Page 66 - West Bengal

ED raids residences of absconding TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh's associates

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at residences of businessmen associated with absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with an old case of fraudulent land grab, a senior officer said. Raids and search operations were started by the ED early Friday morning at five different places in and around the city including Howrah, Bijoygarh and Birati, he said. "These raids are in connection with an old case of fraudulent land grab against Shajahan Sheikh and his associates. These people were involved in fish businesses with Shajahan. We are looking for a few specific documents", the officer said. The ECIR is generally filed by the ED as the case Information report. It is similar to a First Information Report (FIR) in criminal cases, he explained. On January 5, a team of ED officers were assaulted by a mob when they tried to enter the residence of Shajahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Three officers were inj

NCST team visits Sandeshkhali, notes 23 complaints of torture, land-grab

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) team, which reached trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Thursday morning, has received over 23 complaints of forcible land grabbing and torture during their interaction with locals there, a senior official said. NCST acting vice-chairperson Ananta Nayak said they have also received complaints against a politician, which they would include in their report to the President, the official added. "They (Sandeshkhali residents) have mentioned the name of a political leader. We will include it in our report. We have received more than 23 complaints so far," Nayak told reporters. "We will compare this (their findings) with the ground report and then submit it to the President," he added. The visit by the NCST team comes days after a team of the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes had gone to the area. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday .

PM will address rally in Barasat on March 6: Bengal BJP chief Majumdar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a women's rally in Barasat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on March 6, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said on Thursday. Majumdar said if the tortured women of Sandeshkhali express their willingness to meet the PM, the party will facilitate a meeting. "Today, we came to know that the prime minister will be visiting the state on March 6 and will address a women's rally at Barasat," Majumdar told reporters. Asked whether the PM will meet the women from Sandeshkhali, which is also located in North 24 Parganas, Majumdar said, "If the sisters and mothers of Sandeshkhali want to meet Modi, we will definitely arrange it." A large number of women in Sandeshkhali have accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexually assaulting" them under coercion. Shajahan has been absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated with him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone

Police to take strict action, hear each complaint in Sandeshkhali: DGP

West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar on Thursday said that police will listen to the complaints of every individual in Sandeshkhali and strict action will be taken against those found guilty. Kumar, who went to Sandeshkhali on Wednesday and stayed there overnight to assess the situation in the troubled areas in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, assured of strict action against those found involved in torturing women there. "We will listen to the complaints of every individual. If there is any incident we will take strict action against those found guilty. If people are found involved in torturing, we will take appropriate action against them", Kumar told reporters at Dhamakhali this morning. Kumar, in his first visit to the area, since the protests began, held meetings with ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar, Basirhat Police District SP Hasan Mehedi Rehman and other police officers and also visited adjoining islands of Situlia, Sardarpara, Manipur on Wednesday evening to understand t

INDIA bloc seals first seat-sharing agreement as SP, Congress join hands

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will share the stage with Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury at a rally in Patna on March 3

Higher wage costs, lower price realisation add to tea companies' woes

Both West Bengal and Assam hiked wage rates from June and October 2023, respectively

VHP moves HC over naming of 'Sita' lioness and 'Akbar' lion at Siliguri zoo

VHP has said that housing 'Sita' with 'Akbar' in the safari park, would be an insult to the Hindu religion

Mamata Banerjee announces alternate Aadhaar card upon deactivation

UIDAI has declared that no Aadhaar number has been cancelled; BJP leaders assure that deactivated cards would be reactivated within 24 hour

'Mamata is still defending it': BJP ups attack on TMC over Sandeshkhali

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that Mamata Banerjee is defending the Sandeshkhali issue to save her political reputation

ED conducts raids in Kolkata in connection with fake call centre scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out raids and search operations at multiple locations in the city in connection with a fake call centre scam, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The raids and searches targeted the residences and offices of associates of the owner of Met Technologies Private Limited in the Beniapukur and Baguihati areas, he added. "We are trying to find out where was the money was siphoned to and what roles were played by these people. It seems that several crores of funds were illegally transferred abroad. Hawala connection cannot be ruled out," the ED officer told PTI. According to the agency, the state CID had arrested the owner of the firm in September last year on charges of stealing around Rs 1,000 crore from foreign and Indian nationals through his fake call centre which he had opened in 2005. While in CID custody, the accused tried to destroy evidence by calling some associates, the ED officer claimed.

SC refuses to pass order on listing of WB govt's suit against CBI probe

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass an order on an urgent listing of a lawsuit filed by the West Bengal government that has accused the CBI of going ahead with its probe in post-poll violence cases, without securing the prerequisite nod from the state under the law. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing in the matter on behalf of the West Bengal government, told a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the matter has been adjourned nine times. Sibal told the apex court that the matter is listed before a bench headed by Justice B R Gavai. "The matter is coming up, but we are before the Constitution bench. If it can be heard on Wednesday or Thursday," Sibal said. Refusing to pass any order, the CJI said, "I am not in charge of the matter. You go before that bench, they will take a call. We are not passing any orders." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there is no urgency and the matter can wait for a few days. Sibal said

WB Police initiates action against Suvendu for alleged 'Khalistani' slur

The police condemned the unprovoked, unacceptable attack on an individual's religious identity and added that stern legal action is being initiated

Sandeshkhali violence: Supreme Court pauses Parliament panel probe against officers

Sandeshkhali violence: Supreme Court has paused Parliament panel probe against key officers in West Bengal. Watch the video to know about the latest updates

'DGP said can't arrest Shah Jahan': NCW chief's claim on Sandeshkhali case

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairman Rekha Sharma claimed that the DGP asked her how he can arrest Shah Jahan when there is nothing against him

Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari stopped from visiting restive Sandeshkhali

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Tuesday stopped by the police from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. The police stopped Adhikari from going to the trouble-torn area, where prohibitory orders have been imposed, stating the government has moved a division bench challenging the Calcutta High Court order that allowed the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly to visit the area. Adhikari said he will again move the court over the matter. "The police have violated the Calcutta High Court order allowing me to visit Sandeshkhali. The police are saying that Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed and the state government has moved the division bench challenging the Calcutta High Court order. I will protest here and then move the court," Adhikari told reporters. The BJP MLA from Nandigram, along with party supporters, staged a sit-in at Dhamakhali in protest against the state government's move. This was the third time in the last eight days that .

WB Guv Anand Bose to speak with families of children killed in Chopra

The TMC, meanwhile, laid the blame for the alleged child deaths on the BSF, which it said was engaged in an 'illegal' drain expansion work in Chopra in North Dinajpur district

Suvendu Adhikari to visit Sandeshkhali after court permission. Top updates

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's visit comes a day after the Calcutta High Court (HC) granted him permission to visit Sandeshkhali

Anurag Thakur condemns attack on media freedom amid Sandeshkhali incident

The stifling of freedom of expression in West Bengal is unfortunate and amounts to the murder of democracy; the TMC government is flouting constitutional norms, he added

Sandeshkhali violence updates: What's happening in West Bengal explained

Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been at the centre of a political storm for nearly a month following serious allegations against a local TMC leader

WB govt suppressing voice of women in Sandeshkhali: NCW chief Rekha Sharma

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma on Monday accused the West Bengal government of suppressing the voice of a large number of women in Sandeshkhali where protests were held against alleged atrocities by ruling TMC leaders. During the day, she led a delegation of the commission to the area and said her visit was to instill confidence in women there so that many of them come out and start speaking their mind. The NCW chairperson alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was trying to "suppress the voice of women so that the truth would not come out". "I am in Sandeshkhali for the entire day to hear from women. But the culprit must be arrested. Once (Shajahan) Shiekh is arrested, I believe more women will come out with their complaints. We have to instill confidence in them. I will talk to the police," Sharma told reporters soon after reaching the area. A large number of women in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district had accused Trinamool Congress ...