North Bengal - The Purbottar

20 Apr

Election Official Defends Purge of 58 Lakh Voters as Necessary Roll Cleanup

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal, West Bengal

The Election Commission of India’s top electoral officer for West Bengal has stepped forward to defend the controversial deletion of 58 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls, asserting that the move was a necessary component of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Addressing growing concerns from the public and political factions, the official maintained that the mass exclusions were part of a standard, data-driven purification process. The primary objective, according to the Commission, was to update the rolls by systematically identifying and removing names of individuals who have either passed away, permanently shifted out of their registered constituencies, or…

16 Apr

Cooch Behar: Home voting process begins in Haldibari

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal

As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, electoral activity in the Cooch Behar district has intensified. On Thursday, the "Home Voting" initiative—a process allowing citizens to cast their votes from home—was launched across various areas of the Haldibari block to facilitate disabled and elderly voters. Early that morning, election officials departed from the Haldibari BDO office under tight security, carrying ballot boxes and necessary equipment as they set out for the voters' residences. In accordance with the Election Commission's guidelines, this special arrangement is primarily intended for voters who are unable to visit polling booths due to physical illness or advanced…

02 Apr

Mamata Banerjee Alleges BJP Conspiracy to Impose President’s Rule Amid Malda Hostage Crisis

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal, West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has leveled explosive allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that a recent hostage crisis in Malda is part of a larger "game plan" to derail the upcoming Assembly elections and force the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. The controversy stems from a dramatic standoff on Wednesday in Malda’s Kaliachak-II block, where seven judicial officers—including three women and a five-year-old child—were held hostage for over nine hours by a mob of villagers. The protesters were reportedly agitated over the mass deletion of names from electoral rolls during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR)…

25 Mar

Severe Weather Hits North Bengal and Sikkim, Disrupting High-Stakes Election Campaigns

anuprova EditorNorth Bengal

The political landscape in North Bengal and the Himalayan state of Sikkim has been met with an unexpected hurdle as a wave of stormy weather and unseasonal rainfall sweeps across the region. With the election season in full swing, various political parties were gearing up for a series of high-profile rallies, door-to-door campaigning, and public outreach programs. However, the sudden atmospheric turbulence—characterized by heavy downpours, occasional hailstorms, and strong gusty winds—has forced several top-tier leaders to either cancel or indefinitely postpone their scheduled events. The northern districts of West Bengal, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, reported significant waterlogging in low-lying…

23 Mar

After Days of Rain, Darjeeling Wakes Up to a Stunning Himalayan Panorama

nanika EditorNorth Bengal

The hills of Darjeeling came alive on Sunday as the majestic Kanchenjunga finally emerged in full glory after days of being hidden behind dense clouds and relentless bad weather.Following a prolonged spell of rain, storms, and snowfall, tourists had been left disappointed as thick cloud cover obscured the iconic snow-capped peak. The gloomy conditions had dampened travel experiences, with many visitors unable to witness one of the region’s most sought-after natural attractions.However, the weather took a dramatic turn on the morning of March 22. As the sun rose, the skies gradually cleared, unveiling a breathtaking and uninterrupted view of Kanchenjunga.…

16 Nov

In Belakoba three-day ‘Bangla Moder Gorbo’ event begins

Ashish MajumderNorth Bengal

The three-day ‘Bangla Moder Gorbo’ event, initiated by the West Bengal Government, actually commenced today at the Belakoba Public Club ground in Rajganj block. Actually organized by the state’s Information and Culture Department, the event will run from November 15 to 17, featuring fairs, exhibitions, expos, and cultural programs. In fact the inauguration on Friday began with a grand procession, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Shama Parveen, Jalpaiguri Superintendent of Police Umesh Ganpath Khandbahale, and Rajganj MLA Khageswar Roy. Also other dignitaries present at the event included Jalpaiguri Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Tomojeet Chakraborty,…

31 Oct

Recently to address the drinking water problem for pedestrians and local residentsthe Lower Bagdogra Gram Panchayat has initiated a project

Ashish MajumderNorth Bengal

Recently the Lower Bagdogra Gram Panchayat has initiated a project to address the drinking water problem for pedestrians and local residents. Actually a purified drinking water facility has been constructed on National Highway Authority land beneath the flyover at Bagdogra Bihar More, funded entirely by the Gram Panchayat at a cost of approximately Rs 3 lakhs. In fact Naxalbari Panchayat Samiti Sabhapati Anand Ghosh officially inaugurated the project on Wednesday, with Lower Bagdogra Gram Panchayat Upa Pradhan Biswajit Ghosh, Local Panchayat Sona Ghosh, and other officials in attendance. During the inauguration, Anand Ghosh actually highlighted that many people wait for…

25 Oct

Over pending wages at Naxalbari Tea Estate Tea workers stage protest

Ashish MajumderNorth Bengal

On Friday, the workers at Naxalbari Tea Estate actually staged a protest today demanding their pending wages. Actually the workers claimed they usually receive their weekly pay through bank transfers, but the management has withheld their wages for the past two weeks. Despite multiple attempts to address the issue with the authorities, the workers reported no resolution. Consequently, approximately 600 laborers had joined the protest. In fact as a result of the demonstration, tea plucking activities in the garden were temporarily halted. In response, the management actually stated that the workers’ pending wages had been sent to the bank. However,…

25 Sep

Recently a tree collapsed in front of the emergency department of Naxalbari Rural Hospital

Ashish MajumderNorth Bengal

Recently a large, aged tree collapsed late at night in front of the emergency department of Naxalbari Rural Hospital, following heavy rain. Reportedly, the fallen tree actually blocked the entrance to the emergency department. In fact authorities were alerted immediately, and the Naxalbari police responded by notifying the Tukriajhar Forest Department and Naxalbari Fire Department. Actually the tree was later cut and removed to clear the area. Hospital sources confirmed that despite the incident, medical services at the emergency department remained unaffected. This is actually very serious news and we need to take it seriously so that big accident does…

16 Sep

Jaldapara National Park reopened for tourists today after remaining closed for three months

editorAlipurduar, News, North Bengal

Alipurduar, Sep 16: Jaldapara National Park reopened for tourists today after remaining closed for three months.Visitors will once again be welcomed to the forest from Monday, marking the return of popular activities such as vehicle safaris and elephant safaris.After the park opened, a large number of tourists gathered in the park to enjoy the safari. Forest workers welcomed the visitors at the Jaldapara gate.It is noteworthy that the number of elephants available for Jaldapara elephant safari has increased this season. Elephant safari has also resumed from Hollong and Salkumar gates within the park.