Ravik Bhattacharya

Banerjee’s protest marches and rallies, which have become a recurrent event in the state, in their sights and sounds highlight Bengali cultural traits with a message of secularism and unity.

While the first decade of the 21st century saw the emergence of Trinamool, the last year of the second decade saw the party facing a new challenger.

The local administration is now trying to sit together with all stakeholders and sort out issues.

For over four months the Chief Minister failed in her constitutional obligation to brief me. Her only letter to me is virtually an effort now to gag the constitutional head. I am appalled, said Jagdeep Dhankhar.

But I am anti-anti-Hindus (that is, opposed to anti-Hindus). There are several anti-Hindus among Muslims, but the worst anti-Hindus are among Hindus, he said.

His appeal to the protesters not to cause discomfort to ordinary people or harm public or private properties has been circulating on social media since Sunday morning.

The worst instances of violence were reported from West Bengal, with protesters blocking highways and setting vehicles and railway stations on fire, and the police resorting to lathicharges.

The West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill was passed by the Assembly on August 30, just over a month after Dhankhar took over as Governor. The Bill contained provision for death penalty, unlike the draft that had life term as the severest punishment.

From across two 35-ft statues of Bose and Gandhi near Phoolbagan in East Kolkata, inaugurated in September, stand those of Tagore and Sister Nivedita. Over 20 new statues have come up in North Kolkata alone, while more are planned for the southern part of the city.

Two of the BJP candidates blamed a “scare” over NRC, and said the party had failed to explain the issue to the people.

“We have a presence in all the villages of West Bengal. We will contest the Assembly polls in 2021. This is the first time that we will contest polls in Bengal, and we plan to contest in all the seats,” said AIMIM spokesperson Asim Waqar.

Sarberia Agarhati eliminated child trafficking, child marriages, reduced school dropouts

For the families of those who lost their lives in the violence that followed the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992 — a turning point in the Ayodhya dispute — the Supreme Court verdict on Saturday has meant a surge of mixed emotions.

According to the police, Utpal Behara (20) had killed Bandhuprakash Pal and his family as the latter abused him and failed to give him an insurance policy's receipt.

Bandhu Prakash Pal (40), his wife Beauty Pal (30) and their son Angan (5) were found murdered at their home in Lebu Bagan area of Jiaganj on Tuesday afternoon. 

Pal’s relatives have accused Souvik Banik, a resident of Rampurhat town in Birbhum district, of being involved in the crime.

The investigators are also probing the angle of hired professional killer, although they are yet to pinpoint the assailant.

On Saturday, four teams of CID, including a forensic team, arrived at the house and worked for over five hours to lift fingerprints and other clues, besides reconstructing the crime scene. They went around the neighbourhood and took statements from local residents.

Residents of Lebu Bagan area told The Indian Express that nearly one-and-half year ago, Pal and his family moved here and started living in the under-construction house. Recently, he built a small portico in front of the house.