West Bengal

Culling of birds to begin in West Bengal today

Siluguri (WB) Jan 4 : With the fresh outbreak of bird flu has been reported in two villages at Siliguri sub-visition in Darjeeling district, the culling operation will begin from today.

Talking to reporters here, State Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur Rehman said that the Animal Disease Detection Laboratory in Bhopal has confirmed this, following huge unnatural death of poultry birds in the area.

The main epicenter of the flu has been fixed at Binay Krishna Pally off Siliguri in the District of Darjeeling. The latest outbreak of the virus in poultry is the fourth in West Bengal since 2007.

Bird flu first broke out in India in 2006 and millions of chicken and ducks had been culled to contain the virus.

West Bengal reports fresh outbreak of bird flu

West BengalSiliguri (West bengal), Jan. 3 :Health and veterinary workers in West Bengal''s Siliguri region have started culling poultry birds after a reports of a fresh outbreak of the H5N1 virus that layman terms translates into bird flu.

The main epicenter of the flu has been fixed at Binay Krishna Pally off Siliguri in the District of Darjeeling. The latest outbreak of the virus in poultry is the fourth in West Bengal since 2007.

Bird flu first broke out in India in 2006 and millions of chicken and ducks had been culled to contain the virus.

Kolkata auto-rickshaw operators set two buses on fire

Kolkata, Jan 3 : Two buses were reportedly set ablaze today by protesting Trinamool Congress-backed auto-rickshaw operators who were agitating against a court ban on ageing public transport vehicles in the city.

The strike turned violent with irate auto drivers vandalising a government bus at Park Circus.

The agitators turned violent, and stoned and set fire to a West Bengal Transport Corporation bus. The bus was only partially damaged as locals managed to douse the flames. No one was injured.

Kolkata Muslims protest against Israeli air strikes

Kolkata, Jan 3 : Muslims here staged a massive demonstration to protest against Israel''s offensive in Gaza that has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent Palestine civilians.

The demonstrators, who gathered outside Tippu Sultan''s mosque, also set the Israeli flag on fire.

Noorur Rehman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of the mosque said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would be urged to snap bilateral ties with Israel immediately.

"We have declared Israel a terrorist nation. We will burn their diplomatic offices all over India. If the war doesn''t stop now, then their diplomatic consulates will be burnt in India and in other countries also," warned Barkati.

LF To Sound Poll Bugle With February 8 Rally

LF To Sound Poll Bugle With February 8 RallyThis year West Bengal's ruling Left Front will start mobilising cadres for the general elections with a rally in Kolkata February 8, hoping it will not suffer the reverses of the panchayat polls during the last year.

State Left Front chairman Biman Bose announced on Thursday that the rally will be held at the sprawling Brigade Parade Ground.

Prisoners ransack and set fire to a correctional home near Kolkata

Howrah, Jan 2 : Agitated over the transfer of two fellow members, prisoners at a correctional home in West Bengal''s Howrah District vandalised and set fire to the place.

In all, 55 inmates of the Howrah Correctional Home damaged furniture, tore official papers and set fire to the premises.

The incident led to the transfer of two inmates named -- Sajjan Mallik and Rahul Mallik to the Alipore Central Jail in Kolkata.

The prisoners also reacted in this manner to protest against the inferior quality of food being served to them.

Police forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was rushed to the spot to control the situation.

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