<p>Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said that women are the backbone of our country.</p>

<p>The Master Blaster was speaking at Kolkata police&#39;s annual sports meet where he acknowledged the efforts of housewives and working women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I still remember, as a child when one would come back home, one would always expect mother to be around. They do everything possible for you and we took all those things for granted,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>&quot;For women to take care of their house and to do their job is credible and full marks to you for your commitment,&quot; he shared.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the event, Tendulkar was also joined by footballer PK&nbsp;Banerjee.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from ANI)</em></p>


At the event, Tendulkar was also joined by footballer PK Banerjee

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said that women are the backbone of our country. The Master Blaster was speaking at Kolkata police's annual sports meet where he acknowledged the efforts of housewives and working women. "I still remember, as a child when one would come back home, one would always expect mother to be around. They do everything possible for you and we took all those things for granted," he added. "For women to take care of their house and to do their job is credible and full marks to you for your commitment," he shared. At the event, Tendulkar was also joined by footballer PK Banerjee. (With inputs from ANI)

'Women are backbone of our country,' Sachin Tendulkar

<p>A mob went on a rampage after a bus ran over two college students at Chingrighata, Kolkata on Saturday morning.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">West Bengal: Two pedestrians died after being hit by a bus at Kolkata&#39;s Chingrighata crossing. Heavy police deployment in the area amidst protests by locals against the accident, bus torched. <a href="https://t.co/Mu16nKdvFR">pic.twitter.com/Mu16nKdvFR</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/959708197069230080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the reports, angry locals of the area torched five buses in protest against the incident.&nbsp;They also pelted stones at police who was trying to bring the situation under control.</p>

<p>Media report says agitated crowd also vandalised police vehicle and a fire engine that came to douse the fire.</p>

<p>After failing to control the situation, the police resorted to tear gas shells. Security has been beefed up in the area with heavy police force deployment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to media reports, two victim pedestrian -- Sanjay &nbsp;Bonu and Biswajit Bhuniya -- were run over by a bus while they were crossing a road; bus jumped the signal and ran over the students before it fled the scene. WION could not confirm whether the bus involved in the accident is a government or a private vehicle .&nbsp;</p>

<p>The locals of the area have blamed the police for not controlling traffic and not keeping a proper security.</p>

<p>Trinamool Congress&#39; local leader Sujit Bose also rushed to the area to calm down the situation.</p>


According to the reports, angry locals of the area torched five buses in a protest against the incident

A mob went on a rampage after a bus ran over two college students at Chingrighata, Kolkata on Saturday morning. West Bengal: Two pedestrians died after being hit by a bus at Kolkata's Chingrighata crossing. Heavy police deployment in the area amidst protests by locals against the accident, bus torched. pic.twitter.com/Mu16nKdvFR — ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2018 × According to the reports, angry locals of the area torched five buses in protest against the incident. They also pelted stones at police who was trying to bring the situation under control. Media report says agitated crowd also vandalised police vehicle and a fire engine that came to douse the fire. After failing to control the situation, the police resorted to tear gas shells. Security has been beefed up in the area with heavy police force deployment. According to media reports, two victim pedestrian -- Sanjay Bonu and Biswajit Bhuniya -- were run over by a bus while they were crossing a road; bus jumped the signal and ran over the students before it fled the scene. WION could not confirm whether the bus involved in the accident is a government or a private vehicle . The locals of the area have blamed the police for not controlling traffic and not keeping a proper security. Trinamool Congress' local leader Sujit Bose also rushed to the area to calm down the situation.

Kolkata: Angry mob torches 5 buses after two college students run over

<p>A 70-year-old woman residing on the outskirts of Kolkata has been found to be living with her dead husband for around three days, police informed on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident came to light when neighbours told the police that the couple had not been picking up their newspapers or answering the door, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Haridev police station was informed of the incident who then rushed to the couple&#39;s residence in Ostad Amir Khan to find the body of 82-year-old Amar Kumar Sanyal in bed with his wife, Hasi Rani Sanyal, standing beside with a blank face.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per reports, the wife was suspected to be in a state of shock as she did not answer questions asked by the police. The deceased man was a former employee of Calcutta Dock Labour Board and is said to have passed away three to four days ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The man body has been sent for autopsy for further investigation on the exact time of death while his wife has been sent to an asylum on South of Kolkata, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports further say that their neighbours had last seen them on January 8.&nbsp;</p>


The incident came to light when neighbours told the police that the couple had not been picking up newspapers or answering the door, reports said

A 70-year-old woman residing on the outskirts of Kolkata has been found to be living with her dead husband for around three days, police informed on Sunday. The incident came to light when neighbours told the police that the couple had not been picking up their newspapers or answering the door, reports said. The Haridev police station was informed of the incident who then rushed to the couple's residence in Ostad Amir Khan to find the body of 82-year-old Amar Kumar Sanyal in bed with his wife, Hasi Rani Sanyal, standing beside with a blank face. As per reports, the wife was suspected to be in a state of shock as she did not answer questions asked by the police. The deceased man was a former employee of Calcutta Dock Labour Board and is said to have passed away three to four days ago. The man body has been sent for autopsy for further investigation on the exact time of death while his wife has been sent to an asylum on South of Kolkata, reports said. Reports further say that their neighbours had last seen them on January 8.

70-year-old woman found living with dead husband in Kolkata

<p>Kolkata police today arrested two people who had concealed over 22,000 euros in their shoes.</p>

<p>The two were set to board a Bangkok-bound flight when they were arrested by police at the airport.</p>

<p>The foreign currency recovered from them is worth Rs 1.72 crore in Indian currency.</p>

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<p>The men had concealed currency worth several thousand crores in their shoes (WION Web Team)</p>
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<p>Kolkata police seized currency by two people bound for Bangkok (WION Web Team)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


The two were set to board a Bangkok bound flight when they were arrested by police

Kolkata police today arrested two people who had concealed over 22,000 euros in their shoes. The two were set to board a Bangkok-bound flight when they were arrested by police at the airport. The foreign currency recovered from them is worth Rs 1.72 crore in Indian currency. The men had concealed currency worth several thousand crores in their shoes (WION Web Team) × Kolkata police seized currency by two people bound for Bangkok (WION Web Team) ×

Police arrest two people with Rs 1.72 crore concealed in shoes at Kolkata airport

<p>A Japanese tourist was robbed of his belongings including passport and visa at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.</p>

<p>The accused, identified as Rashid Khan, allegedly drugged the victim and robbed his belongings, said the police.</p>

<p>&quot;I met this man in Varanasi, I thought he is a genuine and honest person. So, when he asked me for dinner, I went with him. After that, I fell asleep. When I woke up, he was not there neither was my stuff. I don&#39;t know what happened to me; I was so dizzy,&quot; said the tourist to news agency ANI.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UttarPradesh</a>: Japanese tourist allegedly drugged and robbed in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Varanasi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Varanasi</a>, says &#39;the culprit decamped with my belongings, including cash, camera, mobile, passport, visa and other documents&#39;. Case registered. <a href="https://t.co/zFOzu1sVwC">pic.twitter.com/zFOzu1sVwC</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/941511125237096449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The victim was supposed to leave for Kolkata, which was his final destination in India, but could not do so as his passport and visa were also stolen.</p>

<p>An FIR has been lodged at the Sigra Police Station in this regard and an investigation is underway.</p>


The accused, identified as Rashid Khan, allegedly made the victim unconscious and robbed his belongings, said the police.

A Japanese tourist was robbed of his belongings including passport and visa at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The accused, identified as Rashid Khan, allegedly drugged the victim and robbed his belongings, said the police. "I met this man in Varanasi, I thought he is a genuine and honest person. So, when he asked me for dinner, I went with him. After that, I fell asleep. When I woke up, he was not there neither was my stuff. I don't know what happened to me; I was so dizzy," said the tourist to news agency ANI. #UttarPradesh: Japanese tourist allegedly drugged and robbed in #Varanasi, says 'the culprit decamped with my belongings, including cash, camera, mobile, passport, visa and other documents'. Case registered. pic.twitter.com/zFOzu1sVwC — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 15, 2017 × The victim was supposed to leave for Kolkata, which was his final destination in India, but could not do so as his passport and visa were also stolen. An FIR has been lodged at the Sigra Police Station in this regard and an investigation is underway.

Japanese tourist robbed in Varanasi

<p>Football legend Diego Maradona was in Kolkata for a three-day visit that began on Sunday.</p>

<p>Scores of fans were gathered outside the airport to get a glimpse of their favourite star footballer when he reached Kolkata two days back.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/SGanguly99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SGanguly99</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DiegoAMaradona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DiegoAMaradona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vikrantgupta73?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikrantgupta73</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aajtak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aajtak</a> Few precious moment of tday. The Prince of football with the Prince of cricket.???? <a href="https://t.co/dVMIT3oL85">pic.twitter.com/dVMIT3oL85</a></p>
&mdash; SAMRAT MUKHERJEE (@prince3091) <a href="https://twitter.com/prince3091/status/940554056455544833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Maradona unveiled a 12-foot statue of himself in Kolkata and was also expected to play a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/diego-maradona-and-sourav-ganguly-take-part-in-a-charity-football-match-in-west-bengals-kolkata-7316" target="_blank">charity football match</a> with former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Diego Maradona unveils are rather unflattering bronze statue of himself holding a massive World Cup trophy &amp; a massive head of hair, in Kolkata, India <a href="https://twitter.com/PAImages?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PAImages</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maradona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maradona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/soccer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#soccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/funny?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#funny</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4KopbhSW7">pic.twitter.com/Y4KopbhSW7</a></p>
&mdash; Richard Holt (@Richard_Holt69) <a href="https://twitter.com/Richard_Holt69/status/940561540767518720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>While many marvelled at the sight of the humungous statue put up in honour of the Argentine legend, social media -- like always -- had a different chord to strum.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Diego Maradona is in India &amp; a statue of him was unveiled at a charity event in Kolkata.<br />
Good to see the chap that did the Ronaldo one is still in business <a href="https://t.co/p5IDzgfExw">pic.twitter.com/p5IDzgfExw</a></p>
&mdash; Peter Coates (@golazoargentino) <a href="https://twitter.com/golazoargentino/status/940350184453746688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Twitter cracked up saying that the statue looked nothing like Maradona.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One of these is a statue of Diego Maradona. <a href="https://t.co/4KqgUGPjD8">pic.twitter.com/4KqgUGPjD8</a></p>
&mdash; Steve Darrah ?????? (@Darrah88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Darrah88/status/940349826478280705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The sculptor who did the new Diego Maradona statue mixed up his Scottish icons <a href="https://t.co/hc5lhkJqDD">pic.twitter.com/hc5lhkJqDD</a></p>
&mdash; McBookie (@McBookie) <a href="https://twitter.com/McBookie/status/940321606450270208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Genuinely thought this was a statue of Roy Hodgson...<br />
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...it&#39;s Diego Maradona... <a href="https://t.co/V9NAVJMdop">pic.twitter.com/V9NAVJMdop</a></p>
&mdash; The Sack Race (@thesackrace) <a href="https://twitter.com/thesackrace/status/940507452428247040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier this year, Cristiano Ronaldo&#39;s rather bizarre statue unveiled in Portugal raked in similar reactions.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How about statues of the same guys, but done by the guy who did that stroke-faced Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal. <a href="https://t.co/gqI5bzOuOC">pic.twitter.com/gqI5bzOuOC</a></p>
&mdash; Dave O&#39;Connell (@bethenikki) <a href="https://twitter.com/bethenikki/status/899621827496071169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Maradona&#39;s trip was originally scheduled to take place in October but was postponed to December.</p>

<p>This is the second visit by the footballer in the city. He last visited Kolkata in December 2008.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reportedly, the Argentine legend on Tuesday skipped the much-hyped &#39;Diego versus Dada&#39; exhibition match, leaving cricket icon Sourav Ganguly disappointed.</p>

<p>&quot;It would have been great to have played with him but he could not play,&quot; Ganguly said after featuring in the seven-a-side exhibition match.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Twitterati thought it didn't look like him

Football legend Diego Maradona was in Kolkata for a three-day visit that began on Sunday. Scores of fans were gathered outside the airport to get a glimpse of their favourite star footballer when he reached Kolkata two days back. @SGanguly99 @DiegoAMaradona @vikrantgupta73 @aajtak Few precious moment of tday. The Prince of football with the Prince of cricket.???? pic.twitter.com/dVMIT3oL85 — SAMRAT MUKHERJEE (@prince3091) December 12, 2017 × Maradona unveiled a 12-foot statue of himself in Kolkata and was also expected to play a charity football match with former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. Diego Maradona unveils are rather unflattering bronze statue of himself holding a massive World Cup trophy & a massive head of hair, in Kolkata, India @PAImages #Maradona #soccer #funny pic.twitter.com/Y4KopbhSW7 — Richard Holt (@Richard_Holt69) December 12, 2017 × While many marvelled at the sight of the humungous statue put up in honour of the Argentine legend, social media -- like always -- had a different chord to strum. Diego Maradona is in India & a statue of him was unveiled at a charity event in Kolkata. Good to see the chap that did the Ronaldo one is still in business pic.twitter.com/p5IDzgfExw — Peter Coates (@golazoargentino) December 11, 2017 × Twitter cracked up saying that the statue looked nothing like Maradona. One of these is a statue of Diego Maradona. pic.twitter.com/4KqgUGPjD8 — Steve Darrah ?????? (@Darrah88) December 11, 2017 × The sculptor who did the new Diego Maradona statue mixed up his Scottish icons pic.twitter.com/hc5lhkJqDD — McBookie (@McBookie) December 11, 2017 × Genuinely thought this was a statue of Roy Hodgson... ...it's Diego Maradona... pic.twitter.com/V9NAVJMdop — The Sack Race (@thesackrace) December 12, 2017 × Earlier this year, Cristiano Ronaldo's rather bizarre statue unveiled in Portugal raked in similar reactions. How about statues of the same guys, but done by the guy who did that stroke-faced Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal. pic.twitter.com/gqI5bzOuOC — Dave O'Connell (@bethenikki) August 21, 2017 × Maradona's trip was originally scheduled to take place in October but was postponed to December. This is the second visit by the footballer in the city. He last visited Kolkata in December 2008. Reportedly, the Argentine legend on Tuesday skipped the much-hyped 'Diego versus Dada' exhibition match, leaving cricket icon Sourav Ganguly disappointed. "It would have been great to have played with him but he could not play," Ganguly said after featuring in the seven-a-side exhibition match. (With inputs from PTI)

Twitter cracks up over 'bizarre' Maradona statue in Kolkata

<p>Amidst the controversy over a nursery student&#39;s alleged sexual assault by two teachers at a city institute, another reputed school here today suspended a member of its service staff following a three-month old case of sexual abuse of a child inside the school.</p>

<p>A large number of guardians today demonstrated before the M P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, which said that it suspended its service staff after discussion with the police, pending further investigation.</p>

<p>In a statement, the school authorities said a complaint was received from the parents of a girl student about alleged sexual misconduct against her in September&nbsp;2017 but that the complaint did not point out any individual.</p>

<p>&quot;The parents had also lodged a complaint with the local police station. The school has been thoroughly cooperating with the police in the investigations,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>Hours of CCTV footage were reviewed by the school and the police, the statement said, adding that the police also questioned several members of the support staff and teachers.</p>

<p>&quot;We are committed to ensuring that the child gets justice. However, we also hope that no member of the staff of our school should be judged in the matter except according to law. We are confident that members of the staff are committed to the safety of the children. Anyone found wanting in this regard will be prosecuted as per law,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a section of guardians demonstrated before the school building for hours today alleging the school and the police did not take much action to find out and prosecute those responsible for the alleged molestation of the girl.</p>

<p>The guardians were joined by the mother of the child who claimed she has been still traumatised and unable to attend classes.</p>

<p>They refused to leave the premises even after it was announced that one service staff was suspended, and demanded increase in number of female attendants and periodic police patrolling during school hours.</p>

<p>After the guardians blocked the arterial James Long Sarani, police dispersed them.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police today formed a special committee to look into the allegations of negligence and false representation on part of the G D Birla Centre for Education where a 4-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on November 30 allegedly by two male PT teachers, who were later arrested.</p>

<p>A senior police officer said a complaint in this regard has been lodged with the Jadavpur police station.</p>

<p>The committee consists of representatives from the West Bengal State Education Department, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the ICSE Board, New Delhi and Kolkata Police, he added.</p>

<p>The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) today sought the arrest of the principal of the G D Birla Centre for Education in connection with the incident.</p>

<p>Principal Sharmila Nath could have dealt with the matter in a sensible manner, WBCPCR Chairperson Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti told PTI.</p>


The school said it suspended the service staff member after a discussion with police

Amidst the controversy over a nursery student's alleged sexual assault by two teachers at a city institute, another reputed school here today suspended a member of its service staff following a three-month old case of sexual abuse of a child inside the school. A large number of guardians today demonstrated before the M P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, which said that it suspended its service staff after discussion with the police, pending further investigation. In a statement, the school authorities said a complaint was received from the parents of a girl student about alleged sexual misconduct against her in September 2017 but that the complaint did not point out any individual. "The parents had also lodged a complaint with the local police station. The school has been thoroughly cooperating with the police in the investigations," it said. Hours of CCTV footage were reviewed by the school and the police, the statement said, adding that the police also questioned several members of the support staff and teachers. "We are committed to ensuring that the child gets justice. However, we also hope that no member of the staff of our school should be judged in the matter except according to law. We are confident that members of the staff are committed to the safety of the children. Anyone found wanting in this regard will be prosecuted as per law," it said. Meanwhile, a section of guardians demonstrated before the school building for hours today alleging the school and the police did not take much action to find out and prosecute those responsible for the alleged molestation of the girl. The guardians were joined by the mother of the child who claimed she has been still traumatised and unable to attend classes. They refused to leave the premises even after it was announced that one service staff was suspended, and demanded increase in number of female attendants and periodic police patrolling during school hours. After the guardians blocked the arterial James Long Sarani, police dispersed them. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police today formed a special committee to look into the allegations of negligence and false representation on part of the G D Birla Centre for Education where a 4-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on November 30 allegedly by two male PT teachers, who were later arrested. A senior police officer said a complaint in this regard has been lodged with the Jadavpur police station. The committee consists of representatives from the West Bengal State Education Department, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the ICSE Board, New Delhi and Kolkata Police, he added. The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) today sought the arrest of the principal of the G D Birla Centre for Education in connection with the incident. Principal Sharmila Nath could have dealt with the matter in a sensible manner, WBCPCR Chairperson Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti told PTI.

Kolkata: School suspends staffer on 3-month-old sexual abuse complaint

<p>Bad light and rain have put a stop to India&#39;s first Test against Sri Lanka.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indians were struggling at 17 for 3.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lokesh Rahul was caught off the first ball of the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He edged a rising delivery from Suranga Lakmal to Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The paceman then took Shikhar Dhawan for eight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Captain Virat Kohli was the next to go, for duck.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cheteshwar Pujara at 8 and Ajinkya Rahane, at nought, were left at the crease.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It had been raining for two days before the first Test, which began late because of a wet outfield.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And the game was stopped twice in between before finally being called off for good at 3.38 pm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lokesh Rahul was caught off the first ball of the match

Bad light and rain have put a stop to India's first Test against Sri Lanka. The Indians were struggling at 17 for 3. Lokesh Rahul was caught off the first ball of the match. He edged a rising delivery from Suranga Lakmal to Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. The paceman then took Shikhar Dhawan for eight. Captain Virat Kohli was the next to go, for duck. Cheteshwar Pujara at 8 and Ajinkya Rahane, at nought, were left at the crease. It had been raining for two days before the first Test, which began late because of a wet outfield. And the game was stopped twice in between before finally being called off for good at 3.38 pm.

1st Test: Struggling at 17/3, bad weather comes to India's rescue

<p>As Madame Tussaud is for wax modelling, Kumartuli is for clay modelling. As Durga Puja came to be celebrated as &#39;sarbojanin&#39; neighbourhood festival in Bengal, Kumartoli emerged as the most significant center of making clay models of Hindu deities. Situated in North Kolkata, Kumartoli, for decades, has been extremely dominated by men. The interference of women was strictly avoided. Possibly, such a prohibition could be derivative of Hindu Shastraic injunction against women reading religious texts. For long Hindu religion worshipped women but kept them at bay from playing a decisive role in the performance of religious rites.&nbsp;<br />
Fortunately, times are changing. Slowly but definitely. Clay modelling is a profession in which men are the leading actors but women of Kumartuli are also showing off their brilliance.</p>

<p>Few women in Kumartuli are setting the example for others. China Pal, Mala Pal, Kanchi Pal and Kakoli Pal. They are not only breaking the stereotypes but also doing a good business in Kumartuli among male artisans.</p>

<p><strong>Miniature foldable idols</strong></p>

<p>Mala Pal has been single-handedly taking care of her family studio for the last 3 decades. Mala&#39;s brother gave up and did not join the family business. At the age of 15, she had to quit school and started making Durga idols. Despite all hardships and financial problems, Mala emerged as the unvanquished fighter. She has won several state award for her work. Especially, her miniature foldable idols are very famous, and even get exported to UK, Germany and Canada. She is also training young girls to join the profession.</p>

<p><strong>Transgender Durga</strong></p>

<p>China Pal was trained by her father Hemant Pal. Her father died in 1994 since then, it is China who has taken sole responsibility of her father&#39;s studio. She said, &ldquo;After father&#39;s death, his regular customer came to me and that was very motivating&rdquo;. She is now a very famous artisan in Kumartuli. She also mentioned that this business requires a lot of investment at the initial stage. In 2015, she made an androgynous sculpture for a transgender community named Pratyay Gender Trust.</p>

<p>For the first time in the history of the public celebration of Durga Puja, &ldquo;Ardhanarishvara&rdquo; idol was worshipped that was crafted by China.</p>

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<p>Androgynous sculpture of goddess Durga (Others)</p>
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<p><strong>An artist without a studio</strong></p>

<p>Archana Pal took care of the studio when her husband Nrisimha Pal died. She then trained her daughter Kanchi Pal, and now Kanchi is standing neck to neck with other male artisans. She is giving definitely a stiff competition to others. Kanchi advocates the participation of a larger number of women idol-maker in the Kumartoli workforce.</p>

<p>Narrow and congested lanes of Kumartuli is a workplace for another women clay modeller Kakoli Pal. Kakoli doesn&#39;t have a studio. &ldquo;I have appealed to local authorities to provide me with a studio on rent&rdquo;, she said. She went through a lot of difficult time when her husband died and left her alone with two other children. She doesn&#39;t have any training in idol-making. She was just married off to a male artisan of Kumartuli. Pushed by misfortune, Kakoli just took a plunge in the profession of idol-making for her survival as well as that of her two daughters. And she pulled it off.</p>

<p>Kakoli also said, &ldquo;I cannot go to remote places to fetch material that is required for idol-making because of safety issues.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Mala, China, Kakoli and Kanchi, these women are making it really big in the eccentric and male-dominated profession and walking a path-less-taken and, thus, slowly removing the gender gap that exists in the craft and business of clay modelling.</p>


Women of Kumartoli are taking to clay modelling and, thereby, changing the stronghold of gender prejudices that marked the profession

As Madame Tussaud is for wax modelling, Kumartuli is for clay modelling. As Durga Puja came to be celebrated as 'sarbojanin' neighbourhood festival in Bengal, Kumartoli emerged as the most significant center of making clay models of Hindu deities. Situated in North Kolkata, Kumartoli, for decades, has been extremely dominated by men. The interference of women was strictly avoided. Possibly, such a prohibition could be derivative of Hindu Shastraic injunction against women reading religious texts. For long Hindu religion worshipped women but kept them at bay from playing a decisive role in the performance of religious rites. Fortunately, times are changing. Slowly but definitely. Clay modelling is a profession in which men are the leading actors but women of Kumartuli are also showing off their brilliance. Few women in Kumartuli are setting the example for others. China Pal, Mala Pal, Kanchi Pal and Kakoli Pal. They are not only breaking the stereotypes but also doing a good business in Kumartuli among male artisans. Miniature foldable idols Mala Pal has been single-handedly taking care of her family studio for the last 3 decades. Mala's brother gave up and did not join the family business. At the age of 15, she had to quit school and started making Durga idols. Despite all hardships and financial problems, Mala emerged as the unvanquished fighter. She has won several state award for her work. Especially, her miniature foldable idols are very famous, and even get exported to UK, Germany and Canada. She is also training young girls to join the profession. Transgender Durga China Pal was trained by her father Hemant Pal. Her father died in 1994 since then, it is China who has taken sole responsibility of her father's studio. She said, “After father's death, his regular customer came to me and that was very motivating”. She is now a very famous artisan in Kumartuli. She also mentioned that this business requires a lot of investment at the initial stage. In 2015, she made an androgynous sculpture for a transgender community named Pratyay Gender Trust. For the first time in the history of the public celebration of Durga Puja, “Ardhanarishvara” idol was worshipped that was crafted by China. Androgynous sculpture of goddess Durga (Others) × An artist without a studio Archana Pal took care of the studio when her husband Nrisimha Pal died. She then trained her daughter Kanchi Pal, and now Kanchi is standing neck to neck with other male artisans. She is giving definitely a stiff competition to others. Kanchi advocates the participation of a larger number of women idol-maker in the Kumartoli workforce. Narrow and congested lanes of Kumartuli is a workplace for another women clay modeller Kakoli Pal. Kakoli doesn't have a studio. “I have appealed to local authorities to provide me with a studio on rent”, she said. She went through a lot of difficult time when her husband died and left her alone with two other children. She doesn't have any training in idol-making. She was just married off to a male artisan of Kumartuli. Pushed by misfortune, Kakoli just took a plunge in the profession of idol-making for her survival as well as that of her two daughters. And she pulled it off. Kakoli also said, “I cannot go to remote places to fetch material that is required for idol-making because of safety issues.” Mala, China, Kakoli and Kanchi, these women are making it really big in the eccentric and male-dominated profession and walking a path-less-taken and, thus, slowly removing the gender gap that exists in the craft and business of clay modelling.

Breaking tradition, women clay modellers are making Durga idol in Bengal

<p>Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan.</p>

<p>&quot;It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,&quot; Piyush Goyal said.</p>

<p>Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative.</p>

<p>&quot;Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways,&quot; Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and &quot;it is indeed a matter of celebration.&quot; Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. &quot;The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the &quot;top salesman&quot; for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the<em> Japan Times</em> had reported, earlier in August.</p>

<p>The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.</p>

<p>When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.</p>


'It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,' the new railway miniser said

Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan. "It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India," Piyush Goyal said. Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways," Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and "it is indeed a matter of celebration." Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. "The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it," he said. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the "top salesman" for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the Japan Times had reported, earlier in August. The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.

Piyush Goyal assures people Indian bullet train will be safe

<p>A house on Kolkata&#39;s Bidhan Sarani is reported to have collapsed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A number of people were trapped, but they have been rescued.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/building-collapses-in-kolkatas-burrabazar-1-dead-19892" target="_blank">Also read: Death toll rises to three in Kolkata building collapse</a></p>

<p>There were no major injuries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A number of people were trapped, but they have been rescued

A house on Kolkata's Bidhan Sarani is reported to have collapsed. A number of people were trapped, but they have been rescued. Also read: Death toll rises to three in Kolkata building collapse There were no major injuries.

Another building collapses in Kolkata

<p>When Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned high-denomination currency bills in a surprise move late last year, authorities noticed a surge in shell companies depositing cash in banks, seemingly in a bid to hide who owned that wealth.</p>

<p>The moment, said a top aide to Modi, was an eye-opener for the government, which had not realized just how much shell companies were being used to hide assets and launder money.</p>

<p>Modi&#39;s office has formed a team of top law enforcement and revenue officials to go after such companies.</p>

<p>Last month, the authorities ordered nearly 200,000 shell companies to be shut down, and the aide said the government is examining hundreds of thousands more.</p>

<p>The systematic crackdown on shell companies - which have no active business operations or assets - is perhaps one of the most tangible outcomes of demonetization, which aimed to hit tax evasion and move India toward cashless, digital transactions that leave a paper trail.</p>

<p>&quot;We are very much at war against black money. The impact of this (crackdown) will be huge on shell companies,&quot; said the aide, who cannot be named in line with government rules.</p>

<p>In his Independence Day address on Tuesday, Modi claimed credit for going after these companies, and warned that &quot;looters of the nation&#39;s wealth will have to answer.&quot;</p>

<p>Modi took office in 2014, vowing to fight corruption and bring back billions of dollars stashed away overseas as well as in real estate, stock markets and front companies through a web of fictitious names.</p>

<p>While the move to withdraw 85 per cent of bank notes shook the economy and was widely criticised, the fight against unaccounted wealth carries overwhelming support from ordinary Indians who often have to pay bribes for government services.</p>

<p>A high-level task force leading the investigation has found hundreds of shell companies are registered in a few buildings in Kolkata.</p>

<p>More than 400 companies listed their address in a dimly-lit colonial-era building at 9/12 Lalbazar Street.</p>

<p>In its warren of offices were firms offering services such as earthmoving equipment, infrastructure financing, information technology consultants and many others which had office space the size of cubicles.</p>

<p>Many were locked, with their padlocks coated in dust. Others were grimy residential quarters with laundry hanging from the windows.</p>

<p>Data separately provided by Tofler, a company information database service, identified nearly 3,000 companies in two offices in the building. Some were named after flowers.</p>

<p>A tax inspector said the Kolkata firms were a virtual money laundering industry and drew a parallel to the Panama legal firm Mossack Fonseca that emerged from obscurity last year after the leak of millions of documents from its offices that illustrated how the wealthy use offshore corporations to avoid taxes.</p>

<p>&quot;The Kolkata industry does the work of obfuscating money trails. Kolkata companies are a huge network that take your money from one end and bring it out the other,&quot; said the inspector, who didn&#39;t want to be identified as he&#39;s not authorised to talk to the media.</p>

<p>The shell companies support much of the fraud and embezzlement in India, tax authorities say.</p>

<p>The owners of these companies create elaborate smokescreens, including naming personal servants and chauffeurs as board directors, the tax inspector said, adding they are used to obscure the ultimate beneficiaries, conceal political investment, route money to evade tax, commit fraud or manipulate tenders.</p>

<p>Last week, the Securities Exchange Board of India imposed trading restrictions on 162 listed entities as shell companies as part of its broader crackdown on illegal offshore transfers and tax evasion.</p>

<p>Several firms identified in the list of front companies have challenged the decision, saying they were engaged in legitimate business.</p>

<p>The Serious Fraud Investigation Office is creating a database of shell companies, and has so far identified 114,269 as front firms.</p>

<p>The database contains details of those involved in the shell company &#39;eco-system&#39;, from those who set up the companies to the beneficiaries of laundered money and the professional mediators who bring the operators and beneficiaries together, the government note said.</p>

<p>More than 370 front companies were listed at 23A Netaji Subhash Road, another site in Kolkata, according to the note.</p>

<p>Sujit Kumar Mukherjee, the secretary of the 23A Tenants&rsquo; Association, said he was not in a position to say if there were front firms operating from the building.</p>

<p>&quot;It is very difficult to say who is doing what behind the front door,&quot; he said.</p>


Last month, authorities ordered nearly 200,000 shell companies to be shut down

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned high-denomination currency bills in a surprise move late last year, authorities noticed a surge in shell companies depositing cash in banks, seemingly in a bid to hide who owned that wealth. The moment, said a top aide to Modi, was an eye-opener for the government, which had not realized just how much shell companies were being used to hide assets and launder money. Modi's office has formed a team of top law enforcement and revenue officials to go after such companies. Last month, the authorities ordered nearly 200,000 shell companies to be shut down, and the aide said the government is examining hundreds of thousands more. The systematic crackdown on shell companies - which have no active business operations or assets - is perhaps one of the most tangible outcomes of demonetization, which aimed to hit tax evasion and move India toward cashless, digital transactions that leave a paper trail. "We are very much at war against black money. The impact of this (crackdown) will be huge on shell companies," said the aide, who cannot be named in line with government rules. In his Independence Day address on Tuesday, Modi claimed credit for going after these companies, and warned that "looters of the nation's wealth will have to answer." Modi took office in 2014, vowing to fight corruption and bring back billions of dollars stashed away overseas as well as in real estate, stock markets and front companies through a web of fictitious names. While the move to withdraw 85 per cent of bank notes shook the economy and was widely criticised, the fight against unaccounted wealth carries overwhelming support from ordinary Indians who often have to pay bribes for government services. A high-level task force leading the investigation has found hundreds of shell companies are registered in a few buildings in Kolkata. More than 400 companies listed their address in a dimly-lit colonial-era building at 9/12 Lalbazar Street. In its warren of offices were firms offering services such as earthmoving equipment, infrastructure financing, information technology consultants and many others which had office space the size of cubicles. Many were locked, with their padlocks coated in dust. Others were grimy residential quarters with laundry hanging from the windows. Data separately provided by Tofler, a company information database service, identified nearly 3,000 companies in two offices in the building. Some were named after flowers. A tax inspector said the Kolkata firms were a virtual money laundering industry and drew a parallel to the Panama legal firm Mossack Fonseca that emerged from obscurity last year after the leak of millions of documents from its offices that illustrated how the wealthy use offshore corporations to avoid taxes. "The Kolkata industry does the work of obfuscating money trails. Kolkata companies are a huge network that take your money from one end and bring it out the other," said the inspector, who didn't want to be identified as he's not authorised to talk to the media. The shell companies support much of the fraud and embezzlement in India, tax authorities say. The owners of these companies create elaborate smokescreens, including naming personal servants and chauffeurs as board directors, the tax inspector said, adding they are used to obscure the ultimate beneficiaries, conceal political investment, route money to evade tax, commit fraud or manipulate tenders. Last week, the Securities Exchange Board of India imposed trading restrictions on 162 listed entities as shell companies as part of its broader crackdown on illegal offshore transfers and tax evasion. Several firms identified in the list of front companies have challenged the decision, saying they were engaged in legitimate business. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office is creating a database of shell companies, and has so far identified 114,269 as front firms. The database contains details of those involved in the shell company 'eco-system', from those who set up the companies to the beneficiaries of laundered money and the professional mediators who bring the operators and beneficiaries together, the government note said. More than 370 front companies were listed at 23A Netaji Subhash Road, another site in Kolkata, according to the note. Sujit Kumar Mukherjee, the secretary of the 23A Tenants’ Association, said he was not in a position to say if there were front firms operating from the building. "It is very difficult to say who is doing what behind the front door," he said.

Cracking down on 'black' money, India steps up scrutiny of shell firms

<p>Shobha Sen, the doyenne of Bengali theatre passed away yesterday in Kolkata at the age of 93. Bengali theatre fraternity would remember her not only as a wonderful actress in some of the remarkable performances both on stage and on the silver screen but also as a champion of the rights of female performers in a male-dominating theatre society.</p>

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<h5>It would always remain an important question in the history of Bengali theatre whether she got her due.</h5>
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<p>She emerged as a class performer in her own right but the aura of her husband, the legendary actor-director-playwright-scholar Utpal Dutt, somewhere overcast her presence in theatre. Perhaps Sen would have objected to my reading, and critics may also take exception to my views, but it would always remain an important question in the history of Bengali theatre whether she got her due.</p>

<p>Soon after graduating from the Bethune College, Kolkata she joined the IPTA (Bengal chapter), played the female lead in the historic IPTA production of Bijan Bhattacharya&rsquo;s Nabanna. In the early 1950s, she joined Dutt&rsquo;s Little Theatre Group (LTG), which was later renamed as People&rsquo;s Little Theatre (PLT), and performed in a number of remarkable productions by the group, under the direction of Dutt. Acting and performance brought Dutt and Sen closer to each other, which culminated into a lifelong conjugal relationship. She was also a staff artist of the Akashvani (All India Radio); her voice could be heard often in Friday-radio dramas (Bibhash Chakraborty, Amader Theatre-e Matriarch Hoe Benche Thakun Sobha-di, Bangodorshon, acc. 13 August 2017).</p>

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<p>She also acted in some landmark movies like Bedeni (unfinished; 1952), Ek Adhuri Kahani (1972), Ek Din Pratidin (1979), Baisakhi Megh (1981), Shadows of Time (2004), etc. Bibhas Chakraborty recounted her spontaneity, and easy acting style against theatrical acting of Ritwik Ghatak and Bijan Bhattacharya in the first neorealist movie Chhinnamul (1950), or in Nagarik (1977). In his opinion, Bengali film industry failed to provide her with the opportunity that she deserved (ibid.). Sen&rsquo;s daughter, Professor Bishnupriya Dutt points out that she has observed Brechtian dialecticalism in her acting without any duplication of roles in her entire career.</p>

<p>Her autobiographical work is titled Smarane Bismarane: Nabanna Theke Laldurgo (2nd edition, 1996). In spite of increasing frailty, she had been closely monitoring the works of the Utpal Dutt Foundation for International Theatre Studies.</p>

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<p>Bishnupriya Dutt thinks that Sobha Sen along with Utpal Dutt tried to defy profit motive, corporatism in their theatre practice. They practised Marxism in theatre their own ways, the fundamental idea of which was egalitarianism. Indeed, when we remember how Sen struggled to promote female performers, identify talents in them, we realise that she will be missed by many in a theatrical world which is fragmented and dominated by people who believes in male supremacy. Even in death, she tried to help the community of people around her by donating her body for medical research.</p>


Sobha Sen tried to defy profit motive and corporatism as well as promote women artists in her theatre practice.

Shobha Sen, the doyenne of Bengali theatre passed away yesterday in Kolkata at the age of 93. Bengali theatre fraternity would remember her not only as a wonderful actress in some of the remarkable performances both on stage and on the silver screen but also as a champion of the rights of female performers in a male-dominating theatre society. It would always remain an important question in the history of Bengali theatre whether she got her due. × She emerged as a class performer in her own right but the aura of her husband, the legendary actor-director-playwright-scholar Utpal Dutt, somewhere overcast her presence in theatre. Perhaps Sen would have objected to my reading, and critics may also take exception to my views, but it would always remain an important question in the history of Bengali theatre whether she got her due. Soon after graduating from the Bethune College, Kolkata she joined the IPTA (Bengal chapter), played the female lead in the historic IPTA production of Bijan Bhattacharya’s Nabanna. In the early 1950s, she joined Dutt’s Little Theatre Group (LTG), which was later renamed as People’s Little Theatre (PLT), and performed in a number of remarkable productions by the group, under the direction of Dutt. Acting and performance brought Dutt and Sen closer to each other, which culminated into a lifelong conjugal relationship. She was also a staff artist of the Akashvani (All India Radio); her voice could be heard often in Friday-radio dramas (Bibhash Chakraborty, Amader Theatre-e Matriarch Hoe Benche Thakun Sobha-di, Bangodorshon, acc. 13 August 2017). Bengali film industry failed to provide her with the opportunity that she deserved. × She also acted in some landmark movies like Bedeni (unfinished; 1952), Ek Adhuri Kahani (1972), Ek Din Pratidin (1979), Baisakhi Megh (1981), Shadows of Time (2004), etc. Bibhas Chakraborty recounted her spontaneity, and easy acting style against theatrical acting of Ritwik Ghatak and Bijan Bhattacharya in the first neorealist movie Chhinnamul (1950), or in Nagarik (1977). In his opinion, Bengali film industry failed to provide her with the opportunity that she deserved (ibid.). Sen’s daughter, Professor Bishnupriya Dutt points out that she has observed Brechtian dialecticalism in her acting without any duplication of roles in her entire career. Her autobiographical work is titled Smarane Bismarane: Nabanna Theke Laldurgo (2nd edition, 1996). In spite of increasing frailty, she had been closely monitoring the works of the Utpal Dutt Foundation for International Theatre Studies. Sen struggled to promote female performers, identify talents in them, we realize that she will be missed by many in a theatrical world which is fragmented and dominated by people who believes in male supremacy. × Bishnupriya Dutt thinks that Sobha Sen along with Utpal Dutt tried to defy profit motive, corporatism in their theatre practice. They practised Marxism in theatre their own ways, the fundamental idea of which was egalitarianism. Indeed, when we remember how Sen struggled to promote female performers, identify talents in them, we realise that she will be missed by many in a theatrical world which is fragmented and dominated by people who believes in male supremacy. Even in death, she tried to help the community of people around her by donating her body for medical research.

Shobha Sen, the doyenne of Indian theatre, will be forever remembered

<p>While the governments of six BJP-ruled states have cracked down on meat -- the West Bengal government has taken the exact opposite tack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports say it is going to start a home delivery service in Kolkata.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Called Meat on Wheelz,&nbsp;the service will home deliver cooked and frozen meats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports said the service had been started by a company owned by the West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation.</p>

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<h5>Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday expressed concern over the crackdown on meat in Uttar Pradesh</h5>
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<p>The reports added the service will start out with three vans.</p>

<p>Depending on how well it does, more vans may be added to the fleet&nbsp;later.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday expressed concern over the crackdown on meat in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP had in its poll manifesto promised to come down hard on unlicensed&nbsp;slaughterhouses and mechanised abattoirs.</p>

<p>The new Yogi Adityanath&nbsp;government in UP has made good on its promise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And since then, five other BJP-ruled states -- Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand -- have followed suit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Called Meat on Wheelz, the Kolkata service will home deliver both frozen and cooked meats

While the governments of six BJP-ruled states have cracked down on meat -- the West Bengal government has taken the exact opposite tack. News reports say it is going to start a home delivery service in Kolkata. Called Meat on Wheelz, the service will home deliver cooked and frozen meats. The reports said the service had been started by a company owned by the West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday expressed concern over the crackdown on meat in Uttar Pradesh × The reports added the service will start out with three vans. Depending on how well it does, more vans may be added to the fleet later. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday expressed concern over the crackdown on meat in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP had in its poll manifesto promised to come down hard on unlicensed slaughterhouses and mechanised abattoirs. The new Yogi Adityanath government in UP has made good on its promise. And since then, five other BJP-ruled states -- Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand -- have followed suit. (WION)

While 6 BJP states crack down on meat, Bengal government to start home delivering it

<p>India&#39;s Calcutta High Court overruled Kolkata Police&rsquo;s decision and allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to hold rally at Brigade Parade Grounds in the city scheduled for January 14.</p>

<p>However, the court said that only 4,000 invitees will be allowed to enter the Brigade Parade Grounds, entry will be restricted for non-invitees.</p>

<p>On the other hand, the court issued a show cause to the Kolkata police commissioner, Rajeev Kumar for not informing the RSS of their decision. The court asked Kumar to file a reply within two weeks and mention what led the Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) send a reply to the RSS instead of the commissioner himself.</p>

<p>A day before, a letter from Kolkata Police, signed by the joint commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters), Supratim Sarkar, addressed to the Pracharak of the Kolkata, RSS, stated that the rally cannot be held at any of the proposed venues &ndash; Bhukailash temple grounds and Khidderpore.</p>

<p>The letter further stated that the Brigade Parade Grounds, one of the proposed venues of the rally is being used as a transit camps for the Gangasagar Mela pilgrims and vehicles, and will be used till January 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another proposed venue &ndash; Bhukailash temple grounds can accommodate only 500 people, which could result in a stampede.</p>

<p>However, the Calcutta High Court granted permission to RSS to hold the rally at Brigade Parade Grounds and asked Kolkata Police to make all the arrangements to maintain law and order.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The court said that only 4,000 invitees will be allowed to enter Kolkata's Brigade Parade Grounds

India's Calcutta High Court overruled Kolkata Police’s decision and allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to hold rally at Brigade Parade Grounds in the city scheduled for January 14. However, the court said that only 4,000 invitees will be allowed to enter the Brigade Parade Grounds, entry will be restricted for non-invitees. On the other hand, the court issued a show cause to the Kolkata police commissioner, Rajeev Kumar for not informing the RSS of their decision. The court asked Kumar to file a reply within two weeks and mention what led the Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) send a reply to the RSS instead of the commissioner himself. A day before, a letter from Kolkata Police, signed by the joint commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters), Supratim Sarkar, addressed to the Pracharak of the Kolkata, RSS, stated that the rally cannot be held at any of the proposed venues – Bhukailash temple grounds and Khidderpore. The letter further stated that the Brigade Parade Grounds, one of the proposed venues of the rally is being used as a transit camps for the Gangasagar Mela pilgrims and vehicles, and will be used till January 18. Another proposed venue – Bhukailash temple grounds can accommodate only 500 people, which could result in a stampede. However, the Calcutta High Court granted permission to RSS to hold the rally at Brigade Parade Grounds and asked Kolkata Police to make all the arrangements to maintain law and order. (WION)

India: Calcutta High Court allows RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to hold rally

<p>Major clashes erupted at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party office in Kolkata, following the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.</p>

<p>Party cadres of Trinamool Congress clashed with BJP supporters, injuring several on both sides, including senior leaders of BJP.</p>

<p>A huge contingent of police officials was rushed to the BJP party office to bring the situation under control. Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the police is trying to push back Trinamool Congress supporters to prevent any further deterioration of the situation. Police have put up guard rails to prevent entry of any Trinamool Congress supporters near the BJP party office.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force has been deployed near the BJP party office in Kolkata. All shops around the party office has been shutdown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Officer-in-charge, Jorasanko Police Station, Amit Rakshit, has been injured in the stone pelting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several cars parked near the party office have&nbsp;been vandalised.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office

Major clashes erupted at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party office in Kolkata, following the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Party cadres of Trinamool Congress clashed with BJP supporters, injuring several on both sides, including senior leaders of BJP. A huge contingent of police officials was rushed to the BJP party office to bring the situation under control. Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office. Meanwhile, the police is trying to push back Trinamool Congress supporters to prevent any further deterioration of the situation. Police have put up guard rails to prevent entry of any Trinamool Congress supporters near the BJP party office. Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force has been deployed near the BJP party office in Kolkata. All shops around the party office has been shutdown. The Officer-in-charge, Jorasanko Police Station, Amit Rakshit, has been injured in the stone pelting. Several cars parked near the party office have been vandalised. (WION)

BJP-TMC supporters clash at BJP party HQ

<p>Bangladeshi nationals who flock to India in search of medical facilities were left stranded in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the Indian government.</p>

<p>For Saima Sharmin, who got Indian currency notes in exchange for Bangladeshi taka at the border checkpost, the journey ahead was difficult. Sharmin was here for her chemo therapy at a private hospital in state capital&nbsp;Kolkata. But, she had to return home without any treatment since the Tata Cancer Hospital refused to provide her treatment in exchange for the old currency notes she had.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I am suffering from cancer. Since&nbsp;we do not get good medical facilities in Bangladesh, we come to India&rsquo;s Bengal. I am in urgent need of the chemo therapy. My chances of survival depend on the treatment that I receive periodically,&rdquo; she told WION.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The hospital is demanding Rs 100 currency notes but I could only exchange Bangladesh&rsquo;s currency for Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. I have to return home without being treated,&quot; she added.</p>

<p>Like Sharmin, several Bangladeshi nationals had to either return home or look for other options to avail treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Indian government has asked hospitals to accept the old Rs.500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, only government-run hospitals are doing so. Private hospitals and nursing homes are turning down patients who cannot pay for the treatment in denomination of Rs 100 or lower.</p>

<p>While Bangladesh ramps up its own healthcare infrastructure, most patients from across the border come to India in search of not just intensive medical procedures but routine checkups too.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Most private hospitals in the southern fringes of Kolkata get approximately 5 to 10 per cent&nbsp;of its revenue&nbsp;from medical tourism. This demonetisation of currency notes is not only affecting the patients&nbsp;but also the economy rendered by cross-border medical tourism,&rdquo; said a doctor requesting anonymity.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


While the Indian government has asked hospitals to accept old currency notes, only government hospitals have been doing so

Bangladeshi nationals who flock to India in search of medical facilities were left stranded in India's eastern state of West Bengal following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the Indian government. For Saima Sharmin, who got Indian currency notes in exchange for Bangladeshi taka at the border checkpost, the journey ahead was difficult. Sharmin was here for her chemo therapy at a private hospital in state capital Kolkata. But, she had to return home without any treatment since the Tata Cancer Hospital refused to provide her treatment in exchange for the old currency notes she had. “I am suffering from cancer. Since we do not get good medical facilities in Bangladesh, we come to India’s Bengal. I am in urgent need of the chemo therapy. My chances of survival depend on the treatment that I receive periodically,” she told WION. “The hospital is demanding Rs 100 currency notes but I could only exchange Bangladesh’s currency for Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. I have to return home without being treated," she added. Like Sharmin, several Bangladeshi nationals had to either return home or look for other options to avail treatment. While the Indian government has asked hospitals to accept the old Rs.500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, only government-run hospitals are doing so. Private hospitals and nursing homes are turning down patients who cannot pay for the treatment in denomination of Rs 100 or lower. While Bangladesh ramps up its own healthcare infrastructure, most patients from across the border come to India in search of not just intensive medical procedures but routine checkups too. “Most private hospitals in the southern fringes of Kolkata get approximately 5 to 10 per cent of its revenue from medical tourism. This demonetisation of currency notes is not only affecting the patients but also the economy rendered by cross-border medical tourism,” said a doctor requesting anonymity. (WION)

Denied medical treatment in Kolkata for lack of Rs 100 notes: Bangladeshi cancer patient

<p>Communal clashes marked the culmination of Durga Puja celebrations and Muharram processions this year in several parts of eastern Indian state of West Bengal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to locals, clashes&nbsp;erupted in several parts of the state on Tuesday as five-day Durga Puja festivity (observed by the Bengali community to honour Hindu goddess Durga) came to an end. Several people including some police personnel were injured in the clashes, sources said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Clashes in Naihati town&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In Naihati town of North 24 Parganas district, eyewitnesses allege&nbsp;that they saw hundreds of outsiders entering the area, who claimed they had come to &lsquo;protect&rsquo; members of their community.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reportedly provoked by the leaders of a right-wing group, these outsiders hurled bombs at a Muharram procession (where members of the Muslim community mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad). &nbsp;The participants of the procession hurled bombs in return and clashes ensued. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The situation is still tense here. While it is usually peaceful around the daytime, as soon as darkness descends, the anti-social elements from both the communities start hurling bombs at each other. Cops turn mute spectators and they do not do anything to bring the situation under control. It&rsquo;s been close to a week that the situation continues to worsen&nbsp;but little has been done to bring back normalcy in the town,&rdquo; a local told WION pleading anonymity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The leaders of&nbsp;the ruling party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), &nbsp;who are protesting against the current situation and are trying to avert such clashes are also coming under fire. Several bombs were hurled in front of the Trinamool Congress party office to foil their attempts,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>As darkness descends, the anti-social elements from both the communities start hurling bombs at each other. Cops turn mute spectators and they do not do anything to bring the situation under control,&quot; a local told WION.</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some reports also suggest that when the Muharram procession was advancing in Naihati, members from the&nbsp;community requested for lowering the volume of loudspeakers playing devotional songs near a mosque, but were refused, which resulted&nbsp;in the&nbsp;breakout of clashes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the local administration discontinued the ferry services on Friday evening to prevent any movement of outsiders into the Naihati area. It is being suspected that the outsiders, who initally instigated the clashes, entered the town through ferry and small boats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ferry services on the Ghola Ghat in the area, however, are yet to be suspended. Meanwhile, the police has imposed section 144 of the Indian code of criminal procedure (CrPC) that prohibits gathering of more than four people in a public place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>As WION spoke to the inspector general (IG) of West Bengal police (Law &amp; Order), Anuj Sharma, regarding the matter, he assured that the situation is peaceful now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;We did receive few complaints of several groups clashing with each other. But, the situation is normal now. Police pickets have been put in place, wherever such incidents were reported,&rdquo; Sharma said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&#39;Provocation by hardliners&#39;</strong></p>

<p>In the industrial city of Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur district and Chandannagar city of Hooghly district, it is being reported that several shops were burnt down and houses were looted by some members of the procession as it was on its way. Several parts of Chandannagar are still on a boil, sources informed WION.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eyewitnesses claim that they have been hearing the noises of firing and bombing during the night hours. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Last night, we could hear sounds of firing and bombs going off at regular intervals. The trouble began on Friday evening as two armed groups charged each other with countrymade bombs. All the shops immediately closed down. We are living in a state of constant terror. The situation is beyond the control of the administration,&rdquo; a local from the area told this correspondent on conditions anonymity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similar incidents have been reported in several districts of the state &mdash; West Midnapore, Murshidabad, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and North 24 Parganas and Malda.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Locals claim that these groups are being provoked by hardliners and the administration has failed to maintain peace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Malda district, Rapid Action Force, a specialised wing of the Indian CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), has been deployed in areas where clashes erupted. According to locals, the areas continue to be tense.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In several areas of North 24 Parganas, locals have come together for night-vigil in a bid to prevent further clashes.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Several parts of the eastern state remain tense and administration has failed to bring back normalcy, locals say

Communal clashes marked the culmination of Durga Puja celebrations and Muharram processions this year in several parts of eastern Indian state of West Bengal. According to locals, clashes erupted in several parts of the state on Tuesday as five-day Durga Puja festivity (observed by the Bengali community to honour Hindu goddess Durga) came to an end. Several people including some police personnel were injured in the clashes, sources said. Clashes in Naihati town In Naihati town of North 24 Parganas district, eyewitnesses allege that they saw hundreds of outsiders entering the area, who claimed they had come to ‘protect’ members of their community. Reportedly provoked by the leaders of a right-wing group, these outsiders hurled bombs at a Muharram procession (where members of the Muslim community mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad). The participants of the procession hurled bombs in return and clashes ensued. “The situation is still tense here. While it is usually peaceful around the daytime, as soon as darkness descends, the anti-social elements from both the communities start hurling bombs at each other. Cops turn mute spectators and they do not do anything to bring the situation under control. It’s been close to a week that the situation continues to worsen but little has been done to bring back normalcy in the town,” a local told WION pleading anonymity. “The leaders of the ruling party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), who are protesting against the current situation and are trying to avert such clashes are also coming under fire. Several bombs were hurled in front of the Trinamool Congress party office to foil their attempts," he added. As darkness descends, the anti-social elements from both the communities start hurling bombs at each other. Cops turn mute spectators and they do not do anything to bring the situation under control," a local told WION. × Some reports also suggest that when the Muharram procession was advancing in Naihati, members from the community requested for lowering the volume of loudspeakers playing devotional songs near a mosque, but were refused, which resulted in the breakout of clashes. Meanwhile, the local administration discontinued the ferry services on Friday evening to prevent any movement of outsiders into the Naihati area. It is being suspected that the outsiders, who initally instigated the clashes, entered the town through ferry and small boats. The ferry services on the Ghola Ghat in the area, however, are yet to be suspended. Meanwhile, the police has imposed section 144 of the Indian code of criminal procedure (CrPC) that prohibits gathering of more than four people in a public place. As WION spoke to the inspector general (IG) of West Bengal police (Law & Order), Anuj Sharma, regarding the matter, he assured that the situation is peaceful now. “We did receive few complaints of several groups clashing with each other. But, the situation is normal now. Police pickets have been put in place, wherever such incidents were reported,” Sharma said. 'Provocation by hardliners' In the industrial city of Kharagpur in Paschim Medinipur district and Chandannagar city of Hooghly district, it is being reported that several shops were burnt down and houses were looted by some members of the procession as it was on its way. Several parts of Chandannagar are still on a boil, sources informed WION. Eyewitnesses claim that they have been hearing the noises of firing and bombing during the night hours. “Last night, we could hear sounds of firing and bombs going off at regular intervals. The trouble began on Friday evening as two armed groups charged each other with countrymade bombs. All the shops immediately closed down. We are living in a state of constant terror. The situation is beyond the control of the administration,” a local from the area told this correspondent on conditions anonymity. Similar incidents have been reported in several districts of the state — West Midnapore, Murshidabad, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and North 24 Parganas and Malda. Locals claim that these groups are being provoked by hardliners and the administration has failed to maintain peace. In Malda district, Rapid Action Force, a specialised wing of the Indian CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), has been deployed in areas where clashes erupted. According to locals, the areas continue to be tense. In several areas of North 24 Parganas, locals have come together for night-vigil in a bid to prevent further clashes. (WION)

Communal clashes erupt in India's West Bengal after Muharram processions, Durga Puja celebrations?

<p>About four years after 2012 Park Street gang rape case in eastern Indian city of Kolkata sent shockwaves across the country, the key accused was arrested in Delhi on Thursday night.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from the main accused, Kader Khan, the police arrested another person, Ali, who was accompanying Khan while he was hiding in the national capital, said officials. The two will be produced before a local court and will be brought to Kolkata on transit remand.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We had specific inputs that Kader along with his close aid, Ali had put up at their relative&#39;s house in Ghaziabad. A joint team comprising Delhi Police and Kolkata Police&#39;s members arrested him. He is being brought to Kolkata and will be produced before the court here,&quot; a senior officer of Kolkata police informed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The trial in the controversial case was over in December 2015 and Naser Khan, Ruman Khan and Sumit Bajaj were held guilty. The court sentenced them to a term of 10 years in jail. Of the 10 years, the three have already spent four years in jail.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the intervening night of February 20, 2012, Suzette Jordan, who decided to reveal her identity after the incident, was raped in a moving car on Park Street in the West Bengal capital. Later, she fought for her rights and stood next to other rape victims and survivors. She took up anti-rape campaigns and emerged as a women&#39;s rights activist.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gang rape case took a controversial turn when chief minister of the eastern Western Bengal state dubbed the incident as &nbsp;&#39;<em>sajano</em><em> </em><em>ghotona</em>&#39;, meaning that the incident was staged.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The victim, however,&nbsp;could not see justice delivered to her. She died of meningitis last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Three others involved in the 2012 gangrape case are serving a 10-year jail term

About four years after 2012 Park Street gang rape case in eastern Indian city of Kolkata sent shockwaves across the country, the key accused was arrested in Delhi on Thursday night. Apart from the main accused, Kader Khan, the police arrested another person, Ali, who was accompanying Khan while he was hiding in the national capital, said officials. The two will be produced before a local court and will be brought to Kolkata on transit remand. "We had specific inputs that Kader along with his close aid, Ali had put up at their relative's house in Ghaziabad. A joint team comprising Delhi Police and Kolkata Police's members arrested him. He is being brought to Kolkata and will be produced before the court here," a senior officer of Kolkata police informed. The trial in the controversial case was over in December 2015 and Naser Khan, Ruman Khan and Sumit Bajaj were held guilty. The court sentenced them to a term of 10 years in jail. Of the 10 years, the three have already spent four years in jail. In the intervening night of February 20, 2012, Suzette Jordan, who decided to reveal her identity after the incident, was raped in a moving car on Park Street in the West Bengal capital. Later, she fought for her rights and stood next to other rape victims and survivors. She took up anti-rape campaigns and emerged as a women's rights activist. The gang rape case took a controversial turn when chief minister of the eastern Western Bengal state dubbed the incident as 'sajano ghotona', meaning that the incident was staged. The victim, however, could not see justice delivered to her. She died of meningitis last year. (WION)

India: Key accused in Park Street gang rape case arrested in Delhi after 4 years

Plans to host a first day-night test in India later this year remain intact, the country&#39;s cricket board (BCCI) secretary said on Tuesday, dismissing a local media report that prospective opponents New Zealand had rejected the idea.<br />
<br />
In April, the BCCI decided that one match of a three-test series against New Zealand would be a day-night affair, pending trials of the pink-ball in a domestic tournament, with Kolkata&#39;s Eden Gardens a popular choice for the contest.<br />
<br />
A local media report claimed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) were wary of the dew factor and ground conditions in India during the series scheduled to start in September and had conveyed their reluctance to BCCI officials.<br />
<br />
BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, in a text message to Reuters, said the plan remained very much on.<br />
<br />
An NZC spokesman confirmed New Zealand, who played the first pink-ball test against Australia in November, were committed to a day-night test in India.<br />
<br />
&quot;NZC has taken the precaution of contacting the BCCI to advise statements in the article regarding a day-night test are in no way representative of our position, and that no such comments have been made by our Board,&quot; the spokesperson told www.stuff.co.nz.<br />
<br />
&quot;The only comment NZC has made on the matter is that it&#39;s supportive of the concept... and that stance hasn&#39;t changed.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(Reuters)&nbsp;

A New Zealand media report had claimed the Kiwis were wary of Indian ground conditions and the dew factor

Plans to host a first day-night test in India later this year remain intact, the country's cricket board (BCCI) secretary said on Tuesday, dismissing a local media report that prospective opponents New Zealand had rejected the idea. In April, the BCCI decided that one match of a three-test series against New Zealand would be a day-night affair, pending trials of the pink-ball in a domestic tournament, with Kolkata's Eden Gardens a popular choice for the contest. A local media report claimed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) were wary of the dew factor and ground conditions in India during the series scheduled to start in September and had conveyed their reluctance to BCCI officials. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, in a text message to Reuters, said the plan remained very much on. An NZC spokesman confirmed New Zealand, who played the first pink-ball test against Australia in November, were committed to a day-night test in India. "NZC has taken the precaution of contacting the BCCI to advise statements in the article regarding a day-night test are in no way representative of our position, and that no such comments have been made by our Board," the spokesperson told www.stuff.co.nz. "The only comment NZC has made on the matter is that it's supportive of the concept... and that stance hasn't changed." (Reuters)

India still keen on hosting day-night cricket test against New Zealand

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