Assault lockout at hill garden

Darjeeling, Oct. 29: The management of the Phuguri tea garden near Mirik declared a lockout last evening after its general manager was allegedly assaulted by a worker.

“Police were informed but even before they arrived, Rajesh Kaushal was assaulted by Sailesh,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, secretary, Darjeeling Tea Association. “There could be an enmity between the two, even though it was reportedly said the worker had apprehended the manager siphoning off tea from the factory.”

Deputy mayor

Siliguri: Mayor Gangotri Datta on Thursday appointed Nantu Paul as her deputy with additional charge of education and culture.

New principal

Darjeeling: Dipak Ray has been appointed the new principal of Darjeeling Government College. Ray is presently the head of zoology department at Bidhannagar Government College in Calcutta.

Land probe

New Delhi (PTI): Defence minister A.K. Antony on Thursday ordered a probe into the alleged role of army officers in a fraud committed by a private institution in the purchase of land near the Sukhna military station a few years ago. The army has already instituted a court of inquiry to look into the charges.

NBU results

Siliguri: North Bengal University on Thursday announced the results of BA Part I and Part II (honours and general) under the 1+1+1 system. The overall success rate is 61.70 per cent for Part I and 83.49 per cent for Part II exams. The marksheets will be sent to colleges by October 30.

School strike

Siliguri: All English-medium schools in and around Siliguri were shut on Thursday, the first day of the two-day strike called by the Guardians Forum of North Bengal, spearheading a movement against hiked fees.

Jumbo calf

Jaigaon: A female elephant calf, abandoned by a herd, was rescued from Sibchu forest busti in Nagrakata around 4am on Thursday. Forest officer Prabir Sarkar said the rescued calf, around one-month-old, was sent to the elephant rescue centre in Jaldapara.

Buddha relics

Kalimpong: Relics of Lord Buddha and two of his disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, will be exhibited at Darjeeling and Salbari. The relics will be displayed at the Gorkha Rangh Manch in Darjeeling from November 7 to 9 and at the Tri-Ratna Buddhist Monastery in Salbari from November 11 to 13.

Body found

Malda: An unidentified body of a youth was found on the bank of the Mahananda near Puratuli Sadarghat in Malda town on Thursday. The body bore marks of injuries and had smashed head.

Wage gherao

Jaigaon: Residents of Jaigaon gram panchayat-II confined pradhan M.K. Majhi to his office for more than three hours on Thursday, demanding their wages of the 100-day work scheme. The pradhan was released around 4pm following an assurance that the payment would be made within a week.