JournaBulletin - State - Week 5

 The City This Week 

The top local stories of this week in a glimpse

11 dead as heavy rains and floods batter West Bengal districts 

11 dead as heavy rains and floods batter West Bengal districts  [Courtesy: Alexandre Bringer]

At least 11 people were killed in different parts of West Bengal as heavy rains battered several districts of the state on Friday. Two workers were killed and four are still missing following a landslide in Kalimpong early Friday morning. They were part of an eight-person crew working on the Sevoke-Rangpo railway project at the ITDC camp office when the landslide struck. 

Former West Bengal higher education minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury passes away 

Former West Bengal higher education minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury passes away [Courtesy: Facebook]

Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury, a former West Bengal higher education minister and veteran CPM politician, passed on Saturday night at a private hospital in Hooghly district after a major heart attack. He was 75 years old. Chowdhury, a political science professor at Serampore College, was elected as an MP from the same Lok Sabha constituency. 

After winning the assembly election in Jangipara in 2006, he was appointed higher education minister by then-chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. 

Bengal's Pegasus investigation team will look at interceptions and the technique utilized to spy 

Bengal's Pegasus investigation team will look at interceptions and the technique utilized to spy [Courtesy: Mikhail Nilov] 

The two-member panel appointed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to investigate claims of eavesdropping in the state stemming from the Pegasus scandal would look into alleged interceptions, state and non-state actors, and the method of spyware or malware involved. The commission will also investigate whether any software, such as Pegasus from NSO Group Technologies in Herzliya, Israel, or any spyware or malware from any other organisation was used or is currently being used to conduct such interceptions, as well as the events that led to the occurrence of the interception incidents. 

Covid-19 restrictions in Bengal, till August 15 

Covid-19 restrictions in Bengal, till August 15 [Courtesy: Reuters]

West Bengal extended the Covid-19 restrictions till August 15, even though government activities will be permitted indoors with a 50% seating capacity. Previously, the government permitted the operation of the Kolkata Metro, buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws. Local rail services will be stopped, and a night curfew will be enforced between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. The restrictions were earlier extended up to July 30, as the Kolkata Metro was allowed to run on weekdays with 50% capacity.  

More claims of post-poll violence reported: NHRC to Calcutta HC 

More claims of post-poll violence reported: NHRC to Calcutta HC [Courtesy: calcuttahighcourt.gov.in]

On Wednesday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported to the Calcutta High Court that fresh allegations of alleged post-election violence had rolled in after the inquiry committee presented its final report on suspected human rights violations in the state to the court on July 13. 

“We are seeking liberty to submit a supplementary affidavit. On July 26, a 951-page document was sent to us by the NHRC. We need time to respond,” said Kishore Datta, advocate general of West Bengal 

Author: 

Vasundhara Tiwari