Dhantala is a village in the Ranaghat II CD block in the Ranaghat subdivision of the Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Dhantala
Village
Dhantala is located in West Bengal
Dhantala
Dhantala
Location in West Bengal, India
Dhantala is located in India
Dhantala
Dhantala
Dhantala (India)
Coordinates: 23°11′48″N 88°37′34″E / 23.196751°N 88.626153°E / 23.196751; 88.626153
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictNadia
Population
 (2011)
 • Total9,095
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone/STD code03454
Lok Sabha constituencyRanaghat
Vidhan Sabha constituencyRanaghat Uttar Purba
Websitenadia.gov.in

Geography

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8km
5miles
B
A
N
G
L
A
D
E
S
H
Churni
River
Bhagirathi
River
Payradanga
R
Nokari
R
Dhantala
R
Habibpur
R
Hanskhali
R
Duttapulia
R
Aranghata
R
Panikhali
R
Taherpur
M
Cooper's Camp
M
Birnagar
M
Shantipur
M
Ranaghat
M
Belgharia
CT
Gangnapur
CT
Nasra
CT
Ranaghat (CT)
CT
Hijuli
CT
Halalpur Krishnapur
CT
Parbbatipur
CT
Gopalpur
CT
Anulia
CT
Satigachha
CT
Aistala
CT
Panpara
CT
Raghabpur
CT
Kamgachhi
CT
Gangni
CT
Patuli
CT
Badkulla
CT
Bagula
CT
Phulia
CT
Beharia
CT
Harinadibhastsala
CT
Ghoralia
CT
Nrisinghapur
CT
Cities and towns in Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia district
M: municipal town/ city/notified area, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

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Dhantala is located at 23°11′48″N 88°37′34″E / 23.196751°N 88.626153°E / 23.196751; 88.626153.

Area overview

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Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east of Hooghly River, locally known as Bhagirathi. The alluvial plains are cut across by such distributaries as Jalangi, Churni and Ichhamati. With these rivers getting silted up, floods are a recurring feature.[1] The Ranaghat subdivision has the Bhagirathi on the west, with Purba Bardhaman and Hooghly districts lying across the river. Topographically, Ranaghat subdivision is spread across the Krishnanagar-Santipur Plain, which occupies the central part of the district, and the Ranaghat-Chakdaha Plain, the low-lying area found in the south-eastern part of the district. The Churni separates the two plains. A portion of the east forms the boundary with Bangladesh. The lower portion of the east is covered by a portion of the North 24 Parganas district.[2] The subdivision has achieved reasonably high urbanisation. 41.68% of the population lives in urban areas and 58.32% lives in rural areas.[3]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. All the four subdivisions are presented with maps on the same scale – the size of the maps vary as per the area of the subdivision.

Demographics

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According to the 2011 Census of India, Dhantala had a total population of 9,095, of which 4,730 (52%) were males and 4,365 (48%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 887. The total number of literate persons in Dhantala was 6,332 (77.14% of the population over 6 years).[4]

2003 Dhantola rape, murder & dacoity case

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At midnight on 5 February 2003 seven goons attacked two buses that were carrying marriage parties near a under construction madrasa at Beldanga village on Dhantala-Ainshmali road. A brick wall blockade was set up on the road, and a bus which was returning to Kuchiamora in North 24-Parganas after attending a marriage at Kamgachi in Ranaghat, was first attacked. The bus driver Samir Ghosh was killed, and the passengers were looted of their money and ornaments. The women in the bus were then dragged to a nearby field and six of them were raped. Meanwhile, another bus arrived at the spot, which was also carrying marriage party from Eruli and was returning from Sarishadanga, and the goons consisting of around 50 men carried out the same atrocities on the passengers. The horrific happenings went on until dawn the next day. Subsequently, two main accused, local CPI(M) leaders Subol Bagchi and Saidul Islam Karigar were arrested for orchestrating the entire incident. Another case associated with this incident was the murder of Chandan Sen, a surgeon at Ranaghat subdivisional hospital who had supposedly carried out medical tests on the rape victims.[5] In 2009, Bagchi and Karigar, along with 15 other accused, were acquitted by the Ranaghat sessions court, while the remaining four, Chimu Sardar, Lodhai Sardar, Tuku Sardar and Kurban Ali Mondal were sentenced to life imprisonment.[6][7]

Civic administration

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Police station

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Dhantala and Gangnapur police stations have jurisdiction over Cooper's Camp and Ranaghat II CD block.[8][9] The total area covered by the Dhantala police station is 206 km2 and the population covered is 180,725 (2001 census). 12 km of Bangladesh-India border is part of the PS area.[10]

Transport

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Dhantala is on the Ranaghat-Duttapulia road.[11]

Dhantala connects with Krishnanagar, Bangaon and Bangladesh through this road. Ranaghat-Dhantala-Krishnanagar, Ranaghat-Dhantala-Aishmali-Bangoan, Ranaghat-Dhantala-Majhdia bus services are available. TATA Magic, electric rickshaw are available for local transport.

Nearest railway stations are Ranaghat Junction railway station and Bankimnagar railway station.

Education

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Pritilata Waddedar Mahavidyalaya was established at Panikhali in 2007. It was founded as a women's college but later became co-educational. It is a government aided general degree college.[12] Panchberia ITI college established in 2017.

Healthcare

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Aranghata Rural Hospital and Duttaphulia Rural Hospital, with 30 beds at Aranghata, is the major government medical facility in the Ranaghat II CD block.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Gangopadhyay, Basudev, Paschimbanga Parichay, 2001, (in Bengali), p. 70, Sishu Sahitya Sansad
  2. ^ "District Census Handbook, Nadia, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 13,14. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. ^ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Nadia". Table 2.2, 2.4(a). Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  4. ^ "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Why we must never forget the atrocities, brutal murders and gangrapes in CPM-era Bengal".
  6. ^ "Dhantala case:CPM men let off".
  7. ^ "Four get life term for rape, loot and murder".
  8. ^ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Nadia". Table 2.1. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Nadia District Police". Police Unit. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Dhantala Police Station Details". Nadia Police. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  11. ^ Google maps
  12. ^ "Pritilata Waddedar Mahavidyalaya". PWM, Panikhali. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2020.