Jawan killed in encounter with Maoists
Kolkata, June 27 (PTI) One paramilitary jawan was today killed and at least three others were injured in an encounter with Maoists near Kalaboni jungle in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district.
Police sources claimed three-four Maoists might also been gunned down, but could not confirm the deaths as not a single body of the ultras was found from the spot.
Following a tip-off that a Maoist squad was hiding in Ghrito Kham area near Kalaboni jungle the joint forces closed the area and launched an operation last night, Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Praveen Tripathy said.
As the forces, comprising Specially Trained Armed Company (STRACO) jawans, moved towards the area this morning a fierce gunbattle broke out between them and the ultras leading to the death of jawan, Md Isahurul Islam (27) and injury to three-four jawans, Tripathy said.
Pranab Mukherjee quits as West Bengal state unit chief
New Delhi/Kolkata, Jun 27 (PTI) Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today resigned as chief of party’s West Bengal unit citing “heavy government responsibilities” and CLP leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia was appointed to the post by Sonia Gandhi.
The appointment of Bhunia, a close associate of Mukherjee, comes after Congress’ poor performance in the recent local body elections where ally Trinamool Congress emerged as the biggest gainer after contesting on its own.
Mukherjee, 75, who has held the post for the last nine years, had been for quite sometime impressing upon the leadership to have a “full-time” president in view of the assembly polls next year. He again pressed for it after the local body elections.
HC lawyers protest against allotment of room to ACO
Kolkata, Jun 24 (PTI) A section of lawyers of the Calcutta High Court today staged a protest against the alleged allotment of a court room to the Assistant Court Officer(ACO).
“A group of around 60-70 lawyers today staged a demonstration inside the court room against the allotment of a court room to the ACO. The agitating lawyers did not vacate the room till late in the night,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Jawed Shamim said.
“We have sent our forces at the High Court to evict the room,” he said.
Rana Mukherjee, secretary of the Bar Association questioned that despite a shortage of court rooms, why was the room alloted to the ACO.
Eighth arrest in Jnaneswari Express disaster
Kolkata, Jun 25 (PTI) Another person was arrested from West Midnapore district in connection with the Jnaneswari Express disaster based on the statement of key accused Bapi Mahto, currently in CBI custody.
Abid Ali, a resident of Manikpara in Jhargram subdivision, was arrested from Kaliakunda last night, police said.
Ali’s link with Maoists was being ascertained, they said.
He is the eighth person to be arrested for the May 28 disaster that claimed 148 lives.
Amiya Mahato, a close associate of Bapi Mahato, was earlier arrested from Koimasoli village, near here, on Wednesday night.
Police said Bapi Mahato, had reportedly confessed that he also played a role in the Maoist attack on EFR camp at Silda in which 24 personnel were killed on February 15.
Meanwhile, suspected Maoists kidnapped the son of a CPI-M leader from Mohanpur under Binpur police station demanding release of a cadre, Durga Mandi.
CITU calls transport strike tomorrow in West Bengal
Kolkata, June 25 (PTI) The CITU has called a 24-hour transport strike in West Bengal tomorrow to protest against the Centre’s decision to hike the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.
“All transport, including goods and passenger vehicles, will go on strike state-wide tomorrow in protest against the Centre’s decision to increase the prices of petroleum products,” CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty told reporters here.
He said that trains will run and essential services will be kept outside the purview of the strike.
Chakraborty, a central committee member of the CPI(M), described Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s opposition to the price hike as a ‘political bluff’.
“To bluff the people in the state, she has not attended the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers, which took the decision.
Calcutta High Court CJ transferred
Kolkata, Jun 25 (PTI) Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Justice Mohit S Shah was today transferred to the Bombay High Court, even as his last day here was marred by a controversy with a section of lawyers vandalising his court room this morning.
“The warrant of transfer has arrived and the Chief Justice will leave for Mumbai tomorrow,” a senior high court official said.
The transfer was decided upon during the tenure of former Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan and the warrant has arrived today, he said.
The judges gave a hurriedly-organised farewell to the chief justice in the evening, even as a large section of advocates demonstrated before the main gate of the high court against him.
Shah was in office for just six months, having been elevated from the Gujarat High Court on December 24, 2009.
PDP condemns detention of youths
Srinagar, Jun 25 (PTI) Condemning the rounding up of youths for alleged involvement in stone pelting incidents, Opposition PDP today asked the National Conference-led government to desist from “strong arm tactics” and instead reach out to the youths by addressing their concerns.
“The government must take an empathetic view of the plight of youth and try to reach out to them by addressing their just concerns of unemployment, economic distress and sense of deprivation, ” senior PDP leader and former finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra said in a statement here.
Condemning the arrest of youths and separatist leaders, Karra said the government “has resorted to strong arm tactics against the people to prove its might.
One more arrested in Gyaneshwari derailment case
Kolkata Jun 24 (PTI) A close associate of key accused Bapi Mahto in the May 28 derailment of the Gyaneshwari Express has been arrested from West Midnapore district.
Amiya Mahato was arrested from Koimasoli village last night, Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said.
His role in the derailment that led to 148 deaths was yet to be ascertained.
“We came to know that he is a close associate of Bapi, but we cannot say what his role was in the derailment right now,” Tripathi said.
Amiya is the seventh person to be arrested in the case, which is being investigated by the CBI.
Night running of trains suspended till June 22
Kolkata, June 17 (PTI) Night running of passenger trains on Kharagpur-Rourkela and Kharagpur-Adra sections of South Eastern Railway would remain suspended till June 22 due to security reasons in the wake of the May 28 Jnaneswari Express disaster.
South Eastern Railway sources today said the passenger train services in these two sections would not be operated between 10 pm and 5 am.
Night operation of passenger trains have been suspended in these two sections since May 28 when some derailed bogies of 2102 Howrah-LTT Jnaneswari Express were hit by a goods train coming on the down line killing 148 passengers.
While several mail and express trains to and from West and Central India have been rescheduled, three trains would remain cancelled till June 22, the sources said.
The Howrah-Adra Chakradharpur Passenger, Howrah-Adra- Bokaro Passenger and Kharagpur-Tata Passenger would remain cancelled, the SER sources said.
Kolkata principal’s caning act a misconduct: CISCE
Kolkata/New Delhi, June 14 (PTI) The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) today termed as ‘misconduct’ on the part of the principal of a missionary school here for caning a 13-year-old student, who allegedly committed suicide.
“Caning by the principal constitutes an act of misconduct under clause 15 (ii) of the Staff Service Rules and Regulations of the school by which the principal is governed,” ISCE Secretary Gerry Arathoon told PTI.
He said that the Council has asked for a copy of Staff Service Rules and Regulation, the departmental inquiry report and the order of the managing committee.
“We are still waiting for a reply. Once we receive a reply from the school authority, we shall give our reply to the Union HRD ministry as per instruction,” Arathoon said.
