News for 'West Bengal'

Puri is the only Jagannath Dham: Odisha objects to Bengal's temple naming

Puri is the only Jagannath Dham: Odisha objects to Bengal's temple naming

Rediff.com2 May 2025

Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, who was the chief priest during the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha on April 30, on Friday joined the voices demanding withdrawal of the 'Jagannath Dham' phrase attached to the new temple in West Bengal.

'The odds are against West Bengal'

'The odds are against West Bengal'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2008

Indian American and Indian entrepreneurs believe the West Bengal government, which is projecting the state as an ideal investment destination for information technology and hi-tech industries, has to go a long way before it can become India's number one hub for such industries.

NIA detains Al Falah medical student over links with terror outfits

NIA detains Al Falah medical student over links with terror outfits

Rediff.com16 Nov 2025

An MBBS student detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in West Bengal for alleged terror links has been released after questioning. The student was picked up in Uttar Dinajpur district and questioned in Siliguri before being released. His mobile phone was seized, and he has been asked to be present if summoned again.

Migrant row: TMC leader threatens to 'pour acid' on...

Migrant row: TMC leader threatens to 'pour acid' on...

Rediff.com8 Sep 2025

A TMC legislator in West Bengal has allegedly threatened to pour acid in the throat of anyone criticizing migrant workers from the state, sparking controversy and condemnation from opposition parties.

West Bengal civic polls pass off peacefully

West Bengal civic polls pass off peacefully

Rediff.com31 May 2010

Barring stray incidents of violence, West Bengal's civic polls went off smoothly, with 65 per cent turn-out.

Downpour triggers 35 landslides in Darjeeling, 23 killed

Downpour triggers 35 landslides in Darjeeling, 23 killed

Rediff.com6 Oct 2025

At least 23 people, including children, were killed as relentless rain triggered one of the worst landslides in a decade in Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas on Sunday, sweeping away homes, cutting off roads, isolating villages, and leaving hundreds of stranded tourists amid widespread devastation, officials said.

West Bengal: Flood situation improves

West Bengal: Flood situation improves

Rediff.com28 Oct 2005

West Bengal: Flood situation improves, alert still on

How to take West Bengal global

How to take West Bengal global

Rediff.com15 Feb 2005

Is all well in Bengal BJP? After Modi rally, Dilip Ghosh skips Shah event

Is all well in Bengal BJP? After Modi rally, Dilip Ghosh skips Shah event

Rediff.com1 Jun 2025

This was the second time in less than a week when the ex-MP and former state BJP chief was absent from a programme of a top BJP leader, the other being the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Alipurduar in northern West Bengal on May 29.

Tata's open letter to West Bengal

Tata's open letter to West Bengal

Rediff.com17 Oct 2008

In an open letter to the people of West Bengal, Ratan Tata said the citizens should decide whether they wanted education and jobs in the industrial and hi-tech sectors or 'want to stay as they are.' The letter said, 'The people of West Bengal, particularly the younger citizens, will need to express their views and aspirations as to what they would like to see West Bengal become in the years ahead.'

Tata Metaliks scraps West Bengal project

Tata Metaliks scraps West Bengal project

Rediff.com9 Mar 2009

Five months after Tata Motors shifted its Nano plant to Gujarat, another Tata company has decided to move a project out of West Bengal. Tata Metaliks has scrapped its 500,000-tonne billet project, proposed to be built with an investment of Rs 700-800 crore

BSF arrests 15 Pakistani fishermen with boat in Guj creek

BSF arrests 15 Pakistani fishermen with boat in Guj creek

Rediff.com24 Aug 2025

The operation was carried out jointly by the 68 Battalion BSF, 176 Battalion BSF, and the Water Wing, with support from local patrol boats.

States Pension Bills Surpass Interest Payments

States Pension Bills Surpass Interest Payments

Rediff.com28 Oct 2025

The committed expenditure recorded a 9.37 per cent increase, reaching Rs 15.64 trillion.

West Bengal flood toll 23

West Bengal flood toll 23

Rediff.com20 Jun 2008

Twenty-three persons have died in flash floods in East and West Midnapore districts of West Bengal during the past two days, officials said. West Midnapore District Magistrate N S Nigam said 15 persons died in his district. All 15 deaths were reported from Sabang, Pingla and Narayangarh. Of these, Narayangarh alone accounted for 11 deaths.

Nitish among top 10 longest-serving CMs. Here's the full list

Nitish among top 10 longest-serving CMs. Here's the full list

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar's Chief Minister for a record 10th time, extending his tenure and joining the list of longest-serving CMs in India.

Labour Codes: Trade Unions Raise Red Flags Over Layoffs

Labour Codes: Trade Unions Raise Red Flags Over Layoffs

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

'Raising the retrenchment, layoff and closure threshold to 300 workers for prior government permission enables hire-and-fire in more than 90 per cent of the Indian workplaces. More than 12,00,000 disputes are now pending for adjudication with an average disposal period ranging from 3 to five years for more than 75 per cent of the disputes.'

West Bengal flood toll 15

West Bengal flood toll 15

Rediff.com19 Jun 2008

The flood situation on Thursday further worsened in West Midnapore district of West Bengal where about 16 lakh people were affected while 15 deaths have been reported in the past two days. District Magistrate N S Nigam said all 15 deaths were reported from Sabang, Pingla and Narayangarh. Of these, Narayangarh alone accounted for 11 deaths.

2 BLOs 'succumb to SIR work pressure' in MP; 1 found dead in WB

2 BLOs 'succumb to SIR work pressure' in MP; 1 found dead in WB

Rediff.com22 Nov 2025

Two teachers-cum-Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Madhya Pradesh died of illness while conducting voter list surveys. Relatives allege heavy workload and pressure to meet targets as the cause. A third BLO is missing.

CAG to conduct pan-India audit on ease of doing biz for MSMEs

CAG to conduct pan-India audit on ease of doing biz for MSMEs

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has launched an integrated audit across 32 states and Union Territories to assess the ease of doing business for the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

Javed Akhtar event postponed after Muslims protest

Javed Akhtar event postponed after Muslims protest

Rediff.com2 Sep 2025

The West Bengal Urdu Academy has postponed a 'mushaira' featuring Javed Akhtar following protests by some Muslim groups who claim his comments hurt religious sentiments. Left student organizations condemn the postponement.

TMC suspends MLA who proposed to build 'Babri Masjid'

TMC suspends MLA who proposed to build 'Babri Masjid'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended its Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, who had triggered a storm with the proposal to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad district.

Footballers set out to help Amphan-affected West Bengal

Footballers set out to help Amphan-affected West Bengal

Rediff.com28 May 2020

While the state of West Bengal attempts to recover from the devastation caused by the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and the Amphan cyclone, a consortium of 38 footballers have decided to pool in their resources to help the affected people. This consortium -- named 'Players for Humanity', include the likes of Subrata Paul, Mehtab Hossain, Arnab Mondal, Subhashish Roychowdhury, Sandip Nandy, Pronay Halder, Pritam Kotal and Shouvik Ghosh amongst others.

72 dead as Super Cyclone Amphan devastates West Bengal

72 dead as Super Cyclone Amphan devastates West Bengal

Rediff.com22 May 2020

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that at least 72 people have died due to Cyclone Amphan and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the affected districts and provide help to 'rebuild those areas from scratch'

Why West Bengal's coronavirus mortality rate is high

Why West Bengal's coronavirus mortality rate is high

Rediff.com8 May 2020

Social stigma and low testing are the key reasons for the high mortality rate among COVID-19 patients in West Bengal, where the disease, like elsewhere in the country, is still an urban phenomenon, experts say. The state's Trinamool Congress government has been drawing consistent criticism from the Centre and opposition parties over the way it has tackled the pandemic, and has been accused of under-reporting data about the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Nehru did a 'tukde-tukde' of Vande Mataram: Modi

Nehru did a 'tukde-tukde' of Vande Mataram: Modi

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha, recalling the Emergency period when the national song completed 100 years.

PM Modi hails 'spectacular win' by India's women's team

PM Modi hails 'spectacular win' by India's women's team

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the congratulatory messages, lauding the team's spirit and performance.

Electric firecrackers likely caused blaze at Goa nightclub: CM

Electric firecrackers likely caused blaze at Goa nightclub: CM

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

A preliminary inquiry suggests electric firecrackers caused a devastating nightclub fire in Goa, resulting in 25 deaths. The incident has exposed illegalities and lax enforcement of safety rules.

India 'could have done much more' during Operation Sindoor: Rajnath

India 'could have done much more' during Operation Sindoor: Rajnath

Rediff.com7 Dec 2025

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauds the armed forces' restrained response during Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting coordination and improved connectivity in border areas.

Maharashtra accounts for 30% of deaths in rail accidents

Maharashtra accounts for 30% of deaths in rail accidents

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

A National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report reveals that 21,803 people died in 24,678 railway accidents in India in 2023. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest fatalities. The majority of accidents involved falls from trains or collisions with people on the tracks.

Woman gang-raped, robbed at Bengaluru home; 3 arrested

Woman gang-raped, robbed at Bengaluru home; 3 arrested

Rediff.com23 Oct 2025

Police on Wednesday said a 27-year-old woman from West Bengal was allegedly gangraped and robbed of valuables at her residence in Bengaluru.

PM urges people to vote in record numbers in Assam, West Bengal

PM urges people to vote in record numbers in Assam, West Bengal

Rediff.com27 Mar 2021

I particularly call upon my young friends to vote, Modi tweeted.

New Rural Jobs Bill Sparks International Concern

New Rural Jobs Bill Sparks International Concern

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

'Previously, contributing only 25 per cent of material costs, states now face burdens of 40 per cent to 100 per cent of total costs, ensuring poorer states will curb project approvals, directly stifling work demand.'

Durga Puja: Festive fever grips West Bengal

Durga Puja: Festive fever grips West Bengal

Rediff.com17 Oct 2012

The state that is soaked in the puja fervour, is all set to welcome Maa Durga on October 20.

12 states to spend Rs 1.68L cr on women's cash schemes

12 states to spend Rs 1.68L cr on women's cash schemes

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

A new report indicates that increasing unconditional cash transfer schemes for women across 12 Indian states are impacting their fiscal health, with six states projecting revenue deficits.

Indian Navy's marine commando dies during training exercise in West Bengal

Indian Navy's marine commando dies during training exercise in West Bengal

Rediff.com6 Apr 2023

People familiar with the matter said Chandaka Govind died while carrying out a para jump from an aircraft.

Israel to help West Bengal tackle Maoists

Israel to help West Bengal tackle Maoists

Rediff.com12 Apr 2010

Israel will discuss the issue of homeland security with West Bengal which is reeling under the brunt of Maoist extremism.

RIL discusses investments with West Bengal govt

RIL discusses investments with West Bengal govt

Rediff.com4 Aug 2011

Reliance has small parcels of land in West Bengal for its agri-retail plan.

How could West Bengal's economy be revived?

How could West Bengal's economy be revived?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2010

Economists and analysts are losing sleep over what would be the financial future of the state.

Abhishek Sharma hits 5 sixes, 5 fours for record 12-ball 50!

Abhishek Sharma hits 5 sixes, 5 fours for record 12-ball 50!

Rediff.com30 Nov 2025

Abhishek Sharma smashed the joint third-fastest half-century and broke his own record for most sixes by an Indian in a T20 innings while scoring an unbeaten 148 in Punjab's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Bengal, in Hyderabad, on Sunday.

Large cache of arms, ammo recovered from Bengal flat, 1 held

Large cache of arms, ammo recovered from Bengal flat, 1 held

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

Police in West Bengal seized a large cache of arms and ammunition from a flat in North 24 Parganas district, arresting one person in connection with the seizure. The recovered items include firearms, ammunition, cash, gold, and antique coins.