Adivasis call strike in plains

Jalpaiguri, Dec. 9: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad has called an indefinite strike in the Terai and Dooars from December 15 to demand the arrest of forest officers who had allegedly set 17 huts of tribal families on fire in Bir Birsa Munda Colony in Malbazar subdivision on Thursday.

Rajesh Lakra, the secretary of the Terai-Dooars Coordination Committee of the Parishad, said today that the outfit would also hold protest marches in each block of Jalpaiguri district tomorrow.

Man trampled

Siliguri: Dhiren Shaiba, 38, a resident of Bedgara Busty, was trampled to death by a tusker on Monday evening. Shaiba was cycling to MES kitchen in Salugara army cantonment, where he was working as a helper, when the elephant attacked him. His body has been sent to the medical college for post-mortem.

Burglary

Siliguri: An electronics goods shop at Fulbari near Siliguri was burgled on Monday night. The owner of the shop said cellphones and DVD players had been stolen and the loss would be around Rs 1 lakh.

Leopard

Jalpaiguri: An adult male leopard entered the Malliksova village in Dhupguri block from the nearby Sonakhali forest on Tuesday morning and reportedly devoured some cattle. Members of the wildlife squad in Binnaguri and forest staff in Gayerkata reached the spot and tranquillised the animal. It was later sent back to the jungle.

Carol fest

Kalimpong: The five-day Kalimpong Carol Festival will start here on December 17 with a rally by Christians of all denominations. Choir groups from different churches in the subdivision will perform on a stage at Main Road from 5pm.

Bike lifter

Siliguri: A youth, who was trying to steal a motorcycle at Bidhan Market on Tuesday night, was caught red handed and beaten up by local traders. Md Rohit, the youth, was later handed over to police. A pistol and five rounds of live cartridges were found on him.