States » EastPosted at: Oct 26 2026 6:17PM


Bengal: Tourists stranded as villagers intensify agitation at Rajabhatkhawa safari ticket counter

Siliguri, Oct 26 (UNI) Tourism activities at Rajabhatkhawa in West Bengal's Alipurduar district were disrupted on Monday as villagers intensified their agitation over the demand for implementation of the Forest Rights Act, staging a sit-in demonstration in front of the tourist safari ticket counter from 11 am.
Several tourists returned without undertaking safaris, while others waited in the hope that the protest would be called off.
The agitation entered its 22nd day on Monday. The protesters are demanding a return to the earlier system and have accused the forest department of turning a checkpost on a PWD road into a toll collection point. They have questioned the levy imposed on people entering the area and demanded recognition of their rights under the Forest Rights Act.
The dispute has wider implications, including the proposed relocation of residents from the core forest area. While one phase of the relocation process has been completed, another remains pending, with some residents reportedly unwilling to accept the arrangement. Restrictions introduced following the release of a tigress in Buxa Tiger Reserve have further fuelled local resentment.
The agitation has continued amid a change of government in the state, with the BJP replacing the Trinamool Congress. The protesters have submitted their demands to the forest department, district administration, and other stakeholders, including tourism representatives. They have also approached Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the forest minister Manoj Kumar Oraon, and the Minister of State for Home and Hill Affairs Bishal Lama.
Punam Chhetri, one of the protesters, said they had been verbally informed that a meeting would be held on November 1, but had received no written communication.
"We need written assurance on the decisions being taken and whether our demands are being accepted. Since nothing has been communicated to us in writing, we have decided to intensify the agitation," she said.
The protest has affected tourist arrivals. Niladri Das, who arrived from Howrah with a group of five visitors, said it was their first visit to Buxa. After waiting for some time, the group decided to return, apprehending that the safari would not be possible.
Another local, Kamal Dukpa, alleged that the release of tigers was being used as a pretext to displace forest residents. Claiming that tigers had largely disappeared from the area, he recalled a time when villagers and tigers coexisted in the region.
The forest department and the state government have yet to issue a detailed public statement on the latest agitation. Slogans, including "Inquilab Zindabad", were raised at the protest site. Sources alleged that a group of communist leaders was helping organise and sustain the agitation against the forest department, the administration and the BJP-led state government.
The proposed meeting on November 1 is being viewed as a possible opportunity to resolve the impasse. The protesters, however, have indicated that they will continue their agitation until they receive written assurances on their demands. UNI MBN NST RSA
Tags: #Bengal: Tourists stranded as villagers intensify agitation at Rajabhatkhawa safari ticket counter
More News

Bengal: IIT Kharagpur plans India’s first physical AI school with Rs 35-crore investment

26 Oct 2026 | 7:47 PM

Midnapore, Oct 26 (UNI) In a major push to advance India’s artificial intelligence capabilities, IIT Kharagpur has announced a Rs 35-crore initiative to establish the country’s first dedicated School of Physical AI, seeking to move artificial intelligence beyond digital applications into the world of engineering, medicine, agriculture and industrial technologies.

see more..

BJP rallies in Kolkata demanding Kharge’s apology over Modi remarks

26 Oct 2026 | 7:37 PM

Kolkata, Oct 26 (UNI) Thousands of BJP workers, led by senior party leader and West Bengal Commerce and Industries Minister Tapas Roy, took out a rally in Kolkata on Monday, protesting against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s controversial remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanding an unconditional apology.

see more..

Bengal: Manish Shukla murder accused seen at BJP events; Barrakpore MLA Kaustav Bagchi threatens self-immolation

26 Oct 2026 | 7:31 PM

Kolkata, Oct 26 (UNI) Political tensions have surfaced within the BJP in West Bengal after two persons accused in the 2020 murder of saffron party leader and lawyer Manish Shukla were allegedly seen at BJP platforms, prompting Barrackpore MLA Kaustav Bagchi to issue a strong warning against their entry into the party.

see more..

South Odisha on alert as cyclone Arnab intensifies

26 Oct 2026 | 6:34 PM

Bhubaneswar, Oct 26 (UNI) Cyclone Arnab is likely to bring gusty winds of up to 80 kmph to southern Odisha districts on October 28, with rough seas expected along the coast from the previous evening, as the storm intensifies over the Bay of Bengal before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

see more..

Nagaland private practitioners asked to follow govt protocols on TB management

26 Oct 2026 | 6:26 PM

Dimapur, Oct 26 (UNI) As Nagaland continues to report a significant number of TB cases, a development described as a matter of concern, private practitioners have been asked to stay familiar with government policies, protocols, and the latest treatment guidelines for diagnosing and managing the disease.

see more..