Kolkata, Jul 24 (PTI) Following are PTI stories from

Following are PTI stories from the eastern region at 9 pm. STORIES ON THE WIRE: CAL8 INTOLERANCE-LD NAQVI Those yet to recover from poll defeat trying to communalise criminal incidents: Naqvi on letter to PM Kolkata: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asserted on Wednesday that Dalits and minorities are safe in the country after a group of eminent citizens wrote to the prime minister expressing concern over lynching incidents, and said those "yet to recover from" the defeat in the Lok Sabha polls are trying to communalise "criminal incidents".

CAL9 LIGHTNING-LD DEATHS Lightning strikes claim 23 lives in Bihar, Jharkhand Patna/Ranchi: At least 23 people were killed and three others injured in lightning strikes in Bihar and Jharkhand, police said on Wednesday. CAL11 AS-FLOOD Toll in Assam flood climbs to 74; 38.82 lakh people affected Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam continue to remain grim on Wednesday, with the toll mounting to 74 following the death of six more people.

CAL12 WB-INTOLERANCE-BJP 'Anti-national' intellectuals acting as stooges of Oppn: Bengal BJP chief Kolkata: West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday described the eminent citizens, who has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the lynching incidents, as "anti-nationals" and alleged that they were acting as "stooges" of the Opposition. CES13 OD-PATKURA-RESULT Naveen wins prestige fight at Patkura Assembly seat Kendrapara (Odisha): Odisha's ruling BJD won the Patkura Assembly seat on Wednesday with its candidate Sabitri Agarwal defeating his nearest rival, the BJP's Bijoy Mohapatra, by 17,920 votes, an election official said..