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Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) Intelligence agencies, both central and state, are on high alert in West Bengal following inputs about the sudden increase in the number of outsiders hiring rooms in different villages close to the international borders with Bangladesh.

Sources said that most of the new faces, who suddenly surfaced in the bordering villages, were aged between their mid-twenties and early thirties. As per inputs received by the security agencies from the natives of these villages, the new faces rarely interact with the local people.

Now this development, sources said, has kept the security and intelligence agencies on high alert mainly for two reasons, the first being inputs about attempts by activists of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) to open sleeper cells at different points in the bordering districts of West Bengal with Bangladesh.

The second is the arrival of winter when illegal infiltration through the porous borders is generally high, taking advantage of the dense fog in these remote bordering areas after sunset.

These two reasons, coupled with the ongoing tension in neighbouring Bangladesh, have prompted the security and central agencies to beef up surveillance at these borders, both land and maritime borders, with the additional headache of outsiders starting to flock to the bordering villages.

Sources said that the central intelligence and security agencies are regularly updating their higher officials in New Delhi as well as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs about the new developments at the India-Bangladesh bordering villages in West Bengal.

Intelligence agencies, sources added, have also got specific information that two active HUT associates recently came to West Bengal with valid Bangladeshi passports posing as students and had meetings with some local youths in Malda and Murshidabad districts.

These two HUT activists, as per intelligence inputs, initially picked up conversations with the local youths in these two districts discussing religious issues and thereafter carried on the conversation to the level of opening sleeper cells in the bordering districts. These two Bangladeshi citizens interacting with the local youth have been identified as Ridwan Maruf and Sabbir Amir.

–IANS

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Patna/ Panchkula, Dec 23 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 71,000 appointment letters to newly appointed recruits across the country during the Rozgar Mela on Monday, recruits from Bihar’s Patna and Haryana’s Panchkula expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for offering them a chance to serve the nation.

Sheelu Kumari, a resident of Patna, Bihar, was among the recruits who received an appointment letter for the post of constable in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Sheelu speaking to IANS, reflecting on her journey saying, “I’ve been preparing for two years. Last year, I failed the physical test, but I learned from that failure, worked harder, and finally succeeded in 2024. I owe this success to my family, friends, and especially to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this incredible opportunity.”

Neha Kumari, also from Patna, was selected for the post of Assistant Branch Post Master (ABPM). She shared her joy and elation over getting employment just when the new year celebrations are about to begin.

“This appointment is the best New Year gift I could have asked for,” she said.

“I am truly grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I will work with dedication and honesty, and I owe my success to my parents, especially my mother, who always inspired me.”

Recruits from Haryana’s Panchkula were equally joyous and jubilant on receiving their appointment letters.

Anjali, who received an appointment letter from the postal department, expressed her joy, saying, “I am overjoyed to receive the appointment letter. This is a new chapter in my life, and I thank the Prime Minister for this opportunity.”

Similarly, Abhinav, who was selected for ITBP, and Deeksha Sharma, who cleared the SBI exam for the post of Junior Associate, also thanked the Prime Minister for their appointments.

The Rozgar Mela, a significant initiative by the government, aims to fulfil Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to prioritising employment generation. By offering meaningful job opportunities, the initiative empowers youth to actively participate in nation-building and secure their future.

–IANS

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Aizawl, Dec 18 (IANS) The Mizoram government on Wednesday signed agreements with the partner banks to provide banking loans under the state’s flagship initiative, the handholding scheme – ‘Bana Kaih’, designed to promote economic growth and self-sufficiency.

The ‘Bana Kaih’ scheme, launched in September this year, is the state government’s flagship programme aimed at fostering self-reliance and inclusive economic development in the state.

The primary objective of the scheme is to contribute to the realisation of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Wednesday, in the presence of Chief Minister Lalduhoma, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Mizoram government and three partner banks — State Bank of India (SBI), Mizoram Rural Bank (MRB), and Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd. (MCAB).

The MoA was signed for loan disbursement under the ‘Bana Kaih’ scheme.

The Chief Minister also launched the ‘Chief Minister’s Bana Kaih Innovation Challenge’.

A Mizoram government official said that one of the key components of the scheme is handholding to progress partners, under which eligible people are provided loans from the partner banks and the government acts as a guarantor for these loans.

He said the government would provide interest subvention of up to 100 per cent for the partners who pay their loans regularly, thereby easing the financial burden on beneficiaries and encouraging timely repayment.

Another important component of the handholding scheme is market support.

As part of this initiative, the government has introduced a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for four key crops — Ginger, Broom, Turmeric, and Mizo Birdeye Chilli.

“If and when the farmer cannot find a market rate less than the government declared rate, they shall be given support price up to the government rate.

“Furthermore, in a pilot phase, paddy from Kolasib and Mamit districts will be procured at a minimum support rate of Rs 30 per kilogram starting this year,” the official pointed out.

The official said the scheme also includes the Chief Minister’s Special Category Scheme, which provides grant-in-aid of up to Rs 1 lakh.

A senior official said that the ‘Bana Kaih’, comprises five key components, as outlined in the government guidelines with the main feature being a collateral-free and interest-free bank loan.

A financial support package for selected progress partners (beneficiaries), offering loans up to Rs 50 lakh through partner banks.

–IANS

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