West Bengal

Krishnanagar (West Bengal): Six months after their private wedding in Berlin, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pinaki Mishra hosted a grand wedding reception in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Saturday. What was meant to be a joyous celebration, however, has sparked a major political controversy — with the BJP accusing the couple of using government property for a private event. The reception, attended by nearly 8,000 guests, was held at the Karimpur Regulated Market Ground, which is typically reserved for public and administrative activities. BJP leaders have alleged that the field — a public property — was transformed into a lavishly decorated venue with pandals, lighting, and catering arrangements worth crores, all for a personal celebration. BJP...

\ Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing over ₹55 lakh from a long-dormant bank account. Cybercriminals allegedly accessed one of his inactive State Bank of India (SBI) accounts and used forged KYC (Know Your Customer) documents to carry out the fraudulent transactions. The SBI High Court branch in Kolkata has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station and demanded an immediate investigation. How the Fraud UnfoldedAccording to the complaint, the fraudsters used Banerjee’s PAN and Aadhaar details but replaced his photograph with a different one. Using these forged documents, they updated the KYC details of his account. On October 28, 2025, the fraudsters even changed t...

Kolkata: In a heartwarming tale of love and courage, two women from the Sundarbans region of West Bengal, Riya Sardar and Rakhi Naskar, have defied social norms to marry each other in a traditional Bengali ceremony. Their story is emerging as an inspiring example for those who believe in true love. The wedding took place on Tuesday at a local temple, where the couple exchanged garlands and embarked on a new chapter of life together. Who Are Riya and Rakhi?Riya Sardar hails from Mandirbazar, while Rakhi Naskar comes from Bakul Tala. Both are professional dancers. Riya lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her uncle and aunt, whereas Rakhi grew up with her family. The two first connected via phone about two years ago, and their friendship gradually blossomed into love. F...

Kolkata, West Bengal: Following the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in West Bengal, a notable trend has emerged in the state’s minority-dominated border districts. Many Muslim couples, who traditionally solemnize marriages under Islamic law, are now rushing to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, citing legal and administrative concerns. According to official data, between November 2024 and October 2025, 1,130 Muslim couples in West Bengal applied for marriage registration, with over half of these applications (609) filed between July and October, coinciding with the SIR exercise in the neighboring state of Bihar. Border Districts Lead the Surge The highest number of applications came from North Dinajpur (199) and Malda...

**West Bengal Schools to Mandatorily Include Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Banglar Mati’ in Morning Assemblies; Mamata Takes Big Cultural Step Kolkata, West Bengal: In a major cultural move, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has made it compulsory for all schools across the state to include the state song, ‘Banglar Mati, Banglar Jal’, in their morning assemblies. Written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1905, the song was officially declared the state anthem in 2023. Official Notification and Implementation The WBBSE issued a notification on Thursday instructing all principals of higher primary and secondary schools to ensure the state song is sung daily during morning prayers. West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu stated, “This renowned song by Tagore, co...