West Bengal

Kolkata, Sept 2 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said 75 per cent of JEE-Main candidates in the state could not appear for the exam held on September 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and blamed the Centre's "ego" for it.

In other states, only half of the examinees managed to turn up due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, she claimed.

Malda(WB), Aug 31 (PTI) At least 55 houses were washed away due to erosion in river Ganga in West Bengal's Malda district, an official said on Monday.

A sudden fall of water level of Ganga caused severe erosion at China bazar village under Birnagar gram panchayat on Sunday, Block Development Officer of Kaliachak Block III, Gautam Dutta said.

The BDO said around 70 metre of land and 55 houses has been washed away in the erosion.

Kolkata, Aug 22 (PTI) Several community puja organisers in Kolkata switched to the digital mode to enable people have 'darshan' of idols on Ganesh Chaturthi on Saturday.

The shift came as many organisers imposed restrictions on the entry of visitors to the marquees to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted people on the occasion, tweeting: "Heartiest greetings to all on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi".

Ranaghat (WB), Aug 20 (PTI) A youth has been arrested for allegedly tearing the national flag in an inebriated state in West Bengal's Nadia district, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred in School Para locality in Dhantala police station area on Wednesday, they said.

The youth, Chanchal Biswas, was arrested after locals made a video of the act and forwarded it to the police, an officer said.

The accused has claimed that he had acted under the influence of alcohol, he added.

Kolkata, July 29 (PTI) A BJP worker was found hanging from a tree near his house in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Wednesday, with his party alleging that he was killed by goons of the ruling Trinamool Congress as he had refused to join them.

The Trinamool Congress rubbished the allegation as "completely baseless and politically motivated", and said a police investigation would bring out the truth.

Kolkata, Jul 26 (PTI) In a bid to counter the BJP's social media campaign, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday launched a new initiative to highlight the achievements of the state government and showcase how federalism is being allegedly eroded by the Centre.

The campaign - "Shoja Banglay Bolchi" (speaking in straightforward Bengali) will be a three days a week video series anchored by TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O'Brien.

New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) India will handover 10 broad-gauge diesel locomotives to Bangladesh on Monday, providing the neighbouring country mobility solutions for both intra-country and inter-country movement, the Railways said.

Senior dignitaries from both the countries are expected to flag off the handover, which will be conducted via video conferencing, according to the statement.

Kolkata, Jul 21 ( PTI) Famous footballer Mehtab Hussain on Tuesday joined BJP in West Bengal and expressed his desire to serve the country.

Mehtab, (34), who had played for leading soccer clubs of the country including East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, was handed over the party flag by West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh at the state headquarters.

Mehtab, who was a midfielder, said he joined politics as he wanted to serve the nation.

Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) With several weddings and religious functions being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Hindu priests in Kolkata and its vicinity are in dire straits, some even looking for an alternative source of income to make ends meet.

Sushanta Chakraborty, a priest in Agarpara on the northern outskirts of the city, is selling vegetables in his locality, something that he said his "ancestors couldn't have thought of, no matter what the circumstances".

Kolkata, Jul 20 (PTI) The BJP Mahila Morcha held a protest rally here on Monday over the death of a teenage girl at Chopra in North Dinajpur district, alleging that she was sexually assaulted and murdered.

As per the initial post mortem report, the girl died of poisoning and there was no sign of any external injury.

The rally, led by BJP Mahila Morcha state unit president Agnimitra Paul, which was to be held from Gariahat to Deshapriya Park in south Kolkata, was stopped by the police at the outset.