-Outlook Malda: At least nine infants have died at the Malda Medical College Hospital, which witnessed many crib deaths last year. The babies died last night. The cause of the death of the infants, all below one year, was due to premature birth, low weight and respiratory problem, College Vice Principal M A Rashid said today. A seven-member inquiry committee under chief medical officer of health Malda has been formed by the district...

-The Hindu Business Line   Arsenic and fluoride contaminated water has condemned millions to live wasted lives in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Business Line visited several villages in the affected regions for this special report by A. Srinivas. Sixty-nine-year-old Renubala Ari of Deganga village in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district is counting her last days. But it is not her death that worries her. Blind in both eyes and with painful...

-The Indian Express Kolkata: West Bengal's notification for the panchayat elections marks a flash point in an ongoing tussle between the Mamata Banerjee government and the state election commission. The government notification, issued last week independently of the election authorities, has declared polls in two phases, on April 26 and 30. The election commission, headed by Meera Pandey, has been insisting on three phases. On Monday, the commission wrote to the government...

-The Business Standard Defying the Election Committee's suggestion last week, the state announced a two-phase election to be held in April The tug-of-war between the West Bengal government and State Election Commission over Panchayat poll schedule may head for a legal battle, with both sides showing no sign of compromise. After a three-hour long meeting at its office here, the state election commission today refused to accept government-announced panchayat poll dates and sent...

-Outlook National Human Rights Commission today issued notices to West Bengal Government and Malda district Magistrate over allegations of sterilisation of more than 100 women by two doctors in a day without ensuring basic health care facilities. The notices, returnable in six weeks, were issued to Principal Secretary, Health, Government of West Bengal and District Magistrate of Malda on the basis of a media report and a complaint. The operations were reportedly performed...