Howrah-Hooghly Warriors FC sets its eyes on playing in the CFL and then in the elite I-League
Sudeep Pakrashi: Howrah-Hooghly Warriors FC, one of the debutants in the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL), are unlikely to be content satisfied only through participating in the BSL. Rather, the franchise team have set eyes on playing in the IFA-organised CFL and also a qualification for the elite I-League within the next couple of years! Deep Dey, the General Manager of the club, when asked about their plans for the future, revealed, “Our vision is to earn qualification for the elite I-League within the next four to five years, starting from the I-League Third Division. Not only that, our aim will be to build-up a team for the I-League consisting of 90 per cent footballers from the Howrah-Hooghly area.” Simultaneously, he divulged, “Initiatives have been taken to get affiliation from the IFA as well as Howrah DSA to field our team in the CFL First Division. We will also get affiliation from the Howrah DSA so that our boys can play in the district competitions.” The franchise, which has roped in Jose Ramirez Bareto as the team’s chief coach, is also in the process of finding land in the Hooghly area to build a residential football school in future. “Our project will have a non-residential coaching program also initially unless the needed infrastructure for the residential project gets developed.” The team, which has already registered 25 footballers, is likely to rope in two more foreigners, out of whom one is expected to come from Brazil, and the other foreign footballer who participated in the Kerala Super League. The team have been training under Barreto and assistant coaches Suman Dutta and Sanjay Palandar for the past month. The franchise has signed Brazilian Paulo Cezar as its first foreign player. Howrah-Hooghly Warriors will start their campaign, playing a home match at Howrah Shailen Manna stadium against FC Medinipur on 16th December.
Sundarban Bengal Auto FC: Unavailability of ground causes delay in preparation: Local talents impress Mehtab and Asim
MD Nijam Uddin Laskar is a successful businessman based in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. Out of passion for football, Laskar used to make investments in building up teams for the ‘masala matches’ which used to be played around the districts. The 40-year-old businessman expresses his gratitude to former India international Mehtab Hossain for insisting on his joining the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL) as one of the franchise owners. So, Nizam Uddin and a couple of his friends initiated the foundation of a private limited company, Bengal Sports & Entertainment. Under the company’s banner, Sundarban Bengal Auto FC has been formed. The franchise has already registered 33 footballers. Among them, four foreigners will be recruited. One Ghanaian defender, Solomon, has already joined the team. Negotiations are on with two Brazilian and a Senegalese footballer. But Nizam revealed, “We were late in the team-building process. That is why we were getting a proper training ground, and we were even in a dilemma about selecting our home match in the BSL. We got a training ground finally near Baruipur, but that was a nine-sided ground and not up to the mark.” Chief coach Mehtab Hossain also had the same opinion as he commented, “We do not have a proper ground for training. Initiatives are underway to conduct a one-week preparatory camp on a better ground around in Kolkata before the League.” Still, he made noticeable appreciations for the local talents, already roped in for the franchise. “Around 10 local footballers have been recruited. I observed them for only a couple of days. But they are very promising. Especially, there is one boy named Sahil. He looked highly talented considering the basics of the game. If these boys are provided proper directions and are nurtured mentally, then they will grow a lot.” Return of another former India international, Asim Biswas, to the team as a mentor is also a significant incident. The 45-year-old striker, once called one of the most gifted footballers of Bengal, also had praise for the local talents, who joined the franchise. “The boys need to be nurtured properly, especially in the mental part. They look strong in the basics of the game, and it should be our advantage,” commented Asim. When asked about the team’s performance in the opening year, both Mehtab and Asim expressed the same motive, commenting, “Our aim will be to produce quality football. We cannot expect results from the boys in the opening season after short-term preparation.” Sundarban Auto Bengal FC will play their home match at Caning Stadium, which has a capacity of around 10 thousand spectators. Nizam also revealed that they have plans to develop memberships for the club through branding. “The investment in total will go nearly Rs 2.5 Crores. So, our aim is to earn sponsorships also through branding so that we can also make profits in the second season of the League,” added Nizam.
Bihar polls: Elaborate security measures in place for counting of votes on Nov 14
Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Friday’s counting of votes polled in the Bihar assembly elections, across 46 centres in 38 districts of the state, officials said. Schools in Patna will remain closed on Friday in view of the counting exercise, they said. Bihar had registered a historic voter turnout of 67.13 per cent in the elections to the 243-member assembly in two phases on November 6 and November 11. A total of 7.45 crore voters were eligible to decide the electoral fate of 2,616 candidates. “Counting arrangements have been made in all the 243 assembly constituencies. The exercise will be conducted by 243 Returning Officers in the presence of 243 Counting Observers and the candidates or their agents. “A total of 4,372 counting tables, each staffed with one supervisor, counting assistant and micro-observer have been set up. More than 18,000 Counting Agents appointed by the nominees will also oversee the process,” the Election Commission said in a statement. Counting of votes will commence at 8 am on Friday. “As per the Commission’s directions, postal ballot counting will begin first, and counting of EVMs will start at 8.30 am,” it said. “Adequate number of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and personnel of the Bihar Police have been deployed across the state to ensure smooth counting, and prevent any untoward incident,” a senior officer said. He said 106 companies of security personnel from outside the state have also been deployed. A poll official said EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections have been sealed inside strong rooms under a double-lock system. “A two-tier security has been ensured at the counting centres. While the inner tier has been assigned to the CAPF, state police have been deployed at the outer rung. Besides, 24/7 CCTV surveillance and other security provisions are in place,” he added.
Digital dallying and the 15-second heist: how illegal bots are eating into India’s train reservations
Kolkata — As millions plan end-of-year journeys, a sophisticated underworld of illegal booking software is quietly cornering confirmed rail tickets — often within 15 seconds of the reservation window opening — leaving genuine travellers stranded on long waiting lists.Railway Protection Force (RPF) sources say outlawed programmes with names such as “Brahmas”, “Tesla” and “Doctor Doom” are being deployed by organised operators who create and run multiple IRCTC accounts simultaneously. The software automates the pre-filled passenger details — frequently harvested a day earlier — and auto-submits bookings the moment the online window opens, converting what would be a protracted, manual process into an almost instantaneous confirmation.“The software effectively beats any human at the starting gun,” an RPF official said. “By the time a regular passenger completes the form, the confirmed quota is gone.” The result, passengers complain, is predictable: a rash of e-tickets showing waiting lists a minute or two after sales commence.The monetary incentive is stark. Officials estimate that confirmed tickets fetched through these channels are routinely sold at two to two-and-a-half times their face value. A sleeper ticket costing around ₹800 is reportedly being hawked for nearly ₹2,000; AC fares, especially for higher tiers, attract even steeper premiums. Netizens claim “Doctor Doom” alone has some 50,000 users; insiders say the illicit programmes are leased on a monthly-rental model for as little as ₹2,000–₹2,500, enabling small operators to reap disproportionately large profits.Rail authorities have not been idle. The Railway Ministry has launched measures to curtail the trade, and the RPF has carried out nation-wide drives that have resulted in multiple arrests. Yet officials concede the impact has been limited: new workarounds and the ease of obtaining cloned accounts mean the illegal trade persists.Passengers voice mounting frustration. “I sat with my laptop and mobile for 60 days before Diwali, ready at 8am when the window opened,” said one commuter. “By the time I could fill in the details, the tickets were gone, or worse — I ended up on the waiting list after payment.”Experts warn that unless booking platforms and enforcement agencies coordinate tougher technical safeguards and expand prosecutions, the so-called digital brokerage will continue to thrive — turning India’s public reservation system into fertile ground for an expanding black market just as travel demand peaks for the winter season.
Man arrested with gold biscuits worth Rs 88 lakh near Bangladesh border
A person was arrested with gold biscuits worth Rs 88.34 lakh near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, the BSF said on Wednesday. Vigil was stepped up at the Hakimpur check post in the Tarali-1 border outpost area on Tuesday on the basis of inputs that gold smuggling could be attempted, it said. The suspect, disguised as a farmer, was intercepted when he was heading towards Swarupdah from Hakimpur Market. A packet wrapped in brown tape was found concealed in a knot of his dress, it added.
Exit polls hint at Nitish-Modi comeback in Bihar, but Falodi betting market predicts neck-and-neck race
As the dust settles after polling in Bihar, most exit polls have projected a return of the Nitish Kumar–Narendra Modi-led NDA government, suggesting the alliance could secure close to 150 seats in the 243-member Assembly. However, opposition parties have dismissed these findings outright, insisting that the results on counting day could spring a surprise.Beyond the exit polls, political circles are closely watching another unconventional barometer of electoral mood — the Falodi betting market of Rajasthan, considered the most influential among India’s underground “satta bazaars.” Located in a small town near Jodhpur, the Falodi market has a long history of making strikingly accurate predictions, from state elections to sports outcomes, though it operates illegally.While most television polls have given the NDA a clear edge, the Falodi market tells a different story — one of a photo-finish contest. According to the betting trends, the NDA is projected to win between 105 and 135 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), could secure between 97 and 127 seats.The Falodi market also predicts a poor performance for Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, likely to win only 0–1 seat, while the RJD may emerge as the single-largest party with more than 75 seats, ahead of the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United). The Congress, a junior partner in the Mahagathbandhan, is expected to fare the weakest among the alliance constituents.Interestingly, despite the tight race, bookmakers still assign a 60 per cent probability to Nitish Kumar returning as Chief Minister, compared to 40 per cent for Tejashwi Yadav.Adding to the mixed signals, the Axis My India exit poll — one of the country’s most reputed survey agencies — has forecast a closer-than-expected battle in Bihar, differing slightly from other pollsters that have projected a decisive NDA victory.According to the Axis My India survey, the NDA could win 121–141 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan may bag 98–118 seats. The Jan Suraaj Party is expected to win 0–2 seats, while Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM may secure up to two seats. Other smaller parties could win between one and five seats.The vote-share projections, too, underline the razor-thin contest: the NDA is estimated to receive 43 per cent of the vote, compared with 41 per cent for the Mahagathbandhan.While opinion polls and betting trends both hint at a tight race, political observers caution that Bihar’s volatile electoral arithmetic — shaped by caste coalitions and last-minute swings — often defies forecasts. The final verdict, they say, will depend not on projections but on the “silent voter” who remains the decisive force in Bihar’s politics.
Murshidabad link surfaces in Delhi Red Fort blast; NIA team raids multiple locations in Bengal
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted extensive searches in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district in connection with Monday evening’s car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, which has been classified as a major national security incident.Within 48 hours of the blast, an NIA investigation team arrived in Bengal after a phone number traced from one of the arrested suspects in Delhi led them to a man in Murshidabad’s Nim village under Nabagram police station. The number, sources said, belonged to Moinul Hasan, a migrant worker who has previously travelled to Delhi and Mumbai for work.According to investigators, Moinul is believed to have come in contact with suspected members of a terror module during his stay outside Bengal. Acting on the intelligence input, seven NIA officers, assisted by local police, carried out an early morning raid at his residence. He was interrogated for several hours and his mobile devices and documents were seized for forensic examination.Officials said that the operation was not confined to Nim village alone. Raids were also conducted in other pockets of Murshidabad district, where several names have surfaced during questioning. “Some leads point to possible local support networks,” an official involved in the search said, without revealing further details.The NIA’s move comes amid widening investigations into the Red Fort blast, in which 15 people have so far been detained. Investigators are also probing the role of four doctors, suspected to be key operatives of a so-called ‘white-collar terror module’ based in Faridabad, Haryana.According to preliminary findings, the group was planning coordinated attacks in major Indian cities, and had been stockpiling explosives for months. The Delhi blast, investigators believe, may have occurred prematurely due to mishandling or haste, averting a larger catastrophe.Murshidabad’s emergence in the investigation has raised concerns, as the district has earlier figured in terror-related probes. In February this year, several members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) — an extremist outfit with cross-border links — were arrested from the area. Subsequent raids across Assam and other states had led to the recovery of arms and documents indicating a wider network.Security agencies are now examining whether the Murshidabad connection to the Delhi blast is an isolated communication link or part of a larger recruitment and logistics chain operating through migrant networks.Investigations are continuing, and NIA sources indicated that more arrests could follow in the coming days as digital forensics and call records are analyzed.
Former Trinamul MLA Amal Acharya returns to Congress ahead of Assembly polls
In yet another political homecoming ahead of the Assembly elections, former Trinamul Congress MLA and BJP leader Amal Acharya rejoined the Congress on Wednesday. The induction took place at the state party headquarters, Bidhan Bhavan, in the presence of AICC observer Ghulam Ahmad Mir and WBPCC president Shubhankar Sarkar.Acharya, who once served as the North Dinajpur district president of the Trinamul Congress, was accompanied by around seven former panchayat samiti office-bearers who also joined the Congress. Party leaders claimed that Acharya’s return would strengthen the organisation in North Bengal and inspire more disgruntled leaders to come back to the fold.Speaking after rejoining, Acharya expressed both nostalgia and disillusionment over his political journey. “I joined Trinamul at the call of Mamata Banerjee and worked hard to build the organisation in my district. I was elected MLA twice. But in 2021, I was denied a ticket — I had expected at least a word of consolation, which never came,” he said.Acharya, however, dismissed suggestions that his return was merely an outcome of being denied candidature. “It’s not about getting or not getting a ticket. But I am also human — I felt hurt,” he remarked.A veteran of North Bengal politics, Acharya began his career in the Congress, later joining Trinamul during the party’s expansion phase. He was elected from Itahar constituency in both 2011 and 2016. After being dropped from the Trinamul list in 2021, he joined the BJP in the presence of state party president Sukanta Majumdar, though he remained largely inactive in the saffron camp.With his return, Congress leaders hope to revive the party’s organisational base in North Dinajpur, where it once held considerable influence.
Opposition should stop making statements until report comes”: Shahnawaz Hussain condemns Delhi blastents until a report comes.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday condemned the Delhi’s Red Fort blast that killed at least eight and injured several, and called it “deeply saddening” and urged the Opposition to refrain from making early statements until an official report is released. Hussain said, “The incident near Red Fort in Delhi is deeply saddening. All those involved in this will not be spared. Police and security agencies are investigating all angles. The Home Minister has visited the spot, and the injured are being taken care of. All efforts are being made to find out the reason behind this.” He further urged political parties to exercise restraint, saying, “The Opposition should stop making statements until a report comes.” Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high-level security review meeting at his residence to assess the situation following the deadly blast in Delhi that killed eight people and injured several others on Monday evening. The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sadanand Vasant Date, and Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha. Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat joined the meeting virtually. Sources said the review focused on the progress of the investigation into the explosion that occurred around 7 pm on Monday near the Red Fort metro station, as well as on a possible link with the recent seizure of a huge cache of explosives from Faridabad. Following the explosion, Shah directed a multi-agency investigation involving the NIA, National Security Guard (NSG), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and Delhi Police to determine the cause, nature, and source of the explosives. A team from the FSL and the NIA revisited the blast site on Tuesday morning to collect additional forensic evidence. The NIA is currently assisting the Delhi Police in the investigation. Officials suspect the Delhi blast and the Faridabad recovery may be part of a larger terror network operating across state lines.
“Bihar CM Nitish Kumar a ‘necessity’ for state, is also case study in political longevity”: Chirag Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a “necessity” for the state, calling him a case study in political longevity despite challenges. Paswan said, “As a Political Science student, I would say that Nitish ji is a necessity, and I am saying this in a positive way. When I say that I am a student of politics, this is another case study. It would be very useful for my future if I could understand how you have remained in power for two decades despite all the highs and lows. You know, anti-incumbency is not seen against him today.”The Union Minister asserted that there is no anti-incumbency wave against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, attributing it to welfare schemes and public empathy towards the veteran leader’s health.”There is no anti-incumbency. I am saying this very honestly. I am saying this because, in 2020, I experienced that there were still complaints–this didn’t happen, that didn’t happen. But either because of welfare schemes or because of targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji personally… even the memes that were made. I mean, as far as his health is concerned, if you talk about the health of an elderly person, then we connect emotionally with them, just like when there is an elderly person in our family. In this way, the more people target him by saying he is in a state of unconsciousness, the more I see people connect with him. People say, look, he is fighting even then–and which is true also,” he added. Paswan further contrasted CM Nitish Kumar’s campaign energy with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, questioning the latter’s fitness and alertness. “When Tejashwi did not even leave the house and completed the negotiations, I saw that Chief Minister Nitish was busy campaigning. So now you tell me who is more fit and more alert health-wise,” he said. Chirag Paswan expressed that his relations with Nitish Kumar are excellent, highlighting that Kumar visited his home on Chhath to partake in Kharna Prasad. Paswan emphasised that such a gesture signifies positive ties, stating that if the relationship were not good, Kumar wouldn’t have joined him for the occasion. “Our relations are very good. He came to my house on the day of Chhath to eat Kharna Prasad. If the relations were not good, then why would he come to eat Kharna Prasad? And if he comes, if he wants to give the message, then it means that the relations are good,” he said. Chirag said he and the Bihar CM made sincere efforts to act as a unifying force and held prolonged closed-door discussions. He described the CM as calm, composed, a man of few words but strong in expression, and one who clearly conveyed his points. “So I and the Chief Minister made an honest effort to become a cementing force. We gave each other some time. We had long discussions in a closed room. He is calm and composed. He is a man of few words, yet his words are very strong. He communicated his message very clearly. He is much older than me in age. And my values don’t say that I should give an answer or argue with them,” he said. In the second phase of the 2025 assembly polls, the NDA will face a major challenge in maintaining its dominance, particularly in its northern Bihar strongholds, including East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, and Sitamarhi districts, where the ruling alliance currently holds sway over 30 assembly seats. The phase will also decide the fate of 12 ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. Among them are JD(U) leaders Vijendra Yadav (contesting from Supaul assembly constituency), Lesi Singh (Dhamdaha), Jayant Kushwaha (Amarpur), Sumit Singh (Chakai), Mohammad Jama Khan (Chainpur), and Sheela Mandal (Phoolparas). Key ministers from the BJP in the fray include Prem Kumar (Gaya Town), Renu Devi (Bettiah), Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikati), Nitish Mishra (Jhanjharpur), Neeraj Bablu (Chhatapur), and Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsiddhi).
