Raiganj girl found dead in Bangalore

By : KOUSHIK SEN, for Telegraph

The body of a 21-year-old girl from Raiganj was recovered from her hostel room in Karnataka on January 28.

Mousumi Roy, used to study at a private nursing college in Bangalore, and was found hanging in her hostel room. Police suspect suicide.

Mousmi's parents lodged a police complaint against Md Sreyash Raj, a youth from Raiganj and a medical student who also stays in Karnataka, alleging that he used to blackmail their daughter by showing a video clip of hers.

"They went to Goa from the college and during the tour, my niece met Sreyash. He somehow managed to shoot some video clip of Mousmi and started blackmailing her. He had also sent a clip to Mousmi's fiancé here in Raiganj which led to their break up," Bhakta Roy, Mousmi's uncle, said.

The body was brought to Raiganj on January 29.

The girl's family demonstrated at the local police station on Wednesday, demanding post-mortem for the second time.

They have also named Abdul Kalam Azad and his son Md. Iquebal in the FIR, Roy informed.

Sandeep Lamichhane - Nepal's 'Shane Warne' Eagerly Awaits IPL Learning Curve

Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane says his breakthrough Indian Premier League deal will give him the chance to play alongside the cricketing elite and promote the sport back at home.

Lamichhane, 17, became an overnight hero after becoming Nepal's first cricketer to enter the lucrative IPL, with Delhi Daredevils picking him in a mega auction Sunday. 

His name was splashed across front pages of national newspapers and thousands took to social media to express their excitement. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba tweeted, "Not just me, but the entire nation is proud of you."

Lamichhane, who has been likened to spin legend Shane Warne, made the meteoric rise to the IPL just two years after being selected for Nepal's national team.

"If you get the chance to play in the IPL, lots of players will be there who are very experienced and I think I will learn a lot," Lamichhane, the son of a railway worker, told AFP in Dubai.

Lamichhane's Delhi teammates will include Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and pacemen Trent Boult (New Zealand) and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), among others.

The teenager is expected to make Nepal more of a force in international cricket. They are the only South Asian nation not to have Test, one-day or T20 status, barring the isolated kingdom of Bhutan.

Lamichhane credits Nepal's senior players with popularising the sport among young people in a football-mad country.

"The senior guys have done something for the new guys who are coming right now into the teams, and their contributions have made our country a cricket-crazy nation," he said.

Lamichhane's talent was first noticed by former Nepal national cricket coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who spotted him at a training camp in 2015.

The spin-bowling sensation then attracted the attention of Australian great Michael Clarke, when he played alongside the former captain in a Hong Kong Twenty20 Blitz tournament in 2016. 

Clarke invited Lamichhane to train at his cricket academy in Sydney, an experience the teenager described as unforgettable.

"Playing with a player like Michael Clarke is such as a big thing. It was amazing and sharing a dressing room with him and getting experience from him, it was something like a dream come true," he said.

'New Heights'

Lamichhane is currently in Dubai training with Nepal's national team ahead of the World Cricket League Division Two tournament in Namibia next month. 

Nepal must finish in the top two to take part in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in March. It has never qualified for the World Cup.

The sport's development has been hampered by the country's turbulent recent history, including a 1996-2006 civil war, and endemic corruption. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was struck off by the sport's global governing body in 2016 for political interference.

Lamichhane's base price contract of $31,499 may be small fry in the cash-rich IPL, which shelled out a total of $70 million for 169 players during the two-day auction.
But back home, many hope his success will revive the country's scandal-tainted domestic cricket.

The controversy had hampered Nepali cricket and young talented players were losing out, said CAN's Chumbi Lama.

"(Lamichhane) is a young talented cricketer and an impressive leg spinner," Lama said. “If he gets good guidance his future is very bright. He will lead Nepali cricket to new heights

Source : CRICKETNEXT , AFP

Morcha plans rally to counter GNLF

Writes :RAJEEV RAVIDAS 

In pic :The crowd at the GNLF meeting in Darjeeling on Sunday. (Passang Yolmo)

The Binay Tamang faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha seems to have been rattled by the huge turnout at the GNLF's public meeting on Sunday with its youth wing on Monday announcing a "show of strength" of its own within the next couple of months.

The Yuva Morcha also questioned its rival's right to demand the dissolution of the GTA board of administration (BoA) and accused the GNLF president Mann Ghisingh of throwing a challenge to chief minister Mamata Banerjee by making such a demand.

Ghisingh had demanded that the BoA be dissolved immediately as it could prove a hindrance to finding a permanent solution to the hill issue.

Arun Chhetri, the Yuwa Morcha spokesman, told reporters in Darjeeling that by organising the show-of-strength, it wanted to convey the message that the Morcha still enjoyed overwhelming support in the hills.

"The Yuwa Morcha will hold a show-of-strength at the Darjeeling Motor Stand in the next few days... We want to send a message that we enjoy the people's support," he said.

By show-of-strength, Chhetri meant a larger public meeting than the one conducted by the GNLF on Sunday. The date of the meeting, he said, will be finalised at the central committee meeting of the Yuva Morcha in Darjeeling on Wednesday, but it will be held either next month or in March.

Chhetri said the state government had formed the BoA as per the provision of the GTA Act, and Ghisingh had no right to demand its dissolution.

"Mann Ghisingh's statement must be taken as a challenge to Mamata Banerjee and the Bengal government, if it wants, should give a respond to it. However, who has given Mann Ghisingh the right to challenge the provision of the GTA Act?" he asked.

Both the Binay faction of the Morcha and the GNLF are working closely with the chief minister. While Binay was made the chairman of the BoA by the state government, it formed a completely new body called the Hill Area Development Committee with Ghisingh at its helm.

Both the parties have also openly stated that they are in talks with the state government to find a permanent solution to the hill issue. While Binay had said he was discussing a "new arrangement" to solve the twin issues of Gorkha identity and security, Ghisingh had said his party favours an autonomous body under the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution

[Telegraph Report]

Train delays as driver takes time for sleep Express leaves Balurghat four hours late

Writes : KOUSIK SEN

In Pc :The Tebhaga Express before the departure at the Balurghat station on Monday

The Calcutta-bound Tebhaga Express left Balurghat around four hours behind schedule on Monday morning as the driver had refused to start the train without adequate sleep.

The same driver had operated the express from Calcutta to Balurghat and it reached the destination at 3.30am on Monday. The scheduled arrival time was 10.35pm on Sunday, but the train was delayed by around five hours because of fog and other reasons.

The train is supposed to leave Balurghat at 5.30am and reach Calcutta at 2.25pm. But on Monday, the driver started the train after 9.30am.

"The train was late by almost four hours. The driver told us that he needed adequate sleep or else, he couldn't drive the train back to Calcutta. He then went to sleep," said Chandan Kumar Mondal, the station-in-charge of Balurghat.

Passengers started arriving at the station around 5am and became furious as there was delay in the train's departure. "The train was at the platform but there was no indication when it would leave. I was waiting for some time and then went to the railway office at the platform to know the reason for the delay. I learnt that the driver had refused to run the train without adequate sleep," said Kamal Kumar Saha, a passenger.

Source said there was no second driver at the Balurghat station who could have operated the train.

Asked why there was no second driver, the station-in-charge said: "I have informed senior officials and have nothing else to comment."

Many travellers lost patience and left the station to board a bus or use other conveyance mode to reach their destinations. Others stood at the station or sat in the coaches, waiting for the driver to wake up.

"The driver took rest for almost six hours and the train left after 9.30am," said a passenger.

Senior railway officials of Katihar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway under which Balurghat falls did not speak on the issue.

Telegraph Report

Jalpaiguri HC bench hope Tender issued for circuit bench construction

The Bengal public works department has issued a tender seeking applications from construction firms to set up infrastructure required to set up the circuit bench of Calcutta High Court here.

The Jalpaiguri residents have been raising the demand for the bench for over past 50 years.

"We have seen a tender notice issued by the state PWD in a vernacular daily on January 26, where applications have been sought for construction of the infrastructure of circuit bench. It is a major development as the state has only built a boundary wall at the plot earmarked for the bench so far," said Kamal Krishna Banerjee, the secretary of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench O Dabi Aday Sarbik Unnayan Sammanoy Committee.

The tender that has been floated with a minimum bid price of Rs 352 crore is a clear indication that the state intends to ready the infrastructure for the circuit bench.

Back in 1963, lawyers of Jalpaiguri had, for the first time, raised the demand. After 31 years, in 1994, a three-member team of judges from Calcutta High Court visited Jalpaiguri and submitted their report. Also, a decision was taken at the Cabinet of the then Left government and in 2006, the same decision was passed in Parliament.
7
In 2007, a plot measuring around 40 acres was handed over to the state judicial department by the Jalpaiguri district administration.

In 2012, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Justice J.N. Patel, the then Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, laid the foundation stone for construction of the infrastructure at the plot.

The state then allotted a sum of Rs 56 crore for construction of boundary wall and to prepare the land for infrastructure.

"Construction of the boundary wall had ended but there was not much of a development since then. It is good that the state taken the initiative to build the infrastructure," said Banerjee.

Sources said the state government had planned to build a five-storied court building, 15 bungalows for judges, the Chief Justice's bungalow, over 70 staff quarters which would be in four-storied buildings, an auditorium with capacity of 300 people, car parking space and Judges' Club on the site.

Also, there would be space for air-conditioning plant, sewerage treatment plant, water reservoir, generator room, electrical sub-station, playground and some other facilities, said the sources.

"Submission of bids for the tender will finish by February. We hope construction would start from the beginning of next fiscal," a senior official of the state PWD department said.

Source : Telegraph, IN PC : The boundary wall of the plot where the proposed circuit bench will be set up. Picture by Biplab Basak

Burman plans rally, Trinamul gets jitters

Writes : MAIN UDDIN CHISTI 

[In Pic : GCPA leader Bangshibadan Burman]

The Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA) has planned a two-day event next week.

Bangshibadan Burman, the GCPA general secretary, said on Saturday that on January 31, they will hold a public meeting at Saheberhat located on the outskirts of the town to mark the 508th birth anniversary of Chila Roy, one of the prominent warriors of the Cooch Behar royal family.

Shukladhwaj, popularly known as Chila Roy, was the brother of King Naranarayan of Cooch Behar. "On January 30, we will organise a workers' meeting at the same place," said Burman.

GCPA had been demanding that Cooch Behar be conferred the status of a state. This had made the government put Burman in two important posts. He is the vice-chairman of the Rajbanshi Development & Cultural Board and Rajbandhi Bhasa Academy - floated by the state for development of the community and for conservation of their language.

Also, Atul Roy, president of Kamtapur Progressive Party, that has similar demands, was also made vice-chairman of Kamtapuri Bhasa Academy.

"Burman however, has not joined Trinamul. He has tried to create pressure on Trinamul. Recently, he had held a rally under the banner of GCPA with the demand that he should be elevated to the chairman's post at the board," said an observer.

This is more so because the BJP has been steadily focussing on Cooch Behar.

But Burman denied any politics behind the event. . "It is wrong to draw any political inference. So far as the rural elections are concerned, decisions can be made and altered even at the last minute."

Trinamul leaders are keeping a close watch. "We all are proud of Chila Roy for his heroism and he does not represent a single community. The state has been working for Rajbanshis in a consistent manner," said north Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh

[Telegraph Report]

Saraswati arrives, 5 days late School skips event, protests force late puja

By : KOUSIK SEN 

In pic : The belated Saraswati Puja at the Khalsi Primary School on Saturday. Picture by Kousik Sen

Authorities of a government-aided primary school organised Saraswati Puja at the school on Saturday, five days after the festival.

The reason: On January 22, the authorities had announced a holiday at the school and did not make any arrangements for the puja. This left the students and a section of locals agitated who resorted to protests, prompting the teachers to arrange the puja on Saturday.

Located around seven kilometres from here, the teachers of Khalsi Free Primary School had declared that the school will remain close on occasion of Saraswati Puja.

This made the students and some parents approach the teachers and express their anguish. "We told the teachers that Saraswati Puja should be held in our school like other schools or else, we will not study here. The teachers discussed then and decided to have the Puja. Though it was not held on the usual day, we enjoyed a lot," said Parul Roy, a class-IV student.

"We felt it was a mistake on our part to announce a holiday on January 22 instead of arranging the Puja. That is why we accepted the students' demand and organised it," said Basudeb Mondal, headmaster of the school.

The decision however, has left a section of parents angry.

"Children might have enjoyed but whatever has happened is incorrect. First of all, the school declared a holiday when there was supposed to be Saraswati Puja and secondly, it did not held classes and held the puja on a second day," said Kalyan Roy, a local resident.

"We are conducting an inquiry. If it is found that the teachers have violated government directives and rules, necessary steps would be taken," said Aminul Ahsaan, the district inspector of schools (primary), North Dinajpur.

Telegraph

Kalimpong trucks stop ferrying stones Clampdown on illegal mining triggers strike by drivers

Writes : RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT

About 300 truckers engaged in ferrying stones from the quarries situated on Teesta, Relli and other rivers stopped work since Friday following the Kalimpong district administration's clampdown on illegal mining.

The Kalimpong Truck Workers' Welfare Association Mainline and Kalimpong Hill Truck Owners' and Drivers' Welfare Association, the two major organisations of the truckers, said they had been left with no choice but to heed the district administration's directive.

"On January 16, the district administration impounded a truck carrying stones and imposed a hefty fine of Rs 40,000, following which we have decided to completely stop ferrying stones from rivers," said Milap Chhetri, the secretary of the Mainline truckers.

Kalimpong district magistrate Dr Viswanath, he said, has made it very clear to them that no illegal stone mining would be allowed. "Yes, it is true that we do not have any licence to mine and ferry stones. Earlier, the irrigation department and the forest department used to issue trade permits for the job, but they stopped doing that some time back. Since then, we have been carrying out our activities without any official permission," he added.

While Milap said his association would prefer to adopt a wait-and-watch policy for now, the other truckers' body said given that so many families were being run from the stone trade, it would appeal to the district administration and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to work out an amicable solution whereby the livelihood of the truckers are sustained and the entire system legalised.

Kusang Ghisingh, the secretary of the owners and drivers association, said the ban on stone mining would also affect the people of Kalimpong in general because the cost of stones would more than double if they are brought from the plains. "Say, if a truckload of stones from the hills costs Rs 4,000 or Rs 4,500, the one brought from the plains would cost about Rs 11,000. So it is not the matter of us truckers alone. We would be meeting the DM on Monday and request him to work out a solution to the benefit of all concerned. We will also request the intervention of the board of administration of the GTA to help solve the problem," he said.

The Kalimpong district magistrate asserted that no illegal mining would be allowed. "The concept of quarry permit has become obsolete. There has to be an auction. Till an auction happens after due clearance from the environmental committee, lifting even a bolder is illegal," he said.

Dr. Viswanath said the GTA was the authority to carry out auction and award contract to the highest bidder through e-bidding as is being done in other parts of the state. "We have written two letters to the GTA about three months back (to conduct an auction). This is a subject of the GTA...Our subject is to see if environmental clearance and auction is taking place," he said.

Mamata plays tolerance and harmony cards at biz summit to woo investors

In Pic : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has held the Bengal Global Business Summit for the fourth time to attract investors. (Samir Jana/HT PHOTO)

[By Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Hindustan Times]

Years after the Marxists tried to convince investors that militant trade unionism was a thing of the past in Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee projected “tolerance” and “harmony” at the Trinamool government’s fourth business summit held over two days in a bid to attract capital.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Bengal Global Business Summit 2018 on Tuesday, Banerjee offered guaranteed “tolerance” and “security” in return for investment.

Though she did not name any political party, it was apparent that the chief minister was trying to gain political mileage as she has blamed the BJP alone for every communal unrest in recent times.

“We believe in unity and tolerance. So, I invite all my industrialist friends to invest here without any fear. At the same time, I would like to assure that I will not compromise on the issue of their security. I won’t spare even my own party activists on this count,” said Banerjee on the first day of the summit.

On Wednesday, the second and last day of the event, the chief minister said, “Bengal believes in tolerance and it does not make discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and religion.”

“When you come to Bengal please don’t think you are going somewhere else. Think that you are coming to your own home. Don’t think I am pleading only for West Bengal. I also want industry to come to Bihar and Odisha,” she said.

She claimed that over two days investors evinced interest to put in about Rs 2.19 lakh crore in different projects in Bengal.

While addressing investors on previous occasions, Banerjee had always alleged that there had been deliberate attempt by interests groups to malign Bengal’s image and project it as unfriendly. She completely dumped this approach at the two-day summit. “The parameters in Bengal are ideal for investment. We have political stability. As far as lost man-day is concerned, the dark days are over. We have surplus power and skilled labour,” she said on Tuesday.

“Bengal has an excellent team of bureaucrats who are always ready to cooperate with industrialists so that they may run their business smoothly. In terms of ease of doing business, Bengal is the best state,” she added.

The chief minister admitted that without fresh investments Bengal cannot go ahead. “Just as the state cannot move ahead without proper agricultural development, it cannot develop its economy without industrial progress. We need to ensure that industrialists run their business in peace,” she said on Tuesday.

She also raised the issue of caste politics at the inaugural session. “We have people of various castes, religions and beliefs in India. Unity in diversity is our pride. People of Bengal have always practiced this unity and that is our strength,” she said.