Deepak Kumar Singh
Port Blair, July 25: Mr. G Bhasker, Chairman of the Andaman and Nicobar Territory Congress Committee (ANTCC) Campaign Committee, has launched a scathing critique of the recently presented Union Budget, terming it as a “total failure” that primarily benefits the wealthy while neglecting the needs of the common people.
Addressing a press conference, Bhasker expressed deep disappointment with the government’s priorities, as reflected in the budget allocations. He highlighted the disparity between the substantial funds allocated to interest payments and the relatively meager amount earmarked for healthcare.
The Congress leader further criticized the budget’s lack of vision for the future, particularly in terms of job creation and economic growth. He pointed out that the promised employment opportunities through various schemes are riddled with complexities and are unlikely to create sustainable livelihoods. The leader also expressed concerns about the government’s commitment to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating that despite being a crucial lifeline for rural India, the scheme has been underfunded.
Bhasker also raised serious questions about the government’s approach to tourism, a vital sector for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He lamented the paltry increase in the tourism budget, which, he argued, will hinder the development of the industry and job creation. The leader further criticized the government’s neglect of tribal welfare, despite the numerous schemes announced.
The Congress leader emphasized the need for a more equitable budget that prioritizes the needs of the poor and marginalized. He urged the government to focus on addressing issues such as unemployment, inflation, and healthcare, instead of concentrating on projects that primarily benefit the wealthy.
Bhasker concluded his address by calling for a budget that is truly inclusive and addresses the aspirations of the common people. He demanded increased allocation for sectors such as education, agriculture, and infrastructure development, which he believes are essential for the overall growth and development of the country.

Port Blair, Jul 24: Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, A & N Islands recently met Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of National Highways and Road Transport and requested him to sanction the long pending work of a bridge between Chatham and Bambooflat.
Mr. Ray also mentioned that the Islanders are having huge expectations from the NDA government regarding the project.
Mr. Gadkari, responding to the request, advised that a recommendation from the Defense Ministry was required to sanction the work.
Subsequently, Mr. Ray yesterday met Mr. Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defense and submitted a letter to him requesting him to recommend for sanction of the Bridge work between Chatham and Bambooflat.
Mr. Singh responding to the request of Mr. Ray, assured that he will positively look into the proposal and send his recommendation soon to the Ministry of National Highways and Road Transport.

Port Blair, Jul 22: The 58th Annual General Body of Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank Ltd was held on 20th July, 2024 at its Conference Hall of the Bank. The programme was Chaired by Mr. K. Subramanian, Chairman, (In-Charge) A&NStCB Ltd and attended by Board of Directors of the Bank, Members of PACS (Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies Ltd), representatives of various affiliated Apex, Central and Primary Cooperative Societies, Senior officials and staff members of the Bank.
The 58th Annual General Body was started by observing 02-minute mourning for remembrance of our Late. Bhagat Singh, Chairman, A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd and lighting up the traditional lamp.
At the beginning, Mr. K. Murugan, Managing Director welcomed all the Delegates for the 58th Annual General Body Meeting and emphasized that the Management of the bank has given due importance for the overall development in terms of, Banking, IT etc. He appraised the forum that the Bank is in sound position and had earned a Net Profit of Rs. 272.59 Lakhs for the year 2024. He appreciated the team for overall performance of the Bank. He further informed that the Bank have started new initiative for the welfare of the customer and the General Publics. The Bank is started new schemes i.e. Micro Loan for small traders, Holiday loan, Maternity Loan, Tuition loan, Maha Dhan Labh Schemes etc. The Bank has also launched RuPay KCC, QR code facilities, and 02 Nos. Demonstration van for Mayabunder and Havelock Branch for unbanked areas.
Mr. Narayan Chandra Mondal, Manager, (Finance & Account) of the Bank read and confirmed the proceedings of the last Annual General Body Meeting held on 23.09.2023, and also presented the Annual Report 2023-24 and briefed the gathering regarding the financial parameters and strategic developments of the Bank with respect to the audited position as on 31st March, 2024.
He also urged that the bank resolves to achieve continuous and meaningful growth by making effective use of its human resources and leveraging its large network of branches and technology. The Banks’ total business has crossed Rs. 2500 Crores and the Banks’ CRAR stands at 14.28%.
An interactive session cum future road map was also held among the members and the Management of the Bank to decide on the various upcoming programmes of the bank.
The 58th General Body Meet ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Jolly James, GM (Dev.), A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd.

 

Mayabunder, Jul 21: The Deputy Commissioner, N&M Andaman, Mr. Dilkhush Meena, IAS, conducted inspection of NH-4 roadway segment spanning from Panighat to Swadesh Nagar (KM 239+000 to 206+000), accompanied by General Manager, NHIDCL, PRI members, other officials from NHIDCL, as well as representatives from the executive agencies. During the visit, the DC, N&M Andaman, inspected various damaged stretches to verify the repair and maintenance work being carried out between Swadesh Nagar and Billiground, Basantipur Forest Section, and Rest Camp to Webi.
During inspection, DC N&M Andaman emphasized the urgent need to repair all distressed portions by deploying the maximum number of teams to the affected locations. He directed that efforts should be undertaken on a war footing basis to ensure motorable of the stretch within seven days. The inspection was actively participated by PRI members, and their pleas were given due importance. Accordingly, directions were given to NH Officials to address and restore the motorability of the stretch.

Port Blair, July 15: On 14th July, 2024, at approximately 1855 hours, Police Station Ograbraj received a phone call reporting a murder at Bachra Pahad, Chouldari. The caller indicated that a son had killed his father. Acting swiftly, police team comprising of SI Devanand Pathak, SHO PS Ograbraj, SIs K.V. Abdul Salam, Agnes Barthloma, HCs Vijay Kumar, Ashok Kr. Roy, PCs Jayanto Biswas, Martin & Abdul Rehman was formed and instantly rushed to the spot. Upon arrival, they encountered the complainant Shri Manas Chakraborthy near the location. Manas identified the deceased inside the house as his father-in-law Narayan Ch. Mondal. Manas stated that his father-in-law regularly visited his brother-in-law Pawan Ch. Mondal, who lived alone at Bachra Pahad to bring him food. On 14/07/2024, Narayan Ch. Mondal left with food at around 1000 to 1030 hrs but did not return home by 1600 hrs. Subsequently, he searched for his father-in-law and eventually returning to Pawan’s house with a friend around 1830 hrs. They found that the door was closed and when Pawan did’nt respond to calls Manas pushed the door and saw Narayan was found inside and blood was oozing around his face and blood-stained stick is lying nearby his body.

Subsequently, case has been registered at PS Ograbraj vide FIR No. 43/24 dated 14/07/2024, U/s 103(1) BNS 2023. On 15th July, 2024, the investigation was intensified with the involvement of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team and the Executive Magistrate. A thorough examination and inquest were conducted at the scene, and key evidence was meticulously collected.

During the investigation, Pawan Ch. Mondal was interrogated and confessed to the crime. He was subsequently arrested, displaying swift and effective action by the police team of PS Ograbraj. This highlights their dedication to duty and professional competence.

Further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the full details of the incident. The meticulous operation exemplifies the commitment of the South Andaman Police in addressing serious crimes. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of Shri Vishesh Dhatterwal, SDPO Bambooflat (In-charge), and the overall supervision of Smti. Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District.

The general public are requested to pass on any credible information pertaining to such serious crimes may kindly be passed on the following telephone numbers: 236641, 258019, 224934 & 100. Informers’ identities will be kept confidential.

 

Port Blair, July 14: Today, at approximately 0845 hrs, during a routine sea patrol by PMF Gemini, the Police Marine Force received an urgent distress call from the In-Charge OP Kishorinagar. The call reported that a lady, residing near the seashore area at Sagar Plot, Taal Bagan, required immediate medical assistance due to high fever and sudden breathing issues.
Without any hesitation, PC(L)1229 K Shoaib Ali, PC(G)2760 Balaji, and PC/2796 K Hazarat Kumar promptly braved heavy rain and strong winds to reach the distressed lady.
Their swift and decisive action, amidst challenging weather conditions, led to the successful rescue of the lady accompanied by a female attendant. They navigated the rough seas to safely transport her to Dinghy Ghat Kishorinagar.
An ambulance was pre-coordinated to meet the rescue team upon arrival, ensuring that the lady received immediate medical attention at PHC Kishorinagar.
This rescue operation exemplifies the unwavering dedication and bravery of the Police Marine Force personnel. Their commitment to safeguarding the lives of Islanders, regardless of the obstacles, underscores our core mission to serve and protect the community.

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, July 12: The road from Dairy Farm to School Line has become a source of unending agony for commuters. For nearly three to four months, this critical stretch has been in a state of disrepair, plagued by rough patches and major potholes since it was dug up to lay down pipes. Despite several cosmetic repair attempts by the APWD, the road remains in deplorable condition.
For two-wheeler riders, the potholes are akin to death traps, posing significant risks to their safety. The constant traffic congestion adds fuel to the fire, causing substantial delays for office-goers and school students alike. The once smooth commute has now become a daily struggle, testing the patience and resilience of the Islanders.
What is most disheartening is the sheer negligence displayed by the APWD. Islanders are left scratching their heads, wondering why the engineers have been unable to restore the road to its former state. It’s as if the mighty APWD, once a symbol of efficiency and reliability, has hit rock bottom. The community’s frustration is palpable, and there’s a growing call for accountability.
“We have been enduring this nightmare for months now. It’s high time the authorities took notice of our plight,” says Mr. Ramesh, a daily commuter. “The road is a lifeline for many, and its current state is unacceptable. We urge the Chief Secretary to pay a surprise visit and witness our daily struggle firsthand.”

Port Blair, July 11: On 13 Jun 24, MV ASL Courageous, accompanied by barge ASLCO 300008, departed Port Sabang, Indonesia, carrying 68 KL of fuel destined for Tuticorin. Encountering severe weather, the vessel’s speed was drastically reduced to 1-2 knots. Facing a ‘No-Go’ situation, the master decided to return to Port Sabang on 24 Jun to refuel, intending to resume the voyage once conditions improved. However, the vessel exhausted its remaining fuel on 29 Jun 24 and began drifting within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The drifting vessel was promptly detected by the Joint Operations Center (JOC) of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and was classified as a Vessel of Interest (VoI) on 30 Jun. HQ ANC maintained constant surveillance over the vessel. Despite efforts to arrange for necessary bunkerage, the vessel remained without fuel.
On 02 July, the vessel was observed drifting towards Indian Territorial Waters at a rate of 1.1 knots. INS Kulish, in the vicinity, was directed to intercept the vessel. INS Kulish successfully intercepted the vessel within territorial waters on 02 July. The vessel’s request to anchor was initially denied pending clearance from ANC. On 03 July, the vessel, now 7 nm from the West Coast of Great Nicobar Island, requested emergency permission to anchor against the danger of being washed ashore. Noting the deteriorating conditions, HQ ANC granted the tug permission to anchor. INS Kulish boarded the vessel to verify the situation. Following this, INS Kulish resumed routine patrolling, while Coast Guard District Headquarters at Campbell Bay deployed additional monitoring platforms.
On the intervening night of July 4 th and 5 th , the vessel’s anchor began dragging due to strong sea currents, leading to an emergency on 05 July. INS Kulish and ICGS Rajveer responded immediately. INS Kulish towed the ship and barge, but the towline broke after a few miles of towing. The barge was anchored in deep water, and the tugboat was tied to it.
ICGS Rajveer kept a close watch of the situation.
Rescue boat MV Al Aqsa I requisitioned by the ship owner arrived on 06 July to provide assistance. After refueling by MV Al Aqsa I, MV ASL Courageous departed Indian waters safely for Port Sabang at 1900h on 06 Jul 24.
The timely and effective assistance provided by the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Indian Armed Forces highlights India’s unwavering commitment in ensuring maritime safety and aiding foreign vessels in distress within the region. This operation reaffirms India’s role as a steadfast security partner in the maritime domain of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.