Sir — It was disheartening to learn that the yield of Darjeeling oranges this season is set to fall (“Yield of Darjeeling oranges gets squeezed”, Nov 7). Horticulture experts have blamed poor farming practices, among others, for the low output.

Darjeeling oranges are known for their sweetness and thin rind. The variety is primarily grown in the hills of north Bengal and neighbouring areas. As such, it is the duty of the state government to educate the cultivators and help them employ scientific methods of farming. It would be a pity if Darjeeling oranges went missing from our winter fruit bowl.

Rhea Roy,
Calcutta

Dastardly act

Sir — The recent killing of five Bengali-speaking men in Tinsukia district of upper Assam by suspected militants should not be seen as an aberration (“Call for calm after Assam killings”, Nov 2). In the last few months, the updation of the National Register of Citizens and the controversy over the proposed citizenship (amendment) bill, 2016 have vitiated the political climate in the state. Further, inflammatory statements made by different organizations have added fuel to the fire. The political parties, both in the state and at the national level, have also tried to exploit the current situation, in order to consolidate their vote banks ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In all probability, the gruesome killings will turn politics more communal and vicious in the days to come. Certain forces inimical to the hard-earned peace in the state are trying to push Assam back to the dark days of militancy.

Himangka Kaushik,
Guwahati

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal at a press conference on June 24, 2017 Telegraph file picture

Sir — Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen picked up five persons from a shop in Dhola village in Tinsukia district and killed them in cold blood. All the victims belonged to the Bengali community. Parties of all shades have condemned the killings and urged the Assam government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Sarbananda Sonowal-led dispensation now needs to quickly apprehend the culprits.

For more than four decades, Bengali-speaking people in Assam have bore the brunt of insurgency. The state government should protect the community from violence and ensure that the law and order situation is maintained.

Samir Chakraborty,
Howrah

Sir — The incident in Assam in which five people lost their lives is heart-wrenching. One suspects that the murders were carried out to send a message to the Centre. Some people in the north-eastern state are against the introduction of the citizenship (amendment) bill in Parliament. The proposed legislation has reportedly led to a rift between the Bengalis and Assamese residing in the region. It is the duty of the government to amicably resolve the differences. But, first and foremost, it should nab all those who are behind the killings. The rule of law must be upheld.

M.F.U. Tandvi,
New Delhi

Easy job

Sir — The Indian team comfortably defeated the West Indies in the bilateral one-day international series played recently (“India’s stroll in the park; 6th straight series win at home”, Nov 2). However, beating the current West Indian side is no great achievement. The Jason Holder-led team is quite weak. Moreover, India played on home soil. The real test was competing against England in England, where our bowlers, particularly the seamers, bowled very well, but the famed Indian batting line-up could neither exhibit the technique nor the will to combat the opposition. The lone exception was the skipper, Virat Kohli. India will tour Australia and New Zealand soon. The players will, therefore, get ample opportunities to address their shortcomings before the next World Cup.

Ranesh Chandra Dey,
Calcutta

Sir — After beating the West Indies in the Test series, India have comprehensively defeated the visitors in the ODI series as well. Indian batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu dominated the matches. The bowlers also performed well. Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional, and the young Khaleel Ahmed showed a lot of promise. The latter swung the ball both ways. The wicket-keeping of Mahendra Singh Dhoniis still a delight to watch.

His quick reflexes and agility behind the stumps are an asset for the team. One hopes the Kohli-led team will perform similarly in the upcoming series against Australia, although the conditions will be a lot tougher Down Under.

M.N. Gupta,
Bokaro

Sir — The listless performance of the Caribbean side in the India-West Indies ODI series dampened the enthusiasm of cricket fans. The series was a bad advertisement for the sport. The steady decline of the West Indian team should be a cause of concern for the international cricketing community.

Rohit Bhattacharjee,
Calcutta