West Bengal

Kolkata, Jul 19 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress is preparing for its first mega virtual rally on July 21 even as a section of the party leadership is apprehensive whether the digital rally would evoke a similar response as it used to during previous years.

The July 21 rally is not just a show of strength on the part of TMC but also a platform which sets the tone of the party's policies and politics for the entire year.

Kolkata, Jul 12 (PTI) Hindutva leader Tapan Ghosh, who had tested positive for COVID-19, died at a hospital on Sunday, his associates said.

Ghosh, 67, was the founder of far-right group Hindu Samhati.

He was admitted to a private hospital last week after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Tapan-da passed away this evening. He is survived by two sisters, Hindu Samhati president Debtanu Bhattacharya told PTI.

Kolkata, Jul 12 (PTI) A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man at an under-construction building in the city's New Town area, police said on Sunday.

The man, who claimed to be a friend of a close relative of the girl, was arrested on Sunday, a senior police officer said.

According to the victim's complaint, the incident took place on Saturday night when she was returning home after visiting a friend near City Centre II, he said.

Kolkata, Jul 13 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Debendra Nath Ray was found hanging near his home in Hemtabad area of North Dinajpur district on Monday morning, police sources said.

"Ray was found hanging near a shop at Hemtabad area this (Monday) morning. We have started an investigation," a senior district police officer said.

Ray had contested and won the Hemtabad assembly segment -- a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes -- on a CPI(M) ticket but had switched over to the BJP last year after the Lok Sabha polls.

Kolkata, Jul 9 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has received an invitation to speak at The Oxford Union Debate next year, party sources said.

This is the second time that the Oxford Union, considered the most prestigious student society in the world, has invited Banerjee to speak at the debate after 2017.

"She has received the invitation on Wednesday. Most likely she will attend it," a senior TMC leader said.

Kolkata, Jul 4 (PTI) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused "demand destruction" in the overseas markets and it is likely to continue for the next few quarters, eminent bankers said on Saturday.

The disruption will last for six to eight months before business starts to bounce back, they said.

Kolkata, Jul 2 (PTI) A brigadier of the Indian Army died from COVID 19-related complications here on Thursday, the highest-ranking defence officer to have fallen to the pandemic, official sources said.

Brigadier Vikas Samyal, posted at the Eastern Command headquarters here, was admitted to the military hospital at Barrackpore after he tested positive for Covid-19, they said.

He was later shifted to the Command Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Kolkata, Jun 30 (PTI) The West Bengal government has allowed 50 people at marriage functions and funerals during the next phase of the coronavirus lockdown from July 1 to 31.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said morning walks will be allowed from 5.30 am till 8.30 am, provided social distancing and all other norms are strictly followed".

"From now onwards, we will be allowing 50 people both at weddings and last rites," Banerjee said.

Kalyani (West Bengal), Jun 26 (PTI) Unable to extract money from his mother to buy drugs, a man in West Bengals Nadia district hacked her to death and seriously injured his sister-in-law who tried to save her from the attack, police said on Friday.

After the incident that occurred on Thursday, on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, local people beat him up and threw him in a pond after tying his hands and legs with ropes. Policemen took him to hospital after rescuing him.

Kolkata, Jun 23 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the fuel price hikes for 17 days in a row, saying it is "disgraceful to unleash a planned disaster" on the common people at a time when the country is in the throes of a pandemic.