Connect with us
Friday,28-November-2025
Breaking News

National News

Another round of district bifurcation in Bengal likely next year

Published

on

Mamta Banerjee

Speculation is rife that West Bengal is heading for a fresh round of district bifurcation by 2023.

Reportedly a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the preparatory planning for this proposed fresh district bifurcation has already started and the plan is currently restricted among a selected members of the cabinet and the top bureaucrats of the state. Although none of the top cabinet members and bureaucrats were willing to make any official comment on this matter, highly placed sources said if the fresh bifurcation is done the total number of districts in West Bengal will increase to 27 from the existing 23.

The planned three new districts will be forked out of the two big districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. To recall, the two existing districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas were formed by bifurcating the erstwhile undivided 24 Parganas district on March 1, 1980.

A state government official, aware of the planning on the formation of the three new districts, told IANS on condition of anonymity, that the proposed three districts would be Sunderbans, Basirhat and Alipur.

Of the three, the formation of Sunderbans district will be the most complicated process and it will have to be formed by forking out pockets from both North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas district. According to him, the proposed Sunderbans district might be forked out mainly out of Gosaba, Basanti and Kultali areas in South 24 Parganas district as well as Hingalganj and Sandeshkhali blocks in the current North 24 Parganas district.

The state government official also said that the formation process of the planned Basirhat and Alipur districts will be comparatively simple. Alipur might be formed with the pockets forked out of the Kolkata adjacent pockets in South 24 Parganas districts as well as the Assembly constituencies under Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, where from the MP is the Trinamool Congress’s national general secretary and the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

On the other hand, the state government official said the proposed Basirhat district would be formed from pockets forked out of the existing Basirhat and Bangaon sub-divisions in North 24 Parganas district.

Since 1980, West Bengal has witnessed district bifurcations for seven times, out of which three developments were during the previous Left Front regime and four developments took place during the current Trinamool Congress regime.

The first event of district bifurcation in the state was on March 1, 1980 when the previous Left Front government was in force with late nonagenarian Indian Marxist, Jyoti Basu as the state chief minister.

The second phase of district bifurcation was on April 1, 1992, when the erstwhile West Dinajpur district was bifurcated into the existing North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts. At that point of time the Jyoti Basu-led Left Front government was in power in the state.

The third phase of bifurcation was on January 1, 2002, when the undivided Midnapore district was divided into the existing two districts of East Midnapore and West Midnapore. Mamata Banerjee’s predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the chief minister of West Bengal then.

On June 25, 2014, when the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime came to power, the new Alipurduar district was formed by bifurcating Jalpaiguri district.

Again, on February 14, 2017, the hill district of Kalimpong was formed by bifurcating the Darjeeling district.

On April 4, 2017, the formation of the new Jhargram district was formed by bifurcating the West Midnapore district.

Finally, on April 7, 2017, two districts of West Burdwan and East Burdwan were created by bifurcating the erstwhile undivided Burdwan district.

Commenting on the practical justification of the bifurcation of districts, senior political analyst and former registrar of Calcutta University, Raja Gopal Dhar Chakraborty told IANS that formation of smaller districts through bifurcation of bigger districts is always a welcome move.

“First this will provide a relief to the common people from travelling long distances to reach government offices. Secondly, formation of new districts means creation of new government offices which enhances the scope of fresh employment. However, at the same time, I would also like to say that like the formation of new and smaller districts I also do not find any harm in creation of new and smaller states through bifurcation of bigger states. There might be some sentimental issues involved with the bifurcation of states but creation of smaller states enhances administrative advantage,” Dhar Chakraborty said.

National News

Mumbai Local Train Update: Western Railway Services Disrupted Due To Trespassing Incident Near Mahim; Commuters Allege 30-40 Minutes Delay

Published

on

Mumbai: Suburban Train services on Western line were disrupted for nearly half an hour on Friday after a trespassing incident was reported near Mahim station around 10:35 am.

According to officials, the incident occurred on the Up fast line. Although the case was confined to a single track, its cascading effect slowed operations on adjoining lines as well. The affected train was detained for about 25 minutes, leading to several other services getting stranded along the route.

Railway personnel cleared the track by around 11:00 am, after which services on the Up fast line between Bandra and Mahim were gradually restored.

Western Railway reiterated that trespassing is a punishable offence under Section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989, attracting a fine of up to Rs 1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. In most cases, a minimum fine of Rs 500 is imposed.

Officials have urged commuters to avoid trespassing under any circumstances and to use foot overbridges, lifts, and designated crossing facilities for their safety.

The incident comes just a few days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled a major upgrade for Mumbai’s suburban railway network, announcing that new fully air-conditioned local trains with automatic doors will soon be introduced, without any increase in second-class ticket fares.

Speaking at the IIMUN Youth Connect event, Fadnavis said Mumbai’s local trains, which carry nearly 90 lakh passengers every day, remain the city’s lifeline. He acknowledged ongoing concerns around overcrowding and safety, stating that the upcoming fleet aims to provide a safer, more comfortable travel experience.

According to the Chief Minister, the railways will procure 268 new AC local trains that will gradually replace older, doorless rakes. The upgraded trains will resemble metro systems in design and functionality, with modern interiors and automated doors to minimise the risk of commuters falling from moving trains.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of heightened public concern after a fatal incident in Mumbra, where several passengers fell from an overcrowded non-AC coach. Fadnavis said the introduction of automatic doors is part of a broader push toward enhanced safety, adding that even new non-AC local trains are being designed with self-closing doors.

Continue Reading

International News

India on high alert as Imran Khan rumours push Pakistan towards chaos: ISI eyes major diversionary strike

Published

on

New Delhi, Nov 28: Indian Intelligence agencies have alerted the security forces to remain in a state of very high alert in the wake of the developments unfolding in Pakistan. Trouble is brewing in Pakistan in the wake of rumours relating to the death of former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.

Huge crowds are mobilising outside the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is lodged. Thousands of PTI supporters have gathered outside the jail demanding that they meet with their leader.

The Pakistan Army, however has refused permission for a meeting with Khan, while also dismissing rumours about his death.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that rumours relating to the death of Khan began to circulate three days back. Since then there has been a massive build up of his supporters. If the Army does not provide proof that Khan’s supporters have been seeking, then violence is bound to engulf Pakistan.

An official said that violence is imminent in Pakistan given the current situation. For India, the spillover is the concern and trouble in the neighbourhood is never a good sign for national security.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI is already planning a series of major attacks in India, so that attention is diverted. Khan remains a very popular figure in Pakistan and if news about his death is true, then the country would witness violence of a very unprecedented nature.

It would be beyond the control of the security forces in Pakistan to control the people and eventually the country could face a civil war like situation. The Army wants to keep Imran Khan down and all issues relating to him under wraps.

However, it may not be able to sustain this for long as the people are getting anxious and are seeking answers. The ratings of the establishment in Pakistan, especially with Field Marshal Asim Munir at the helm has hit an all time low.

An official said that the people are being stopped by force and the Army does realise that a majority of the population wants the current dispensation out.

Pakistan watchers say that the people are particularly upset that the Army engineered a coup to take Khan out of power and install a dummy government under Shehbaz Sharif. There is no respect for a democratically-elected process and the people have being voicing their disgruntlement against this, experts add.

Indian officials say that the rumours relating to Khan’s death was something that the establishment did not expect. This has put the Army on the back foot. If one looks at the build up of supporters, it is massive and the Army would not be able to contain them by using force.

Officials say that the Pakistan Army would look to buy time so that it would be able to handle the situation. In order to buy time, the Army and ISI would plot attacks in India so that this would act as a diversion for sometime.

The chatter that has been picked up suggests a sense of urgency to carry out a spectacular strike in India. The ISI is not planning some small attack. It wants one on the scale of a Mumbai 26/11 or Pulwama so that the attention and focus of the Pakistan people is completely diverted, another official said.

Intelligence agencies have alerted security officials to keep a watch particularly on the eastern border. There is a lot of ISI related activity that is on in Bangladesh. Several modules have come up in collaboration between the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islami (HuJI) with the sole intention of carrying out attacks in India.

Pakistan is also planning to fly in Hafiz Saeed to Bangladesh so that he could give the members of this module a pep talks. Officials say that Saeed is always roped in to give the terrorists of his modules a pep talk just before a major attack is launched.

This was found to be the case prior to the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. Officials say that given the current situation in Pakistan, the ISI is desperate to create a diversion.

With the borders with Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab becoming harder to operate, the focus is on the modules of Bangladesh to carry out a major attack in India, officials add. Officials also add that such a diversion would give the Pakistan Army time to handle the situation relating to Imran Khan, which in turn would calm the people.

Continue Reading

Crime

Land fraud case: J&K Crime Branch files chargesheet, two accused sent to judicial custody

Published

on

Srinagar, Nov 28: The Economic Offences Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch Kashmir said on Friday that it has filed a chargesheet against the accused in the court of law, as two accused have been sent to judicial custody.

A statement issued by the Crime Branch Kashmir said, “The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced a chargesheet before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Anantnag, against Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat, resident of Babapora Qazigund, Tehsil Devsar, District Kulgam, and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, resident of Khandipahari, Harnag, Anantnag.

“The case originated from a complaint alleging that Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, then serving as Patwari Halqa Khandipahari Anantnag, entered into a criminal conspiracy with the complainant’s brothers to fraudulently mutate land falling under Khewat Nos. 05 and 07 at Khandipahari Harnag.

“This was done despite the land being under litigation and a status quo order issued by the Hon’ble Court, which was duly reflected in revenue records,” it said.

Investigations revealed that the Patwari concealed material facts, facilitated the sale of a portion of the disputed land and prepared fraudulent mutations.

Accused Mohammad Yousuf Dar was also found to have procured a fake and forged gift deed purportedly executed by his mother.

“The alleged witnesses to the deed denied any involvement. The complainant further stated that the Patwari demanded money for providing revenue extracts and that no departmental action was taken despite approaching senior revenue authorities,” it said.

Upon enquiry, the allegations were found prima facie substantiated, leading to the registration of FIR No. 45/2015 under sections 420, 468, 471, 120-B RPC, and 5(2) PC Act at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir.

After a thorough investigation, the chargesheet has now been filed for judicial determination.

During the course of proceedings, the court has remanded the accused Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat and Mohammad Yousuf Dar to the judicial lock-up.

“The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir remains committed to bringing fraudsters and economic offenders to justice and urges the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent activities,” the statement added.

Continue Reading

Trending