West Bengal

Explained: What the 8-phase Bengal elections mean for EC, parties and voters

March 01, 2021 10:41 am

Polling in West Bengal will be held on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29.

In high-stakes West Bengal election battle, it's Modi pull vs Mamata pushback

February 27, 2021 8:22 am

West Bengal Assembly elections: Irrespective of the outcome, what is certain is that this will be a polarising electoral campaign, the likes of which Bengal, a Communist bastion for long, has never witnessed.

Abhishek Banerjee performs Jagannath puja at Mamata's Kalighat residence

February 26, 2021 2:12 pm

TMC sources said the ritual was held ahead of the Election Commission of India's announcement on the Bengal Assembly elections to pray for the success of the party.

Time for Bua-Bhatija govt to go, Bengal needs vaccine against tolabaji: JP Nadda

February 25, 2021 9:22 pm

Launches BJP's manifesto campaign, visits Bankim Chandra's birthplace

Modi in West Bengal, Assam Highlights: Lotus will bring 'asol poribartan' in West Bengal, says PM Modi

February 24, 2021 8:42 am

PM Modi was in Bengal to inaugurate the extension of the Metro Railway from Noapara to Dakshineswar and flag off 1st service easing out access to Kali Temples at Kalighat and Dakshineshwar, 3rd line between Kalaikunda and Jhargham.

West Bengal govt to cut tax on fuel by Re 1 a litre

February 22, 2021 5:24 am

State Finance Minister Amit Mitra, during a virtual news conference, said the move would provide some respite to people who are affected by the rising prices of fuel.

Explained: Why the EC is sending 125 companies of CAPF to Bengal before poll announcement

February 24, 2021 12:52 pm

By February 25, at least 125 companies of central forces will arrive in West Bengal to maintain law and order during the Assembly election campaign.

Explained: Spotlight on a Muslim cleric, election pointers in West Bengal

February 24, 2021 12:59 pm

Abbas Siddiqui’s ISF could have potentially split the Bengali-speaking Muslim vote three ways among the TMC, Congress-Left, and itself — with or without direct AIMIM support.

With eye on election, Mamata serves up Rs 5 a platter scheme

February 16, 2021 3:10 am

Self-help groups will operate the kitchens from 1 pm to 3 pm every day and such kitchens will be set up everywhere in the state gradually, Banerjee said.

BJP leader injured in crude-bomb attack, party blames TMC

February 15, 2021 4:17 am

Babu Master, who was sitting to the drier’s left, received splinter injuries, according to sources. The BJP leader’s driver, who drove him to the police outpost, was also injured.

Social distancing, sanitisers; schools reopen in West Bengal after 11 months

February 12, 2021 10:23 pm

After a gap of 11 months, schools in West Bengal reopened for classes 9-12, with strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol. The classes will be held on a rotational basis every alternate day

Amid BJP-TMC war of words, Amit Shah's show of strength in Bengal

December 21, 2020 12:57 am

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah Sunday held a roadshow in Bolpur area of Birbhum district in West Bengal.

Bengal's first jute mill— rich past, fraying future

December 01, 2020 7:36 pm

Jute production is a major industry in West Bengal. Most of the mills in the state are concentrated along the banks of Hooghly river in Howrah, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas districts.

Usual hustle and bustle back as local train services resume in Bengal

November 11, 2020 4:07 pm

Passengers expressed happiness over the resumption of the local train services, saying it will not only reduce their journey time but also save money.

This lamp village near Kolkata has not let artificial lights dim its shine

November 08, 2020 5:52 pm

Pottery work in this village has been going on for more than 200 years, with both Hindus and Muslims making earthen lamps for pujas.

A quiet goodbye: Kolkata bids Goddess adieu with Covid precautions

October 26, 2020 10:26 pm

Dressed in traditional outfits and with masks on faces, devotees, while maintaining safe distance, touched the feet of goddess Durga as chants of 'asche bochor abar hobe' (till next year) filled the air.

Amid Covid-19, packed ghats mark Mahalaya in West Bengal

September 17, 2020 8:56 pm

Normally, celebrations for Durga Puja begin seven days after Mahalaya. In 2020, however, the much-awaited festival would be held a month after Mahalaya.

Scenes from last day of August lockdown in West Bengal, violators taken to task

August 31, 2020 5:15 pm

Normal life was affected across West Bengal on Monday, the last day of the month, with most people preferring to remain indoors and vehicles staying off the roads, as a total lockdown was enforced across the state.

Kolkata's iconic Coffee House reopens minus the adda and chatter

August 02, 2020 4:12 pm

Started as Albert Hall in 1942 by the Coffee Board, it was named Coffee House in 1947 and was frequented by intellectuals such as author Sunil Gangopadhyay, poet Shakti Chattopadhyay and even American poet Allen Ginsberg during his sojourn to India.

Shops shut, transport off roads as lockdown enforced in West Bengal

July 23, 2020 9:58 pm

Life came to a near standstill across West Bengal on Thursday as the state was put under a complete lockdown to break the chain of rapidly rising COVID-19 cases.

Why a leader is aligning with someone is more important that who aligns with who; Mamata Banerjee has a major role: Amit Mitra, Bengal Finance Minister

June 22, 2020 6:10 pm

Bengal FM Amit Mitra talks about demonetisation, the problems with GST, failing Centre-state relations, the need for protecting and building institutions such as the RBI and CBI, investments in the state, and what the BJP “doesn’t get about Bengal".

Somnath Chatterjee will be remembered for always being above party politics

June 22, 2020 6:19 pm

The best example of his non-partisan behaviour is, of course, from 2008 during the Indo-US nuclear deal. Read more: https://bit.ly/2vES2Tu

The Mamata Banerjee Interview

June 22, 2020 6:56 pm

Class-3 student allegedly molested by teacher in Hooghly

February 26, 2016 10:07 am

Hooghly (WB), Feb 26 (ANI): A student of class 3 was allegedly molested by a teacher in Hooghly district of West Bengal. The family of the student created uproar outside the school. They broke a glass of a police van and injured two police officials. However, the situation was controlled by the Bhadreswar police.

Bike rally held to promote tourism in Siliguri

February 22, 2016 10:23 am

Siliguri, Feb 22 (ANI): A bike rally was organised by the Bengal Travel Mart in association with XKMPH and Indian Bikers Community in Siliguri. Around 120 bikers participated in the mega rally to promote West Bengal as a destination for bikers as well as adventure-loving people across the globe. The bike rally was organised to spread awareness among common people for safe driving.

Indo-Bangladesh Urs train arrives in Midnapur

February 18, 2016 5:51 am

Midnapur, Feb 18 (ANI): An Indo-Bangladesh special Urs train with 2,210 pilgrims on board arrived at Midnapur Railway station, West Bengal, from Rajbari in Bangladesh on Thursday morning. The Urs special train service was started in 1903. Every year, people of all faiths come to Midnapore Urs to seek blessings of Boro Huzur, a descendant of Boropir Abdul Qadir Jilani, who came to India from Iraq in the 19th century to preach Islam.

Two men arrested with leopard skin in Jalpaiguri

February 17, 2016 9:30 am

Jalpaiguri, Feb 17 (ANI): Two men carrying leopard skin were arrested by forest officials in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The forest officials formed a special team to catch the people involved in illegal wildlife trade. The leopard skin was to be sold to a party from Nepal and was found packed in a bag. Clouded leopards are rare in Bengal and are found mostly in Bhutan. Investigations were underway to crack down the smuggling racket. India’s leopards are under threat, with increasing numbers of the wild cats being poached for their body parts and villagers killing them for straying into human settlements.Wildlife experts say tiger and leopard parts are in great demand in China and other Asian countries.

JNU row: Jadavpur University students raise anti-national slogans

February 17, 2016 5:39 am

Kolkata, Feb 17 (ANI): Students of Jadavpur University in West Bengal took to streets expressing solidarity with the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) demanding release of student leader booked on sedition charges. JNU Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested last week on sedition charges after a group of youngsters organised an event in protest of the execution of 2001 parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. Jadavpur University students shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Students and academics of the JNU continue to boycott classes to protest against government.

Child killed as truck rams into car in Kolkata

February 15, 2016 6:30 am

Kolkata, Feb 15 (ANI): Angry locals took to the streets on Monday after a truck ran over three children in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas area, killing a child and gravely injuring two other kids. Three students were travelling in a car when a truck rammed into them. The locals set two police vehicles on fire. According to sources, the police was pursuing the truck when it rammed into the car, angering the locals.

Newborn sold for Rs. 35,000 in WB

February 11, 2016 5:31 am

Jalpaiguri, Feb 11 (ANI): A newborn baby was allegedly sold for Rs 35,000 in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal on Thursday. Police have begun investigating into the matter. Mitu Basak, a woman staying in the Dinhata town of the Jalpaiguri district, is taking care of the baby. Cases as such have been reported earlier from the surrounding areas.