The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) - North Bengal and Sikkimhttp://www.telegraphindia.comThe Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | North Bengal and Sikkimen-usThu, 19 Nov 2009 20:43:46 GMTThu, 19 Nov 2009 20:43:46 GMTThe Telegraph Webdeskttfeedback@abpmail.comttfeedback@abpmail.comNorth Bengal and SikkimCopyright (C) 2009, The Telegraph. All rights reserved.The Telegraph: Calcuttahttp://www.telegraphindia.com/images/logo_small.gifhttp://www.telegraphindia.comDGHC staff hold DM hostagehttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11762742.jspDarjeeling/Siliguri, Nov. 19: The district magistrate and 14 of his staff members went without food and water for nearly 12 hours today as more than 500 DGHC contract workers laid siege to the district collectorate in Darjeeling. The officials were not allowed to even use the toilet for the first seven hours of the siege that started at 11.15am.Many miss flights for blockadeshttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11762825.jspSiliguri, Nov. 19: Several people travelling out of the hills could not make it to Bagdogra Airport on time today and missed the flights because of the road blockades set up by the Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Sangathan (JAKS). Parent cries 'mental torture'http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11762940.jspSiliguri, Nov. 19: The president of the Guardians' Forum of North Bengal today alleged that his daughter was "mentally tortured" in her St Joseph's High School, Matigara.Push to save life on peaks http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11762745.jspGangtok, Nov. 19: Stakeholders in adventure tourism and tour operators have set in motion an exercise to devise a rescue and relief mechanism to handle high-altitude mishaps during mountaineering and trekking expeditions.Man chops off cancerous left handhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11760891.jspMalda, Nov. 19: A 32-year-old man has chopped off his cancer-stricken left palm from the wrist, unable to bear the excruciating pains. He has also pleaded with the government to allow him to end his life.Scuffle after patient deathhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11760941.jspSiliguri, Nov. 19: A private hospital in Siliguri witnessed a brawl this morning following the death of a retired railway official after an operation.Hill lady in Antarctica, aim Pole http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11755911.jspDarjeeling, Nov. 19: Strong whispering wind in Antarctica might have blown away the tents but it has failed to shred the spirit of Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu, who as a member of the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition is vying to be the first Indian woman to ski to the South Pole. Lepchas call off Dzongu marchhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1091120/jsp/siliguri/story_11761010.jspGangtok, Nov. 19: The Kalimpong-based Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association, which was supposed to begin a march to Dzongu today to offer prayers at the holy site, has called off the journey following resistance from its community members in North Sikkim.