15 deer killed by stray dogs at animal rescue centre in Chhattisgarh
Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): As many as 15 deer were killed after a pack of stray dogs attacked them inside an enclosure at an animal rescue centre in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, officials said on Sunday.
The forest department has suspended four officials, including a deputy ranger and three forest guards, for alleged negligence in connection with the incident that occurred at Sanjay Van Vatika in Ambikapur on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
The forest department manages Sanjay Van Vatika, and visitors are also allowed inside the facility, which is similar to a zoo.
A pack of four to five stray dogs entered the park from the adjoining forest and breached the deer enclosure, Surguja Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhishek Jogawat said.
Fourteen deer, including spotted deer, barking deer, and four-horned antelope, died in the attack on Saturday, while one critically injured animal succumbed to its injuries on Sunday. The deaths were due to dog bites, he confirmed.
Following postmortem examinations, the carcasses were disposed of by burning according to prescribed procedures, the official said.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Surguja Circle) Dilraj Prabhakar has suspended Deputy Ranger Ashok Sinha, who was also in charge of the park, along with forest guards Mamta Porte, Pratima Lakra, and Bindu Singh for alleged negligence, he said.
Ambikapur Forest Ranger Akshapalak Rishi has also been issued a notice and asked to respond within five days, failing which, further action will be taken.
"An inquiry team led by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Forest), Ambikapur, has been constituted to probe the incident. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," Jogawat said.
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Abhishek sets 60,000 victory margin target for Mamata, warns cadres against complacency
Kolkata (PTI): The TMC on Sunday held an organisational meeting in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf Bhabanipur, where party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee set an ambitious target of ensuring her victory by more than 60,000 votes in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
The meeting assumes significance as Bhabanipur, long regarded as Mamata Banerjee’s political backyard, is expected to witness a high-profile contest in the upcoming election with the BJP fielding Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against her.
Addressing a closed-door workers’ conference at Ahindra Mancha in Chetla, along with Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek told booth-level leaders and party functionaries that Bhabanipur must emerge as the top-performing constituency in Kolkata, according to TMC sources.
“Bhabanipur must come first in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee has to win by more than 60,000 votes,” he said, warning party cadres not to be complacent despite the constituency’s reputation as a TMC stronghold.
The meeting, attended by local councillors, booth workers and organisational leaders, was part of the party’s effort to strengthen its booth-level machinery in the constituency ahead of the assembly polls.
Among those present were state TMC president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, south Kolkata district president Debasish Kumar and councillors from the area.
Abhishek, considered number 2 in the TMC hierarchy, reminded party workers that Bhabanipur has 287 polling booths and asked them to improve on the party’s earlier performance.
“When Mamata Banerjee contested here earlier, we won in 231 booths. This time we must cross that figure and ensure victory in at least 232 booths,” he said.
Calling on booth presidents to function as “vigilant guardians” of their respective polling areas, the TMC MP said internal differences within local committees should not affect the organisational effort.
“You may like some people in your booth committees and dislike others. But remember that Mamata Banerjee herself is fighting here. That makes our responsibility much greater,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee, who also addressed the meeting, raised concerns over recent administrative changes during the poll process and accused the Centre of interfering in the state’s functioning.
“In the last three days, 50 officers have been removed. If anything happens, Narendra Modi and Vanish Kumar will have to take responsibility,” she told workers.
The TMC supremo also referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said the party would extend legal assistance to voters who face problems.
“A supplementary list will be published tomorrow. If anyone’s name is deleted or they face difficulties, we will provide legal help,” she said.
According to party sources, the revision exercise has reportedly led to the deletion of around 47,000 names from the Bhabanipur electoral rolls, a development the TMC leadership is closely monitoring.
The constituency occupies a special place in Bengal politics. Mamata Banerjee had first represented Bhabanipur in the assembly before returning to the seat in 2011 through a bypoll after becoming chief minister.
In 2021, she again contested a by-election from Bhabanipur to retain the chief minister’s post after losing the high-stakes battle in Nandigram to Adhikari.
Though the seat has largely remained a TMC bastion, recent electoral trends have made the contest more closely watched. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, TMC candidate Mala Roy secured a lead of around 6,500 votes in the Bhabanipur segment, while the BJP gained ground in several municipal wards.
Against this backdrop, party leaders said Sunday’s meeting was aimed at ensuring there is “no room for complacency” in the constituency and that the organisational network remains fully mobilised for the upcoming electoral battle.
