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| Babita Ganguly at the Darjeeling district hospital on Thursday. Picture by Suman Tamang |
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Dec. 16: The Darjeeling district session’s judge today granted interim bail to Babita Ganguly, the first to be given to an arrested accused in the Madan Tamang murder case.
On November 1, the 39-year-old mother of two had leaped through the first-floor window of her house in Darjeeling on spotting a police squad and bolted but could not evade arrest as she fell into a ditch and fractured a leg.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activist was admitted to the Darjeeling district hospital where she underwent a surgery on her left leg and has been there since then. She is likely to stay there for some time.
Babita was represented by a battery of lawyers, and one of them said: “We had applied for bail on the grounds that she needs better medical treatment, which is not always available in Darjeeling, and also some time to recover. She has sustained multiple fractured and is also suffering from high blood sugar.”
Court sources said the district session’s judge, Harun-Al Rashid, had granted Babita an interim bail till February 10, 2011, on a bail bond of Rs 5,000 with two sureties of Rs 2,500 each.
“She was granted an interim bail so that she could receive treatment in a speciality hospital,” a source added.
Babita refused comments today.
The CID had named Babita and 30 other Morcha activists in the chargesheet for their alleged role in the murder of ABGL leader Madan Tamang on May 21, 2010. Of them, eight people, including Babita, have been arrested so far. However, Babita is the first arrested accused who has been granted an interim bail.
The chargesheet had mentioned that Babita along with Nickole Tamang, Sanjoy Tamang, Sudesh Raijmajhi, Dinesh Gurung, Dinesh Subba and Sona Sherpa was seen moving around Upper Clubside motor stand —the ABGL meeting venue — on May 21 to keep a watch over arrangements so that an attack could be made at an opportune moment. Madan was hacked to death hours before he was to address the public meeting.
All the 30 people named in the chargesheet have been booked under sections 147/148 (rioting/rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506 (criminal intimidation), 302 (murder) and 120 (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
Nickole Tamang, the prime accused in the case, had been arrested from Kaijhalay, 45km from Darjeeling, but he allegedly fled from a CID camp at Pintail near Siliguri on August 22.
Among the 22 accused who are currently absconding, Sangay Yolmo alias Prashant Rai, has been shifted to Vellore for treatment as he had suffered bullet injuries on the spinal chord when Madan Tamang’s bodyguard had fired to ward off the attackers. Yolmo had not officially been arrested “because of his severe injury”, police had said.
TitBits
KalimNews: GJM delegate led by Bimal Gurung party president will meet Soniya Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC President and General Secretary today in Delhi. An appoitment is already arranged but sources said that no fruitful result is expected from the talks between the AICC and GJM.
KalimNews: ABGL has strongly objected against a statement of central anthropological department which had stated that people migrated from Nepal call themselves as Gorkhas and now reside in West Bengal. A report of the department submitted to the Government of West Bengal on 10 september 2004 states that Gorkhas have migrated from Nepal and ancestral stock of Lepchas belongs to Sikkim and they do belong to Sikkim.
TitBits
KalimNews: GJM delegate led by Bimal Gurung party president will meet Soniya Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC President and General Secretary today in Delhi. An appoitment is already arranged but sources said that no fruitful result is expected from the talks between the AICC and GJM.
KalimNews: ABGL has strongly objected against a statement of central anthropological department which had stated that people migrated from Nepal call themselves as Gorkhas and now reside in West Bengal. A report of the department submitted to the Government of West Bengal on 10 september 2004 states that Gorkhas have migrated from Nepal and ancestral stock of Lepchas belongs to Sikkim and they do belong to Sikkim.
Assault finger at Morcha
TT, Kalimpong, Dec. 16: Nine persons working for a contractor, a GNLF leader, at a construction site on the army compound here were beaten up by alleged Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters yesterday.
Contractor Maurice Kalikotey had engaged the labourers for a “special repair” work of an officer’s quarters on the army compound in Durpin here. Kalikotey, a GNLF leader, has been based in Siliguri since he was chased out of Kalimpong by Morcha supporters two years ago.
In an FIR lodged with Kalimpong police, Avijit Singh, the supervisor at the site who was also assaulted, has named 10 persons from the area for the incident.
Police said an investigation had begun into the complaint. “We will get at the bottom of the truth, and book the guilty,” said an officer.
No one has been arrested.
Kalikotey said on the phone from Siliguri that Singh and eight were assaulted and threatened with dire consequences by a group of youths.
“All the injured were given first aid at the army dispensary. Barring Singh, others returned to Siliguri fearing for their lives. All of them hail from Siliguri,” he said.
The assailants, the contractor said, were taking advantage of the Gorkhaland movement. “I don’t think it is the work of the party (read Morcha). However, some individuals associated with the party are desperate to make money by indulging in hooliganism. They want to browbeat me into giving them a share of the work,” he said.
Tired of strikes, Siliguri on streets |
| Amra Bangalee flags on Hill Cart Road on Thursday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo |
The outfit, opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and known frequently to call bandhs to protest the Gorkhaland movement, however, claimed that lack of awareness was why people were out on the streets.
“It is true that unlike earlier strikes called to protest the Morcha’s highhandedness and its demand for separate statehood, our strike today has failed to leave any impact in and around Siliguri,” said Khushi Ranjan Mondal, the central committee secretary of the party. “The lacuna was on our part as the decision (to call a strike) was taken last night and we could not inform people in every corner of the town.”
The strike was called to protest the death of Aloke Das, a tea stall owner in Pradhannagar after he was hit by two youths from Sikkim on Monday night, and also the Morcha’s demand for Gorkhaland.
In the morning, the Amra Bangalee members were seen persuading the people at Hashmi Chowk, Pradhannagar and Siliguri Junction to observe the strike.
They, however, had to face blatant refusals and soon, six of them, including Mondal, were arrested. As the day wore on, the protesters were replaced by their flags on Hill Cart Road.
Tanmoy Das, associated with a software firm, said: “Most people are unhappy about the series of strikes to protest the Morcha’s movement. The economy of Siliguri has been hit during the past two-three years when apart from state-wide and nation-wide strikes, anti-Morcha organisations have also organised several shutdowns.”
Cloth merchant Rajesh Agarwal echoed him. “Since the inception of the Morcha, anti-hills outfits have been organising protests in Siliguri, including strikes. It has given us nothing only the city has suffered losses,” he said.
Dalai flaunts faith growth in China |
| The Dalai Lama at the Tashiding monastery on Thursday. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
TT, Gangtok, Dec. 16: The Dalai Lama said today Buddhism was spreading fast in China despite a crackdown on the faith by the communist regime.
“There has been a daily increase in the number of Buddhists in China though the government has imposed restrictions on the religion. This means that people are benefiting from Buddhism and the faith is growing even as the government is enforcing the ban,” the Tibetan spiritual leader told devotees at the Tashiding monastery, one of the holiest spots in Sikkim.
After the sermon, the Dalai Lama moved to the monastery’s “tsam khang” (meditation centre), which the Sikkim government constructed exclusively for the Dalai Lama to go on retreat for two days. Tashiding in West Sikkim is 135km from Gangtok.
“There are three million Buddhists in China despite the prohibition on the faith by the government. Those who once considered Buddhism as a poison are embracing it today. This is all because of the benefits the faith accrues to the world,” he told the gathering, which comprised Tibetan refugees also.
The Nobel peace laureate delivered the sermon in Tibetan language which was translated into Hindi by an interpreter.
The Dalai Lama appealed to the faithful to devote more time to study Buddhist scriptures and books.
“Scholars have toiled to translate Buddhist texts into different languages and there will be happiness and peace in one’s life if they are studied. Merely praying and reciting verses from the books placed in houses serves no purpose and brings no benefit. One must study and understand the hidden knowledge in the holy books and use it in life,” he said.
The Dalai Lama also said people’s faith in Buddhism had increased with the growth of science and technology in the world.
“Albert Einstein, who is considered the Buddha of science, used to say science is incomplete without its use. Similarly, religion is incomplete without deep study. Just praying or performing pujas is not religion. Serious study and following of the religion will lead to Nirvana,” he said.
The Dalai Lama conducted a puja at the monastery and solemnised a Thanka painting of Lord Buddha, which was completed after six months’ work. He also visited the stupas and prayer wheels on the premises of the monastery.
After completing the meditation at Tashiding, the Dalai Lama will depart for Palchen Choling monastery at Ralang in South district on December 18. He will also visit a settlement of Tibetan community there.
Stepmother’s crusade leads police to missing girl in trafficker’s Delhi den
KINSUK BASU IN CALCUTTA AND IMRAN AHMED SIDDIQUI IN NEW DELHI, TT, Dec. 16: A parent’s worst nightmare came true when a 15-year-old girl who went to see a circus did not return home one-and-a-half years ago in a Bengal village.Today, something that few parents in Bengal or many other parts of the world can rarely hope for also came true: that same girl was found in a trafficker’s hellhole in Delhi and rescued.
The perseverance of an unlettered stepmother, the helping hand of a lawyer’s clerk and the caring instincts of a judge and the insistence of the court jolted Bengal police to launch a hunt that took them to the girl who was sold for Rs 5,000 by a trafficker.
A CID team from Calcutta, with the help of Delhi police, rescued a “traumatised” Yasmin Khatun (name changed), now 16, from a hideout in west Delhi’s Begumpur today.
“The girl was rescued from a house in a raid carried out jointly by our team and Bengal police early today. She had been kidnapped and kept in a house in Begumpur,” Ashok Chand, deputy commissioner (crime branch) of Delhi police, said.
Nishan Pervez, special superintendent of police, CID, said his team had confirmed that the girl was the same person reported missing from Kakdwip in South 24-Parganas.
P. Nirajnayan, IG, Bengal CID, said the girl was “traumatised” and had been sent for medical examination.
Plucked away by a gang of traffickers, Yasmin’s story is testimony to the free run gangs of traffickers enjoy in Bengal’s poverty-ridden villages.
Yasmin would have remained another piece of the cold statistics that say 2,500 teenaged girls disappear from Bengal every year but for the combined efforts of an unlikely group of people brought together by the persistence of her stepmother Johora Bibi. On September 18 and 19, The Telegraph had reported the plight of the family and Johora’s crusade to trace her.
Yasmin’s 61-year-old father Khater Bhisti was too preoccupied earning a living by selling fish and it was left to Johora to fight the battle to bring the girl home. (See chart)
With the help of Rafique Ahmed Dorji, a lawyer’s clerk, the illiterate Johora climbed the legal stairs one by one and reached Calcutta High Court. The case caught the attention of Justice Sanjib Banerjee who sent the matter to the chief justice.
The case opened a can of worms. At the court’s bidding, the government was forced to admit that over 2,500 teenaged girls had disappeared from Bengal last year. Chief Justice J.N. Patel then asked the police to produce the girl before the court on October 1.
The police could not meet that deadline but they did manage a breakthrough in November when a tip-off led them to a 32-year-old resident of Elliot Road, Kalam, who traffics in girls.
Kalam confessed he had sold Yasmin to another trafficker in Delhi, Azhar, for Rs 5,000. It is not clear yet how Kalam came across the girl. Johora had earlier alleged the hand of some relatives.
The police laid a trap for Azhar using the time-tested ploy of posing as traffickers and eventually catching up with him in Delhi. (Details in graphic)
This afternoon, Yasmin was rescued.
According to the police, Yasmin had not been allowed to step outside the Delhi house. The girl was tortured whenever she said she wanted to return home.
Sarbari Bhattacharya, who led the CID team to Delhi, said: “At the moment, the girl is very traumatised. She was crying inconsolably, asking us to reunite her with her parents.”
Bhattacharya said Azhar was part of a nationwide prostitution racket. “He has close links with traffickers in Bengal and other parts of the country,” she said. “Azhar used to supply girls to clients in Secunderabad and Goa. They had a wide network. The gang members used to accompany the girls sent to clients in other cities.”
If the medical report permits immediate travel, the girl and the CID team will leave for Calcutta tomorrow.
On September 18, Johora had told The Telegraph: “I suspect the traffickers have taken her to a big city in another part of the country, and I wonder if the state police can find her. I can only hope and pray they do.”
Today, 89 days later, Johora said: “We are now waiting for her to come home. I can’t say how we spent the last one-and-a-half years.”
Teacher job clarity
TT, Siliguri, Dec. 16: Newly appointed primary schoolteachers demonstrated at the Jalpaiguri district magistrate’s office today, demanding that the authorities remove the confusion over the fate of 340 teachers, whose appointment had been held illegal by the school education minister.
The Jalpaiguri district primary school council had appointed 1,091 primary schoolteachers at different institutions recently. When the recruitment was marred by allegations of corruption and nepotism, school education minister Partha De announced that jobs of 340 teachers would be terminated because of irregularities in their appointment.
“Media reports had quoted officials and even the school education minister as saying that more than 300 primary schoolteachers would be suspended because of anomalies in their recruitment. However, we haven’t been informed about any such decision,” said Partha Chakraborty, the secretary of the Nabanijukta Prathamik Sikshak Sangram Committee, a forum formed by the newly appointed teachers.
“We demonstrated at the district magistrate’s office and sought a clarification from the administration. All of us are in utter confusion and want the officials to bring out a list of the names of those whose jobs will be scrapped,” said Chakraborty.
Mob ire over jumbo raid
TT, Siliguri, Dec.16: Angry residents of Tukuria Busty beat up an officer and two guards of the Lohagarh forest office yesterday evening after a girl was injured during an elephant raid.
The office in Naxalbari block was ransacked and a vehicle of the forest department was also damaged by the residents of the fringe village, 40km from here.
According to foresters of Panighata range under the Kurseong forest division, Priya Murmu, 18, was hurt while escaping an elephant raid in the area.
“After the attack the residents informed us and our staff rushed to the spot. The angry villagers damaged the forest jeep and assaulted the beat officer and two forest guards. They also ransacked the beat office,” said Bhupen Biswakarma, the range officer of Panighata. “The girl has been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College hospital. We will bear expenses for the treatment.”
A meeting was held today between the foresters and members of the Naxalbari panchayat samity and the local people.
Sunil Ghosh, a member of the rural body, said: “We will work together with the foresters to prevent such raids.”
Teacher returns after ‘kidnap’
TT, Alipurduar, Dec. 16: A headmaster of a Dhupguri high school made a mysterious comeback, seven hours after he was allegedly kidnapped from the entrance to the institution by a group of car-borne youths this morning.
The motive behind the abduction of Kumar Deb is yet to be known, police said refusing to elaborate.
Deb, the 48-year-old headmaster of Purano Salbari High School, was whisked away by the gang shortly after he got off from a rickshaw in front of institution, 65km from here, around 10.30am. Nepal Hajra, who runs a tea stall nearby, informed the teachers of the school about the abduction.
The managing committee of the school lodged a complaint at Dhupguri police station and informed his family. Deb’s eldest son, Jhilam, also filed an FIR alleging that the headmaster had been “kidnapped”.
“I was at my tea stall in front of the school when I saw the headmaster was forced into a waiting car by a gang of youths and the vehicle sped away. I sensed that something was wrong and immediately informed the teachers,” Nepal said.
Jhilam said there was nothing unnatural in his father’s behaviour in the morning. “He did not get any phone call and everything was normal. After I got the news, I could not contact him on his mobile phone,” the son added.
As the news of the kidnapping spread, local people blocked the Falakata-Dhupguri road from 3.45pm to 4.45pm demanding that the police locate the missing teacher.
However, around 5.15pm Deb walked into the Dhupguri police station.
“He has named four persons who took him away forcibly. We are questioning him,” said an officer of the Dhupguri police station.
Deb came out from the police station about 6.30pm and went home straight. He could not be contacted.
The teachers of the school, who stayed put in the institution till late in the evening, said they were eager to meet Deb. “We wanted to know from him what went on throughout the day but around 7pm a policeman came to the school and asked us to go home saying Deb was fine,” a teacher said later.
The Jalpaiguri superintendent of police, Anand Kumar, said he was yet to get the details. “The headmaster has returned on his own and has filed a complaint against those who took him away. We will start a case against them.”
NBU rejects ouster of seniors for ragging
TT, Siliguri, Dec.16: The executive council of the North Bengal University today turned down an inquiry panel’s recommendation to rusticate six post-graduate students who had been accused of ragging.
The 12-member council also voted down milder punishments mooted by the anti-ragging committee for eight other senior students.
The decision comes even as three girls of an engineering college in Durgapur were arrested for allegedly driving a junior to the brink of suicide. The three have been denied bail.
“There were three motions on the agenda of the council. The first was to accept and implement the measures recommended against guilty students. The second was to introduce corrective measures to prevent ragging in the varsity. The third was to conduct further probe into complaints of ragging,” said Arunabha Basumajumdar, the vice-chancellor as well as the chairman of the council.
“We had a divided house because some members were not in favour of expulsion of six students who had been actively involved in the ragging. They suggested milder forms of punishments like the eviction from the hostel,” he added.
While six cast their votes against the motions, five favoured them. One member abstained from the voting.
Various incidents of ragging in a hostel run by the varsity came to light when a first semester post-graduate philosophy student wrote a letter to the VC before leaving the campus on December 3. In the letter, he complained about physical and mental torture by third semester students after the academic session had begun in August.
A probe conducted by the anti-ragging committee held 14 third semester philosophy students guilty of ragging. The inquiry report said 17 junior students had been made to do “obscene and lewd acts and gestures which caused physical and mental torture to the victims”.
The panel recommended punishments depending on the degree of seniors’ involvement. It suggested rustication of six students, who physically and mentally tortured the victims, from third and fourth semesters. While the eviction from the hostel was recommended for five students, suspension for one semester was mooted for three others.
A council member said the students should be given a second chance. “We are academicians and should not treat students like criminals. They should be given a second chance. If we expel them from the varsity, their future will be spoilt.”
Fake notes
TT, Malda: A team of the CID’s special operations group from Calcutta arrested two persons from Gajole and seized fake Indian currency with a face value of Rs 1.5 lakh from them on Thursday evening. Minarul Haq and Jasimuddin Sheikh, both residents of Harishchandrapur, were later handed over to Gajole police. The notes had been brought from Bangladesh and were being taken to Bihar, the police said. The duo were supposed to hand over the notes to Anikul Haq in Baishnabnagar.
Classrooms
TT, Siliguri: Mayor Gangotri Datta inaugurated three classrooms at Siliguri Girls’ High School on Thursday. She also distributed Rs 2.19 lakh to 876 students of the institution. The funds were released under Sarva Siksha Mission to buy books for the students.
Kickboxing
TT, Siliguri: The Darjeeling District Kickboxing Championship and the Darjeeling district inter school kickboxing championship will begin at Siliguri Little Angels School at Milan More on Saturday. The two-day event will be organised by the Darjeeling District Kickboxing Association.
Road death
TT, Jaigaon: Puja Kami, 17, a resident of East Khairbari near Madarihat, died when a motorcycle hit her on NH31 on Thursday. Police said Puja was crossing the highway when the two-wheeler knocked her down.
गोटीहरूTeacher job clarity
TT, Siliguri, Dec. 16: Newly appointed primary schoolteachers demonstrated at the Jalpaiguri district magistrate’s office today, demanding that the authorities remove the confusion over the fate of 340 teachers, whose appointment had been held illegal by the school education minister.
The Jalpaiguri district primary school council had appointed 1,091 primary schoolteachers at different institutions recently. When the recruitment was marred by allegations of corruption and nepotism, school education minister Partha De announced that jobs of 340 teachers would be terminated because of irregularities in their appointment.
“Media reports had quoted officials and even the school education minister as saying that more than 300 primary schoolteachers would be suspended because of anomalies in their recruitment. However, we haven’t been informed about any such decision,” said Partha Chakraborty, the secretary of the Nabanijukta Prathamik Sikshak Sangram Committee, a forum formed by the newly appointed teachers.
“We demonstrated at the district magistrate’s office and sought a clarification from the administration. All of us are in utter confusion and want the officials to bring out a list of the names of those whose jobs will be scrapped,” said Chakraborty.
Mob ire over jumbo raid
TT, Siliguri, Dec.16: Angry residents of Tukuria Busty beat up an officer and two guards of the Lohagarh forest office yesterday evening after a girl was injured during an elephant raid.
The office in Naxalbari block was ransacked and a vehicle of the forest department was also damaged by the residents of the fringe village, 40km from here.
According to foresters of Panighata range under the Kurseong forest division, Priya Murmu, 18, was hurt while escaping an elephant raid in the area.
“After the attack the residents informed us and our staff rushed to the spot. The angry villagers damaged the forest jeep and assaulted the beat officer and two forest guards. They also ransacked the beat office,” said Bhupen Biswakarma, the range officer of Panighata. “The girl has been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College hospital. We will bear expenses for the treatment.”
A meeting was held today between the foresters and members of the Naxalbari panchayat samity and the local people.
Sunil Ghosh, a member of the rural body, said: “We will work together with the foresters to prevent such raids.”
Teacher returns after ‘kidnap’
TT, Alipurduar, Dec. 16: A headmaster of a Dhupguri high school made a mysterious comeback, seven hours after he was allegedly kidnapped from the entrance to the institution by a group of car-borne youths this morning.
The motive behind the abduction of Kumar Deb is yet to be known, police said refusing to elaborate.
Deb, the 48-year-old headmaster of Purano Salbari High School, was whisked away by the gang shortly after he got off from a rickshaw in front of institution, 65km from here, around 10.30am. Nepal Hajra, who runs a tea stall nearby, informed the teachers of the school about the abduction.
The managing committee of the school lodged a complaint at Dhupguri police station and informed his family. Deb’s eldest son, Jhilam, also filed an FIR alleging that the headmaster had been “kidnapped”.
“I was at my tea stall in front of the school when I saw the headmaster was forced into a waiting car by a gang of youths and the vehicle sped away. I sensed that something was wrong and immediately informed the teachers,” Nepal said.
Jhilam said there was nothing unnatural in his father’s behaviour in the morning. “He did not get any phone call and everything was normal. After I got the news, I could not contact him on his mobile phone,” the son added.
As the news of the kidnapping spread, local people blocked the Falakata-Dhupguri road from 3.45pm to 4.45pm demanding that the police locate the missing teacher.
However, around 5.15pm Deb walked into the Dhupguri police station.
“He has named four persons who took him away forcibly. We are questioning him,” said an officer of the Dhupguri police station.
Deb came out from the police station about 6.30pm and went home straight. He could not be contacted.
The teachers of the school, who stayed put in the institution till late in the evening, said they were eager to meet Deb. “We wanted to know from him what went on throughout the day but around 7pm a policeman came to the school and asked us to go home saying Deb was fine,” a teacher said later.
The Jalpaiguri superintendent of police, Anand Kumar, said he was yet to get the details. “The headmaster has returned on his own and has filed a complaint against those who took him away. We will start a case against them.”
NBU rejects ouster of seniors for ragging
TT, Siliguri, Dec.16: The executive council of the North Bengal University today turned down an inquiry panel’s recommendation to rusticate six post-graduate students who had been accused of ragging.
The 12-member council also voted down milder punishments mooted by the anti-ragging committee for eight other senior students.
The decision comes even as three girls of an engineering college in Durgapur were arrested for allegedly driving a junior to the brink of suicide. The three have been denied bail.
“There were three motions on the agenda of the council. The first was to accept and implement the measures recommended against guilty students. The second was to introduce corrective measures to prevent ragging in the varsity. The third was to conduct further probe into complaints of ragging,” said Arunabha Basumajumdar, the vice-chancellor as well as the chairman of the council.
“We had a divided house because some members were not in favour of expulsion of six students who had been actively involved in the ragging. They suggested milder forms of punishments like the eviction from the hostel,” he added.
While six cast their votes against the motions, five favoured them. One member abstained from the voting.
Various incidents of ragging in a hostel run by the varsity came to light when a first semester post-graduate philosophy student wrote a letter to the VC before leaving the campus on December 3. In the letter, he complained about physical and mental torture by third semester students after the academic session had begun in August.
A probe conducted by the anti-ragging committee held 14 third semester philosophy students guilty of ragging. The inquiry report said 17 junior students had been made to do “obscene and lewd acts and gestures which caused physical and mental torture to the victims”.
The panel recommended punishments depending on the degree of seniors’ involvement. It suggested rustication of six students, who physically and mentally tortured the victims, from third and fourth semesters. While the eviction from the hostel was recommended for five students, suspension for one semester was mooted for three others.
A council member said the students should be given a second chance. “We are academicians and should not treat students like criminals. They should be given a second chance. If we expel them from the varsity, their future will be spoilt.”
Fake notes
TT, Malda: A team of the CID’s special operations group from Calcutta arrested two persons from Gajole and seized fake Indian currency with a face value of Rs 1.5 lakh from them on Thursday evening. Minarul Haq and Jasimuddin Sheikh, both residents of Harishchandrapur, were later handed over to Gajole police. The notes had been brought from Bangladesh and were being taken to Bihar, the police said. The duo were supposed to hand over the notes to Anikul Haq in Baishnabnagar.
Classrooms
TT, Siliguri: Mayor Gangotri Datta inaugurated three classrooms at Siliguri Girls’ High School on Thursday. She also distributed Rs 2.19 lakh to 876 students of the institution. The funds were released under Sarva Siksha Mission to buy books for the students.
Kickboxing
TT, Siliguri: The Darjeeling District Kickboxing Championship and the Darjeeling district inter school kickboxing championship will begin at Siliguri Little Angels School at Milan More on Saturday. The two-day event will be organised by the Darjeeling District Kickboxing Association.
Road death
TT, Jaigaon: Puja Kami, 17, a resident of East Khairbari near Madarihat, died when a motorcycle hit her on NH31 on Thursday. Police said Puja was crossing the highway when the two-wheeler knocked her down.
राजा पुनियानी - गद्य कविता
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रातो ताकेर स्ट्राइकरलाई कुद्न लगाउँछ मङ्गलेको औंला। कुद्न अह्राउँछ सीधा। त्यो एक पटक बाङ्गिएर कुदेछ भने गेम एक गोटी ढीलो तुरिन्छ। तनाउ बढ़्छ। समय चुहिँदैछ। हातबाट। औंलीहरूबाट। लड़ाइँबाट।
छेउमा बसेर बीएम खैनी माड़्दैछ हेर्दै बोर्डतिर। मोम बत्ती भर्खर बाल्नुपर्यो। घण्टौं जान्छ बिजुली यहॉं ठीक्क बेलुकी भएपछि। खैनीजस्तै चेपेपछि ओठमा चुस्दा-चुस्दै तुरिने जीवनका के-के जातीहरू। तुरिने जगतका को-को जातीहरू। चुस्दा-चुस्दै।
त्यही स्ट्राइकरझैं कुन्नि के ताकेर हरिश लामा हिँड़्दैछ उ...। कुद्नु-कुद्नु खोजेर। हातमा कुन्नि के-को पोका त्यो? यताउति केही हेर्दैन उ। हरिश लामा हिँड़ेको छ-छ। बरबराउँदै कुन्नि के-के...
(ख)
कता गाको?... कलकत्ता कि दिल्ली हो यसपालि?... ए फर्किहाल्ने?... कताकोले पत्याउलान् यसपालि चाहिँ?...
ला... हरिश लामा अर्को गोटीमा ठोकिन्छ कि?...
हरिश लामा जॉंदा-जॉंदै अर्कै गल्लीभित्र अल्पिएछ भने?...
हरिश लामा ओझेल परेछ भने?
यो पुरानो सड़क अझ एक मान्छे पुरानो हुनेछ र यसको इतिहासमा एक पत्रा कथा चाहिँ थपिन्छ।
कसैले पढ़्नेछ र कसैले च्यात्नेछ त्यो एक पत्रालाई।
(ग)
आम्मामा कस्तो फुलेछ आँप त यसपालि...
झररर फुल्छन् फुल्ने नफुल्ने फूलहरू र फूलजस्तै फूलहरूसँगै। हिजो गेम अनडिसाइडेड ब्रेक भएछ हगि... अलिकति उता सरिदिनोस् न... बसुँ म पनि। कुनै निर्णय बिना आएको छु। हो त ...अनिश्चितै मन पर्छ गेम। चाखलाग्छ तपाईंहरूको मोहमाया र डरहरूको। सेखी र ईबीहरूको। योजनाहरूको।
कोही सरिदिन्छ र बस्छ कोही।
सरेन भने ठेलेर सारिदिनेछ एउटाले अर्कोलाई।
यस्तै चलिरहन्छ चौकीको रित्तोपन भर्ने खेल। चौकीमा बस्नेले खेल खेल्न, खेल हेर्न र खेल सञ्चालन गर्न सक्नुपर्छ। बस भइगयो। उसको शैक्षिक योग्यता, नैतिक योग्यता जे-जस्तो होस्। खेल खेल्ने र चलाउने सीप भए पुगिहाल्छ।
(घ)
सरको पनि फुलेछ केश त सेत्तै। हुनु त सेत्तै फुल्नुलाई नै हुन्छन् केशहरू। कमुला कोपिलाहरू र आगोमय आन्दोलनहरू पनि। फुलेपछि त्यो फुलाइले हेराइहरू पाउँछ। सम्मानहरू र तिरस्कारहरू पाउँछ।
मुख्य कुरा, फुल्नुको एउटा आफ्नै समय हुन्छ। समयको एउटा आफ्नै फुल्नु भएझैं। त्यसैले समयमै उम्रिराख्नुपर्छ र समयमै बॉंचिराख्नुपर्छ। पछि गएर समयमै फुल्नलाई।
हॉंस्नु चाहिँ नछाड़्नुहोस् है सर। नत्र हेप्छ समयले। कमजोरीले।
(ङ)
भित्तामा अड़ेसिएको बोर्ड फेरि उत्तानो पर्यो। भीष्मझैं तीरहरूको ओछ्यानमा अड़ि्कएको। लमाइ+चौड़ाइ+गहिराइ+समय... चारवटा आयामहरूको खुट्टामाथि चित परेको बोर्ड गोटीहरूको हिँड़ाइ, कुदाइ र उफ्राइको मैदान छ।
फेरि सुदर्शनहरू हिजोको लास्ट गेम कन्टिनिउ गर्छन्। बीएम आइपुगिसकेको छैन। पानी पर्दैछ। पानीले रोकिएझैं छ। छाता अस्तिकै वर्ष हराएको हो उसको। यो पालि नयॉं छाता किनेको छैन अझ। योपालिको वर्षा त यतिकै छाता नकिनी बिताउन आँटेको छ। टुप्लुक्क आइपुग्नेछ निथ्रुक्क भिजेरै भए पनि बीएम। किनभने बीएम एडिक्ट छ घटनाहरूको। क्यारमको क्रेजी भएझैं। अटुट हुन्छ उसको गोजीमा खैनीको डिब्बा। उसको यहॉं अटुट हुनुझैं उसको खैनीको डिब्बा।
इतिहास पनि घरि-घरि दोहोरिन्छ हरेक घुम्तीको घुमाइसँगै बीएमको यहॉं घरि-घरिको हुनुझैं। कथाहरू बाङ्गिए पनि कथावस्तुहरू आफ्नो ठाउँ फेर्दैनन्। संवादको मृत्यु भइरहे पनि मान्छे बोल्नु छाड़्दैन नचाहिँदो शब्दहरू, निकम्मा वाक्यहरू र नंपुसक गालीहरू। अचानक कोठाबाहिर बीएमले मुख छाड़ेको सुनिन्छ। आइपुगेछ उ तर आज उ अघि नै मातेको हुनुपर्छ र नै यसरी उ कॉंचो गाली बक्दैछ। नमातेको हुँदो हो त उ भलाद्मीझैं सभ्य-सुसंस्कृत-शिष्ट भाषामा नै गाली दिन्थ्यो।
सूचना: त्यो शिष्ट भाषालाई हामी परिपक्व भाषाको रूपमा चिन्छौं।
(च)
नभिजेको मान्छे मात्र डराउँछ पानीदेखि। एकपल्ट भिजेका मान्छे घरघरबाट भिज्नै त निस्कन्छन् फेरिफेरि भिज्नुको मेलामा। उत्सवमा। स्थिति र घटनाहरूको वर्षामा नभिज्नुलाई मान्छेले छाता ओड़्न थाल्यो भने उ जिउँदै मर्दो रहेछ। अप्ठ्यारो र गाह्रोहरूमा हुन्छ मान्छे। लड़ाइँमै हुन्छ। गोटीहरू गोटीहरू मात्र रहन्छन् गेमअघि र गेमपछि बट्टाभित्र कैद। गेमै हो गोटीको गोटीपन।
(छ)
भित्तामा हुस्सेले ओसिएका पोस्टरहरू छन्। ती पोस्टरबाट हेर्दैछन्- भन्दैछन्- चिच्याउँदैछन् बिटल्सहरू। गाउँदैछन् राल्फाहरू। ओसिएर हुस्सेले भित्ताको चुना पनि सेतोबाट पहेंलोपहेंलो भएको छ।
पोस्टरहरूको र क्योलेण्डरहरूको भीड़मा आउन मान्दैन कुनै नयॉं विचार बोकेको यात्री। त्यसो र त्यही कोठाको कोठापन कोठाभरि गन्हाइबस्छ दिनभरि। रातभरि। मनभरि। चेतनाभरि।
(ज)
चोकमा बरालिएका कॉंचो मन्तव्यहरू-
-कमान उड़्ने नै छॉंट छ। लक-आउटको गतिलो ताला ग्रहणझैं लाग्नेछ छेल्दै आजलाई।
-अब फ्लोरिकल्चर गर्नुपर्छ। फूलको डिमाण्ड राम्रो छ।
-अब इकोटूरिज्म थाल्नुपर्छ।...
चोकमा झुण्डिएका नाङ्गो प्रश्नहरू-
-त्यहॉं त्यो झण्डा कसले गाड़्यो?
-त्यहॉं त्यो बराबरको चिनो कोर्ने को हो हँ?
-मेरो छातीलाई कसले कुल्च्यो?
-मेरो जिब्रो कसले थुत्यो?...
(झ)
फूल फूलै उभिनुपर्ने। फूल कुन्नि केजस्तै उभिरहेको छ। बिना कुनै नाम।
आगो आगो नै हुनुपर्ने। आगो कुन्नि केजस्तो जलिबसेको छ। बिना कुनै इज्जत।
न फूल फूलजस्तो छ। न आगो आगोजस्तो।
बिक्री भइसकेको अधिकारको लड़ाइँलाई उसले चियाउँछ संसदको अग्लो देवालभित्र। देख्दैन केही।
मूल सड़कमा हिनहिनाइरहेका छाड़ा घोड़ाका टापहरू सुनेर उ रक्सी खान पस्छ सबैभन्दा अँध्यारो गल्लीको सानो र सस्तो होटेलमा।
आउने पुस्ताबाट पैंचो मागेको ऋक्थको सम्पत्ति उड़ाएर इतिहासको हत्या गरेर फर्केको छ एउटा परास्त पुस्ता।
(ञ)
फूलमुन्तिर टुसुक्क बसेको छ एउटा कालो ढुङ्गा। त्यस ढुङ्गाको नाम जेसुकै होस्। त्यसको ढाड़मा कुँदिएको छ एउटा गति। आदिम मानवले पनि ओड़ारका भित्तामा गतिका स्थिर धर्काहरू कोरेका छन्। कुदिरहेका पशुहरू। कुदिरहेको शिकारी उ। कुदिरहेको शिकार उ।
कुदिरहेको गोटी बोर्डमा पस्यो अहिले भर्खरै। पस्नु अनिवार्य जो थियो। बीएम बसेकै पकेटमा। सञ्जीवको रैछ स्ट्राइक। जण्डा हुँदैछ है सञ्जीव पनि। पुरानै तर साह्रो शट थियो। सुदर्शन हारेछ यहॉं। मङ्गलेलाई मारेछ। यो शट नचलेको भए अरूले उसलाई खाने थिए। उ एक्लै बॉंच्यो अरूलाई खाएर।
चिया पनि फिका छ। फिका छन् हेराइहरू। र इन्स्टलमेण्टका टुक्रे बचाइहरू।
हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै।
हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै।
हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै।
पुनश्चः
यतिखेर नचिनिने- नदेखिने चेपचापहरूबाट भूपि शेरचन भन्दैछन्- पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला।
मान्छेहरू कान चिर्ने आइटम सङ्गमा नाच्दैछन् समझौताको उत्सव मनाउँदै। हातहातमा हारको नाममा जाम छ।
पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला। पाइताला। हामी फगत पाइताला।
भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै। भूपि शेरचन भनेका-भनेकै।
हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। हान्नेहरू बसेका छन्-छन्। हानिमाग्ने गोटीहरू। गोटीहरू चाहिँ कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै। कुदेका-कुदेकै।
क्यान्भसमा चियाबारी
कमल रेग्मी
चियाको पातसित
भाग्य चुँड्दैछन् निरमायाहरू।
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वाफ उड्दैछन् कपबाट चियाको।
पैसा फल्दैन रैछ चियाको बोटमा
छिया-छिया पार्दोरहेछ
जिन्दगी यसले।
अमिलिन्छन् निरमायाहरू।
चियाको हरियो जस्तै
सुकाउँछन् आफ्नो वर्तमान
निरमायाहरू
अरूकै लागि।
घरिघरि तलमाथि हुन्छ
जीवन निरमायाहरूको
चियाबारीजस्तै,
ताला लगाएर भाग्छ मालिक
निरमायाहरूको मुखमा।
जीवन चियाको बुट्टाजस्तै
निमुखा छ
अझ पनि निरमायाहरू
चुँड़ाइरहन्छन् आफ्नो अधिकार
चियाको पातसित।
चुँड्दाचुँड्दा
ठाउँ नै नरहेपछि पनि
चुँड़ाइरहन्छन् निरमायाहरू
जिन्दगीलाई छेउकुनाबाट
चियाको पातसित।
नयॉं मालिक आउँछ
कमानमा
तर नयॉं भोलि आएन
कहिल्यै निरमायाहरूको।
फेरि पनि चुँड़िरहन्छन्
आफ्नै खुशीहरू
चियाको पातसित।
टीभीमा
विज्ञापन हेर्दै चियाको
आफ्नो हालत
सुम्सुम्याउँछन्
चियाको बोट र आफ्नो जीवन
एउटैएउटै बुझ्छन् निरमायाहरू।
बजारमा
चियाको भाउ बुझ्छन्
र दुख्छन् बेस्सरी।
निरमायाका पसिनाहरू
मगमगाउँछ चियामा
तर जीवन
दुर्गन्ध डकारिरहन्छ
जमानासँग
फेरि पनि निरमायाहरू
चुँड़िरहन्छन्
आफ्नो भोलि
चियाको पातसित।
कस्तो राम्रो देखेको नी
निरमायाहरूले पत्ती टिपेको
त्यो चित्रकारको पोट्रेटमा।
फेस् टु फेस्
नोर्जाङ स्याङदेन
No corner of the world will be dark enought to hide in.
Mr.George W.Bush
(On terrorist after september 11 attack,11.10.2000)
तालिकावद्ध जस्तै छ
सॉंझको अँध्यारोमा एक्लै
एक बोतल पानी बोकेर जनशौचालयभित्र बसिरहनु।
बसिरहनु,गमिरहनु,घोत्लिरहनु
नपन्साएर व्याप्त अँध्यारोलाई
बालेर आफूसित भएको उज्यालोको कुनै साधन।
सायद यो अँध्यारोसित भन्दा अर्को कुनै अँध्यारोसित
म बढ़ी सरोकृत छु।
तालिकावद्ध जस्तै थियो
यस्तै सॉंझको अँध्यारोमा एक्लै
एक बोतल रक्सी बोकेर कतै कोठामा बसिरहनु
अब तन्देरी हुँदै गइरहेको बालकले
खेल्न छोड्दै गएको रिङगाड़ीहरू, डिबगोलीहरू।
यो जनशौचालयभित्रको अन्धकार
अनि यो अन्धकारभित्र एक्लै बसिरहेको म अनि मेरो अन्धकार।
उज्यालोमा देखिनै नमान्ने
यो चतुर, पाखण्डी एवं अम्पर्सनेट गर्ने झुटो इगो।
उज्यालोमा देख्नै नहुने
जताततै फ्यॉंकिएको मैलामिश्रित कागजका डल्लाहरू।
कठै? दार्जीलिङेहरूले कहिल्यै पानी चलाउन सिक्ने हुन्
अनि मान्छेले यो झुटो इगोलाई।
निष्पट्ट अन्धकारको निस्तब्धतामा
दिउँसोको व्यस्तमय बजार झैं देखिन्छ
यो कोलाहलमय मन।
सायद यस्तै अन्धकारमा जम्काभेट हुन्छ
आफूसित आफ्नै अन्धकार।
यो अन्धकारमा
यो निस्तब्धतामा
स्व-अववोधको चालकबिहीन टोही विमान
पठाएर दुश्मनको इलाकामा, गढ़हरूमा
म चिन्न खोज्छु क्लेश लुकेको ठाउँ
इगो लुकेको गुफा
अनि ध्वस्त गर्न खोज्छु
क्रेडिट कार्ड, आइडेन्टिटी कार्डका तोहराबोहरा पहाड़हरू।
पतित्व, पितृत्व अनि विभिन्न नामपछि
लुकेर बसेका इगोका झुटा पहिचानहरू।
सायद फर्कन खोज्छु स्वदेश
कुरूक्षेत्रबाट विजयी बनेर फर्किरहेका
एलाइड फोर्सका सैनिक भई
अथवा
धेरैवर्षको घमासानमा मारलाई परास्त गरेर
बोधिवृक्षबाट उठेका सिद्धार्थ गौतम भई।
आखिर बुशदेखि माथ्थि बुद्ध भएर
म पनि भन्न सकुँ कि......
(Sorce:http://kabyam.blogspot.com/)
किरिङमिरिङ र ठिटी कविता
मनोज वोगटी
मेरो कविता नितान्तै आजको ठिटीले पढ़ी
छक्क परी
आफैलाई पाएर
कवितामा।
हेर्नुस् त उ मेरो कविता पढ़िरहेकी छ
म उसको अनुहार पढ़िरहेको छु।
उसको अनुहारमा लेखिएको कविता जति सुन्दर
कस्सैको कविता छैन।
छोटो लुगा लगाएर
दार्जीलिङको मुटु घोंच्ने जाड़ोमा
कॉंपिरहेको कविता
ढुक्कैले पढ्छे उ।
नेपालीमा लेखिएको कविता पढ़ेर
खुशी भएको उ नै अहिलेको प्रथम ठिटी हो।
उसको उनुहारमा यो मैले पढ़ेको कविता हो।
वा हामीबीच कोरिएको नयॉं रेखा हो।
प्राइमेरीमा पढ़ेको नेपाली अक्षरको माया लाग्दो रहेछ
कि उसलाई।
कति छिटो छिर्यो एबीसीडी
उसको आमा बाबाको सपनामा कि
उसले प्राइमेरी नै छोड्यो।
टाई लगाएर पढ्न थालेको उसले आफूलाई अंग्रेजीमा
पाइन कि आफूलाई
र त मेरो कविता पढ्दैछे।
बुझिस् नेपाली कवितामा हाम्रो कुरा हुँदोरहेछ
सरर आउँदो रहेछ नक्सा हाम्रो मर्मको
नेपाली कवितामा परी पनि नेपाली नै हुँदोरहेछ
-उसले साथीलाई के भनेकी हो कुन्नी यसरी
साथीले पटक्कै बुझिन।
मैले भने बुझें
उ अन्तरेकी छोरी रहिछ।
एकदिन मलाई भेटेर भनी-
हाम्रो भेटको पनि कविता लेख्नुहोला।
अहिलेको जमानामा सोह्रबर्षे कलिली पाठक पाउनु
मेरो कविताले जीवनमा सबैभन्दा अच्चम्म मानेको कविता हो।
म अहिले त्यही कविता लेख्न खोज्दैछु
हेर्नुस्न नलेखिएको।
कति लरबरिएको मेरो कलम
यो नयॉं मातले।
म चहान्छु
मबाट उ अब नफर्कोस्।
नमेटियोस् यो रेखा।
हेर्नुस्न
छटपट्टिएको म
र कोरिएको किरिङमिरिङ।
No corner of the world will be dark enought to hide in.
(source: http://bogatibimba.blogspot.com)
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