Kolkata, 14 May : A day after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said the West Bengal Assembly elections due next year could be advanced and held in October, CPI(M) today ruled out her claim saying it would be held as per scheduled."It does not depend on someone's personal wishes. Assembly elections in the state will be held as per scheduled in 2011," CPI(M) state secretary and politburo member Biman Bose told reporters here.
Yesterday Banerjee had claimed the Assembly elections due May next year could be advanced and held in October. "It is our political calculation that the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in October along with some other states, including Bihar...If the Left Front is defeated in the civic polls, we will demand advancing of the Assembly elections," she had told a press conference here.
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NDFB's Daimary remanded in 2more days of police custody
Guwahati, 14 May : NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary was today remanded in two more days of police custody in a connection with the killing of Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineshwar Brahma at Bashista in 2000.
Though the police sought a remand of 14 days in the case, Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate Robin Phukan, who presided over a camp court in the Guwahati Central Jail, allowed two days after the 12-day custody of Daimary ended. Phukan also directed the authorities to ensure that a medical check-up was conducted on Daimary every 48 hours.
Guwahati, 14 May : NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary was today remanded in two more days of police custody in a connection with the killing of Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Bineshwar Brahma at Bashista in 2000.
Though the police sought a remand of 14 days in the case, Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate Robin Phukan, who presided over a camp court in the Guwahati Central Jail, allowed two days after the 12-day custody of Daimary ended. Phukan also directed the authorities to ensure that a medical check-up was conducted on Daimary every 48 hours.
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Shutdown in Siliguri against separate Gorkhaland demand
Siliguri, 14 May : A regional non-political group, Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee, called for a 24-hour shutdown in West Bengal’s Siliguri District on Friday to protest the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s (GJM) demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.Opposing the demand of the GJM, the members of the committee said that West Bengal is for Bengalis, and the Gorkhas residing in the hills are outsiders. "Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee called a 24-hour strike throughout West Bengal to protest and oppose the interim self-government as demanded by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which amounts to partition of the state," said Mukunda Majumdar, President of the Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee. န Photo : Arnab Mitra
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Maoists kill 5 CPIM workers in West Midnapore and Purulia
Jhargram, Purulia, 14 May : Four CPI(M) supporters and a party worker were today shot dead by Maoists after they suspected them to be police informers and their bodies dumped on the highway at West Midnapore and Purulia districts, police said.Ashok Ahir, Swapan Ahir, Sanatan Ahir and Nazrul Mir were shot dead from point blank range early today for being "police informers" and the bodies left on Silda-Bankura road at Belpahari area near Lalgarh, police said. The middle-aged CPI(M) supporters were picked up from their residences at Chandabila village in Binpur area by a group of 20 armed Maoist cadre last midnight.
They had been missing since then and the bodies were recovered this morning, members of a team of police and paramilitary forces who reached the spot said. န File Photo
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Seven more bodies recovered, Boat capsize toll rises to 17
Kishoreganj, Dhaka, 14 May : Seven more bodies were recovered Friday morning, raising death toll to 17 from Wednesday’s boat capsize in Kishoreganj.
The deceased, most of them hailed from Bazitpur upazila in the district. Subrata Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Bazitpur Police Station, told reporters that the administration with the help of locals recovered the bodies around 10:00am(BDST) as those were floating away along the stream of the river. Earlier eleven bodies were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sources said the motorboat with 100 people on board sank in Dhaleshwari River near Bazitpur on its way to Chatalpur of Brahmanbaria. Most of the passengers swam ashore safely but a few others had been untraceable.
Kishoreganj, Dhaka, 14 May : Seven more bodies were recovered Friday morning, raising death toll to 17 from Wednesday’s boat capsize in Kishoreganj.
The deceased, most of them hailed from Bazitpur upazila in the district. Subrata Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Bazitpur Police Station, told reporters that the administration with the help of locals recovered the bodies around 10:00am(BDST) as those were floating away along the stream of the river. Earlier eleven bodies were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sources said the motorboat with 100 people on board sank in Dhaleshwari River near Bazitpur on its way to Chatalpur of Brahmanbaria. Most of the passengers swam ashore safely but a few others had been untraceable.
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Inflation to average at 4.5-5% this fiscal: Pranab Mukherjee
PTI, New Delhi, May : Expressing concern over the rising prices, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today exuded confidence that average inflation during the current fiscal will be at 4.5-5 per cent.
"Average annual inflation rate will come down substantially...I think it would not be more than 4.5-5 per cent," he told business channel CNBC TV18 this evening. The inflation has crossed 10 per cent in February but marginally declined to 9.59 per cent in April. But food inflation is still hovering at 16-17 per cent.
PTI, New Delhi, May : Expressing concern over the rising prices, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today exuded confidence that average inflation during the current fiscal will be at 4.5-5 per cent.
"Average annual inflation rate will come down substantially...I think it would not be more than 4.5-5 per cent," he told business channel CNBC TV18 this evening. The inflation has crossed 10 per cent in February but marginally declined to 9.59 per cent in April. But food inflation is still hovering at 16-17 per cent.
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Bangladesh Navy deployed to help transport aviation fuel
Chittagong, Dhaka, 14 May : Forces and vessels of Bangladesh Navy have been deployed in Dhaka, Narayangonj, Chittagong and Khulna to help transportation of aviation fuel amid country-wide shipping strike.Bangladesh Navy ships, boats and personnel have undertaken a wide range of activities besides providing assistance to local administration under "In Aid to Civil Power" on request of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said an ISPR press release. Naval contingents have brought two jet fuel tankers alongside jetty, repaired the fuel pumps and have been bunkering fuel to the depot since Wednesday.
They have unloaded around 24,00,000 litters of jet fuel from two tankers since Wednesday. Besides, Bangladesh Navy Tanker (BNT), 'IMAM GAJJALI' has started sailing from Khulna towards Chittagong and a special navy team was brought to Dhaka from Chittagong for rendering assistance in fuel transportation. န Photo : Courtesy
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Concern over closure of various beaches in Havelock Island
Port Blair, 14 May : On 6th May 2010, a petition from Hotel and Restaurant Association of Andaman (HRAA) was submitted to The Secretary, Tourism, A & N Administration, to express their grave concern about closure of various beaches in Havelock Island on account of Crocodile attack resulting in long lasting devastating & degrading effect on the Tourism Scenario of our Islands.
The letter also expressed concern about the Private Sector becoming the target of anger of the frustrated tourists visiting Havelock Island, besides apprehension about earning the livelihood of a large population in this Tourism Sector. The letter also suggested taking some short term as well as some long term measures to be taken on priority immediately.
Port Blair, 14 May : On 6th May 2010, a petition from Hotel and Restaurant Association of Andaman (HRAA) was submitted to The Secretary, Tourism, A & N Administration, to express their grave concern about closure of various beaches in Havelock Island on account of Crocodile attack resulting in long lasting devastating & degrading effect on the Tourism Scenario of our Islands.
The letter also expressed concern about the Private Sector becoming the target of anger of the frustrated tourists visiting Havelock Island, besides apprehension about earning the livelihood of a large population in this Tourism Sector. The letter also suggested taking some short term as well as some long term measures to be taken on priority immediately.
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Tourists cancel bookings in Darjeeling following shutdown
ANI, Siliguri, 14 May : Tourists heading to Darjeeling for holidays are cancelling their plans following a shutdown call given by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to demand a separate state of Gorkhaland.
The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha that has called for a shutdown on Saturday and Sunday are expected to come up with a more intensive movement, if their demands are not met. Following the shutdown call, tourists are reluctant to stay in Darjeeling, fearing violence. “I went to Darjeeling and had plans to stay there for around ten days. But I heard that Darjeeling hills would come under strike for a period of two days. Hearing the news, I decided to return. Like me, there are many other tourists who are going back,” said Safikul Islam, a tourist from Bangladesh.Tour operators said the shutdown call would be a big loss for tourismin the area. “It (shutdown) brings a very bad brand name to the region actually, and with the strikes that are due on 14th, 15th and 16th of May in the plains and in the hills. There have been several cancellations, which is very unfortunate because this is the most peak time for the tourism this summer,” said Raj Basu, tour operator. န File Photos
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Militants killed in encounter with Assam Rifles in Manipur
PTI, Imphal, 14 May : Several militants were killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles in Chandel district of Manipur, bordering Myanmar, police said today.
Assam Rifles personnel of the 21st battalion were patrolling an interior area of Chandel when they were attacked by militants late last night, resulting in heavy exchange of fire. Several militants were killed in the encounter, however, the exact figure was not yet known, they said.
PTI, Imphal, 14 May : Several militants were killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles in Chandel district of Manipur, bordering Myanmar, police said today.
Assam Rifles personnel of the 21st battalion were patrolling an interior area of Chandel when they were attacked by militants late last night, resulting in heavy exchange of fire. Several militants were killed in the encounter, however, the exact figure was not yet known, they said.
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