Category: Bengal
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For 24 Years, He Guarded India’s Borders—Now He’s Standing In Line To Prove He’s A Citizen
At a hearing centre, elderly residents, families and a retired Army jawan queue for SIR scrutiny, facing missing records, paperwork hurdles and fear of exclusion while officials verify electoral histories
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Proof of Citizenship? Amartya Sen and Millions in Bengal Face ‘Doubtful’ Voter Scrutiny
West Bengal’s SIR exercise flags lakhs of voters, including Amartya Sen, raising questions of legality and fairness. Experts Jawhar Sircar and Yogendra Yadav warn genuine voters may face harassment
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From Banerjee to ‘Byneerjnzee’: AI Errors in Old Voter Rolls Haunt Bengal’s Electors
A Kolkata maid with Aadhaar, PAN and voter ID now faces a citizenship hearing as Bengal’s voter revision puts 1.67 crore electors under scrutiny amid multiple phases and mounting uncertainty.
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Odisha Mob Attack Kills Bengal Migrant Worker, Family Alleges Identity-Based Lynching
Migrant workers from Murshidabad were allegedly attacked in Odisha after being accused of being “Bangladeshis” despite showing valid documents. One worker, Jewel Rana, succumbed to his injuries, while two others remain hospitalised. The lynching has renewed concerns over the safety of Bengali-speaking Muslim migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.
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The Incident at Brigade and Bengal’s Uneasy Turn
On December 7, the Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad organised a mass Gita recitation programme at Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Ground, claiming participation of five lakh voices. Many of the biggest faces of Hindutva politics were present. Although it was projected as a purely religious event, almost all senior BJP leaders from Bengal attended. Whether they sincerely…
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Garlands for Accused, Silence for Victim: Gita Path Assault Survivor Gets No Support
Eight days after a mob attack during Kolkata’s Gita Path event, patty seller Sheikh Riyajul remains traumatised and jobless. His Rs 3,000 earnings were destroyed, and the five accused walked free on bail. With no help from authorities or society, fear and financial pressure may force him to return.
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Bengal SIR Exercise Reveals Surprising Patterns in Voter Deletions
ECI draft electoral rolls show 58 lakh voter deletions in West Bengal. Data and independent analysis suggest non-Muslims, particularly Matuas and non-Bengali voters, are more affected. The findings challenge claims that voter exclusions under the SIR exercise primarily target Muslim infiltrators.
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From a Kolkata Ghetto to Serving India: How SR Foundation Became a Humanitarian Movement
Born during the 2020 COVID lockdown in Kolkata’s Topsia, SR Foundation grew from a Rs 7,500 hunger-relief effort into a multi-state humanitarian NGO. From cyclone relief in Bengal to Punjab floods, members ensured transparency by even paying travel costs themselves so every donated rupee reached victims.
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“Bring Her Home”: SC Orders Return of Pregnant Sunali Khatun ‘Dumped’ Across Bangladesh Border
Delhi/Kolkata: After months of uncertainty and anguish, a ray of hope broke through on December 3, when the Supreme Court of India—acting on a humanitarian plea—ordered the immediate repatriation of pregnant Sunali Khatun and her minor son, back to their ancestral home in Birbhum. The court’s decision marks a turning point in a saga that…
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Sundarbans Faces Climate Emergency as Study Finds Mangrove Loss and Long-Ignored Community Radio Need
A multidisciplinary study tour by Aliah University highlighted microplastic damage to mangroves, the urgent need for community radio, cultural insights including Arabic linguistic influence, and climate-driven challenges like species shift and soil loss. Researchers stressed mangrove restoration, resilient embankments and rainwater harvesting as essential adaptation measures.