Prominent Kolkata Muslims urge Mamata to punish assailants
Kolkata, June 20: Condemning recent attacks at the NRS Hospital and harassment of former Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta, city-based Muslims have written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to spare any criminal owing to their religious beliefs.
In an open letter, many prominent members of the community said they were living in Kolkata for decades and deeply grieved with these recent incidents where the accused were Muslims.
"We are grieved and embarrassed," the members wrote.
The concerned signatories suggested Banerjee two ways to deal with the problem.
"Bring the assailants to book, not just in these two instances but every single instance where Muslims are involved. They should not be allowed to get away scot-free because they happened to be Muslims (as is a growing perception)," the letter read.
"This would send out the message that members of one community are not being shielded or appeased (as most people believe)".
They also suggested the state government engage with "Muslim youth and their families across Kolkata in the area of gender sensitization, civic consciousness and law compliance" programmes.
This could require long-time patience but it should be implemented right away, they added.
The letter ended with signatures of eminent Muslims along with the words "and thousands of silent sufferers".
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
