2 killed in collision

Islampur, April 1: Two persons died and one was seriously injured after two trucks collided at Sonapur in Chopra on NH31 today.

Police said a coal-laden truck bound for Islampur was hit by an empty one coming from the opposite direction. The loaded truck fell into a roadside ditch, killing its driver and cleaner. The deceased are from Dhubri in Assam. The injured has been admitted to the subdivisional hospital. The driver of the other vehicle escaped.

Hailstorm

Alipurduar: At least 1,600 houses were damaged and many animals died when a hailstorm struck the closed Kadambini Tea Estate and Dakshin Parongerpar and Kunjanagar areas in Falakata block on Tuesday night. Sabhapathi of the Falakata panchayat samiti Kshitish Barman said the loss would come around to Rs 1 crore.

Murder charge

Balurghat: Biplab Sutradhar, 30, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of murdering Sukumar Prasad, an Independent gram panchayat member from Bolla, South Dinajpur. Police said Sukumar, 32, was riding his motorcycle on March 25 when Biplab allegedly ran him down with a pick-up van and killed him.

Birds culled

Islampur: Officials of the animal resource development department have culled about 3,000 poultry birds in the past 24 hours at Ghirnigao and Daspara areas of Islampur subdivision. Sudip Mitra, the subdivisional officer, said the culling was delayed because of the non-cooperation of the villagers. Another 12,000 poultry birds will be culled in the next couple of days.

Abductors held

Islampur: Kaisar Alam and Masood Alam, residents of Jogivita and Govindpur in Islampur, were arrested by Haryana police on Wednesday on the charges of kidnapping two minors from Panipat last month.