Mobile handset blows up

SILCHAR, May 23: In a strange incident, a Sony Ericsson cell phone blew off today creating much panic for its owner. One, Manoj Das, a businessman from Itkhola area, felt that his J-200I model Sony Ericsson cell phone, kept in the pocket of his shirt has become excessively hot. When he took it out in his hand, the phone reportedly blew off damaging a chair in his shop. Jaideep Dutta, the local franchisee of Sony Ericsson, reportedly argued that the cell phone might have been over charged but Das said he had not put his phone on charge today. THE SENTINEL

Labourers resume work in Aroonabund TE

SILCHAR, May 23: After three months of stalemate, Aroonabund Tea Estate was today vibrant as the labourers returned to their normal work following the management’s decision to lift the lock-out, clamped on February 26. A garden source informed that half of the labourers joined today as casual labourers got themselves engaged in some other works during the lock-out period.

The source however said that from Monday onwards the situation would return to normalcy as the management had already started paying the due wages.

An ITA source said, situation in the Aroonabund TE was quite normal today as no untoward incident had happened. It is to be noted that after the tripartite meeting convened by Gautam Ganguly yesterday stalemate started to wane. Labourers had assured the district administration in writing that they would resume their duties from Saturday.

All the parties had expressed their gratitude to Ganguly for his intervention in solving the deadlock.

It is to be noted that Aroonabund Tea Estate was in news for quite some time as the management reportedly wanted to build up a township in the garden area. Labourers had opposed the move and that followed several episodes of clashes between the management and the labourers.

R N Pandey, manager of the garden was reportedly manhandled on February and that forced the management to declare lock-out. THE SENTINEL