YK MYK PUBLIC SECTOR BSNL IS SIDELINED TO FAVOUR PRIVATE TELECOM COMPANIES OPINION Rs. 3 KOLKATA SUNDAY, 23 JAN, 2022 PG- 8, YEAR— 8, ISSUE— 243 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) AT A GLANCE LATA MANGESHKAR SHOWS 'SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT', REMAINS IN ICU MUMBAI: The health of legendary singer Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar was showing "signs of improvement" on Saturday and she continues to remain under treatment in the ICU of a leading private hospital, said a close family friend. "Her condition is improving compared with before and she is under the care of the amazing team of medicos headed by Dr. P. Samdani," Anusha Srinivasan Iyer told IANS. She said all are praying and eagerly looking forward to Lata Didi's speedy recovery and returning home soon. 2 LET TERRORISTS KILLED IN J&K Srinagar, Jan 22 (IANS) Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter between the terrorists and the security forces at Kilbal area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said on Saturday. "One more terrorist killed... incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on," a police officer said. The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 38,566,027 TOTAL DEATHS: 488,422 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 343,731,667 TOTAL DEATHS: 5,595,447 3RD ODI: INDIA LOOK TO AVOID WHITEWASH AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA SPORTS Morning India Goa TMC alleges EC’s Flying Squad barged into its office late night without reason MI NEWS SERVICE action, they stated that they were working under strict instructions of their superiors to take action within 30 minutes of someone filing a complaint on the 'cVigil' application," stated the TMC letter. The TMC told the Election Commission that despite its knowledge about the glow board and the party office in Panaji, the Flying Squad barging into TMC's office was baseless and without 'reason'. "Such acts and conduct indicate the wrongful intention of the 'Flying Squad' to harras the members/staffs and supporters of AITC", stated TMC Goa. It further claimed that the 'Flying Squad' did not follow standard operating procedure by barging into the TMC office late at night. The TMC termed the act as "reeks of bias" and has asked the Election Commission to take necessary action against the "Flying Squad". Goa will go to the assembly polls on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. PANAJI: Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday has written to the Election Commission, complaining about "illegal and wrongful" harassment by a flying squad that vandalised flex and banners at the party office in Panaji around midnight on Friday. The Goa TMC alleged that a group of police officers (one carrying a rifle/ automatic gun) accompanied by four unidentified individuals in plainclothes, identified themselves as members of the "Flying Squad" of the Election Commission and entered the party office premises at around 11.10 pm of Friday. At that time the office security guard along with three office staff was present in the office. The TMC in its letter alleged that "Flying Squad" wrongfully and forcefully tore down hoardings and the glow board and also threatened the office staff with dire consequences if they make any objection to them. "On being questioned about the timing of the 6 dead, 23 injured in Mumbai building blaze Beautiful game loses footballer Subhas Bhowmik at 72 MUMBAI: At least 6 persons have been killed and 23 others injured when a major blaze engulfed the 18th floor of a building in Tardeo, South Mumbai at dawn on Saturday, the BMC Disaster Control said. The fire was noticed at the top part of the 20-storied Kamla Building at around 7.30 a.m. with people in neighbouring buildings and morning walkers alerting the fire brigade. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) rushed with 13 fire tenders as the flames quickly spread to the two upper floors sparking panic among the building residents. The MFB managed to rescue at least 23 injured persons from the inferno that raged in the top three floors, and the firemen continued to battle the blaze in the afternoon. The injured persons were rushed to various private and public hospitals and 7 were given first aid and allowed to go. The remaining 16 with grievous burns of various degrees, have been admitted to different hospitals. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and other top BMC officials rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue and relief operations, and the cause of the fire is being probed. NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: Indian football great Subhas Bhowmik, who was a member of the side that won bronze at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, passed away in Kolkata on Saturday at the age of 72. Born on October 2, 1950, Bhowmik made his international debut for India on July 30, 1970 in the Merdeka Cup against Farmosa. He represented India in 24 international matches and scored nine goals in the process -including a hat-trick against the Philippines in the Merdeka Cup in 1971 -- a match which India won 5-1. Maidan's favourite 'Bhombolda' aka Subhas Bhowmik tasted more success in East Bengal Club as a coach. Besides bringing National League (now ILeague) for the red and gold brigade twice, the prestigious ASEAN Cup came under his coaching in the year 2003. Remembering Subhas Bhowmik's incredible and enviable success for East Bengal, the club management has taken a novel initiative to pay tribute to the legendary Subhas Bhowmik. A museum is being set up in memory of the late manager. A statue of Subhas Bhowmik with the ASEAN Cup in hand is also going to come up. This was conveyed by Debabrata Sarkar, one of the leading officials of the club. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief at the demise of the football stalwart. She sent her condolences to the bereaved family of the football great. He attained the distinction of not just donning India colours in several top-notch tournaments but also coaching the national team. Besides winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games, Bhowmik was also a tri- MI NEWS SERVICE DELIMITATION HAS STARTED, ELECTIONS SOON IN J&K: SHAH After the two fatalities earlier, another 4 critically injured persons succumbed to their burns in the next few hours, and another 5 are still critical, said the BMC Disaster Control. The dead victims have been identified as Purushottam Chopdekar, Manju Kantharia, Hitesh Mistry and the identity of 3 including 2 women is yet to be ascertained. A majority of the casualties have been taken to the nearby Bhatia Hospital, others to BMC's Nair Hospital and Kasturba Hospital, and the others to Masina Hospital, Reliance Hospital and Wockhardt Hospital. The BMC has ordered a probe into the causes of the fire catching many in the building unawares, whether the society had adequate fire warning/fighting facilities, etc, said an official. DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that elections will soon be held in J&K since the delimitation process has already started. Speaking at the virtual launch of the district good governance index in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said, "Delimitation has started and elections will soon be held." He reiterated that he has given assurance in the Lok Sabha that as soon as the situation becomes normal in Jammu and Kashmir, statehood will be given back. He slammed some leaders for spreading false propaganda and alleged that they are doing so for their own political benefits. "Many leaders have been doing false propaganda. Democracy has reached grassroots level,” says Shah. PM Modi sets a new challenge for 142 districts to improve on all parameters NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the government has identified 142 districts that lag on one or two development parametres and set a new challenge for all governments to collectively work as has been done in case of aspirational districts. "We have identified 142 districts that are otherwise progressive, developed but lacking in one or two parametres such as malnutrition or education. We now need to work collectively to improve the situation just as we have done for aspirational districts," Modi said and added, "This is a new challenge for all of us. For the Central government, for the state governments, for the district administration everyone. We have to collectively work to achieve this." Modi was virtually addressing several Chief Ministers across India, District Magistrates of hundreds of districts and other officials from various ministries. Also in attendance was NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. The Prime Minister took direct feedback about the progress and present status of implementation of government schemes and pro- grammes in various districts. "Working in silos during decision making is problematic but working in silos while implementation is worse. Aspirational districts have shown how ending these silos in implementation has increased optimum utilization of resources," the Prime Minister said and assured, "When silos are ended, 1 + 1 does not equal to 2 but actually, 1 plus 1 becomes 11. This community strength is visible in the aspirational districts." umphant member of the Indian team which finished joint winners at Pesta Sukan Cup against South Vietnam in Singapore (1971), and a bronze medal in the Merdeka Cup in 1970. He was also a member of the Indian team which toured the erstwhile USSR in 1971. At the domestic level, Bhowmik represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 (captain), and in 1975, winning it four times (in 1969,1971,1972,1975), scoring 24 goals. At the club level, he played for East Bengal in 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, and scored 82 goals. He helped the Red and Gold brigade win the Calcutta Football League in 1973, 1974, 1975; the IFA Shield in 1973, 1974, 1975; the Rovers Cup in 1969, 1973; the DCM Trophy in 1973, 1974 and the Bordoloi Trophy in 1973. He also played for Mohun Bagan in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978 and finished with 84 goals. He helped Mohun Bagan win the Calcutta Football League in 1976, 1978; IFA Shield in 1976 (joint-winners), 1977, 1978 (joint-winners); the Federation Cup in 1978 (joint-winners); the Rovers Cup in 1970, 1971, 1972 (joint-winners), 1977; the Durand Cup in 1977; the Nehru Cup in 1970; the Bordoloi Trophy in 1976, 1977; the Darjeeling Gold Cup in 1976 (joint-winners); and the Sait Nagjee Trophy in 1978. He had earlier started his club career with Rajasthan Club, Kolkata in 1968, wherein he scored seven goals in the Calcutta Football League. Bhowmik was also a reputed coach having won many laurels. He coached India in the 7th President Gold Cup in Dhaka in 1989. At the domestic level, his biggest achievement as a coach came in 2003 when he coached East Bengal to win the LG ASEAN Club Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also coached East Bengal to win the Kolkata Football League from 2002-2004, the San Miguel Cup in Kathmandu in 2004, the National Football League (back-to-back) in 2002-03, and 2003-04, the IFA Shield in 2002, the Independence Day Cup in 2002, and the Durand Cup in 2002. As a technical director, he was involved with Churchill Brothers winning the I-League in 2012-13. He also coached Mohun Bagan to win the Sikkim Gold Cup in 1992. He was awarded East Bengal Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Praful Patel, in his condolence message, said, "It's sad to hear that Bhowmik da, one of the greatest footballers of his generation is no more. His invaluable contribution to Indian football will always remain with us, and will never be forgotten. Indian football has only got poorer. My condolences to his family. I share the grief." AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said, "Mr. Subhas Bhowmik will always remain alive in his achievements. He was a legendary footballer, and a visionary coach -someone who has been the inspiration for so many generations. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace." IND VS WI: ODIS TO BE PLAYED IN AHMEDABAD, T20IS TO GO AHEAD IN KOL NEW DELHI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced a change in venues for the upcoming West Indies' Tour of India. The three ODIs will now be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad and three T20Is will be held at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. "The decision to limit the series to two venues instead of six as originally announced has been done to mitigate biosecurity risks by cutting down on travel and movement of the teams, match officials, broadcasters, and other stakeholders," stated an official BCCI release. On January 19, ANI had reported that the upcoming series between India and West Indies will be played across just two venues -- Ahmedabad and Kolkata.