Page 37 - West Bengal

RG Kar case 'frightening', women need safer working conditions: Kiran Rao

Filmmaker Kiran Rao, whose 'Laapataa Ladies' has been chosen as India's official entry for the 2025 Oscars, said that she stands firmly with those who raised their voice demanding justice for the deceased medic of RG Kar hospital. On the sidelines of a programme of Ladies Study Group of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here on Friday, Rao told PTI that the August 9 incident was "regrettable and frightening". "I stand in solidarity with all the women, all the people who have come out on the streets of Kolkata and protested and raised their voice to have safer working conditions for women," she said. "Students, doctors and everyone in society stood in solidarity and protested, I am with them," Rai said. About the selection of 'Laapataa Ladies' as the country's official entry for the Oscars next year, Rao said the choosing of the film is itself is an award. The movie, which was released on March 1 this year, tells the story of the misadventures of two young brides who get lost from the

CBI awaits 3D laser mapping report to pinpoint RG Kar crime scene

The CBI is awaiting the final report of the 3D laser mapping of the emergency ward building of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to ascertain the exact location where the trainee doctor was tortured and killed, a senior CBI officer said. The officer, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told PTI that the central agency is hoping to demonstrate deliberate tampering of evidence once the 3D mapping report is complete. The seminar hall is merely a shadow of the actual crime scene and the 3D mapping has provided some confirmation of this. We expect the final report to validate our findings," the officer said. The findings are likely to be submitted by the CBI in its next hearing on the status report of its investigation to the Supreme Court on September 30, another source in the agency confirmed. The CBI is probing into the alleged rape and murder of the medic at the RG Kar hospital following a Calcutta High Court order. A specialised team of the agency conducted the 3D mapping o

West Bengal to hire 12,000 police officers for enhanced hospital security

The recruitment process is set to commence on September 30, following discussions with leaders from medical colleges and hospitals

WB launches control room for uninterrupted power supply during Durga Puja

To ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the Durga Puja festival in the second week of October, the West Bengal government launched a 24x7 Puja control room and a dedicated WhatsApp service. The initiative was inaugurated by State Power Minister Aroop Biswas here on Thursday. The control room will operate throughout the festival period, extending until Jagaddhatri Puja in November second week. Citizens can contact the control room at the following numbers for WBSEDCL power: 8900793503 and 8900793504. For CESC customers, the control room can be reached at 98310 79666 or 98310 83700. The newly launched WhatsApp service, available at 8433719121, provides various features for customers, including bill information, bill viewing and downloading, payment options, new connection applications, quotation inquiries, power outage reporting, and energy-saving tips, Biswas said.

RG Kar case: New officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station appointed

Abhijit Mondal, was suspended by the Kolkata Police on September 18 after his arrest by the CBI

Govt preventing us from organising convention on Sept 27: Junior docs

The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front on Wednesday alleged that the state government has taken back its permission to allow them to hold a convention on September 27 to discuss the future roadmap for their movement for justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim. The agitating medics withdrewn their 11-day sit-in before state health department headquarters Swasthya Bhawan last week and partially rejoined emergency and essential services at state-run hospitals after talks with the state government. However, on Wednesday, after a meeting with representatives from 26 state-run and private medical colleges, the medics alleged that false cases have been slapped against those who have expressed solidarity with their movement and joined democratic protests demanding the "clean-up" of the healthcare system and arrest of all those involved in the crime. "The administration is apparently pursuing a vindictive attitude even after we showed intention and flexibility to end the deadlock. Over one

Heavy rain partially affects normal life in several parts of West Bengal

Heavy rain partially affected normal life in several places of West Bengal as the Met office on Thursday forecast heavy downpour in the sub-Himalayan districts of the state till Friday. Fairly widespread rain is likely over many places in West Bengal during the next three days and scattered to fairly widespread rain during the subsequent four days, it said in a forecast. The Met warned of very heavy rain with extremely heavy downpour at one or two places in the sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar till Friday morning. All the districts in south Bengal, including Kolkata, are also likely to receive heavy rain till Friday morning, it said. Owing to moderate to heavy rain overnight, normal life was partially affected in Kolkata and several other districts of south Bengal. School and office-goers had a tough time reaching their destination on Thursday morning owing to moderate to heavy downpour through the night. Some streets in Kolk

RG Kar case: Ex-principal, Tala Police officer sent to Presidency Jail

Both Ghosh and Mondal were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar

Mahalaya 2024: Know its history, significance and when to celebrate

This year, the Mahalaya Amavasya falls on October 2, marking the ending of Pitru Paksha. On this day, people perform shraddh rituals and offer tarpan to ancestors for their blessings

WB govt to discontinue tram service in Kolkata barring one short stretch

The West Bengal government has decided to discontinue the 150-year-old tram service in Kolkata soon, barring a solitary heritage stretch from Maidan to Esplanade, Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty said. Tram lovers, however, have decided to hit the streets in protest against the decision. Kolkata is the only city in the country where trams continue to operate. Chakraborty said slow-moving trams, which move along the roads creating traffic jams in peak hours, cannot be run in the present situation as commuters need faster modes of transportation. "Trams are undoubtedly a part of Kolkata's heritage after their introduction in 1873 as horse-drawn carriages and played a crucial role in transportation in the previous century. "But as roads comprise only 6 per cent of Kolkata's surface area and with increase in vehicular traffic, we have observed that trams cannot ply the roads along the same routes at the same time as it is leading to congestion," Chakraborty told reporters on Mon

WBJEEB result 2024 is out for ANM/GNM exam; here's how to check, download

Strap: WBJEE ANM, GNM Results 2024: The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) has released the results of the ANM and GNM exams. Check details

Tea garden workers in north Bengal's Dooars, Terai to get 16% bonus

Tea garden workers in north Bengal's Dooars and Terai regions will receive a 16 per cent bonus for the 2023-24 financial year, an industry body said on Monday. The Tea Association of India, in a statement, said that the industry-wide bonus agreement was reached after due deliberations between trade union representatives and members of the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), which represents employers. TAI said that the industry has been passing through a severe financial crisis for a prolonged period. In the previous 2022-23 fiscal, the tea industry in north Bengal had settled for a bonus payout of 19 per cent. According to TAI, the economic sustainability of tea gardens in north Bengal is in "jeopardy". The adverse weather conditions have affected the health of bushes, leading to a considerable drop in production during the year. The crop of the first and second flush, which produce the best quality tea, has suffered a loss, affecting cash flow of the garde

RG Kar case: CBI questioning of TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh, doctor underway

Questioning of Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh is underway by CBI on Monday in connection with the central agency's investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a medic at RG Kar hospital here last month, officials said. The hospital's forensic department doctor-professor Apurba Biswas is also being grilled by the CBI officers in connection with the same case, they said. The postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered inside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Ghosh, TMC's Panihati MLA, reached the CBI's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake around 10.30 am. "We had summoned him for questioning on the RG Kar hospital incident. He was seen at the hospital and also at various other places including the crematorium (on that day)," a CBI officer said. Ghosh is suspected to have played "an important role in arranging the hasty final rites of the deceased doctor", he said. "We have got the call details and found that there were talks .

RG Kar case: BJP workers throng police stations to cleanse them over lapses

Activists of BJP's women wing on Monday thronged various police stations in West Bengal to "cleanse" them as part of their protest against the alleged lapses in the probe into the rape-murder of a doctor at the state-run RG Kar hospital here last month. BJP leaders Agnimitra Paul and Locket Chatterjee along with other party activists alleged that police stations lost their purity after the police personnel were found involved in alleged wrongdoings. They held protests in front of the police stations sprinkling holy water of the Ganga river and applying cow dung using broomsticks. Paul said, "We have come to the police station at Behala in south Kolkata as a symbolic protest to purify it." The BJP leader exclaimed where was the police force when the "body of the doctor was hastily cremated and a mismatch was noticed in the timings of the FIR and post-mortem examination". The doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The CBI is ...

Congress will continue to raise voice against ruling parties: Bengal chief

Newly appointed West Bengal Pradesh Congress (WBPCC) president Subhankar Sarkar on Sunday said that his party would continue to raise its voice against the ruling parties both at the Centre and in the state. Admitting that the Congress's organisation was weak in West Bengal, Sarkar said that he would work towards strengthening it in consultation with former PCC presidents Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Pradip Bhattacharya. "Congress will continue to raise its voice against the ruling parties at both the Centre and in the state," Sarkar said, addressing a press conference at the party's state headquarters Bidhan Bhavan here. He said that the party will, however, support any constructive effort such as setting up industries in the state by either of these dispensations. Sarkar said that the Congress, if voted to power in West Bengal, will ensure that law and order in the state will be such that no parent will have to "wait anxiously for their daughter to return home or whether she will .

Amidst war on DVC, Bengal Power secy Santanu Basu steps down from board

Amid a war of words between West Bengal government and Centre over release of water from reservoirs of Damodar Valley Corporation, state Power secretary Santanu Basu has stepped down from the Board of DVC, officials said on Sunday. The Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways of West Bengal has also quit the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), they said. Basu in an email to DVC chairman on September 21 said "In view of the unprecedented and uncontrolled release of water by the DVC from its dam systems, leading to widespread inundation causing immense sufferings to the people in vast areas of the state, I do hereby tender my resignation as the member of state from the Board of DVC." State Information and Cultural Affairs Department in a statement on Sunday said "apart from the Power secretary, the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways, West Bengal, also resigned to voice protest on the same issue from Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC)." The

Mamata writes to PM Modi on Bengal flood, says her govt not consulted

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote another letter to PM Narendra Modi on the flood situation in West Bengal, maintaining that Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released water from its reservoirs without consulting her government, inundating several districts. Responding to Banerjee's earlier letter to the PM, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil had said the state's officials were informed at every stage about the release of water from DVC reservoirs, which was essential to prevent a major disaster. Banerjee said, "While the hon'ble minister claims that the release from DVC dams was carried out by consensus and collaboration with the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee, including consultations with representatives of the government of West Bengal, I may respectfully disagree." "All the critical decisions are made unilaterally by representatives of the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India without arriving at a consensus," she said. Banerjee

RG Kar case: Doctors resume duties partially at some hospitals in Bengal

Junior doctors on Saturday rejoined their duties partially at various government-run hospitals in West Bengal after a hiatus of 42 days. They were on 'cease work' in protest against the rape-murder of an on-duty woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. While they returned to essential and emergency services at all state-run hospitals, the doctors continued to refrain from working in the outpatient departments (OPDs). "We have started rejoining duties today. Our colleagues are returning to their respective departments for essential and emergency services, but not at the OPDs. This is only a partial resumption of duties," said Aniket Mahato, one of the protesting doctors. Aniket, along with colleagues Lahri Sarkar and Raktim Majumder, even operated on a woman patient at the hospital. He said some of their peers had already left for flood-hit areas of the state to set up 'Abhaya clinics' (medical camps), underscoring their commitment to public health despite ongoing ...

RG Kar case: CBI questions close aide of arrested ex-principal Sandip Ghosh

CBI sleuths on Saturday started questioning another doctor, allegedly close to arrested former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, in connection with their probe into the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the medical establishment, an officer of the agency said. Birupaksha Biswas, who was recently transferred by the West Bengal Health Department from Burdwan Medical College and Hospital to remote Kakdwip hospital in South 24 Parganas district, appeared before officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its CGO Complex office in Salt Lake area. Biswas, allegedly part of a 'North Bengal lobby' operational in medical colleges, was seen at RG Kar Hospital on August 9, when the body of the woman medic was found, the CBI officer said. The 'North Bengal lobby' is being referred by medics in West Bengal to a group of doctors and officials posted at state-run medical establishments who allegedly threatened students. "He is being questioned about hi

Jharkhand-West Bengal border reopened for trucks after 24-hour closure

After remaining closed for around 24 hours, the West Bengal-Jharkhand border has been reopened for the movement of trucks for inter-state trade, officials said on Saturday. The West Bengal government had closed the border on Thursday evening after the release of water by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from its dams located along the inter-state boundary with Jharkhand, causing flooding in districts of south Bengal. "The inter-state border has opened and thousands of goods-laden trucks stranded on NH 2 and NH 6 have left for West Bengal," an Jharkhand government official said. Truck operators in West Bengal said that the border has opened but it will take some time to clear the 20-25-km-long queue of trucks stranded along the border. The closure, which was scheduled to continue for three days, led to the stranding of thousands of trucks, including those carrying perishable goods from northern states and even emergency services were affected. Reacting to the development, Leader of