Two arrested in connection with attack on BJP lawmakers in Bengal's Jalpaiguri
Two persons were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the attack on BJP lawmakers Khagen Murmu and Sankar Ghosh in northern West Bengal's Jalpaiguri. According to police, one of the arrests was made from Jalpaiguri, while the other person was nabbed near Jaigaon, at the India-Bhutan border, in Alipurduar district. Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attacks on BJP leaders in Nagrakata. An investigation is underway. We will soon arrest the others involved in the attack, Jalpaiguri's Superintendent of Police Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat said, reported PTI. Apart from the arrested, another six people have also been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the attack. Sources said all eight people were associated with the TMC. However, the state's ruling party has denied any connection with the perpetrators of the attack. Murmu, the BJP's MP from Maldaha Uttar, and Ghosh, the Siliguti MLA and the party chief whip in West Bengal, were attacked by a mob on Monday when they were visiting Jalpaiguri district's Nagrakata area to assess the flood situation. Bengal BJP demands NIA probe into attack on party MP, MLA in Jalpaiguri, Governor visits injured leaders
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday demanded an NIA investigation into the assault on party MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh during their visit to the flood and landslide-hit Nagrakata area in Jalpaiguri district a day ago. Both Murmu and Ghosh are currently undergoing treatment at a private medical facility in Siliguri. We demand an NIA investigation into the attack on Murmu and Ghosh, the state BJP president said while addressing a press conference here. The party leaders were attacked by a mob during their visit to the flood and landslide-hit Nagrakata area in Jalpaiguri district. Bhattacharya termed the attack on Murmu, the BJP's MP from Maldaha Uttar, and Ghosh, the Siliguti MLA and the party chief whip in the West Bengal assembly, as pre-planned. He alleged that the two BJP leaders were attacked to create an atmosphere of terror and division on religious lines among people of north Bengal. Alleging that the attack was perpetrated by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas, the BJP state president claimed that the state police had not taken any action to prevent the assault. The Trinamool Congress is engineering attacks at various places to create a fear psychosis among people before the initiation of special intensive revision of electoral rolls, Bhattacharya claimed. If anyone thinks that by attacking BJP parliamentarians and legislators they can create fear among our workers, they are mistaken, Bhattacharya asserted. It is reported that, Murmu may require a surgical intervention to treat the serious facial injuries, including a fractured bone below his eye. The health condition of Murmu, who is still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, is stable, he said. Murmu has sustained serious facial injuries, including a fractured bone below the eye. He is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU. We are evaluating his condition from time to time and found him to be stable, the official said, according to PTI . The MP may undergo a surgical intervention to treat the injuries. Our doctors are diagnosing it, he said. The health condition of Ghosh, who is also undergoing treatment at the same hospital, is stable, the official added. Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visited the two injured leaders at the hospital, according to a Raj Bhavan official said. Bose inquired about the health condition of Murmu and Ghosh, he said. The governor met the two BJP leaders in the hospital and enquired about their condition. He also spoke to the doctors and the family members of the leaders, the Raj Bhavan official said. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose meets BJP MP Khagen Murmu after he was attacked by a mob in Jalpaiguri district's Nagrakata area while visiting relief sites, in Siliguri, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Bose is in north Bengal to assess the ground situation after landslides, triggered by heavy rains, devastated parts of the Darjeeling hills and killed at least 30 people. The governor had on Monday criticised the attack on the BJP leaders and urged the authorities to ensure that law and order is maintained in the area and such incidents do not recur. (With inputs from PTI) Darjeeling landslide toll rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue amid rainfall
BJP MP Khagen Murmu attacked during relief work in flood-hit north Bengal, party blames Trinamool
Malda Uttar legislator Khagen Murmu and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who were visiting the flood and landslide-hit areas for inspection and relief work, were surrounded and attacked by a large group of locals
BJP MP Khagen Injured On Head After Stones Thrown In Bengal's Jalpaiguri
Khagen Murmu, the BJP MP from Bengal's Maldaha Uttar seat, was seriously injured in an attack in the state's flood-affected Jalpaiguri region Monday afternoon
4,271 voters in single house: AAP alleges major irregularity in UP electoral rolls
LUCKNOW: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday alleged large-scale irregularities in the electoral rolls of Uttar Pradesh, claiming that 4,271 voters have been found enrolled in a single house in Mahoba district. Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, Yesterday I told you about two houses in Mahoba where 243 and 185 voters were found, which was shocking. Today I have found another case where 4,271 voters are registered in a single house. If there are 4,271 votes in one house, the family should have around 12,000 members. Someone will have to find such a large family. Singh also alleged that vote theft started in Uttar Pradesh with the collusion of the BJP and the Election Commission. In a sarcastic remark, the AAP leader said, I want to tell the owner of this house (in Mahoba), if he contests the village pradhan's election, he will win. No one else needs to vote (other than his family members). Singh claimed that in the village where this house is located, there are around 16,000 voters in total, making the alleged anomaly even more serious. He also targeted the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance over land allotment in Bihar's Bhagalpur, alleging that the state government gave 1,050 acres of land to industrialist Gautam Adani's group for three power plants at a nominal price of Re 1 per acre for 25 years. Not only was the land given for Re 1, but a guarantee was also given that whatever electricity you produce will be purchased at Rs 7 per unit for the next 25 years. Whether people get power at Rs 10, Rs 11 or Rs 12 (per unit) doesn't matter to the government. But the prime minister's friend must not face any trouble, Singh said. He also claimed that the land was acquired between 2012 and 2013 by the then BJP-JD(U) government, and compensation was paid to the farmers from the public exchequer. The government could have sold the land at a higher price to generate revenue but it gave it to Adani for Re 1 per acre for 25 years, Singh said. The AAP leader also claimed that official records classify the land as arren in around 70 per cent of its area, while there stand nearly 10 lakh trees, including mango trees that produce the Malda variety of the fruit. The government is only concerned about money-making, not the environment or trees, Singh claimed. He also said that employment, farmers' welfare and environmental issues are not on the government's priority list. The priority is to make money in the name of cricket and by setting up power plants like these. That is why I keep saying that Modi ji is not the prime minister of India, he is the prime minister of Adani, Singh said, as he urged people to decide if they are happy or angry with such policies. AAP's Uttar Pradesh president Sabhajit Singh said the party will hold a meeting of its senior office-bearers in Lucknow on September 20 to discuss electoral roll-related issues, among others. Like in Mahoba, the party will focus on similar irregularities in other districts as well. Our focus is on ensuring that no eligible voter is left out and no bogus voter is added to the list. The issue will be taken up in the meeting, he said. Will interfere in case of illegality: SC sets October 7 for final hearing on pleas against Bihar SIR
Temple Wedding, Abortion, Then Mystery Death: Tale Of Two Bengal Doctors
A junior doctor has been arrested in West Bengal's Malda after his girlfriend -- a 24-year-old MBBS student -- died under mysterious circumstances while she was visiting him
RG Kar Medical College Student Found Dead In Bengal's Malda, Mother Blames Lover
Mystery is shrouding the death of a tribal female medical student of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Malda district of West Bengal.
WB Elections 2026: 79,000 BLOs appointed, BJP raises objection over temporary staff in Malda
West Bengal has appointed 79,000 Booth Level Officers. WB-CEO Manoj Agarwal will attend an ECI meeting in Delhi. Allegations arose in Malda regarding BLO appointments. BJP raised concerns about temporary staff filling BLO positions. Objections to booth bifurcation were accepted until September 8. EC officials reviewed election preparedness.
'Will pour acid': TMC leader threatens BJP MLA over remarks on migrant workers
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Abdur Rahim Boxi sparked controversy after purportedly threatening to pour acid down the throat of anyone speaking against migrant workers from West Bengal. The Malda district TMC president allegedly made the remarks during a public meeting in Malatipur on Saturday night. A video of the incident went viral on social media, though PTI has not independently verified its authenticity. Boxi was reacting to a BJP MLAs comment during an Assembly discussion, in which the latter reportedly referred to migrant workers from Bengal as Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. I strongly resent the abominable comments made by a BJP MLA, Boxi said. How dare he insult our Bengali citizens who leave the state in search of work? I caution him, I will pour acid in the throat of anyone making such statements to silence them. He further accused BJP leaders of viewing the people of the state through the prism of a divisive political agenda, adding that they should have their eyes checked. BJPs IT Cell head Amit Malviya condemned the remarks on X, saying, Violence is not new to TMC, it is their political culture. In Malda-Murshidabad, where illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas form Mamata Banerjee's committed vote bank, such threats reflect how TMC sustains its politics.
'Will pour acid': TMC leader threatens BJP MLA for calling migrant workers infiltrators
TMC legislator Abdur Rahim Boxi threatened to pour acid in the throat of anyone criticizing West Bengal's migrant workers, reacting to a BJP MLA's remarks during an assembly discussion. Boxi, the Malda district president of TMC, accused the BJP leader of labeling Bengali migrant workers as Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.
Will Burn Your Face With Acid: TMC Leader's Shocking Threat To BJP MLA Draws Condemnation | News18
TMC leader Abdur Rahim Bakshi stoked a controversy after he threatened to pour acid into the mouth of a BJP MLA in West Bengal, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition.Bakshi is the TMC President of the Malda district and he made the remarks while addressing a gathering on Saturday to protest against alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other parts of the country. n18oc_indian18oc_breaking-newsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
TMC Malda Chief Threatens BJP MLA with Acid Attack
Abdur Rahim Bakshis remarks over migrant worker row spark BJP protests in Malda
Bengal Shocker: Trinamool MLA Threatens To Pour Acid In BJP Leader's Mouth
A few years ago, he had threatened to cut off the hands and feet of leaders and workers of the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress. Now, Malda district Trinamool Congress (TMC) President Abdur Rahim Bakshi has threatened to pour acid on the throat of a BJP MLA.
Indian Railways rolls out biometric sign-on system for TTEs
NEW DELHI: In a first, Indian Railways has introduced a new biometric sign-on and sign-off system for its ticket checking staff, marking a significant step towards modernising railway operations and enhancing accountability. The first digital TTE lobby of Indian Railways also became operational at Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction under the East Central Railway on August 29 this year. According to the Railways, this innovative system has already been successfully implemented in the Banaras Division of Northern Railway, Sonpur Division in East Central Railway, Ratlam Division in Western Railway, and TTE lobbies at CSMT, Pune and Solapur in Central Railway. It is also operational in Malda Division in Eastern Railway, Mysore Division in South Western Railway, Bhopal in West Central Railway, and Madurai, Palghat, Trichy in Southern Railway, along with the Kota Lobby in West Central Railway. Additionally, it is being phased in across various divisions of the North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and North Western Railway zones. The Jammu Division of Northern Railway is set to roll out the system shortly. ED I&P, Railways Ministry, Dileep Kumar said, The new system integrates biometric authentication with the Ticket Examiner (TTE) Lobby system, allowing staff to authenticate themselves using an Aadhaar-enabled biometric device. This ensures a tamper-proof, transparent, and privacy-compliant attendance process that accurately records working hours and duty status in real time. He outlined the objectives of the biometric system, stating that authentic attendance will ensure that attendance records are accurate and verifiable. He said that the system will also provide real-time data on staff availability and duty status, allowing for more efficient management. He further mentioned that the system also offers effective monitoring of working hours and lobby operations. He added that the system integrates with Hand Held Terminals (HHTs) and duty rosters for streamlined staff deployment. Detailing the initiative, Kumar said that the implementation of this system is a testament to Indian Railways commitment to improving efficiency and transparency. The biometric sign-on/off system will not only streamline staff deployment but also significantly enhance the overall efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the ticket checking staff, ultimately improving the experience for all passengers, he said.
Residents in Bengal's Malda, Murshidabad Rush for Birth Documents Amidst SIR of Electoral Roll Fears
Subhamay Basu, chairman-in-council and TMC councillor of English Bazar Municipality, said over the past two weeks, the trend has intensified, increasing the workload of civic body staff.
Towards eradicating human trafficking in India: A focus on West Bengal
In the past week, two major human trafficking attempts have been foiled in our region the first involved rescuing 56 young women from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station near Siliguri in Darjeeling district. The other involved rescuing 34 young women from Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus, in Siliguri. In both cases, the victims are young, vulnerable girls from economically and socially marginalised sections, and hail from remote rural villages of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, mostly from the tea gardens. In the first instance, the women were promised jobs in Bengaluru; however, they were being taken to Patna when they were rescued. In the second case, the women were being transported to Jharkhand by bus when the rescue took place. In both cases, the traffickers claimed that their final destination was the garment factories of Tamil Nadu. Contrast this with the fact that since 2019, 143 workers from West Bengal, including 60 children, have been rescued from bonded labour in gold manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu. Many such instances of vulnerable people from West Bengal, particularly from the Darjeeling hills, Terai and the Dooars region, being lured by human traffickers are coming to light. What is worrisome is that, unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. A cursory look at the data from 2018 to 2022, as reported in Parliament in April this year, reveals: 2,278 cases in 2018, 2,208 in 2019, 1,714 in 2020, 2,189 in 2021, and 2,250 in 2022. The noticeable dip in 2020 may be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted both mobility and law enforcement operations. However, the numbers indicate that trafficking continues to be a widespread concern across the country. One of the most affected states during this period has been West Bengal. Its location along the India-Nepal-Bhutan-Bangladesh border, particularly in districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, North and South Dinajpur, Raiganj, Malda, North and South 24 Parganas, and Murshidabad, makes it especially vulnerable to cross-border trafficking. West Bengal, sadly, serves as both a destination and a transit point where trafficked individuals are usually forced into labour or sex work. Despite a sharp decline in reported human trafficking cases in West Bengal, from more than 3,500 in 2016 to only 67 in 2022, most experts caution that the drop could be due to better concealment by traffickers, gaps in reporting, obfuscating data by the state administration, or fear among victims and their families. The actual number of victims is believed to be much higher. If we are to tackle the menace of human trafficking, the first act should be to acknowledge that there is a problem. Obfuscating crime data, particularly that related to human trafficking, further harms the victims of trafficking. Hence, the West Bengal government should be more transparent about reporting crime-related data. The root cause of human trafficking is poverty. The majority of those trafficked are from shut-down tea gardens, as substantiated by one of the recently arrested human trafficking suspects from Siliguri, who said to the media, As the women didnt get jobs at the tea gardens due to the closure of most, they were willingly going to Tamil Nadu for jobs. Hence, it is vital to take necessary steps towards addressing poverty through job creation. Availability of employment opportunities locally will encourage youths from our region to remain here itself, instead of taking grave risks to go and work in distant cities. The next step is to promote community-based initiatives as higher participation of the community will contribute significantly towards lowering instances of human trafficking. We also need to leverage technology to monitor vulnerable regions, and take necessary action to address the key vulnerabilities, including strengthening community organisations, providing financial and economic support to vulnerable families, and encouraging local youths to become involved in sensitisation and monitoring processes. Availability of safe accommodation and temporary shelters for the victims of human trafficking, easy access to legal services, educational and vocational training programmes, and provision of counselling and mental health support are important. Additionally, regulating placement agencies and borders can disrupt trafficking networks. I am grateful to MARG, Darjeeling, for taking a unique initiative of hand-crafting purple roses and delivering them to people across the region on Anti-Human Trafficking Day, commemorated globally on July 30. Purple Rose is not a naturally occurring flower; instead, it is created artificially by people for their pleasure. Hence, it symbolises the victims of human trafficking, who have been reduced to becoming objects of pleasure and sources of profit. Raju Bista Member of Parliament from Darjeeling, and the National Spokesperson, BJP
Aabhas Maldahiyars Babur:The Quest for Hindustan is Out
It brings to light revealing findings on the destruction of the Ram Mandir, questions the idealized narrative of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, and uncovers the unequal nature of interfaith marriages under Timurid rule
81 AAI-run airports suffer Rs 10,853 crore loss in 10 years; 22 now non-operational
NEW DELHI: Eighty-one airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 10,852.9 crore in past 10 financial years. Today, 22 of these airports have become non-operational. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol presented the data in the Rajya Sabha on August 4 while replying to a query posed by Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisam. The MP wanted to know details of Indian airports operating at a loss and if there were any plans to shut those with negligible flight operations. She also wanted to know if any financial aid was being offered to underperforming airports. Data released for the years from 2015-2016 to 2024-2025 reveals the 81 airports across the country have cumulatively suffered a Rs 10,852.9-crore loss. Delhis Safdarjung airport has suffered the most, incurring a loss of Rs 673.91 crore. Agartala airport with a Rs 605.23-crore loss stands second, while Hyderabad, with Rs 564.97 crore, Dehradun with Rs 488.01 crore, and Vijayawada with Rs 483.69 crore in losses figure among the top five loss-making airport nationwide. Asked for a reason, a senior Aviation Ministry official said Safdarjung airport, though the main airport in the national capital, is now a thing of the past, as it is not actually operational for commercial flights presently. It serves to ferry VVIPS to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, he said. Among other major loss-making airports are Bhopal (Rs 480.43 crore), Aurangabad (Rs 447.83 crore), Tirupati (Rs 363.71 crore), Khajuraho (Rs 355.53 crore), Imphal (Rs 355.19 crore). Airports closed for operations The airports which have become non-operational are Donakonda, Daparizo, Jogbani, Muzaffarpur, Raxaul, Deesa, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, Khandwa, Panna, Shella, Aizawl, Thanjavur, Vellore, Nadirgul, Warangal, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Asansol, Balurghat and Malda. Mohol also said the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) was launched on October 21, 2016, to boost regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country. The scheme provides Viability Gap Funding to airlines to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues. The budget allocated for the RCS-UDAN for the financial year 2025-2026 is Rs 300 crore, the minister said. This provided financial incentives and concessions to the airlines from the Central and state governments, Union territories and airport operators to lower operational costs and thus promote their operations, he added. A total of 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes have been operationalised under the scheme, he pointed out.
Mamata Banerjee warns of voter list purge, attacks BJP for insulting Bengali language
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday indicated that her party would bank on issues like voter lists and the Bengali language movement to contest the 2026 Assembly elections. Speaking at a programme organised to celebrate World Tribal Day in Jhargram, in the western part of West Bengal, she launched a scathing attack on the BJP, centring around these two issues. In her speech, she expressed her anger over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Chief Minister also made it clear once again that her movement will continue regarding the Bengali language. She targeted the central government and the ECI over the voter list exercise and used the alleged negative comments of BJP leaders regarding the Bengali language as a tool to attack the saffron party. She said, If anyone asks to fill up forms, please do not do it being unaware. They will remove your names from the voter lists and hand an NRC notice to you. We will not tolerate it. It is a plan of the Central Government and they will verify names of the voter list. People will have to cross-check if their names are in the voter list. Those born before 2002 are being asked to show their parents birth certificates. Banerjee claimed that when the Trinamool Congress government came to power in West Bengal in May 2011, the institutional delivery rate in the state was only 60 percent and it was much lower before that. How many people have the birth certificates of their parents now? Those who are asking for it do they have their parents birth certificates? They are born with a silver spoon; how will they understand the woes of the poor? she added. Without naming the BJP, Banerjee also attacked the ruling party at the Centre. Mamata questions EC's directive to suspend four officers, says her govt is with its staffers She said, They even dismissed the existence of the Bengali language. In which language did Rabindranath Tagore or Netaji speak? How useless are they that they say there is no such language as Bengali. As I hold a certain position, I cannot speak ill of them even if they do so. People of Bengal are being persecuted. We have facilitated the return of more than 2,000 workers. They have been kept in detention camps in Gurgaon. Similar persecution is going on in Rajasthan and Assam. A tribal girl from Malda has been pushed back to Bangladesh from Madhya Pradesh. Dalits are being tortured, the Chief Minister alleged. She also asked people to remain cautious about the BJP, while saying, These people will come before elections and ask for votes by giving money. Whose money is that? We know everything. They want to remove the names of the people and send them to Bangladesh. They are labelling people as Rohingyas and Bangladeshis only for speaking Bengali, Banerjee alleged. Asking people not to let go of the voter lists and the honour of the Bengali language, she asked, In which language is our National Anthem written? Who taught us the Bengali alphabets? It was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was born in Medinipur. The Chief Minister complained, Government employees are being intimidated. Notices were sent to two of my officers yesterday. They were suspended even though the elections have not yet been declared. Under which rule? You are suspending. And you are saying, an FIR will have to be filed. It will not happen. I will not let anyone be punished. Keep this in mind. She once again clarified that the West Bengal government will continue to stand with the state government employees. The ECI had on Tuesday suspended four officials and a casual worker in West Bengal for irregularities in the registration of names in the voter lists. In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the ECI had also ordered the registration of an FIR against these four officials and a data entry operator posted in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts respectively for their alleged criminal activities.
Two men from West Bengal arrested with fake currency notes in Nagpur
NAGPUR: Two men from West Bengal have been arrested in Nagpur for allegedly possessing fake currency notes with a face value of more than Rs 1.21 lakh, police said on Thursday. The duo, Jaminarul Hussain Lokman Sheikh (27) and Azimtanu Sheikh (29), both from Malda district, was caught with 243 counterfeit notes in Rs 500 denomination (face value Rs 1,21,500) on late Wednesday night near a hospital under the Tehsil police station area, they said. The duo initially claimed they were job-seekers, but during a search, police discovered the fake notes hidden in a plastic bag. The men later told cops they had stolen a passenger's bag containing the notes while traveling on the Geetanjali Express from Howrah to Nagpur, the police said. They planned to return home after circulating the notes in Nagpur, they added. The two men were produced in a local court, which remanded them to five-day police custody.
West Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia said the proposed project aims to control soil erosion by the Ganga in Malda, close to the Bihar and Jharkhand borders
Malda migrant workers family backs Mamata claim of harassment by Delhi police
Sanjur Parveen and other members of the family who hail from Malda in West Bengal held a press conference at the Trinamool Congress party office in Kolkata and alleged torture by Delhi police. The Delhi police said that the video shared by the Chief Minister about migrant workers family alleging harassment in the national capital was fabricated.
Didi Challenges Delhi Police Rebuttal On Malda Kid's Assault
The CM added, We want the affected to return home. Only then, it will be proven who spoke the truth. Her response came a day after Delhi deputy commissioner of police (East) Abhishek Dhania refuted her claims that she had posted on X about the incident.
Mamata Banerjee challenges Delhi Police over alleged assault on migrant child, mother
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday challenged the Delhi Police, a day after they refuted her allegation that officers had brutally beaten a child and her mother, members of a Bengali migrant workers family, in the national capital. On Sunday, Banerjee had posted a video on her X handle and made the allegation for the first time. In her address at a public meeting at Bolpur in Birbhum district on Monday, she reiterated the claim. Later on Monday evening, Delhi Polices DCP (East), Abhishek Dhania, held a press conference to refute the allegation. Challenging the Delhi Police on the issue, the Chief Minister said, I had spoken about that child yesterday. They were taken to one police station after another. I had said this in the meeting yesterday. Check the record. I had said that they would be threatened. That is what happened. We will want them (the affected people) to return. And it will be proven who is true and who is false. She was addressing an administrative meeting at Illambazar in Birbhum on Tuesday. Sharing a video on her X handle on Sunday, where a young man was heard accusing the police of beating his wife and infant son, Banerjee had said, Atrocious!! Terrible!! See how Delhi Police brutally beat up a kid and his mother, members of a migrant family from Malda's Chanchal. See how even a child is not spared from the cruelty of violence in the regime of linguistic terror unleashed by BJP in the country against the Bengalis! Where are they taking our country now? she had asked. In the video posted by the Chief Minister, a young man is seen showing some injury marks on his infant son and saying, Look what the police did to my son. The police beat him and broke his forehead. He is also heard complaining in the video that all their essentials had been thrown away. The young man's wife is also seen in the video. He is seen pointing to his wife and saying, The police also beat her up a lot. (Although The New Indian Express has not verified the authenticity of this video.) After Banerjee posted the video on her X platform, Delhi Police launched an investigation. DCP (East) Abhishek Dhania said on Monday that investigators went to the womans house after identifying her from the video. During interrogation, the woman alleged that four Delhi Police personnel in plain clothes came to her house at 10:30 pm on 26 July and took her to a secluded place. After that, they allegedly demanded 25,000 from her. Dhania said that a special team was formed to investigate the incident after understanding the gravity of the situation. Police examined CCTV footage and used other technical resources during the probe. When the woman was questioned, she allegedly confessed that she has a relative in Malda who is a political activist. According to police, the woman claimed that she made the video under his instructions. Later, it was circulated. Dhania said, The video was deliberately spread on social media to tarnish the image of Delhi Police. The investigation into the incident is underway. Armed with the Delhi Polices statement, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, I have asked Soumendu (Suvendus brother and BJP MP from Contai Lok Sabha constituency Soumendu Adhikari) to file a complaint at the police station. Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, he added, The Chief Minister is spreading false news. She can get an international award for spreading rumours. Later in the day, Soumendu lodged a complaint against Mamata Banerjee at the Cyber Crime Branch of Delhi Police for the dissemination of fake and communally provocative content on social media. He said, Based on the complaint of a woman from Malda, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to destroy communal harmony by posting a fake picture. I have filed a written complaint against the Chief Minister in Delhi, mentioning that incident.
KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Gyanesh Kumar, urging him to ensure that no Domicile Certificates issued by the West Bengal Administration issued on or after July 25, 2025, are accepted or considered during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. There is apprehension that these applications may involve Rohingya Muslims and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants , potentially supported by the directive to issue Domicile Certificates to facilitate their enrollment in Voter Lists. Given the sensitivity of the matter, I urge the Election Commission to take preventive measures, he wrote to CEC. In the letter, he claimed that the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), West Bengal recently issued a directive to the District Magistrates (DMs) and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts, instructing to issue a large number of Domicile Certificates in these districts, many of which share border with Bangladesh. Adhikari said, Recent report indicates a sudden spike in the submission of Form-6 applications, with approximately 70,000 forms filed in the last week, compared to an average of 20,000-25,000. This surge is particularly noticeable in border districts such as Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, where demographic patterns have reportedly shifted over the past decade. This directive for the issuance of Domicile Certificates coincides with an alarming increase in the filing of Form-6 applications for Voter Registration, particularly in these border districts, which is a clear cut proactive attempt to dilute the prospective Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, he alleged. In a post on X on Monday, Adhikari said, I have written to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, urging the Election Commission to ensure that no Domicile Certificates issued on or after July 25, 2025, are accepted or considered during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls, if such activity is conducted in West Bengal. The integrity of our Democracy must be protected and can't be allowed to get diluted for vested interests of Vote Bank Politics. The District Election Officers must remember that they are entrusted with the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections, and their allegiance is with the country and protecting the interests of the country, it added. Earlier, Adhikari had claimed that 17 lakh Rohingyas are living in Bengal under the shelter of the Trinamool Congress Government. The claim however, refuted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who citing a UN Report had said that in total 10 lakh Rohingyas are in the world.
Migrant family 'beaten' by Delhi police: Mamata reiterates 'linguistic terror' charge against BJP
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday reiterated her charge against the BJP of unleashing a regime of linguistic terror on Bengalis in the country, claiming that members of a migrant family were beaten up by the police in Delhi. Banerjee shared a video on X of a child and his mother belonging to a migrant family from West Bengal's Malda district, who were allegedly beaten up by the police in the national capital. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Atrocious!! Terrible!! See how Delhi police brutally beat up a kid and his mother, members of a migrant family from Malda's Chanchal. See how even a child is not spared from the cruelty of violence in the regime of linguistic terror unleashed by BJP in the country against the pic.twitter.com/IwAXkQwy9V Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 27, 2025 Atrocious!! Terrible!! See how Delhi police brutally beat up a kid and his mother, members of a migrant family from Malda's Chanchal. See how even a child is not spared from the cruelty of violence in the regime of linguistic terror unleashed by BJP in the country against the Bengalis! Where are they taking our country now? she said in the post in which the video was attached. Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, had earlier in the week accused the BJP of unleashing linguistic terrorism on Bengalis, asserting that the fight for identity and language will continue until the saffron party is defeated. Speaking at the TMC's annual Martyrs' Day rally, she had announced that from Sunday, a movement would start in West Bengal to protest against attacks on Bengalis, the Bengali language and linguistic terrorism. TMC leaders and activists have been holding rallies over the matter in different parts of the state on Sunday. Mamata cites Human Rights Watch report; slams 'illegal deportation' of Bengali-Muslims from BJP-ruled states
Four migrant workers from Bengal's Murshidabad allege assault in TN; file police complaint
KOLKATA: Four migrant workers from West Bengal's Murshidabad district have alleged assault by locals in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur district earlier this month for speaking in Bengali, suspecting them to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh. According to a police complaint filed in Murshidabad on July 18, the incident took place on July 15 when Sujan Sheikh, his brother Milan Sheikh, and two others Sahil Sheikh and Babu Sheikh were working at a construction site in Thiruvallur, after travelling to Chennai around three weeks ago in search of work. Some local residents confronted us, asked our names and where we were from. When they heard us speaking in Bengali, they started beating us with iron rods and sticks. They kept accusing us of being Bangladeshis, Sujan Sheikh told PTI over phone from his home in Murshidabad. The workers were initially taken to a government hospital in Thiruvallur for treatment. Sujan, who suffered a fractured hand during the alleged assault, had to undergo surgery and remains under medical care. The labourers also alleged that they had earlier approached the local police in Chennai, but no action was taken. We have been travelling to Chennai for work for the last four years. Nothing of this sort has ever happened before. We are still in shock, Sujan said. He also claimed that they were not paid for 11 days of work at the site before returning home. Police in Murshidabad have acknowledged receiving the complaint, and said they are in touch with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. The incident comes amid heightened political discourse in West Bengal over the safety of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had alleged that Bengalis were facing discrimination and linguistic profiling in states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Odisha, claiming many were being harassed or pushed back across the Bangladesh border despite possessing valid documents. Banerjee's remarks drew sharp rebuttals from the BJP, which dismissed the charges as aseless fear-mongering. However, incidents like the one reported from Murshidabad have reignited concerns over the vulnerability of Bengali migrants, especially those from minority-dominated border districts like Malda, North Dinajpur and Murshidabad, According to migration data, thousands of labourers from Bengal's hinterland migrate annually to southern states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to work in the construction, textile and hospitality sectors. Political analysts say the issue of Bengali migrant workers' safety is likely to become a flashpoint in the run-up to the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with ruling and opposition parties trading allegations over identity politics.
West Bengal man held in Hyderabad with drug worth Rs 7.6L
Hyderabad: A man from West Bengal on July 17 was held for drug peddling in Hyderabad. Amphetamine drug and a mobile phone all worth Rs 7.6 lakh were seized from him. The accused was identified as Rajikul Haque, who migrated to Hyderabad and worked as a mason. Haque went back to Malda and began working Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Railways working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat trains across India
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Railways, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a future-ready railway network, is working on an ambitious project to roll out 100 modern and hi-tech Amrit Bharat trains for various parts of the country. With the inauguration of four more Amrit Bharat trains from across Bihar on Friday by Prime Minister Modi, the total number of operational Amrit Bharat trains in the country has now reached seven, including the three that were already running including two in Bihars North and eastern regions. The Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative, using entirely indigenous technology, with a running capacity of 130 kmph. Working towards the realisation of his vision for a future-ready railway network, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged-off four new Amrit Bharat trains scheduled to run between Rajendra Nagar (Patna) and New Delhi; Bapudham Motihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal); Darbhanga and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar); and Malda Town and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur. On the sideline of this inaugural event, speaking to the TNIE on Friday here, a senior railway official said the Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured with the objective of providing a safe and comfortable travel experience for middle-class and economically weaker passengers. As a total of 3 Amrit Bharat trains have been currently operational across the country, now the number reached 7. The Ministry of Railway is working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat rakes in coming days this year and next to ensure safe and faster affordable rail services to poor and middle class people, added an official. He said that earlier, two Amrit Bharat trains had been running between Bihars Darbhanga Anand Vihar Terminal and Saharsa Lokmanya Tilak Terminal. Now, the four more Amrit Bharat trains will start running in Bihar again with all passenger amenities like foldable snack table, mobile holder, foldable bottle holder, fast mobile charging ports, improved and comfortable seating, radium illuminated flooring strips, airline-style lighting that guides the way even in the dark and air spring body which ensures shock-free travel experience. A senior railway official, speaking about the features of Amrit Bharat trains, further added that the trains were equipped with modern and Divyangjan-friendly toilets, an electro-pneumatic flushing system, and automatic soap dispensers. On the safety front, the Amrit Bharat trains have been equipped with the facility of an EP-assisted brake system, and their coaches have been fitted with sealed gangways and vacuum evacuation systems. He further added The most interesting feature is that the railway has made the talk-back unit available in every coach of Amrit Bharat trains running in Bihar in a majority with fire detection system properly installed for the first time in non-AC coaches. Meanwhile, a railway official cited a conservative estimate that the four Amrit Bharat trains flagged off by PM Modi will ferry more than 56 lakh people from economically weaker and middle-class sections per month.
Calcutta HC seeks answers from Odisha on detention of Bengali migrant workers
KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary to appoint a nodal officer to get in touch with the authorities in Odisha and take necessary steps to ensure release of Bengali speaking migrant workers from the state who were detained there. A division bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Mitra of the Calcutta High Court also directed the West Bengal Government to act immediately and submit a report to the court in this regard on Monday. There have been allegations of Bengali speaking migrant workers from West Bengal being detained in Odisha. The Calcutta High Court has sought answers to several questions in this case. The bench asked, why were Bengali migrant workers detained? On what basis were they detained? Has any FIR been filed? What action has been taken against those migrants after their detention? Where are they now? The High Court has directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to send these questions of the court to the Chief Secretary of Odisha. The bench will take its next decision after seeing his reply. Counsel for petitioner Razzak Sheikh from Hariharpara in Murshidabad submitted to the bench that his son Samiur Islam went to Odisha in search of a job. The counsel submitted that the Bengali speaking person was held up by the Odisha Police during a special identification drive and arrested on June 30, 2025. The arrested person has not been produced in court since then. There was no arrest memo issued, and the family of the person in custody was not informed about the arrest. This is nothing but illegal detention, the counsel submitted. Odisha releases 25 after verifying documents amid crackdown on suspected illegal immigrants He also said that the family was not even aware in which correctional home Islam was in custody. The counsel prayed for compensation of the victim by the Odisha Government and also urged for disciplinary action against the authorities who made the illegal arrest. The counsel submitted that a similar prayer by another victim Rakibul Islam was pending and prayers by other two would come up before the bench on Friday. Citing newspaper reports, senior counsel Kalyan Banerjee submitted that 200 Bengali speaking people from West Bengal and some others in Assam had been arrested because of their mother tongue. This has become a serious issue, he added. Advocate Generatel Kishore Datta representing the West Bengal Government submitted that there was a problem with the identity and the place of residence of the person arrested. The state will give all support to the person regarding his identity, he said. Datta also urged the division bench to appoint a nodal officer who would coordinate with the Odisha Government and sort out the problem. Allegedly, several migrant workers from West Bengal were detained in Odisha. Some of them are residents of Malda, some of them are residents of Murshidabad, and some of them are residents of Birbhum. The matter came to light only after their families could not contact them for several days. The West Bengal Chief Secretary had also written a letter to his counterpart in Odisha in this regard.
Railway Minister announces key projects for poll-bound Bihar; says Rs 10,000 crore budget allotted
NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his visit to Patna on Monday ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, announced the introduction of four new Amrit Bharat trains and that a budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned to strengthen railway infrastructure in the state. Speaking at the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony for a new level crossing gate near Karpoori Gram railway station in Samastipur district, the minister also inaugurated several upgraded passenger amenities at the station. The NDA government at the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore in this year's budget for rail infrastructure in Bihar, Vaishnaw told reporters. In the past 11 years, over 34,000 km of new railway tracks have been laid, and 1,300 stations are being redeveloped as modern Amrit Bharat stations, he added. The four new trains will include a daily train from Patna to Delhi, weekly services from Darbhanga and Malda to Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, services from Saharsa to Amritsar in Punjab, and a daily service from Jogbani to Erode in Tamil Nadu. The minister also announced that the Karpoori Gram railway station would now come under the Samastipur railway division. Earlier, it was under the jurisdiction of Sonpur railway division. Speaking about upcoming railway infrastructure projects, the minister announced that a third rail line between Bhagalpur and Jamalpur, covering a distance of 53 kilometres, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,156 crore. He further added that the doubling of the BakhtiyarpurRajgirTilaiya rail route, spanning 104 kilometres, will be carried out at a cost of Rs 2,017 crore. Another major project the doubling of the RampurhatBhagalpur route is also being planned, with an estimated budget of Rs 3,000 crore and a total distance of 177 kilometres. The minister also spoke about developments in the technology sector. He announced that two new Software Technology Parks of India (STPIs) for Bihar are ready and will be inaugurated soon. One is the new STPI building in Patliputra, Patna, which has been built at a cost of around Rs 53 crore, and the other is an upcoming STPI in Darbhanga, with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur, was also present on the occasion. Earlier in the day in Patna, the railway minister inspected passenger facilities at Digha Bridge halt station and gave necessary instructions to officials.
UAE farmer showcases unique 4kg homegrown organic mango variety at Khorfakkan Festival
Saeed Al Maeli, an Emirati farmer, astounded attendees at the Khorfakkan Mango Festival with his nearly four-kilogram Malda mangoes. These unique mangoes, grown through careful hybrid cultivation on his Fujairah farms, are prized for their size and suitability for traditional dishes like pickles and curries. Saeed believes that the fruit does not catch the attention of the buyers for its sweetness but for its size and look.
BSF ADG reviews Bengal border security amid Bangladesh tensions
Additional Director General Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal of BSF Eastern Command recently concluded a three-day visit to Nadia, Murshidabad, and Malda, focusing on bolstering border management and security. Amidst the evolving situation in Bangladesh, Aggarwal emphasized reinforced operational preparedness to thwart smuggling and infiltration attempts.
West Bengal in talks with Jharkhand, Bihar on project to stop Ganga-Padma erosion
The West Bengal government is planning a project with Jharkhand and Bihar. This aims to stop the Ganga-Padma erosion. Mamata Banerjee's approval is awaited. Manas Bhunia highlighted the erosion's impact on Malda and Murshidabad. Many acres of land have been lost. The state government has provided land deeds to affected people. Villages in both districts are facing submersion.
