Vande Bharat Sleeper launch: RPF’s letter to Malda police had warned of ‘possible stone pelting’ ahead of PM Modi’s visit
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), meanwhile, took to X to allege that the RPF mercilessly beat up a person at Malda railway station to clear the area before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to West Bengal’s Malda on Saturday, where he flagged off the first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati, the Railways had written to the officer in charge of the local Kaliachak police station stating that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) apprehended the possibility of stone pelting on the train.
According to sources, inputs from the Intelligence Department had indicated the possibility of stone pelting and waving of black flags against PM Modi. The police had been accordingly instructed to make necessary security arrangements to avert such possibilities.
The RPF’s letter, dated Thursday, stated that one Subodh Kumar Shaw had written to them regarding “some antisocial element” in Malda who would attempt to carry out “stone pelting on the first sleeper Vande Bharat Express train as soon as it leaves Malda, Jamirghata, Khaltipur, Chamagram, Sankopara, New Farakka. Ballalpur, Dhuliyan, Basudebpur, and Tildanga”.
Adding that black flags are also likely to be waved against PM Modi, RPF’s letter said, “Therefore, you are requested to depute sufficient officers and staff at the station area to maintain law and order and peaceful completion of the event.”
Previously too there have been several incidents of stones being thrown at the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express. The railways had taken strict action in the cases.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) posted on social media that the RPF mercilessly beat up a vagabond at Malda railway station just to keep the station clear before the Prime Minister’s arrival.
Taking to X, the party posted, “As Prachar Mantri is coming to West Bengal today. We need to ask. Is this how @narendramodi welcomes India’s poor? By using central forces to intimidate, harass, and push aside the marginalised so that a photo-op stays clean and uninterrupted.”
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It added, “This is the reality of Modi’s governance. Optics over humanity. Spectacle over service. In Modi’s India, narratives are stage-managed, cameras are guarded, and the poor are treated as obstacles, not citizens. Cameras are protected. People are not.”
The RPF has yet to issue an official statement on this allegation.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
