PTI, Kolkata, 23 October : Maoists shot dead two members of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities backed by it in West Midnapore district and kidnapped an Intelligence Branch Inspector and a NGO worker from Purulia district, police said.
The bodies of PCPA members Biswanath Mahato and Pradip Mahato were found beside a pond at Nandalalpur in Jhargram, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operation) Mukesh Kumar said. "According to initial investigations, they were killed by Maoists," Kumar said. Top district police sources said the two were killed over differences with Maoists on division of money extorted from local businessmen.There were earlier instances of PCPA members being killed by Maoists over such issues, the sources said. In Purulia district, the Maoists kidnapped an intelligence branch officer and a ngo worker from Ayodhya area, with the police saying that he was on leave and had gone there for work in connection with an ngo he ran there. The IB inspector, Partha Biswas, and NGO worker Samarjit Basu were kidnapped four kilometres west of Barabhum at 11:58 pm last night by Maoists, Intelligence Branch sources said.
"Biswas was not on duty and on leave when he went to Purulia for a purely personal reason," Additional Director General of Police, Banibrata Basu said. "We have information that he runs a NGO there and went to work for it," Basu said. Director General of Police, Naparajita Mukherjee said, "I have heard about the incident and Maoists have sent feelers to the district police administration."
Superintendent of Police Rajesh Jadav said, "We are not sure about the activities of these persons as they are not part of the district police. They came from Kolkata and I was informed by Kolkata." Maoist sources said that the two were in their custody, but did not state any condition for their release. Biswas is a resident of Naihati in North 24 Parganas district and Basu of Bandel in Hooghly district. န File Photos
"Biswas was not on duty and on leave when he went to Purulia for a purely personal reason," Additional Director General of Police, Banibrata Basu said. "We have information that he runs a NGO there and went to work for it," Basu said. Director General of Police, Naparajita Mukherjee said, "I have heard about the incident and Maoists have sent feelers to the district police administration."
Superintendent of Police Rajesh Jadav said, "We are not sure about the activities of these persons as they are not part of the district police. They came from Kolkata and I was informed by Kolkata." Maoist sources said that the two were in their custody, but did not state any condition for their release. Biswas is a resident of Naihati in North 24 Parganas district and Basu of Bandel in Hooghly district. န File Photos
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Hasina urges int'l community to further democratize the UN
UNB, Dhaka, 23 October : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the international community to strengthen its efforts to further democratize the UN for a greater voice of developing countries to realize these noble goals for the common good of humanity.She made the call in a message issued on the occasion of United Nations Day, 2010 to be observed Sunday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as enunciated in the Constitution of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina said the United Nations Day visits us every year as an occasion to renew our faith in the collective capacity of humankind to create for ourselves a world free from fear and want.
The United Nations, founded 65 years ago, continues to embody the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of the world to live in peace and dignity, in freedom and progress, she added.
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India and Bangladesh sign MOU to establish Border Haats
ANI, New Delhi, 23 October : India and Bangladesh here on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for establishing Border Haats, a traditional commodity market, along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.
Two agreements on procedures were signed to facilitate movement of trucks between the two countries and also for movement of trucks from Nepal to Bangladesh both upto Land Customs Stations, thus fulfilling important commitments made during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Representing Indian side Joint Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Arvind Mehta signed the document whereas Dr Md. Ruhul Amin Sarker, joint secretary of the commerce ministry, signed the Border Haats agreement on behalf of Bangladesh.
ANI, New Delhi, 23 October : India and Bangladesh here on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for establishing Border Haats, a traditional commodity market, along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.
Two agreements on procedures were signed to facilitate movement of trucks between the two countries and also for movement of trucks from Nepal to Bangladesh both upto Land Customs Stations, thus fulfilling important commitments made during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Representing Indian side Joint Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Arvind Mehta signed the document whereas Dr Md. Ruhul Amin Sarker, joint secretary of the commerce ministry, signed the Border Haats agreement on behalf of Bangladesh.
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Vehicle falls into gorge in Bhutan; Four killed, one injured
UNI, Siliguri, 23 October : Four tourists from Kolkata were killed and one was seriously injured when the car carrying them skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Gedu, about 50 km away from Thimpu, in the neighbouring country Bhutan at midnight last night.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Alipurduar) David Lepcha today said the incident occurred as a dense fog affected visibility and the driver lost control of the wheel. Three of the deceased were tourists from Kolkata, Lepcha said adding the driver of the vehicle was also killed. The injured was admitted to a local hospital where his condition was stated to be serious, he informed.
UNI, Siliguri, 23 October : Four tourists from Kolkata were killed and one was seriously injured when the car carrying them skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Gedu, about 50 km away from Thimpu, in the neighbouring country Bhutan at midnight last night.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Alipurduar) David Lepcha today said the incident occurred as a dense fog affected visibility and the driver lost control of the wheel. Three of the deceased were tourists from Kolkata, Lepcha said adding the driver of the vehicle was also killed. The injured was admitted to a local hospital where his condition was stated to be serious, he informed.
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Pune group to act play on Savarkar at Andaman cellular jail
Siddharth Kelkar, Pune, 23 October : Pune-based Arnav Art Group will perform a play on some of the lesser known incidences in the life of Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar when he was serving life sentence in the Andaman Cellular jail, on the premises of the same jail next month. The play, Avadhya, showcases the psychological battle of Savarkar with his loneliness in the jail.
As Savarkar was brought to Andaman on 4 July, 1911, this is the 100th year of commencement of Savarkar's 13-year stint in the Andaman Cellular Jail.
Siddharth Kelkar, Pune, 23 October : Pune-based Arnav Art Group will perform a play on some of the lesser known incidences in the life of Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar when he was serving life sentence in the Andaman Cellular jail, on the premises of the same jail next month. The play, Avadhya, showcases the psychological battle of Savarkar with his loneliness in the jail.
As Savarkar was brought to Andaman on 4 July, 1911, this is the 100th year of commencement of Savarkar's 13-year stint in the Andaman Cellular Jail.
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150 injured in clashes over land acquisition in Narayanganj
UNB, Narayanganj, 23 October : At least 24 people were injured in bullets out of 100 wounded in a series of clashes between villagers and law enforcers over acquisition 6,000 bigha lands by RAJUK at Kayetpara and Rupganj union today.Of the injured, 12 were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while others were admitted to local hospital and clinics. Gazi Gulam Dastagir MP of the ruling Awami League who visited the troubled area told UNB by phone that Army personnel opened the fire as the unruly villagers attacked their makeshift camp at Mashuri in Rupganj upazila. He squarely blamed the opposition for fanning up the situation in a bid to bring the villagers to a conflict with the Army.
Police Super Biswash Afzal denied his forces resorted to gunfire. He said about 15 police were wounded in series of clashes from 8 am to 2pm (BDST). RAB-11 commanding officer Lt Col Ahsanuzzaman admitted opening of fire to disperse the mob. He said 10 of his forces were wounded in attack by the mob. န Photo : UNB
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India to export 5 lakh tonne rice and wheat to Bangladesh
New Delhi, 23 October : India on Saturday said it will soon export five lakh tonne of rice and wheat to Bangladesh despite ban on outward shipments of the foodgrains.
"India will be exporting three lakh tonne of parboiled rice and two lakh tonne of wheat to Bangladesh... PSUs (state trading firms) have been directed to do so expeditiously," Indian commerce minister Anand Sharma told reporters after meeting his Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan here. Sharma said the exports would happen "soon". The decision to export the rice and wheat was taken in August, an official said.
New Delhi, 23 October : India on Saturday said it will soon export five lakh tonne of rice and wheat to Bangladesh despite ban on outward shipments of the foodgrains.
"India will be exporting three lakh tonne of parboiled rice and two lakh tonne of wheat to Bangladesh... PSUs (state trading firms) have been directed to do so expeditiously," Indian commerce minister Anand Sharma told reporters after meeting his Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan here. Sharma said the exports would happen "soon". The decision to export the rice and wheat was taken in August, an official said.
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2 workers killed in boiler explosion in South Dinajpur district
PTI, Balurghat, 23 October : Two workers were killed when a boiler burst at a rice mill in Gangarampur, under South Dinajpur district, police sources said today.
Following yesterday's tragedy thousands of villagers were demonstrating before the mill compound to press for the demand of arrest of the mill owner and compensation to the bereaved family. Reports said the two - Jhantu Tirkey and Birsa Dhanoa - were engaged in cleaning of the boiler when it suddenly exploded and both were blown to pieces.
PTI, Balurghat, 23 October : Two workers were killed when a boiler burst at a rice mill in Gangarampur, under South Dinajpur district, police sources said today.
Following yesterday's tragedy thousands of villagers were demonstrating before the mill compound to press for the demand of arrest of the mill owner and compensation to the bereaved family. Reports said the two - Jhantu Tirkey and Birsa Dhanoa - were engaged in cleaning of the boiler when it suddenly exploded and both were blown to pieces.
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CPI(M) slams Mamata Banerjee for ignoring Railway safety
Kolkata, 23 October : The CPI(M) today slammed Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for "systematically neglecting" the safety aspects of the railways.
"The railways have become the biggest casualty due to her inept handling of the ministry. Starting from train accidents to repeated glitches in the underground Metro Rail, one can easily conclude that safety aspects have been systematically neglected by the Railway minister," CPI(M) Central Committee member Md Salim said. "She is misusing her ministry as a tool for her political ascent and destroying the railways with the aim of ascending to power in West Bengal," Salim told a TV channel here.
Kolkata, 23 October : The CPI(M) today slammed Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for "systematically neglecting" the safety aspects of the railways.
"The railways have become the biggest casualty due to her inept handling of the ministry. Starting from train accidents to repeated glitches in the underground Metro Rail, one can easily conclude that safety aspects have been systematically neglected by the Railway minister," CPI(M) Central Committee member Md Salim said. "She is misusing her ministry as a tool for her political ascent and destroying the railways with the aim of ascending to power in West Bengal," Salim told a TV channel here.
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Trial proceedings against alleged BDR mutineers began
UNB, Satkhira, 23 October : A special court, designed to deal with 2009 BDR mutiny, began trial proceedings against 105 alleged mutineers of 41 rifles battalion on Saturday morning.
Complainant Subedar Major Md Abdus Sattar placed complain against 105 accused before the Special Court-1 at 10:10am (BDST).
UNB, Satkhira, 23 October : A special court, designed to deal with 2009 BDR mutiny, began trial proceedings against 105 alleged mutineers of 41 rifles battalion on Saturday morning.
Complainant Subedar Major Md Abdus Sattar placed complain against 105 accused before the Special Court-1 at 10:10am (BDST).
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Bengal tiger which killed 3 goats trapped in Sunderbans
IANS, Kolkata, 23 October : A Royal Bengal tiger, which strayed away from a protected area and killed three goats, was trapped Saturday in West Bengal's Sunderbans area, a forest official said.
"The tiger, which strayed into Sahibghata and Jamespur area of South 24 Parganas district 19 October and killed three goats, was trapped in Sajnekhali," said field director of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) Subrat Mukherjee. He said it was an adult male tiger. Its health was good and it would be released Sunday in the core area of the STR.
IANS, Kolkata, 23 October : A Royal Bengal tiger, which strayed away from a protected area and killed three goats, was trapped Saturday in West Bengal's Sunderbans area, a forest official said.
"The tiger, which strayed into Sahibghata and Jamespur area of South 24 Parganas district 19 October and killed three goats, was trapped in Sajnekhali," said field director of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) Subrat Mukherjee. He said it was an adult male tiger. Its health was good and it would be released Sunday in the core area of the STR.
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Commercial orange farming gains ground in 2northern dists
BSS, Rangpur, 23 October : Commercial farming of orange starts gaining ground following its excellent yields and market prices in recent years in the sub-Himalayan Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts.
After achieving tremendous successes in recent years, the farmers are showing keen interests for expanded orange farming from this season to usher in a new era in boosting the agro-based economy of the region, officials and experts said. The farmers have been farming orange in their orchards and homesteads since 2006 and the initiative has been expanding faster for large-scale orange farming on commercial basis now.Nearly 100,000 orange trees are now growing in 100 orange orchards on 125 hectares land and homesteads in four upazilas of Panchagarh and more than 50,000 orange plants on 75 hectares land in three upazilas of adjoining Thakurgaon.
The DAE has been expanding orange farming since the year 2006 and so far trained over 10,000 farmers on its cultivation that has brighter prospects to change the overall socio- economy of the region.
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