Kolkata, 7 May : Eighty three percent turnout was recorded in the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, which ended peacefully in four Maoist-affected districts today.
Election office sources said there was 83% polling in the seats spread over West Midnapur, Bankura, Purulia and parts of Burdwan district at 5:00 pm when polling ended. Polling was 83% in West Midnapore, 83.5% in Bankura, 80% in Burdwan and 78%t in Purulia, the sources said.The fate of health minister and CPI(M) leader Dr Suryakanta Mishra and WBPCC president Manas Bhunia, who were among the 193 candidates were sealed in EVMs.
Six persons were arrested from Raghunathpur area of Bankura district and four from Pingla and Chandrakona town in West Midnapore district, official sources said.
Election Observers and the police rushed to Keshpur in the same district after the Trinamool Congress alleged that CPI(M) supporters were jamming booths and preventing genuine voters from casting their votes.
Two journalists, belonging to PTI and a Bengali daily besides a photographer were beaten up allegedly by CPI(M) supporters after they spoke to the presiding officer Sourav Banerjee at Dayalpur in Galsi assembly constituency in Burdwan district, an FIR lodged by them said. A local CPI(M) leader, Sk Zulfikar also allegedly abused them in the presence of the presiding officer.The Left Front''s stake is high in these seats because in 2009 during its rout at the hands of the Trinamool Congress in south Bengal in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the four districts, known as the red fort, rebuffed the winds of change blowing across West Bengal.
Of the 38 seats, 12 are in West Midnapur, 5 in Purulia, 9 in Bankura and 12 in Burdwan district. The Left Front is contesting all the 38 seats while Trinamool Congress has fielded candidates in 33 and alliance partner Congress in five. The BJP has fielded candidates in all the seats.
Tight security arrangements were made with deployment of around 600 companies of central paramilitary forces besides state forces. န Photos : Dipankar Chatterjee, Arpan Mukherjee, Niraj Modi
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New cultural centres to mark Tagore's 150 birth anniversary
New Delhi, 7 May : Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said as part of the commemoration of Tagore''s 150th birth anniversary, the central government will facilitate setting up of new cultural complexes in different parts of the country.
New Delhi, 7 May : Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said as part of the commemoration of Tagore''s 150th birth anniversary, the central government will facilitate setting up of new cultural complexes in different parts of the country.
The centre has revamped the Multipurpose Cultural Complexes (MPCCs) scheme and renamed it as Tagore Cultural Complexes Scheme, he said at a function organised here to launch the 150th anniversary commemoration of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
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E-mail claiming expertise to hack into EVMs a prank : CEC
PTI, New Delhi, 7 May : The Election Commission today dismissed as "prank" reports about a suspected e-mail with its sender claiming expertise to hack into EVMs and said one person has been arrested in this regard.Replying to a question, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said following the report, the Commission referred the matter for investigation. "We have nabbed one person who seems to be responsible" for it, he said, adding that "it seems to be prank, false".
The CPI(M) on Thursday lodged a complaint with the EC about a suspect e-mail from an anonymous person who claimed to have the expertise to hack into EVMs.
The sender of the mail had opened an account in CPM's Bankura district committee secretary Amiya Patra's name and sent him a mail with the offer. Patra lodged an FIR with the Bankura police. န File Photo
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Terror can't be allowed to disrupt Indo-Bangla ties : Pranab
New Delhi, 7 May : India today said terrorism cannot be allowed to disrupt its ties with Bangladesh and both the countries will have to collectively fight terror.
"We cannot afford to allow them (terrorists) to disrupt our relations", Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said during an interaction with a group of 11 Bangladeshi journalists who called on him here.
New Delhi, 7 May : India today said terrorism cannot be allowed to disrupt its ties with Bangladesh and both the countries will have to collectively fight terror.
"We cannot afford to allow them (terrorists) to disrupt our relations", Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said during an interaction with a group of 11 Bangladeshi journalists who called on him here.
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Jamat's MR Nizami quizzed in 'Chittagong arms haul cases'
Chittagong, 7 May : Detained Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami has been quizzed in the cases filed in connection with the 10-truck arms haul.
Officials of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) grilled him at Dhaka Central Jail gate for five hours since Saturday morning.
Chittagong, 7 May : Detained Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami has been quizzed in the cases filed in connection with the 10-truck arms haul.
Officials of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) grilled him at Dhaka Central Jail gate for five hours since Saturday morning.
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Bangladesh government committed to fight terrorism : MOP
PTI, New Delhi, 7 May : Expressing its commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism, Bangladesh today assured India that its territory will not be allowed to be used by elements working against the interests of any country.Addressing a programme to commemorate the 150th year of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary here, Planning Minister of Bangladesh A K Khandker said his countrymen cannot forget India's support to their freedom struggle.
Khandker, a retired Air Vice Marshal, who had also participated in the 1971 war for the freedom of Bangladesh said, "The spontaneous support that we received from the government and the people of India can never be forgotten by the people of Bangladesh. န Photo : AFP
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Three journalists Journalists allegedly beaten up by CPI(M)
Burdwan, 7 May : Three journalists were today beaten up allegedly by CPI(M) supporters after blocking their car at Dayalpur under Galsi assembly constituency in Burdwan district.
According to the FIR lodged by the three scribes with the Galsi police station, they were beaten up by CPI(M) cadres after their car was blocked by two bullock carts. The cadres were annoyed as the journalists had gone to a polling booth to talk to the presiding officer Sourav Banerjee, the FIR said. Prior to that a local CPI(M) leader, Sk Zulfikar abused the journalists in front of the presiding officer..... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
Burdwan, 7 May : Three journalists were today beaten up allegedly by CPI(M) supporters after blocking their car at Dayalpur under Galsi assembly constituency in Burdwan district.
According to the FIR lodged by the three scribes with the Galsi police station, they were beaten up by CPI(M) cadres after their car was blocked by two bullock carts. The cadres were annoyed as the journalists had gone to a polling booth to talk to the presiding officer Sourav Banerjee, the FIR said. Prior to that a local CPI(M) leader, Sk Zulfikar abused the journalists in front of the presiding officer..... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
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Sen for oversee court process' institutionalised mechanism
PTI, New Delhi, 7 May : Civil rights activist Binayak Sen today favoured an institutionalised mechanism to oversee the process conducted in local courts even in routine cases.Sen claimed there was absolutely a "total disjunction" between the evidence recorded and the judgement delivered by a Chhattisgarh court which convicted him on charges of sedition. He was later released on bail by the Supreme Court.
"I wish possibilities of developing some form of institutionalised public oversight of process conducted in courts in routine cases of IPC can be discussed," he said addressing a function here.
Sen said he was fortunate to have the support of so many friends inside and outside the country in his fight. "I am not alone in this sense. I am also not alone as thousands and thousands across the country are in same condition of incarceration which I myself found in," he said.
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Air India operations near normal today in Kolkata's NSCBA
Kolkata, 7 May : Flight operations by Air India, whose pilots returned to work after 10 days of strike, at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport returned to near normal today.
Out of the total 22 Air India flights from the airport two flights - to Mumbai and Chennai were cancelled, airport sources said. The rest of the flights and one chartered flight to Agaratala are on schedule, the sources said adding 10 flights have already left till noon.
Overseas flight of the airlines for London and another for Kathmandu left as per schedule, the sources said. The Dhaka, Singapore and New York flights will take off as per schedule in the evening hours, the sources added.
Kolkata, 7 May : Flight operations by Air India, whose pilots returned to work after 10 days of strike, at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport returned to near normal today.
Out of the total 22 Air India flights from the airport two flights - to Mumbai and Chennai were cancelled, airport sources said. The rest of the flights and one chartered flight to Agaratala are on schedule, the sources said adding 10 flights have already left till noon.
Overseas flight of the airlines for London and another for Kathmandu left as per schedule, the sources said. The Dhaka, Singapore and New York flights will take off as per schedule in the evening hours, the sources added.
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War fighters sacrifices shouldn't be lost sight of:Chief justice
BSS, Comilla, 7 May : Bangladesh's Chief justice A B M Khairul Haque has said the supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters should be there in mind while amending the constitution.
"We've got the constitution at the cost of blood and the supreme sacrifice of 3 million people. Let's not forget their sacrifices while reviewing it," he said on Saturday. He made the remarks while laying the foundation stone of Muktijuddha Chattar (Liberation War Premises) at Comilla Zila School, in the memory of the school students who participated in the Liberation War.
BSS, Comilla, 7 May : Bangladesh's Chief justice A B M Khairul Haque has said the supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters should be there in mind while amending the constitution.
"We've got the constitution at the cost of blood and the supreme sacrifice of 3 million people. Let's not forget their sacrifices while reviewing it," he said on Saturday. He made the remarks while laying the foundation stone of Muktijuddha Chattar (Liberation War Premises) at Comilla Zila School, in the memory of the school students who participated in the Liberation War.
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International Award to be instituted in Tagore's name : PM
PTI, New Delhi, 7 May : Describing Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as a "multi-faceted genius", Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today announced that a prestigious international award will be instituted in his name.
"Government of India has decided to institute a prestigious international award in the name of Rabindranath Tagore to recognise very distinguished contributions towards the promotion of international brotherhood and fraternity," he said inaugurating the 150th anniversary celebrations of the poet.He said a jury headed by the Prime Minister will select each year from across the globe a citizen of outstanding public eminence who in his or her life and work "epitomises the high universal ideals that Tagore stood for."
The first award, he hoped, would be presented by the end of the commemoration period. Noting that the poet was a multi-faceted genius, Dr Singh said a wide range of projects are being undertaken as part of the anniversary celebrations to make Tagore''s work more accessible to a wider audience and to preserve his works for posterity.
Underscoring his commitment to the revival of Viswa Bharati "which stands as a living symbol of the poet''s enduring faith in the learning ability and creative power of the young mind and free spirit", he said a special grant of Rs 95 crore would be given to the varsity.
"I can think of no more important task than the revival of Viswa Bharati. As a chancellor of the university, I am personally committed to this important task. The Government of India is putting a lot of resources into Viswa Bharati including a special grant of Rs 95 crore," he said. န Photos : AFP
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Tripura gov to sell stock securities to tide over financial crisis
PTI, Agartala, 7 May : The Left Front government in Tripura, facing severe financial crisis, will collect Rs 100 crore by selling Tripura State Government Stock (Securities) - 2011, official sources said.
The government stock will be sold through Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the payment will be repaid in May 2021, Manoj Kumar, Principal Secretary, Finance said. "The cut-off yield determined at the auction will be coupon rate per annum on the stock at the auction while the rate of interest will be paid every half yearly on 11 November and 11 May", the notification said.
PTI, Agartala, 7 May : The Left Front government in Tripura, facing severe financial crisis, will collect Rs 100 crore by selling Tripura State Government Stock (Securities) - 2011, official sources said.
The government stock will be sold through Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the payment will be repaid in May 2021, Manoj Kumar, Principal Secretary, Finance said. "The cut-off yield determined at the auction will be coupon rate per annum on the stock at the auction while the rate of interest will be paid every half yearly on 11 November and 11 May", the notification said.
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CM Khandu' last rites to be performed on 10 May instead 11
PTI, Itanagar, 7 May : The last rites of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a chopper crash, will be performed on 10 May instead of 11 May as announced earlier.
Buddhist Lamas suggested advancement of the date by a day after going through the scriptures and performing rituals at Tawang, Jambey Tsering, PRO to Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin, told PTI. Khandu along with four others died in a helicopter crash on 30 April and their bodies were recovered at Keyla, near Luguthang, only on 4 May last.
PTI, Itanagar, 7 May : The last rites of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a chopper crash, will be performed on 10 May instead of 11 May as announced earlier.
Buddhist Lamas suggested advancement of the date by a day after going through the scriptures and performing rituals at Tawang, Jambey Tsering, PRO to Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin, told PTI. Khandu along with four others died in a helicopter crash on 30 April and their bodies were recovered at Keyla, near Luguthang, only on 4 May last.
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Sourav Ganguly always wanted to play IPL, says wife Dona
PTI, Shillong, 7 May : Elated at Sourav Ganguly's comeback to IPL, the former Team India skipper's wife Dona feels if a player can keep himself fit and perform, he should be allowed to continue in the game.
"Just because my students are dancing, it does not mean that I stop performing. If you can keep yourself fit and can perform, then why not?'' Dona, an Odissi dancer, said here. "When Sachin is scoring a hundred after hundred, will it be right if he is stopped from playing?" she said. Dona was here to perform at a four-day festival to mark Rabindranath Tagore's sesquicentenary birth anniversary.
PTI, Shillong, 7 May : Elated at Sourav Ganguly's comeback to IPL, the former Team India skipper's wife Dona feels if a player can keep himself fit and perform, he should be allowed to continue in the game.
"Just because my students are dancing, it does not mean that I stop performing. If you can keep yourself fit and can perform, then why not?'' Dona, an Odissi dancer, said here. "When Sachin is scoring a hundred after hundred, will it be right if he is stopped from playing?" she said. Dona was here to perform at a four-day festival to mark Rabindranath Tagore's sesquicentenary birth anniversary.
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20 Garo Natl Liberation Army ultras surrender in Meghalaya
ANI, Shillong, 7 May : Twenty Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres, along with its chief training instructor, Ningrang Sangma, recently laid down their arms before the Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh.
The cadres deposited one m16 rifle, three m16 magazines, 30 rounds of m16 ammunition, one AK 56, three AK magazines, 99 AK ammunition, one SLR rifle, three pistols, 42 rounds of 7.65 pistol, two boxes of detonators, one grenade and several documents that provide vital information about the groups links with different outfits like ULFA.
ANI, Shillong, 7 May : Twenty Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres, along with its chief training instructor, Ningrang Sangma, recently laid down their arms before the Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh.
The cadres deposited one m16 rifle, three m16 magazines, 30 rounds of m16 ammunition, one AK 56, three AK magazines, 99 AK ammunition, one SLR rifle, three pistols, 42 rounds of 7.65 pistol, two boxes of detonators, one grenade and several documents that provide vital information about the groups links with different outfits like ULFA.
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Permaculture on roadsides, new dimension to food security
UNB, Dhaka, 7 May : Permaculture sustainable land use design that consists of intensive cropping without disturbing or damaging the natural habitat and biodiversity- should be practiced in the country’s arable lands and by the highways and roadsides for the benefit of our livelihoods and food security, according to an accomplished agriculturist.
Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman, of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), said permaculture is widely practiced in the modern world for growing crops with little or no disturbance of the soil and landscape, and using little or no tillage practice. “Permaculture also means sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and very recently climate-smart agriculture,” according to Dr Rahman, who is the director of the Centre for Global Environmental Culture & Education for Sustainability at IUBAT.He mentioned that roads and highways comprise 20,947.73 km, occupying a significant arable area of the country, and the total available land area along the roads and highways is estimated to be 5,730 hectares, which can be utilized through permaculture.
Dr Rahman noted that roadside plantations were cultivated during the period of the great Emperor Sher Shah Suri, along the Grand Sonargaon-Delhi-Peshawar Trunk Road. Under permaculture, every home is considered as an eco-niche that provides shelter for family members and domestics, vegetation for food, fodder, shade, fuel, fence, medicine, beautification etc, and also shelterbelts to protect the storms and winds.
Dr Rahman said with the growing development of road transportation infrastructure, roadside-permaculture plan should be designed for land utilization and crop production with provision for windbreaks, shade, aeration, and light penetration, that also ensures the recycling of refuse without disturbing the adjacent cultivable land. “Permaculture will also help to protect artificial lights emitted by transport vehicles at night towards the adjacent field crops.”
Roadside permacultutre should be designed considering the following criteria: greenery for beauty and shade and carbon sequestration, protection of adjacent field crops from transport lights, windbreaks and shelter belts, dust, sound and erosion control, economical land utilization and food security.... READ MORE @ www.facebook.com/bengalnewz
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