2,000 tortoises seized, two arrested

11 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 11 MARCH: Belda police seized 2,000 tortoises from a vehicle on National Highway 60 near Belda today, and arrested two people who were transporting the animals.
The seized tortoises, which are mostly rare species, were later handed over to forest department officials. According to forest officials, the value cost of the seized tortoises is estimated at around Rs 2 lakh.
The vehicle may have been headed to South-east Asia via Kolkata. A senior forest officer said most of the turtles seized in West Midnapore come from Odisha. Kolkata acts as a centre: once consignments reach the city, they are smuggled to South-east Asia.
In most cases, poor people are used as transporters and the real culprits remain beyond the reach of the law. Turtles are in huge demand in South-east Asian countries, the forest officer said. Some people keep turtles in their homes as good omens, while others like them on platters.
Mr Rana Purohit, an wildlife activist in Midnapore, said the vital organs of turtles are also used in preparing medicines. In Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, the state forest departments focus only on protected areas, leaving turtle smugglers to find their prey in rivers outside of such areas. Mr Ashish Samanta, DFO (east), said the turtles are not only smuggled through Kolkata, but also through the India-Bangladesh border.
"The smugglers use the porous Bangladesh border often as the turtle have huge demand in various countries," he said.

‘Govt mulling new labour policy’

10 March 2012

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HALDIA, 10 MARCH: The state government is likely to adopt a new labour policy to promote industry-wide settlements, encourage dispute resolution through tripartite settlements and to try to reverse lockouts and work stoppages.
The state government is also moving the Centre to change labour laws to include state governments in the dialogue between trade unions and company managements. “In the changing scenario, labour laws need to be changed. There should not be any bilateral agreement in labour disputes. The state government must be involved, making it a tripartite agreement,” said state labour minister Purnendu Bose. He also said most labour disputes hang fire as state governments are not involved in it. While speaking at a seminar organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce at IOC in Haldia, Mr Bose said: “Instead of protesting and demonstrating, all of us should find ways and means to catch up with the fast moving world.”
Mr Bose reasoned that three decades of Left rule had crippled the state and destroyed the work culture. The situation must change to attract investment. “Bengal is being portrayed as a state without work ethics and with a bad administrative system. We have to change it at any cost,” he said. In a state where labour unions and party politics have always gone hand-in-hand, cleaning up the messy labour landscape in West Bengal will be a tough task for the state government. According to a survey released by the Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) earlier this year, West Bengal’s industries have been losing around Rs 8,000 crore a year due to shutdowns and bandhs. Calling it the “bandh capital” of the country, the ICC report said for 2009-10, the state accounted for 267 of the 351 or 76 per cent of the lock-outs and strikes in the country.
Last month, Mr Bose declared that government employees should not go on strikes and lead bandhs against the government. A prominent trade union leader himself, he warned of strict action against public servants who take to the streets.

HDA show-cause for closed industries

9 March 2012

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HALDIA, 9 MARCH: The Haldia Development Authority (HDA) is all set to issue show-cause notices to the closed industries in the industrial belt to know the status of the units. The decision was taken at the last Task Force meeting held recently at Haldia Bhavan in presence of state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee.
The Task Force emphasised proper monitoring and facilitation of utilised land for different industrial purposes in the Haldia industrial area, good relation between labourers and industries and good cooperation with the local government bodies for smooth functioning of the industries.
"As all the state government agencies, including the HDA, have to seek Cabinet approval to sell land, it is necessary to know proper status of all the existing industries. If any industry is closed for months, then its land may be used for other industries which are in the pipeline," said a committee member.
The minister asked the HDA authorities to look into the problems faced by some industries and address those at the earliest. He also said that the state government is interested to set up an Industrial Park in Haldia.
Mr Chatterjee also requested industrialists to make their plants environment-friendly. He emphasised the upcoming nature-based project in Nayachar which will create huge direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the HDA has taken an initiative for carrying out different development works at a cost of Rs 25 crore in its extended planning area, including Nandigram. “Five years ago, Nandigram turned violent when former CPI-M MP Lakshman Seth as chairman of the HDA tried to acquire land. This time, we will not acquire any land for carrying out development work and a slew of development projects have been taken up in Nandigram," said HDA chairman Subhendu Adhikari.

Elephants trample three to death in Midnapore

4 March 2012

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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

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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

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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

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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.