Swasthya Bhawan is Watching: CM Suvendu Adhikari Announces 24/7 Live Monitoring to Tackle Referral Rackets and Middlemen in Government Hospitals

​KOLKATA: In a major crackdown on systemic corruption and negligence within West Bengal's state-run healthcare infrastructure, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Saturday the launch of a 24-hour centralized control room at Swasthya Bhawan (the state health headquarters). This unit will conduct continuous, round-the-clock "live monitoring" across government hospitals to dismantle deep-rooted illicit rackets, put an end to unnecessary patient referrals, and ensure administrative accountability.

​Zero Tolerance Policy and High-Profile Action

​The Chief Minister made this crucial announcement while inaugurating a cervical cancer vaccination drive at the Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital. Addressing the persistent public grievances surrounding state-run healthcare facilities, Adhikari emphasized that the new regime will enforce a zero-tolerance policy against exploitation and administrative apathy. Highlighting the government's strict stance, he revealed that the Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal (MSVP) of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital has already been suspended. This swift action followed the unwarranted referral of a patient who was in a critical condition. ​"We are appointing professional personnel whose sole task will be to ensure that no middlemen operate on hospital grounds and no patient is arbitrarily referred elsewhere," the Chief Minister asserted.

​Scope of the 24/7 Monitoring Unit

​The initial rollout will cover all primary district hospitals and major government medical colleges across the state. The specialized control room at Swasthya Bhawan will track a wide grid of day-to-day operations through digital surveillance and direct inspection reports. ​The centralized oversight mechanism will monitor: ​Doctor Attendance: Ensuring that scheduled physicians and medical staff are present at their duty stations. ​Patient Management: Verifying that admitted patients receive timely treatment in their assigned wards without harassment. ​Elimination of "Broker" Rackets: Employing specialized personnel to identify and neutralize illegal brokers (dalals) who extort patients for beds or medicine. ​Referral Control: Tracking every patient referral to stop the long-standing practice of hospitals deflecting critical cases to avoid responsibility. Cleanliness and Sanitation: Ensuring zero tolerance for accumulated medical waste and unhygienic conditions on hospital premises. ​Reforming Recruitment and Public Grievances. ​Acknowledging that middlemen and arbitrary referrals have plagued the public healthcare system for years—stretching back into previous administrations—the Chief Minister highlighted that structural changes are underway. To improve core services, future recruitments of doctors and nursing staff will be conducted with complete transparency. ​A dedicated helpline linked directly to the Swasthya Bhawan control room is being activated, allowing citizens and families of patients to report real-time harassment, medical negligence, or administrative corruption directly to authorities.

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Lalbazar Forms Panel to Modernize Kolkata Police; Aims to Match Delhi Police and Central Forces in Riot Control

KOLKATA: In a major move aimed at modernizing its law enforcement machinery, the West Bengal government has initiated a comprehensive upgrade of the Kolkata Police. The city’s police headquarters, Lalbazar, has constituted a high-level committee to evaluate the force’s current riot-control gear and non-lethal weaponry, with the explicit goal of bringing it on par with the equipment standards of the Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces. ​Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand issued the directive to form the five-member assessment team. The panel is being headed by IPS officer Nilanjan Biswas, Joint Commissioner of Police (Organization).

​15-Day Deadline for Assessment

​The newly formed committee has been tasked with assessing the city's current law-and-order preparedness and evaluating how effectively the force can counter street violence, protests, and public unrest. The panel is operating under a strict timeline and must submit a detailed status report to the Police Commissioner within 15 days. ​According to the official directive issued, the committee will conduct a thorough inventory check across all police divisions to audit the stock and condition of essential tactical gear. This audit includes:​Protective body armor and helmets, Fiber batons (lathis) and riot shields, ​Non-lethal weapons and rubber bullets, ​Tear gas shells and launching equipment, ​Water cannons and their deployment availabiliy.

The overarching objective of this initiative is to eliminate any operational deficiencies in handling dynamic law-and-order situations. Lalbazar officials noted that central agencies like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Delhi Police regularly utilize highly advanced tactical armor and state-of-the-art non-lethal crowd-control tools. ​By comparing Kolkata's current inventory with these national standards, the state government intends to restructure procurement pipelines and supply local personnel with modernized, high-grade safety gear and upgraded non-lethal tactical options. ​The committee’s upcoming report will serve as the foundational blueprint for the structural modernization and re-equipping of the Kolkata Police force.

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​Former Bengal Minister Arup Biswas’s Sister-in-Law Jui Announces Divorce from Swarup Biswas

Kolkata: Jui Biswas, Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor and sister-in-law of former West Bengal minister Arup Biswas, has officially initiated legal proceedings for a divorce from her husband, Swarup Biswas. ​Jui, who serves as the TMC councillor for Ward 81 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and holds the position of Chairperson for Borough 10, made the announcement publicly on Thursday.

​​Speaking about her decision, Jui revealed that she had been living separately from her husband since 2019, alongside their two daughters. While the decision to separate was made years ago, she explained that the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020–2021 severely disrupted legal systems, preventing them from moving forward with the formal court proceedings at the time.

​According to Jui, both she and Swarup sought legal counsel earlier this year and have jointly filed for a mutual divorce. ​Swarup Biswas Declines to Comment. ​In contrast to Jui's detailed public disclosure, her husband Swarup Biswas—a prominent TMC leader and the president of the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI)—maintained a strict stance of privacy. When approached by the media regarding the matter, his response was brief:

​"I will not speak to the media about my personal family matters." ​No Connection to Recent Political Developments

​The announcement comes at a turbulent time for the Biswas family. Following a recent shift in the state's political landscape, Arup Biswas lost his Tollygunge assembly seat to BJP candidate Papiya Adhikari. ​Simultaneously, Swarup Biswas has been facing intense heat from a section of Tollywood directors and technicians. Over the past few weeks, allegations of autocracy, intimidation, and harassment have been consistently leveled against him regarding his leadership at the Federation. However, Jui strongly dismissed any speculation connecting her personal life to these public controversies. She explicitly clarified that her decision to pursue a divorce is entirely personal and has absolutely no correlation with the recent political developments or the allegations surrounding her husband.

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Mass Resignation in Bhadreswar Municipality

In a dramatic political development, the chairman and eight councillors of Bhadreswar Municipality in Hooghly district have tendered their resignations. Chairman Pralay Chakraborty announced that he stepped down in deference to public opinion and accepted responsibility for the defeat of the Trinamool Congress candidate in the recent assembly elections.

According to sources within the Trinamool Congress, the councillors faced difficulties in securing grants following the political shift in the state, which made it increasingly challenging to continue their work. In contrast, BJP leaders suggested that the resignations were motivated by fears of being implicated in alleged recruitment corruption cases. This wave of resignations marks the first instance of such a large-scale departure from a municipality in Hooghly district since the assembly election results were declared, signaling a significant moment in the region’s political landscape.

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Technical Snag Mid-Air: San Francisco-Bound Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Delhi After Flying for 8 Hours

 New Delhi: A San Francisco-bound Air India flight was forced to return and make an emergency landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on after experiencing a technical snag mid-air.

According to flight tracker data, the aircraft had already been in the air for approximately eight hours when the issue was detected.

Pilot's Swift Action Ensures Safety

Airline sources revealed that as soon as the mechanical malfunction was noticed, the pilot immediately contacted the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) to request an emergency landing. Upon receiving the green signal from the ATC, the pilot turned the aircraft around and headed back to Delhi. "The pilot successfully and safely landed the aircraft, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew on board," an airline official stated.

Alternative Arrangements

Air India is currently making alternative arrangements for the passengers to reach their destination. Further technical inspections of the aircraft are underway to determine the exact cause of the glitch.

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TMC Councilor Arrested in Durgapur for Inciting Violence; Greeted with 'Thief-Thief' Slogans Outside Court

Durgapur: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) councilor from Durgapur has been arrested on charges of inciting violence. Instability flared up on the court premises as he was produced before the judge, with crowds chanting provocative slogans against him.

According to reports, a group of BJP workers and supporters had gathered outside the court ahead of his arrival. As the police escorted the accused councilor, Rajeev, into the court building under tight security, the BJP workers raised their shoes at him and began chanting "Chor-Chor" (Thief-Thief) slogans.

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Former Minister Sujit Bose Moves Calcutta High Court Challenging ED Arrest

 Kolkata: Former West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose has approached the Calcutta High Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Bose was arrested by the central agency in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam. Seeking to overturn the arrest, the former minister filed a petition in the High Court against the ED. The matter is likely to come up for a hearing on Friday before the bench of Justice Shampa Dutt Paul.

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BJP is Enemy Number One': Mamata Banerjee Calls for Left Support to Defeat Saffron Party

In a significant political strategic shift, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has officially labeled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the state's "primary enemy," calling upon the Left parties to join forces with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to defeat the saffron surge. Addressing the media and supporters, Banerjee emphasized that despite decades of ideological rivalry with the Left, the current "threat to Bengal’s democratic and secular fabric" posed by the BJP necessitates a unified opposition front. She urged all secular forces to set aside their differences to prevent the fragmentation of anti-BJP votes, while simultaneously accusing the central government of attempting to manipulate voter lists and disrupt state harmony ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. This outreach signals a major tactical pivot in Bengal politics, though it has met with immediate skepticism from Left leaders and dismissive criticism from the BJP, who characterized the move as a sign of political desperation.

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