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The City Diary

Minister claims bandh ineffective

Calcutta and its surrounding districts have remained 'largely unaffected' by the ongoing bandh in wholesale markets to protest the imposition of value-added tax (VAT), finance minister Asim Dasgupta said on Friday. The 10-day bandh started on April 20. The minister was speaking after a meeting with a section of traders at Writers' Buildings. He said the enforcement branch had been asked to keep a close watch on wholesale markets across the state and take action against anyone found guilty of creating an artificial crisis, resulting in a price hike. Most markets, wholesale and retail, across the city and its surrounding areas are open,' he said. Asked why the prices of LPG and medicines are not coming down despite the imposition of VAT, Dasgupta said retailers were yet to clear the old stock. 'It will take at least another month or so for the new rates to become effective.'

Heat claims cop life

A traffic sergeant died early on Friday, apparently of sun stroke. Sunil Gupta, 30, of Vidyasagar Traffic Guard, fell ill at Hastings police station on Thursday afternoon. He died at his Ekbalpore residence at 3 am. Immediately after he fell ill, his colleagues took him to the police hospital and then, on doctors' advice, to SSKM Hospital. As the ECG report was normal, Gupta was discharged from SSKM. But he suffered a cardiac arrest at home.

Blast injury

A 10-year-old boy was seriously injured in an explosion at a housing estate in Tangra on Friday afternoon. Residents said some criminals, who live nearby, had hurled a bomb into the estate.

Campus protest

Chhatra Parishad, the students' wing of the Congress, held a demonstration at RG Kar Hospital on Friday to protest the rise in criminal activities on the compound. The members demanded that the campus be freed of touts, security of the patients be stepped up and those responsible for molesting some women patients recently be arrested.

Jail assault

Utpal Goswami, a Presidency jail warden, was seriously injured when a lifer attacked him on Thursday night. Sources said the lifer, Sahajada alias Jagga, had pleaded with Goswami to keep his cell open at night so he could roam around. When the warden refused, Jagga hit him on the head and hands with a rod. Goswami was taken to the jail hospital in a critical condition.

Old-age home

Jyoti Basu and sports minister Subhas Chakraborty will inaugurate an old-age home, Ashray, in Gopalpur, North 24 Parganas, on Sunday.

JU boycott

Ignoring appeals by vice-chancellor Ashoknath Basu, the members of the faculty of engineering and technology of students' union (Fetsu) on Friday did not collect admit cards for the semester examinations. Fetsu general secretary Amit Chakraborty said there would be no change in their stand unless the executive council's recommendation to expel five students was withdrawn.

Green quiz

The Indian Chamber of Commerce and the American Centre organised Green Biz Quiz to observe Earth Day on Thursday. Two-member teams from 24 corporate houses took part in the elimination round. The winner was ITC Headquarters, represented by V.S. Jyothi Murugan and Sunil Kumar C.S. Haldia Petrochemicals and Steel Authority of India became second and third, respectively.

Girl missing

Ninteen-year-old Shraddha Didoania, a B.Com student, has been missing since Thursday. According to a complaint lodged by her family members with Shyampukur police station, Shraddha last left her Pilkhana residence, in Howrah, around 6 am.

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To Institute of International social development for organising an exhibition-cum-sale for vegetable growers

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