1. Kashmiri Trader Saved By Nadia Cops
A 27-year-old Kashmiri shawl trader, identified by the police as Jawed Ahmed Khan, was abused, assaulted and forced to chant “Vande Mataram” on Monday evening, 18 February, in Nadia’s Taherpur, prompting police to rescue him and put him up in an undisclosed safe-house in Krishnanagar. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident and several others have been detained for questioning.
The now-viral video of the shawl trader bleeding from his mouth and nose, and cowering in fear prompted Former Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah to speak to Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national Spokesperson Derek O’Brien. Abdullah later took to Twitter to say “culprits have been identified and strongest possible action has been assured,” and thanked the chief minister for the swift response.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Child With Special Needs Drowns In School Pool On Sports Day
A four-year-old child with special needs drowned on Wednesday, 20 February, in a pool at a school run by the Army’s Eastern Command on the premises of the Command Hospital in Alipore. The parents of Sambuddha Ghosh have alleged negligence, questioning how the child gained access to the pool, used to provide hydrotherapy.
The Asha School has been running since 1 July 11991 under the patronage of the regional president, Army Wives Welfare Association, Eastern Command. It is primarily meant for children of defence personnel (both combatants and civilians) with special needs. According to a senior officer, this is the first time such an incident has been reported from the school.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. JU VC ‘Broken’ After Assault By Students But Won’t Name Anyone
Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das is “physically and mentally broken” after an alleged assault by some students when he intervened in a scuffle between two groups on Tuesday, 19 February, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said after visiting him in hospital.
Chatterjee had apparently urged Das to identify the students who had attacked him but the vice-chancellor refused to do so, saying he was a “Gandhian”.
The alleged assault happened just as Das was getting into his car after attending a meeting of the executive council, where it was decided that JU would wait for the state government’s signal before announcing elections to the student unions.
(Source: The Telegraph)
4. Former Visva Bharati VC Held Guilty Of Fraud
A Bolpur court on Wednesday, 20 February, held a former Visva Bharati vice-chancellor, an ex-registrar and a former maths lecturer guilty of endorsing the teacher’s forged degrees and allowing her to continue in the job for five years.
Former VC Dilip Sinha, ex-registrar Dilip Mukherjee and teacher Mukti Deb, convicted of forgery and criminal conspiracy, were sent to jail by the additional chief judicial magistrate ahead of the sentencing on Thursday, 21 February.
Although the maximum punishment for the crimes committed by the trio could extend to lifetime imprisonment, Phiroj Pal, the assistant public prosecutor, said they could get a jail term of up to seven years.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Youth Swept Away by High Tide, Woman Missing
A 32-year-old man died and a 62-year-old woman is missing after being swept away by the high tide near the Nimtala burning ghat around 10.45pm on Tuesday, 19 February. Seven others who were also swept away had a lucky escape: they were rescued by locals, who jumped in hearing their screams, and are now in hospital.
The deceased has been identified as Prasenjit Majumdar, a resident of Nivedita Lane in Shyampukur. The missing woman has been identified as Mitali Chowdhury, a resident of New Town’s Narkelbagan.
According to police, the nine people had accompanied others to the Nimtala crematorium around 9.30 pm. “They are all relatives, who live in different places of the city and even Nadia. They had come to cremate Meera Kundu, 75, a resident of Narkelbagan in New Town,” said an investigating officer from North Port PS.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. More Than 5% Kolkatans Morbidly Obese: Experts
More than 5% of the city’s overweight population suffer from morbid obesity making them three times more prone to cardiovascular ailments that could result in a sudden and early death, say experts.
Diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high triglyceride are triggered by morbid obesity, eventually leading to a fatal heart attack, they pointed out. The death of singer Pratik Chowdhury, who passed away after a cardiac arrest on Tuesday, 19 February, is an example of how morbid obesity could lead to an unexpected death, they said.
(Source: The Times of India)
7. No Paper Leak, But Accidents, Suicide Mar Madhyamik End
Wednesday (20 February) was the last day of Madhyamik 2019 — and the first day this year when there was no allegation of a paper leak. Question papers were allegedly leaked on each of the last six exam days.
But several other incidents marred the last day of the board exam. An examinee died and three were injured in an accident while they returning home after the exam in Kharagpur. The vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a truck.
In West Burdwan, an examinee allegedly ended her life just before the exam. The student, who was found hanging from a tree near her house at Khottadihi, left behind a suicide note that said no one was responsible for her death.
(Source: The Times of India)
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