Bengal firecracker blast: Prime accused & factory owner dies in Odisha hospital

by Sabyasachi Kundu

Kolkata, May 19: In a major shocker for the sleuths investigating the explosion at an illegal firecracker factory at Egra in West Bengal's East Midnapore district that claimed nine lives, the prime accused and the owner of the said factory, Krishnapada Bag a.k.a. Bhanu died at a hospital in Odisha's Cuttack on Friday.

He was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police on Thursday only along with his son, Prithvijit Bag and nephew Biswajit Bag. However, Bhanu, who himself suffered severe burn injuries in that explosion, could not be released from the hospital and brought back to West Bengal.

Confirming the death of Bhanu, the district police superintendent of East Midnapore K. Amarnath claimed that attempts are being made to bring Bhanu's body back to West Bengal.

Also Read: Bengal firecracker blast: CID conduct raids in Balasore's Kamarda

Following the death of Bhanu, his son and nephew are the two prime accused now. His nephew, Biswajit has been taken into custody of CID. After the cremation, the police will also take his son, Prithvijit in custody.

State police sources said that Bhanu got admitted to the hospital at Cuttack by misleading the authorities there. He told them that his injury was due to a cylinder blast at a function.

On Thursday, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court directed CID to continue with the probe on the explosion, but after including sections of the Explosives Act in the FIR.

In the initial FIR filed by the police, only sections under the Indian Penal Code and West Bengal Fire Service Act were included for which the state police attracted severe criticism.

Although the initial police investigation has suggested that the explosion was probably from the firecracker manufacturing raw material stocked at the illegal factory, the opposition parties have claimed that the impact of the explosion proves that not firecrackers but crude bombs were being manufactured there.

(IANS)

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UP: Yogi Adityanath's Transparent Initiatives Result In Job Opportunities For Youth

by Hemanta Pande

Lucknow, Dec 5: In a major accomplishment for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the increased transparency in recruitments brought about in the state in recent years with the CM's initiatives, is not only ensuring the provision of employment to maximum number of youths, but also the appointment of the most deserving, meritorious and the eligible ones to vacant positions across sectors.

In this sequence, the state government held an appointment letter distribution ceremony for the second time in three days on Tuesday for the healthcare staff. The Chief Minister distributed appointment letters to a total of 278 assistant professors, 2142 staff nurses, and 48 Ayush Medical Teachers through public representatives in Lok Bhavan and other districts, read a statement from the chief minister's office.

Expressing their gratitude, newly appointed individuals attribute their success to the transparent recruitment process implemented by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The youth believe that transparency has played a crucial role in their obtaining employment and has given them an acute sense of responsibility towards the work as well.

Earlier on Sunday, CM Yogi had distributed appointment letters to 242 Assistant Boring Technicians at Lok Bhavan.
One of the new recruits Dr Ved Prakash Upadhyay expressed pride in receiving his appointment letter at Lok Bhavan, stating that CM Yogi's address inspires him to work with dedication and also pay attention to both the treatments of patients and the education of children.

Sarojini Devi, a newly appointed Staff Nurse from Barabanki, commended the complete transparency maintained in government department appointments across the state.

Dr Anjali Chaudhary, who received the appointment letter for the post of Assistant Professor in Sultanpur, thanked Prime Minister Modi and CM Yogi for the fair selection. She said that recruitment based on a fair process boosts "our confidence and inspires us to do something new every day."

Mohd. Faizan Ansari, who has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in Kanpur Dehat, praised the impartiality of the appointment process and expressed gratitude towards the Yogi government. He said, "The honest appointment process has increased our responsibility as well. We have to work hard to deliver good results."

Also Read: National News

Yet another candidate Shweta Singh, a resident of Deoria, who has been selected for Basti, said that the appointment has taken place in a completely fair and transparent manner.

"In Uttar Pradesh, eligibility is the only criterion for selection. We obtained employment only by meeting this criterion. For this, we thank the Yogi government", she added. (ANI)

Nadda Meets PM Modi, Discusses CM Probables For MP, Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 5: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence here to discuss the names for the post of chief minister in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the saffron emerged victorious in the recently-concluded Assembly polls, a source said.

The BJP leadership has been holding discussions on the probable chief ministerial names since the results were announced on Sunday (December 3).

Senior party leaders, especially those who oversaw the election process in the three states, have met Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, as well as on Tuesday, to submit their feedback.

Read: BJP Will Win 400 Seats In Next Year's LS Polls: Goa CM

A source in the know of things said that Nadda is likely to share the feedback he received so far with Modi during his meeting with the Prime Minister.

The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh while it defeated the Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to wrest power from the grand old party.(IANS)

Odisha Tops List In Deaths Due To Accidental Fire

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: Odisha continues to top the list of states registering the highest number of deaths due to accidental fire in the country.

The latest report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India’ has revealed that 1219 persons including 906 males and 313 females died in fire accidents in the state during 2022.

Odisha recorded minor decrease in fire accident deaths in 2022 compared to 1248 deaths due to fire mishaps in 2021.

Meanwhile, Odisha also recorded 1222 fire mishaps which were highest among states in 2022. As per the report, the country witnessed as many as 7,566 cases of fire accidents during 2022.

The state accounted for 16.2 percent of the total fire mishaps occurred in the country in 2022.

As many as 446 persons including 403 males and 43 females died in 449 fire mishaps which occurred due to electric short circuit during 2022.

Also Read: Odisha Tops In Cyber Crime Cases Against Women Under IT Act: NCRB

The NCRB report also said that Odisha witnessed maximum accidental deaths due to the forces of nature such as lightning, heat or sun stroke, exposure of cold, drowning, falls, poisoning and accidental fire. The state has also recorded as many as 2445 accidental deaths due to these causes in 2022.

Similarly, Odisha with 316 deaths, held the third spot among the states with highest number of deaths due to lightning in 2022.

The NCRB report also reveals that Odisha after Maharashtra registered the maximum number of deaths due to accidental falls in 2022. The state registered 2324 deaths while Maharashtra reported 4236 persons died due to accidental fall in 2022.

Bengal firecracker blast: Prime accused & factory owner dies in Odisha hospital

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