4 in Sikkim ,1 in Kalimpong,15 in Dinhatta died in road accident ... Police applauded with questions... GJMM cancels Dooars meeting of 29th

4 people died in a road accident near Yangyang of south Sikkim. A Maruti 800 SK 02 -0333 that skidded off the road at Samroc Bhirkuna on Yangyang Ravangla road. The dead are Bishnu prasad Rai, Dil kumar Rai, Madan Gurung and Lolay Subba of Tam, Upper Yangyang and Tojok. Mir kumar Gurung is injured and admited at Hospital of Yangyang.

In a bike accident 1 young girl died in Kalimpong. The accident occurred at 6th Mile  Barbot when a Pulsar 200  WB 74 N- 8385 driving by Krishna Chhetri 20 with Deepika Sunar 19 in the pillion collided with a truck WB 73- 5244 . Both Sunar and Chhetri  were of Mangal Danra in which the girl Deepika died at the spot while Krishna is severely injured in the accident and admitted in the SD hospital.  
15 died in Coochbehar

PTI, Coochbehar 29 Aug:At least 15 people were killed and 25 others injured when a minibus in which they were travelling overturned and fell into a pond at Dewanhat in Coochbehar district on Sunday.

Fifteen bodies were brought out from the submerged bus and taken to the morgues in MJN Hospital and Dinhata Sub-Divisional Hospital for postmortem, the police said.
The vehicle was later hauled up from water with the help of a crane as fire brigade, disaster management and police personnel joined rescue work along with locals.
The police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse a mob, which damaged a police van near the block hospital at Dewanhat to protest the alleged delay in treating the injured.
Locals alleged tear gas shells were also burst but this was denied by authorities.
Four of the 25 injured had to be shifted to MJN Hospital.
The dead included a schoolgirl Shweta Roy, studying in Class IX, who was going to Dinhata to visit relatives, locals claimed.
Eyewitnesses said the mishap occurred as one of the front tyres of the minibus, travelling from Coochbehar town to Dinhata, suddenly burst.
Traffic movement along Dinhata-Coochbehar highway was stalled for several hours as locals blocked the arterial road to protest "rash driving".

Mywestbengal.com: At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed and some thirty others were injured when a passenger bus skidded off the road and fell into a pond at Dinhata in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district on Sunday,  police said.
District police chief Kalyan Banerjee confirmed the deaths. He said eight bodies were being taken to a local hospital for autopsy.
The injured were sent to a local hospital, where  police had to use batons to disperse the grieving relatives from emergency wards.
The accident happened when the bus on way to Dinhata from Cooch Behar fell off the road and plunged into a pond at Nayanjuli.
The bus was fished out of the water later.

SIM NEWS: GJMM has canceled its meeting of 29th August at Jaigaon. 

ABGL team will meet Rahul Gandhi on 30th August at Delhi .

CPM in favour of  inclusion of other parties in tripartite talks as peoples representative

KalimNews: As the tripartite talks will determine the partial solution of Gorkhas of Darjeeling it should be decided all the people of this area, stated Sitaram Yetchuri in Siliguri and echoed by Ashoke Bhattacharya, Saman Pathak, Jibesh Sarkar. During a meeting held in Gymkhana Hall of Darjeeling on sunday in memory of Ratanlal Brahman a comrade who spoke in Nepali in Assembly of West Bengal while he was a  MLA. They repeated that GJMM is not the only party to represent the hill people.

Arrest of Bishal Rai applauded but with questions

KalimNews : Kalimpong police have claimed that it has nabbed a suspected murderer of Rudra Dhital within a short time of 4-5 hours. This success of the Kalimpong police has been credited but it has also raised  several questions amongst the local people. General mass have started to ask about the murderer of late Tika Ram Chhetri, ex-councillor, Kalimpong Municipality which is still unresolved as none have been arrested. 

It may be recalled that Chhetri's murder mystery had taken place within the 200 mtrs radius of Kalimpong police station popularly known as Thana Dara while Dhital was killed over half kilometer away from the local police station. Further, Rudra was killed during the early morning time when he was distributing routine milk to his regular customers and Tikaram was also seen speaking with his friends in the late morning in a local restaurant. 

J.B. Rai, CPRM leader feel that the criminal culture is making its route to the Darjeeling hills slowly as there have been about half a dozen of murder incidents in the last few months. Had the police acted promptly and set an exemplary sample in the murder cases of ABGL leader Madan Tamang and Tikaram the youths like Bishal Rai could not have thought of killing a milkman during broad day light. The incidents of killing of Tamang and Pushpajung Thapa in Darjeeling and Tikaram Chhetri in Kalimpong have welcomed the anti-socials and criminals  providing with a chance to indulge in such grave and heinous acts that are not allowed in civilized and peaceful society. All these have taken place due to negligence on the part of administration in the hill, he added.

Opinion of Rai have been echoed by all sections of the society as they have started to feel insecure to live in such a society where a broad daylight murder case remains unsolved after a lapse of more than four months.
Though, the Superintendent of Police Devendra Pratap Singh who reportedly rushed to Kalimpong to enquire into the murder case, has also informed that the killer has been booked under section 302 of Indian Penal Code which could hang him if the crime is proven in the court of law. The assurance of SP Darjeeling will have to be remembered by the hill people till the case remains in the court of the law. 

The police have disclosed that Bishal Rai has also admitted of having killed Dhital. But it is still to be seen if he accepts the crime in front of the punishment announcers. Now it is the tradition that he will put a lawyer for defense who easily frees him from the bar within 90 days or less. Then the case remains unsolved forever to give a new opportunity to the new murderer and new victim waiting for his turn to be hacked like Madan Tamang and Rudra Dhital.

Moreover, one vital clue added in the murder of Dhital is that he had reportedly confrontation with Bishal Rai some days back on the issue of a contract work under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. NREGA being a national policy of the union govt. has now been a platform of confrontations for such criminals. This is the big question hammering the local people. They are of the view that the concerned agency of the union Govt. should also interfere into the matter as to what circumstances led such a homicide. According to the local educated circle, had such an incident taken place in other parts of the country the issue would have been highlighted at national level by the effective media. However, the absence of consciousness among the hill people and their attitude to remain neutral and silent on social issues have been rendering anti-social elements to move free after committing several crimes.

Kalimpong police has to rethink on inaction in the unsolved murder mysteries rather they pat themselves in solving a single murder case. It is their duty to nab the culprit and punish him as per the prevailing law. 'Is it a matter of pride when one completes its duty?' one can ask the question to himself. It is not time to take snaps in front of the media for performing duties which they are assigned to but it is the time to cover their face for not being able to nab the culprits who have committed such murders and may be roaming in the town without fear of law, observers opine.

Darjeeling may be deserted
TNN, KOLKATA: Bookings for Darjeeling, once the favourite Puja vacation destination, are finding no takers. The numbers have fallen so low this time that even elite hotels are ready to give away rooms at 50% discount but still cannot find anyone, thanks to the turmoil in the Hills.
Darjeeling is facing an indefinite strike since Sunday evening.
There has been a shift towards North Bengal and Sikkim instead. Hotels and resorts, run by both state corporations and private operators, are overbooked. Tour operators say rush will continue till Diwali. In fact, many tour firms are discouraging people from heading for Darjeeling because they are afraid tourists will get stranded in the Hills and ask for cancellation dues.
State tourism department officials say their guest houses in Darjeeling are "more or less empty" throughout the Pujas. "Last year, the situation was slightly better, perhaps because there was a lull in political turbulence. Not so this time," said an official.
"The general feeling is that Darjeeling is no longer safe for travel. Too much political turbulence make tourists feel uncomfortable about visiting Darjeeling," said Debal Ghosh, spokesperson of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation.
Till a few months ago, there were many inquiries from visitors of other states and foreigners too. But the brutal daylight murder of Madan Tamang on May 21 in an area frequented by tourists slammed the door on bookings. "People feared that it would trigger clashes. They realised that peace in the Hills was gone. Darjeeling still remains close to tourists' heart, but they prefer North Bengal and Sikkim for now," said Anil Punjabi, eastern India chairperson of Travel Agents Federation of India.
From Mahalaya onwards, at least 5,000-7,000 people would flock to Darjeeling daily. This year, not even 5% of that number is going towards the hill station, said Punjabi. "Tourists from Spain,France,Japan and Thailand made up the maximum number of foreigners in Darjeeling. This time, when they are seeing us for bookings, they clearly tell us they they have been asked by their countries not to visit Darjeeling," Punjabi said.
Darjeeling hoteliers did not want to comment directly. "August and September are lean periods anyway and are non-indicative of what might happen during the Pujas," said an official at Windamere. Rakesh Razzak, spokesperson of Anand Palace, said: "We do have some inquiries from within and outside the state. The Pujas are still two months off and we hope things will get better by then."
भागोपको सिक्किमको समिक्षा बैठक सम्पन्न

वलिदान दिवसमा प्रत्यक्ष अप्रत्यक्ष सहयोग पुऱ्याउने सबैको आभारी छौः भागोप

गान्तोक,29 अगस्त। भारतीय गोर्खा परिसंघ (भागोप) सिक्किम राज्य द्वारा पूर्व सिक्किमको पाकिममा गत 25 अगस्तको दिन पालन गरिएको बलिदान दिवसमाथि आइतबार पाकिम बजारको एक होटलमा समिक्षा बैठक सम्पन्न भयो। भागोप राज्य अध्यक्ष डॉ.कमल गुरूङको अध्यक्षतामा संपन्न बैठकमा बलिदान दिवसको कार्यक्रममा प्रत्यक्ष तथा अप्रत्यक्ष रूपमा सहयोग पुऱ्याउनेहरूलाई आभार प्रकट गर्दै एउटा धन्यवाद प्रस्ताव ग्रहण गरियो।।बैठकमा धन्यवाद प्रस्ताव राख्दै अध्यक्ष गुरूङले भने, भागोपले आय़ोजन गरेको बलिदान दिवस कार्यक्रममा थुप्रै गैर सरकारी संगठन, सरकारी उच्च पदाधिकारी, सरकारी कर्माचारी, वुद्धिजिवी,शिक्षित युवा तथा आम मानिसहरूले प्रत्यक्ष अनि अप्रत्यक्ष रूपमा सहयोग पुऱ्याएका थिए। उनीहरूको योगदान र समर्पण भागोपको समाज निर्माण र जातिको उत्थानको महाअभियानको निम्ति महत्वपूर्ण रहेको छ। उनीहरूको सहयोगले समाज निर्माणलाई थप टेवा पुगेको छ। जुन भागोपले सदैव ऋणी महशुस गर्दै सम्झनामा राख्ने छ।

उनले निकट भविष्यमा पनि सहयोगी संघ-संस्थाहरूको यस्तै सहयोग को अपेक्षा राखेका छन्। अर्कोतिर भागोप पाकिम शाखा अध्यक्षले बलिदान दिवसको आयव्ययको हिसाब-किताब प्रस्तुत गरेपछि पाकिममा भागोपको गतिविधिबारे विस्तृत प्रतिवेदन पनि प्रस्तुत गरे। जसमा उनले वलिदान दिवस आयोजन गर्ने क्रममा लगभग एक हप्ताभित्रमात्र भागोपको आजीवन सदस्यता ग्रहण गर्नेहरूको संख्या 106 जना पुगेको बताए। जसमा सरकारी उच्च पदाधिकारी, अवकाशप्राप्त कर्मचारी, समाज सेवी, शिक्षित युवा तथा समाजका माथ्थिलो तप्काका वुद्धिजिवीहरूको संलग्नता रहेको जानकारी गराए। उऩले अझ भागोपको सदस्यता व्यापक रूपमा थाल्ने अनि निकट भविष्यमा पाकिमका सबै जनगणलाई समाज निर्माणमा लागिपरेको यो राष्ट्रिय संगठन भागोपको दिशा निर्देशनमा अघि बड्ने बताए।

अर्कोतिर भागोप राज्य समिति कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष नारायण भट्टराईले कार्यक्रमको विभिन्न पक्षहरूलाई लिएर समिक्षा प्रस्तुत गरे।  उनले आगामी दिनमा दिशाहिन बन्न लागेको समाजलाई सही मार्गमा डोहोऱ्याउन पहल गर्नुपर्ने बताउँदै पाकिममा अझ व्यापक सांगठनीक कार्यक्रमहरू अघि वडाउने बताए।यसै गरि आगामी सितंबर महिनालाई संगठन विस्तारको निम्ति समर्पित गर्दै राज्यव्यापी रूपमा सांगठनीक कार्यक्रम थालिने बताए।  समिक्षा बैठकमा पाकिम शाखाका र राज्य समितिका पदाधिकारीगणको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।

Gurung wife in Dooars

KalimNews: Asha Gurung and members of GJNM a women's wing of GJMM is on a visit of Dooars. Asha along with Jyoti Subba, Latika Sinha Prava Chhetri and others met GJNM members at Dekota Nepali High School of East Khairbari in Madarihat and tried to convince them that GJMM will not settle for anything without Dooars. During an interaction Asha said GJMM could have settled earlier with the three sub divisions if it was not sincere with the people of Dooars.

Telangana : A leap of faith

The result of the by-elections for 12 constituencies left vacant by the resignation of all the Telangana MLAs is out. K Chandrasekhara Rao led Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has scored a major victory over its more profound rivals – the Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), by winning 11 out of the 12 seats. The remaining one seat has gone to the BJP which had a pre-poll tacit understanding with the TRS. The inevitable question that would be asked after the result aftermath is whether the landslide victory for the TRS is an indication of the popular mood in the Telangana region for the bifurcation of the state? Are we ready for yet another small state being carved out of its parent state or is the leap of faith too wide to take?

Ever since India became a free country, there has been a demand for a separate Telangana state. With the majority of Telugu speaking population being marginalized in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger strike for 58 days for the creation of a separate state called the Andhra State out of the Madras state. He died in wake of his fast but his demands were met and a separate Andhra state was created based on linguistic lines. The region of Telangana which was under the Nizam rule at Hyderabad was included in the new state despite protests from various pro-Telangana groups. Hyderabad became the administrative seat for this new state.

There was a Gentleman’s Agreement that new jobs, welfare schemes, social and economic programmes would be initiated for the backward Telangana region, but as time passed by, millions of people from the coastal Andhra region migrated to the flushing Hyderabad region and made huge investments. Much of the benefits of the welfare schemes were being extended to the coastal regions. The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and vast coal mines were in Telangana, but much of water and energy was supplied to the Andhra region. This led to a growing discontent among the people from the Telangana region and they were gripped by a fever of historic political betrayal. With subsequent governments at Hyderabad being indecisive and procrastinating on the issue, Telangana had all the ingredients to be a political hot potato.

TRS was formed on the premise of the formation of Telangana state. K Chandrasekhara Rao pulled a rabbit out of a hat when he sat on an indefinite fast and his populist shenanigans galvanized the public into mass protests and strikes all over Andhra Pradesh. For the former TDP man, whose personal political aspirations saw him conniving both with the BJP as well as the Congress; this was the moment of fame. He could see this as an opportunity to rule a state all by his himself. The political stalemate that followed has taken lives of innocent young men who have been made martyrs of the struggle. The equivocal stand of the incumbent Congress and the main opposition TDP has only added to the frustration and apathy among the public.

Politics in India has degenerated from the Gandhian style of non-violent approach to mob mentality driven which is not only anti-social but also a crime. Frequent protests choreographed by parties for their personal agendas have inadvertently brought normal life to standstill. Brand Hyderabad has certainly taken a beating because of the agitations. The IT Hub had to close down for few days and business was severely affected. Destruction of public and private properties has been a blemish in this city of Nizams. This has led to a lot of investors shying away from Hyderabad because of the uncertainty hanging over it. Real estate sector has had to bear the most, as prices have sky dipped and bookings and new deals have stalled. The official damage to the economy could run to thousands of crores. And all this for an issue for which no party can afford to commit to. Internal bickering has emerged in the parties over Telangana and the issue looks to be dragged on for some time.

The Central government in its part has constituted a committee led by Justice Srikrishna to examine the state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh. It would review and comment upon the development of different regions in the state and make a case of the social fabric of the Telugu speaking population. It would also make observations regarding the status of Hyderabad, as a Union Territory or a part of either of the states. These recommendations would then guide the government on taking a decision.

A case in point would be the three new states that joined the Indian Union: Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand has been plagued by internal crises which have led to 7 CMs in the last 10 years. Naxalism and poverty have also been widespread in these states. Clearly, the basic targets why the states were created have not been met. Also, the division of states has brought in light small regional parties who can see their moment of glory in dividing up a state. Similar alarm bells have been sounded for Vidharbha in Maharshtra, Mithila in Bihar, Bundelkhand in MP and UP, and Gorkhaland in West Bengal. A dangerous precedent may be set which might affect the integrity of the Indian Union.

Going by past experiences, one cannot say that dividing a state can lead to a path of social, cultural and economic equality. There have been more failures than successes in this process. But at the same time the historical injustice meted out to the Telangana region cannot be forgotten. Political will for the development of the under-developed areas have to be the utmost importance. Petty politics for the sake of power will only lead to more discrimination and inequality. TRS and other pro-Telangana parties have to arise above their ranks and make sure that the struggle that has been going on for 60 years is not only successful but also inclusive and egalitarian. The poll results show that they have the support of the majority of Telangana people. With great power comes great responsibility – it’s time to put the age-old adage to test.
woman Maoist commander surrender

ANI, Midnapore (West Bengal), Aug 28 : A woman self-styled Maoist commander has surrendered before police in West Bengal”s West Midnapore District alleging sexual exploitation by ultra leaders.

Shobha Mandi alias Sikha is the second Naxal to surrender after the West Bengal government announced a rehabilitation package for them.

“Shobha, who has five cases against her, has been keeping in touch with us for the last eight days, and, we succeeded in convincing her to surrender,” said West Midnapore Superintendent of Police, Manoj Kumar Verma

“She also handed over a bag that contained cash worth rupees 50,500,” Verma added

Mandi claimed that the top Maoist leadership knew about the sexual exploitation of women cadre, but were not taking preventive steps.

“I left camp on April 25 in frustration. When I came to know about the rehabilitation package, I contacted the police and they promised me security. So, I surrendered,” she said.

Mandi, the daughter of Jamadar Mandi, a resident of Koyerpahari under Sarenga Police Station in Bankura district left home in 2003 after Maoist leaders Sasadhar, Akash, Bikash, Madan and Suchitra met her family and convinced them that she would have a better life with them.

Earlier, Shobhan Karak, a member of the Maoist action squad, surrendered before the West Midnapore Superintendent of Police, the Jhargram Superintendent of Police and central Reserve Police Force inspector general.

He surrendered with a .303 rifle and a few live cartridges. He has 13 cases of murder and sedition registered against him.

1 hacked to death in Kalimpong... 9 of Singla died in road accident...congress for UT ...Asok potshot at Centre... Sikkim cutoff..

KalimNews: Morning murder mystery was solved by Kalimpong police within 5 hours. Bishal Rai 22 was arrested for murder of Rudra Bahadur Dhital 44 yrs and a resident of Sung Dung of Pudung Busty. 

At about 6.30 am people near Crown Lodge of Murgihatta found that Rudra a milk man was hacked to death in the same way as Madan Tamang ABGL President was murdered in a lane. Rudra was a very honest and friendly milk man serving milk to the villagers for nearly 15 years said a milk consumer of Dhital.

After getting the information  of murder police rushed to the spot and after primary enquiry sent the body for postmortem. At around 11am police got the information that the suspected murderer may be Bishal as Rudra was having a conflict with Bishal a contractor's supervisor regarding a permission for making a road through Rudra's land.

Immediately police could apprehend Bishal loitering near 10th mile Fatak in his bike WB 74F 9465. Bishal was interrogated and within half an hour he confessed of hacking Rudra with a Khukuri. Blood soaked jacket of the victim and the Khukuri hidden by Bishal was found in the Sadhu Dhara.

After the incident DP Singh SP Darjeeling visited Kalimpong and informed the media about the murder.

On enquiry he added that police has arrested Bishal u/s 302 IPC and will be prosecuted after further interrogation.

Bishal a resident of Relli Road is son of Late Bijay kr Rai 1st  Councillor of 23rd no.  Bong Dungra Constituency of DGHC. Dhital was Secretary of Kalimpong Milk Producer Association.

TitBits

KalimNews: DP Sharma SP of Darjeeling Police denied of assuring with any time limit for re-arrest of Nickole Tamang and stated that police is trying its best to find Nickole. On his visit to Kalimpong he said that police is not sitting idle but trying with its best effort.

Meanwhile Dr.Harka Bahadur Chhetri Spokesperson of GJMM objected on the statement issued by MPs Raja Bundela, Jaya Prada, Amar Singh and P Niroop during their visit to Dooars and Bagdogra and expressed resentment on the statement. He said that they donot know what is the ground reality so they should not comment on our agitation. Earlier MPs had stated that Interim Setup is a lollipop and it cannot solve the Gorkha problem and identity crisis, the only solution is formation of a separate state which cannot be achieved single handedly by GJMM.
GJMM supporters and leaders have been surrendering in the subdivisional court for cases filed against them by the police in fire and arson, road obstruction and other criminial cases during the 2008-2010 agitation of Gorkhaland and demonstrations thereof organised by GJMM. Since three days Kalimpong court is flodded with party supporters for surrender and granting bail. As per the information received from the Kalimpong Court all the accused of Kalimpong Subdivisions have been granted bail and only a few are yet to report and surrender in the court with petition for bail. 
Body found in Darjeeling
A decomposed dead body of Manibhusan Allay(27) a teacher of Vidhya Vikash Academy of Darjeeling was found near Rock garden. Ishak Khan and Sagarika Pakhrin are arrested by Darjeeling Sadar Police for the murder as per the FIR. The killers are his wife and her lover stated the police. 
Suicide in Kalimpong 
Ajay Kujur (27) of Kamalapur TE of Phansidewa died of suicide in Kalimpong. He was  guard of a businessman of Siliguri who had a house in Kalimpong. Kujur was hanging on a tree beside the house with a suicide note blaming none.

9+1 died in accident
KalimNews: In an accident 9 people died when their spacio vehicle bound to Siliguri  for a marriage from Barnesburg Division of Singla TE via Jorethang of Sikkim went off the road down hill near Malli at Chharchharey. People of Jorethang recovered the bodies and took them to Namchi Hospital. Of the dead Chandan Gupta 24 (driver of Majhitar), Manilal Subba 45, Vijeta Rai 25, Elisha Subba 24, Puja Chhetri 30, Durga Chhetri 17, Niraj Jogi 39, Daya Darjee 33, Niru Yogi 39 were identified while identity of a 11 year old girl could not be ascertained.  
In another incident a lone driver of a Bolero SK 02A 3925 also got killed when the vehicle skidded at about half a kilometer away from the same spot of Chharchharey on Malli Road. Roshan Dhanotia 25 was driving his father's vehicle died in the accident and his body was swept away by River Rangit.
Sikkim’s role in New Rupee Symbol
28 August, 2010: The entire credit goes to D Udaya Kumar who is the father of new rupee symbol of the nation. Due his remarkable brainstorming hard work on designing new rupee symbol the nation gets it official ‘New Rupee Symbol’. The impression of new currency symbol of rupee adds awesome glory in a currency both in terms of standard and global value.
On 15 July 2010 when the new symbol was official declared by the centre in ‘Black & White’, In Sikkim the Tri-Colour got added giving it a national pride. VoiceofSikkim.com made a very new colourful tri-colour ‘New Symbol’ and posted over the internet in yet another new flavour to add more nationalism into it.
VoiceofSikkim.com pledge the state government to verify the authencity of the report by investigating the truth that first tri colour image of new rupee symbol was designed by Sikkim. If it is found true than voiceofsikkim requests government to protect the first ever rupee tri colour image legally and term as a heritage of New India as well as State of Sikkim for coming generation.
Congress proposes union territory

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 27: The district hill Congress committee today said it would propose to the Centre to confer Union Territory status to the Darjeeling hills to end the ongoing agitation.

K.B Chhetri, president of the Darjeeling district Congress (hills), said he would meet the Union home minister P. Chidambaram and place the proposal before him.

“So far, the AICC had not sought any suggestion or opinion from the Darjeeling district Congress, be it the plains or the hills, on statehood. However, as the Congress-led central government is carrying out negotiations with the Morcha on the interim set-up, we will visit Delhi next month and propose conferring Union Territory status to the three hill sub-divisions of the district. This is the only way to meet the aspirations of the people and the final solution to the Darjeeling problem,” Chhetri said.

“Once formed, the Union Territory would be under the control of the Centre and will help in serving the purpose, as far as the lack of development and other grievances of the hill residents are concerned.”

Asok potshot at Centre- barb for delhi and advice too

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 27: Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya today accused the Centre of adopting double standards in hill matters.

“We have come to know that Prime Minister, while addressing a gathering of DGPs in New Delhi yesterday, expressed concern over the ongoing agitation in the hills and sought action against law breakers,” said the minister here this afternoon.

“It seems the Centre has realised that the hill issue cannot be resolved merely by negotiating with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said: “The situation in Darjeeling hill area also needs a careful watch. The writ of the state should be firmly established in all these areas. The state police and the central paramilitary forces should take firm action against those who take the law into their own hands.”

Bhattacharya also alleged that there was dichotomy between what the Centre preached and what it practised.

“Ever since the Morcha launched the agitation in the hills, we have been insisting on stringent action and sought paramilitary forces from the Centre. The paramilitary forces were sent to guard NH31A and to maintain law and order in the hills. The situation was improving but suddenly, the Centre withdrew the forces,” the minister said.

“If the Centre, that also the Prime Minister, feels strong action is to be taken against those violating law, why did the home ministry withdraw the CRPF then?”

Bhattacharya also alleged that the Congress had tried to forge a tie-up with the Morcha before Parliament polls last year. “However, the BJP succeeded and the Congress had to accept the defeat,” he said.

The minister also spoke on the escape of Morcha leader Nickole Tamang from Pintail Village. “We are not ruling out the possibility of Nickole Tamang getting help for the escape. Although his escape is a setback to the investigation, those involved in the murder of Madan Tamang will not be spared.”

Sikkim cut off by 7 landslides

PTI, Gangtok: Sikkim was cut off from the rest of the country as landslides triggered by torrential rains blocked NH 31A at nearly five places.

Torrential rains have lashed the mountain state for the past one week and Teesta river, in full spate, has washed away three women at Singtam, officials said.

Major landslides occurred at Lukhubir on the West Bengal side, at 20 miles and at three places at Singtam, sources in the Border Road Organisation, which is engaged in clearing the debris, said.

"We are trying our best to restore one-way traffic by tomorrow evening," a senior official told.

The landslides have left a large number of people, including tourists and vehicles stranded on the highway.

Some people were found trying to negotiate through the landslide in the torrential rain, the BRO sources said.

The rains have affected telecommunication and power supply in Gangtok.

A part of National Highway 31A that sunk in at 9th Mile, 16km from Gangtok on Friday; and drivers push their cars from near the Government Fruit Preservation Factory towards Singtam. Pictures by Prabin Khaling

TT, Gangtok, Aug. 27: Seven landslides struck a 15km stretch of NH31A and crippled traffic on Sikkim’s only road link with the rest of the country after heavy rain lashed the Himalayan state last night. A 31-year-old woman was washed away in one of the flash floods that followed.

The landslides, four of them major ones, occurred between 32 Mile and Singtam on NH31A, the stretch littered with slush and debris that came tumbling down from the hillside late last night and early this morning.

The landslides left at least 100 vehicles coming from Siliguri stranded on the Bengal-Sikkim border at Rangpo for sometime. While some passengers tried to walk and cross the slides, others returned to Siliguri. “The vehicles — there were lots of them — were told to stay put at Singtam for the night,” said A.K. Singh, the executive engineer of Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation that is in charge of the highway.

The first major landslide nearest to Gangtok was at the mouth of Topakhani, a 12-metre tunnel, 23km from here.

Personnel from the Project Swastik managed to clear some of the debris, enabling light vehicles to sneak through the tunnel, but they could not proceed beyond a few kilometres because of the second major landslide near the Chisopani bridge.

The other two major slides were near the Government Fruit Preservation Factory, 28km from Gangtok. The landslides here have eroded at least 30 metres of the road.

The landslide near Chisopani bridge appeared to be the most massive one, as the road remained buried under a pile of huge boulders, fallen trees and slush. BRO workers engaged in the restoration admitted that at least 48 hours would be required to clear the road.

Project Swastik chief engineer Brigadier Rajiv Sawhney said: “The major challenge to clearing the road was that the huge boulders could not be blasted because of the human settlements in the area.”

In South Sikkim, Mamta Rai, a citizen of Nepal staying at Manpari busty near Mamzing, was washed away by a flash flood last night.

“We have passed directions that the Mamzing Government Secondary School will be closed down till further notice as the institution is under threat because of landslides,” said South district collector A.K. Singh. 

All-weather wall stands tall with info of all hues

People scan the Wall in Darjeeling for quick information. Picture by Suman Tamang

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 27: If you live in Darjeeling, you can never afford to miss the Wall.

In the age of instant communications, the 15ft X 30ft wall at Chowk Bazar, bang opposite Sumeroo Manch that is the podium for all public meetings in Darjeeling, stands as the most trusted source of information for the people of the hill town.

Whether it is an announcement of a meeting, congratulatory messages, information on the venues of board exams or simply an observation that is to be shared, the Poster Wall has obliged the residents of Darjeeling for long.

“It used to be a place where cinema posters of Rink and Capital Hall used to be plastered. I think it was the ABGL that started putting up political posters on the wall in the early 1950s. And since then, the cinema posters have been forced to make way for other the posters,” said Nayan Prakash Subba, a retired police officer.

Even before the ABGL started putting up political posters, the wall was used by the managements of the two cinema halls to communicate information on items left behind by the viewers in the halls.

Perhaps the success in communicating the messages pushed the political parties to start using the wall to serve their end.

The importance of the Wall has been accepted even by the government. Two years ago when there was a spate of house burglaries in town during winter — a time when many shift to the warmer climes of the plains — Darjeeling police had put up posters informing the people to be vigilant of their surroundings.

“We have been so used to the Wall that unless we see any announcement put up there, we don’t believe them,” said Neetu Rai, a resident of the town.

In fact, the success of political programmes at times depends on the Wall.

“For the people of Darjeeling, the Wall is most important. None can deny its importance,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Communication on instant political programmes, which need to be put into place within a span of a couple of hours — like the recent flash strike called by the Morcha — owe its success to the Wall.

The entire town may be deserted during political strikes but this is the one place in Darjeeling that always has a crowd in front. Even on normal days, the Wall makes every resident stop for a while.

Many have tried to find an alternative to the Wall and had started using a small wall next to the Darjeeling municipality building, as the Chowk Bazar one is always crowded with posters.

But the new place could not compete with the more illustrious space.

The Wall has had its share of stardom too.

It figured as one of the “stars of Darjeeling” in a documentary film fest organised by the mass communication department of St Joseph’s College (North Point) in 2008.

“The film The Silent Informer featured in Montage08, a documentary film festival organised by our college, was made on the Wall. The theme of the festival was ‘stars of Darjeeling’ and our students felt that the Wall was definitely a star for the people of Darjeeling,” said Vikram Rai, the head of department of the college.

Sanjay Biswas, a writer from Darjeeling, has also written a poem on the Wall in one of his books Aaakhabhari (eyeful).

Gorkhas to hold blood donation camp in Delhi

Gorkha shaheed sewa samitee media cell, Delhi:2^nd camp of blood donation at Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank, New Delhi on 29 August. 
Gorkha Shaheed Sewa Samiti – an NGO has been working for the betterment of the society through its social welfare activities in Delhi. It is organising a

The underlying objective behind the said event would be to help the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank through its voluntary means for the betterment of the society as a whole, while also to commemorate the social event by paying homage to the martyrs of Indian freedom movement- Capt. Dalbahadur Thapa and Maj. Durga Malla of Indian national Army (INA), their contribution towards the nation cannot be remained unsung.

The chief guest on the occasion would be Honorable M.P of Darjeeling Mr. Jaswant Singh.

It has requested the people to participate in the blood donation camp .The camp will be organised in Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank opposite to the Parliament house, 1 Red Cross road on from 11am to 4 pm.

Mahato killed in encounter

HT, Kolkata: Umakant  Mahato, one of the principal accused in the Jnaneshwari Express  accident  that  killed  148 passengers on May 28, was killed  in  the  early  hours  of  Friday  morning  in a gunbattle with the security  forces  inthe jungles near Jhargram, about 150 km to the west of Kolkata.

The  CBI,  that was investigating the train accident, had declared an award of  Rs 1 lakh on information leading to Mahato's arrest. A revolver and a cellphone were found next to  his  body.  A  motorcycle  without  a number, too, was found at a short distance away.

The  holster  of  the  revolver  has led the police to suspect that it was looted from police personnel only.

"Local  villagers  have  identified  the  body  as that of Umakant Mahato. However, we will wait for his family members to arrive and identify," said Praveen Tripathi, superintendent of police, Jhargram pilice district.

The  police  also  allege  that three to four squad members might have been injured in the battle before they escaped.

Police  detained  10  people near the spot, on the suspicion that they were given the  responsibility of alerting the Maoists if security forces arrived.

Jnaneshwari  Express  accident  is  one  of  the  worst  accidents in Indian Railways  history  with  the  accident being allegedly plotted by a team of Maoist-backed  tribal  leaders  in West Midnapore district. On May  28,  the  plotters  led  by Umakanto, cut out a few inches of the rail tracks near Jhargram and opened about 50 pandrol clips (that hold the rails on to the slippers).

As  a  result  Mumbai bound Jnaneshwari Express got derailed and four bogies tumbled  on  to  the  adjacent  tracks.  An  onrushing goods train ploughed through the compartments killing innocent civilian passengers.

Mahato  was  a  member  of the Maoist-backed tribal body People's Committee Against  Police Atrocities (PCAPA) and was one of the three persons on whom CBI had announced the reward.

The  other  two  are  Asit  Mahato  and  Bapi Mahato. Bapi has already been arrested while Asit, the top leader of the PCAPA is still at large.

Umakant Mahato was killed in a five-hour gunbattle that started about 1:30 in  the  night.  Police  have alleged that Umakant was with a Maoist squad under the leadership of Jayanto on Thursday night.

"There were 10 to 12 people in the jungle when the security forces launched the operation. The rest escaped," said Tripathi.

Friday's  operation  was  the  latest in a series of operations that are being launched at the dead of night.

The Jnaneshwari Express accident had pushed the CPI(Maoist) on the backfoot, earning  it  a  label  of 'mass murderer of innocent civilains'. Though the rebels  had  vehemently  denied  any  collusion  with  the  plotters of the accident, it sullied their image beyond repair.
भुटानी शरणार्थीको तीन पार्टीको कार्यगत एकता

Gulfnepal News Service, Kathmandu: स्वदेश फिर्तीको आशामा लामो समयदेखि पूर्वी नेपालको झापा र मोरङको शिविरमा शरणार्थी जनजवन बिताईरहेका भुटानी शरणार्थीको स्वदेश फिर्तीको आन्दोलनलाई शसक्त बनाउँन तीन पार्टीले कार्यगत एकता गरेका छन् । रिपोर्टस क्लब नेपालमा पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गरि उनीहरुले कार्यगत एकताको घोषणा गरेका हुन ।

भुटानी शरणार्थीको स्वदेश फिर्ती आन्दोलन र प्रजातन्त्रको पुर्नबहालीको आन्दोलनलाई सशक्त बनाउन रोङथोङ किन्ले दोर्जी नेतृत्वको ड्रुक नेशनल काग्रेस बलाराम पौडेल नेतृत्वको भूटान पिपल्स पार्टी र डा डीएनएस ढकाल कार्यकारी प्रमुख रहेको भुटान नेशनल स्टेरिङ डेमोक्र्याटिक पार्टी विच कार्यगत एकता भएको हो ।

ड्रुक नेशनल काग्रेसका सभापति रोङथोङ किन्ले दोर्जिको नेतृत्वमा कार्यगत एकता गरेका ती दलहरुले आन्दोलनमा साथदिन भुटानी जनता र विश्वसमूदायसँग आग्रह गर्ने निर्णय गरेका छन ।

त्यसैगरी गिरफ्तार राजनीतिक बन्दीको तत्काल विनासर्त रिहाई गर्नु पर्ने निर्वाचनमा विना बन्देज सबै दलहरुले भाग लिन पाउने व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने नेपाल भारत र भुटानका जनतावीचको सम्बन्धलाई सुमधुर बनाउने लगायतका निर्णय पनि गरेका छन् । पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा भुटानी मानवअधिकारबादी नेता टेकनाथ रिजालले भुटानी राजाले जनतालाई मनोमानी ढंगले देश निकाला गरिरहेको दावी गर्दै त्यस्तो निरकंुसता विरुद्ध लडन मोर्चा प्रभावकारी हुने विश्वास ब्यक्त गर्नुभयो ।

बलराम पौडेलले भुटान फर्काउने विषयमा कसैले पनि चासो नदेखाएको भन्दै भुटानी जनताको अधिकारकोलागी लडेका दलहरुलाई निस्कृय रहेको नसोच्न चेतावनी दिनु भयो ।

जागिरमान लामाले नेपाल भुटान र बाहिर रहेका भुटानी शरणार्थीलाई समेटदै आन्दोलनलाई शसक्त बनाईने बताउनुभयो । थिन्ले दोर्जेले शरणार्थी समस्यालाई नेपाल र भारतको सरकारले बुझेर समाधानकोलागी पहल गरिदिनु पर्ने बताउनुभयो ।(shared from Kurseong Social Netwok ksnonline.org)

Poison whiff in calf death

Bireswar Banerjee,TT, Siliguri, Aug. 27: The body of an elephant calf was found in a tea garden near here this morning and with no external injury marks evident, forest officials suspect the animal may have died of poisoning induced by pesticides.

Foresters from Kurseong division and Sukna wildlife squad had been patrolling Simulbari Tea Estate, 20km from here, since last night when a herd of 40 elephants was spotted in the nearby Bamonpokhri and Lamagumba forest beats and the fringes of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.

The foresters were apprehensive that the herd might enter the garden.

“It was raining heavily last night. When we saw the herd trying to enter the garden, our guards steered the animals away. Around 4am, we spotted the body of the calf in the plantation near Lamagumba beat,” said Narayan Chandra Roy, the additional divisional forest officer of Kurseong.

“Trampled grass in and around the area where the body was found, suggested that the calf was roaming there before it died. It was probably restless. This, and the fact that there was no injury marks on the body, make us suspect that the animal died of some kind of poisoning,” said Roy.

Foresters have collected water and grass samples from the spot to check for insecticides.

“We will send the samples along with the viscera for forensic tests to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Calcutta,” a forest official said.

He said pesticides could be the cause of the animal’s death.

“Pesticides are sprayed in tea estates regularly. Chemicals often trickle down from the tea bushes to the ground because of heavy rainfall, and contaminate the water and grass. The calf might have consumed this,” the forest official said.

The garden authorities were not available for comments.

“We have also collected samples of body organs that would be sent for tests,” said Malay Maiti, one of the two vets from the state animal resources development department posted in Siliguri who conducted the post-mortem.

The foresters have ruled out the possibility of the calf being ill or injured.
SHIVA THAPA IN THE RING SCORING SECOND POSITION (SILVER MEDAL) IN THE 1st YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES IN SINGAPORE

POINTS TO PONDER

In 1987 a reporter asked Buta Singh, the then Home Minister, about similarities between  गोर्खा  and सिख  आन्दोलन .   Buta Singh said "एक  के  माथे  पे  खालिस्तान  है  दुसरे  के  माथे  पे  खाली  स्थान  है ". 

Bundh suspended till 30th August, Offices open...2 company CRP coming for hills..Unitedly Gorkhaland can be achieved

KalimNews: Indefinite bundh called by GJMM suspended till 30th August. GJMM has stated that the bundh is suspended as the time given to the police is extended till 12 noon of 30th August. Closed DGHC offices will also be open declared Binay Tamang Asst Secretary of GJMM.

It is recalled that GJMM had called an indefinite bundh starting from 1pm of 22nd August in protest against escape of Nicole Tamang  prime accused in the Madan Tamang murder and it gave relaxation from 24th August for 48 hrs ie till 25th August.
Meanwhile 2 company of CRPF is being sent by Center declared Samar Ghose, Home Secretary. A source from Dooars said that ABAVP called a meeting in Birpara and resolved to vehemently oppose the meeting called by GJMM in Jaigaon on 29th August. No Adivasi people will attend the meeting of GJMM said a branch committee member of ABAVP. It is recalled that Bimal Gurung had promised to gather 30 thousand Adivasis and with challege ordered leaders of GJMM of Dooars to gather 50 thousand Gorkha supporters from Dooars during an interactive programme held in Darjeeling on 22nd August.

Prime Minister concerned over Darjeeling 

KalimNews: Addressing DGPs and IGPs during an annual Conference held in Delhi Manmohan Singh, PM said  " The situation in Darjeeling hill area also needs a careful watch. The writ of the State should be firmly established in all these areas. The State police and the central paramilitary forces should take firm action against those who take the law into their own hands. "
Inaugurating the conference he said “I am very happy to once again address this annual gathering of heads of police organizations in India. Let me begin by congratulating those officers who have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service and meritorious service today."

Shutdown looms as remand nears end Morcha sets Aug 30 deadline for cops

Binay Tamang in Darjeeling on Thursday. (Suman Tamang)

TT, Aug. 26: The hills are wary of another indefinite shutdown with the CID drawing a blank on the Nickole Tamang escape probe, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha setting August 30 as deadline to produce him in court.

The Morcha said it expected the accused, a central committee member of the party, to be produced in court before noon of August 30, when Nickole’s term in police remand ends.

“The police and the CID are expected to produce Nickole Tamang in court on August 30, when the police remand ends. If he is not produced before the court by noon, an indefinite strike will start,” said Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha at a media conference here today.

The Morcha had called the indefinite strike last Sunday after Nickole, who had been arrested by Darjeeling police on August 16, fled from a CID camp at Pintail Village near Siliguri.

However, even five days after Nickole, a prime accused in the Madan Tamang murder case, fled from CID custody, the police hardly have any leads.

Additional director-general of police Raj Kanojia (left) with a CID officer at Pintail Village on the outskirts of Siliguri on Thursday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Additional director-general of police, CID, Raj Kanojia, who arrived in Siliguri today, said his agency had received phone calls after a reward was announced for information on Nickole. “This is a positive development and our officers are working on these inputs, we expect a breakthrough very soon,” Kanojia said.

The Morcha, while announcing a two day relaxation in the indefinite strike on Wednesday, had said the continuation of the bandh would be decided upon today. People in the hills spent the entire day in uncertainty, and the Morcha announced late in the afternoon that the relaxation would extend till the noon of August 30.

The 48-hour strike relaxation had been provided following an assurance from the Darjeeling district police that there had been no foul play in Nickole’s disappearance. The Morcha had claimed that Nickole had probably died during interrogation and that the police were trying to hush up the incident by staging the “escape drama”.

With the uncertainty now looming, almost all the residents are being forced to keep every future schedule in abeyance.

“Travelling plans have gone haywire. We cannot even tell people who are coming from distant places to cancel their visit,” said a resident of Darjeeling.

Tourism industry, which is the backbone of the town economy but one of the most sensitive industries, has also been hit hard.

“Even though this is not a peak season, tourists always trickle to the hills. However, with this uncertainty we are bound to lose even on this little inflow which is important to sustain our business,” said a hotelier.

Even if the strike commences from August 30 noon the duration is not yet known as the Morcha has talked about an “indefinite” shutdown. Apprehending a fresh flare-up in the hills after Nickole’s disappearance, the state government had asked for three companies of CRPF. However, the Centre today, reports PTI has agreed to send two.

“The state government had requested the Centre to give three additional companies of CRPF to Darjeeling, but they have agreed to send two companies for the hills,” PTI quoted home secretary Samar Ghosh as saying. 
KalimNews:  Additional director-general of police, CID, Raj Kanojia said that we have received enough informations regarding the Madan Tamang murder and we can arrest many person. But it is believed that this will be initiated only with the rearrest of Nicole Tamang and police wants to prove that Nicole was an active GJMM member before and after the murder and he is being sheltered  by GJMM as such GJMM and its leaders are directly or indirectly involved in the murder.

Yechury visit

TT: CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury will visit Darjeeling on August 29. He will deliver the Ratan Lal Brahmin Memorial Lecture at Gymkhana Club, said K.B. Wattar, a CPM leader from Darjeeling. Brahmin was one of the leading communist leaders from the hills.
State silence on Pahari baffles hills

Sabyasachi Bandhopadhyay,IE, Kolkata:The state government’s inaction against Ardhendu Shekhar Pahari-investigating officer in the case of Nicole Tamang, who escaped from the custody of the CID of the state police on August 21 ¿ has Darjeeling in a tizzy.

A sub-inspector and a constable have been suspended for their negligence but no action has been taken against Paharai — who was heading the team guarding Nicole.

The All India Gorkha League had already alleged that Nicole was allowed to flee as the state reached an understanding with the GJM after it dropped its demands to include Dooars and Terai in the proposed hill council.

“The theory sounds ridiculous,” said a senior official of the state police. “But one thing is baffling. Nicole’s escape was facilitated and Pahari could have a role in that. He was responsible for a serious lapse. It’s intriguing that no action has been taken against him.” 

Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said they were waiting for a CID report before taking any action. “Our IG, CID Neeraj Narayan Pandey and ADG, CID Raj Kanojia have gone there. We will take action on the basis of their report,” Ghosh told The Indian Express.

Kanojia and Pandey met officials at Siliguri to take stock of the efforts to trace Nicole.

“During interrogation, Nicole mentioned the names of 10-12 people and we are checking on them. We are hopeful that Tamang will be re-arrested soon,” Kanojia said.

The GJM, which called an indefinite bandh following Nicole’s escape — and later gave two-day breather on August 25 and August 26 — extended it to August 30. Nicole is supposed to be produced in court that day and the chargesheet against him is to be filed. “Unless Nicole is produced by then, we will go for an indefinite bandh,” said Morcha spokesman Benoy Tamang.

The Centre, meanwhile, is sending two companies of CRPF to Darjeeling following a letter from state chief secretary Ardhendu Sen to Union home secretary GK Pillai early this week. Sen wrote the letter following the withdrawal of three companies of CRPF from Darjeeling.

Unitedly Gorkhaland can be achieved

DK Waiba, KalimNews (Kalimpong News): Gorkhas identity crisis is a national issue, so it should be fought through a national movement, It is not a demand it is a necessity said Amar Singh MP & president of National Federation for New States during a workshop organised at Bagdogra jointly by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and NFNS.  Speaking on 'Federal structure of India and the demand of Gorkhaland' held in the hotel Marina Amar Singh said that for the patriot and sincere Gorkhas justice can only be given by creating a separate state of Gorkhaland. He emphasised that the movement for the statehood should be sincere, peaceful and should not touch the sensitivity of public. 

Jaya Prada MP and former actress addressing the audience said that all should unitedly fight for Gorkhaland as fought for the inclusion of Nepali language in the eighth schedule. As it will take a long time to achieve statehood people must consistently fight and continue the movement without any discouragement added Jaya. 

MPs Raja Bundela, P Niroop and others including Joel Rai, Prof Munish Tamang and Sukhman Moktan, Enosh Das Pradhan and others too were present in the programme attended by Gorkhas of Bagdogra and Siliguri.
Meanwhile BOBBBC demonstrated near Bihar more with slogan against MPs Jaya Prada and AmarSingh for supporting Gorkhaland movement .
KalimNews: Due to incessant rain some villages around Mal Bazar area is flooded. Mal Nadi and Gurjungjhora has been fllodded displacing many as homeless. Earlier small channels ans streams caused a flood in and around Mal Park and shops near Mal Bus Stand . Many shops were flodded damaging materials worth lakhs of  Rupeese.
Call for halt to ‘corrupt’ job selections 

TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 26: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today alleged malpractices in the ongoing recruitment of para teachers and midwives in the hills and demanded an immediate freeze on the processes till an interim set-up was put in place for the region.

Binay Tamang, assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: “It has come to our notice that there have been several anomalies in the recruitment of para-teachers and selection of ANM (Auxiliary Nursing Mid-wifery) candidates in the Darjeeling hills. Moreover, we had told the government that our party should also be consulted on all affairs, but this did not take place. We demand that the entire procedure be kept on hold until the interim set-up is put in place.”

He said applicants with only a couple of years’ teaching experience had been given preference over those with more than 10 years’ experience.

“Many people who were employed under the Integrated Child Development Scheme were selected as midwives. The selection was partial,” he said.

However DGHC officials said they had gone by the rules governing the recruitment and there had been no foul play in the process.

P.T. Sherpa, secretary of the council’s education department, said: “The appointment process is still in progress. We are following the norms laid down by the Sarva Siksha Mission to recruit teachers.” While 197 vacancies of para-teachers are in the primary schools (till Class IV), and 210 posts are to be filled in the upper primary section (from Class V to Class VIII).

Explaining the recruitment process, Sherpa said the onus of selecting teachers for the upper primary school lay with the managing committees of the respective institutions and village education committee in the case of primary schools.

“Selection is not done by the council. The candidates are vetted by managing committees and the village education committees. A panel then interviews them and the lists are again sent to these committees, which have appointment powers. The council merely sanctions the lists,” said Sherpa.

Primary schoolteachers receive a monthly remuneration of Rs 6.500, while those appointed in upper primary schools are entitled to Rs 7,500.

W. Zimba, secretary of the council’s health department, also said the selection of the ANM candidates had taken place according to the norms mentioned in advertisements.

Although a Morcha delegation today met the additional district magistrate of Darjeeling and requested him to stop the recruitment, he did not give any assurance as the decision had to be taken by the state government. 

Queen of orchids for queen of hills- one lakh cymbidiums to bloom in mirik by 2

(From top ) Two varieties of the cymbidium at the nursery in Mirik; (bottom) a visitor at an orchid nursery. File pictures

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 26: Around one lakh plants of cymbidium, known as the queen of orchids, are set to bloom in Mirik in two years, thanks to an export-oriented project by a private company.

The biggest venture of orchid cultivation in the northeastern part of India was initiated by Darjeeling Gardens Private Limited on a two-acre plot at Rato Mate busty in Mirik with the help of 10 small farmers.

“Cymbidiums require low temperature and high humidity, a rare combination that is difficult to be found in other hill towns. Mirik valley provides the optimum requirement of temperature and humidity and is the best place to cultivate cymbidium. Floriculturists in Mirik were growing orchids on a smaller scale. But we have been growing one lakh cymbidiums at our nursery since May last year with the latest technical knowhow,” said Rajesh Chowdhury, the director of Darjeeling Garden.

The ultimate aim of the project is to enable small growers to start large-scale production of the cymbidium to export the flower.

“Although we have engaged 10 local cultivators, technical assistance was provided to more than 100 small farmers. In case we start exporting orchids, we need a regular supply, say 5,000 to 10,000 sticks a week. As the yield in our nursery will not be sufficient to meet consistent demands, we plan to engage the farmers and buy orchids from them so that exports can be continued without any shortage in the supply. The farmers, too, will be apprised of the demand, the desirable yield and the prices their produce would fetch in international markets,” said Chowdhury.

The cymbidium, the most popular orchid worldwide, is beautiful and comes in a variety of colours like white, green, pink, red and mixed shades of yellow and red, and pink and white.

Grown in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Holland, the cymbidium is known to have a long vase life ranging from two to three weeks. The longer vase life gives the flower high ornamental value.

Darjeeling Gardens signed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre For Agro-Business and Floriculture Management (COAFM) of North Bengal University in December to provide technical assistance to the nursery.

Ranadhir Chakraborty, the project manager of the COAFM, said cymbidiums grown in Mirik were of export quality. “However, as the plants are grown on small scale, enough flowers are not available for the export. Darjeeling Gardens is the first grower to start the mass cultivation of the cymbidium in the northeastern part of India. We give the nursery technical assistance in terms of monitoring nutrition requirements, light, temperature, humidity control and pest control,” he added.

Chakraborty said the cymbidiums had a thriving market in Japan, Dubai and European countries for ornamental purpose.

Ten poly-houses have been erected at Rato Mate, 52km from here, to grow the orchids under conditions prescribed by the COAFM.

The saplings are mostly of the Australian and New Zealand variety of cymbidiums and they were purchased from a tissue production centre in Gurgaon. With a gestation period of three-years, the orchids are expected to be in full bloom by October 2012.

“We have already planted over 75, 0000 saplings and 25,000 more will be planted in the coming month. Japan has the biggest market in the world for orchids and we are in talks with a floriculture company there for the exports. We are trying to develop market linkages in Mumbai and Bangalore where the cymbidium is in demand. At present, the cymbidiums fetch Rs 150 to Rs 200 per stick in the international market and less than Rs 100 in the domestic market,” said Chowdhury.

Sikkim best tour teacher- policy pat from northeast

Rumtek monastery, part of the Buddhist tourism circuit in Sikkim; and Conrad Sangma (in picture by Prabin Khaling) in Gangtok on Thursday

TT, Gangtok, Aug. 26: Sikkim with its master tourism policy has a lot to offer to the Northeast where connectivity is the biggest impediment to smooth travel, leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly Conrad Sangma said here today.

“Sikkim has a lot to offer as the state is the pioneer in tourism. We have to learn from Sikkim,” said Sangma during the inaugural session of the two-day regional consultation on responsible tourism in the Northeast.

Tourism stakeholders from all the seven northeastern states and Sikkim are participating in the seminar organised by the Shillong-based Impulse NGO Network, in collaboration with Sikkim University and the Bangalore-based research organisation Equations. The seminar is supported by the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking.

Later in an interaction with the media, Sangma admitted that Sikkim was more advanced in the tourism sector compared to Meghalaya or the other northeastern states. “Sikkim is more advanced in the sense that polices and plans had been formulated. In our case, initiatives had been there but our government had not focused on them much,” he said.

The NCP leader, who was the Meghalaya tourism minister in 2007-2008, said he was impressed by the Akant Vas and the Agyat Van Vas concepts being considered by the Sikkim government.

“The state is naturally gifted with all sorts of destinations and circuits required for tourism. Some of the impressive varieties of our tourism products are nature, trekking, eco-tourism, adventure, pilgrimage and Buddhist tourism and Akant Vas and Agyat Van Vas,” said Sikkim tourism minister Bhim Dhungel.

The concepts were floated by the government earlier this year with proposals to build Vedic-era-type huts in the forests where tourists can spend some time in solitude and meditation. However, the proposal is still in the conceptual stage. “I really like these concepts of the Sikkim government,” said Sangma.

He was also impressed by the cleanliness of Gangtok.

“Overall, tourism in Sikkim is very attractive. The participation of the community is so clear. I saw people involved in a drive to clean up Gangtok. It goes very well with tourism,” said Sangma. He said lack of connectivity remained the biggest hurdle in the Northeast.

“There are 22 airports in the region, of which 11 are defunct because of sloppy design and construction. A tourist will love to fly from Gangtok straight to Shillong or complete the entire northeastern itinerary in a week which is possible only through air links,” said Sangma. He said he supported the development of quality tourism instead of quantity in the region, especially in his state.

Impulse team leader Hasina Kharbhih said the consultation was meant to “create a platform for government officials, civil society organisations, media and people from the tourism industry to discuss the critical issues and their impacts on tourism in the Northeast within the framework of current policies and legislations”.

First surrender by Maoists in Bengal

TH, KOLKATA: The first formal surrender of a Maoist militant since the West Bengal Government notified its surrender and rehabilitation policy for left wing extremists on July 28 took place at Midnapore, headquarters of the State's Paschim Medinipur district, before senior police officers on Thursday.

A Maoist squad member of the Goaltore area of the district and accused in 13 criminal cases including murder and sedition since 2009, Shobhan Karak alias Bijoy was also associated with the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) and another outfit supported by the extremists, the Sidhu Soren Gana Militia.

Present on the occasion was Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma who said that though Karak was “the first among Maoists to surrender some more are expected to do so within the next seven days”. Karak laid down his arms before the police.

Speaking of some more activists having contacted the authorities and expressed their willingness to surrender, Mr Verma said: “There are some people who are on the boundary line and have some doubts in their mind. I hope they will be encouraged by this act of surrender and more will follow”.