West Bengal

India is set to witness a landmark moment in railway travel with the launch of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train connecting Guwahati and Kolkata. Scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, the train promises a revolutionary combination of speed, comfort, and modern safety features for overnight travel between Northeast India and Eastern India. Key Features and Safety The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train comes equipped with a Kavach safety system, automatic doors, advanced fire safety mechanisms, and CCTV surveillance in all coaches to ensure passenger security throughout the journey. For hygiene, disinfectant sprayers will be used for routine cleaning, enhancing safety and comfort during overnight travel. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected ...

Kolkata: Eminent Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet Joy Goswami has been included in a list of 3.2 million ‘unmapped’ voters. The 72-year-old literary figure has been summoned by the Election Commission of India for a hearing on 2 January 2026. However, Goswami, who is currently recovering from three surgeries, will be unable to attend. Daughter Calls It Part of a Climate of FearGoswami’s daughter, Bukun, described the situation as part of the politics of fear. She stated that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is being used to harass voters, not only her father but other Indian citizens as well. “It is evident that in Bengal, many do not want a particular political party in power. This appears to be an attempt to intimidate voters and create fear of disenfranchisement,” she a...

Kolkata, West Bengal: A rare and highly venomous snake, the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus), was recently spotted in the wild forests of Bengal. The encounter, captured on video by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Praveen Kaswan during his night patrol, has gone viral on social media, captivating nature enthusiasts across the country. A Rare Sight in the DarkThe video shows the snake gracefully swimming in water under torchlight, its striking black and yellow bands clearly visible. Officer Kaswan shared the footage on his X handle, highlighting the extraordinary beauty and rarity of the banded krait. About the Banded KraitThe banded krait is one of India’s most unique and dangerous snakes, easily recognizable by its wide black and yellow bands and triangular body shape. It is pr...

Siliguri, India: The Greater Siliguri Hoteliers Welfare Association has announced a strict ban on accommodating Bangladeshi nationals in any hotel across Siliguri. Even visitors arriving on medical visas will no longer be allowed to stay, citing ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh as the reason. Ujjwal Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the association, stated, “Considering the situation in Bangladesh over the past year, we had earlier decided not to provide lodging to Bangladeshi tourists. Initially, for humanitarian reasons, we allowed only medical and student visa holders. However, due to the worsening conditions, we have now revoked even this exception. Our nation comes first, followed by business interests.” Ban Notices Displayed at HotelsSeveral hotels in the Junction area hav...

In a significant ruling with far-reaching implications for cross-border matrimonial disputes, the Calcutta High Court has held that foreign courts cannot adjudicate divorce or maintenance matters when the marriage was solemnised in India and both spouses are Indian residents, unless specific jurisdictional conditions are met. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya and Justice Supratim Bhattacharyya, in an order dated December 15, set aside an earlier order of a lower court that had favoured the wife and stayed the maintenance order passed by a UK family court. The court observed that under the Hindu Marriage Act, jurisdiction to entertain matrimonial disputes lies with the district court within whose local limits the parties last resided together as husband and ...

In a sudden political move, Humayun Kabir, leader of the Janata Unnayan Party, revoked the candidacy of social media influencer Nisha Chatterjee from the Bailiganj Assembly seat just 24 hours after announcing her as the party’s candidate. Nisha, expressing her outrage, has threatened legal action, alleging that her removal was due to her Hindu identity. Kabir had declared Nisha Chatterjee as the party candidate during a public event on Monday. However, he raised objections to some of her social media posts and announced that a Muslim candidate would now be nominated for Bailiganj. Responding to the decision, Nisha accused Kabir of defaming her publicly and indicated she may contest the election as an independent candidate. Objections Over Social Media Posts On Tuesday, Humayun Kab...