Calcutta, Nov. 13 : 55 picked up in preDiwali raids Fiftyfive persons were arrested on charges of selling banned crackers and illicit country liquor, rioting and extortion. In spe cial raids carried out over the past three days, sleuths arrested 19 criminals from the Burrabazar, Jorasanko and Posta areas. The criminals, from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, sprinkle chilli powder in the eyes of businessmen while snatching their bags. The other 36 criminals were picked up from different areas during raids conducted on Monday. Rayís Sarbajaya passes away Actress Karuna Banerjee died after a prolonged ail ment at her south Calcutta residence on Tuesday. She was 82. She is survived by her husband Subrata Banerjee and daughter Shampa. The role of Sarbajaya in Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali was her maiden venture in films. Later, she worked with Ray in Aparajito, Devi and Kanchen jangha. She also worked with Mrinal Sen.A film directed by Ritwik Ghatak, a screen adaptation of Shankar's Kon Ojanare, was never complet ed. Banerjee also acted in sev eral IPTA productions and has some books to her credit. Her death was mourned by eminent personalities, includ ing chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Mrinal Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee,Aparna Sen and Tarun Majumdar. Pandal gutted .A Kali Puja pandal on Lake View Road was damaged by a fire which broke out early on Tuesday. Primary investiga tion revealed that the fire was caused by a shortcircuit in the electric supply line. Two fire engines were brought to fight the blaze. Knocked down .An unidentified person was knocked down by a private car at Esplanade on Tuesday evening. The man was re moved to SSKM Hospital where his condition was stat ed to be critical. Trains to Mumbai .In order to clear the extra rush of passengers, the South Eastern Railway (SER) has decided to run a pair of addi tional superfast special trains between Howrah station and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai on November 17. The train will leave Howrah at 4.30 pm and will reach Mumbai on November 19 at 4 am. Similarly, the train will leave Mumbai at 11.30 pm on November 19, reaching Howrah at 11 am on November 21. Poison charge . Sujay Singha, 61, a resident of Jagaddal in Barrackpore, North 24Parganas, died mys teriously after visiting a tantrik to seek a .remedial potion.. His family members alleged that he was given poi son by the tantrik,which caused his death, Ajoy Ranade, district additional superintendent of police, said. No arrest was made. Roadblock .About 100 supporters of Bharatiya Janata Mahila Mancha put up a road block ade at the junction of Mahat ma Gandhi Road and College Street around 3 pm on Tues day. Police said the members were protesting the alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh. They also burnt an effigy of Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Flights combined .Indian Airlines has com bined its flights IC 765 and 766 on the CalcuttaChennai Calcutta sector and flight IC 771 on CalcuttaBangalore sector on November 14 and 15. The combined flight will operate on the CalcuttaBan galoreChennaiCalcutta sec tor and has been rescheduled to leave Calcutta at 6.30 pm on both the days. Motorcyclists hurt .Two unidentified youths, riding a motorcycle,were se riously injured after their ve hicle skidded and climbed the pavement at the junction of Harish Mukherjee Road and Sambhunath Pandit Road on Tuesday afternoon. They were admitted to SSKM Hos pital in a critical condition, police said. Run over .Parameswar Shaw, 55,was run over by a bus on Monday night on AJC Bose Road. He was admitted to SSKM Hospi tal where he died.