In South Goa, a shocking scandal has emerged involving Soham Naik, 20, the son of local BJP councillor, who was arrested for allegedly sharing sexually explicit videos of minors and pressuring victims for sexual favours. The case has sparked public outrage and victims now are speaking out with police stepping up their investigation.

Public outcry forces police action

Naik was taken into custody on Sunday night, following massive protests outside the police station. Local residents demanded that authorities register a suo motu FIR and conduct an impartial investigation, warning of a possible bandh if immediate action was not taken.

The protesters accused Naik of running a “sex racket” and criticised authorities for delaying justice due to his political connections.

“The public demanded swift and fair action, and the police finally arrested the accused,” said officials familiar with the case.

FIR and legal actions

Initially, the police filed a suo motu FIR after certain videos surfaced, registering the case under sections dealing with obscene acts and the Information Technology Act. By Monday, additional provisions were added, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Goa Children’s Act.

Police sources said the case came to light after a report in a local newspaper claimed that Naik had circulated sexually explicit content of minor girls while boasting about it to friends.

Investigators allege that he engaged in sexual relations with at least 14 girls, some of whom were minors, and used videos to blackmail them.

Survivors step forward

Authorities have now recorded statements from at least three survivors. Two more FIRs were registered on Tuesday after they came forward, and all cases have been transferred to the Crime Branch for a detailed probe.

In one case, a minor girl accused Naik of luring her between January and June 2023 under pretext of marriage. According to FIR, he took her to isolated locations on two occasions allegedly forcing sexual acts and recording them on his phone. The videos were reportedly circulated among his friend circle. The FIR includes charges of rape, sexual harassment, cheating, assault, and violations under the POCSO Act, Goa Children’s Act, and IT Act.

Another FIR details how Naik allegedly contacted minor on Instagram between 2024 and 2025 and started sending obscene photographs of himself. He is accused of threatening to reveal her relationship with her elder sister. He also put a pressure her to share contact details of other girls. This FIR cites stalking, insulting the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation, and applicable child protection laws.

Police investigation underway

South Goa Superintendent of Police Santosh Dessai confirmed the investigation is ongoing. “Our preliminary probe revealed images and videos on the accused’s phone. We have asked victims to come forward and file complaints. The Crime Branch is handling the case now,” he said.

The unfolding case has raised serious concerns over political influence, the safety of minors online, and the mechanisms in place to prevent such exploitation. Activists and citizens have criticised the accused’s position as councillor’s son.

The bus fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district, which killed at least 14 people on Thursday, is not just another road accident. It is the latest in a growing line of sleeper coach tragedies that keep ending the same way, with passengers trapped inside a vehicle that should never have been allowed on the road in that condition.

That is what makes this more than a local tragedy. From Karnataka to Rajasthan and now Andhra Pradesh, sleeper buses catching fire are showing up with disturbing regularity. Each case may have a different trigger, like a crash, a high-tension wire, a fuel leak, an electrical fault, but the larger story is about a transport system that appears to be looking away from serious and repeated safety failures.

The latest accident took place near Rayavaram at around 6.30 am when a private Harikrishna Travels bus collided with a tipper truck near a stone quarry in Markapuram district. Both vehicles were gutted in the blaze. Officials said around 35 passengers were on board.

The Andhra Pradesh government has opened multiple control rooms to help families. At the Markapuram RDO office, the helpline numbers are 6304285613, 9985733999, 7989537285 and 9703578434. At the Prakasam district Collectorate in Ongole, the control room number is 1077. Nellore district, from where several passengers are believed to belong, has also opened a control room with the numbers 7995575699 and 08612331261.

Markapuram district Collector P Rajababu has announced a full inquiry. He said the injured were being given advanced medical care and the administration would support the affected families. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation with ministers and senior officials. He was told that 14 people had died and 22 injured passengers were undergoing treatment, with three of them in critical condition.

Officials said the bus was travelling from Jagityal towards Nellore. The driver has reportedly said that the steering got stuck, though this is still being checked. Preliminary inputs suggest the bus may have moved into the opposite lane before the collision.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed shock and directed officials to coordinate with Andhra Pradesh and gather details about the victims, as the bus had begun its journey in Telangana.

Why these bus fires are becoming impossible to ignore

The Andhra Pradesh case is shocking, but it is not unusual anymore.

In December 2025, six people were burnt alive, and many others were injured after a sleeper coach bus in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district caught fire following a collision with a container truck. Police there said some passengers managed to get out, but those who were asleep got trapped inside.

Other incidents in Rajasthan also exposed a different side of the same safety crisis. One bus caught fire after touching a low-hanging high-tension line. In another case, officials said the vehicle was not roadworthy and was carrying dangerous rooftop loads, including gas cylinders, when it came into contact with overhead wires. In yet another investigation after a deadly fire, officials found serious technical flaws in the bus itself.

That is where the pattern becomes hard to dismiss.

What the pattern suggests about bus safety failures

The repeated tragedies are raising blunt questions about how these buses are being certified, modified and allowed to operate.

One concern is the condition of many sleeper buses on the road. If fitness certification is reduced to paperwork and weak checks, unsafe vehicles can continue to operate without real scrutiny. Another issue is the retrofitting of old buses with air-conditioning or HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, which can place an extra load on electrical systems that may not have been designed for it.

Then there is the question of escape. In a fire, seconds matter. But some earlier investigations have found undersized or blocked emergency exits. Narrow aisles, especially in sleeper layouts, can make movement difficult even in normal conditions. In a fire, with smoke, panic and people waking from sleep, that design can turn deadly.

A probe into a Rajasthan bus fire had found that the emergency exit was too small and was obstructed by fitted seats. It also found flammable curtains and excessive sleeper berths. These are not minor compliance issues.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also stepped in last year over what it described as potentially deadly design flaws in public transport buses. It referred to repeated cases in which passengers were unable to detect fires in time or escape quickly enough. It sought action over violations of mandatory safety standards and asked for accountability from approving authorities as well.

Why MoRTH and state transport departments are in the dock

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, state transport departments and RTOs are now under renewed pressure because the same concerns keep surfacing after every bus fire. Questions are being asked about corruption in approvals, oversight that exists mostly on paper, poor inspection standards, and weak enforcement against unsafe operators.

If buses with design flaws, blocked exits, suspect electrical systems, or poor structural safety continue to get permits and fitness clearance, then accountability cannot stop at the driver’s statement or the immediate cause of the collision. It has to reach the system that lets such vehicles keep carrying passengers.

That is why the Andhra Pradesh fire matters beyond the official death toll. It has once again exposed the gap between transport rules and what is actually happening on the road.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has dropped a strong hint about the team’s opening combination for IPL 2026, confirming that he will open the innings alongside star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson.

Speaking at the IPL 2026 captains’ meet in Mumbai after attending an all-captains meeting with the BCCI, Gaikwad was asked about CSK’s likely top-order plans. In response, he revealed that he will return to the opening slot, partnering with Samson at the top of the order, simply stating, “Rutu and Sanju,” to confirm the new batting pair.

Samson, who was impressive as an opener in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, played a crucial role in stabilising India’s batting during pressure situations and was even named Player of the Tournament as India defeated New Zealand in the final to retain the title. His addition at the top is expected to bring much-needed balance and firepower to CSK after a disappointing campaign last season.

CSK’s top order was one of their biggest concerns in the previous IPL edition. The franchise experimented with multiple combinations but failed to find consistency. Gaikwad himself played at No. 3 for a large part of the season, while Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Rahul Tripathi were rotated as openers without any sustained success.

In the latter half of the season, CSK turned to youngsters Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, who provided a much-needed spark at the top. Mhatre scored 240 runs in seven innings at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 188.97, including a standout 94 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Brevis amassed 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180.

Samson’s arrival at CSK came via a major trade with Rajasthan Royals ahead of the auction, in which CSK sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran the other way in a high-profile deal.

CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. Their first home game in Chennai will be on April 3 against Punjab Kings, followed by a clash against Delhi Capitals on April 11 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Putting an end to days of speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday evening announced the name of Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Hospital victim, as its candidate from the Panihati Assembly constituency.

Her candidature is being seen as a significant political move, with the party seeking to channel public sentiment surrounding the incident into electoral support. The BJP released its third list of candidates comprising 19 names for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. The Panihati nomination has drawn particular attention, with political observers describing it as a “strategic gamble” aimed at consolidating voter emotions over the RG Kar case. Party insiders indicated that Debnath had earlier expressed her willingness to contest on a BJP ticket. She, along with her husband, had recently joined the party, further fuelling speculation about her candidature.

However, the leadership had remained non-committal until the official announcement. Senior leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, had maintained that the final decision on candidates was being taken by the central leadership in New Delhi.

Apart from Panihati, the BJP announced candidates for several constituencies across north Bengal and southern districts. In Cooch Behar South, Rathindranath Bose has been fielded, while Dinesh Sarkar will contest from Raiganj. Chiranjit Roy has been nominated from Islampur, Haripada Barman from Hemtabad, and Amlan Bhaduri from English Bazar. In Nadia district, Swapan Das has been named as the candidate from Santipur. In Howrah Central, the party has nominated Biplab Mondal, while Dipanjan Chakraborty will contest from Uttarpara. Arup Kumar Das has been fielded from Singur, Dipanjan Kumar Guha from Chandannagar, Subir Nag from Chinsurah, and Madhumita Ghosh from Haripal.

Further, Harekrishna Bera has been nominated from Tamluk, Shankar Guchhait from Medinipur, and Pranakrishna Tapadar from Purbasthali South. Krishna Ghosh will contest from Katwa, Krishnakanta Saha from Sainthia, and Anil Singh from Nalhati. With this list, the BJP has announced candidates for most constituencies, though 19 seats are yet to be declared.

Twelve lakh names were struck off in the first supplementary list of West Bengal voters under adjudication published by the Election Commission of India, poll panel sources said on Wednesday.

Around 32 lakh names of under-adjudication voters were disposed of in the list which was released shortly before midnight on Monday, sources in the state CEO’s office said.

As per the first final list released on 28 February after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the total number of voters in the state stood at 7,04,59,284.

Among them, 60,06,675 voters were kept under the “adjudication” category.

According to the sources, the second supplementary list is scheduled to be out on Friday but the commission has sought the Calcutta High court’s permission to bring out a supplementary list everyday, with updated figures.

When the first supplementary list was released two days back, the poll body did not disclose how many names have been resolved in this phase, nor did it specify how many voters have been excluded.

In a significant development the Election Commission has decided to increase the remuneration of presiding officers, polling officers, counting personnel, micro-observers and other officials engaged in election duty, according to sources.

The move comes as part of efforts to streamline poll management and ensure smoother conduct of the electoral process by providing better financial incentives to those involved at various levels.

Under the revised structure, presiding officers will now receive an additional Rs 150 per day, taking their daily remuneration from Rs 350 to Rs 500.

In total, they will be entitled to Rs 2,000 for their duty period.

Similarly, polling officers will see their daily allowance rise by Rs 150, from Rs 250 to Rs 400, with a consolidated payment of Rs 1,600.

The election commission has also increased the pay-packet of the counting assistants who will now get enjoy a daily remuneration increase of Rs 250 to Rs 450, marking a rise of Rs 200.

They will now receive a total of Rs 1,350 for their services. For Group D or fourth-grade staff, the daily allowance has been increased by Rs 150, from Rs 200 to Rs 350, bringing their total remuneration to Rs 1,400.

In the case of fourth-grade staff engaged in call centres or control rooms, the earlier daily payment of Rs 200 has been replaced with a consolidated remuneration of Rs 1,000.

Meanwhile, personnel involved in video surveillance teams, video viewing teams, accounting teams, control rooms and call centres have been categorised into two groups for payment purposes.

For Class I and II officers in these teams, the remuneration has been raised from a lump sum of Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000.

For Class III staff, the amount has been doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.

Micro observers, who play a crucial role in maintaining transparency during polling, will now receive Rs 2,000 as a lump sum, up from the earlier Rs 1,000.

The revised remuneration structure is expected to boost morale among election personnel and enhance efficiency in the conduct of polls, especially in a high-stakes electoral environment.

As the campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections gathers momentum, a controversy has erupted in Bankura after a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing a central forces jawan carrying cut-outs of a BJP party symbol during a candidate’s campaign.

The video, which has gone viral, purportedly shows BJP candidate Niladri Shekhar Dana arriving in a village for campaigning.

After stepping out of his vehicle, he was seen instructing a central forces personnel assigned to his security.

The jawan, then allegedly was seen taking out several lotus symbol cut-outs from the vehicle and handing them over to BJP workers standing nearby.

However, The Statesman has not verified the authenticity of this video independently.

The incident has triggered a political storm in the district, with the Trinamul Congress (TMC) demanding cancellation of the BJP candidate’s nomination.

The controversy comes at a time when allegations of misuse of state machinery have frequently been raised by opposition parties, particularly against the ruling TMC.

The BJP has often accused the state police of bias, prompting the Election Commission of India to take measures to ensure free and fair polls by curbing the role of state police and deploying central forces across the state.

Now, the alleged involvement of a central forces jawan in campaign-related activities has drawn criticism towards the BJP candidate and the party.

The TMC has approached the Election Commission seeking strict action.

“Central forces are meant to safeguard the country’s security and integrity. The way the BJP candidate has used them for party work is beyond condemnation. The ECI seems to have turned a blind eye. We have demanded cancellation of his candidature,” TMC’s Bankura organisational district president Tarashankar Ray said.

Responding to the allegations, BJP candidate Niladri Shekhar Dana defended himself, saying, “The lotus flower is used to worship Goddess Durga. Everyone should have a lotus in their hands. Those who have not yet taken the lotus are against the nation and against God.”

As many as 53 people, led by a BJP booth-level agent, joined the Trinamul Congress ahead of the Assembly elections in Pandaveswar Assembly constituency today.

Led by Ujjwal Roy, the BLA assigned by the BJP during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the supporters deserted the party and received the TMC flag from district president Narendranath Chakraborty today at Baidyanathpur. Chakraborty, who has been renominated by the TMC for the seat, was in Baidyanathpur during campaigning.

Roy termed the BJP “anti-Bengal” and said people want “Didi back in power for Bengal’s all-round development”. Chakraborty said anger over the controversial SIR process had motivated the voters to trust TMC further. BJP’s Pandaveswar candidate Jitendra Tewari dismissed Roy as an unknown entity, and commented that one day Chakraborty himself might “enter the BJP”.

Nearly 100 CPI-M cadres and supporters, meanwhile, joined the TMC in Benachitty within Durgapur town yesterday in presence of Kabi Dutta, the TMC candidate for Durgapur (Paschim) seat.

Launching a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central government while projecting the Trinamul Congress’s welfare record as its principal electoral weapon, Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary on Wednesday accused the Centre of “systematically depriving” West Bengal of funds and urged voters to deliver a decisive mandate against the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a packed joint campaign rally at Gholai High School ground in Keshiary for Dantan and Keshiary constituencies in West Midnapore district under sweltering afternoon conditions, the Trinamul leader framed the election as both a referendum on development and a political response to what he described as sustained financial and administrative discrimination against the state.

The rally, attended by party functionaries, elected representatives, and supporters from across the two constituencies, saw repeated appeals to voters to back TMC candidates Manik Maity from Dantan and Ramjiban Mandi from Keshiary. Mr Banerjee claimed the turnout reflected public endorsement of the Mamata Banerjee government’s welfare-oriented governance model.

“The Centre has stopped funds meant for the poor, but development work has continued using the state’s own resources,” he said, alleging that payments under rural housing schemes, MGNREGA wages, and rural road projects had remained stalled for years due to Central decisions.

Placing welfare schemes at the heart of the campaign narrative, the Mr Banerjee presented constituency-wise beneficiary figures under flagship programmes such as Lakshmir Bhandar, Swasthya Sathi, Kanyashree, Khadya Sathi and Bangla Awas Yojana, claiming lakhs of residents in Dantan and Keshiary were receiving direct benefits.

He reiterated a series of electoral assurances, including continuation of financial assistance to women, universal piped drinking water coverage within five years, doorstep healthcare camps in every block, expanded old-age pensions, and housing support for families awaiting homes.

Contrasting the state government’s initiatives with the BJP’s governance at the Centre, he criticised rising fuel prices and inflation, arguing that everyday expenses had sharply increased under the Narendra Modi government.

Mr Banerjee also highlighted infrastructure projects undertaken in the region, including road construction works across Dantan, embankment strengthening along the Subarnarekha river, and the Jungle Kanya bridge connecting Keshiary with Nayagram, which he said had significantly reduced travel distance between Jhargram and Kharagpur.

He cited the establishment of educational institutions, a kisan mandi, hospital upgrades, and tribal cultural infrastructure in Keshiary, while promising new initiatives such as a proposed police station in Mohanpur block and a betel-leaf preservation centre to support local cultivators.

In one of the sharpest moments of the speech, Mr Banerjee challenged BJP representatives to publicly compare development records.

“Bring your report card and I will bring mine before the people,” he said, asserting that the BJP had failed to deliver employment promises made at the national level.

He accused the opposition party of pursuing divisive politics centred on religion instead of governance and development, while claiming the Trinamul Congress focused on social welfare and inclusive growth.

Urging voters to brave heat and long queues on polling day, he described the election as an opportunity for people to respond democratically to economic hardship and political grievances.

The rally concluded with slogans from party supporters as campaign activities intensified across West Midnapore ahead of polling, with both ruling and opposition parties expected to step up high-voltage campaigning in the coming days.

The much-anticipated IPL 2026 opener between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad is set to take place on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with authorities preparing extensive crowd and transport arrangements for fans.

The Namma Metro operator, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), has announced extended services and additional commuter facilities to ensure smooth and safe travel for spectators attending the match.

According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, metro operations will run beyond regular hours on match day, with the last train timings extended from 11 pm to 2 am.

Final departures from key terminals have been scheduled as follows: Whitefield (Kadugodi) at 12:30 am, Challaghatta and Silk Institute/Madavara at 12:45 am, Bommasandra at 1:00 am, and R V Road at 2:00 am. The last train from Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic) will depart at 1:30 am towards all four directions.

To facilitate fan movement, IPL match tickets will also function as metro travel passes, featuring QR codes enabling two-way travel on Namma Metro, whether in physical or digital form.

BMRCL has advised spectators to use designated stations based on stadium entry gates—Cubbon Park Metro Station for Cubbon Road entry and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Station (Vidhana Soudha) for access via Link Road.

To ease congestion and improve last-mile connectivity, parking has been arranged at multiple metro stations, with charges fixed at ₹30 for two-wheelers and ₹60 for cars until services conclude. Fans are also encouraged to use nearby stations such as Cubbon Park and MG Road, both within walking distance of the stadium.

BMRCL has urged commuters to follow instructions from police, stadium authorities and metro staff to ensure orderly crowd management. It also stated that station entry points may be regulated or temporarily closed if required for safety reasons.

The arrangements come in the backdrop of heightened safety concerns in Bengaluru following a stampede incident during celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden title win last year, which claimed 11 lives.

Adding to the high octane political drama in the poll-bound state, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir pitched their alliance as a strong political alternative for the Muslims in West Bengal.

Affirming a strong alliance between the Hyderabad-based AIMIM and the recently formed Janata Unnayan Party, the duo emphasised the strategic partnership that they claimed would be continued in the days to come. During a joint Press conference this morning, the JUP leader expressed admiration for the AIMIM chief calling him his elder brother while Mr Owaisi stressed upon a strong political alternative for the members of the minority community. “Our full effort in this poll is to bring up a leadership of the Muslim community and strengthen it further because the government data shows that states without a Muslim minority leadership have very poor human development indicators and this has an organic connection with the political independent relationship,” said the AIMIM leader.

Lambasting the TMC government, Mr Owaisi raised questions on representation of Muslims in the government jobs. He alleged that despite a minority population of about 30 per cent, there is hardly any representation of Muslims in government jobs in the state of West Bengal. “How much Muslim representation is there? Only 7 per cent! How many Muslim boys and girls are not able to complete graduation? In Malda and Murshidabad, the water is so filthy and has arsenic.”

He further claimed that these issues were directly connected to political leadership. “For many years, the TMC took our (minority) vote and said that the leadership is yours. But what they (TMC) did on the ground was just offer Eid namaz. Will that give us food or education for our children?”

Raising the issue of cancellation of five lakh OBC certificates in which many Muslim certificates were cancelled, Owaisi said it was the fault of the current government, and also alleged that with a minority population of close to 30 per cent in Bengal, there is hardly any representation in government jobs.

Responding to the allegations of being the B team of the BJP, Mr Owaisi said,” We are the entire team of Muslims. We are the M-team.”

Meanwhile, Mr Kabir informed about the poll campaign plans of the party. “Together with the AIMIM there will be 20 political programmes starting from Berhampur on the first April. In the forthcoming elections to be held in two phases, we follow the suggestions of our elder brother.”

Launching the symbol of a whistle for his party, the former TMC leader informed that the AIMIM would field candidates on 10 seats while the JUP will contest from 182 seats.

Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee attended a public rally at Jagannathpur Ground in Daspur.

Addressing a huge gathering, the TMC Diamond Harbour MP lent his support to the candidate, son of the soil, Asis Hudait.

Abhishek said: “From Kalachand Setu to the reconstruction of Dudhkumra, Jasore, and Kolaghat Setu, our government has delivered. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, I had promised that even if the Central government does not initiate the Ghatal Master Plan by 31 December, our government will start it. The state government has already spent over Rs 200 crore and initiated dredging work in various canals, including Palashpai and Chandreshwar canals. The government has spent Rs 15,000 crore on the Ghatal Master Plan. Given the geographical conditions of Daspur, despite the Ghatal Master Plan, there could still be some villages where water may accumulate. But I assure you, taking full responsibility that we will try to find solutions for those villages as well through pumps and other measures, on a priority basis.”

He spoke about the establishment of an ITI college in Daspur and setting up of a gold hub there. “There are many goldsmiths in this area, and the government has already created a hub for them. The work has been completed. Some additional instruments are required, for which a letter has already been sent and the matter has been taken up.”

Abhishek spoke about the state’s promise of providing additional work worth Rs 40 crore under Pathashree. “As promised, we have constructed roads worth over Rs 50 crore under Pathashree-Rastashree 4 in Daspur I and II. There is a demand for a police station to ensure better safety and security for the gold business. The government will also look into this demand on a priority basis,” he said.

Listing the government’s report card in Daspur, Abhishek said from 20 anchals under the two blocks in the AC, the government has provided Lakshmir Bhandar to 1,27,670 women every month. “Around 4,40,000 people have benefited from Swasthya Sathi in the last five years. 4,67,000 people receive free ration under Khadya Sathi every month. Under Bangla Awas Yojana, in the last two years, 13,901 families received houses or funds from the government, where the BJP government had no contribution. Under Rupashree, over 9,000 beneficiaries have been supported. Under Krishak Bandhu, 1,25,210 people have benefited,” informed the TMC leader.

The Birbhum district police is gearing up to ensure peaceful, free and fair polling across the eleven Assembly constituencies, said newly-appointed Superintendent of Police Surya Pratap Singh. The Election Commission of India recently transferred the previous SP, Amandeep, and appointed the 2011-batch IPS officer in his place.

Conducting peaceful and fair elections has historically been a challenge in Birbhum.

After assuming charge, Surya Pratap Singh visited several police stations across the district and held a series of review meetings. He also met his counterparts in Dumka, Pakur and Jamtara districts of neighbouring Jharkhand.

Birbhum shares a long and porous inter-state border with these districts. During coordination meetings, it was decided that vehicles would be checked on both sides, illegal firearms seized, and intelligence on suspicious movements of criminals and Maoist activities shared between the districts.

Polling in all 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum is scheduled for 23 April. The Jharkhand –Birbhum border will be sealed on the day.

Addressing the media after taking charge, Surya Pratap Singh said that 19 naka check posts have been set up across the district for vehicle checking. So far, 21 companies of central forces have arrived, with more expected for election duty.

He added that he has prior experience of election duty in Murshidabad and as SDPO of Bolpur, and expressed confidence that the upcoming polls would be conducted without violence. “We will not tolerate any booth capturing and will strictly follow all guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India. Confidence-building measures, including route marches in sensitive areas, have already begun. Illegal firearms are being seized and operations will continue,” he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address an election rally in Birbhum on 26 March, while senior BJP leaders are also expected to campaign in the district.

Birbhum has witnessed poll-related violence in the past, prompting strict measures by the Election Commission, including placing Anubrata Mondal under house arrest on polling day during previous elections. However, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the district were conducted peacefully.

Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, widely known as the Houthis, is preparing to step into the ongoing conflict alongside Iran, according to a report by Tasnim News Agency. The development comes as tensions continue to rise following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The possible entry of the Houthis could widen the conflict beyond Iran’s borders, bringing a key maritime route, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, back into sharp geopolitical focus. The narrow passage connects the Red Sea to global shipping lanes and has been a pressure point in earlier confrontations.

An informed source told Tasnim that the group has remained on high alert since the conflict began on February 28. “As they have stated since the first day,” the source said, Ansarullah “is on full alert and ready to enter the battlefield.”

Bab al-Mandeb Strait emerges as potential pressure point

According to the report, the Houthis may use control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as leverage against the US and Israel. The source claimed such a move would help “discipline” their adversaries, adding that both Iran and Ansarullah have the capacity to create a serious threat in the waterway.

The group has previously demonstrated its ability to disrupt maritime routes. Tasnim noted that Ansarullah has in the past enforced restrictions in the Red Sea, suggesting that closing the strait is within its operational reach.

When tensions surged on October 7, 2023, and Israel intensified its operations in Gaza, the Houthis responded by trying to stop ships they said were connected to Israel. The impact was immediate; many vessels stopped using the Red Sea route and were forced to sail the longer way around southern Africa, adding time, fuel costs and delays to their journeys.

The report also said the group has carried out drone strikes on Israeli locations and repeatedly targeted US naval forces operating near Yemen’s coast.

Separately, Iran has reiterated that it will not shift its current stance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to state broadcaster Press TV, said Tehran would continue its policy of “resistance” in response to what he described as “unprovoked American-Israeli aggression”.

“At present, our policy is to continue resistance, and no negotiations have taken place,” Araghchi said in a televised interview on Wednesday, adding that there are no ongoing talks and questioning the credibility of external guarantees.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a crucial strategy meeting with 56 candidates from the Rarh Bangla region of south Bengal in Durgapur on Monday, attended by senior party leadership.

The meeting took place at a hotel in Muchipara, where state president Shamik Bhattacharya, along with central leaders Satish Dhond and Sunil Bansal, was present.

Candidates from Birbhum, Purulia, West Burdwan, Bankura and East Burdwan districts attended the meeting. Sitting MLAs and prominent leaders, including Agnimitra Paul of Asansol South and Jagannath Chatterjee of Suri, were also present.

The BJP convened a key meeting with 56 candidates from the Rarh Bangla region in Durgapur today as part of its strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections, with top leadership in attendance.

Sources said the BJP is focusing on the Rarh Bangla region to improve its performance in the Assembly elections. The party’s new national president, Nitin Nabin, recently addressed meetings in the region during his maiden visit to the state.

While north Bengal remains the BJP’s stronghold, the party organisation in south Bengal is comparatively weaker. The meeting focused on measures to strengthen the organisation in the region over the next month.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won two seats ~ Asansol and Darjeeling ~ though Asansol was secured on the party’s own strength. However, following the exit of Babul Supriyo, the BJP has repeatedly lost the Asansol seat to the Trinamul Congress (TMC) and also lost the Burdwan-Durgapur seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC continues to dominate East Burdwan, while the BJP remains relatively stronger in Bankura and Purulia. The party is now aiming to increase its tally in West Burdwan and Birbhum in the 23 April Assembly polls.

However, dissatisfaction among local party workers over candidate selection has been reported in several constituencies, raising concerns over possible internal discord.

Four BJP workers were arrested for allegedly vandalising the idol of Hanuman in Purulia to create disturbance before Ram Navami.

The arrested youths are Garu Mahato, Avinash Mahato, Kirti Mahato and Kripanath Mahato.

Kirti Azad Trinamul Congress MP in his X handle wrote: “The true face of @ BJP4India. They can go to any extent to try to win an election, even if they have to break the idols of Hindu gods.”

Garu Mahato, a BJP supporter was involved in vandalising the idol. Avinash was the main instigator while Kirti Mahato was BJP’s Shakti Pramukh and Kripanath was former booth president of BJP.

Meanwhile, the state administration has intensified vigil across the state in view of Ram Navami. Mr Ajay Nand, Commissioner of Kolkata Police held meetings with senior officers yesterday to review the arrangements for Ram Navami. Vigil has been intensified in the areas having mixed populations. He urged people not to get swayed by rumours.

Trinamul Congress leaders said the BJP was trying all sorts of nasty tricks to create disturbance before the election.

The name of Trinamul Congress (TMC) Hasan candidate and Birbhum Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Kajal Sheikh is absent from the first supplementary voter list as well, putting his candidature under threat.

The supplementary list, released close to Monday midnight after judicial scrutiny, does not include his name. The Hasan Assembly constituency in Birbhum district will go to the polls on 23 April, with the last date for filing nominations set for 9 April. Kajal Sheikh, however, remains confident that his name will be included before the deadline.

Failure to secure inclusion would make him ineligible to contest on a TMC ticket from the Hasan Assembly seat.

Notably, neither Kajal Sheikh nor his 90-year-old mother feature in the supplementary voter list. Both were called for a hearing, but their names were also missing from the final voter list published on 28 February.

“This is a political conspiracy against me. My aged mother and I were born here and are Indian citizens, yet our names do not appear in the voter list, despite my being elected as zilla parishad sabhadhipati,” Kajal Sheikh said.

Kajal Sheikh is considered a protégé of Abhishek Banerjee and a known rival of Anubrata Mondal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Birbhum district on 26 March to launch her South Bengal campaign for the Assembly polls. At this juncture, attention will be on her response to the situation concerning Kajal Sheikh.

A member of the TMC core committee in Birbhum, Kajal Sheikh played a key role in the 2023 three-tier gram panchayat elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, in which the party won both seats in the district despite the absence of Anubrata Mondal.