s support, I came to my maternal uncle’s house at Salimpur from where I passed Class X.”
At that tender age, Shahnaz became an example for her villagers — she was the first to pass Class X among them. And she did not grow up one-sided — she even learned music. “I passed till the second year in music, but of course, without the knowledge of my father and grandfather,” Shahnaz reminisces.
But her days of bliss were numbered. “The news of my music classes reached my grandfather Hazi Asiruddin and the world came crashing down on me. It was ‘un-Islamic’ and he asked my father to bring me home at once and marry me off.”
Those were the worst days of Shahnaz’s life. Finally, she had to forsake music to delay marriage. The gutsy girl took admission in Class XI at Domkal High School with science. In those days, even studying science was a taboo for a Muslim woman, since they had to attend practical classes with men.
Shahnaz has no qualms in admitting that her grandfather’s death in 1988 was a “blessing in disguise”. “My father’s attitude was changing, too,” she says. She went on to pass Class XII and took up honours in history at Rabindra Bharati University. Breaking all barriers, she even stayed at the Muslim Girls’ Hostel at Park Circus. “Kolkata further opened my eyes. I completed my MA there,” she says.
Today, Shahnaz is happily married to Arefin Mehboob, an advocate by profession, and has a nine-year-old son Priyanto. But she insists she has two kids — “Priyanto and Pratyush”.
She has strong views on contemporary issues. “Without education, reservation in jobs is meaningless. Worse, it fosters casteism, which is anti-Quran.” ..published in TOI on 8.3.10
WORDLY WISE: Shahnaz works on her fortnightly, ‘Pratyush’
Subhro Maitra | TNN
She has been fighting a quiet battle for the uplift of the minority community in this part of the world. And her weapon — the mighty pen. Or rather, the printing press.
Shahnaz Begum doesn’t have a moment to spare. Even at midnight, you may find the lights on in her Gorabazar house in Behrampore. Peeping in, you’ll find a pair of busy eyes running a final check through the drafts to be sent to press the next day. It is, after all, the publication day of Pratyush, the fortnightly newspaper Shahnaz calls her second child.
But life is certainly not easy for the 39-year-old. A wife, a mother, a part-time history teacher at two colleges, editor-cum-publisher of a newspaper — Shahnaz dons many a hat. After five hours of bus journey a day, teaching at Behrampore and Nagar colleges and daily household chores, she is left with little time for the newspaper she started publishing four years ago. But she insists that she has no “option”. “It is my passion. How could I live without it?” she smiles.
The popular teacher makes sure she doesn’t miss a single college day if she can help it. “Students will be looking for me.” After all, they voted her the ‘best teacher’ in college.
So, whatever little time Shahnaz can spare for her ‘baby’ is spent giving vent to her views on reservation of seats for Muslims or the condition of minority women. And, hers is not armchair journalism. Fighting against all odds, Shahnaz’s life is an example for all downtrodden Muslim girls.
Born in a conservative family at Dakkhin Garibpara, a remote village in Domkal subdivision of Murshidabad, Shahnaz’s childhood was, to put it in her own words, “lost in darkness”. The eldest of four children, Shahnaz grew up to find girls of her family did not have the right to go to school.
“My mother wore a burqa all the time. We did not even have the right to go out of home. I studied at home up to Class III under a tutor. We would take the exams at a nearby madarsa, that too, with our faces covered.”
Given the circumstances, it could well have been the end of road for Shahnaz had she been at her father Ahmed Hossain’s house for too long. “The girls of our house studied till Class V or VI before being married off. But I was determined to pass Class X at least. With my mother’s support, I came to my maternal uncle’s house at Salimpur from where I passed Class X.”
At that tender age, Shahnaz became an example for her villagers — she was the first to pass Class X among them. And she did not grow up one-sided — she even learned music. “I passed till the second year in music, but of course, without the knowledge of my father and grandfather,” Shahnaz reminisces.
But her days of bliss were numbered. “The news of my music classes reached my grandfather Hazi Asiruddin and the world came crashing down on me. It was ‘un-Islamic’ and he asked my father to bring me home at once and marry me off.”
Those were the worst days of Shahnaz’s life. Finally, she had to forsake music to delay marriage. The gutsy girl took admission in Class XI at Domkal High School with science. In those days, even studying science was a taboo for a Muslim woman, since they had to attend practical classes with men.
Shahnaz has no qualms in admitting that her grandfather’s death in 1988 was a “blessing in disguise”. “My father’s attitude was changing, too,” she says. She went on to pass Class XII and took up honours in history at Rabindra Bharati University. Breaking all barriers, she even stayed at the Muslim Girls’ Hostel at Park Circus. “Kolkata further opened my eyes. I completed my MA there,” she says.
Today, Shahnaz is happily married to Arefin Mehboob, an advocate by profession, and has a nine-year-old son Priyanto. But she insists she has two kids — “Priyanto and Pratyush”.
She has strong views on contemporary issues. “Without education, reservation in jobs is meaningless. Worse, it fosters casteism, which is anti-Quran.” ..published in TOI on 8.3.10
WORDLY WISE: Shahnaz works on her fortnightly, ‘Pratyush’
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Guv visits storm-hit Raiganj, wants list of damaged homes
TALES OF WOE
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Malda: For Sujala Roy, 20, of Hemtabad’s Sonabandh village, it was a pleasant surprise, even amid the gloom. On Monday, governor M K Narayanan himself spoke to her about her plight. Sujala became a widow after her husband, Dinesh, died in last week’s tornado, leaving her to stare at a very uncertain future. With the only earning member of the household gone, the hapless Sujala — who has two sons — has no means to repair her damaged house.
On Monday, the barriers of language melted in the face of a story of raw human emotion. Sujala’s tale of tears touched Narayanan’s heart even as he directed Hemtabad BDO Ananta Sarkar to take every possible measure to alleviate her condition, as also of the thousands of others for whom home and hearth lay in ruins. A visibly excited Sujala
could not control her emotions and broke down in tears.
The governor later directed officials of the North Dinajpur district administration to complete preparing a list of houses damaged in the storm in the next three days. The list would be sent to the state government soon in order to get compensation to repair the damaged houses.
It should be noted that the governor’s earlier scheduled visit, on April 17, could not take place owing to inclement weather, which prevented his flight from landing.
On Monday morning, however, the governor’s helicopter landed at Merual, the premises of the BSF headquarters in Raiganj, from where he was driven down to Kantar and Sonabadha villages in Hemtabad. He spent a considerable amount of time meeting storm-affected people...published in TOI on 27.04.10
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Malda: For Sujala Roy, 20, of Hemtabad’s Sonabandh village, it was a pleasant surprise, even amid the gloom. On Monday, governor M K Narayanan himself spoke to her about her plight. Sujala became a widow after her husband, Dinesh, died in last week’s tornado, leaving her to stare at a very uncertain future. With the only earning member of the household gone, the hapless Sujala — who has two sons — has no means to repair her damaged house.
On Monday, the barriers of language melted in the face of a story of raw human emotion. Sujala’s tale of tears touched Narayanan’s heart even as he directed Hemtabad BDO Ananta Sarkar to take every possible measure to alleviate her condition, as also of the thousands of others for whom home and hearth lay in ruins. A visibly excited Sujala
could not control her emotions and broke down in tears.
The governor later directed officials of the North Dinajpur district administration to complete preparing a list of houses damaged in the storm in the next three days. The list would be sent to the state government soon in order to get compensation to repair the damaged houses.
It should be noted that the governor’s earlier scheduled visit, on April 17, could not take place owing to inclement weather, which prevented his flight from landing.
On Monday morning, however, the governor’s helicopter landed at Merual, the premises of the BSF headquarters in Raiganj, from where he was driven down to Kantar and Sonabadha villages in Hemtabad. He spent a considerable amount of time meeting storm-affected people...published in TOI on 27.04.10
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Storm victims clash with cops, 30 hurt
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Malda: Clashes over relief materials for tornado victims broke out at Sitamari village in Raigunj on Monday afternoon, forcing police to open fire. At least 30 people, including 12 policemen, were injured the violence.
Lakhs were rendered homeless by the killer twister that struck last Wednesday. Six days on, most don’t have food or even a sheet of tarpaulin to shelter under. The anger burst forth on Monday tornado victims blocked National Highway 34 and attacked local leaders and gheraoed ministers and panchayat employees.
Civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee and cottage industries minister Narayan Biswas had to be rescued by police in Mahajanbari of Hemtabad block. Police fought off angry villagers to rescue panchayat employees who were locked up in Rampur gram panchayat in Raiganj.
But removing the NH-34 blockade proved more difficult as the mob brickbatted police and wrecked two police jeeps. Raiganj IC Sujit Ghosh said: “When we appealed to the agitators to vacate NH-34 they started throwing stones at us. We had no option but to lathicharge.” The caning had no effect. Finally, police had to open fire, said Ghosh. Five of the injured were admitted to Raiganj district hospital.
The Congress-led North Dinajpur zilla parishad has decided to build houses for the dependents of those who died in the storm. More than 1 lakh houses were razed and another 94,000 partially damaged in the twister. District magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty has dismissed allegations of inadequate relief...published in TOI on 20.4.10
Malda: Clashes over relief materials for tornado victims broke out at Sitamari village in Raigunj on Monday afternoon, forcing police to open fire. At least 30 people, including 12 policemen, were injured the violence.
Lakhs were rendered homeless by the killer twister that struck last Wednesday. Six days on, most don’t have food or even a sheet of tarpaulin to shelter under. The anger burst forth on Monday tornado victims blocked National Highway 34 and attacked local leaders and gheraoed ministers and panchayat employees.
Civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee and cottage industries minister Narayan Biswas had to be rescued by police in Mahajanbari of Hemtabad block. Police fought off angry villagers to rescue panchayat employees who were locked up in Rampur gram panchayat in Raiganj.
But removing the NH-34 blockade proved more difficult as the mob brickbatted police and wrecked two police jeeps. Raiganj IC Sujit Ghosh said: “When we appealed to the agitators to vacate NH-34 they started throwing stones at us. We had no option but to lathicharge.” The caning had no effect. Finally, police had to open fire, said Ghosh. Five of the injured were admitted to Raiganj district hospital.
The Congress-led North Dinajpur zilla parishad has decided to build houses for the dependents of those who died in the storm. More than 1 lakh houses were razed and another 94,000 partially damaged in the twister. District magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty has dismissed allegations of inadequate relief...published in TOI on 20.4.10
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Guv chopper fails to land at Raiganj
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Raiganj: The stage was set, journalists were milling around and all the officials were on their toes. And all pairs of eyes were scanning the skies for the helicopter that was to bring governor M K Narayanan to Raiganj for a tour of the tornado-affected areas. But for the ministers, district-level officials and the general public, the wait turned out to be futile. Narayanan could not reach Raiganj and reports later came in that his helicopter had been unable to land due to bad weather.
The governor was to arrive in Raiganj at 9 am. The scheduled visit had sparked a flurry of activity, with the North Dinajpur district administration putting together a report overnight on the relief and rehabilitation work after the tornado. Four ministers —Mortaja Hossain (health), Srikumar Mukherjee (civil defence), Paresh Adhikary (food) and Anwarul Haque (MoS, health) — and a host of administrative officers, including the North Dinajpur DM, were present at the BSF helipad at Merual to receive the governor. A fleet of cars was waiting to take Narayanan to the affected areas.
As the clock touched 9.45 am and the crowd got restless, the first hum of rotors could be heard. The black speck far away soon turned into a helicopter. But after circling the area for a while, the helicopter flew away. Finally, around 10.30 am, a message came in that the governor’s trip had been cancelled. “Due to inclement weather, the Governor’s helicopter could not land,” North Dinajpur DM Ramanuj Chakraborty told the media.
News filtered in later that the governor had started from Siliguri in a helicopter with principal secretary (disaster management) B L Meena and IG North Bengal K L Tamta for Raiganj in the morning. But the pilot failed to locate the helipad and flew to Balurghat instead. From there, the helicopter took off but again failed to locate the Raiganj landing pad and flew back to Siliguri.
An IAF spokesperson said later that the dense clouds over Raiganj made it impossible to spot the BSF camp despite smoke canisters being burst. The pilot did not risk the l a n d i n g with a highprofile passenger as he had to depend solely on visual estimation to touch down.
U n a b l e to meet the g ove r n o r, the tornado victims continued with their agitation for the second day in different parts of North Dinajpur. At Beldanga in Hemtabad block, aggrieved villagers blocked the Raigunj-Balurghat state highway for hours to demand foodgrain. Later Divisional Commissioner A K Singh visited the area to pacify the mob and assure them of help.
In Altapur under Karandighi block, people blocked National Highway-34 to demand relief materials. Minister Paresh Adhikary got stranded because of this blockade. Relief Minister Mortaza Hossain faced the wrath of villagers at Khoyashpur under Karandighi. Agitating villagers also confronted officials at Tunibhita, Raypara, Bhabanipara and Sadhanpur in Karandighi....published in TOI on 18.04.10
Raiganj: The stage was set, journalists were milling around and all the officials were on their toes. And all pairs of eyes were scanning the skies for the helicopter that was to bring governor M K Narayanan to Raiganj for a tour of the tornado-affected areas. But for the ministers, district-level officials and the general public, the wait turned out to be futile. Narayanan could not reach Raiganj and reports later came in that his helicopter had been unable to land due to bad weather.
The governor was to arrive in Raiganj at 9 am. The scheduled visit had sparked a flurry of activity, with the North Dinajpur district administration putting together a report overnight on the relief and rehabilitation work after the tornado. Four ministers —Mortaja Hossain (health), Srikumar Mukherjee (civil defence), Paresh Adhikary (food) and Anwarul Haque (MoS, health) — and a host of administrative officers, including the North Dinajpur DM, were present at the BSF helipad at Merual to receive the governor. A fleet of cars was waiting to take Narayanan to the affected areas.
As the clock touched 9.45 am and the crowd got restless, the first hum of rotors could be heard. The black speck far away soon turned into a helicopter. But after circling the area for a while, the helicopter flew away. Finally, around 10.30 am, a message came in that the governor’s trip had been cancelled. “Due to inclement weather, the Governor’s helicopter could not land,” North Dinajpur DM Ramanuj Chakraborty told the media.
News filtered in later that the governor had started from Siliguri in a helicopter with principal secretary (disaster management) B L Meena and IG North Bengal K L Tamta for Raiganj in the morning. But the pilot failed to locate the helipad and flew to Balurghat instead. From there, the helicopter took off but again failed to locate the Raiganj landing pad and flew back to Siliguri.
An IAF spokesperson said later that the dense clouds over Raiganj made it impossible to spot the BSF camp despite smoke canisters being burst. The pilot did not risk the l a n d i n g with a highprofile passenger as he had to depend solely on visual estimation to touch down.
U n a b l e to meet the g ove r n o r, the tornado victims continued with their agitation for the second day in different parts of North Dinajpur. At Beldanga in Hemtabad block, aggrieved villagers blocked the Raigunj-Balurghat state highway for hours to demand foodgrain. Later Divisional Commissioner A K Singh visited the area to pacify the mob and assure them of help.
In Altapur under Karandighi block, people blocked National Highway-34 to demand relief materials. Minister Paresh Adhikary got stranded because of this blockade. Relief Minister Mortaza Hossain faced the wrath of villagers at Khoyashpur under Karandighi. Agitating villagers also confronted officials at Tunibhita, Raypara, Bhabanipara and Sadhanpur in Karandighi....published in TOI on 18.04.10
Storm leaves N Dinajpur denuded of greenery
Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | TNN
Raiganj: Mammoth uprooted trunks, heaps of branches and twigs and mounds of earth wrenched from their base greet you almost everywhere at Karandighi and Raiganj. As the twister raced through the villages, wreaking havoc, it left this trail of toppled trees. They fell everywhere – in backyards, along the paddy fields, on the edge of the highway and deep inside villages.
The district administration has no mechanism for taking a count or even to remove them and clear the roads, many of which remained blocked till Thursday night. The damage done to the environment by the tornado could be substantial, said officials.
While some put the number of uprooted trees at 50,000 in Karandighi alone, others said the figure could cross 2 lakh in the five affected blocks of Raiganj, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj, and Goalpokhor 2.
The tree-lined avenue at Karnajora in Raiganj that is flanked by the bungalows of senior district officials including the district magistrate, additional DM, and the divisional forest officer, resembled a graveyard of greenery. Huge uprooted trees lay strewn all over. Two banyan trees – one from the DFO’s bungalow and the other from the SDO’s quarters on the opposite side formed a bridge across the road. Both trees damaged the boundary walls of their respective premises, making them collapse and landing the overhead network of cable and electrical wires in a tangled mess. It has taken nearly two days for workers to clear the debris.
The most common tree species in North Dinajpur are sissoo, simul, siris, akashmoni, khair, lali, khadam, mingiri, eucalyphus, sidha, jarul, sal, sheora and arjun. Teak is also available sporadically in some patches. The forests in this district are mainly plantations. Sal is mainly of coppice origin. The total forest area is hardly 0.19 per cent of the total geographical area of the district. It has taken a further beating following the tornado. Sal , arjun and siris trees are estimated to have suffered the highest casualties. “It is difficult to arrange for the trees to be removed.
We can clear some on the borders of the highway but elsewhere villagers must help themselves,” said a forest official.
While officials are at a loss and can’t decide what to do with the trees, villagers have taken it upon themselves to remove them. At Kumargari in Raiganj, villagers have formed a committee to supervise the operation. “We don’t have machines to cut the trunks and remove them. So, we are lopping off the branches and pushing the trunks as far as we can to make room for vehicles to pass. We have no idea if the administration is going to take up the job,” said Budhmohan Das, a resident of Kumargari.
Hundreds of branches and trunks lying along the NH 34 have been taken away. While some are being sold, the rest are being whisked away to be used as fuel at home...published in TOI on 17.04.2010
Raiganj: Mammoth uprooted trunks, heaps of branches and twigs and mounds of earth wrenched from their base greet you almost everywhere at Karandighi and Raiganj. As the twister raced through the villages, wreaking havoc, it left this trail of toppled trees. They fell everywhere – in backyards, along the paddy fields, on the edge of the highway and deep inside villages.
The district administration has no mechanism for taking a count or even to remove them and clear the roads, many of which remained blocked till Thursday night. The damage done to the environment by the tornado could be substantial, said officials.
While some put the number of uprooted trees at 50,000 in Karandighi alone, others said the figure could cross 2 lakh in the five affected blocks of Raiganj, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj, and Goalpokhor 2.
The tree-lined avenue at Karnajora in Raiganj that is flanked by the bungalows of senior district officials including the district magistrate, additional DM, and the divisional forest officer, resembled a graveyard of greenery. Huge uprooted trees lay strewn all over. Two banyan trees – one from the DFO’s bungalow and the other from the SDO’s quarters on the opposite side formed a bridge across the road. Both trees damaged the boundary walls of their respective premises, making them collapse and landing the overhead network of cable and electrical wires in a tangled mess. It has taken nearly two days for workers to clear the debris.
The most common tree species in North Dinajpur are sissoo, simul, siris, akashmoni, khair, lali, khadam, mingiri, eucalyphus, sidha, jarul, sal, sheora and arjun. Teak is also available sporadically in some patches. The forests in this district are mainly plantations. Sal is mainly of coppice origin. The total forest area is hardly 0.19 per cent of the total geographical area of the district. It has taken a further beating following the tornado. Sal , arjun and siris trees are estimated to have suffered the highest casualties. “It is difficult to arrange for the trees to be removed.
We can clear some on the borders of the highway but elsewhere villagers must help themselves,” said a forest official.
While officials are at a loss and can’t decide what to do with the trees, villagers have taken it upon themselves to remove them. At Kumargari in Raiganj, villagers have formed a committee to supervise the operation. “We don’t have machines to cut the trunks and remove them. So, we are lopping off the branches and pushing the trunks as far as we can to make room for vehicles to pass. We have no idea if the administration is going to take up the job,” said Budhmohan Das, a resident of Kumargari.
Hundreds of branches and trunks lying along the NH 34 have been taken away. While some are being sold, the rest are being whisked away to be used as fuel at home...published in TOI on 17.04.2010
Tornado relief delay sparks protests
Subhro Maitra & Prithvijit Mitra | TNN
Karandighi (North Dinajpur): The simmering discontent over relief distribution in the storm-struck areas flared up into violent protests. Thousands of tornado victims took to the street on Friday, demanding quick and better relief in the five affected blocks of North Dinajpur.
They blocked roads and laid a siege around the BDO office at Hemtabad and blocked the state highway between Raiganj
and Kaliaganj, demanding relief and restoration of power supply. All this happened a day before the visit of governor M K Narayanan to the tornado-hit areas. Kaliaganj BDO Soumalya Ghosh held an all-party meeting in the morning to lift the road blockade. It was attended by IC Swapan Dasgupta. A huge police force had to be posted at the Karandighi block office to keep off angry protesters who threatened to assault BDO Anandashankar Ray. It was alleged that relief material was not being distributed properly and the local administration was making no effort to speed up the process.
The district administration had claimed that 14,000 tarpaulins have been allotted for Karandighi, 9000 for Hemtabad and 6000 for Raiganj.
Residents of Karandighi alleged that while the block needed 26,000 tarpaulins, just 600 had actually arrived. “The administration is lying. A visit to any of the affected villages will make it clear that almost no material has been distributed,” said Raju Ray, a resident of Karandighi.
The North Dinajpur administration admitted that the distribution process has been hit by anomalies in the list of victims. “Hundreds of names have appeared twice on the list which has led to confusion. We are trying to verify the list and make sure that the real victims get assistance,” said P K Dutta, additional DM.
But the storm victims were not ready to listen to excuses. They erupted in anger across Hemtabad, Raiganj and Karandighi. At Hemtabad block, agitation started around 10 am at the BDO Office More. At Haat Kaliaganj in Hemtabad, there was a similar agitation at the panchayat office. The victims there alleged that the relief material were distributed among the supporters of a particular party. The agitation went on till late into the evening.
At Baghanbattali under Bhandarpur panchayat, people blocked the road. Dalkhola, too, witnessed similar protests.
Around 25 tarpaulins were looted by a mob at Bazargaon at Karandighi before the police moved in and drove away the crowd. The administration arranged for 9000 more tarpaulins for Karandighi in addition to the 14,000 that reached on Thursday.
Sheikh Shamsul Haque,a panchayat member at Karandighi alleged that the number of tarpaulins that had arrived was still insufficient. A claim which was reiterated by Congress MP Dipa Das Munshi....published in TOI on 17.04.2010
Karandighi (North Dinajpur): The simmering discontent over relief distribution in the storm-struck areas flared up into violent protests. Thousands of tornado victims took to the street on Friday, demanding quick and better relief in the five affected blocks of North Dinajpur.
They blocked roads and laid a siege around the BDO office at Hemtabad and blocked the state highway between Raiganj
and Kaliaganj, demanding relief and restoration of power supply. All this happened a day before the visit of governor M K Narayanan to the tornado-hit areas. Kaliaganj BDO Soumalya Ghosh held an all-party meeting in the morning to lift the road blockade. It was attended by IC Swapan Dasgupta. A huge police force had to be posted at the Karandighi block office to keep off angry protesters who threatened to assault BDO Anandashankar Ray. It was alleged that relief material was not being distributed properly and the local administration was making no effort to speed up the process.
The district administration had claimed that 14,000 tarpaulins have been allotted for Karandighi, 9000 for Hemtabad and 6000 for Raiganj.
Residents of Karandighi alleged that while the block needed 26,000 tarpaulins, just 600 had actually arrived. “The administration is lying. A visit to any of the affected villages will make it clear that almost no material has been distributed,” said Raju Ray, a resident of Karandighi.
The North Dinajpur administration admitted that the distribution process has been hit by anomalies in the list of victims. “Hundreds of names have appeared twice on the list which has led to confusion. We are trying to verify the list and make sure that the real victims get assistance,” said P K Dutta, additional DM.
But the storm victims were not ready to listen to excuses. They erupted in anger across Hemtabad, Raiganj and Karandighi. At Hemtabad block, agitation started around 10 am at the BDO Office More. At Haat Kaliaganj in Hemtabad, there was a similar agitation at the panchayat office. The victims there alleged that the relief material were distributed among the supporters of a particular party. The agitation went on till late into the evening.
At Baghanbattali under Bhandarpur panchayat, people blocked the road. Dalkhola, too, witnessed similar protests.
Around 25 tarpaulins were looted by a mob at Bazargaon at Karandighi before the police moved in and drove away the crowd. The administration arranged for 9000 more tarpaulins for Karandighi in addition to the 14,000 that reached on Thursday.
Sheikh Shamsul Haque,a panchayat member at Karandighi alleged that the number of tarpaulins that had arrived was still insufficient. A claim which was reiterated by Congress MP Dipa Das Munshi....published in TOI on 17.04.2010
One death and a dozen mouths to feed
Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | TNN
Karandighi (North Dinajpur): Her head covered with a veil, she treads gingerly through the ruins of her hut, guiding her siblings — a dozen of them — like a protective mother hen. Even as they run around, tugging at the bamboo poles of the hut felled by the tornado on Tuesday night, 16-year-old Mamera Khatun huddles them together and leads them to her grandfather’s house at the other end of Haldibari village. Their mother Rabeya Khatun was buried under the hut with their youngest sister Arifa, who was just-one-and-half.
Theirs is just one of the 400 huts flattened by the killer tornado in Haldibari of Karandighi block. It has left nearly 1,000 homeless in this North Dinajpur village, inhabited largely by Muslims. But none faces as uncertain a future as Mamera and her siblings. Deserted by their father Ismail Sheikh, the family made ends meet by tying bidis. Rabeya was assisted by Mamera and younger sister Nadira. The three made around Rs 80 a day, hardly enough to feed the 15-member family. Neighbours and grandparents helped. Often they had to skip meals.
On Tuesday night, the children had taken shelter in the village mosque while Rabeya hid under the bed with little Arifa in her lap. The roof collapsed on them, killing both on the spot. Rabeya was pregnant. With Rabeya dead, the family income is set to drop further. This is nothing short of a calamity for Mamera who now has to fend for her minor siblings.
It’s a daunting task that would unsettle most teenagers, but Mamera displays a maturity far beyond her age. She has already been talking to village elders, seeking information on how to augment income by working with self-help groups. “I am not going to let my brothers and sisters grow up on charity. They are not old enough to earn, so I have to work hard. I don’t even expect my grandfather to help us. And I am certainly not going to let my father take charge,” Mamera declared proudly.
While 15-year-old Nadira nods her head in agreement, the rest are still too young to gauge the seriousness of the situation. Villagers fear they might take to the wrong path, lured by the prospect of easy money.
“Rabeya had suffered all her life and we can only hope that Mamera manages to pull through the crisis. There is little else that we can do for the family,” said Harej Ali, a village elder.
Till Thursday evening, no relief had reached Haldibari. The only primary school in the vicinity was too small to accommodate the 1,000-odd, who have been left without a roof. With the land not fertile enough, people depend on tying bidi or work as labourers in cities. A thousand bidis earn them Rs 65 a day, but contractors claim a substantial chunk. “This tornado can’t leave us poorer and more miserable than we already were. It has just made us homeless now. But if you don’t have enough to eat, what difference does a roof or its absence makes?” asked Barjahan Sheik, Mamera’s grandfather.
But Mamera isn’t ready to give up yet. Like her siblings she has never been to a school in her life. “But if studying helps, I am ready to start learning. I know I can do it,” she said, gathering the pieces of bamboo poles and straws that have been left strewn all over the place where her hut stood till a night ago....published in TOI on 16.04.2010
Karandighi (North Dinajpur): Her head covered with a veil, she treads gingerly through the ruins of her hut, guiding her siblings — a dozen of them — like a protective mother hen. Even as they run around, tugging at the bamboo poles of the hut felled by the tornado on Tuesday night, 16-year-old Mamera Khatun huddles them together and leads them to her grandfather’s house at the other end of Haldibari village. Their mother Rabeya Khatun was buried under the hut with their youngest sister Arifa, who was just-one-and-half.
Theirs is just one of the 400 huts flattened by the killer tornado in Haldibari of Karandighi block. It has left nearly 1,000 homeless in this North Dinajpur village, inhabited largely by Muslims. But none faces as uncertain a future as Mamera and her siblings. Deserted by their father Ismail Sheikh, the family made ends meet by tying bidis. Rabeya was assisted by Mamera and younger sister Nadira. The three made around Rs 80 a day, hardly enough to feed the 15-member family. Neighbours and grandparents helped. Often they had to skip meals.
On Tuesday night, the children had taken shelter in the village mosque while Rabeya hid under the bed with little Arifa in her lap. The roof collapsed on them, killing both on the spot. Rabeya was pregnant. With Rabeya dead, the family income is set to drop further. This is nothing short of a calamity for Mamera who now has to fend for her minor siblings.
It’s a daunting task that would unsettle most teenagers, but Mamera displays a maturity far beyond her age. She has already been talking to village elders, seeking information on how to augment income by working with self-help groups. “I am not going to let my brothers and sisters grow up on charity. They are not old enough to earn, so I have to work hard. I don’t even expect my grandfather to help us. And I am certainly not going to let my father take charge,” Mamera declared proudly.
While 15-year-old Nadira nods her head in agreement, the rest are still too young to gauge the seriousness of the situation. Villagers fear they might take to the wrong path, lured by the prospect of easy money.
“Rabeya had suffered all her life and we can only hope that Mamera manages to pull through the crisis. There is little else that we can do for the family,” said Harej Ali, a village elder.
Till Thursday evening, no relief had reached Haldibari. The only primary school in the vicinity was too small to accommodate the 1,000-odd, who have been left without a roof. With the land not fertile enough, people depend on tying bidi or work as labourers in cities. A thousand bidis earn them Rs 65 a day, but contractors claim a substantial chunk. “This tornado can’t leave us poorer and more miserable than we already were. It has just made us homeless now. But if you don’t have enough to eat, what difference does a roof or its absence makes?” asked Barjahan Sheik, Mamera’s grandfather.
But Mamera isn’t ready to give up yet. Like her siblings she has never been to a school in her life. “But if studying helps, I am ready to start learning. I know I can do it,” she said, gathering the pieces of bamboo poles and straws that have been left strewn all over the place where her hut stood till a night ago....published in TOI on 16.04.2010
Storm-struck begin new year amid ruins
Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | TNN
Raiganj: Residents of Mehendigram in Raiganj block had gathered at the thakurdalan — the centre of the village — for its annual bash on Tuesday evening. It had started with a musical programme and was to end with a feast, the ritual for Dham puja observed a day before Nabo Borsho.
Villagers, mostly Rajbanshis, had been gearing up to end the day with a sumptuous meal of mutton curry and rice when the wind began to whistle through the trees. Before they knew it, the wind had turned into a gale. Within minutes, it took the form of a furious tornado.
Standing helplessly under the only concrete shed in the hamlet, villagers watched their huts being flattened by a swirling, monstrous column of dust that spun viciously. It rushed aimlessly from one end of the village to the other, razing everything on its path. Tin sheds were flung hundred yards away, mud walls were blown into pieces and trees uprooted by the dozen. By the time it ended, around midnight, Mehendigram resembled an ancient ruin. Villagers rushed back to salvage belongings that had been hurled away by the killer wind. But the bash had saved their lives.
There was one casualty. Fiftythree-year-old Magni Rajbanshi, who had stayed back home to look after her grandchildren, was buried under the asbestos roof of her hut.
The death toll in Bengal from Tuesday’s tornado has increased to 42. It includes 15 children, and 24 women. Around 2 lakh have been rendered homeless by the tornado that raged through the Raiganj, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj and Goalpokhor-2 blocks....published in TOI on 16.4.2010
Raiganj: Residents of Mehendigram in Raiganj block had gathered at the thakurdalan — the centre of the village — for its annual bash on Tuesday evening. It had started with a musical programme and was to end with a feast, the ritual for Dham puja observed a day before Nabo Borsho.
Villagers, mostly Rajbanshis, had been gearing up to end the day with a sumptuous meal of mutton curry and rice when the wind began to whistle through the trees. Before they knew it, the wind had turned into a gale. Within minutes, it took the form of a furious tornado.
Standing helplessly under the only concrete shed in the hamlet, villagers watched their huts being flattened by a swirling, monstrous column of dust that spun viciously. It rushed aimlessly from one end of the village to the other, razing everything on its path. Tin sheds were flung hundred yards away, mud walls were blown into pieces and trees uprooted by the dozen. By the time it ended, around midnight, Mehendigram resembled an ancient ruin. Villagers rushed back to salvage belongings that had been hurled away by the killer wind. But the bash had saved their lives.
There was one casualty. Fiftythree-year-old Magni Rajbanshi, who had stayed back home to look after her grandchildren, was buried under the asbestos roof of her hut.
The death toll in Bengal from Tuesday’s tornado has increased to 42. It includes 15 children, and 24 women. Around 2 lakh have been rendered homeless by the tornado that raged through the Raiganj, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj and Goalpokhor-2 blocks....published in TOI on 16.4.2010
People tossed about like toys, homes smashed to bits
TWISTER CUTS TERROR TRAIL
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Kulik (Raiganj): In the dead of night, they stood on a deserted highway, clutching each other by the waist, some tying gamchhas around one another in a desperate live-together-die-together bid. None of them had any hope of seeing the sun rise. When huge trees were being smashed like toothpicks, what chance did a few shivering men and women stand?
The tornado tore into them, lifting them off the ground. After brief seconds of terror, their screams drowned in the roaring wind, their feet would touch the earth. Then, the horror would start all over again.
All around them, tin roofs, branches and debris flew about like missiles. Suddenly, everything stopped. The wind vanished. The nightmare had lasted 45 minutes. Now, they have to battle its scars.
In Forest Para (so named because it is next to the biggest bird sanctuary in Bengal), the freak storm that lashed three states and killed at least 107 people at midnight on Tuesday, smashed everything around. Luckily, it killed none here. Fifty km away, in Bazar Gaon, nine people died and around 50 are still missing. No one knows where the tornado blew them away.
The storm struck when most people were outdoors, thanks to the unbearable heat. Seventy-year-old Nathni Mahato remembers smiling as the first cold gust of wind hit his face at 11.30pm. “Within seconds, I realized it was not a gentle night breeze. The wind came roaring in. It was unbelievably strong and seemed to pluck me up. I rushed into my hut to wake up my wife,” Nathni told TOI on Wednesday, standing amid the ruins of what was once his hut.
In the few seconds it took for him to reach his shanty, the wind was already tearing up everything inside. His wife cowered, terrified. Together, they battled their way out. “There was not even a second to pick up any valuables or even money. We heard a rending noise. The roof was torn off the rafters and blown away. We couldn’t believe our eyes. Then, we heard one loud noise after another,” said Nathni. It was the sound of trees crashing. “I screamed, but no sound came out. I have never been so terrified.”
A large tree tottered and slammed against an electricity tower. They both crashed. In an instant, the lights went out. In the darkness, there was only the sound of trees being wrenched from their roots, huts being smashed and people screaming.
They all ran to NH-34. In the lightning flashes, Nathni saw his hut pounded to nothing. “There was a forest bungalow nearby but going there meant risking being crushed under a falling tree. We tied ourselves to each other and prayed.”
Around the same time, Subhankar Sengupta, deputy field director of Buxa Tiger Reserve, was closing in on Raiganj on his way to Kolkata. “I have seen many a storm, but none like this. It started as a blinding sandstorm and quickly turned into a tornado. Our SUV was lifted off the ground. We could see branches twisting and flying around. Tin sheets slammed into our vehicle. It was a nightmare,” he said.
In Bazar Gaon of Karandighi, the worst affected block in the thunderstorm, every hut was levelled to the ground. “Eight or nine of our people died. It struck out of the blue. One moment we were cursing the heat and the next we were fleeing for our lives. People were lifted off their feet and hurled about like toys,” said 63-year-old Md Abdul Salam. Hundreds of villagers packed into the only pucca building around, a high school. “At daybreak, we went back to see our lives utterly devastated,” said Salam.
In Tunivita, between Forest Para and Bazar Gaon, divine intervention saved the 80-odd families. Most of them were out attending Manasa Gaan — a concert of devotional songs — when the storm struck. “Had we been sleeping, many of us would have died,” said Omar Farooq. “I left my house for the concert. Fifteen minutes later, when I staggered back in the thunderstorm, it was gone. The whole house had vanished.”
Only Kartik Biswas’ family had not gone to the programme. The villagers found the 70-year-old paralysis patient, his wife and children trapped under their collapsed house. They were rescued badly injured.
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Kulik (Raiganj): In the dead of night, they stood on a deserted highway, clutching each other by the waist, some tying gamchhas around one another in a desperate live-together-die-together bid. None of them had any hope of seeing the sun rise. When huge trees were being smashed like toothpicks, what chance did a few shivering men and women stand?
The tornado tore into them, lifting them off the ground. After brief seconds of terror, their screams drowned in the roaring wind, their feet would touch the earth. Then, the horror would start all over again.
All around them, tin roofs, branches and debris flew about like missiles. Suddenly, everything stopped. The wind vanished. The nightmare had lasted 45 minutes. Now, they have to battle its scars.
In Forest Para (so named because it is next to the biggest bird sanctuary in Bengal), the freak storm that lashed three states and killed at least 107 people at midnight on Tuesday, smashed everything around. Luckily, it killed none here. Fifty km away, in Bazar Gaon, nine people died and around 50 are still missing. No one knows where the tornado blew them away.
The storm struck when most people were outdoors, thanks to the unbearable heat. Seventy-year-old Nathni Mahato remembers smiling as the first cold gust of wind hit his face at 11.30pm. “Within seconds, I realized it was not a gentle night breeze. The wind came roaring in. It was unbelievably strong and seemed to pluck me up. I rushed into my hut to wake up my wife,” Nathni told TOI on Wednesday, standing amid the ruins of what was once his hut.
In the few seconds it took for him to reach his shanty, the wind was already tearing up everything inside. His wife cowered, terrified. Together, they battled their way out. “There was not even a second to pick up any valuables or even money. We heard a rending noise. The roof was torn off the rafters and blown away. We couldn’t believe our eyes. Then, we heard one loud noise after another,” said Nathni. It was the sound of trees crashing. “I screamed, but no sound came out. I have never been so terrified.”
A large tree tottered and slammed against an electricity tower. They both crashed. In an instant, the lights went out. In the darkness, there was only the sound of trees being wrenched from their roots, huts being smashed and people screaming.
They all ran to NH-34. In the lightning flashes, Nathni saw his hut pounded to nothing. “There was a forest bungalow nearby but going there meant risking being crushed under a falling tree. We tied ourselves to each other and prayed.”
Around the same time, Subhankar Sengupta, deputy field director of Buxa Tiger Reserve, was closing in on Raiganj on his way to Kolkata. “I have seen many a storm, but none like this. It started as a blinding sandstorm and quickly turned into a tornado. Our SUV was lifted off the ground. We could see branches twisting and flying around. Tin sheets slammed into our vehicle. It was a nightmare,” he said.
In Bazar Gaon of Karandighi, the worst affected block in the thunderstorm, every hut was levelled to the ground. “Eight or nine of our people died. It struck out of the blue. One moment we were cursing the heat and the next we were fleeing for our lives. People were lifted off their feet and hurled about like toys,” said 63-year-old Md Abdul Salam. Hundreds of villagers packed into the only pucca building around, a high school. “At daybreak, we went back to see our lives utterly devastated,” said Salam.
In Tunivita, between Forest Para and Bazar Gaon, divine intervention saved the 80-odd families. Most of them were out attending Manasa Gaan — a concert of devotional songs — when the storm struck. “Had we been sleeping, many of us would have died,” said Omar Farooq. “I left my house for the concert. Fifteen minutes later, when I staggered back in the thunderstorm, it was gone. The whole house had vanished.”
Only Kartik Biswas’ family had not gone to the programme. The villagers found the 70-year-old paralysis patient, his wife and children trapped under their collapsed house. They were rescued badly injured.
Half-Hour Spell Of Destruction Leaves Lakhs Homeless
Tornado catches N Bengal & Bihar sleeping, 107 dead
Subhro Maitra & Bhuvaneshwar Prasad | TNN
Raiganj/Purnia: Nature’s 30-minute Tandava in the dead of night left a trail of destruction along its path, with at least 72 dead and 200 injured in North Bengal and east Bihar. The toll from a tornado that whipped up wind speeds ranging from 80 to 125kmph is likely to go up as information trickles in from areas cut off after communication lines snapped.
The tornado ripped through nearly 100,000 homes in Bengal’s North Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts and Bihar’s Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul and Purnia. “From evidences like twisted trees and poles, the depth of the thundercloud and the volume of devastation, the storm appears to be a tornado,” said G C Debnath, director, Regional Meteorological Centre.
In North Dinajpur alone, 38 deaths were reported from four blocks that bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Additional district magistrate P K Dutta said 18 deaths occurred in Karandighi block and eight in Raiganj. Three more died in Hemtabad and two in Kaliaganj. Most of the deaths were caused by houses collapsing. The police barracks in Raiganj was flattened.
“The casualties were high because the storm struck when people had retired for the night and were caught unawares,” Dutta said. Healthcare facilities in the districts are under tremendous strain with hundreds of injured pouring in at centres meant to treat a dozen.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is keeping track of rescue operations and has been constantly on the phone coordinating with officials, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said. State disaster management minister Mortaza Hussain said 20,000 tarpaulins, dry food and garments had been sent to the affected areas. Civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee and tourism minister Manab Mukherjee are camping in the area and supervising relief and rescue operations.
In Bihar’s Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts, at least 69 people were killed and 125 injured as the storm ripped apart homes and hurtled people to death. Many died when the storm turned tin roofs into deadly missiles, slicing through people who fell in their path. The Araria district jail’s 50-foot-high wall also caved in. “We are shifting the 650 inmates of Araria jail to Purnia jail,” a jail official said.
The worst-hit was Araria, where officials put the death toll at 33.Uprooted trees blocked National Highway 34, stranding traffic for hours. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.5 lakh to next of kin of the deceased besides ordering construction of pucca houses under Indira Awas Yojana.
THE KILLER STORM
The tornado whipped up wind speeds ranging from 80 to 125kmph It ripped through nearly 100,000 homes in Bengal’s North Dinajpur & Jalpaiguri districts
39 deaths reported in North Dinajpur; 18 in Karandighi, 8 in Raiganj
69 deaths reported in Bihar; 33 in Araria, 29 in Purnia, 6 in Katihar, and 1 in Kishanganj ....published in TOI on 15.3.2010
Subhro Maitra & Bhuvaneshwar Prasad | TNN
Raiganj/Purnia: Nature’s 30-minute Tandava in the dead of night left a trail of destruction along its path, with at least 72 dead and 200 injured in North Bengal and east Bihar. The toll from a tornado that whipped up wind speeds ranging from 80 to 125kmph is likely to go up as information trickles in from areas cut off after communication lines snapped.
The tornado ripped through nearly 100,000 homes in Bengal’s North Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts and Bihar’s Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul and Purnia. “From evidences like twisted trees and poles, the depth of the thundercloud and the volume of devastation, the storm appears to be a tornado,” said G C Debnath, director, Regional Meteorological Centre.
In North Dinajpur alone, 38 deaths were reported from four blocks that bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Additional district magistrate P K Dutta said 18 deaths occurred in Karandighi block and eight in Raiganj. Three more died in Hemtabad and two in Kaliaganj. Most of the deaths were caused by houses collapsing. The police barracks in Raiganj was flattened.
“The casualties were high because the storm struck when people had retired for the night and were caught unawares,” Dutta said. Healthcare facilities in the districts are under tremendous strain with hundreds of injured pouring in at centres meant to treat a dozen.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is keeping track of rescue operations and has been constantly on the phone coordinating with officials, chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said. State disaster management minister Mortaza Hussain said 20,000 tarpaulins, dry food and garments had been sent to the affected areas. Civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee and tourism minister Manab Mukherjee are camping in the area and supervising relief and rescue operations.
In Bihar’s Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts, at least 69 people were killed and 125 injured as the storm ripped apart homes and hurtled people to death. Many died when the storm turned tin roofs into deadly missiles, slicing through people who fell in their path. The Araria district jail’s 50-foot-high wall also caved in. “We are shifting the 650 inmates of Araria jail to Purnia jail,” a jail official said.
The worst-hit was Araria, where officials put the death toll at 33.Uprooted trees blocked National Highway 34, stranding traffic for hours. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.5 lakh to next of kin of the deceased besides ordering construction of pucca houses under Indira Awas Yojana.
THE KILLER STORM
The tornado whipped up wind speeds ranging from 80 to 125kmph It ripped through nearly 100,000 homes in Bengal’s North Dinajpur & Jalpaiguri districts
39 deaths reported in North Dinajpur; 18 in Karandighi, 8 in Raiganj
69 deaths reported in Bihar; 33 in Araria, 29 in Purnia, 6 in Katihar, and 1 in Kishanganj ....published in TOI on 15.3.2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Begging there, loving it here
Alms And The Men: Pucca House, TV & Cellphone — All From Begging Stint In Punjab
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Beggars can’t be choosers, right? Wrong. For this band of intrepid alms-seekers from Malda, the right to choose is a perk that comes with the job — from TVs and mobile phones to how big their homes will be, they have made all the correct choices.
“The mud houses are vulnerable to floods, you know. So this time I had a pucca house built with concrete,” says Anath Halder. The 60-year-old, originally a fish-net weaver by profession, switched to begging once his eyesight started failing. When it became difficult to sustain his family of wife and four sons with the meagre earnings, Anath decided to try his luck in Punjab. He has never looked back.
“I left two of my sons here in Malda and went to Gurdaspur with my wife and other two sons. In a few months, I had saved up some money,” Anath says. How much? He doesn’t want to elaborate, but enough for him to open a bank account back home in Bulbulchandi, Malda. “The house had become weak after last year’s flood, so I decided to rebuild it,” he says. He has also married off two of his sons. Anath is now preparing to return to Punjab for another stint.
Hundreds like Anath from Malda have taken up begging in the cities of north India. Most of these families are Bangladeshi migrants hailing from Bulbulchandi, Aiho in Habibpur block, Bamangola block and other places near the India-Bangladesh border. They go in groups to pilgrimage cites and temple towns like Mathura, Vrindavan, Benaras and Amritsar in groups to beg. “Many of them never return as they have few family commitments. They take diksha and eventually adopt madhukari (begging as a livelihood). There’s nothing wrong in it,” says Subal Mandal of Aiho.
Dobapara in Bulbulchandi is one such village that houses a number of migrant beggar families. Located just 5 km from the Bangladesh border, most residents crossed over years ago. On this side, life has settled into an easy rhythm. While a few family members go away for months to beg, others tend to the cattle and fields.
Septuagenarian Nirmala Halder first went to Dinanagar in Punjab about 15 years back. “I had some gynaecological problems and needed to have an operation. But my sons were in no position to pay for it. So I decided to earn for myself and went with some villagers to Punjab. Even after paying for rent, food and travel, I managed to save at least Rs 1,000 each month.” After spending five years there, Nirmala had enough money to come back for treatment to Malda.
But once her convalescence was over, Nirmala couldn’t ignore the pull that her life in Punjab exerted on her. She went back to Dinanagar — returning home after a year always meant enough money for the impoverished family of two sons.
Do they ever face problems while begging so far away from their homes? “Sometimes police harass us, especially in Delhi, but we have identity cards,” said Radha Halder. They get quarters on rent and cheap food. Is there a commission to be paid? “No, we don’t have to share our earning with anyone. Rather, travelling by train is free as well. Who will ask beggars for tickets?” quips Radha.
The next generation — the sons and daughters of beggars — see nothing wrong with the profession. “Everybody in our village is doing this. Even I had gone to Punjab for two months. I’ll go there again. is there any work for me here?” asks 16-year-old Achintya Halder.
Asim, a 28-year-old youth, studied up to Class V and went to Dinanagar as a minor. “But once I grew up, it became difficult for me to beg. I switched to collecting plastic and other recyclable waste.” Today, he has enough to keep his family in rented accommodation in Punjab. He even has a TV and mobile phone at home. “I never take my mobile to work. It may attract unnecessary attention,” he says...published in TOI on 7.3.10
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Beggars can’t be choosers, right? Wrong. For this band of intrepid alms-seekers from Malda, the right to choose is a perk that comes with the job — from TVs and mobile phones to how big their homes will be, they have made all the correct choices.
“The mud houses are vulnerable to floods, you know. So this time I had a pucca house built with concrete,” says Anath Halder. The 60-year-old, originally a fish-net weaver by profession, switched to begging once his eyesight started failing. When it became difficult to sustain his family of wife and four sons with the meagre earnings, Anath decided to try his luck in Punjab. He has never looked back.
“I left two of my sons here in Malda and went to Gurdaspur with my wife and other two sons. In a few months, I had saved up some money,” Anath says. How much? He doesn’t want to elaborate, but enough for him to open a bank account back home in Bulbulchandi, Malda. “The house had become weak after last year’s flood, so I decided to rebuild it,” he says. He has also married off two of his sons. Anath is now preparing to return to Punjab for another stint.
Hundreds like Anath from Malda have taken up begging in the cities of north India. Most of these families are Bangladeshi migrants hailing from Bulbulchandi, Aiho in Habibpur block, Bamangola block and other places near the India-Bangladesh border. They go in groups to pilgrimage cites and temple towns like Mathura, Vrindavan, Benaras and Amritsar in groups to beg. “Many of them never return as they have few family commitments. They take diksha and eventually adopt madhukari (begging as a livelihood). There’s nothing wrong in it,” says Subal Mandal of Aiho.
Dobapara in Bulbulchandi is one such village that houses a number of migrant beggar families. Located just 5 km from the Bangladesh border, most residents crossed over years ago. On this side, life has settled into an easy rhythm. While a few family members go away for months to beg, others tend to the cattle and fields.
Septuagenarian Nirmala Halder first went to Dinanagar in Punjab about 15 years back. “I had some gynaecological problems and needed to have an operation. But my sons were in no position to pay for it. So I decided to earn for myself and went with some villagers to Punjab. Even after paying for rent, food and travel, I managed to save at least Rs 1,000 each month.” After spending five years there, Nirmala had enough money to come back for treatment to Malda.
But once her convalescence was over, Nirmala couldn’t ignore the pull that her life in Punjab exerted on her. She went back to Dinanagar — returning home after a year always meant enough money for the impoverished family of two sons.
Do they ever face problems while begging so far away from their homes? “Sometimes police harass us, especially in Delhi, but we have identity cards,” said Radha Halder. They get quarters on rent and cheap food. Is there a commission to be paid? “No, we don’t have to share our earning with anyone. Rather, travelling by train is free as well. Who will ask beggars for tickets?” quips Radha.
The next generation — the sons and daughters of beggars — see nothing wrong with the profession. “Everybody in our village is doing this. Even I had gone to Punjab for two months. I’ll go there again. is there any work for me here?” asks 16-year-old Achintya Halder.
Asim, a 28-year-old youth, studied up to Class V and went to Dinanagar as a minor. “But once I grew up, it became difficult for me to beg. I switched to collecting plastic and other recyclable waste.” Today, he has enough to keep his family in rented accommodation in Punjab. He even has a TV and mobile phone at home. “I never take my mobile to work. It may attract unnecessary attention,” he says...published in TOI on 7.3.10
Friday, March 5, 2010
Woman accuses hubby of kidnap
Subhro Maitra MALDA: Having an affair with someone linked to the corridors of power is fine, but if it doesn't culminate in marriage, the results can be disastrous. Eighteen year-old girl Himadri Burman learnt it the hard way after she broke up with senior CPM minister Sailen Sarkar's domestic help Ananta Roy and married Subhas Burman. The love story soon took a turn for the worse, with Himadri lodging a kidnap complaint with police against her husband within two days of their elopement and marriage. Subhas has been arrested.
In her complaint with Gajole police, Himadri claimed she was drugged and kidnapped by Subhas. Himadri's father Biswanath Roy, who accompanied her to the police station, refused to open up. Roy only hinted that he was under "pressure".
Soon after the marriage, police reached Subhas Burman's Gournandanbati house at Bamangola on Saturday and asked Himadri to show an age proof. The verification over, Himadri told police that she had married Subhas voluntarily. Subhas also pleaded with police not to disturb them as they were leading a happy married life.
Villagers have questioned the police's motive, and why the officers had come despite no one lodging a complaint. Subhas had reportedly hinted that Ananta, Himadri's former fiance, had pulled strings.
On Sunday, the newlyweds went to a local fair. Suddenly, Subhas found his wife missing. Unable to spot her, Subhas went to Bamangola PS to lodge a diary. But police reportedly detained him. This was the same time that Himadri lodged the drug-and-kidnap complaint against him. "I was not conscious when police came to Subhas's house on Saturday as I had been drugged," she claimed.
Ananta could not be reached for comments. Even CPM minister Sailen Sarkar is not taking calls. Sarkar has told CPM's Malda secretary Jiban Moitra that he had no hand in the development. "The minister told me that he has no role," Moitra said.
Malda SP Bhuban Mandal said, "We arrested Subhas after the girl lodged a complaint."..published on 2.2.2010
In her complaint with Gajole police, Himadri claimed she was drugged and kidnapped by Subhas. Himadri's father Biswanath Roy, who accompanied her to the police station, refused to open up. Roy only hinted that he was under "pressure".
Soon after the marriage, police reached Subhas Burman's Gournandanbati house at Bamangola on Saturday and asked Himadri to show an age proof. The verification over, Himadri told police that she had married Subhas voluntarily. Subhas also pleaded with police not to disturb them as they were leading a happy married life.
Villagers have questioned the police's motive, and why the officers had come despite no one lodging a complaint. Subhas had reportedly hinted that Ananta, Himadri's former fiance, had pulled strings.
On Sunday, the newlyweds went to a local fair. Suddenly, Subhas found his wife missing. Unable to spot her, Subhas went to Bamangola PS to lodge a diary. But police reportedly detained him. This was the same time that Himadri lodged the drug-and-kidnap complaint against him. "I was not conscious when police came to Subhas's house on Saturday as I had been drugged," she claimed.
Ananta could not be reached for comments. Even CPM minister Sailen Sarkar is not taking calls. Sarkar has told CPM's Malda secretary Jiban Moitra that he had no hand in the development. "The minister told me that he has no role," Moitra said.
Malda SP Bhuban Mandal said, "We arrested Subhas after the girl lodged a complaint."..published on 2.2.2010
Bank fraud with a twist, lakhs swindled
Money gone by the time authorities are alerted
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Faking currency notes does not hit the headlines anymore. The in-thing now is forging internal bank advice from branches not interconnected under a system called the core business solutions (CBS). It’s a flourishing business in Malda, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur. Kayesh Ali from Englishbazar tried this trick with the State Bank of India’s Amrity branch and withdrew Rs 19.25 lakh.
Ali deposited a cheque issued from Central Bank Of India’s Unnao branch in Uttar Pradesh. SBI’s Amrity branch in Malda where Ali deposited the cheque made the payment after routine verification. Days after releasing the cash, SBI’s reconciliation cell in Mumbai found to their surprise that there was no such account holder in CBI’s Unnao branch and the transaction was a fraud.
But how then did the SBI make the payment to Ali without checking the account? Investigators detected the fraud after taking it up with the SBI bank authorities.
Under the existing system, for cheques issued from non-CBS branches of banks other than SBI, the bank manager on receiving the cheque sends a letter to his counterpart in the area seeking advice whether to make the payment. The SBI branch manager, in this case the Unnao branch in uttar Pradesh gets in touch with CBI Unnao and sends the advice. The communication is done through courier agencies.
The police during investigation spotted a racket hand in glove with the courier agency. They take out the original papers and forge them including signatures of bank managers. So what the bank manager of SBI’s Amrity branch received as advice from his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh was a forged one. It said that the account holder had sufficient money and the cheque could be honoured. The bank manager acted on the advice and made the Rs 19.25 lakh payment to Ali. A similar fraud was detected in Malda’s main branch. The cheque was again issued from CBI’s U n n a o branch. It was a highvalue cheque of Rs 53.50 lakh. Two similar cheques of Rs 15.50 lakh and Rs 19.58 lakh have been deposited at two branches of SBI, Malda. However, the SBI has kept the cheques on hold after they got a hint of the forgery from its regional office.
Police have rounded up two persons Samarendra Mandal and Nibaran Ghosh in this connection from Ratua and is also looking for Kayesh Ali who withdrew the money. Investigators fear that an inter-state racket have been operating in the districts for quite sometime before it caught the notice of the bank authorities. According to police, the racket includes among others persons from the courier agency.
“The miscreants managed the original letter of SBI’s Amriti branch to the SBI manager Unnao seeking clearance of the cheque from the courier agency in Malda. They then forged the letter of clearance and also the signature of SBI bank officials in Unnao and sent it to SBI’s Amriti branch by courier”, said Kalyan Mukherjee, additional superintendent of police in Malda.
Subrata Mandal, officer of the SBI Amrity branch, made the payment of Rs19.25 lakh based on the forged letter. Mandal has been suspended. SBI has showcaused Mandal asking him how he made payment based on the forged letter within a week.
Following his suspension, the SBI Officers’ Association on Thursday called an indefinite strike in all 37 SBI branches in Malda and South Dinajpur demanding unconditional withdrawal of the suspension order....published in TOI on 5.3.10
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Faking currency notes does not hit the headlines anymore. The in-thing now is forging internal bank advice from branches not interconnected under a system called the core business solutions (CBS). It’s a flourishing business in Malda, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur. Kayesh Ali from Englishbazar tried this trick with the State Bank of India’s Amrity branch and withdrew Rs 19.25 lakh.
Ali deposited a cheque issued from Central Bank Of India’s Unnao branch in Uttar Pradesh. SBI’s Amrity branch in Malda where Ali deposited the cheque made the payment after routine verification. Days after releasing the cash, SBI’s reconciliation cell in Mumbai found to their surprise that there was no such account holder in CBI’s Unnao branch and the transaction was a fraud.
But how then did the SBI make the payment to Ali without checking the account? Investigators detected the fraud after taking it up with the SBI bank authorities.
Under the existing system, for cheques issued from non-CBS branches of banks other than SBI, the bank manager on receiving the cheque sends a letter to his counterpart in the area seeking advice whether to make the payment. The SBI branch manager, in this case the Unnao branch in uttar Pradesh gets in touch with CBI Unnao and sends the advice. The communication is done through courier agencies.
The police during investigation spotted a racket hand in glove with the courier agency. They take out the original papers and forge them including signatures of bank managers. So what the bank manager of SBI’s Amrity branch received as advice from his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh was a forged one. It said that the account holder had sufficient money and the cheque could be honoured. The bank manager acted on the advice and made the Rs 19.25 lakh payment to Ali. A similar fraud was detected in Malda’s main branch. The cheque was again issued from CBI’s U n n a o branch. It was a highvalue cheque of Rs 53.50 lakh. Two similar cheques of Rs 15.50 lakh and Rs 19.58 lakh have been deposited at two branches of SBI, Malda. However, the SBI has kept the cheques on hold after they got a hint of the forgery from its regional office.
Police have rounded up two persons Samarendra Mandal and Nibaran Ghosh in this connection from Ratua and is also looking for Kayesh Ali who withdrew the money. Investigators fear that an inter-state racket have been operating in the districts for quite sometime before it caught the notice of the bank authorities. According to police, the racket includes among others persons from the courier agency.
“The miscreants managed the original letter of SBI’s Amriti branch to the SBI manager Unnao seeking clearance of the cheque from the courier agency in Malda. They then forged the letter of clearance and also the signature of SBI bank officials in Unnao and sent it to SBI’s Amriti branch by courier”, said Kalyan Mukherjee, additional superintendent of police in Malda.
Subrata Mandal, officer of the SBI Amrity branch, made the payment of Rs19.25 lakh based on the forged letter. Mandal has been suspended. SBI has showcaused Mandal asking him how he made payment based on the forged letter within a week.
Following his suspension, the SBI Officers’ Association on Thursday called an indefinite strike in all 37 SBI branches in Malda and South Dinajpur demanding unconditional withdrawal of the suspension order....published in TOI on 5.3.10
Friday, February 26, 2010
Project bonanza for North Bengal
Kolkata: North Bengal, a Congress stronghold where the Trinamool is on a sticky wicket, came for particular attention from Mamata Banerjee. In the recent past, she has come under fire from Congress leaders for ignoring the region.
Apart from new trains and services, Mamata announced water-bottling plants under the PPP mode at Malda and Farakka, apart from a number of hospitals. Of the four multi-disciplinary training centres to be set up across the country, two will be in Cooch Behar and Malda.
New Jalpaiguri will get a rail axle factory that will reduce the railways’ dependence on imports.
Of the 94 Adarsh stations planned across the country, 28 are in Bengal alone. Bolpur and Kharagpur have joined the list of stations that are to be developed into world-class terminals. As many as 22 stations in the state will be converted into multi-functional complexes.
A coach factory will be set up at Kanchrapara, and a diesel multiple unit (DMU) factory under JV/PPP mode at Sankrail, Howrah. The Kharagpur workshop will be developed into the country’s first centre of excellence in wagon prototyping, Mamata announced. Work on the eastern leg of the dedicated freight corridor will start in Dankuni in Hooghly this year.
Locations in Bengal figured in almost every paragraph of Mamata’s speech. Every time, an MP objected to the “Bengal centric budget”, Mamata would brush it off in her street-fighter way.
At least one of Mamata’s announcements evoked a sense of nostalgia among the elderly who have travelled by train from the Northeast to Kolkata before 1971. She announced a rail link between Akhaura in Bangladesh and Agartala, and a special train — Sanskriti Express — from Kolkata to Dhaka on the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. This will provide a shorter route from Bengal to the North-East via Bangladesh. She also announced a new line from Jogbani to Biratnagar in Nepal.
In a bid too woo urban voters, Mamata announced four extensions of the Kolkata Metro and more suburban trains on the Howrah and Sealdah sector and two more women specials.
The list of trains for Bengal seems to be an unending one. Five of the 16 Bharat Tirth trains will start from Howrah. The state has also got three Duronto trains and 17 of the 53 express trains. Five of the nine new railway line projects are also in Bengal.
It was not just about trains, tracks and factories. Mamata crossed boundaries to announce a sports academy in Kolkata (one of five across the country) and two museums on Rabindranath Tagore at Howrah and Bolpur.
Finally, she came good on her promise to give a job to each family that gives up their land for the freight corridor...published in TOI on 25.02.10
Apart from new trains and services, Mamata announced water-bottling plants under the PPP mode at Malda and Farakka, apart from a number of hospitals. Of the four multi-disciplinary training centres to be set up across the country, two will be in Cooch Behar and Malda.
New Jalpaiguri will get a rail axle factory that will reduce the railways’ dependence on imports.
Of the 94 Adarsh stations planned across the country, 28 are in Bengal alone. Bolpur and Kharagpur have joined the list of stations that are to be developed into world-class terminals. As many as 22 stations in the state will be converted into multi-functional complexes.
A coach factory will be set up at Kanchrapara, and a diesel multiple unit (DMU) factory under JV/PPP mode at Sankrail, Howrah. The Kharagpur workshop will be developed into the country’s first centre of excellence in wagon prototyping, Mamata announced. Work on the eastern leg of the dedicated freight corridor will start in Dankuni in Hooghly this year.
Locations in Bengal figured in almost every paragraph of Mamata’s speech. Every time, an MP objected to the “Bengal centric budget”, Mamata would brush it off in her street-fighter way.
At least one of Mamata’s announcements evoked a sense of nostalgia among the elderly who have travelled by train from the Northeast to Kolkata before 1971. She announced a rail link between Akhaura in Bangladesh and Agartala, and a special train — Sanskriti Express — from Kolkata to Dhaka on the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. This will provide a shorter route from Bengal to the North-East via Bangladesh. She also announced a new line from Jogbani to Biratnagar in Nepal.
In a bid too woo urban voters, Mamata announced four extensions of the Kolkata Metro and more suburban trains on the Howrah and Sealdah sector and two more women specials.
The list of trains for Bengal seems to be an unending one. Five of the 16 Bharat Tirth trains will start from Howrah. The state has also got three Duronto trains and 17 of the 53 express trains. Five of the nine new railway line projects are also in Bengal.
It was not just about trains, tracks and factories. Mamata crossed boundaries to announce a sports academy in Kolkata (one of five across the country) and two museums on Rabindranath Tagore at Howrah and Bolpur.
Finally, she came good on her promise to give a job to each family that gives up their land for the freight corridor...published in TOI on 25.02.10
Ghani family divided over sops
Team TOI
One hailed it as “visionary”, the other was “utterly disappointed” — Mamata Banerjee’s Railway Budget, which was hailed across North Bengal for its potential to impact the region in a way son of the soil Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s budget did during his tenure in the ’80s, seemed, rather ironically, to have caused a vertical split in the family of the late Congress stalwart.
Just like the geographical division of their constituencies, Malda North MP Mausam Noor and Malda South MP Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury were sharply divided in their reaction to Didi’s budget doles. While Noor, who is Ghani Khan’s niece, chose to look beyond immediate gains, Abu Hasem, his brother, found the budget sops paltry and laced with politics.
But Mamata, who was accused of ignoring North Bengal last year, did make a special attempt to reach out this time. Across cities that dot this region, there was spontaneous cheer as Mamata read her budget speech in Parliament, announcing a slew of projects that ranged from a packaged drinking water plant
in Jalpaiguri’s New Mal to railway training centres in Malda and Cooch Behar and a super speciality hospital in Malda. Two projects — a coach repairing shed proposed at New Jalpaiguri and laying of new tracks between Haldibari and Changrabanda via Mekhliganj — drew the loudest cheers. While the former will generate employment, the latter will augment infrastructure in the region.
Noor congratulated the railway minister for focusing on employment generation, something “baromama (Ghani Khan)” would do. “This rail budget definitely has more vision than immediate gains,” said Noor, adding: “With stress on infrastructure growth, Mamatadi has moved the Indian Railways a step further. Both the hospital and the institute will help create jobs. After baromama, no one has paid any heed to employment generation here.”
But her uncle railed against Mamata’s disregard for a list of proposals he had given her. “None of them (proposals in the list) was sanctioned. I’m utterly disappointed”, said Abu Hasem. “I wanted a Rajdhani express touching Malda, a superfast train between Malda and Kolkata and a train from Malda to Mumbai, among others. But nothing was approved.” ...published in TOI on 25.02.10
One hailed it as “visionary”, the other was “utterly disappointed” — Mamata Banerjee’s Railway Budget, which was hailed across North Bengal for its potential to impact the region in a way son of the soil Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s budget did during his tenure in the ’80s, seemed, rather ironically, to have caused a vertical split in the family of the late Congress stalwart.
Just like the geographical division of their constituencies, Malda North MP Mausam Noor and Malda South MP Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury were sharply divided in their reaction to Didi’s budget doles. While Noor, who is Ghani Khan’s niece, chose to look beyond immediate gains, Abu Hasem, his brother, found the budget sops paltry and laced with politics.
But Mamata, who was accused of ignoring North Bengal last year, did make a special attempt to reach out this time. Across cities that dot this region, there was spontaneous cheer as Mamata read her budget speech in Parliament, announcing a slew of projects that ranged from a packaged drinking water plant
in Jalpaiguri’s New Mal to railway training centres in Malda and Cooch Behar and a super speciality hospital in Malda. Two projects — a coach repairing shed proposed at New Jalpaiguri and laying of new tracks between Haldibari and Changrabanda via Mekhliganj — drew the loudest cheers. While the former will generate employment, the latter will augment infrastructure in the region.
Noor congratulated the railway minister for focusing on employment generation, something “baromama (Ghani Khan)” would do. “This rail budget definitely has more vision than immediate gains,” said Noor, adding: “With stress on infrastructure growth, Mamatadi has moved the Indian Railways a step further. Both the hospital and the institute will help create jobs. After baromama, no one has paid any heed to employment generation here.”
But her uncle railed against Mamata’s disregard for a list of proposals he had given her. “None of them (proposals in the list) was sanctioned. I’m utterly disappointed”, said Abu Hasem. “I wanted a Rajdhani express touching Malda, a superfast train between Malda and Kolkata and a train from Malda to Mumbai, among others. But nothing was approved.” ...published in TOI on 25.02.10
Malda family wants to sell child for Rs 10K
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: An impoverished couple in Malda has decided to sell one of their five children to anyone who pays Rs 10,000. Kayesh Sheikh and his wife Arina Bibi of Sailpur, 20 km from Malda town, have been putting up placards announcing this at their village. Hundreds of villagers are mute spectators to this “shame”, but little has been done to alleviate their condition.
Kayesh and Arina have three sons and two daughters. Kayesh had worked as a migrant labourer in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and earned enough for sustenance. However, tragedy befell him three years ago in Hyderabad, when he fell from a mobile tower and broke his spine. “I returned home but never fully recovered,” said Kayesh. The cost of treating Kayesh, combined with running their seven-member household, proved too much for the couple. “We had to sell every household item to feed the children,” said Arina.
The couple had to depend on neighbours’ help, but it wasn’t enough. “They help us out, but how much can they do?” said Kayesh. Daughter Khosenur and son Anwar sometimes help out as agricultural labourers, and thus have little formal education. “If any couple offers us Rs 10,000, I’ll sell one of my children to treat my husband,” said a weeping Arina.
“Their condition is pathetic,” said Tafijul Hossain, gram panchayat member of Narhatta. “But they don’t have their names registered on the BPL list, which would have ensured some help.”
Malda SDO Prakash Pal said: “The administration is ready to take the responsibility of the children if the parents find them a burden,” he said, assuring that he would send teams to the village to look into the matter...published in TOI on 26.02.10
Malda: An impoverished couple in Malda has decided to sell one of their five children to anyone who pays Rs 10,000. Kayesh Sheikh and his wife Arina Bibi of Sailpur, 20 km from Malda town, have been putting up placards announcing this at their village. Hundreds of villagers are mute spectators to this “shame”, but little has been done to alleviate their condition.
Kayesh and Arina have three sons and two daughters. Kayesh had worked as a migrant labourer in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and earned enough for sustenance. However, tragedy befell him three years ago in Hyderabad, when he fell from a mobile tower and broke his spine. “I returned home but never fully recovered,” said Kayesh. The cost of treating Kayesh, combined with running their seven-member household, proved too much for the couple. “We had to sell every household item to feed the children,” said Arina.
The couple had to depend on neighbours’ help, but it wasn’t enough. “They help us out, but how much can they do?” said Kayesh. Daughter Khosenur and son Anwar sometimes help out as agricultural labourers, and thus have little formal education. “If any couple offers us Rs 10,000, I’ll sell one of my children to treat my husband,” said a weeping Arina.
“Their condition is pathetic,” said Tafijul Hossain, gram panchayat member of Narhatta. “But they don’t have their names registered on the BPL list, which would have ensured some help.”
Malda SDO Prakash Pal said: “The administration is ready to take the responsibility of the children if the parents find them a burden,” he said, assuring that he would send teams to the village to look into the matter...published in TOI on 26.02.10
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Malda Thalassaemia Patients Promised Free Blood Transfusion
Ray of hope after death wish
Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | tnn
Kolkata/Malda: Driven to desperation by poverty and an incurable disease — thalassaemia — that afflicts all four members of his family, Saidur Rehman of Malda decided to seek mercy killing. In a letter to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Rehman had said that as neither the state nor he could bear the expenses of treatment, they should be allowed mercy killing rather than made to die a slow and painful death. That was four months ago.
Now, the farm labourer is clinging on to fresh hope. He is ready to withdraw his appeal and make a new beginning, thanks to assurances of help that have eventually come through. While the district administration has assured him of free blood transfusion and transport, a research organisation and a charitable institution have arranged for treatment of the family.
Forty-year-old Saidur, his wife Marjina Bibi (35) and their children Mostakim Rehman and Mamoni Khatun, aged 12 and eight years, respectively, will arrive in Kolkata later this month.
“We had visited Malda for a cancer treatment and awareness camp in December when we came across the family. All four of them needed treatment urgently but couldn’t afford it. We have made arrangements for their treatment at our hospital and they will be provided with free medicines by a trust. Saidur has been asked to reach Kolkata by the end of February,” said Ashish Mukhopadhyay, director, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute.
The letter written to the chief minister had moved government officials but action was painfully slow. Even though Saidur was forced to stop visiting the district hospital for transfusion as he couldn’t even afford the bus fare, nothing was done. Things started moving in January after a letter from Writers’ Buildings reached the district magistrate, seeking to know what has been done to help the family. It was passed on to the BDO of Bamongola, Anjan Ghosh, who has been in touch with the family. “We have provided them with free passes for bus travel. Arrangements have also been finalised for free transfusion and a certificate that entitles them to it. But we are yet not aware of the family’s plans to go to Kolkata for treatment,” said Ghosh.
Residents of Samsabad village under Bamongola block, 40 km from Malda town, Rehman and his family are expected in Kolkata next week. “We had done a few primary examinations in Malda last month. We need a thorough investigation but it is clear that two of them, including Saidur, were suffering from beta thalassaemia while the other two had e-beta thalassaemia. We are planning to do a splenectomy to reduce their need for transfusion but a final decision will be taken after they are admitted to the hospital,” said Mukhopadhyay.
Local MLA Khagen Murmu claimed he had contacted Saidur after he sought euthanasia. But the family never got back to him for help or assistance. “I had arranged for their free blood transfusion but they stopped visiting the hospital. If they couldn’t afford to travel, they could have told me so. It is not possible to provide financial help but we could have worked out something,” said Murmu.
In his letter to the chief minister, Saidur had written that even though he knew it was against the law to commit or ask for death, he wanted the permission as he couldn’t bear the cost of treating his wife and children.
Saidur sent copies of the appeal to the district magistrate, block development officer and the chief medical officer of health.
Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | tnn
Kolkata/Malda: Driven to desperation by poverty and an incurable disease — thalassaemia — that afflicts all four members of his family, Saidur Rehman of Malda decided to seek mercy killing. In a letter to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Rehman had said that as neither the state nor he could bear the expenses of treatment, they should be allowed mercy killing rather than made to die a slow and painful death. That was four months ago.
Now, the farm labourer is clinging on to fresh hope. He is ready to withdraw his appeal and make a new beginning, thanks to assurances of help that have eventually come through. While the district administration has assured him of free blood transfusion and transport, a research organisation and a charitable institution have arranged for treatment of the family.
Forty-year-old Saidur, his wife Marjina Bibi (35) and their children Mostakim Rehman and Mamoni Khatun, aged 12 and eight years, respectively, will arrive in Kolkata later this month.
“We had visited Malda for a cancer treatment and awareness camp in December when we came across the family. All four of them needed treatment urgently but couldn’t afford it. We have made arrangements for their treatment at our hospital and they will be provided with free medicines by a trust. Saidur has been asked to reach Kolkata by the end of February,” said Ashish Mukhopadhyay, director, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute.
The letter written to the chief minister had moved government officials but action was painfully slow. Even though Saidur was forced to stop visiting the district hospital for transfusion as he couldn’t even afford the bus fare, nothing was done. Things started moving in January after a letter from Writers’ Buildings reached the district magistrate, seeking to know what has been done to help the family. It was passed on to the BDO of Bamongola, Anjan Ghosh, who has been in touch with the family. “We have provided them with free passes for bus travel. Arrangements have also been finalised for free transfusion and a certificate that entitles them to it. But we are yet not aware of the family’s plans to go to Kolkata for treatment,” said Ghosh.
Residents of Samsabad village under Bamongola block, 40 km from Malda town, Rehman and his family are expected in Kolkata next week. “We had done a few primary examinations in Malda last month. We need a thorough investigation but it is clear that two of them, including Saidur, were suffering from beta thalassaemia while the other two had e-beta thalassaemia. We are planning to do a splenectomy to reduce their need for transfusion but a final decision will be taken after they are admitted to the hospital,” said Mukhopadhyay.
Local MLA Khagen Murmu claimed he had contacted Saidur after he sought euthanasia. But the family never got back to him for help or assistance. “I had arranged for their free blood transfusion but they stopped visiting the hospital. If they couldn’t afford to travel, they could have told me so. It is not possible to provide financial help but we could have worked out something,” said Murmu.
In his letter to the chief minister, Saidur had written that even though he knew it was against the law to commit or ask for death, he wanted the permission as he couldn’t bear the cost of treating his wife and children.
Saidur sent copies of the appeal to the district magistrate, block development officer and the chief medical officer of health.
Monday, February 22, 2010
TOI’s stellar show in journalism awards
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Kolkata: On Sunday evening, it was the turn of those who stay alert 24X7 to give you the news, day after day, to be in the news themselves. Presented by the KKN Group, in association with Candid Communication, Journalism Awards 2009 paid tribute to the noble profession of journalism.
Veteran photojournalist Durgadas Chatterjee was given the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to journalism.
Journalism Award 2009 also awarded journalists and photojournalists in 18 categories, of which four was bagged by the Times Of India. Subhro Niyogi was declared winner in the feature (English) category, Subhro Maitra in district reporting, Nilesh Bhattacharya in Sports (English) while Sayantan Ghosh in the news photography section. In all, there were 13 nominees from TOI.
The award for general news in English, Bengali and Hindi went to Rajib Chakrabarty of The Statesman, Tapas Pramanik of Bartaman and Anand Kumar Singh of Prabhat Khabar. Prizes for feature section Bengali was won jointly by Mouli Misra of Sangbad Pratidin and Indranil Roy of Anandabazar Pratika while Archana Sharma of Sanmarg won it in the Hindi section.
Pratim Ranjan Bose of Hindu Business Line won the prize for business reporting. The award in lifestyle & cinema section in English and Bengali were given to Satarupa Bose of Hindustan Times and Gautam Bhattacharya of Anandabazar Patrika. The award for district reporting was won by Manas R Banerjee of The Statesman with Subhro Maitra of TOI.
In the photography section,
the award in the feature section went to to Debajyoti Chakraborty of Rashtriya Sahara; Swapan Mahapatra of PTI won for lifestyle. Subhendu Ghosh of Hindustan Times won in the sports section.
The panel of judges for the award included ace photographer Raghu Rai, film director Prabhat Roy, sport commentator Kishore Bhimani, veteran footballer Prasun Banerjee, industrialist Pawan Ruia, veteran journalist Manojit Mitra and Sudama Prasad Singh....published in TOI on 22.02.10
Kolkata: On Sunday evening, it was the turn of those who stay alert 24X7 to give you the news, day after day, to be in the news themselves. Presented by the KKN Group, in association with Candid Communication, Journalism Awards 2009 paid tribute to the noble profession of journalism.
Veteran photojournalist Durgadas Chatterjee was given the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to journalism.
Journalism Award 2009 also awarded journalists and photojournalists in 18 categories, of which four was bagged by the Times Of India. Subhro Niyogi was declared winner in the feature (English) category, Subhro Maitra in district reporting, Nilesh Bhattacharya in Sports (English) while Sayantan Ghosh in the news photography section. In all, there were 13 nominees from TOI.
The award for general news in English, Bengali and Hindi went to Rajib Chakrabarty of The Statesman, Tapas Pramanik of Bartaman and Anand Kumar Singh of Prabhat Khabar. Prizes for feature section Bengali was won jointly by Mouli Misra of Sangbad Pratidin and Indranil Roy of Anandabazar Pratika while Archana Sharma of Sanmarg won it in the Hindi section.
Pratim Ranjan Bose of Hindu Business Line won the prize for business reporting. The award in lifestyle & cinema section in English and Bengali were given to Satarupa Bose of Hindustan Times and Gautam Bhattacharya of Anandabazar Patrika. The award for district reporting was won by Manas R Banerjee of The Statesman with Subhro Maitra of TOI.
In the photography section,
the award in the feature section went to to Debajyoti Chakraborty of Rashtriya Sahara; Swapan Mahapatra of PTI won for lifestyle. Subhendu Ghosh of Hindustan Times won in the sports section.
The panel of judges for the award included ace photographer Raghu Rai, film director Prabhat Roy, sport commentator Kishore Bhimani, veteran footballer Prasun Banerjee, industrialist Pawan Ruia, veteran journalist Manojit Mitra and Sudama Prasad Singh....published in TOI on 22.02.10
16 kids rescued at Malda station
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Malda: Sixteen children — aged between eight and 12 — were rescued at Malda station on Friday night while they were on their way to Uttar Pradesh to work as child labourers. One person was arrested in this connection.
The children are residents of villages like Rajaramchak under Gajole PS and Chator under Ratua PS. They said a resident of Chator, Samaul Ali, was taking them to Jainpur in UP to work as labourers. Samaul took them to Malda Town station on Friday and they were to board the Delhibound Farakka Express.
The train, however, was much behind schedule. Naturally, the children were waiting on the platform. Other passengers smelt a rat on seeing so many children together. The passengers informed English Bazaar police, who rushed to the spot and caught Samaul. The children were also rescued. On being interrogated, Samaul conceded that he was taking the kids to Jainpur for railway construction work.
One of the children, Morsalim, said he had been to other states earlier, too, to work as a labourer. “I have no option as I have lost my parents early. This time, I was told that I would be paid Rs 2,200 per month,” he said. Police suspect the contractor might have had other intentions as well.
They are now trying to contact the children’s families. However, not surprisingly, most of the children said they have no one to go home to or
that they are extremely poor.
Samaul was produced in court on Saturday and remanded in seven days’ police custody. “It is a shame for us that we have not been able to reach the basic facilities to all families so that children are not robbed of their childhood. I’ll certainly look into the mater and provide these kids all possible help to continue with their studies,” said SDO Prakash Pal......published in TOI on 21.02.10
Malda: Sixteen children — aged between eight and 12 — were rescued at Malda station on Friday night while they were on their way to Uttar Pradesh to work as child labourers. One person was arrested in this connection.
The children are residents of villages like Rajaramchak under Gajole PS and Chator under Ratua PS. They said a resident of Chator, Samaul Ali, was taking them to Jainpur in UP to work as labourers. Samaul took them to Malda Town station on Friday and they were to board the Delhibound Farakka Express.
The train, however, was much behind schedule. Naturally, the children were waiting on the platform. Other passengers smelt a rat on seeing so many children together. The passengers informed English Bazaar police, who rushed to the spot and caught Samaul. The children were also rescued. On being interrogated, Samaul conceded that he was taking the kids to Jainpur for railway construction work.
One of the children, Morsalim, said he had been to other states earlier, too, to work as a labourer. “I have no option as I have lost my parents early. This time, I was told that I would be paid Rs 2,200 per month,” he said. Police suspect the contractor might have had other intentions as well.
They are now trying to contact the children’s families. However, not surprisingly, most of the children said they have no one to go home to or
that they are extremely poor.
Samaul was produced in court on Saturday and remanded in seven days’ police custody. “It is a shame for us that we have not been able to reach the basic facilities to all families so that children are not robbed of their childhood. I’ll certainly look into the mater and provide these kids all possible help to continue with their studies,” said SDO Prakash Pal......published in TOI on 21.02.10
Friday, February 19, 2010
Woman tortured over 3rd daughter
Lodges Complaint Against In-Laws After Being Rescued By Neighbours
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Delivering a third girl child was crime enough for a man and his mother to start thrashing his wife regularly and even with a smouldering piece of wood. Even the newborn was not spared and singed with a bidi. At her tether’s end, Taslima finally lodged a complaint with police on Friday after being taken to hospital by neighbours.
Taslima of Moslempur village got married to Alam Sheikh, owner of a small shop in neighbouring Krishnapur village under English Bazaar PS, around five years ago. After two years of marriage, Taslima gave birth to a girl — Sabina, who is now four years old — but things were fine, she said. Even a second daughter — Rakeya, now two — kept Alam silent. But she did not know that he was hoping for better luck next time.
All hell broke loose when Taslima delivered the third girl child around 40 days back. Alam and his mother Malijan Bewa allegedly started beating up Taslima brutally. “Alam started pressuring my daughter to bring money from us to bring up the girls. We have little, but tried our best to satisfy them,” alleged Taslima’s mother Jahanara Begum.
“Since my third daughter’s birth, Alam began to torture me mentally and physically. He never even picked her up in his lap,” narrated Taslima. “On Thursday, things went to an extreme. I was cooking and my husband and mother-in-law started cursing me. I, too, reacted by saying that I’d leave the house. This infuriated them. My husband first singed my newborn with a bidi. When I rushed to save her, he struck me with a burning piece of wood.”
Taslima’s cries brought in neighbours like Nurul Islam and Ansarul Mandal, who informed her parents and took her to hospital. Islam confirmed that of late, Taslima was tortured by her in-laws. In hospital, too, Alam allegedly threatened Taslima with dire consequences if she dared open her mouth before police.
On the basis of Taslima’s complaint, police have registered cases against Alam, his brother and mother under sections 326, 307, 498A IPC, which includes attempt to murder by burning and torture on wife. Alam is absconding. Police sources said raids are on to nab him....published in TOI on 20.02.10
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Delivering a third girl child was crime enough for a man and his mother to start thrashing his wife regularly and even with a smouldering piece of wood. Even the newborn was not spared and singed with a bidi. At her tether’s end, Taslima finally lodged a complaint with police on Friday after being taken to hospital by neighbours.
Taslima of Moslempur village got married to Alam Sheikh, owner of a small shop in neighbouring Krishnapur village under English Bazaar PS, around five years ago. After two years of marriage, Taslima gave birth to a girl — Sabina, who is now four years old — but things were fine, she said. Even a second daughter — Rakeya, now two — kept Alam silent. But she did not know that he was hoping for better luck next time.
All hell broke loose when Taslima delivered the third girl child around 40 days back. Alam and his mother Malijan Bewa allegedly started beating up Taslima brutally. “Alam started pressuring my daughter to bring money from us to bring up the girls. We have little, but tried our best to satisfy them,” alleged Taslima’s mother Jahanara Begum.
“Since my third daughter’s birth, Alam began to torture me mentally and physically. He never even picked her up in his lap,” narrated Taslima. “On Thursday, things went to an extreme. I was cooking and my husband and mother-in-law started cursing me. I, too, reacted by saying that I’d leave the house. This infuriated them. My husband first singed my newborn with a bidi. When I rushed to save her, he struck me with a burning piece of wood.”
Taslima’s cries brought in neighbours like Nurul Islam and Ansarul Mandal, who informed her parents and took her to hospital. Islam confirmed that of late, Taslima was tortured by her in-laws. In hospital, too, Alam allegedly threatened Taslima with dire consequences if she dared open her mouth before police.
On the basis of Taslima’s complaint, police have registered cases against Alam, his brother and mother under sections 326, 307, 498A IPC, which includes attempt to murder by burning and torture on wife. Alam is absconding. Police sources said raids are on to nab him....published in TOI on 20.02.10
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Northeast children return after Chennai ordeal
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Malda: Seventy-six boys from the northeast, who had left home for Chennai in the hope of education, food and a better life two years ago, are on their way back. And they are not complaining. For, the life they got in Chennai was far removed from what they had been promised.
On Wednesday, the kids were given refreshments and food by local NGOs at Malda station. The boys were returning to their respective hometowns and villages in the northeast by the Chennai-Guwahati Express. Intervention by a government agency and an NGO has given these children a fresh lease of life.
More than 100 children — all belonging to the 6-12 age group — were taken to Chennai two years ago by an organisation whose details have not been disclosed by the authorities in Tamil Nadu. The kids were told that they would be put up at a children’s home and properly looked after. But the dream soon turned sour and the children had to cope with shabby living conditions, poor and irregular food, and no education. The hapless Uttams, Rajus and Roberts did not know where to go.
“We did not get regular meals or treatment when we fell ill,” said Uttam. A few months ago, a raid by the Child Welfare Committee of Tamil Nadu, along with NGO Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), blew the lid off the kids’ condition. “The home did not provide basic facilities to the children and the government decided to close it down”, said CACL activist Amit Sanyal.
Accordingly, the children were rescued and arrangements made for their return. Some of the kids had reportedly fled earlier. However, Sanyal could not say whether the government took any legal action against the authorities of the children’s home.
Among the 76 children rescued, 24 are from Assam and 52 from Manipur. The kids will be handed over to police in the two states and sent home. “The government must take responsibility,” said Sanyal...published in TOI on 18.02.10
Malda: Seventy-six boys from the northeast, who had left home for Chennai in the hope of education, food and a better life two years ago, are on their way back. And they are not complaining. For, the life they got in Chennai was far removed from what they had been promised.
On Wednesday, the kids were given refreshments and food by local NGOs at Malda station. The boys were returning to their respective hometowns and villages in the northeast by the Chennai-Guwahati Express. Intervention by a government agency and an NGO has given these children a fresh lease of life.
More than 100 children — all belonging to the 6-12 age group — were taken to Chennai two years ago by an organisation whose details have not been disclosed by the authorities in Tamil Nadu. The kids were told that they would be put up at a children’s home and properly looked after. But the dream soon turned sour and the children had to cope with shabby living conditions, poor and irregular food, and no education. The hapless Uttams, Rajus and Roberts did not know where to go.
“We did not get regular meals or treatment when we fell ill,” said Uttam. A few months ago, a raid by the Child Welfare Committee of Tamil Nadu, along with NGO Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), blew the lid off the kids’ condition. “The home did not provide basic facilities to the children and the government decided to close it down”, said CACL activist Amit Sanyal.
Accordingly, the children were rescued and arrangements made for their return. Some of the kids had reportedly fled earlier. However, Sanyal could not say whether the government took any legal action against the authorities of the children’s home.
Among the 76 children rescued, 24 are from Assam and 52 from Manipur. The kids will be handed over to police in the two states and sent home. “The government must take responsibility,” said Sanyal...published in TOI on 18.02.10
Police heat on illegal FM stations
RADIO ROW
Three Men Arrested In Malda
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: The airwaves are free — and anyone with the technical knowhow can tap it. Happy with this knowledge, a band of ‘enterprising’ people in Malda and North Dinajpur have started illegal FM stations, dishing out popular songs all day. Though neither district has a single legal FM channel, there are at least 20 such radio stations operating only in Malda.
But the part-time RJs — who actually work as radio and cellphone mechanics — got a rude shock when three of them were arrested on Tuesday. Not only is permission from the information and broadcasting ministry necessary to run such stations, police were also worried that these illegal radio channels could be used by anti-national elements in these sensitive border districts.
An investigation was started after Malda district magistrate Sridhar Ghosh received a confidential report from the Chanchal SDO on these illegal FM channels. “I do not know how they are using frequency modulation without permission. I have urged the police to look into the matter,” the DM said.
A police raid on Tuesday led to two arrests and the seizure of electronic equipment from three radio stations in the Manikchak police station area. Another person was arrested from the Chanchal area. More raids are being carried out. “The crackdown will continue till the last one is brought to book,” said Malda additional SP Mr Kalyan Mukherjee.
The villagers though couldn’t care less about I&B strictures or security concerns. Residents of Bangitola, Chanchal, Manikchak and other areas were enjoying the service. “We are being able to hear some of our favourite songs. What’s wrong with it?” asked Kurban Ali of Bangitola.
“There is a growing demand, especially in the rural areas, for FM radio. As the district officially has no such station, local youths have started channels illegally,” acknowledged a senior police officer. Some of these channels even operate through the night. One of the operators got his trade license from the Englishbazaar Municipality. However, during the investigation, police found that he had actually got the licence for trading in electronic goods but later started using it for running the FM station.
Former information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had laid the foundation stone for setting up an FM radio station in September 2008, but the project had gone into the freezer after his illness.....published in TOI on 12.02.10
Three Men Arrested In Malda
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: The airwaves are free — and anyone with the technical knowhow can tap it. Happy with this knowledge, a band of ‘enterprising’ people in Malda and North Dinajpur have started illegal FM stations, dishing out popular songs all day. Though neither district has a single legal FM channel, there are at least 20 such radio stations operating only in Malda.
But the part-time RJs — who actually work as radio and cellphone mechanics — got a rude shock when three of them were arrested on Tuesday. Not only is permission from the information and broadcasting ministry necessary to run such stations, police were also worried that these illegal radio channels could be used by anti-national elements in these sensitive border districts.
An investigation was started after Malda district magistrate Sridhar Ghosh received a confidential report from the Chanchal SDO on these illegal FM channels. “I do not know how they are using frequency modulation without permission. I have urged the police to look into the matter,” the DM said.
A police raid on Tuesday led to two arrests and the seizure of electronic equipment from three radio stations in the Manikchak police station area. Another person was arrested from the Chanchal area. More raids are being carried out. “The crackdown will continue till the last one is brought to book,” said Malda additional SP Mr Kalyan Mukherjee.
The villagers though couldn’t care less about I&B strictures or security concerns. Residents of Bangitola, Chanchal, Manikchak and other areas were enjoying the service. “We are being able to hear some of our favourite songs. What’s wrong with it?” asked Kurban Ali of Bangitola.
“There is a growing demand, especially in the rural areas, for FM radio. As the district officially has no such station, local youths have started channels illegally,” acknowledged a senior police officer. Some of these channels even operate through the night. One of the operators got his trade license from the Englishbazaar Municipality. However, during the investigation, police found that he had actually got the licence for trading in electronic goods but later started using it for running the FM station.
Former information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had laid the foundation stone for setting up an FM radio station in September 2008, but the project had gone into the freezer after his illness.....published in TOI on 12.02.10
20 killed as bus collides with lorry on NH-34
Subhro Maitra | TNN
Malda: Twenty people, including nine women and two children, were killed and 30 injured when the private bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a sand-laden lorry on NH-34 on Thursday afternoon.
The accident took place at Rahatpur under Karandighi police station in North Dinajpur district, around 40 km towards Siliguri from Raiganj town. Thirteen passengers of the Hili-Siliguri private bus died on the spot and another seven died later in hospitals.
Those who have been identified are Biwi Tariza (35) of Chakulia, Soumen Kundu (19) and Shyamal Kundu (50) of Hili in South Dinajpur, Kundo Rishi (14), Parameswar Sarkar (40), Sanjib Das (40) of Raiganj and Mina Saha (30) of Raiganj. North Dinajpur SP Milan Kanti Das said most of the victims are yet to be identified.
“From preliminary investigation, we came to know that both the lorry and the bus were moving at a high speed.” However, an intensive probe has been started. North Dinajpur DM Ramanuj Chakraborty also visited the spot.
The injured passengers were sent to Karandighi Gramin Hospital first and then to Raiganj District Hospital. Chairman of Raiganj Municipality, Mohit Sengupta, was among the first to rush to the hospital.
Mainul Hoque, a resident of Rahatpur and an eyewitness of the accident, said the bus was speeding. “When it reached Rahatpur, a cyclist suddenly appeared before the bus. The driver swerved right to save the cyclist and collided head on with the lorry,” he narrated.
One of the injured passengers, Uttam Barman, a resident of Koartore village in Hemtabad of North Dinajpur, said from Raiganj District Hospital: “I boarded the bus from Raiganj with my two-year-old daughter and was going to Islampur. The bus was moving at a high speed. When it reached Rahatpur, we felt the bus turn right. Then we heard a sound. I Immediately held my daughter tight. So, she escaped unhurt. But I was injured on the head.”
Malda: Twenty people, including nine women and two children, were killed and 30 injured when the private bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a sand-laden lorry on NH-34 on Thursday afternoon.
The accident took place at Rahatpur under Karandighi police station in North Dinajpur district, around 40 km towards Siliguri from Raiganj town. Thirteen passengers of the Hili-Siliguri private bus died on the spot and another seven died later in hospitals.
Those who have been identified are Biwi Tariza (35) of Chakulia, Soumen Kundu (19) and Shyamal Kundu (50) of Hili in South Dinajpur, Kundo Rishi (14), Parameswar Sarkar (40), Sanjib Das (40) of Raiganj and Mina Saha (30) of Raiganj. North Dinajpur SP Milan Kanti Das said most of the victims are yet to be identified.
“From preliminary investigation, we came to know that both the lorry and the bus were moving at a high speed.” However, an intensive probe has been started. North Dinajpur DM Ramanuj Chakraborty also visited the spot.
The injured passengers were sent to Karandighi Gramin Hospital first and then to Raiganj District Hospital. Chairman of Raiganj Municipality, Mohit Sengupta, was among the first to rush to the hospital.
Mainul Hoque, a resident of Rahatpur and an eyewitness of the accident, said the bus was speeding. “When it reached Rahatpur, a cyclist suddenly appeared before the bus. The driver swerved right to save the cyclist and collided head on with the lorry,” he narrated.
One of the injured passengers, Uttam Barman, a resident of Koartore village in Hemtabad of North Dinajpur, said from Raiganj District Hospital: “I boarded the bus from Raiganj with my two-year-old daughter and was going to Islampur. The bus was moving at a high speed. When it reached Rahatpur, we felt the bus turn right. Then we heard a sound. I Immediately held my daughter tight. So, she escaped unhurt. But I was injured on the head.”
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