TMC team leaves for Tripura after alleged BJP vandalism at party office
A five-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation, led by senior Lok Sabha member Pratima Mondal, left for Tripura today to assess the situation following allegations that BJP activists vandalised the party’s office in Agartala. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a post on social media accused the BJP of resorting to violence in states where it is in power. “Unable to defeat us at the ballot box in Bengal, the BJP has unleashed its full machinery to provoke violence in states under its control,” Banerjee said. He alleged that BJP workers attacked and ransacked the TMC party office in Tripura “under the watchful eyes of the Tripura Police,” calling it evidence of a “vindictive and lawless mindset.” Banerjee, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said the incident was not isolated, recalling earlier attacks on TMC leaders and workers in the state. “In 2021, my convoy in Tripura was vandalised by BJP-hired goons. They speak of upholding democracy, yet their actions blatantly violate its very principles,” he said. Following the alleged attack, the TMC delegation left for Tripura to review the situation on the ground, express solidarity with party workers, and officially raise the issue with the state administration. “Intimidation, violence, and vendettas will never silence us. Democracy, law, and the people’s mandate will always prevail over BJP’s brute politics,” Banerjee asserted. The delegation includes Pratima Mondal, Saayoni Ghosh (MP), Birbaha Hansda (minister), and party spokespersons Kunal Ghosh and Sudip Raha. Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev is expected to join the team in Agartala.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju visits landslides-hit Mirik region
After visiting landslides-battered Mirik region in Darjeeling and talking to the affected people and the rescue teams, union minister Kiren Rijiju today lauded the paramilitary forces of Sasastra Seema Bal (SSB) and National Disaster Response Force for their rescue and evacuation efforts. The Minister, along with leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista visited the landslides-affected areas of Mirik yesterday afternoon and talked to the people and authorities to assess the ground reality. “While taking stock of flood damages in Darjeeling, I met SSB personnel at Khaprail Camp and at Mirik Alay Ground. The rescue and relief efforts by SSB and NDRF are commendable,” Rijiju, who visited the area as an emissary of Prime Minister Narandra Modi, said in a post today. “On ground at Soureni Toklang Dhar, Mirik, Darjeeling district, inspecting flood-hit areas and meeting families facing the aftermath. The courage and resilience of the people shine even in adversity,” he added. The union minister said that he reviewed relief measures and assured continued support for every affected family. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in an appeal urged everyone to come together with compassion and humanity to rebuild the shattered north Bengal. “Let us stand united to support the people of North Bengal in rebuilding their lives. Your prayers, contributions, and support can make a difference,” the Nandigram MLA said on X. Adhikari’s visit included, among others, the flood-ravaged areas around Mirik, including Dudhia, along with the Kiren Rijiju and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista. “The devastation is widespread; families have lost their loved ones, homes, livestock, and livelihoods. The pain and struggle of our brothers and sisters in these areas are unimaginable, yet their resilience inspires us all,” Adhikari continued. He also visited the relief camps, talked to the people to know their plight and assured them that they would surely be taken care of after the matters are communicated to the Prime Minister.
North Bengal situation improves, but political storm continues
The flood and landslide-hit hills, Terai, and Dooars regions of North Bengal saw further stabilization in the past 24 hours with no casualties reported. Officials said the absence of fresh rainfall has helped accelerate relief, rescue, and restoration work, preventing the situation from worsening. In Darjeeling district, the worst affected by the disaster, repair work on several damaged roads has been completed. However, the main connecting route between the hills and the plains remains out of service. “Alternative routes such as Tindharia Road and Pankhabari Road are being used to bring down stranded tourists from the hills. Most of them have already reached Siliguri safely,” said a district administration official. Weather officials have predicted no heavy rain across North Bengal in the next 24 hours, although light to medium showers are expected in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts today, for which a yellow alert has been issued. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who spent the last two days touring affected areas and overseeing relief operations, is scheduled to return to Kolkata this afternoon. She is likely to share further updates on administrative measures after reaching the state capital. Her visit, however, has not been free from political controversy. The Chief Minister stopped by a Siliguri hospital where BJP MP Khagen Murmu is undergoing treatment after he and the party’s chief whip in the Assembly, Shankar Ghosh, were allegedly attacked in Bamandanga, Jalpaiguri, while distributing relief materials yesterday evening. While Murmu met the Chief Minister briefly, Ghosh reportedly declined to meet her. “I refused to meet me. Khagen da (Khagen Murmu) was not in a position to speak, so she met him. She was there for 2 minutes, and his media team kept clicking photographs. This is nothing but a gallery show,” Ghosh said. The BJP has sharply criticized Banerjee’s move. The party’s IT Cell chief and central observer for Bengal, Amit Malviya, accused her of “cheap publicity,” alleging that the incident of violence was the handiwork of ruling party supporters. “It comes as no surprise that this was yet another crass attempt by the Chief Minister to gain cheap publicity, especially after the violence unleashed by marauding mobs in Bamandanga under Sulkapara, an area long used to settle illegal Bangladeshis,” Malviya wrote on social media. However, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh termed the Chief Minister’s visit as a humanitarian gesture. “This is what we believe in the Trinamool Congress. The BJP is responsible for the people’s anger. But the Trinamool does not support physical attacks as an expression of that anger, it condemns them. We wish Khagen Babu a speedy recovery,” Ghosh said. “At the same time, we ask: ‘have you forgotten the attacks on Trinamool leaders and workers in Tripura by the BJP? And the repeated attacks on Mamata Di during the CPM regime?’ Mamata Di stands for non-violence. The CM believes in the politics of courtesy,” he added. The political blame game has only added to the tension in North Bengal, even as the administration continues its focus on restoring normalcy in the disaster-stricken hills and plains.
Mizoram reports highest Malaria incidence rate in India 6 dead since January Minister
Mizoram currently holds the highest malaria incidence rate in the country and efforts are on to eliminate the mosquito borne disease in the state, state Health Minister Lalrinpuii said on Tuesday. The state reported six deaths due to malaria since January, though the number of cases has declined, she said.Addressing the inaugural programme of a three-day regional review meeting on malaria elimination for GFATM project states here, Lalrinpuii said that four districts – Lawngtlai, Mamit, Lunglei and Siaha – are still in high endemic category and nearly 80 per cent of malaria cases in Mizoram were reported from these districts. GFATM refers to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. At least six people have died due to malaria and 7,321 people contracted the mosquito borne disease between January and September this year, according to the state health department. South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, which shares border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, reported the highest cases at 3,151, followed by Lunglei district (1,788) and Siaha district (1,080), it said. “Massive efforts should be made to eliminate malaria as Mizoram now holds the dubious distinction of being the highest malaria incidence state in the country,” Lalrinpuii said. Although the number of people contracting malaria and death due to the disease in the state has slightly declined this year, it is still very high as compared to other states, which caused a big concern, she said.Altogether 16,899 malaria cases were reported and seven people died due to the disease last year, it said. In 2023, 13 people from 18,005, who contracted malaria, have died, according to the health department data. The minister said that 100 health workers will be recruited to be forerunners in malaria elimination programme.She also called for collective efforts from NGOs and Mizo community to fight the disease.
BJP MLA Manoj Oraon allegedly attacked in Alipurduar in North Bengal
Another tribal MLA from BJP Manoj Kumar Oraon was attacked while distributing relief materials in his Alipurduar constituency in North Bengal, a day after BJP MP Khagen Murmu was badly assaulted in the neighbouring district of Jalpaiguri.The BJP blamed the Trinamool Congress supporters for orchestrating the attacks on Oraon, which was denied by the West Bengal ruling party. According to party sources, Oraon was distributing relief material to flood-affected villagers in his constituency Kumargram when he and his entourage were surrounded and assaulted by a violent mob. The attackers allegedly hurled stones, vandalised vehicles and snatched weapons from security personnel providing protection to the lawmaker representing the Alipurduar constituency. Oraon sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Speaking from the hospital, he claimed, “While trying to help flood-hit people, I was suddenly surrounded and attacked. This is the state of democracy under the TMC.” Oraon was also attacked yesterday while distributing the materials to the flood hit people. The attack on Oraon happened barely 24 hours after BJP MP from Malda Uttar Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh were assaulted by a mob at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Murmu was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Siliguri. “A group of TMC workers attacked me and my supporters when we were distributing relief items among flood-affected villagers in Kumargram,” Oraon alleged.
