National News
‘Sonar Bangla’ turned into ‘Bhay Bangla’ under Mamata rule, says BJP
New Delhi, Jan 17: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that she has transformed ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) into ‘Bhay Bangla’ (Bengal of fear). He also accused her of indulging in what he described as divisive appeasement politics.
He further said that the “TMC stands for ‘Tushtikaran’ (appeasement), Mafia, and Crime by infiltrators”.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Patra said Bengal holds a special place in India’s civilisational and national history; however, he said that it was with “great sadness” that he was compelled to comment on the present situation in the state.
According to him, governance in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee has taken a “troubling turn”. “You may recall, the British attempted to split Bengal as part of their policy of appeasement,” he said.
Patra went on to claim that it would not be politically incorrect to say that Mamata Banerjee is willing to use appeasement politics to divide people. “One is forced to think now, ‘Is Bengal not a part of India?'” he questioned.
The BJP leader said he would present facts and video evidence to highlight what he termed as shocking developments in the state. Referring to the ongoing SIR process, he said it is being conducted systematically across several states and had also taken place in 2003 with discussions in Parliament.
“SIR is also happening in Bengal. How Mamata Banerjee is unconstitutionally trying and resorting to violence to stop the SIR process in Bengal, I will present to you what we have observed,” he said.
Patra alleged that booth-level officers, known as BLOs, are not safe even inside election offices.
“So much pressure is being put on them that they are being pushed towards suicide. The office, including the Block Development Officer and their staff, is being attacked as if it were enemy territory,” he claimed.
Citing a specific incident, Patra said that in Farakka in Murshidabad district, a BLO office was attacked in the presence of Trinamool Congress MLA Manirul Islam.
Quoting the MLA, he said, “Manirul Islam openly said, ‘Yahan Ram se paper nahi maanga jaata, Rahim ka paper hi check kiya jaata hai’.”
“I want to tell Mamata Banerjee that this is not the story of Ram-Rahim but of Rohingyas. She wants to save the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis so that she can win the elections through their votes. However, we want to make it clear that you will never be able to win by dividing India, and India will not sit silent,” Patra added.
He further alleged that even after an FIR was registered in the matter, the name of the Trinamool MLA was not included, raising questions over the functioning of the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
Reiterating the BJP’s slogan ‘Ek hain to safe hain’, Patra said unity was essential to face the present challenges. “If everyone is united, only then can we face this fight together,” he said.
Patra also referred to ongoing violence in Murshidabad, claiming that NH-12 has been blocked and railway services disrupted.
“Is this not part of India? Are people not allowed to travel on NH-12? Trains are being set on fire, and Mamata Banerjee is justifying it, claiming it is the dissatisfaction of minorities,” he alleged.
He added that when Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee is questioned, “he says, ‘If names are cut, protests will happen’.”
The BJP spokesperson also mentioned an alleged attack on a journalist, Soma Maity, in Murshidabad while she was covering protests in Beldanga. He claimed that her cameraman was also beaten up in the presence of the police and called upon media professionals to unite against such incidents.
Referring to the suicide of BLO Ashok Das, Patra alleged that he was under pressure from the Chief Minister and a local leader, Raju Biswas.
“He was told that if any name of the infiltrators is removed, then they will attack his family,” Patra claimed. Ashok Das, a resident of Ahalya Nagar in Mukundapur, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room on Thursday.
“When repeated threats were given, the person, Ashok Das, committed suicide,” Patra said. Recalling a purported audio and phone call, he added, “I was just watching a video and listening to it, a phone call from Ashok Das’s wife, who was crying bitterly to someone, saying, ‘My husband died by hanging from the ceiling fan; he has committed suicide. What should I do now? I’m filing an FIR against the TMC’.”
Patra said the pain in her voice had turned into a democratic resolve. “Mamata Banerjee’s efforts have now led to Bengal, what was once called ‘Sonar Bangla’, being turned into ‘Bhay Bangla’. Politics is spilling blood in Bengal,” he alleged.
Crime
Two apprehended for firing at house in Nand Nagri to create fear

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of North-East District Police worked out a firing incident reported under the jurisdiction of Nand Nagri Police Station by apprehending two accused persons who allegedly fired at a complainant’s house to create fear.
The accused were identified with the help of extensive CCTV footage analysis and technical investigation.
According to police, on September 4, two unidentified persons riding a scooty fired at the complainant’s house in the Nand Nagri area with the intention of creating fear and fled from the spot.
Following the incident, FIR No. 485/26 dated September 4 was registered at Nand Nagri Police Station under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, and an investigation was initiated.
Considering the seriousness of the incident, the AATS team of North-East District was tasked with identifying and apprehending those involved.
A dedicated team led by Inspector Deepak Pandey, In-charge of AATS/NED, analysed numerous CCTV recordings and developed clues through technical investigation and other sources. Sustained efforts and detailed examination of the available evidence helped the team identify the suspects.
On September 12, acting on a specific tip-off, the AATS team conducted a raid in the Sunder Nagri area and apprehended Azim Khan. During interrogation, his associate Imran alias Rahul was also apprehended at his instance. Both accused were subsequently handed over to the local police for further legal proceedings.
Police said Imran alias Rahul, 25, son of Ibrahim and a resident of Bhopra Chowk, Siddqi Building, Uttar Pradesh, was previously involved in two theft cases.
Azim Khan, 36, son of Illiyas and a resident of Gali No. 1, Sunder Nagri, Delhi, has nine previous cases registered against him, involving murder, attempt to murder, culpable homicide, robbery, snatching, rape, kidnapping, theft and offences under the Arms Act. He is a Bad Character of Nand Nagri Police Station.
Further investigation into the case by the police is underway.
Business
India okays 18 hours a day power supply to Nepal till Dec 31

New Delhi, Sep 14: India has approved a proposal to supply power to Nepal for 18 hours a day till December 31 this year, following the extensive damage caused to the Himalayan country’s hydropower projects in the devastating flash floods, an official statement said on Monday.
“The Ministry of Power has accorded approval for the export of power, for 18 hours a day to Nepal Electricity Authority till December 31, 2026,” according to the statement.
Approval has been given for up to 600MW of export through Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV D/c line and up to 54 MW through Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV S/c line. The quantum of power to be exported from January 2027 will be reviewed in December, 2026, the statement said.
The recent floods have caused significant damage to hydropower infrastructure in Nepal, reducing its domestic power generation capacity and creating an additional requirement for electricity.
The approval will help Nepal meet its power requirements during this difficult period and further strengthen the close and longstanding energy cooperation between India and Nepal, the statement explained.
“India remains committed to supporting Nepal and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector,” the statement added.
India also intensified its humanitarian assistance to Nepal in the wake of the floods, delivering relief material and deploying personnel to support search, rescue, and forensic operations. Indian Air Force aircraft were used to carry relief and rescue supplies to Kathmandu.
The country also dispatched specialised technical gear, including mud rescue suits, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, inflatable walkways, portable generators, lighting towers, and dewatering pumps. India has provided DNA kits, reagents, and equipment for DNA profiling to aid in victim identification.
Meanwhile, the death toll from flash floods has risen to 1,386, with more bodies recovered from eight affected districts.
The floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 104 of the recovered bodies have so far been identified and handed over to families. Around 5,130 people are still reported missing.
Security forces continue search and rescue operations. More than 13,700 people have been rescued so far, while 339 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals.
Crime
‘Felt unsafe’: Woman biker alleges car attack after asking occupants to maintain distance in Gurugram

Gurugram, Sep 14: A woman biker in Haryana’s Gurugram has alleged that a car repeatedly followed her before hitting her motorcycle and fleeing the spot, leaving her shaken and raising concerns over road safety in the city.
“I have nothing to say, but today I felt unsafe on Gurugram roads. People like these aren’t afraid of hitting people and running away,” the woman said after the incident.
The rider, who identifies herself as Sia and operates the Instagram page ‘rebelwheels_sia_’, uploaded footage of the incident on social media and described what she said happened before the collision.
According to Sia, the incident occurred on Sunday while she was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike along Golf Course Road with members of her biking group.
In the video, she alleged that the occupants of a car had been following her from the beginning of the ride. She claimed that the people inside the vehicle behaved aggressively and attempted to get close to her motorcycle.
Sia said she asked the occupants to maintain a safe distance, but instead, they allegedly asked her to stop. She also claimed that the men appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
The rider said she continued moving ahead in an attempt to prevent the car from cutting her off. A friend riding behind her also tried to intervene by positioning his motorcycle in a way that prevented the car from repeatedly coming alongside her.
Despite this, Sia alleged, the car continued following her. She claimed that at one point, the driver attempted to cut across the path of her motorcycle, resulting in a collision.
The impact knocked Sia off her bike, while her motorcycle was dragged several metres along the road. The car then reportedly left the area.
The incident was captured on an action camera fitted to Sia’s motorcycle.
She further alleged that one of her friends pursued the car and attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle eventually halted at a traffic signal, where the friend confronted the driver and allegedly told him that he was responsible for the collision.
However, according to Sia, the driver denied causing the accident and subsequently drove away from the traffic signal.
In a social media post, Sia appealed to the Gurugram Police to take action against motorists who allegedly put other road users at risk and flee after causing accidents.
She also shared the vehicle’s registration number and identified the registered owner mentioned in the vehicle’s registration certificate.
The video subsequently gained significant attention online, with social media users expressing support for the rider and calling for action against the alleged driver. Several users tagged the Delhi Police, Gurugram Police, Gurugram Traffic Police and Haryana Police, urging authorities to investigate the incident.
Some users also called for an FIR to be registered, while others highlighted concerns over rash driving and the safety of motorists, particularly on busy roads in Gurugram.
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