Elephants trample three to death in Midnapore

4 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 4 MARCH: Three wild elephants that were separated from their herd trampled three people to death at villages in Keshpur, West Midnapore, today.
The tuskers injured five other people, and killed two head of cattle, said a forest officer. They also damaged crops and houses worth several lakhs in Jagannathpur, Parulia, Dyangapara, and Bela Maharajpur at Keshpur. As this report was completed, forest officials were still trying to drive the elephants back into the forest.
"One of the tuskers is yet to be sent back to the forest. Due to the abrupt drives conducted by some villagers, the elephant strayed deeper into a village. But our men are trying their best to push it back into the Arabari forest," said Mr Ashish Samanta, divisional forest officer (east).
According to forest officials, the deceased have been identified as Sheikh Ainuddin of Jagannathpur and Bhutnath Patar of Bela Maharajpur and Laxmi Soren. "We have already given Rs 50,000 to the family of the victims and Rs 50,000 more will be given to the families by tomorrow," said Mr Samanta. Locals said three tuskers sneaked into the villages this morning when villagers were busy in their fields. The animals started eating potatoes and destroyed crops.
"We started hurling stones and bursting crackers to chase them away," said a resident of Jagannathpur. "But, the elephants turned violent. They trampled a man to death when he suddenly came in front of them." During the day, the tuskers went about eating potatoes and paddy in four villages, but they also damaged at least 20 houses. Forest department sources said they have to follow procedures in such cases, but the villagers want instant action, which is not possible.

Student beaten up; commits suicide

3 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 3 MARCH: A Class-VIII student of Kajlagarh High School in Bhagwanpur-I block in East Midnapore committed suicide after being beaten up by teachers in the presence of other students for his alleged misbehaviour with a fellow  girl student.
Susanta Manna was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his house at Garbar in Bhupatinagar last night. His suicide note said school headmaster Swadesh Ranjan Pramanik and other teachers beat him up for and humiliated him before the entire class room. Hundreds of residents, including the victim’s family members, today marched to the school and ransacked the teachers’ staff room. Later, police reached and brought the situation under control.
Mr Sheikh Harun Rasid, sabhapati of Bhagwanpur-I panchayat samity, said: “The boy committed suicide after being tortured  and humiliated by his teachers. This is raising several questions about the teachers and how strictly they follow RTE rules. Police have initiated a probe and necessary action will be taken if any one is found guilty”.
Mr Ashok Prasad, superintendent of police said: “Police are recording the statements. No one has been arrested so far”. A senior police officer who is probing into the matter, however, said, “We want to know what verbal abuse or insult caused a child to be so determined to end his life. We will discuss the matter with the management and other teachers.”
An inspector of schools said: “If the school management fails to hold periodic parent-teachers’ meetings, it will be held responsible for any untoward happening at the school”.
Mr Prasanta Manna, Susanta's relative, said his behaviour was not normal when he had returned from school the day before. His sister, who studies in Class-V in the same school, said she had pleaded with the teachers in vain not to beat her elder brother.

Day after: CIF camp may be shifted

2 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 2 MARCH: A day after their barracks were set on fire allegedly by Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) jawans, Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) personnel stationed at Salua in Kharagpur were today shifted to Midnapore police lines.
The CIF personnel have been sent on 15 days' leave and the top brass of all the three security agencies ~ CIF, EFR and state police ~ suggested the state home department for permanent winding up of the barracks, a senior police officer said.
The CIF authorities have also agreed to set up their base camp at Baghmundi in Purulia as the EFR jawans are quite adamant on their demand over the withdrawal of CIF camp from the premises of their headquarters, said the police officer.
The headquarters of all three battalions of EFR, which was raised in 1907, are stationed at Salua. Hundreds of serving and retired personnel live here with their families, turning it into an EFR zone. After the formation of CIF on the lines of Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh, CIF barracks were set up at Salua and a total of 15 platoons of CIF were stationed there.
A senior police officer said Salua was chosen for its proximity to the "operational base" for carrying out anti-Maoist operation in Junglemahal. In May 2011, the state government also overturned an earlier proposal earmarking 580 acres of land in Purulia as the proposed CIF headquarters and home to all its 60 assault teams. Purulia was selected since it was close to the other operational bases in Purulia and Bankura.
“But, within days after the setting up of barracks at Salua, EFR jawans started agitation against the presence of new force in their base areas. Trouble erupted a few days ago when some CIF jawans alleged misbehaved with the family members of the EFR jawans. The situation worsened when a CIF jawan was charged for molesting an EFR jawan’s daughter when she was returning after tuition on 29 February," a police officer said.
Yesterday, the EFR headquarters turned into a battlefield when the district police resorted to a lathi-charge on EFR jawans’ family members who had blocked Kharagpur-Keshiary Road demanding withdrawal of a CIF camp from Salua. The EFR jawans, who were on duty inside the barrack, retaliated with arms and set the CIF camp on fire. At least 20 persons, including 12 police officers, were injured in the violence. The enraged EFR jawans ransacked eight vehicles of the district police and CIF officials before setting them on fire. Meanwhile, the CIF authorities lodged an FIR with the district police against unidentified criminals who had unleashed violence against the CIF jawans and set their barracks on fire.

Chief secy hints at relocating CIF
State chief secretary Samar Ghosh today indicated that the state government might decide to shift the counter insurgency force from close proximity of EFR barracks at Salua. They may be shifted to other areas in Junglemahal, which is close to their operational area. He said: “We will have to take a decision within a day or two.” The situation was under control and senior police officers have been sent there, said Mr Ghosh, adding the EFR families residing on the land did not have any sanction of the government.

It’s just another day in Midnapore

28 February 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 28 FEB: The nationwide general strike called by 11 trade unions evoked a lukewarm response in both East and West Midnapore districts today. The bandh failed to make any impact on industries in Haldia in East Midnapore and Kharagpur in West Midnapore. There was no production in Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant (KTPP). It was a normal day too in Haldia port where most of the employees and labourers resumed their duties. Loading and unloading work in the Haldia Dock Complex continued as usual, a senior port officer said.
The bandh failed to generate response in the CPI-M controlled Haldia municipal areas. The Haldia municipality remained open and attendance of employees was recorded at 85 per cent, which was unusual compared to the low figures during shutdowns in the past.
District magistrate of East Midnapore Parvez Ahmed Siddiqui said: “The bandh passed off peacefully and six persons were arrested from different areas on charges of creating disturbance. Attendance in the district collectorate office was 72 per cent while all government offices remained open and most of the employees attended office.”
Mr Subhendu Adhikari, a Trinamul Congress MP for Tamluk, said: “The bandh failed to make any impact across the district, including the Haldia industrial belt. In the past, the CPI-M used muscle power to make the bandh a success, but this time, labourers spontaneously joined work at all industries”.
In West Midnapore, 15 persons were injured in two separate incidents and six persons of both the CPI-M and Trinamul Congress camps have been arrested.
Four CPI-M and two Trinamul Congress workers were injured when the activists of both parties got involved in a clash when the Trinamul Congress workers allegedly asked the headmaster to open his school at Santrapur in Keshiary in West Midnapore. All the victims were admitted to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in serious conditions.
Superintendent of police of West Midnapore Gourav Sharma said two persons of both the parties have been arrested in connection with the incident.
In another incident at Nimtala in Dashpur of West Midnapore, nine persons of both the CPI-M and Trinamul Congress were injured in a clash when the two parties took out rallies. The CPI-M workers attacked the Trinamul activists and damaged their eight motorcycles. Later, the Trinamul workers ransacked eight houses of CPI-M workers. Police intervened and brought the situation under control after arresting four persons belonging to both the parties.

CoBRA to counter Maoists in J’khand

14 February 2012

12 groups sent to neighbouring state
biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 14 FEB: As Maoist extremism-hit states like Jharkhand and Odisha have stressed the need for a coordinated action against the rebels, the state government has given a green signal to send the elite CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) force, especially trained for Jungle warfare, from Junglemahal.
The decision to assist the neighbouring states was taken recently based on the fact that Maoist activities in Junglemahal are not so strong now as it was in the past three years. Out of the 18 teams operating in the forests of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia district, 12 teams have already been sent to neighbouring Jharkhand, where Maoist insurgency is frequent and violent, a senior Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) official told The Statesman on condition of anonymity.
As the Maoists are now "on the defensive" in West Bengal following the death of their Politburo leader Kishenji in an encounter with the security forces in November last, they have now "consolidated themselves" in Jharkhand and Odisha.
“Actually, there are other forces, including paramilitary forces and state police, to take care of the law and order situation. The CoBRA force is only needed when there is a specific operation. As the Jharkhand government has urged to send special force for conducting combing operation inside deep forests there, a section of the elite force has been sent recently," said a senior police officer.
A police officer, posted in Junglemahal to lead anti-Maoist operation, said: "Sharing of information and other logistic helps between the four States (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha) and coordinated action among the states along the border areas of the Maoist strongholds is necessary."
Of the three Maoist-hit districts in West Bengal, Purulia shared a 380-km border with Jharkhand, while West Midnapore had a 96-km border with Jharkhand and a 107-km border with Odisha. Majority of these areas are thickly forested with difficult terrain, he said, making it easy for the extremists to escape. According to reports of various Intelligence agencies, at least 20 districts in Jharkhand are affected by Maoist insurgency. Intelligence reports indicate that the Maoists in Jharkhand have provided cadres with training in manufacturing as well as handling of rocket launchers, mortars and grenades. At least 19 Maoists were provided such training under the guidance of seven experts, led by Prakash alias Gaganna from Andhra Pradesh. "These rebels are hiding in the deep forests and para-military forces are not enough to challenge them. As the CoBRA jawans are specially trained for anti-Maoist operation, they have been pulled out from West Bengal," said a CRPF officer, posted in Bengal-Jharkhand border.

Water plant to come up in Haldia

10 February 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 10 FEB: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Haldia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Haldia Development Authority (HDA) for laying 12-MGD water supply pipeline at a cost of Rs 56.39 crore.
The project will be implemented by the HDA within 21 months. The IOCL will finance the project while the operation and maintenance of the 14.5-km pipeline will be done by the HDA. 
The agreement was signed at a recent programme held at the office of HDA.  HDA chairman and MP Subhendu Adhikari said: “The project is beneficial to both the HDA and the IOCL. The primary water supply grid of Haldia shall be relieved of IOCL water requirement. This surplus water (about 5 MGD) from primary grid can be given to other industries and the residents." “The HDA is all set to implement phase-II and phase-III of the water supply distribution network projects in order to improve the water supply in the town. The pipelines will be laid from Chaitanyapur to Brajlalchak and then from Brajlalchak to Hatiberia. These projects are expected to be completed within two years,” said Mr Adhikari.
Mr Shubhankar Ganguli, executive director of IOCL-Haldia Refinery, said: “The project envisages a water reservoir and a pump house at Chaitanyapur and a 900-mm pipe line from the pump house to IOCL water reservoir." Meanwhile, the project has been taken up at a time when potable water has been found unfit for drinking in the industrial town. The indiscriminate pumping of water has taken a toll on the groundwater level in both the Haldia municipality area and Haldia industrial belt.
With advent of summer, the quality of water has deteriorated to an alarming level over vast areas of Haldia. The Central Ground Water Board officials have said that “the excessive consumption of groundwater in the industrial area of Haldia has led to an imbalance in the table. More water is being withdrawn than is being replaced. As a result, the water table here has gone down by around 5-7 metre during the past three decades of industrialisation”.
A recent study has revealed that the water supplied by the public health engineering department (PHE) is either extremely saline or contaminated with fluoride. High salt intake can lead to high blood pressure and the swelling of body parts and has been linked to mental illness.

Cops put up posters asking Maoists to return to mainstream

biswabrata goswami

10 February 2012

MIDNAPORE, 10 FEB: Contrary to their earlier practice against Maoists, police in West Midnapore and Jhargram have started a poster campaign for the first time in West Bengal asking the rebels to return to the mainstream.
Encouraged by the surrender of several Maoists recently, both the district police have launched the drive today where they also urged the rebels to avail of the benefits of the government's rehabilitation package for surrendered Maoists.
Earlier, police had put up posters mentioning cash awards on the heads of the most wanted Maoists, but this time they have taken a different step to combat the Maoist menace, a senior security force officer said. Several posters were spotted at different places across Junglemahal in West Midnapore and Jhargram. “Many Maoists have already returned to the mainstream after leaving their guns behind. So, we appeal to you to surrender before the police,” a poster at Midnapore bus stand reads.
Through the posters, written in Bengali, the police have urged Maoists to contact 7407091122 to know the details of the state government's surrender policy. In some places people were not sure about the authenticity of the posters after several police officers expressed ignorance about them. However, Mr Alok Rajoria, additional superintendent of police, Jhargram admitted that the posters were put up by them. “The aim is to persuade the rebels to surrender and to highlight the benefits they stand to gain once they lay down their arms. We also want to stop people from joining the Maoist movement as the rebels are inciting tribals to take to  the path of violence and impeding development,” Mr Rajoria said.
“Usually, we use this method in interior Maoist-hit areas. Since a large number of Maoists have surrendered in the state of late, the posters were put up to reach the squad commanders,” he added.
According to police, around 25 Maoists have surrendered across the Junglemahal in the past few months. Recently, a Maoist couple, who were also close associate of the slain Maoist politburo leader Kishenji, surrendered before IG (Western Range) Gangeswar Singh in Midnapore.
Meanwhile, locals welcomed the initiative taken by the police officials and have urged Maoists to lay down their arms and derive benefits through the various financial assistance schemes started by the state government. “This is a very positive step taken up by the police to urge the youth who have taken a wrong path to join Maoists. The police have pasted posters all over the place urging Maoists to return to the mainstream. The government has given them an opportunity and they should grab it,” said Kailash Munda, a resident of Belpahari.