West Bengal

Kolkata: Tensions escalated outside the Election Commission office in Kolkata on Monday as protesters rallied against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal. The agitation, led by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), continued late into the night, with demonstrators attempting to enter the CEO office, leading to scuffles with police. Protest DetailsMembers of the BLO Rights Protection Committee marched from College Square in North Kolkata, symbolically locking the main gate of the CEO office with chains and locks. Protesters demanded clarity on the SIR process and alleged excessive and inhumane workload during the revision. Some claimed that two BLOs had taken their own lives due to the stress. One protester, a teacher from Murshidabad, said, “The SIR p...

New Delhi: Following the spectacular NDA victory in Bihar, the BJP is now turning its focus to upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. The party aims to replicate the strategies and expertise that led to its success in Bihar in these key states. To chart this course, BJP President JP Nadda has organized a dinner on 26 November at his Delhi residence, inviting senior leaders who played a pivotal role in Bihar’s campaign. The meeting will serve as both a celebration of Bihar’s win and a forum to finalize the party’s strategy for other states. Alongside Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar election in-charge Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and state in-charge Vinod Tawde will attend the dinner. Over 50 MPs and leaders deployed for election management...

Kolkata: Riding high on its resounding victory in Bihar, the BJP is now intensifying its efforts to strengthen its political foothold in West Bengal ahead of next year’s assembly elections. With the state election around the corner, the party is gearing up with full force. In an exclusive interview with Poonam Pandey, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and West Bengal state president Samik Bhattacharya spoke candidly about the party’s strategy, key election issues, and organizational preparations. Q: With elections approaching in West Bengal next year, what is BJP’s preparation, and what lessons have you learned from previous elections?A: Every election teaches us something, and we take those lessons internally. This time, it’s not just the BJP that is ready; the people are also prepared. This election...

Kolkata: A Boeing 737-200 aircraft, abandoned at Kolkata Airport for over 13 years, has finally left the premises on a tractor-trailer bound for Bengaluru, where it will be used to train maintenance engineers. This marks the 14th retired aircraft to be removed from the airport over the past five years. The 43-year-old aircraft, which had been lying idle at the southeastern edge of the airport since 2012, was transported on 14 November as part of ongoing efforts to clear old planes from the premises. The space it vacated will soon be used for one of two proposed new hangars. A Surprising Story Behind the PlaneThis Boeing has an unusual story. First, Air India itself had no record of the plane’s existence. Second, it was the only aircraft sold with Pratt & Whitney engines intact—un...

The Supreme Court is examining the possibility of transferring the high-profile RG Kar rape-murder case either to the Delhi High Court or the Calcutta High Court, citing procedural and logistical concerns. The court had taken suo motu cognizance of the case in 2024 following widespread outrage in West Bengal. ‘Case Cannot Be Heard in Fragments’ During the latest hearing, the bench observed that the Calcutta High Court is already dealing with multiple petitions related to the same incident. Because of this, the Supreme Court said the matter cannot be heard “in fragments” or split between different courts. The bench has directed senior advocate Karuna Nundy, who represents junior and senior doctors, to submit a detailed chart of all pending cases before the Calcutta High Court relat...

Who Are Tania Parveen, Syed Idris, and Sabir Ahmed Now Under NIA Scanner?**Kolkata: The investigation into the car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has expanded to West Bengal, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioning three individuals lodged in separate jails across the state. All three are suspected to have links with terror organisations and have been detained under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA has now taken custody of the trio for detailed interrogation. Sabir Ahmed: Nadia Resident Already in Jail for a Drug Case One of the detained individuals, Sabir Ahmed, hails from Palashipara in Nadia district. He is currently lodged in Kolkata’s Presidency Jail in connection with a narcotics case. His brother, Faizal Ahmed, was recently detai...

Kolkata: Senior West Bengal politician Mukul Roy has faced a significant legal setback as the Calcutta High Court has disqualified him from the state assembly. Mukul Roy, who won the 2021 assembly election on a BJP ticket, later joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which led to legal challenges regarding his assembly membership under the anti-defection law. After reviewing the case, the High Court has officially terminated his membership of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, citing violation of the anti-defection provisions. This ruling marks a major political development in West Bengal, as Mukul Roy, once a prominent TMC leader and former Union Minister, now faces uncertainty regarding his political future.

West Midnapore, West Bengal: In a touching story of patience, perseverance, and parental love, a small-town tea vendor has left many inspired. Bacchu Chaudhary, a 45-year-old resident of Maula village in Chandrakona Block I, ran a modest tea stall and harbored a lifelong dream of buying a motorcycle. Though he could never afford it, he prioritized fulfilling his daughter’s dream. When his daughter Sushma, now 23, expressed her wish for a scooter to commute to college, Bacchu decided to make it happen. Over four years, he saved meticulously in small piggy banks, collecting coins and notes. On the day of the purchase, Bacchu arrived at a two-wheeler showroom in Gosai Bazaar, Chandrakona, carrying Rs 69,000 in coins and Rs 31,000 in notes—all accumulated from his savings. An Unexpected ...