Latest news with #BidhannagarPolice
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Bidhannagar Police arrests taxi driver and tout for scamming American vlogger in Kolkata
Kolkata: Bidhannagar police arrested the taxi driver and the tout who scammed and threatened a popular American vlogger during his trip to a Park Street hotel from Kolkata airport last week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now TOI wrote about the ordeal and shared the description and video posted by the vlogger, Dustin, with Bidhannagar police, following which driver Alamgir Molla and the tout Manoj Kumar Roy were arrested. They were booked under BNS sections dealing with extortion and criminal conspiracy. "We lodged a suo motu complaint on Wednesday afternoon. We saw the video and were on the lookout for the offenders featured in it. While searching for the duo, we saw them back at the airport again trying to scam another passenger. We noticed their activities from a distance and then arrested them," said a senior officer of Bidhannagar city police. Following the arrest, Bidhannagar police also prepared a short video featuring clips from Dustin's vlog wherein the tout, Manoj Kumar, was heard threatening him in Bengali to break his bones and throw him out of the car while demanding more money during the ride. The video ends with images of the two holding identification booking slates against their chest after being arrested by the cops. The video ends with a message from Bidhannagar police and a helpline number to call during such emergencies: "We Bidhannagar Police stand for the safety of passengers! Taxi touting is a punishable offence. Don't stay silent! If you encounter such a situation, report it immediately. Contact us at 9147889465." Cops said Manoj Kumar (57) was a resident of Brahmapur off Garia in South 24 Parganas and Molla (33) was a resident of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We have been circulating the video and posts across social media and other places to let everyone know about their behaviour, and we appeal to everyone to remember their faces and not to get in their taxis again. Meanwhile, we will take necessary action against the duo and taxi drivers like them who harass guests and tarnish the name of the city," said the officer. Dustin, a YouTuber who was in Kolkata to explore the city, shared the ordeal on his YouTube channel, Meet Dustin, in a nine-minute video titled "Taxi Driver in Kolkata Tried to Cheat and Threaten Me." Dustin narrated in his video how the taxi driver took him to a different hotel in New Town after possibly misunderstanding the hotel's name and later shifted him to another taxi with which he reached the Park Street hotel. He spent Rs 800 for the rides instead of the usual Rs 550 and took more than 100 minutes instead of the usual one hour. On camera, the red-shirt man, Manoj Kumar, was caught giving threats and saying, "I will take him to a lonely place and I will break his bone. I have mafia connection, I will break your bone." Upon hearing Dustin's explanation and refusal to pay extra, the red-shirted individual demanded Rs 1000 and spoke to the driver in Bengali, saying, "I have connections with the mafia, I'll drag him to a lonely place and break his bones. " Dustin, however, assured that the incident wouldn't affect his view of India. "I've had a great time in India so far. This won't make me hate the country, it's just something you deal with in taxis and airports in many places," he expressed. MSID:: 121492038 413 |
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Salt Lake rickshaw workshops help rig speed, put you at risk
1 2 3 Kolkata: In the back alleys of Baguiati, Kaikhali, and Barasat, an unexpected transport revolution is quietly gaining momentum. Local mechanics are transforming cycle rickshaws into swift, battery-operated vehicles. These retrofitted rickshaws are now zipping through Salt Lake, Sector V, Lake Town, Dum Dum Park, and New Town — often outpacing traffic and sometimes even the law. A visit by TOI to several roadside workshops in these neighbourhoods revealed an ecosystem of innovation built on necessity and 'jugaad'. Mechanics, some barely out of their teens, are assembling high-speed electric rickshaws using a motley mix of salvaged parts and battery units. What began as an energy-saving convenience turned into an unregulated phenomenon, raising serious safety and legal concerns for the Bidhannagar Police. TOI found at least three distinct types of retrofitted rickshaws in operation, each powered by different battery-motor combinations. Some run on standard lead-acid batteries, while others use lithium-ion variants — scavenged, second-hand, or imported. The motors range from basic brushed DC types to slightly more efficient brushless DC units. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40대 이상이고 PC가 있으세요? 그럼 이 게임을 정말 좋아하실 거예요! Sea of Conquest 플레이하기 Undo Regardless of their technical makeup, these e-rickshaws all share one trait: they're unregistered and unregulated, yet widespread. "In this age of speed, rickshaw pullers too don't want to lag behind. Hence, we also upgraded our old cycle rickshaw manufacturing and repair unit into a workshop where we retrofit and build new electric-operated rickshaws. We usually assemble low-speed electric vehicles that do not require a license or registration. But some rickshaw pullers demand more speed, and hence we do tweak them at times," said a workshop owner in Kaikhali. The idea of retrofitting — the process of adding modern features to older systems — is a global buzzword in the electric vehicle movement. But in Kolkata, it's being executed in the most grassroots fashion imaginable. In these makeshift garages, pedals are replaced by accelerators, and crude wiring connects motors to batteries mounted precariously at the rear, under the seats. Many of these rickshaws are also fitted with headlights, taillights, shock absorbers, turn indicators, music systems, digital display panels, and even smartphone charging points — luxuries unheard of in traditional pedal rickshaws. "It costs around Rs 88,000 to retrofit an old rickshaw and turn it into a chain gear e-rickshaw," said Irfan Ali Mondal, a workshop owner. "But for a sturdier and more powerful rickshaw, we suggest operators go for half-motor rickshaws that run on an 850-watt motor and are powered by a 48 V battery, which costs around Rs 1 lakh." Mondal said there is an even higher-power vehicle that operates on a lithium-ion battery, comes with a 3-year warranty, and is the most powerful of the lot. It costs around Rs 1.3 lakh. While the first variant is still fitted with cycle tyres, the second and third variants come with a bike tyre in the front. Mondal said he is working on fitting disc brakes onto the vehicle to allow them to stop swiftly. "Now, I do four times the number of trips in a day, and I don't get tired like before. I can work easily through hot afternoons too," said Kartik Chandra Bhuiya, a mechanised rickshaw operator in Salt Lake. However, not everyone is celebrating. TOI wrote on Friday how battery-fitted rickshaws in Salt Lake are now touching speeds of 45 kmph, which is almost three times the average traffic speed in Kolkata. Alarmed by the pace and a spate of fatal accidents involving the mechanised rickshaws, Bidhannagar police have asked the rickshaw drivers to install speed limiters and get their speed below 25 kmph. "They pose a threat both in terms of traffic safety and accident liability. No doubt they have gained pace, but they have become very unsafe," said Purba Bandyopadhyay, a resident of AE block.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
At 45 kmph, Salt Lake's battery rickshaws zoom around at nearly thrice the speed of Kolkata traffic
Battery-fitted rickshaws in Salt Lake are reaching dangerous speeds of up to 45 kmph, far exceeding Kolkata's average traffic speed KOLKATA: Battery-fitted rickshaws in Salt Lake are now touching speeds of 45 kmph, which is almost three times the average traffic speed in Kolkata, a drive by Bidhannagar Police has found. Last year, the average vehicular traffic speed in Kolkata was 17.4 kmph, which means it took commuters an average of 34 minutes and 33 seconds to travel 10 km. Salt Lake's rickshaws can do the 10-km run in 13 minutes and 20 seconds. The unregulated speeding has raised safety concerns in the township with residents calling for a crackdown on these rickshaws, particularly after two fatal incidents. On May 13, Shikha Dutta and her dog died after being hit by a rickshaw in BL Block. Last June, a Netaji Nagar resident had died after being similarly hit near Central Park. Several others have been injured after being thrown off. Of about 4,000 rickshaws operating from 94 stands in Salt Lake and Sector V, 3,800 have been retrofitted to function as motorised rickshaws, a Bidhannagar police officer said. While the original handbrake of a pedal rickshaw has been retained, an accelerator, indicators and shock absorbers have been added along with an alkaline battery to power the motor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo "The top speed of these rickshaws ranges between 31 kmph and 45 kmph, which is dangerous for three-wheeled vehicles primarily meant for last-mile journeys," a senior Bidhannagar cop said. Mend ways or face action: Cops warn e-rickshaws A Bidhannagar police officer said they were trying out means to limit the speed of mechanised rickshaws and would go for all-out prosecution if the operators did not mend their ways. At a recent awareness drive conducted by Bidhannagar Commissionerate's traffic division, DC (traffic) Nima Norbu Bhutia issued warnings to rickshaw operators and directed them to install speed limiters by May 31, restricting maximum speed to 25 kmph. While mechanised rickshaws have led to a sharp rise in the number of trips and earnings for operators, it is the inadequacy of the handbrake to handle the high speed that is causing accidents. The original handbrakes are designed to handle a speed of at best 15 kmph of pedalled rickshaws. Sharp turns at very high speed often result in these vehicles toppling over. Local residents that TOI spoke to said they constantly fear getting hit by these rickshaws. "These battery-operated rickshaws are silent and we can't hear them approaching. I constantly fear getting hit from behind. On Salt Lake's narrow roads inside the blocks or within residential complexes, that's very dangerous. They have just thrown in an electric motor without upgrading the brakes," Ashish Ganguly of HA Block. Sohini Chakraborty, a resident of CJ Block asked, "We need a system in place to check how these vehicles operate. Do the drivers have licence? Are the rickshaws roadworthy?"
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Airport hikes physical, digital surveillance
Kolkata: Airport authorities have enhanced surveillance, both physical and digital, to ensure absolute on Saturday checked nearly 1,000 CCTV cameras on the airport premises, including those on the city side, air side and within the terminal building, to make sure each of them worked and provided a clear feed of images. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We ensured 100% serviceability of CCTVs at the Kolkata airport so that all critical areas are under surveillance," an official which guards the airport and checks flyers as well as airport and airline staff and other service providers entering the airport, stepped up patrolling. Mobile quick response teams were also activated to meet emergency situations. The number of CISF personnel at the airport has been increased from 1,400 to 1,600, and efforts are underway to get more. The sanctioned strength of the force at the airport is around 2,300. CISF has deployed more plainclothes personnel for intelligence gathering and checking both passengers and airline ground staff, service providers, like refuelling companies, airline caterers and baggage handlers. Security and surveillance of the domestic and international cargo facilities at the airport have been enhanced as well. "Aircraft and catering service trucks are being searched to ensure only authorised items are put on aircraft," said an officer, adding airlines had been asked to station more security officers outside parked said the deployment of extra CISF personnel for city-side checks and vigil around the perimeter wall could push back the rollout of DigiYatra in the domestic-to-domestic transfer in the terminal, supposed to start operations in the first half of and the airport also urged Bidhannagar Police to enhance security outside the airport's wall. The Bengal STF has arrested four persons and recovered weapons and ammunition from an SUV near the airport. Police claimed it was a gang involved in interstate weapons trafficking.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Bengal: Merchant navy officer held for murdering woman he met on social media
Kolkata: A merchant navy officer was arrested from his Barasat apartment in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district for allegedly kidnapping and murdering a 30-year-old woman he met on social media. On April 22, the Bidhannagar police had recovered a trolley bag with a body inside from a drain in Baguihati. They identified the deceased as Riya Dhar, a resident of Nabagram in West Bengal's Murshidabad. After scanning CCTV footage, the Bidhannagar police reached Fortune Heights apartment complex in Barasat on Friday to arrest the suspect, Kaushik Pramanik, and learnt that the Murshidabad police had already arrested Pramanik two days ago on the charges of abducting the same woman whose body was found in the trolley bag. 'He lived alone in a flat in Fortune Heights in Barasat. The two met on social media. The woman was murdered after their relation soured,' a Bidhannagar police station officer said, asking not to be named. Preliminary investigation revealed that Pramanik is a divorcee while Dhar lived with her husband and two kids in Nabagram in Murshidabad. After Dhar's husband came to know about her and Pramanik, their relation got strained, following which she moved to Pramanik's flat in Barasat. Also Read: Ghaziabad: Woman's decomposing body found with hands tied, cops suspect murder On the basis of a complaint lodged by Dhar's husband last month, Murshidabad police had registered a case of abduction against Pramanik. 'We arrested Pramanik on Wednesday in connection with an abduction. At that time, we didn't know that he has murdered the woman. It was only after the woman was identified that we came to know that he is an accused in the murder case which was lodged by Bidhannagar Police,' an officer from Murshidabad police said. Also read: Dubai-returnee found dead in bag in Deoria; tag exposes killer wife 'Postmortem report revealed that the woman's death was caused due to asphyxiation. She was probably strangulated. The accused then stuffed the body in the trolley bag. He hired a cab and headed to Deshbandhu Nagar in Baguihati area where he dumped the bag in a drain,' the police officer said. Bidhannagar police registered a murder case after the woman's body was found on April 22 morning. 'As the adduction case was lodged with Nabagram police we will transfer the case to Nabagram. Murder charges would be added against him,' the officer added.
