1 dies in cylinder explosion

Raiganj, April 13: Mana Chauhan, the 28-year-old owner of a roadside eatery opposite the district hospital here, was killed last night when the LPG cylinder in his stall burst into flames.

The fire, which took place around 2 am, also damaged two adjoining shops. Police said the cylinder was probably leaking.

Liquor haul

Siliguri: Based on a tip-off, the preventive wing of the excise department in Jalpaiguri seized 243 litres of “non-duty paid” Indian-made-foreign-liquor on Thursday night. About 30 litres of beer and 700 litres of rectified spirit were also seized from Salugara and Taipoo tea gardens near Bagdogra. “The seizure is worth Rs 2.8 lakh in terms of tax evasion,” said P.T. Bhutia, the deputy commissioner of excise.

Uplift demand

Siliguri: Purba Bharatiya Anunnata Samaj Kalyan Sangha will organise a series of programmes to press for the uplift of the Hindi-speaking minorities in town. The organisation has raised the demand that all evictees from the banks of the Mahananda be rehabilitated before the work starts on the Mahananda Action plan.

Spinach row

Islampur: Two groups of villagers from Bilabari under Chakulia police station clashed on Friday following a dispute over the harvesting of spinach, which is much in demand at this time of the year. Ten villagers were injured, police said.