Leopard mauls two

Jaigaon, Dec. 13: Two workers of Changmari Tea Estate in Nagrakata were mauled by a leopard this morning.

Prakash Jha, a witness, said the animal was hiding in the garden along with three cubs. Around 8.30am the leopard suddenly attacked Sarada Unria, 18, and Dhurmu Oraon, 22 and fled when the other workers raised an alarm. The injured were taken to the Mal subdivisional hospital from where Sarada was referred to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Divisional forest officer Sumita Ghatak said the treatment expenses would be borne by her department.

Shops gutted

Siliguri: Around 12-14 shops were razed to the ground in a fire near the Tenzing Norgay central bus terminus here around 10.30pm on Monday. Four fire tenders from Siliguri station brought the flames under control. According to traders, items worth around Rs 5 lakh were destroyed in the blaze.

Ex-MLA bail

Islampur: Former Congress MLA of Chopra Hamudur Rehman was released on conditional bail from jail custody by the additional sessions judge, Debabrata Sinha, on Monday. Rehman is one of the accused in the murder of CPM district secretariat member Akbar Ali. He was killed on April 30, 2003.

Leader hurt

Hili: Abdul Razzak Mondol, a leader of the minority cell of the district Trinamul Congress, was allegedly attacked by CPM and RSP supporters at Gossaipur near the Indo-Bangladesh border on Sunday night. The 35-year-old leader has been admitted to the district hospital here. The CPM and the RSP have denied the charges.

Theatre fest

Siliguri: Siliguri Natyamela-2011 will start at Dinabandhu Mancha here from January 2. Tickets for the week-long fest will be available at the venue from December 19.

Jumbo attack

Alipurduar: Bimala Sunia, 52, a worker of Makrapara Tea Estate was trampled to death by a wild elephant on Monday. Foresters have paid Rs 20,000 as immediate compensation to the deceased’s family.