COOCHBEHAR NEWS

Train-bus clash, 2 hurt

Two persons wounded in a collision between a passenger train and a bus at a unmanned level crossing at Dinhata in Cooch Behar today.

When the Alipurduar-Bamanhat passenger train arrived at Putimari Checkpost area in Dinhata at about 8-30 a.m. a bus suddenly came up on the track intending to cross the railway line. The train knocked the bus at its backside and it overturned into a roadside ditch. Two helpers were injured, who were in the bus. Locals have rescued them.

There was no passenger in the empty bus as it was returning after dropping a wedding party at a nearby place. In absence of the driver two helpers of the vehicle were driving it.

Locals of Putimari Checkpost area raised a demand to turn the level crossing as a manned one.  

Rapist punished

The district and sessions judge of Cooch Behar Mr KYS Manhas today sentenced a man to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in 2007.

Court sources said, one Jayanta Sil alias Sajal sneaked into the room of a neighbour and raped an 11-year-old girl on the night of 3 April 2007 at Marichbari Kholta village in Cooch Behar. He also tried to molest her mother.

12 witnesses were cross-examined during the legal procedure. Public Prosecutor Mr Ganesh Chandra Roy Karmakar was on the government side in this case.

Today, in his judgement, the judge sentenced the accused to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000, in default he will have to suffer an additional six months of imprisonment.