1. Bus Operators’ Protest Falls Flat On Day 1
A group of private bus operators' decision to stay off the roads for some hours on Monday had little impact on people in the city.
The government had kept a fleet of additional buses ready in case the need arose, an official in Nabanna said.
But there was no such need because the shortfall "wasn't big enough", the official said.
While most private buses plied across the city, people had to wait a little longer in some places at night, particularly on some stretches on the Bypass, and in Behala and Baruipur.
(Source: The Telegraph)
2. Salt Lake Cafe Gets Armed Visitors In Morning Rush Hour
Four men reportedly barged into a popular cafeteria chain at AD Block in Salt Lake, held the sole employee present in the shop at gunpoint, tied him up with his apron, gagged him and decamped with Rs 15,000 — the entire amount left in the cash dispenser. This brazen loot was carried out in 15 minutes flat, around 10.30am on Monday, 20 October, the shop being located in a three-storey house stone’s throw from First Avenue, which was bustling with office-goers and residents in the morning peak hour.
The store manager, Sanjay Singh, confirmed no customer was around and no employee, other than the one targeted, was present at the time of the robbery.
(Source: The Times Of India)
3. Max, Minimum Temp Gap Closes In Kolkata Under Cloud Cover
The city remained shrouded in a cloud cover on Monday, 29 October, even as occasional drizzles drenched Kolkata. Caused by a cyclonic circulation over west central Bay of Bengal, the rain may get heavier on Tuesday, 30 October, and continue till a day after. The cloud cover brought the mercury down, bringing the difference between maximum and minimum temperature for the day to just 3.5 degrees Celsius.
But the feel of an early winter chill, was merely temporary, the Met office said, adding that the maximum temperature might rise again from Wednesday, 31 October.
Kolkata received 1mm rain and recorded a maximum temperature of 26.9 degrees Celsius on Monday, four notches below normal. The minimum figure was not much lower, at 23.4 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal.
(Source: The Times Of India)
4. Vivekananda Park May Be New Venue For Bazi Bazar
Prominent firecracker traders in the city can finally heave a sigh of relief. After a day spent waiting for the final nod from Kolkata Police on where to hold the biggest cracker mart ahead of Kali Puja-Diwali, the evening brought in some good news. Although a formal announcement is likely to be made on Tuesday, 30 October, Vivekananda Park off Southern Avenue might be the new spot for the fireworks market.
“There was consensus on the use of Vivekananda Park as a likely alternative. We have been given the go ahead by the police and the necessary fees for the same have been paid,” said Chittaranjan Maity, secretary of Burrabazar Fireworks Dealers’ Association, which organised the fair at Maidan. The four other smaller firecracker fairs will go ahead according to the original schedule at the Kalikapur Aguan Sangha grounds, Bijoygarh Bharat Mata grounds, Behala Blind School ground and Tallah Park.
(Source: The Times Of India)
5. Curb On Sky Lanterns Around Airport
Acting on a written complaint by the Kolkata airport authorities, the Bidhannagar Commissionerate has banned lighting and release of sky lanterns in an approximate 8km area around the airport. Officials had apprehended a serious accident because of the rising number of sky lanterns over the airport during Kali Puja-Diwali over the past few years.
The ban that is to be implemented from Tuesday, 30 October, will be in effect till December 29 and covers areas under Baguiati, airport, NSCBI airport and Narayanpur police station jurisdictions.
The order came into effect after the airport authorities wrote to the cops last year after pilots complained of the presence of sky lanterns during Diwali and Kali Puja, fearing one of them could get sucked into the engine of an aircraft, leading to a major accident.
(Source: The Times Of India)
6. Youths In A Car Assault Cops, Held
Jadavpur Police on Sunday, 28 October, arrested four youngsters, including two women, for assaulting cops and trying to disrobe them after a ruckus at Golf Green Central Park. An Alipore court on Sunday granted bail to the accused. Police had slapped non-bailable charges on them.
A Trinamool Congress MLA’s son who reached the spot in her car threatened to aggravate the situation. However, both police and locals later said the MLA’s son wasn’t involved in the case. The MLA, too, said the same.
Among those arrested was a footballer who plays in a junior team of a prominent club and the deputy manager of a private bank.
(Source: The Times Of India)
7. Fewer Seats At La Martiniere
The La Martiniere schools are looking to reduce their intake of students at the entry level and make classrooms more inclusive as part of a promised policy revision focused on bringing “transparency” to the admission process.
“We have to discuss this with the principals and have students in a class exactly in accordance with the norm…. Ideally, there should not be more than 45 in each classroom,” said Probal Kanto Dutta, the bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India that runs the two schools.
There have been allegations about classrooms at the La Martiniere schools getting more crowded as a result of increased Lower Nursery intake almost every year. “We need to bring that down,” a church official said.
(Source: The Telegraph)
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