Page 40 - West Bengal

BJP calls bandh in West Bengal: Key details

The BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh in West Bengal. This comes after the Nabanna Abhijan protest rally in Kolkata on Tuesday, August 27. Watch the video to know more.

Kolkata case news updates: 16 days have passed since CBI took over, where is justice, asks CM Mamata

Kolkata murder-rape case updates: Catch all the news developments related to the investigation here

Protesters block rail lines, halt buses after Kolkata doctor's rape, murder

Thousands of doctors, many of them on strike since the Aug. 9 crime was discovered, marched in the state's capital of Kolkata, demanding justice for the victim and better workplace safety

TMC MP Abhishek demands stricter anti-rape laws, says will move Bill in LS

Demanding enactment of stricter anti-rape laws by the Centre, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he will move a private member's bill in the Lok Sabha. The TMC national general secretary said that if the Centre "fails" to enact a stricter law that would ensure quick trial and sentencing of those found guilty, he will lead protests in Delhi. "Our only demand is stricter anti-rape legislation," the TMC MP said, addressing a Trinamool Congress students' wing rally on its foundation day, here. He said that the TMC will take to the streets if the Centre does not enact a new law to ensure a time-bound trial and sentencing of the accused found guilty of rape charges. "If the central government does not enact this law, I will move a private member's bill for the new law," he said. Banerjee said that the TMC was demanding justice and quick trial and sentencing in the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor in R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. He said that if this government could imp

Doctor rape-murder: BJP's 12-hour shutdown partially affects life in Bengal

Daily life was partially affected in West Bengal on Wednesday due to a 12-hour shutdown called by the BJP, protesting the police action against demonstrators during a march to the state secretariat. Rail and road blockades at several places in the state since the early morning affected public transport services, inconveniencing people. In state capital Kolkata, the usual weekday flurry was missing with a lesser number of buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis plying. Private vehicles were also significantly less, even as markets and shops remained open as usual. Schools and colleges were open, though the number of students was lesser. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home. However, attendance was as usual in government offices. BJP workers demonstrated at several places in the city, including Sealdah, Shyambazar, Burrabazar and Wipro More in the IT hub of Sector 5, and police were swift in removing them to clear the roads for traffic. An offic

Will call Assembly session, pass Bill ensuring death for rapists: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee asserted that if the Governor does not pass the proposed Bill, her party leaders will sit outside the Raj Bhavan in protest

Bengal failed to implement schemes to deal with crimes against women: WCD

Amid uproar over the rape of a doctor in West Bengal, Union minister Annapurna Devi has said the situation of women in the state has been "deteriorating" and slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for failing to implement central government schemes such as fast track courts and emergency helplines to deal with crimes against women. It is ironic that it is the only state in the country that has a woman chief minister and still the situation of women in the state is deteriorating, Women and Child Development minister Devi told PTI. "There are states like West Bengal where we are trying to get the central government schemes implemented but it is not happening. There are central government schemes, such as fast track special courts and POCSO courts, that have been established to deal with crimes against women and children but the state (West Bengal) is lagging behind in it," Devi said. "We are sponsoring the scheme so you don't have to spend money but the state has to implement it. We .

'Deeply sorry': Mamata dedicates Trinamool foundation day to Kolkata victim

The West Bengal Chief Minister's message comes after a protest march, dubbed 'Nabanna Abhijan', where security forces used water cannons, lathi-charges, and tear gas to disperse protestors

Nabanna Abhijan: Security tightened ahead of Kolkata protest march

A protest march, called ‘Nabanna Abhijan’, is planned for today, August 27, to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna. The protest is in response to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor

'Nabanna Abhijaan' march turns violent; BJP seeks Mamata's polygraph test

Clashes were reported at GT Road in Howrah Maidan area. The protestors were seen throwing stones and bricks at the security forces while the police resorted to lathi-charge and using water cannons

Nabanna rally updates: BJP calls for 12-hr Bengal bandh tomorrow over police action on protestors

Kolkata murder-rape case updates: Catch all the news developments related to the investigation here

Suvendu alleges 4 student activists 'missing'; arrested for murder attempt

West Bengal Police on Tuesday refuted Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari's claim that four student activists were "missing", saying that they were arrested for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy of murder as well as attempted murder. Without taking any name, the police said that the "missing" allegation was false and claimed that the four were reportedly planning to "orchestrate large-scale violence" during Tuesday's 'Nabanna Abhijan'. Earlier in the day, the BJP leader alleged that four student activists of the saffron party, who were scheduled to arrive at the Howrah station, were missing from midnight. "A certain political leader has been trying to create a false narrative about four students who have apparently been missing since last night. The truth is, nobody is missing. The four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the Nabanna Abhijan today and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder. They have been arreste

Bengal Police strengthens security measures to stop 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally

With at least 25 DCP-ranked officers overseeing security arrangements in Kolkata Police jurisdiction and four IGs, many DIGs and SP-ranked officers leading security forces in Howrah to stop the scheduled 'Nabanna Abhijan' rallies from reaching anywhere close to the state secretariat on Tuesday, the city looks to be bracing for a massive showdown between the two sides. Student organisation 'Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj' and the dissident state government employees' platform 'Sangrami Joutha Mancha' are set to hold their 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally on Tuesday afternoon, despite the administration declaring the event as "illegal and unauthorised". The rally is aimed at demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the arrest of those involved in the alleged rape-murder of a doctor at Kar Medical College and Hospital. Two major rallies, one starting from College Square in central Kolkata and the other from Santragachhi in Howrah are scheduled to head towards the

WB govt seeks time to respond to replies filed in OBC status case in SC

The West Bengal government on Tuesday sought time to reply to the responses filed by litigants in a case pertaining to the Calcutta High Court verdict striking down the OBC status of several castes, mostly Muslim groups, in the state for granting reservation in public sector jobs and admissions in state-run educational institutes. The top court was scheduled to hear on Tuesday the appeal of the state government along with other petitions on the issue. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state government, told the bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that bulky documents have been filed by the other side in the matter and he needed time to respond to them. "I need time to respond to them," Sibal said. "We will then list the matter in the Monday week (the week commencing from next Monday that is September 2)," the CJI said. On August 20, the state government had sought an urgent hearing on its plea against the high cour

Kolkata case updates: CBI conducts second round of polygraph tests on RG Kar hospital ex-principal

Kolkata murder-rape case updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the investigation here

WCD minister slams WB govt over delay in enacting women's safety measures

Lambasting the West Bengal government for its alleged failure to implement crucial safety measures for women and girls, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi has said the state has not taken any step to start the remaining 11 fast track special courts in spite of a pendency of 48,600 rape and POCSO cases. In a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Devi criticized the West Bengal government for failing to implement key emergency helplines such as the Women Helpline (WHL), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and Child Helpline. Asserting these services are essential for providing immediate assistance to victims of violence, she said the state has yet not integrated them despite multiple reminders from the Central government. This lapse, Devi argued, deprives the women and children in West Bengal of critical support in times of distress. In a pointed rebuke, she highlighted the state's inability to operationalize the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) allocated t

Proposed students' rally on Tuesday demanding CM's resignation illegal: TMC

Senior West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya described the proposed 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally on Tuesday by a student outfit called Chhatra Samaj, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape-murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at R G Kar hospital, as "illegal and an attempt to incite widespread unrest in Kolkata". At a press conference here on Monday, Bhattacharya claimed that the rally has been called without police permission and suggested it was part of a plan by some elements to disrupt peace and stability in the state. Bhattacharjee, who was joined by TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Joyprakash Majumdar, emphasised that the investigation into the rape-murder of the doctor has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and dismissed the call for the CM's resignation as politically motivated. "The call for this rally has been given on social media by Chhatra Samaj, which has not intimated police about their plans

Medic rape-murder: CBI grills ex-principal in financial irregularities case

CBI sleuths on Monday started grilling former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) Sandip Ghosh and ex-medical superintendent and vice principal Sanjay Vashisth in connection with their ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities in the institute, an officer of the agency said. Ghosh, whose Beliaghata residence was searched by CBI officers on Sunday, appeared at the central agency's office in Salt Lake on Monday morning with files and documents, he added. Vashisth, whose house was also raided by the CBI officers, appeared before the central agency's detectives at Nizam Palace, the officer said, adding that a forensic medicine department professor was also called for questioning at the same office. "After yesterday's search operations, we have several questions for them," the officer told PTI. On Sunday, the CBI launched simultaneous search operations on the premises of Ghosh, Vashisth and 13 others in and around Kolkata in connection with their probe in

Doctor's rape-murder: BJP to hold protests from Aug 28 across West Bengal

Stepping up the attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar has announced a series of programmes to protest the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run hospital here over two weeks back. The programmes will be held across the state between August 28 and September 4, said Majumdar, also a Union minister. Demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation for her alleged failure to address the issue of women's safety, Majumdar said the party will begin a sit-in in Esplanade area of Kolkata from August 28 while the party's women's wing will lock the gates of the state women's commission office. "The state women's commission seems to have gone into a stupor," Majumdar told reporters on the sidelines of a demonstration by BJP in Shyambazar area of the city. The BJP leader said that on August 29, party activists will gherao the district magistrate's office in every district at noon while protests will be held outside t

Kolkata rape-murder update: Protests erupt, CBI probes ex-principal

CBI was made to wait 90 minutes before being granted entrance into RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandeep Ghosh's residence on Sunday