Opinion March 17, 1983, Forty Years Ago: 15 killed, 100s injured in train collision between Howrah and Liluah stations

Fifteen persons were killed and 125 injured,13 of them seriously, in an accident involving two passenger trains between Howrah and Liluah stations of Eastern Railway. Thousands of angry commuters organised a demonstration on the spot immediately after the accident. The police resorted to a lathi-charge causing injury to many.

CM’s Nephew Killed

The nephew of Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia was stabbed to death in the upper Assam industrial town of Tinsukia. The 20-year-old BSc student, Keshab Saikia, was stabbed by an unidentified miscreant while he was going to the market. The Assam Council of Ministers expressed deep shock at the tragic death of Keshab Saikia. The ministers, in an informal meeting, strongly condemned acts of violence and appealed to all sections of people to maintain peace.

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Resolution Dropped

The government’s move to get parliamentary approval and praise for its organisation and handling of the NAM summit has been dropped following strong opposition from some groups. The original idea was to get a five-para resolution moved by the chair and adopted in the two Houses of Parliament.

Dhaka For Pakistan

Bangladesh has agreed to sponsor Pakistan for readmission into the Commonwealth, according to indications available in New Delhi. The question is believed to have figured at last week’s meeting between President Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan and the Chief Martial Law Administrator of Bangladesh, Lt-Gen H M Ershad in Delhi where the two leaders had come to attend the non-aligned summit.