In a sudden political flare-up, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of imposing a forced vegetarian policy on the newly launched Vande Bharat sleeper train, sparking a heated debate over cultural identity and passenger choice. The controversy erupted after the train’s first commercial run from Howrah to Kamakhya on Friday revealed that the onboard menu offers only vegetarian dishes, with no non‑vegetarian or “no‑food” options available. Background and Context The Vande Bharat Express, India’s flagship high‑speed train, has been a symbol of modernity and national pride. Its sleeper variant, introduced to cater to long‑haul travelers,…
Author: Map of Netherlands
In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through Kolkata’s New Town, a 70‑year‑old resident of SP Sukhobristi was duped out of ₹89.8 lakh in a sophisticated digital arrest fraud Kolkata scheme. The scammer, posing as a telecom official and a senior police officer, fabricated a Supreme Court order, linked the victim to a high‑profile money‑laundering case, and staged a virtual hearing that coerced the senior citizen into transferring his savings to a fraudulent account. Background and Context Digital arrest fraud has emerged as a new frontier for cybercriminals in India, exploiting the rapid digitisation of law enforcement and the public’s trust…
In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through Kolkata’s New Town, a 70‑year‑old resident of SP Sukhobristi was duped out of ₹89.8 lakh in a sophisticated digital arrest fraud Kolkata scheme. The scam unfolded over a single day, with fraudsters posing as telecom officials, police officers and even a Supreme Court judge, culminating in a virtual “trial” that coerced the senior citizen into transferring his savings to accounts controlled by the conmen. Background and Context Digital scams have surged in India, with cyber‑criminals exploiting the rapid digitisation of services and the public’s trust in official institutions. According to the National Crime…
In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through Kolkata’s senior citizen community, a 70‑year‑old resident of SP Sukhobristi in New Town was defrauded of ₹89.8 lakh in a sophisticated digital arrest scam. The fraudsters, posing as telecom officials and senior police officers, fabricated a Supreme Court order, linked the victim to a high‑profile money‑laundering case, and staged a virtual hearing to coerce him into transferring his savings. The incident, which unfolded over a single day in late November, has prompted a police investigation and raised urgent questions about the safety of older adults in the digital age. Background/Context Digital scams targeting the…
A 32‑year‑old woman suffered severe burn injuries during a facial treatment at a beauty parlour inside a Kolkata mall, raising urgent questions about safety standards in the city’s rapidly expanding beauty industry. Background/Context Beauty parlours have become a staple of urban life in Kolkata, offering everything from facials to hair treatments. Yet, the sector has struggled with regulatory oversight, and incidents of beauty parlour burn injuries Kolkata have been on the rise. According to a 2025 report by the Consumer Protection Bureau, there were 112 reported burn incidents linked to beauty parlours across West Bengal, a 15% increase from the…
On January 26, Kolkata’s 50‑minute Republic Day parade on Red Road will showcase an unprecedented number of women police units, with the all‑female “Winners” squad and the Royal Air Force (RAF) woman unit marching shoulder‑to‑shoulder with their male counterparts. The event marks a milestone in the city’s push for gender parity in law enforcement, as the police force now boasts a near‑equal split of men and women in its marching contingents. Background and Context In 2022, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a bold recruitment drive: 2,020 policewomen would be inducted into the Winners squad, an all‑female unit that had previously…
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has announced a final 24‑hour window for students to enrol for the 2026 Madhyamik exam, giving them a last chance to secure their place before the February 2 start date. Background and Context For students across West Bengal, the Madhyamik examination is a pivotal milestone that determines their future academic and career paths. The 2026 exam, scheduled to commence on 2 February, has already seen a surge in enrolments, with over 1.2 million candidates registered in the first round. However, a significant number of students were unable to complete the enrolment process due…
In a last‑ditch effort to ensure that no student is left behind, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has opened a 24‑hour window for Madhyamik enrolment 2026, running from 12 noon on January 27 to 12 noon on January 28. This final opportunity comes after a series of missed deadlines and administrative oversights that left thousands of candidates scrambling to secure their place in the state’s flagship secondary examination, scheduled to commence on February 2. Background and Context The Madhyamik examination, administered by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), is the culmination of a student’s secondary schooling and a prerequisite…
In a startling turn of events on Saturday morning, a speeding sedan slammed into a police guardrail at the J&K Crossing on Kolkata’s Red Road, just an hour before the city’s Republic Day parade rehearsals were set to begin. The crash, which left the driver unharmed but the vehicle severely damaged, has reignited memories of the 2016 tragedy when a high‑end car burst through barricades at the same spot, killing Air Force Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud. Authorities say the incident was a result of reckless driving and expired vehicle documents, and no injuries were reported this time. Background and Context The…
A 17‑year‑old boy was detained by police in Kolkata after impersonating an Income Tax officer and visiting schools in Ashoknagar, sparking concerns about student safety and the misuse of official authority. Background / Context In the bustling outskirts of North 24 Parganas, the festive mood of Saraswati Puja had just begun to fade when a group of students and teachers were confronted by an unexpected visitor. The incident unfolded on a Saturday afternoon, a day when schools were still busy with post‑festival cleanup and students were gathering around pandals. The boy, who had previously attended Ashoknagar Vidyasagar Banibhaban High School,…