GJM gives ultimatum to WB govt, tourists leave Hills
Darjeeling, Kolkata, 11 July : The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha gave an ultimatum to the West Bengal government to meet its demands by 13 July failing which it threatened of an indefinite bandh in Darjeeling.
WB Home secretary Ardhendu Sen said "tourists have almost all come down to the plains in view of the threatened strike by the Morcha". Asked about the ultimatum served by GJM to the government to concede its demands by mid day of 13 July, Sen said it appeared that the Morcha was heading towards an indefinite bandh in the hills. District Magistrate Surendra Gupta said, "There are very few tourists in Darjeeling as this is the off season. Most hotels are empty. It will be not be a problem for the few tourists to leave."
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said that letter has been faxed to WB Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee giving a noon deadline of 13 July for removal of North Bengal IGP K L Tamta and an inquiry into yesterday's baton charge on GJM supporters at Panighatta. Giri said over phone from Darjeeling that Additional SP Akhilesh Chaturvedi under whom the 'unprovoked' baton charge was initiated be punished. န Photo : AP
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Extortionist demands Tk 10,000 from UNESCO official
Dhaka, 11 July : An extortionist demanded Tk 10,000 from a UNESCO official by repeated phone calls on Saturday, threatening dire consequences if the sum was not paid, a UNESCO statement said.
The extortionist, who identified himself as 'Shahadat', called the personal mobile phone number of Sadeque Ahmed, the UNESCO country representative's secretary, while he was at work and warned him not to say anything to anyone. The signed statement also said the caller had rung Sadeque's home telephone line, located his residence and mentioned that "associates" were positioned nearby.
The caller told the official to pay the money to one 'Rony', who would be found at the Nabinagar branch of SA Paribahan, said the statement. A telephone number for Rony was also given as 01924 276 229.
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Andaman DDHS accused of committing adultery
Agartala, 11 July : The family court of Agartala has decided to hear the adultery case filed against the Deputy Director Health Service (DDHS) of Andaman by his wife on Monday next.
According to report, the accused, Dr Abhijit Kar, a resident of Mangalore, now posted in Andaman, had married Tania Kar in 2002, but recently she filed a divorce case in Agartala. Meanwhile, she recorded telephonic conversations and also clicked some pictures to prove her allegations of adultery.
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West Bengal govt. to boost Archaeological research
Kolkata, 11 July : The West Bengal government will set up a specialised centre for carrying out research and training on archaeology and heritage management, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said.
The centre will also house the state heritage commission, Bhattacharjee said while moving a demand for grants for the information and cultural affairs department in the assembly. The excavations by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at Hatpara in Murshidabad district has pushed back the known history of human habitation in the area to approximately 40,000 years.
“The excavation is expected to bridge the gap between the stone-age and the late historic period,” said the chief minister.
The West Bengal heritage commission has so far identified 102 monuments and taken up 43 cases of conservation and restoration work to be executed through various rural and urban civic bodies.
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Two CPI(M) activists lynched by Maoists in Lalgarh
Lalgarh, 11 July : Maoist rebels again abducted and lynched two CPI(M) activists here on Friday night, even as the joint security operation to nab the ultras in and around the enclave of West Midnapore district continued. A group of the Maoist raided the Chandra area near the Kotwali police station of the district and took away Baren Mahato and Gurucharan Mahato at gunpoint. "They were beaten to death," inspector general of state police (Western Range) Kuldip Singh said.
The badly mutilated bodies of the two were found in the early hours on Saturday, some distance from the area where they were abducted.
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GJM suspend Darjeeling strike till 13 July
PTI, Siliguri, 11 July : The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha which had called for an indefinite strike in Darjeeling hills on saturaday, suspended the strike till 13 July, party sources said.
The GJM Press and Publicity secretary Benoy Tamang told PTI that the party had told the state government to transfer IGP (North Bengal) K L Tamta, ASP(HQ) A Chaturvedi and Kurseong Sub-Divisional Police Officer by noon of 13 July, failing which the party would go for an indefinite strike.
The indefinite strike has also been suspended till 13 July to allow the tourists to leave the hills and local people to stock essentials, the sources said. န Photo : AP
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Five persons dead in political clash in Murshidabad
Murshidabad, 11 July : Five persons have been killed in a fierce political clash in Naoda in Murshidabad yesterday. Police recovered five bodies from Naoda today after a fierce political clash in an area last night.
Fifteen persons were arrested in this connection. Police said that the curfew and prohibitory orders under sections 144 Crpc have been imposed at Jhaubona, Trimohini and Begunbadi in Naoda in order to ensure peace in the area. A strong police picket has been posted. BSF jawans staged flag march in the area. All steps have been taken to avoid any further untoward incident.
Special operation was made by the district magistrate and superintendent of police to rescue the people who took shelter in schools, bank and government offices during last night’s clash.