In a move to keep a check on the fire safety norms in the markets at night, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is planning to introduce security clocks, which first came into use in the 1970. This new device will ensure the accountability of the security staff manning municipal corporation markets.

In a bid to further consolidate her farmer-friendly image ahead of the crucial panchayat polls, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday disbursed `45 lakhs from the chief minister’s relief funds among over 162 farmers of Burdwan as price for their paddy that they had sold to a rice mill which had not made the payment. Sources said that this was an unprecedented instance when such a payment was made.

The in-camera hearing in the Park Street gangrape case began at the fast-track court of Bankshall court on Saturday. Barring the accused and their lawyers and the lawyers of the government and the victim, no one else was allowed in the courtroom.

Trinamul Congress MP Saugata Roy on Saturday acknowledged it was difficult to set up large industries in the state due to shortage of land. “In the economic and industrial development of Wes Bengal there is no room for big industry because land is a problem here. If you look in the vicinity of Kolkata, the land is fertile. It was fertile land which became the main stumbling block in Singur,” he said.

Three people were killed and one was missing when a boat ferrying 11 people capsized in Damodar river on Friday night in Burudih area of Purulia.

Wednesday morning brought a pall of gloom among the traders of Surya Sen Market which was completely destroyed in a major fire. The inferno not only took away 19 lives, but also took away the basic livelihood of the traders and also the workers of the market.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday suspected a sabotage behind the Sealdah market fire which killed 19 persons. “Why has this incident happened? There are so many inflammable objects there (in the market) that if anybody intentionally lit a small fire, it could turn into an inferno.

The infighting within the Trinamul Congress came to light once again on Wednesday with rebel party MLA of Sealdah Shikha Mitra launching a scathing attack against Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee claiming that she had drew his attention to the fire hazards at the market building which falls in her Assembly constituency.

Wednesday’s tragedy once again exposed how businesses are run in dangerous environments in Kolkata markets by violating all fire safety and civic norms. Describing the Surya Sen Market building “illegal”, state fire minister Javed Ahmed Khan said that the blaze originated from the mezzanine floor of the building spread over 15,000 sq ft. which was constructed illegally.

The cries and wails of family members of the deceased got only louder when officers of Muchipara police station called the names of the corpses who were the victims of the devastating fire that broke out at Surya Sen Market early on early Wednesday. As they identified the deceased one by one, all hell broke loose.