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A threat by e-mail is received to blow up the landmark buildings including West Bengal assembly and Calcutta High Court, in Kolkata tonight. The bomb disposal squad and the security has been alert after receiving this information and intensive search operations are going to locate any possible explosives in the area.

The e-mail has been received by a TV channel. City police urges people not to panic as they were looking into such threats of explosions at various vital installations in the city.

We have certain information that that there are explosives in some of the vital installations in the city and we are putting in all our efforts to find out the truth involved in the information. So far, no explosive has been found”, Additional Commissioner of Police Subrata Narayan Sarkar told reporters.

Police said, ”We are trying to trace the sender of the e-mail by locating the remote server in the TV channel.”

Special police arrangements have been made at the High Court and the gate of the Assembly. All the senior officers are on the road and ther is tight security near the surrounding areas also.

A few words of the e-mail told by the police reads: “Some of the important areas of the city like Park Street, Salt Lake and Nicco Park and some landmark buildings like the High Court and the state assembly would be blown up by 10.30 pm tonight.”

Till now there is no such news. Sarkar said “the city police force have been put on alert and we have asked the bomb squad to check whether there is any explosive”.

Tags: Bomb, bomb blast, Calcutta High Court, Kolkata, Security, Terror, threat, west bangal, West Bengal assembly

If a beggar comes to bank to open an account with a lump sum of money enough to apply for a credit card, how will you react to it? Surprised or shocked but it is true.

An Indian beggar from Kolkata has opened a bank account using four large buckets full of coins that she has collected over 44 years. This 60 year old lady, Laxmi Das is collecting the coins received through begging for more than 4 decades in her small hut in a shanty town which amounts to nearly $800.

Calcutta police officer Baidyanath Saha said that it was not safe for the lady beggar to keep such large money in the shanty town after locals came to know about it. City police said that when it became known that she was saving the currency, they encouraged Laxmi Das to deposit her coin collection which includes coins minted as far back as 1961 after, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Das told the police that she spent some of the coins, she received through begging, on essential items and saved the rest for her eventual retirement, a day she says is rapidly drawing near as she becomes too old to spend her days begging for change.

Tags: Beggar, Calcutta, Calcutta Police, CP, Kolkata

In protest of the hike in petroleum prices, The CPI (M) has called for a 12-hour bandh in Left ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura on Thursday.

Although there is nation wide protest against the decision as people are not happy with the significant hike of Rs 5 in petrol prices and Rs 3 in Deisel along with Rs 50 in LPG. The CPI on its part has announced a total shutdown in Kolkata.

West Bengal is highly affected by the bandh especially Kolkata. In Kolkata shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed. City streets were silent amid bandh. Train and air services were also affected. Bandh supporters squatted on railway tracks in different parts of the state, Kanojia said.

Various airlines suspended their operations of outgoing flights from Kolkata during the 12-hour bandh period. Kingfisher Airlines have announced the cancellation of eight flights. They rescheduled eight flights.

However trains and vehicles are running in Kerala as usual in spite of the bandh.

Left parties called the hike “suicidal”. The bandh will be preceded by a state-wide protest and rallies this evening. Mr Bose said that he had discussed with the leaders of the Left Front constituents before arriving at a decision in this regard. Terming the price hike “anti-people”, he said it would further increase prices of essential commodities and push the inflation to 10 per cent as it would have a cascading effect raising the transportation cost.

There will be similar strikes in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu later this week.

The hike in petroleum prices were decided in wake of increasing price of fuel in international market touching the heights of $130 per barrel. Prime Minister appealed to the nation yesterday after the announcement to take the decision calmly as the hike is inevitable.

Fuel price hike gave a jolt to common man who is already fighting with increasing inflation. Whatever be the political and economical reasons behind the hike but common mans problems are definitely increased and their life get tougher.

Tags: Bandh, Kerela, Kolkata, Left Parties, Price hike, Strike, Tripura

Kolkata has left behind Delhi city accounting the increased level of air pollution and the increasing number of respiratory disorders in the people of the city. A six-year survey conducted by the Chittaranjan National cancer institute (CNCI) revealed that more than 18 case per one lakh people in Kolkata are affected by lung cancer every year as compared to 13 persons per one lakh in Delhi.

According to environmental scientist and adviser of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Twisha Lahiri, the numbers of heart attack cases were also showing a steep increase in the Eastern metropolis.

CNCI scientists maintain that more than seven in 10 people in Kolkata, including children as well as elderly people, suffer from various kinds of respiratory disorders.

Lahiri said roadside hawkers, shop owners, traffic policemen, auto-rickshaw drivers, rickshaw-pullers and others who spend long hours on the road were the most vulnerable victims of these disorders.

Lahiri blamed the increasing vehicular population and aging fleet of buses behind the increase in pollution. The pollution gives rise to breathing difficulties like asthma in children while elderly people are victims of lung cancer.

Nearly 80 per cent of the buses and trucks and nearly half of the taxis and auto-rickshaws need to be discarded from the roads to clean the city’s air, environmentalists felt.

“What we need is immediate introduction of CNG or LPG-driven buses, strict monitoring of auto-rickshaws which run on adulterated fuel and withdrawal of old buses belching toxic fumes,” she said.

Environmentalist Subhas Dutta had filed a PIL in the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the Bengal government was idle about controlling air pollution level.

“After a series of petitions and court rulings, very little was done to curb the killer pollution. That is inadequate and the fight will continue,” Dutta said.

Tags: CNCI, Delhi, India, Kolkata, Lung Cancer, Pollution

Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Joy Bhattacharya on Wednesday denied any rumors of differences between team owner Shah Rukh Khan and captain Sourav Ganguly. He said that there is no truth in reports and the rumors are all baseless and false.

According to media reports, the two have reported rifts on several issues including team selection and also on Coach John Buchanan being given more power by the owner in running the team.

“We have nothing to say because we think there is no problem in running the team. The reports of rift between Sourav and Shah Rukh are all baseless. The report doesn’t attribute to any source or official. It was an imagination of the reporter’s mind,” Bhattacharya told.

Captain Sourav Ganguly, while leaving Kolkata for his team’s match against Delhi Daredevils, said, “I have no problems with Shah Rukh.”

Bhattacharya admitted that the only problem for the team is “we are losing matches.”

The Knight Riders are already in a bad situation after their loss to Rajasthan Royals Tuesday night in the Indian Premier League, and it will need a miracle for the Kolkata team to get into the semi-finals. This created a lot of pressure on the players and left the owner in trouble.

Tags: Cricket, Dada, Ganguly, IPL, Khan, KKR, Knight Riders, Kolkata, Saurav, Shah Rukh, Shahrukh, SRK, Suarav Ganguly

Setting aside the Calcutta High Court order of staying the implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs in post graduate courses in IIMs, the Supreme Court on Friday rejected the HC verdict and favored the OBC quota for IIM-C.

“We cannot allow Calcutta High Court order to operate,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.

“Can Calcutta High Court sit over the order of the Supreme Court,” the Bench asked while vacating the stay.

Yesterday the Calcutta High Court had stayed quota for OBCs in post-graduate courses in Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Interviews of OBC candidates were halted for the same.

Special interview of OBC students was scheduled by IIM-C following the HRD memorandum.

The interim order of the Calcutta High Court stayed till June 09 the operation of the reservation clause of IIM prospectus and also the resolution of office memorandum dated April 20, 2008 passed by the HRD Ministry.

Announcing the decision today, SC said that however, all admissions will be provisional in post graduate courses in Central educational institutions under the Act before the final outcome.

It also issued notice to those petitioners who were opposing the implementation of government memorandum in different high courts on the Center’s petition seeking transfer of those matters to the apex court.

Tags: Calcutta, High Court, IIM, Kolkata, OBC, SC, Supreme Court

Mathew Hyden’s brilliant half century helped Chennai Super Kings to win against Kolkata Knight Riders by 9 wickets in Chennai on Saturday. It was the first loss of Knight Riders after two successive wins.

Elected to bat first Knight Riders were wrapped up at a modest score of 147 for 9 in 20 overs while the Super Kings achieved the target within 17 overs.

Losing a single wicket in the form of Parthiv Pate l(21), Chennai’s Captain Dhoni and Hyden remain unbeaten and shared a strong partnership of 86 runs.

Hayden hit three fours and as many sixes in his 49-ball innings and was well supported by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who hit a quick 43 off 27 deliveries including six fours and two sixes.

From knight Riders it was only Laxmi Ratan Shukla who held the innings together with a crucial innings of 42.

Jacob Oram (3-32) was the wrecker-in-chief as the Knight Riders’ big guns — Brendon McCullum (24), Ricky Ponting (0), David Hussey (0) and skipper Sourav Ganguly (12) — fell to indiscreet shots one by one. Ganguly’s 12 off 19 balls had just one four.

While Muttiah Muralitharan remained the most economical bowler with 4-0-12-0, P Amarnath claimed two wickets in four overs conceding 29 runs.

Tags: Chennai, IPL, Knight Riders, Kolkata, Super Kings

Shahrukh Khan had decided to give a new sporty look for his pompom girls after the start of political debate regarding the presence of cheerleaders in the field. Cheerleaders of Shahrukh’s Kolkata Knight Riders will wear a new “designer” look at the next match at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

Fashion czar Manish Malhotra is reworking on the dress for the spirited show women and they will be seen in their new attire with a colour combination of golden and black to match with the clothes of team members.

“Yes, I am reworking on the cheerleaders’ dress. I am trying to make it look sporty.” said Manish Malhotra.

When asked whether the new look will be decided on the basis of recent objections held on cheerleaders he said, “Certainly, it will be respected. I have kept this in mind while designing the clothes.”

Knight Riders franchisee Shahrukh Khan had reportedly stated, “If people feel that way we will certainly correct ourselves.”

Although Shahrukh has found nothing wrong in the glamorous dress and presence of cheerleaders for the entertainment of viewers but he decided to alter the dress code to avoid any further objections.

Maharashtra government has banned the cheerleaders telling the presence as ‘vulgar and obscene’. The dancing of semi-nude girls on fours and sixes hit by players gave rise to a controversial debate among political leaders.

Tags: Cheerleaders, IPL, Knight Riders, Kolkata, Riders, Shahrukh Khan

Royal Challengers won over Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets. Mumbai Indians who won the toss and decided to bat first, set a target of 166 runs to Vijaya Mallya owned Bangalore team Royal Challengers.

It was the first challenge for Mumbai Indians while Royal Challengers were playing for second time after losing its first match by Kolkata Knight Riders.

Mark Boucher who scored 39, not out helped the team to cross the target. His 55-run partnership with Jaques Kallis (25) led the Banglore team to win.

Captain Rahul Dravid scored 32 while Virat Kohli gave 23 runs to the team.

Sachin Tendulkar who was struggling for his fitness for Mumbai team till the start of the game finally dismissed to play. In his absence charge of the team was given to Harbhajan Singh.

Openers of Mumbai team Jayasurya and Ronchi made 29 and 8 runs respectively. Top-scorer Robin Uthappa (48) helped the team to set a competitive target of 166 but missed his half century.

Shaun Pollock played a small but magnificent batting for 28 runs out of 12 balls.

Tags: Cricket, IPL, Knight Riders, Kolkata, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers

Shahrukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders beat Deccan Chargers by 5 wickets at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. The Deccan chargers were wrapped up for 110 runs within 18.4 overs.

On the poor pitch, the Knight Riders have slow start and had to struggle a bit to chase a small target of 111 set by the Deccan Chargers but finally Australia’s David Hussey finish off the match in the 17th over with a gritty unbeaten 38 runs off 43 balls.

The Knight Riders is headed by Sourav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting, David Hussey, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Ishant Sharma, Umar Gul, Murali Kartik, Mohammed Hafeez, Tatenda Taibu, Ajit Agarkar and Salman Butt.

After giving a brilliant score of 158 in earlier match, McCullum was flop in the second match giving only 5 runs. Rickey Ponting also disappointed the fans and left the pitch without opening his account.

The chargers were also very slow from the start and the batsmen had to struggle hard to set an easy target of 111 and were all out within 18.4 overs. Andrew Symonds scored highest of 32 for the team out of 39. Adam Gilchrist could attain only 23.

The 50 of the innings was posted in 9.2 overs, before Styris (6) returned to the pavilion.

Young Ashok Dinda who was playing only his second Twenty20 match opened the bowling and generated a good pace. His new ball partner Ishant Sharma also maintained a good line and length while sending down his customary fiery deliveries.

Murali Kartik snared 3 wickets for the Knight Riders contributing 17 runs to the team while Ajit Agarkar bagged a couple after being hammered for 16 runs in his first over.

Tags: Cricket, Deccan Chargers, IPL, Knight Riders, Kolkata, Shahrukh Khan