Eight villagers shot dead and 18+ injured in firing near 'Lalgarh'

PTI, Kolkata, 7 January : Eight persons, including a woman, were killed and over 18 injured in firing by suspected armed CPI(M) cadres in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district today even as the administration attributed it to a political clash.

The villagers, who had gathered to protest against demands made by so-called CPI(M) armed cadre that they volunteer for night patrols and arms training, were fired at from a house at Netai village in Belatikri gram panchayat in Lalgarh police station area. "There is an woman among the six dead. The injured have been rushed to hospital where the condition of five is serious," a senior police officer said.
Villagers alleged that armed CPI(M) cadre living in the house of a CPI(M) activist Ranjit Dandapat for the past four months and for whom they were forced to cook and wash clothes, fired on them from inside. However CPI(M) leadership in the district, denied the villagers' allegations, saying there was no presence of CPI(M) cadre camps in the area. CPI(M) minister and local leader Sushanta Ghosh alleged that the Trinamool Congress brought goons from outside to capture the village. န Photos : AFP

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lalgarh killings : West Bengal governor expresses anguish
Kolkata, 7 January : West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan today expressed anguish at the armed attack on villagers in Lalgarh and said action was needed to curb the spiralling incidents of violence in the state.
"Violence is not expected in a democracy," he told newspersons here. Narayanan said that he would talk to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on the issue. "Action is needed," he governor said referring to the need to take firm action to tackle the situation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indian Home Minister asks West Bengal CM to visit Delhi
PTI, New Delhi, 7 January : In the wake of fresh political violence in West Bengal, Home Minister P Chidambaram today dispatched yet another letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asking him to "reschedule all appointments and visit Delhi immediately".
Describing today's violence in Lalgarh as a "grave incident", Chidambaram said he has received information that eight people were killed in the firing and 18 others were injured in it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trinamool Congress politicking over deaths : Biman Bose
Kolkata, 7 January : Senior CPI-(M) leader Biman Bose today said Trinamool Congress taking out a procession here with the bodies of three persons killed in Burdwan district was for staging a "drama" and asserted the party was "politicking" over deaths with such acts. He also said, both Maoists and Trinamool Congress responsible for the firing incident at Lalgarh today.
"The bodies that the Trinamool Congress is parading in the metropolis are of Congress workers. The Trinamool Congress has bought the bodies for staging their drama here. They are politicking with deaths," Bose, the state secretary of CPI(M) and Left Front chairman, told a SFI rally here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maoists kill CPI(M) leader at Paluidanga in Junglemahal
Jhargram, 7 January : Suspected Maoists today shot dead a CPI(M) leader at Paluidanga in West Midnapore district, police said.
Dilip Mahato (45) was missing since last evening and his body was found about four km away from his house near a canal early today, they said. Police said Mahato was killed this morning. Some Maoist posters claiming Mahato as a police informer were recovered from near his body. Some empty cartridge shells were also recovered from the spot, the police said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Food prices: Pranab asks CMs to crack down on hoarders

PTI, New Delhi, 7 January : Amid pressure over rising food prices, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asked State Chief Ministers to crack down on hoarders to ensure smooth supply of essential items from farm gate to retail customers.
Food inflation has touched a high level in more than a year at 18.32 per cent for the week ended 25 December as costlier onions and vegetables jacked up prices of essential items. In a letter, Mukherjee urged them to ensure that all bottlenecks in the supply chain are removed at the earliest.
The minister said the availability of the items that are driving the current round of food inflation in the economy should be improved so that food prices can be brought down quickly. The wholesale food inflation climbed nearly to a year's high of 18.32 per cent, up from 14.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Huge quantity of explosives recovered from Guwahati city
PTI, Guwahati, 7 January : A huge quantity of explosives has been recovered and three persons arrested from Odalbakra area of the city here today, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, police arrested a person, identified as Chengli Thu, while he was on his way to Paltanbazaar area from Odalbakra area and recovered the explosives. Later, two other persons were arrested. About 2000 detonators in 16 packets, 800 Neo-gel gelatin sticks and 14 packets of fuse wire were recovered from them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Six of a family burnt to death in South 24 Parganas district
Diamond Harbour, 7 January : Six members of a family were burnt to death and another was seriously injured when a fire engulfed their residence at Kanthalberia Road in South 24 Parganas district today, police said.
The family members went to sleep lighting a candle last night and police suspected that the fire spread from the candle and burnt the ground floor room of a building where the family lived.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP Kabir Suman embarrasses Trinamool Congress again

Kolkata, 7 January : Causing serious embarrassment to the Trinamool Congress leadership, party MP Kabir Suman has written an autobiography and dedicated it to top Maoist leader Kishenji among others.
The book, titled 'Nishaner Naam Tapasi Malik', has an eye-witness account of a meeting held in the office of the Trinamool Congress between party supremo Mamata Banerjee and Maoist leaders Raja Sarkhel and Prasun Chhattapadhyay, who are currently in jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Yesterday, when leaders of CPI(M), CPI, TDP and JD(S) had submitted a memorandum to Home Minister P Chidambaram asking the government to 'spell out' how it proposed to deal with the 'TC-Maoist nexus', CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury had referred to Suman's book saying a meeting had discussed the intervention of Maoists in Nandigram.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

Militants threaten to "kill" Sheikh Hasina if associates not freed

Dhaka, 6 January : Islamic militants have threatened to kill Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and blow up a high-security jail in northeastern Chittagong city if their associates are not released from the prison within a month.
The jailer of the prison in Chittagong port city yesterday received a letter containing the threat, with its sender calling himself a member of the outlawed Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the 'Daily Star' newspaper reported today.
"She (Hasina) survived this year's August 15 but she will not be alive in future as she will also be blown to smithereens," the letter said in an oblique reference to 15 August, 1975 when her father and the country's founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with most of his family members, according to the report.
The daily said the letter demanded that the militants lodged in Chittagong jail be freed in next one month.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four die in tribal clashes in Assam-Meghalaya border
Subir Bhaumik, BBC News, Kolkata, 6 January : Four tribespeople have died in violence on the border of the north-eastern Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya.
Thousands of people have been displaced in the clashes between the Rabha and Garo tribes in the past 24 hours. An indefinite curfew has been imposed on the area since midnight, but tension remained high, police said. Trouble has been brewing in the Krishnai area since Rabhas and Garos clashed on Christmas Day after a fight at a marriage ceremony... READ FULL STORY

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

Number of voters up by 2 percent in WB: Election Commission

Kolkata, 5 January : The number of voters in West Bengal has gone up by two percent over the previous year, and 75% of the new inclusions are aged between 18 and 25 years, the state's top election official said here Wednesday.
Releasing the voters' list after a summary revision, Chief Electorate Officer Sunil Gupta said the number of electors stood at 5,60,87,187 now, as against 5,49,63,904 last year. He said while 14,39,543 new voters had been enlisted, the names of 3,19,919 were deleted from the previous list. "So the net addition is 11,23,247, which is 2.04% more than the previous year," Gupta said. "Among the new inclusions, 11.14 lakh voters are in the age bracket of 18-25, which comes to 75% of first time voters," said Gupta.
So far, 95.37% of the total voters have been issued the Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). "The figure will increase to more than 98% after the distribution of EPIC cards to the new voters starts 25 January (National Voters Day)".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PM Hasina warns police against violation of human rights
Dhaka, 5 January : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today cautioned the police against violation of human rights in their drive against crimes, terrorism and militancy.
Addressing senior police officials at her office Hasina reminded their responsibility and asked to be sincere to their duty towards the people. The function to mark the Police Week-2011 was addressed by Home Minister Sahara Khatun, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku and IGP Hasan Mahmud Khondakar.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Biman to offload shares in capital market : Civil Aviation Min

UNB, Dhaka, 5 January : Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, will offload shares in the capital market in a bid to recoup its losses, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Qader said on Wednesday.
“Biman incurred some losses during the last fiscal. We are inquiring about the reasons of the losses. We’ve asked Biman to inform us the reasons,” he told reporters at his ministry. According to a statistics, Bangladesh Biman incurred a loss of over Tk 80 crore in the last fiscal (2009-10).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moner Manush : Successful Indo-Bangladeshi film venture

Kolkata, 5 January : Moner Manush is a bengali feature film directed by Goutam Ghose.The film is based on the life and philosophy of 19th century bengali poet Savant Lalan Shah.The film is produced by Gautam Kundu and Habibur Rahman Khan.The cast of Moner Manush are Prosenjit Chatterjee, Priyanshu Chatterjee,Chanchal Chowdhury, Raisul Islam Asad,Gulshan Ara Champa,Tathoi,Paoli Dam and Shuvra Kundu.The film has been awarded the Best Film at the 41st International Film Festival of India held at Goa from 22 November to 02 December 2010. The film also won the Golden Peacock Award.
The is based on a novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay. The film is about Lalan Fakir who is one of the greatest Bauls and philosopher of Bengali folk music.The film opens with Jyotirindranath Tagore sketching sequence where we find lalon nearly 85 now, he hardly has any strength left to walk straight without the aid of stick. Lalan Fakir is seen narrating the story of his life to Rabindranath Tagore’s elder brother Jyotirindranath tagore, who is a western educated bright young man from 19th century Bengal.
Goutam Ghose’s film, based on Sunil Ganguly’s 2009 novel of the same name, attempts to capture a slice of Lalan’s fakir’s life and his teachings. Prosenjit plays the role of Lalan while Paoli Dam plays the role of Kamli, a female baul in Lalan’s akhera. Priyangshu Chatterjee plays the role of an aristocratic, scholarly and gentle Jyotirindranath Tagore. All of them does justice to their roles.
The songs of the film are sung by Latif Shah and Khuda Baksh. But,sadly their voices does not match with Prosenjit’s voice. The film is an Indo-Bangladeshi venture.T he film was shot in Chilapata forests in North Bengal. The cinematography of the film also impresses the audience. The perfomance of the entire cast is excellent, but the film belongs only to one man, Prosenjit. Moner Manush is definitely worth watching.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

Bengal bids farewell to singer Suchitra Mitra with songs, tears..

Kolkata, 4 January : Thousands of mourners joined the funeral procession of legendary Rabindra Sangeet icon Suchitra Mitra singing her favourite numbers following the flower-bedecked hearse through the main thoroughfares of the city before ending at the crematorium today.

The body of the singer, who died yesterday aged 86, was kept at 'Peace Haven' for embalming last evening. It was taken to the ancestral house of the Tagores this morning at Jorasanko in north Kolkata, to Rabindra Sadan, a famed auditorium named after Tagore in central part of the city and to 'Ravitirtha', a music insitution founded by the singer in southern metropolis before the final journey to Keoratala crematorium.
Chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee placed a wreath on the body at Rabindra Sadan where several noted singers, Mitra's students and admirers assembled to pay their respects. Mourners from all walks of life assembled at all the places where the hearse stopped to pay their tearful homage.
Many of them were singing the singer's favourite numbers like "Aguner Parasmani chhoao prane" and "Akash jure suninu oi baje". As the cortege reached the crematorium, many mourners burst into tears. The last rites were performed by the relatives of Mitra as her only son Kunal, who lives in the US, could not arrive to attend the funeral. န Photos : Bidhan Bhattacharjee

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tripura launches multi-pronged community policing plan
Agartala, 4 January : Tripura Police Tuesday launched ‘Prayaas’, a multi-pronged community policing scheme, to reach out to the people, root out crime against women and to flush out terrorism.
‘Police would go to people to know and resolve their problems, not the other way round,’ Director General of Police K. Saleem Ali said after state Governor D.Y. Patil formally launched the scheme. ‘Prayaas would deal with militancy, crime against women, road accidents besides general law and order-related problems,’ he said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shibpur's BESU and INSDAF tie up for "Steel Research"

Howrah, 4 January : Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Shibpur, today joined hands with Insititute for Skill Development and Growth (INSDAG) for facilitating research on steel under structural and metallurgical engineering.
Jointly addressing the media after inking an MoU in this regard, BESU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajoy Kumar Ray and INSDAG Director General Sushim Banerjee said a building made up of steel and glass would come up in Kolkata in the next two years that would house various departments conducting training programmes on steel. Sprawled over 1,438 sq metres, the four-storeyed building would entail a cost of Rs 4.5 crore, they informed.
Besides, seminars at the both national and international levels on the alloy would be conducted and arrangements would be made to hold exhibitions in its premises, according to them.
It may be mentioned that INSDAG is a non-profit organisation set up by the Ministry of Steel. Steel makers like SAIL, Tata Steel and JSW feature are among the 400 members attached to the organisations, sources said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B'desh PM Sheikh Hasina condoles death of Suchitra Mitra

BSS, Dhaka, 4 January : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrows at the death of legendary Indian Rabindra Sangeet singer Suchitra Mitra.
In a message of condolence, she described Suchitra Mitra's death as an irreparable loss for the Bengali culture. The Rabindra Sangeet singers have lost one of their guardians after her death. Sheikh Hasina recalled Ms. Mitra's contribution to flourishing "Rabindra Sangeet" across the world as well as her role in creating mass awareness for Bangladesh during the country's War of Liberation in 1971.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Insurgency still persists in border areas : CM Manik Sarkar

ANI, Agartala, 4 January : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said that although militant activities have been curbed in the state, the problem is yet to be completely uprooted completely.
Inaugurating the Tripura Police Week here on Monday, Manik Sarkar said: "The insurgency problem has not yet been totally uprooted. Though their activities have come down in many states, but still they are very active in many states and across the border they still have their camps; maybe their strength has reduced." He also congratulated the efforts of police officials in effectively combating the insurgency problem in the state, adding that a lot of effort needed to be made to completely wash away the problem.
The state police department has also introduced an SMS-based information sharing method with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to curb militant activities in the State. Addressing the session, K. Saleem Ali, Director General of Police said that police should act like friends to ensure there is no fear in the mind of people about cops who can be approached for problems. Tripura is the second state in India after Jharkhand to introduce the Geo-Spatial 3D Satellite Imagery System to curb militancy and crime. န Photo : Parthajit Dutta

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mamata receives cheques of dividend worth over Rs 311Cr

PTI, New Delhi, 4 January : Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee received cheques of dividend amounting to Rs 311.88 crore for the year 2009-10 from seven Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under her Ministry here today.
Chairman and Managing Directors of seven PSUs - Container Corporation of Indian Limited (CONCOR), Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), IRCON International Limited, Railtel Corporation of India Limited (RCIL), RITES Limited, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) -- handed over cheques separately to the Railway Minister. Chairman of Railway Board Vivek Sahai and other Board Members were among those present on the occasion.
The dividend amounts paid by respective PSUs are - CONCOR Rs 114.65 crore, IRFC Rs 100 crore, IRCON Rs 36.62 crore, Railtel Rs 15 crore, RITES Rs 23 crore, IRCTC Rs 12.61 crore and RVNL Rs 10 crore.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azim Gr. ceases operations of sweater units in Chattagong
Fibre2fashion, 4 January : The Azim Group has announced to cease the operations of its four units located at the Kalurghat industrial zone in Chittagong for an indefinite time after the workers resorted to demonstration over the issue of raising the piece rate for manufacturing sweaters.... READ FULL STORY

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woollen garments business booms in Tripura during winter

Pinaki Das, Agartala, 4 January : Woollen garments dealers are doing a brisk business in Agartala as cold wave continues to shiver people in the region.
Scores of people are thronging at the established and makeshift shops of woolen garments for variety of wares. Women traders from other parts of country are also selling wide range of products. Teshi Palmo, a woollen garments trader from Dehradun, said the region that was hit by militancy in the past is peaceful these days and favourable for their business. "We have come all the way from Dehradun to Agartala, Tripura, to do business of these woollen garments. I hope to do good business here...the environment is quite peaceful here," said Palmo.
A good number of traders from Manipur are doing their business here and expecting better turnover. "We visit Tripura every year to do sweater business. This year, now cold waves have started blowing and we are expecting more chilling weather ahead and it will surely increase our sale," S. T. Dolma, a Manipuri trader.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Onion prices to come down soon : FM Pranab Mukherjee
PTI, New Delhi, 4 January : Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukhrejee today expressed hope that prices of onions, which touched a high of over Rs 80 per kg last month, will soon decline due to measures taken by the government.
"We have already reduced import duty to zero level. Therefore, I do hope some improvement and moderation will take place," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a conference organised by accounting body ICAI.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indo-US navy exercise to begin Wednesday
IANS, New Delhi, 4 January : Indian and US navy divers will learn salvage techniques from each other during an eight-day joint exercise beginning Wednesday in the Andaman Sea off Port Blair.
The Indian Navy's survey ship INS Nireekshak, and USS Safeguard, a specialised salvage vessel, would be participating in the 5-12 January exercise, a navy spokesperson said here Tuesday. The drill, named SALVEX, is aimed at "strengthening capability in niche techniques associated with diving and salvage", the spokesperson said.

During the exercise, various specialist salvage techniques will be jointly practised by divers of the two navies. Among the notable salvage techniques to be demonstrated are operation of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and side scan sonasrs launched from the USS Safeguard and demonstration of hot tap equipment - used for removing fuel from the tanks of sunken vessels.
During SALVEX, the divers will also hone their salvage skills on a 'mud monster', a pontoon specially built and sunk to practise salvage and diving exercises. The first SALVEX was conducted in 2005 and the series of exercises have been conducted annually thereafter, alternately in India and US locations in the Pacific.
During the first SALVEX, a vintage Indian Navy Sea Hawk fighter was recovered from a depth of about 50 metres off Kochi. Indian Navy salvage teams have in the past also recovered a Seaking helicopter from a depth of 70 metres. INS Nireekshak is the Indian Navy's specialist diving support ship with a capacity to support dives up to 300 metres depth. USS Safeguard is a class auxiliary rescue and salvage ship.
For the current SALVEX, the Indian Navy's team comprises 17 clearance divers, including two officers, The US Navy's team comprises 15 divers, including two officers.
Indian naval divers have time and again demonstrated their professionalism by rescuing men and salvaging material in adverse and treacherous conditions in fast flowing rivers, freezing lakes and ponds and waters with virtually nil visibility.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

Legendary Rabindra sangeet singer Suchitra Mitra passes away

Kolkata, 3 January : Eminent exponent of Tagore's songs Suchitra Mitra died at her south Kolkata residence today after protracted illness, according to her family.
She was 86 and is survived by a son. Mitra's rendition of Tagore's 'Amar Shonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi' during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, won hearts of millions. Mitra took music lessons at the Visva-Bharati where she joined shortly after the demise of Rabindranath Tagore in 1941.
She a received a scholarship to Sangeet Bhavan in Santiniketan, where she had the rare privilege of learning from some of the greatest exponents of Rabindra Sangeet - Indiradevi Chaudhurani, Shantidev Ghosh and Shailajaranjan Mazumdar.
After obtaining her diploma from Santiniketan, Mitra returned to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1945. In 1946, she received her Master's degree in Bengali from the Scottish Church College.
Also read : 'Indian singer Suchitra Mitra dies of cardiac arrest' By BBC's Subir Bhaumik

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congress denies differences between Manmohan & Pranab
PTI, New Delhi, 3 January : The Congress on Monday downplayed reports of disagreement between the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister over Manmohan Singh’s offer to appear before the PAC looking into the 2G Spectrum issue saying Pranab Mukherjee was only underlining the legal position.
“The Finance Minister has himself clarified his statement ...Mukherjee was only underlining the legal position that it was not binding on the Prime Minister to appear before the PAC.
“In fact he was explaining and underlining what Prime Minister himself has conveyed...Prime Minister’s statement was also the same that there was no legal binding on him,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at the AICC briefing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee coins new slogan
Kolkata, 3 January : To counter the 'Ma, Mati, Manush' slogan of the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today coined a new slogan 'Krishi, Silpa, Manush' (agriculture, industry, people), ahead of the coming Assembly elections in the state.
"They say 'Ma, Mati Manush' (mother, land, people)? We say 'Krishi, Silpa, Manush'," Bhattacharjee said at the 44th anniversary of the publication of party daily 'Ganashakti'. Alleging that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress was indulging in disruptive politics, he said, "The flight of Tata Motors from Singur was a gain for Gujarat at the expense of West Bengal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 suspected Manipuri militants nabbed in Shillong by BSF
PTI, Shillong, 3 January : Two suspected activists of Manipuri underground groups, have been apprehended by BSF while trying to cross over to Bangladesh from India.
A suspected People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cadre, Devan Singh was was arrested at Umkiang in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, a BSF statement said today. Another person, Sarkar Sinha was apprehended with a revolver and some Bangladeshi Taka near Bholaganj. He is suspected to be a linkman of PLA.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5-day 17th 'Int’l symposium on social development' begins

UNB, Dhaka, 3 January : Educationists, researchers, students and development workers from 40 countries joined a five-day international symposium that began in the city on Monday to identify the issues, challenges and solutions to social development and good governance.
International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) in association with Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) and North South University arranged the event titled ‘17th Symposium of the
International Consortium for Social Development’ at Sonargaon Hotel.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Monmouth University, USA Thomas S Pearson, Professor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA Dr Mizan Miah, Prof Dr Nazrul Islam of IUB, Dr Golam M Matbor of Monmouth University, USA and ICSD president Barbara Shank addressed in the inaugural session.
A total of 50 sessions will take place during the five-day symposium where participants will make number of presentations on different issues related to social development. န Photo : UNB

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three injured in GLP, hills local people clash in Kalimpong
UNI, Kalimpong, 3 January : Three people, including one Gorkha Land Personnel cadre (GLP), were injured during a clash between GLP men and local people at Upperfagu village under Garubathan police station of Kalimpong sub-division last night.
Cadres of Gorkha Land Personnel (GLP), volunteers' wing of the Gorkha Janamuki Morcha (GJM), were engaged in the clash with local people following an altercation on trivial matters, Circle Inspector of Garubathan, Darjeeling district police, Samaresh Haldar said today. Irate local people ransacked some GLP camps in the area. Three people, including one GLP cadre Pranay Gurung, were injured in the incident, Haldar said adding he was admitted to a nursing home in Siliguri as his condition was critical.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suchitra Mitra, Rabindra Sangeet exponent passes away
Kolkata, 3 January : The passing away of legendary singer Suchitra Mitra in the 150th birth anniversary year of Rabindranath Tagore marks the end of an era in Rabindra Sangeet.
Mitra was one of the brightest stars in Rabindra Sangeet along with singers like Hemanta Mukhopadhayay, Kanika Bandopadhyay, Debabrata Biswas and Dwijen Mukhopadhayay.
Her powerful rendition of 'Shonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi', which became the national anthem of Bangladesh, inspired freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971.
The number remains one of her most popular songs along with 'Krishankoli Ami Tareyi Boli', 'Tobu Mone Rekho' and 'Ekla Chalo Re'.
Mitra was awarded the Padmashree in 1974, besides 'Desikottama' from her alma mater Visva Bharati, the HMV Golden Disc Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986.
The influence of her father Sourindra Mohan Mukhopadhyay and her mother, both avid lovers of Rabindra Sangeet, left an indelible impression on Mitra's life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

Dhaka's cricket fans clashed with police over World Cup tickets

Dhaka, 2 January : Cricket fans clashed with police in Dhaka in the rush to buy tickets for the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent next month. The tickets went on sale on Sunday at 80 branches of the private City Bank and the state-owned Agrani Bank after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made 15,000 per-match available for the public.
The fans, reportedly, were angered after being told that only 500 tickets would be sold per branch as a result of the strict scrutiny over buyers' identification papers. A few fans and a photographer are known to have suffered minor injuries in the protests.
"They raised slogans and held demonstrations. We dispersed the protesters and maintained calm," police inspector Shah Alam told AFP. Bangladesh will be hosting eight matches during the competition. (With AFP inputs) န Photos : Reuters, AP

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trinamool's language in Chidamabaram' letter: Buddhadeb

PTI, Howrah, 2 January : Adopting a more aggressive posture on the letter controversy, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today questioned how Home Minister P Chidambaram used "Trinamool Congress' language" in his missive but remained silent on the party's link with the Maoists.
"Suddenly, Chidambaramji has written me a letter. I was surprised to see the language (in his letter). He has used the used the word 'harmad' (hired killers) which TMC uses while referring to CPI(M) workers. "Chidambaramji is an educated person. But he has used the uncivilized language of Trinamool Congress while writing the letter," Bhattacharjee told a public meeting at Dhulagarh.
He lashed out at opposition Trinamool saying wherever there is unrest and violence in the state, it supports the perpetrators. "When there is trouble in the Hills (Darjeeling) Trinamool supports those behind it. It has literally brought the Maoists into the state," he said. န Tv Grab Photo

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crack in Congress: Pranab unhappy with Manmohans offer

Kolkata, 2 January : The logjam between Congress led UPA government and Opposition parties over JPC/PAC probe in 2G spectrum scam is no longer a new issue. But this time it created differences in Congress itself as Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that he is not happy with PM's decision.
Mukherjee on Sunday, expressed that he is not convinced with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's decision of appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the investigation in 2G spectrum scandal. During Congress' plenary meeting in New Delhi, the Prime Minister stated, "I have nothing to hide from the public and as a proof of my bonafides, I intend to write to the chairman of the PAC that I shall be happy to appear before the PAC if it chooses to ask me to do so."
In response to the PM's offer to appear before the PAC, the finance minister also claimed that Singh should not appear before any committee as he (PM) is responsible to Parliament. "It is not correct to say that government did not take steps against corruption. We have already ordered a probe (PAC) into 2G controversy," stated Pranab. န Photo : PTI

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dhaka Stocks Exchange open New Year's trading "upward"

BSS, Dhaka, 2 January : Dhaka stocks opened the first trading session of the New Year 2011 upward when a positive regulatory measure came into effect to help increase cash flow to the market.
The benchmark index surged by around 60 points in half an hour of the beginning of the trading session, but closed 14.17 points or 0.17 percent higher at 8304.58 after experiencing ups and downs throughout the day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not aware if China building dam on Brahamaputra : Shinde

PTI, Agartala, 2 January : India today said it was not aware about any dam being constructed on the upper reach of Brahmapurtra by China.
"I have not been communicated by any quarter that China was constructing dam on Brahmaputra. So there is no point to react to it," Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told journalists here. Shinde was reacting to reports in a section of media that China was constructing a dam on the upper reach of Brahmaputra in Tibet and diverting water. Earlier addressing a seminar 'Opportunities in Power Sector', the minister said the Centre was positively considering the Tripura government's request for connecting a power transmission line from Tripura to Bangladesh.
Shinde also laid the foundation of a 52 mw power project at Ramchandranagara near here. He also meet Tripura Governor D Y Patil and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. န Photo : Parthajit Dutta

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PM concerned over high price of commodities in Intl market

UNB, Dhaka, 2 January : Bangladesh government is concerned over high price of edible oil, fuel oil, food grains, fertilizer and other commodities in the international markets.
A high level meeting presided over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office today reviewed the trend in the international markets, especially prices of those items Bangladesh needs to import. The meeting over PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam said it reviewed the market trend and discussed government subsidy on electricity, energy and agriculture sectors. It observed that prices of edible oil, fuels, food grains and agriculture and other commodities are much higher than in domestic market. Prices of essentials are much lower in Bangladesh compared with even in the neighbouring countries..
For example, price of coarse variety of rice India is equal to Tk 40km compared to Tk 32 in Bangladesh. It was also said at the meeting that amount of subsidy being given by the present government on various sectors is increasing day by day due to high price of essentials at the international markets. Despite the high prices at international markets, the meeting reiterated the government’s strong commitment to ensure easy and comfortable living of the common men.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three Maoists arrested at Lakxmanpur in W Midnapore dist
Kolkata, 2 January : Three Maoists were arrested from West Midnapore district Sunday, police said. "We arrested the three today from Lakxmanpur area of the district," said Manoj Verma, superintendent of police, West Midnapore.
Acting on a tip-off, the security forces raided the village and arrested Mangal Mahato, Gopal Mahato and Jagadish Mahato.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protests planned in US against B'desh's War Crimes Trial !
Dhaka, 2 January : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami plans to stage protests in the US, Britain and some Middle East nations against the impending trial of its top brass accused of war crimes during the 1971 freedom movement !
The party plans to use its supporters and "other like-minded organizations" in these countries, The Daily Star said Sunday. The Jamaat has so far failed to find support among its other Islamist allies, as also the principal ally and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for the protests planned at home. Thanks to the "stern" approach of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government that is pushing for the trial, the Jamaats rank and file has begun to work under different banners and names, a report said quoting unnamed party officials.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bangladesh team arrives to review "Feni Bridge" alignment
Agartala, 2 January : A seven member secretary level delegation of Bangladesh has arrived here to finalise alignment and structural specification to build 150 metres bridge on Feni River dividing India and Bangladesh in South Tripura.
The team would visit Srimantapur Land Custom station in West Tripura and at evening they went for Sabroom. The team was included the chief of surface transport, railway, external affairs, public works and commerce ministry and they would be accompanied by senior officials of Tripura govt in the survey work. The joint team would finalise the alignment tomorrow after detail study of area, officials said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darjeeling and Sikkim hills enveloped in snow on New Year

IBNS , Darjeeling, Gangtok, 2 January : Heavy snowfalls have covered up large parts of the eastern Himalayan states and parts of neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal, heralding the first day of 2011 with mercury plummeting to minus eight degrees.

The snowfall, the first of this region, since midnight Friday covered up roads at some places under 30 inches. Reports reaching from different regions said that Sandakphu, Phalut, Sree-Khola, and the Tigers hills have been covered by snow, Lodama Police station in-charge Dilip Das said. Darjeeling, also fondly known as the Queen of the Hills, had been experiencing freezing cold condition for past five days. But latest snow fall and rains in the lower region since Friday night dipped mercury to -8 in some of the areas around Sandakpu and Phalut. Local people came out in large number to greet the season's first snow, which occurs sometime at end of Dec or Jan.
However, usual fun is missing in the hills of Darjeeling as the tourists have deserted following constant threats of bandh by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), demanding a separate Gorkhaland state. Snowfall has been reported from upper regions of Sikkim. Rains also were reported from the Terai, the Dooars and Siliguri forcing the people to remain indoor. န Photos : Courtesy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----

ULFA Chairman Rajkhowa released on bail, says ready for talks

Guwahati, 1 January : ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa was on Saturday released from the Guwahati Central Jail, two days after his bail plea was granted by a designated TADA court.
Rajkhowa was received at the jail premises by his elder brother Dimbo Rajkhowa and other family members. He will be attending several public receptions on way to his home town Lakhuwa in upper Assam, which he will be visiting after a gap pf 30 years. Rajkhowa went underground after the formation of the ULFA on 7 April, 1979. He was granted bail by a designated TADA court on 30 December with the Assam government filing no objection to it. The court granted bail to Rajkhowa in six TADA cases for his release. "We are committed to peace in Assam and take the peace process forward. We are ready for unconditional peace talks," the 54-year-old ULFA leader told his supporters outside the Gauhati Central Jail.
Rajkhowa had been arrested after being handed over by the Bangladesh authorities in November last year at the Meghalaya border. (With PTI inputs) န Photos : AP READ BBC's REPORT

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mahasweta Debi writes to Hasina on jailed workers' leader
Dhaka, 1 January : Magsaysay Award winning Indian writer Mahasweta Debi has in a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed concern at the condition of garment workers' leader Mushrefa Mishu and asked her to ensure justice to the detained woman.
"I am deeply perturbed by learning that Mishu has been arrested without warrant. She is now critically ill and admitted to hospital in custody," Mahasveta Debi wrote to Hasina 27 December. She requested the prime minister to personally look into the matter as Mishu is seriously ill, the New Age said Saturday.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Car accident kills 4 in Butta Bari around Bagdogra Airport
Siliguri, 1 January : People in North Bengal's Butta Bari around the Bagdogra airport here shunned the new year celebrations on Saturday to condole the death of four people in a car accident on Friday.
Four were crushed to death when a 12-wheel truck mowed down a meat shop at Bhutta Bari on the No 31 National High way linking north Bengal to southern parts of West Bengal on Friday evening. The vehicle also smashed four other people, who were admitted to North Bengal Medical and College Hospital with critical wounds. Most of the victims were on a buying spree to make their first day of 2011 a memorable one, an eyewitness said on Saturday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No newspaper in Manipur due to Journalist-Govt 'tussle'
PTI, Imphal, 1 January : Newspapers in Manipur failed to hit the stands today because of a tussle between journalists and the state government.
While journalists, under the direction of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU), wanted the immediate release of A Mobi, the editor of local daily Sanaleibak, without any condition, official sources said Chief Minister O Ibobi was looking into the matter.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GJM dares CPM to hill might test 8/1 meet to prove strength
Siliguri, 1 January : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has challenged the CPI(M) to prove its support base in the hills at its 8 January meeting, the same day when Bimal Gurung’s outfit plans to organise a rally in the plains to show off its strength.
While the Morcha wants the CPI(M) to hold its meeting in Chowk Bazar after four years, the hill outfit is eager to hold its own rally in Siliguri’s Baghajatin Park.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Writing to Buddhadeb was P Chidambaram’s duty : Pranab
IANS, Kolkata, 1 Jauary : Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Saturday said his cabinet colleague and Home Minister P Chidambaram’s letters to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were part of the former’s duty to write to states where the law and order situation deteriorates.
‘What is the controversy in this issue? Union home minister has given a letter and the chief minister should answer it. There can be no controversy on this,’ Mukherjee told mediapersons here.
Chidambaram in a letter to Bhattacharjee last week said that complaints received by the central government ‘indicate that armed cadres of the CPI(M) were deployed in a covert manner under the guise of village protection groups to guard against Maoist attacks’.
‘There is evidence to show that ‘harmad’ (hired killers) camps are mostly located in CPI(M) party offices and houses of local CPI(M) cadres. It is a matter of grave concern that these cadres have been provided with firearms,’ the home minister wrote.
Mukherjee said: ‘If law and order situation deteriorates in a state then it is the duty of the union home minister to request the chief minister to initiate proper steps. The union home minister has done his constitutional duty.’ ‘The duty of the chief minister is to respond to the letter and give answers to the questions raised by the union home minister,’ Mukherjee said.
The finance minister, however, parried a query about the necessity of the use of the word ‘harmad’ in Chidambaram’s missive. ‘Don’t ask me about this. Ask those who have used it and who are replying to it,’ said Mukherjee.
Bhattacharjee Friday accepted Chidambaram’s invitation to visit New Delhi for talks on law and order situation in the state but said he was ‘unable to accept’ the central minister’s attitude towards Left Front workers.
In another missive Thursday, Chidambaram described the killings of political workers as ‘alarming’, and said they pointed to a virtual collapse of law and order in parts of the state.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----