Tag: west bengal news

16May By source belowNo Comments

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Police strength less, now is the time to hire more: HC to govt on Murshidabad violence

Releasing a petition seeking a CBI probe into the murder of a father-son duo, who were killed in the communal violence that had rocked parts of Murshidabad district in April, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday advised the state government to employ more police personnel. “Now is the time to recruit sufficient police personnel. The number of police personnel in each district is less. The police force in Murshidabad is also very small,” the court said, adding had there “been a sufficient number of police personnel, the situation in Dhuliyan could have been brought under control”. The High Court bench further commented that there should be a minimum number of forces in every place. Story continues below this ad The state government’s counsel, Kalyan Bandopadhyay, however, po...

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14May By source belowNo Comments

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CM Mamata Banerjee announces financial assistance to jobless Group C and D employees

In a relief to the Group C and Group D employees whose appointments were terminated by the Supreme Court in the wake of the cash-for-jobs scam in state-run schools. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced payment of monthly allowances to them on a temporary basis. Banerjee announced Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 to the jobless Group C and Group D employees, respectively, out of a newly launched West Bengal Livelihood and Social Security Scheme under the state Labour Department. The scheme, which was approved by the state Cabinet, would come into effect from April 1, 2025, the CM said. Story continues below this ad “The families who have lost their jobs are in great difficulty. The matter is currently sub-judice. We will file a review petition before the Supreme Cou...

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14May By source belowNo Comments

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Govt to allot 2,515 acres for setting up steel factories across the state

The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to allot 2,515 acres of land to different industrial parks for setting up steel production units across the state. Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the move would boost the steel industry in the state by bringing over Rs 25,000 crore investment and generating over 70,000 jobs. The chief minister also announced that the state government would set up an International Information Technologies Entertainment and Culture Park in New Town that will be spread over 35 acres. “We named it “IITEC” in English and ‘Biswa Angan’ in Bengali. It will become an international-level cultural hub in future,” the CM said. Story continues below this ad She also said that the government would set up two more conventio...

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10May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Port enhances security protocols, cancels leave of staff

THE Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) in Kolkata has enhanced its security protocols and operational vigilance in the wake of the ongoing military conflict with Pakistan, port officials said on Friday. As per the directives from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate General of Shipping, SMPK has elevated its security level to 2. All personnel have been instructed to be on high alert, vigilantly monitor port premises and waterways, and report any suspicious activity immediately. The secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, T K Ramachandran, chaired a virtual high-level security review meeting with port officials on Friday. The meeting was attended by senior officials of Kolkata Port, including SMP Kolkata chairman Rathendra Raman, deputy chair...

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6May By source belowNo Comments

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Row over idols at Digha Jagannath Dham: After Mamata says no wood stolen from Puri, Odisha minister concurs

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hit out at the Odisha government over alleged attacks on Bengali migrant workers in the neighbouring state in the wake of the controversy over the Digha “Jagannath Dham” and rejected the allegations of theft of sacred neem wood from the 12th-century Puri Jagannath shrine for making idols at the newly built temple.Hours later, Odisha’s law minister Prithviraj Harichandan clarified that the idols at Digha’s Jagannath Temple have not been crafted from the leftover woods of Nabakalebar rituals. Speaking to mediapersons after meeting MPs and MLAs during her visit to the violence-hit Murshidabad district, the CM said, “The Jagannath Dham has badly affected you (Odisha government). Hasn’t it? It is being said I even stole neem wood. I have four...

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5May By source belowNo Comments

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Violence-hit Murshidabad family alleges police intimidation, writes to CJI, Bengal Governor

The family of Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das, the father-son duo who were killed during the April 11 violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, has written a letter to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam, and West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose alleging intimidation by the state police. The family alleged that a team of Murshidabad police on Sunday morning forcibly entered the Salt Lake residence of a BJP worker, where they have been residing for the last one week, and harassed them. The police, on the other hand, denied the charge and said they visited the Salt Lake residence after a family member of Das in a written complaint alleged that the family had been abducted. Story continues below this ad According to the police, s...

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4May By source belowNo Comments

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Kolkata Pen Utsav 2025: Star of the show— Rs 7 lakh Staedtler gold pen with 18-carat gold nib

Staedtler’s exquisite “Bavaria” pen, adorned with 48 diamonds and featuring a hand-polished 18-karat gold nib and a palladium body with a blue lacquer finish, takes center stage at Pen Utsav 2025 in Kolkata. The pen’s craftsmanship honours Bavaria, the German region where Staedtler originated, making it a masterpiece of precision. With only 48 pieces worldwide, it’s a collector’s dream. Story continues below this ad In its fourth year, the three-day event organised from May 2-4, at ICCR, Kolkata, celebrates the art of writing and penmanship, reviving a timeless tradition in a digital world. “We wanted to bring people back to the roots of writing,” said Sayak Adhya, the founder of Pen Utsav, while speaking with The Indian Express. “There’s something deeply personal and irre...

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4May By source belowNo Comments

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‘Riot tourism’: Adhir hits out at Mamata over Murshidabad visit plan

SENIOR CONGRESS leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her scheduled visit to Murshidabad district that witnessed three deaths in clashes amid protests over the Waqf law last month. “Didi is coming to Murshidabad when everything has been completed. Janaza (final journey) completed, qabr (burial) done. She is visiting for riot tourism.” Chowdhury, who is a former state chief of the party and an ex-MP from Murshidabad’s Berhampore, was addressing a Congress rally there.Banerjee, who is scheduled to reach Berhampore on May 5, recently said she would also visit Samsherganj, one of the areas affected by the violence last month, on May 6. Story continues below this ad “The CM is scheduled to arrive in Murshidabad on M...

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3May By source belowNo Comments

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CM Mamata Banerjee to visit violence-hit Murshidabad on Monday

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is ‘scheduled’ to visit Murshidabad district, which witnessed violent clashes and acts of vandalism in protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, on May 5, Monday, said sources. However, the state administration is yet to confirm the final tour programme of the Chief Minister, amid Opposition criticism against Banerjee for not visiting the district where three people lost their lives in last month’s violence. Government sources said Banerjee is likely to attend an administrative meeting and service service-providing programme at Shamsherganj on Tuesday. She is also likely to visit Balurghat from Berhampore the next day, they added. Story continues below this ad “The chief minister is scheduled to arrive in Murshidabad on Monday la...

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3May By source belowNo Comments

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Burrabazar hotel fire: Mayor orders closure of all rooftop restaurants in Kolkata

In the wake of a devastating fire in the Burrabazar area last month, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor and Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim has ordered the immediate closure of all rooftop restaurants within the city. The mayor’s directive aims to address serious safety concerns raised by the massive fire incident that broke out on the first floor of the Rituraj Hotel at Mechhuapatti in the Burrabazar area on April 29, killing 14 people, including a woman and two children. Mayor Hakim said that according to the fundamental principle building rooftops, ground floors, are common spaces and they cannot be exclusively appropriated for commercial purposes. “Just as no one can sell the ground floor, the roof cannot be sold either,” the Mayor said. Story ...

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3May By source belowNo Comments

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Ruckus at Howrah court: HC issues contempt rule against IPS officer Vishal Garg, 6 other policemen

THE CALCUTTA High Court on Friday issued rule of contempt against IPS officer Vishal Garg and six other police officers in connection with “untoward incidents” that took place on the premises of a court in Howrah in April last year. A division bench comprising justice Debangsu Basak and Arindam Mukherjee wrote in the order, “…some untoward incidents took place on the premises of the Howrah Sadar court on April 24, 2024. There were allegations that police entered the court premises without any authority and applied disproportionate force which caused not only loss and damages to the advocates practicing in the said court but also amounted to interference or tends to interfere with or obstruct, or tend to obstruct, the administration of justice.” The court also directed the authorities conce...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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BJP’s Dilip Ghosh springs surprise, attends Digha temple opening: “CM contributing to Hindu awakening’

Taking many by surprise and even a section of his party leaders, senior BJP leader and former state unit chief Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday evening reached Digha to attend the inauguration of Jagannath Dham, a project close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Ghosh, who was accompanied by his newly wed wife Rinku Majumdar, also met the TMC supremo on the sidelines of the event. While the TMC government had also invited state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, the two BJP leaders chose to skip the event. Story continues below this ad At the temple, Ghosh and his wife were welcomed by TMC minister Aroop Biswas, who he described as a friend. On meeting Mamata, Ghosh noted a “Hindu awakening” in the chief minister’s recent activiti...

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1May By source belowNo Comments

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Digha’s Jagannath Dham opens, Mamata prays for ‘global peace’

A wave of spiritual fervor swept across the seaside town of Digha on Wednesday, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Dham, a replica of the iconic Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Trithiya.Located around 350 kilometres from the Puri Temple, the newly constructed Jagannath Dham in Digha is built on a sprawling 24-acre plot, with an investment of nearly Rs 250 crore. The temple’s consecration ceremony unfolded amid religious rituals and cultural performances, while sanctified water from various revered pilgrimage sites across the country was brought to Digha for rituals and the anointing of the deities involved 108 diverse materials. Following this, the devotees got their first glimpse of Lord Jagannath, enshrined with...

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30Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Digha Jagannath temple to open today, CM Mamata Banerjee says: ‘All our guests’

ARRANGEMENTS WERE made for the ‘Maha Yajna’ on Tuesday evening at the newly built Jagannath temple in the seaside tourist town of Digha in Purba Medinipur, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took part in the rituals a day before its inauguration. Banerjee emphasised that “everyone is our guest.” The Jagannath temple, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, Odisha, will be inaugurated on Wednesday on the auspicious occasion of ‘Akshaya Trithiya’. Digha is around 350 km from Puri. The massive event, drawing parallels to the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya last year, has been interpreted by some as a significant effort by Chief Minister Banerjee to solidify her image as a leader who embraces all communities, addressing previous allegations of minority appeasement. Story continue...

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30Apr By source belowNo Comments

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1 killed as fire breaks out at Kolkata hotel

ONE PERSON was killed and several were injured after a major fire broke out at a six-storied hotel building in the densely populated Burrabazar area in Kolkata, police said on Tuesday. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained, fire brigade officials said. Ten fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire and operations were underway on the premises of Rituraj Hotel till late evening on Tuesday. Sources at the Kolkata Medical College identified the deceased as Sanjoy Paswan, who was among those staying at the hotel and was brought dead to the hospital. Police are looking into the possibility that he may have jumped from the building as the fire broke out and fell to his death, sources said. Story continues below this ad As the fire was detected, some peopl...

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29Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Sikkim landslide | All tourists safely evacuated, Lachung to open for tourists from today: Officials

ALL THE tourists – a large number of whom were stranded after a landslide in northern Sikkim due to heavy rain in the region – have now been safely evacuated and there are no casualties, officials said on Tuesday. The tourists had been stranded for one night (Thursday) but rescue operations began at the earliest, the officials said. Former chairman Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Lukendra Rasaily said, “Two days ago, all the people were evacuated and no casualties have been reported. The Sikkim Police are taking care of everything and the Border Road  Organisation (BRO) are working on clearing the roads. Lachung will open for  tourists from Wednesday.” Story continues below this ad Samrat Sanyal, secretary, Himalayan Hospitality and tourism development network, told...

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29Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Digha’s Jagannath temple: Residents pin hopes on religious tourism, economic opportunities

The coastal town of Digha in West Bengal, a long-time favourite for beachgoers, has a new attraction to draw attention: Jagannath Dham. The development has sparked a mix of hope and apprehension among local vendors. Tapan Jana, a 48-year-old lottery seller whose small stand sits just outside the Jagannath Dham administrative building, is optimistic. He hopes the anticipated surge in tourism, fueled by the new temple, will boost his daily sales, which currently average around ten lottery tickets. He previously worked at a hotel on the beach before venturing into lottery sales. Sangita Talukdar, a resident, echoed the sentiment that Jagannath Dham could transform Digha’s appeal. “Digha only had the beach, and that was its sole attraction. With this Jagannath Dham, it’s giving off a Puri vibe...

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28Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Calcutta HC to decide fate of 32,000 primary teachers in West Bengal

The Calcutta High Court is set to begin hearing on May 7 the case of cancellation of 32,000 appointments in an alleged state primary teacher recruitment scam. In 2014, about 1.25 lakh candidates had passed the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for primary teachers. The West Bengal Board of Primary Education then began their recruitment process in 2016. Of those who passed the TET, 42,949 were provided jobs. It was alleged that out of those 42,949 candidates, 32,000 were “untrained” — allegedly employed without proper interviews or aptitude tests, among other “irregularities”. Uncertainty around the future of the primary teachers has heightened after the Supreme Court recently invalidated the West Bengal School Service Commission’s appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers, calling the entir...

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27Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Anomalies detected in ‘untainted’ teachers list, say WBSSC sources

Sources in the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) Saturday informed that they have intimated the School Education Department about anomalies detected in the recently released list of ‘untainted’ teachers. The SSC had released a list of 15,403 candidates from the 2016 teachers’ recruitment panel who were found ‘untainted’. On April 3, the Supreme Court cancelled the 2016 recruitment panel, leading to the loss of jobs of around 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-aided schools in West Bengal. Story continues below this ad Later, the Supreme Court allowed untainted teachers to continue till December 31, but no such relief was extended to Group C and D non-teaching staff. SSC officials informed that several issues have come to their notice since the list o...

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27Apr By source belowNo Comments

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‘Crime Chronicles’: Watch real crime stories on YouTube, courtesy of West Bengal police

The West Bengal police have launched a YouTube series, Crime Chronicles, delving into real crime incidents through dramatised reconstructions and behind-the-scenes footage. The weekly series premiered on the YouTube channel titled Friends of West Bengal Police on Sunday, exploring the chilling details of a serial sexual homicide case that shook the state approximately five years ago. The first episode unravelled the gruesome murders and horrific sexual violence committed against multiple women in broad daylight. Viewers were taken behind the scenes of the investigation, seeking to understand the identity of the perpetrator, the motive behind targeting women, and the dark impulses driving these heinous acts. “Get ready for a spine-chilling crime series, ‘Crime Chronicles’, on the Friends of...

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26Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Suvendu Adhikari in violence hit Murshidabad, victims’ family accepts relief money from him

The family of Haragobindo Das, 77, who was killed along with his 40-year-old son Chandan Das, during April 11 violence in the Samserganj area of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, on Saturday accepted Rs 20 lakh monetary help from BJP. The Das family has, however, refused to accept Rs 10 lakh compensation announced by the TMC government in the state. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday visited the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district where protests against the Centre’s Waqf law turned violent on April 11, leading to the death of three persons, including the father-son duo of Haragobindo and Chandan Das. Story continues below this ad Adhikari’s visit to the violence-hit areas comes after getting a nod from the Calcutta High Co...

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26Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Bengal: Police chiefs of Murshidabad and Jangipur moved out

Days after communal violence broke out in parts of Murshidabad district, the West Bengal government on Friday transferred two Superintendents of Police from the region with immediate effect. According to a notification issued by the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Friday, Surya Pratap Yadav, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Murshidabad will take over as the Commanding Officer, Narayani Battalion, in Cooch Behar. Anand Roy, the SP of Jangipur Police District has been made Commanding Officer, EFR, 3rd Battalion in Salua. Ranaghat SP Kumar Sunni Raj will take charge as SP in Murshidabad and Amit Kumar Shaw, who was holding the post of DC (TP) of Kolkata Police, will be new the SP of Jangipur Police District. Story continues below this ad However, officials claims that this is...

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23Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Murshidabad violence: BJP chief detained, later released; ‘is it a crime to ask for funds?’, asks Sukanta

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was detained by police on Tuesday evening while collecting money for the victims of Murshidabad violence from Hazra More in south Kolkata, close to the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was later released around 7.30 pm from Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police. “Police have become the cadres of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. We came here to raise funds for Murshidabad violence victims, and the police are saying that we have to take permission from the authorities,” the Union minister was heard saying while being taken by the police in a van. Story continues below this ad “Is it a crime to ask for funds for those affected? Can we not protest? This is our fundamental right,” Majumdar, who had visited Murshidabad la...

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21Apr By source belowNo Comments

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‘Fighting a battle for justice’: Mamata in open letter to people, slams BJP & RSS

In an open letter to the people of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged them to stay united against the ‘battle for justice’ as well as maintain peace and harmony. The chief minister, in her two page letter, lashed out at the BJP and its alliances for the Murshidabad-violence and said that the rioters will be punished, but peace should prevail. “The BJP is using it to do politics. They want to play a dirty game,” Banerjee wrote. “Earlier I did not take RSS name but, this time I mistakenly say that they are deeply behind the ugly propaganda going on in the state,” she added. Story continues below this ad The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP and RSS had intended to create unrest during the Ram Navami celebrations, but since the state government was well-p...

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20Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Mamata Banerjee to lay foundation stone for Rs 16,000 crore thermal power plant in West Bengal village

Salboni of West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur is poised for a significant industrial resurgence as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prepares to lay the foundation stone for a massive 1600 MW thermal power plant on Monday. The Rs 16,000 crore project, undertaken by JSW Energy, marks the largest private sector investment in the state’s core sector in 14 years, promising substantial economic growth and employment opportunities for the region. The project will consist of two 800 MW power plants. The land, initially earmarked for a large steel plant by JSW Group in 2008, will finally see major industrial development. The initial steel plant project was halted due to unforeseen circumstances. The JSW Group has a cement-grinding factory at Salboni, and owns a large land bank there. Story continue...

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19Apr By source belowNo Comments

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Murshidabad violence: NCW & NHRC members also visit Malda camp, say ‘unimaginable trauma’

Apart from Governor C V Ananda Bose, teams of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Women (NCW) also on Friday visited the Malda camp where people from violence-hit areas of Murshidabad have taken shelter. A team, led by NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, met women residents at the relief camp and registered their complaints. “I am shocked to see the condition of women and children here. They have shared their problems. They were forcibly evicted from their home and have gone through unimaginable trauma. They are scared. What they have gone through is beyond imagination, especially women and children,” said the NCW chief after meeting women at the Pralalpur High School that has been converted into a relief camp. “We have already formed an inquiry committee. We w...

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