CMYK

02
They have taken this step to block the local demand for CBI
investigations into the MLA's death
BISWAJIT LAHIRI, PRESIDENT, BJP, NORTH DINAJPUR
KOLKATA, THURSDAY 13 AUGUST 2020 ON POLICE CASES FILED AGAINST 1000 BJP LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS IN THE DISTRICT

THUMBNAILS
Covid: Six die Abducted for ransom, Bomb hurled at
INTTUC prez house
in Siliguri, 32 boy killed in Malda STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
BALURGHAT, 12 AUGUST
almost stopped in the last
two years, but this incident has
given rise to questions again,"

new cases in STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

MALDA, 12 AUGUST
The police started to trace
the number, but was unable
to find the boy, whose body
A bomb was allegedly hurled
at the house of the district INT-
TUC president and president
of the Trinamul Congress-
a TMC source said.
Mr Mandal, popularly
known as Dhalu, was replaced
as the INTTUC president by

Darj district The body of a minor boy and

Fogging under way at
Mahananda Para, Ward-6,
in Siliguri on Wednesday.
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
SILIGURI, 12 AUGUST
ers. On the issue of alleged non-
transparent billing by many
private hospitals, they said the
the son of a ruling party gram
panchayat member was
was recovered this morning
from Pratappur, three km
away from his home," they
recovered from the fields in added.
Amlitala village in Bangito- "I have no political or
la gram Panchayat under the financial issues with any
backed Transport Worker's
Association, Mojiruddin Man-
dal, in Hossainpur village in
the Nandanpur gram pan-
chayat under the Gangaram-
pur police station around
Biplab Mandal a few years ago.
However, after Arpita Ghosh
was appointed as the district
TMC president, Mr Mandal
was reinstated to his INT-
TUC post. "The criminals

��SNS
Raiganj poetess no more:
Noted poetess in Raiganj in
North Dinajpur and a
retired professor of the
Raiganj University, Bratoti
Ghosh Roy passed away on
Wednesday morning. She
was 76 and a resident of
College Para in Raiganj. She
is survived by her husband,
Dr Dilip Ghosh Roy, and
only daughter Ananya
Ghosh Roy who is now in
the US. Poets, intellectuals
and Left Front leaders paid
floral tributes to her body
on Wednesday, while a
research scholar and poet
from Raiganj, Sunil Chanda,
said Roy has left behind a
literary treasure. SNS
New police postings: The
CO of the State Armed
Police of the 11th Battal-
ion, Joy Tudu, will take
charge as the Deputy Com-
missioner of Zone-I (East) in
the Siliguri Metropolitan
Police (SMP). He will replace
Nima Norbu Bhutia. Among
other postings, inspector
of the SMP, Subhasis Chaki,
has been posted as the
inspector-in-charge of the
Pradhannagar Police Sta-
tion. Circle inspector of
police, Ratua in Malda dis-
trict, Sanjay Ghosh will now
be the inspector-in-charge
of the Kalimpong police
station. SNS
S
ix persons who had
been tested positive
for Covid-19 died in
Siliguri in the last 24
hours, sources said.
A 78-year-old resident of
Jibanananda Das Sarani in
Siliguri died in a private nurs-
ing home last evening, while
a 56-year-old person from
Fulbari area, who had been
admitted in Desun Hospital
at Kawakhali yesterday died
the same night.
A 59-year-old resident of Jal-
paiguri died in the same hos-
pital today.
A 75-year-old resident of
Ganganagar area in Siliguri also
died in a private nursing home
today, while a 65-year-old
resident of Jaigaon in Alipur-
duar died at Dr Chhang's
Hospital in Matgara late last
night.
A 68-year-old woman from
Dhotrey under the Jorebun-
galow Police Station in
Darjeeling also died in the
Desun Covid Hospital today,
sources said.
Meanwhile, 32 cases were
reported from Darjeeling dis-
trict, including eight in the
SMC, four at Naxalbari, 11 at
Matigara, two in Darjeeling
Municipality, four in Kurseong
Municipality, two in Sukna, and
one in Sukhia Pokhari, official
sources said. Six cases were
detected in the Jalpaiguri por-
tion of the SMC.
Also today, 19 patients
were discharged from hospi-
tals and home isolation, offi-
cials said.
CPI-M demands steps
The CPI-M has demanded
the intervention of the health
department in various issues
related to Covid-19 in Dar-
jeeling district. The Siliguri-I,
II & III area committees of the
party said the ambulance ser-
vice had been made expensive
by a section of vehicle own-
cost of more than eight-10 PPEs
is included in the bills. The party
has said that people who need
treatment for other diseases
are facing problems in private
nursing homes, while it high-
lighted the lack of coordina-
tion on the part of the health
department with the Siliguri
Municipal Corporation (SMC).
Trinamul sees SMC BoA
failure
The Trinamul Congress
today said the board of admin-
istrators (BoA) at the SMC
had failed to perform during
the coronavirus pandemic,
at a time the state government
had been taking comprehen-
sive steps to deal with the sit-
uation. "Much like the way the
Left-run civic board had failed
to deliver services in the past
five years, the BoA has played
a disappointing role since
taking charge in May. Though
this is not time for politics, it
is unfortunate that the board
is not providing food items for
the people in containment
zones, while it is demanding
funds from the state govern-
ment, but it has failed to pro-
vide services to beneficiaries
under the social security
schemes, and funds under
the Housing for All, Open
Defecation Free prograame,"
said the leader of the coordi-
nators (Oppositions) at the
SMC, Ranjan Sarkar.
50 fresh cases in Malda
In Malda, 50 samples from
different blocks were tested
positive for Covid-19 at the
VRDL in the Malda Medical
College and Hospital last night.
Among the fresh cases,
13 are from Gazole, 11 from
English Bazaar Municipality,
10 from Habibpur, and eight
from Manikchak and other
areas. The total cases in Malda
now stand at 3377, with
17 deaths and almost 700
active cases.
Mothabari police station in
Malda today. The boy had
been allegedly abducted
three days ago, while the
abductors had demanded Rs
50 lakh in ransom for his safe
release, sources said.
The police arrested two
distant relatives of the fam-
ily, while locals said that
the incident could have
been averted had police
acted earlier.
"Omar Faruk, 10, a class-
four student and the son of
Hafijul Islam of the Trina-
Police slap cases
on BJP leaders
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
RAIGANJ, 12 AUGUST
Police have registered cases
against around 1000 BJP
leaders and activists, includ-
ing state party president
Dilip Ghosh, general sec-
retary of the state BJP Com-
mittee Sayantan Basu, BJP
MP of Balurghat Sukanta
Majumder and the Presi-
dent of the North Dinajpur
BJP committee, Biswajit
Lahiri, for allegedly flout-
ing restrictions in place
for the Covid-19 situation.
Police have said that
Mr Ghosh attended a con-
dolence meeting for the BJP
MLA of Hemtabad Deben-
rdranath Roy, who was
found dead recently, at
Bindol in Raiganj on Mon-
day. Mr Ghosh also met
Chadima Roy, the MLA's
widow, and laid the foun-
dation stone for a memo-
rial for the MLA at Balia
More. BJP leaders and
activists gathered in large
numbers in the pro-
mul Congress was abduct-
ed last Sunday night by four
unidentified miscreants
from in front of the house,
and the family had filed a
complaint with the police
that very night," source said.
"Later, Mr Islam received
a phone call where the
abductors demanded Rs 50
lakh. He was also told threat-
ened of dire consequences
if he failed to pay the amount.
grammes. The case has
been slapped under the
Disaster Management Act,
it is learnt.
The body of the BJP
MLA was found hanging
around 2km away from
his house at Balia More in
Bindol under the Raiganj
Police station, early on 13
July. The BJP, which has
demanded CBI investiga-
tions into the death, has
blamed 'Trinamul Con-
gress-backed criminals'
for the "murder," a charge
denied by the TMC.
The Additional Super-
intendent of Police of North
Dinajpur, Anupam Singh,
said, "The BJP leaders
organised a huge gather-
ing in the area by flouting
the Covid orders."
However, district party
president, Mr Lahiri, said,
"They have taken this step
to block the local demand
for CBI investigations. But
BJP will launch a stronger
agitation, demanding such
investigations," he said.
one, so why would anyone midnight yesterday. Howev- knew my house well. They tar-
abduct my son," the er, no one was hurt in the explo- geted the shed where I usu-
bereaved father lamented. sion, it is learnt. ally take rest after dinner," Mr
The arrested have been "It is not yet clear who Mandal said. Mr Islam, on the
identified as Rashidul, 18, they were, but an oled polit- other hand, said that he is out
and Ramzan Shaikh, 19. ical conflict between two lead- of station. "It is very shocking.
According to the police, the ers in this area, Md Narul Police should take action. I have
arrested are cousins of the Islam and Mojiruddin Man- no conflict with Mandal at pre-
deceased, while a family dal, is well known to everyone sent. I talked with Mandal
enmity may have been in the district. The conflict had over the phone," he said.
behind the crime.
Malda SP Alok Rajoria
said, "An investigation into
TENDER
the matter has been initiated,
and two persons have been
already arrested."
Bista rues
‘TMC graft’
in central
schemes
SILIGURI, 12 AUGUST
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista
has lodged a complaint
with Union Minister for
Rural Development, Naren-
dra Singh Tomar, about
alleged corruption at the
hands of Trinamul Con-
gress-backed politicians
as they implemented work
under the Mahatma Gand-
hi National Rural Employ-
ment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS).
Mr Bista met Mr Tomar
in Delhi yesterday to dis-
cuss the matter and
informed him how "mas-
sive corruption" by TMC
politicians have allegedly
resulted in non-completion
of the projects, spurious and
sub-standard materials
used in the construction,
inclusion of non-working
individuals in the muster-
roll, MGNREGS work being
given to contractors instead
of local villagers, projects
that have only been com-
pleted on paper, but not in

Planters for not reducing tea import duty

STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
SILIGURI, 12 AUGUST
At a time when the Darjeel-
ing Tea Association (DTA)
has expressed happiness over
the Tea Board of India's direc-
tives over tea import, the
Consultative Committee of
Plantation Associations
(CCPA), an apex body of tea
associations in India, has
urged Union Minister of Com-
merce and Industry Piyush
Goyal not to reduce import
duty on tea.
In a recent order, the Tea
Board has said that the ori-
gin of the country in the
imported tea packets must be
stamped with importers'
address and premises of pack-
ing.
Arguing in favour of the
present rate of import duty
and demanding that the gov-
ernment maintain its status
quo, the CCPA has claimed:
"Any move to reduce the
import duty would have an
adverse impact on the
demand and supply equilib-
rium with concurrent erosion
of domestic prices, thereby
adversely affecting the eco-
nomic viability and liveli-
hood of the tea producers and
1.2 million workers employed
in the tea industry, as 60 per-
cent workforce comprise
women."
The CCPA shot the letter
on 10 August, keeping in
mind a representation served
by a group of importers and
stakeholders, who demand-
ed reduction of import duty.
According to CCPA records,
India is one of the world's
largest producers and con-
sumers of tea, accounting
for 23 percent of the world pro-
duction, and around 13 per-
cent of the world tea export.
On the other hand, the
Indian tea production over the
last decade has increased
rapidly, primarily because of
the emergence of Small Tea
Growers (STG), and as per
available data, the livelihood
of over 3 lakh small tea grow-
ers and their families is depen-
dent on the sustainability
and viability of the Indian tea
industry.
The Confederation of Indi-
an Small Tea Growers Asso-
ciation (CISTA) has also point-
ed out the matter, drawing the
attention of Mr Goyal.
"In keeping with the Prime
Minister's call for an atmanirb-
har Bharat, the Indian tea
industry has sustained pro-
duction and employment
levels in spite of acute eco-
nomic stress over the last
decade due to stagnant
prices," the CCPA said in a let-
ter to Mr Goyal. It has also
pointed out that tea imports
into India from Nepal are
governed by a "Free Trade
Agreement," allowing such
teas to be imported without
payment of import duty. Sri
Lankan tea, which competes
with Indian orthodox tea in
the international market,
enjoys a concessional import
duty of 7.5 percent up to an
import volume of 15,000 mil-
lion ton under a "Trade Agree-
ment."
"Tea being imported for re-
export is subject to nil rate of
import duty in India. It is
submitted that the inspection
structure should be strength-
ened to ensure that the influx
of teas through imports con-
form to the prescribed FSSAI
quality norms and compli-
ances. The possibility of leak-
ages fuelling domestic sup-
ply through this route mer-
its examination and regular
scrutiny as deemed appro-
priate. In this connection,
Nepal tea being sold as Dar-
jeeling Tea is depressing Dar-
jeeling tea prices in the domes-
tic market," the CCPA said,
adding, "Due to low cost of
production, countries like
Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia,
China have the capability to
offer average quality tea at
much lower prices."
reality. "All these led to
colossal waste of funds
meant for public welfare,"
Mr Bista said. Mr Bista
claimed that Mr Tomar
assured him that a central
audit of rural development
funds will be undertaken
soon. "The status of rural
infrastructure in Darjeel-
ing Lok Sabha constituency
is abysmal. Despite the
union government grant-
ing thousands of crores
every year for various rural
development projects
through the Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana, Prad-
han Mantri Awas Yojana,
Rural Infrastructure Devel-
opment Fund, Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee
Scheme and others, our
infrastructure is in a sham-
bles," Mr Bista said. SNS
GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA
Executive Engineer, North Mumbai Electrical Division
P.W.D., ESIS Hospital Compound, L.B.S. Road

Joy in Siliguri, sorrow in Dooars Mulund (W), Mumbai-400080

E-mail: elnorthmumbai.ee@mahapwd.com
Tel. No.: 022-25601327

Three tiger cubs born Jumbos found dead

DIKSHA RUPASA
SILIGURI, 12 AUGUST
Sheela, the Royal Bengal Tigress at the
Bengal Safari: North Bengal Animal
Park in Siliguri, has given birth to three
healthy cubs.
According to the Director of Ben-
gal Safari, Dharam Deo Rai, Sheela had
conceived between 1 and 3 May this
year and that her mate was Vivian.
"She gave birth to three cubs this
morning. Prior to the birth, she was
eating meat and other items, which
were being provided to her. But, once
a tigress gives birth, the mother does
not eat anything for the next couple
of days. Nevertheless, we are regularly
providing her with meat, which she
eats according to her will," Mr Rai said.
“We have a permanent veterinar-
ian here at the park who had been keep-
ing her under observation. As for
now, all of them are in good condi-
tion of health," he added.
Six-year-old Sheela had given birth
to triplets in April 2018 in the park,
which Chief Minister Mamata Baner-
jee named Ika, Rika and Kika. While
Ika died of some infection in September
that same year, Rika and Kika, a white
tigress, are growing well.
Snehasis, Sheela's partner then, was
sent to the Alipore Zoological Park in
Kolkata on 13 March last year. Anoth-
er Royal Bengal Tiger, Vivian, had been
brought from the Tata Steel Zoolog-
ical Park in Jamshedpur in Decem-
ber 2017. "The names of the newborns
will be decided upon later as their gen-
ders are also not yet revealed. We are
expecting the bears to conceive soon,
perhaps, in the next couple of months,"
the director said.
State tourism minister Gautam
Deb said it was good news for the Park,
which is spread across 297 hectares
of land near Salugara on the outskirts
of Siliguri. "It is good news indeed. I
have apprised chief minister Mama-
ta Banerjee of the development, as the
park was her brainchild. She is very
happy," Mr Deb said.
Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee
also expressed his happiness. "The trio
is in a healthy condition. I am hope-
ful that they will be the new attrac-
tion in the park," he said.
RAJKUMAR KARMAKAR
ALIPURDUAR, 12 AUGUST
As the entire North Bengal rejoiced
in the birth of three Royal Bengal Tiger
cubs in Siliguri, there was disap-
pointment, on the other hand, among
the people, foresters and animal
lovers after two elephants were found
dead in the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR)
forest in Alipurduar on World Elephant
Day today.
The carcasses of the two female
jumbos--one sub-adult and one calf-
were recovered from the Bhutri-1 com-
partment of the Bhutri forest beat
under the Hamiltonganj range of
the West Division of the BTR early
morning today, officials said.
BTR authorities claimed that the
elephants may have died after com-
ing in contact with an 11000-volt elec-
tricity line passing through the for-
est. "The iron pole and surrounding
areas were electrically charged due
to a short circuit, and the elephants
may have died while passing through
the area," Field Director of the BTR,
Subhankar Sengupta, said.
The Forest Department has filed
an FIR against the Electricity Depart-
ment at the Kalchini police station,
under which the site of the incident
falls, it is learnt.
Animal lovers expressed shock
and anger at the incident.
"Forests and wildlife will be ruined
one day. Nobody cares for it. The mat-
ter should be investigated and cul-
prits responsible for the death of the
jumbos must be punished," said the
founder member of the Alipurduar
Nature Club, Amal Dutta.
However, the Alipurduar elec-
tricity department denied any fault
in the 11000-volt line on that spot.
"There was no fault in the line that
passed through the forest. We found
neither a short circuit nor electrici-
ty leakage on the iron pole there.
We disconnected the line after we
received information of the ele-
phants' death there. The electricity
supply was alright in the line earli-
er," said the Divisional Manager of
the West Bengal State Electricity Dis-
tribution Company Ltd in Alipurd-
uar, Dipen Khawas.
e-Tender Notice No. 03/2020-21
Online item rates tenders in “B-2” form are invited by the Executive Engineer, North
Mumbai Electrical Division, Mulund, Mumbai for the following work from The Electrical
License Holder Contractor from Govt. of Maharashtra (as per Env. No. 1 document) e-
Tender document can be downloaded from the e-Tendering portal of P.W.D., Government
of Maharashtra: http://mahatenders.gov.in The Chief Engineer (Electrical), P.W.D. Fort,
Mumbai reserves right to accept or reject any tender. The conditional tender will not be
accepted.
Name of work: Est. No. OW / M3 / 1370 / 2019-20 providing EI, Computer wiring, Fire
Fighting, Sprinkler System, Fire Alarm System, Lifts, DG Sets, Air-Conditioning System,
UPS, Solar System, LV System, Audio Video System, PA System & Water Pumps for
Metropolitan Court at Kannamvar Nagar at Vikroli Mumbai. Est. Cost put to tender: Rs.
24,07,94,894.
Document download / Sale period date: 17-08-2020 to 10-09-2020 up to 17-30 hrs.
Pre-bid Conference date: 03-09-2020 @ 14-00 hrs. in the office of the Chief Engineer
(Electrical), P.W.D., 3rd Floor, Bandhkam Bhavan, 25, Marzaban Road, Fort,
Mumbai-400001.
Bid opening date: 14-09-2020 after 11-00 p.m.
All information about e-Tender is available on following website:
1. http://mahatenders.gov.in
(If there will be change in e-Tender Notice, it will be informed on above website).
2. Executive Engineer, North Mumbai Electrical Division, Mumbai for office Notice
Board.
3. Criteria of post-qualification is included in the work agreement.
4. Tenderer shall submit the hard copy of tender within 72 hours from the last date of
submission of tender.
5. If found some problem in e-Tendering process only when open the hard copy of
tender on date:14-09-2020.
R.S. Patil
Executive Engineer
North Mumbai Electrical Division
P.W.D., Mulund, Mumbai
EE/NMED/TC/1445/2020
Date: 05-08-2020
DGIPR/ROC-462

CMYK