6 villagers killed by elephant in Bengal

Purulia, May 22: With two more persons trampled to death on Thursday by a "rogue" tusker in Natundih village, the death toll of villagers killed by elephants in Purulia district of West Bengal have risen to six in two days. Divisional forest officer in Purulia, K. Balamurugan said: "The tusker will be killed and a sharp-shooter has arrived from Kolkata."

But the tusker is not in the shooting range and has gone on the rampage in the villages of Bansgarh, Pundagh and Khatanga in Jaypur block of the district.

Officials said Falahari Rajwar (54) and Raju Rajwar (8) of Natundih were trampled to death by the tusker on Thursday morning. There has been panic among villagers as the elephant has damaged mud houses and annual stock of paddy in the granaries of their residences. Forest officials said the tusker and three female elephants entered the villages bordering Jharkhand on Wednesday. While the other elephants have left for jungles of Jharkhand, the tusker is still roaming here.

A woman, her mother-in-law and son were killed in Beladi village while another person was trampled to death in Jhagratand village on Wednesday. (PTI)

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Jawan kills wife, absconding

Muzaffarnagar, May 22: An Army jawan allegedly shot dead his wife at Jahangirpur village here, the police said on Thursday.

Ram Singh, who had returned home on a 15-day leave, had an altercation with his wife Sukhprit Kaur on Wednesday night following which he opened fire at her, they said.

The couple had been married for the past two years. The body has been sent for post-mortem. A complaint has been filed by victim's father and a search has been launched to nab Ram Singh, they added. (PTI)

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Attack on minister prevented

Imphal, May 22: Suspected militants attempted to attack the private house of Manipur agriculture minister N. Loken at Leimapokpam village in interior Bishenpur district by exploding gas cylinders, official sources said on Thursday.

The militants placed two LPG cylinders at the gate of Mr Loken's private home and set them on fire after opening the valves of the cylinders on Wednesday.

However, villagers informed the local police. The police reached the spot and was able to control the fire before the cylinders exploded, the sources said. (PTI)

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3 killed in junk dealer shop blast

By NARAYAN BARETH

Jaipur, May 22: Three persons were killed when a blast took place at the shop of a junk dealer in Bharja village of Sirohi district on Thursday. Senior administrative and police officials rushed to the spot to investigate it. According to police sources, the scrap exploded when someone hit it. Police sources said there was an Army range and it was possible the junk dealer had collected explosive material from the range.

According to the police, the shop was owned by Bherulal Gadri, who died on the spot. Two of his relatives too lost their lives in the incident.

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Three die in accident in Surat

Surat, May 22: Three people died and one was injured as a truck and a car collided near Sialaj village in Surat district, the police said on Thursday.

The accident occurred near Sialaj village of Olpad taluka when the car tried to overtake a vehicle and collided with the truck coming from the opposite side, they said.

Out of the four in the car, two died on the spot and one died during treatment in hospital.

The condition of the fourth person is serious and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the police said.

A case of accident has been registered and further investigation is on, the police added. (PTI)

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2 lion cubs found dead in Gir well

Ahmedabad, May 22: Two lion cubs were found dead in a open well near Khilawad village in Gir forest area, forest officials said on Thursday.

The cubs fell into a farm well without a parapet wall in Dhari taluka, they said adding the carcasses were fished out on Tuesday following information from the villagers.

The post-mortem conducted on the two cubs - one male and another female - revealed that the deaths were due to drowning. It also said that they had received injuries while falling in the well, forest officials said.

Incidents of lion deaths due to drowning in open wells have increased recently due to lack of parapet walls in wells in the protected forest area.

A lion cub was recently saved by the forest officials after it had fallen into a well on the outskirts of the Gir forest, officials said. (PTI)