Bengal LoP to skip meeting with CM next week in protest over RG Kar rape case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kolkata, March 13 (IANS) The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday, said that he will deliberately skip an official meeting next week where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present, as a mark of protest against the alleged attempts by the state administration, especially the Kolkata Police, to tamper with evidence in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case which took place in August last year.

The said meeting was on the recruitment of the West Bengal Information Commissioner.

The three members of the commission are the Chief Minister, LoP and the State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

Accordingly, LoP Adhikari received the invitation from the State Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department to attend the meeting scheduled on March 19.

However, on Thursday, the LoP had sent a letter to the Secretary to the State Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department expressing his unwillingness to attend the meeting.

In his letter, LoP Adhikari has also said that he will not be attending the meeting just to avoid interaction with the Chief Minister as a mark of protest against evidence tampering by a section of state government functionaries in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case.

“As long as the perpetrators (government officials and influential ruling party politicians of West Bengal) who were involved in such despicable act are not put behind the bars and our Sister/Abhaya doesn’t get Justice my conscience won’t allow me to attend any Meeting where the West Bengal Home Minister, who is also the Chief Minister, is present,” said Adhikari’s letter, a copy of which is available with IANS.

On Thursday, LoP Adhikari had also raised questions on why the parents of the deceased woman doctor in the R.G Kar rape and murder incident is yet to get the death certificate of their daughter even after seven months have passed since the mishap took place.

“The State Health Department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities are compelling them to go on an endless pursuit from one office to another and from one table to another to get that death certificate,” Adhikari said.

–IANS

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Commenting on the tax rebates announced in the budget, he said, “It was awaited for many years, the way inflation has increased. When salaries are being increased, this tax exemption limit was also needed to increase. In such a situation, tax collection will also increase. This has been done keeping in mind the Delhi elections.”

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“This (budget) has certainly increased the capitalist expenditure, but the way infrastructure is being built, roads are being built, bridges are being built. A lot will be spent on its repair and maintenance because it is not sustainable at all; there is a lot of corruption in that. So the budget is not just about allocation. Its implementation is also necessary,” he added.

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Greater Chennai Police continue crackdown on drug syndicate, arrest four

Chennai, March 6 (IANS) The Greater Chennai Police have intensified their crackdown on drug syndicates and arrested four individuals.

In two separate cases, three men from Assam were caught with narcotics, including heroin, while another individual involved in methamphetamine peddling was apprehended.

In the first case, Egmore police arrested three suspects from Assam — Habibur Rahman (32), Dildar Hussain (22), and Reikibul Islam (20), all from Nagaon district.

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In the second case, the Chetpet police arrested a 25-year-old man, R. Manikandan of Korattur, who had been absconding in a methamphetamine peddling case.

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The Tamil Nadu Police have stepped up their crackdown on methamphetamine trafficking, launching statewide operations to curb the spread of the highly addictive drug.

Authorities have made a series of arrests in both urban and rural areas, with several individuals caught attempting to sell methamphetamine, including to school students.

In response, Director General of Police (DGP) Sankar Jiwal has ordered all district police superintendents to form and personally oversee special squads to dismantle drug networks.

As part of their enforcement strategy, police are closely monitoring gyms and health clubs, where methamphetamine use has reportedly become a growing concern.

Recent investigations have revealed that some gym users were acquiring the drug to manage muscle pain caused by intense workouts.

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In 2024 alone, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized methamphetamine worth approximately ₹380 crore.

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In November 2024, Chennai Police made a significant breakthrough by arresting a Nigerian national, Philip, suspected to be the mastermind behind a major drug smuggling cartel.

Philip allegedly coordinated the import of methamphetamine from Nigeria via courier and air routes.

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According to police officers, the drug is first transported from Myanmar to Manipur and human carriers smuggle the drugs via train into Tamil Nadu.

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