In brief

The state government had urged the court to adjourn the hearing on the ground that the Advocate General would not be able to appear in the court. The CBI’s counsel,however,requested Justice Asim Kumar Roy not to adjourn the hearing.

Bhuniya shifts Mamata critics
In a major reshuffle ahead of next year’s assembly elections in the state,WBPCC has removed several district Congress leaders who are known as critics of Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee. These leaders had consistently complained about Banerjee’s alleged arrogance and protested against her ‘rigid stand’ on the party’s claims for seats during the civic polls. WBPCC chief Manas Bhuniya said the reshuffle was effected in accordance with a directive of the high command.

Animal parts seized from 24-Parganas
The police in South 24-Parganas recovered five tiger skulls,the skull of a leopard and a bear and five tiger skins late on Monday evening. The items were seized from a house in Kasba. The house owner,Shrabani Banerjee,had informed police than her tenant Subhendu Dey has a collection of such articles. “The recovered animal parts has been handed over to the forest department and investigations are on,” said L N Meena,SP (South 24-Parganas).

Cooch Behar airport by August-end
The Cooch Behar airport is likely to be operational by the end of next month. The Regional Executive Director of the Airports Authority of India,Gautam Mukherjee,on Monday said much of the required infrastructure was ready and the airport could begin operations by August end. The clearance from only the Director General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) were pending,Mukherjee said.