1. Jadavpur University Reverses Decision, Says No Entrance Exam for Six Subjects; Protests on Campus
Protests erupted in Jadavpur University on Wednesday after officials decided to do away with entrance exams for six Humanities subjects. In doing so, the varsity reversed a previous decision in which it agreed to conduct the exams as planned after its vice-chancellor was gheraoed by students.
The announcement was made a day after the government decided to do away with entrance exams for all state-run varsities, following allegations of ruling party student wing workers demanding cash for admissions.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Rotten Meat Racket: West Bengal Government Initiates Suo Motu Case Against 36 Outlets
The state consumer affairs department has initiated a suo motu case against 36 outlets in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas for supplying rotten meat.
The move comes two months after the racket first came to light in April, when residents of Budge Budge had stopped a taxi carrying dead animals from a dump yard, leading to two arrests.
“On the basis of a police report, we have initiated a suo motu case against 36 outlets. Police will continue with their probe, but the cases in consumer court will be resolved faster and if the charges are proved, fines will be imposed on them. The fines will be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund,” said State Minister for Consumer Affairs Sadhan Pande.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. ‘He Used Fake Entry Passes to Win Trust’: Man Held for ‘Offering Jobs at Airport’, Duping People
The Bidhannagar Police on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly swindling people on the pretext of providing jobs at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Police sources said Prosenjit Paul of Dum Dum would also issue fake entry passes to the airport to win the confidence of his victims.
“Yesterday, at 8:15 pm, one Bapan Naskar of Panchuria in Rajarhat came to the police station and submitted a written complaint against one Prosenjit Paul,” said DC (headquarters) Amit Javalgi.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Axed: Trinamool Student Chief
Jaya Dutta, handpicked by chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2016 to lead the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad, was removed as president on Wednesday amid murmurs that the decision was influenced by allegations of meddling and malpractice by student unions in college admissions.
A replacement for Jaya will be named in around 10 days, a party functionary said. "Till then, the chief minister herself will oversee the party's student wing."
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. ‘Rs 20,000 for College Seat’: Police Arrest ABVP Member, Accomplice
Chandannagar Police on Wednesday arrested two persons, including an ABVP member, for allegedly demanding money in exchange for ensuring admission in a college under Calcutta University.
Sources said the accused had allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 from two candidates in exchange for BCom Honours seats in Uttarpara’s Raja Peary Mohan College. The development comes a day after four Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) units were dissolved over reports of student leaders extorting money in exchange for admission.
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. Durga Puja to Be Showcased in the Thames River Festival: Mamata
West Bengal government will showcase Durga Puja festival in the Thames River Festival in the UK this year and sign an MoU with the British Council to promote cultural, educational and skill development exchanges between Britain and the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today.
The MoU will be signed on Friday here, in which both she and the Director of British Council will be present.
"We will be showcasing Bengal's Durga puja festival in the UK by organising cultural programmes on Thames river from 13 August to 18 September as part of the cultural exchange programme," she said.
(Source: PTI)
7. Wall Crumbles Under Tile Weight, Kills Teen
A Class VIII boy cycling to school with his younger brother was killed on Wednesday when a boundary wall against which scores of marble tiles had been stacked collapsed on them at Hatiara on the fringe of New Town.
Sayan Roy, 14, was dead by the time he was found under the rubble of bricks and marble along a narrow road. His brother Ayan, 6, is at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with multiple injuries.
(Source: The Telegraph)
8. Mercury Dip After Rain
The mercury slipped seven notches as a thundercloud brought a quick shower to Calcutta on Wednesday afternoon after a sunny start to the day. More rainfall is expected over the next few days.
The temperature read 32 degrees Celsius at the Alipore Met office at 4 pm on Monday. Just 45 minutes and 7mm of rain later, the temperature was down to 25 degrees Celsius.
Wednesday's rainfall was caused by what meteorlogists described as a "squall line" of thunderclouds that had formed over the western districts of Bengal before drifting towards the southeast, more a summer phenomenon.
(Source: The Telegraph)
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