West Bengal

Kolkata, Jul 21 (PTI) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has demanded return of ballot papers in place of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said electoral reforms are required in the country to save democracy and stop the use of black money during polls.

Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, also demanded state funding of elections.

"Do not forget that the EVMs were earlier used in England, France, Germany and America. But they have now stopped using them.... So why cannot we bring the ballot papers back?" she said.

Baharampore (WB), Jul 12 (PTI) A block-level leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Murshidabad district in West Bengal on Friday, the police said.

The incident occurred at Pradipdanga village under Hariharpara police station limits when the TMC leader, identified as Safiul Hasan, was travelling in a car.

The assailants blocked the car, dragged Hasan out and gunned him down, police said.

10 July 2019; GANASHAKTI: Class X student of a school in a southern Calcutta pocket has alleged that she was repeatedly raped by a private tutor who would threaten to shoot her by showing a gun if she protested.

Police said they have recovered a few cartridges from the house of the accused — Rajib Chakraborty — but the gun was yet to be found.

The 48-year-old was arrested on Monday night based on a complaint lodged by the student in her teens.

Kolkata, Jul 6; GANASHAKTI: Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has said the land reform measures were carried out "extremely well" by the previous Left Front government in West Bengal, but the destruction of industry was its flip side.

Delivering a public lecture at Jadavpur University here on Friday evening, Sen said West Bengal had fallen behind Bangladesh in terms of projecting a combined Bengali identity.

"Land reforms were carried out extremely well and the Left must get its credit. But the destruction of the industry was on the flip side," he said.

Kolkata, Jul 5 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday called the Union Budget "completely visionless" which will increase the sufferings of the common people.

Kolkata, Jul 3 (PTI) The Mamata Banerjee government's announcement of 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category makes West Bengal the fourth state after Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Telangana to cross the 50 per cent quota cap fixed by the Supreme Court.

The announcement on Tuesday came six months after the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre approved a similar proposal.

Malda(WB), Jul 1 (PTI) A man who was allegedly beaten by locals for stealing a bike has died, triggering a protest when his body reached here from a Kolkata hospital on Sunday.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the lynching of 20-year-old Sanaul Sheikh, Malda Superintendent of Police Aloke Rajoria said.

Sheikh was assaulted allegedly by some locals at Baishnabnagar Bazar on Wednesday, after he was allegedly found stealing the bike, the SP said.

Kolkata, Jul 1 (PTI) West Bengal has exceeded the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection target of 14 per cent in the month of March 2019, the assembly was informed Monday.

"Our record in terms of GST collection has been one of the best in the country. The state has exceeded the GST collection target of 14 per cent in the month of March 2019," Finance Minister Amit Mitra Monday said.

While lauding the performance of the state government, Mitra said the government has also increased the expenditure on state development schemes from Rs 57,779 crore to Rs 71,113 crore.

Kolkata, Jun 20; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Authorities on Thursday imposed Section 144 in Bhatpara and Jagatdal areas of North 24 Parganas district, following clashes between two groups that left one dead and three injured.

"Some anti-socials and criminals have been active in Bhatpara. Outside elements have now joined them, disrupting peace in the area. RAF personnel have been deployed," Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

Kolkata, Jun 21 (PTI) The police are waiting for the medical test reports of a minor girl, who was allegedly raped by her neighbour's relative inside her accomodation at Fort William, the Eastern Command headquarter of the Indian Army here, a senior officer said.

The test results are awaited. It will help us in our investigation. Hopefully, we will get the report by today, the police officer said.

The police has been grilling the accused, identified as Sagar Mallick.