Tamang murder: GJVM leader held
Amitava Banerjee, HT, Darjeeling, May 25, 2011 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made its first arrest in the Madan Tamang murder case on Wednesday. Dipen Maley, Spokesperson of the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJVM) – Youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was arrested from his residence at Pokhriabong in Darjeeling. Though the CBI preferred to remain tightlipped on this, the arrest has been confirmed by the Police
"On Monday morning the CBI had requisitioned police personnel. Backed by the Darjeeling police the CBI arrested Maley" confirmed Kunal Agarwal, Additional Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling.
Maley in his late 30's was driven in from Pokhriabong, around 30km from Darjeeling town to the Darjeeling Sadar police station at around 4pm. He is being lodged at the Sadar police station.
All India Gorkha League (AIGL) leader Madan Tamang was overseeing preparations for a public meeting on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside in Darjeeling when he was hacked to death allegedly by a mob at around 9:20am.
On the direction of the Calcutta High court the CBI on January 20, 2011 had taken up the Madan Tamang murder case and the mysterious disappearance of chief accused Nickol Tamang from CID custody.Pema Tamang, wife of Nickol Tamang had moved a Habeas Corpus in the Calcutta High Court demanding that the whereabouts of her husband be traced. Nickol had disappeared mysteriously from Pintal Village near Siliguri where he was being held by the CID for interrogation.
After having opened up camp offices in Darjeeling and Siliguri, the CBI begun investigations.
The division bench of Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice A K Ray had directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigations on June 23.
"On Monday morning the CBI had requisitioned police personnel. Backed by the Darjeeling police the CBI arrested Maley" confirmed Kunal Agarwal, Additional Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling.
Maley in his late 30's was driven in from Pokhriabong, around 30km from Darjeeling town to the Darjeeling Sadar police station at around 4pm. He is being lodged at the Sadar police station.
All India Gorkha League (AIGL) leader Madan Tamang was overseeing preparations for a public meeting on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside in Darjeeling when he was hacked to death allegedly by a mob at around 9:20am.
On the direction of the Calcutta High court the CBI on January 20, 2011 had taken up the Madan Tamang murder case and the mysterious disappearance of chief accused Nickol Tamang from CID custody.Pema Tamang, wife of Nickol Tamang had moved a Habeas Corpus in the Calcutta High Court demanding that the whereabouts of her husband be traced. Nickol had disappeared mysteriously from Pintal Village near Siliguri where he was being held by the CID for interrogation.
After having opened up camp offices in Darjeeling and Siliguri, the CBI begun investigations.
The division bench of Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice A K Ray had directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigations on June 23.
Investigation Chronicle
1. May 23, 2010: CID takes charge of investigations.
2. August 30, 2010 : CID submits a 519 page charge sheet naming 30 persons and 61 witnesses. 8 persons previously arrested.
3. August 16, 2010: Bimal Gurung’s close confidant and GJM Central Committee member Nickol Tamang arrested based on his cell phone being recovered from the murder spot on day of murder.
4. August 18, 2010: CID pray for remand of Nickol Tamang. 12 days remand granted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Darjeeling.
5. August 21, 2010: Nickol disappears mysteriously from Pintal Village near Siliguri where he was being held by the CID for interrogation. Apparently escapes from the skylight adjacent to the washroom.
6. August 24, 2010: CID announces Rs. 50,000/- award for credible information of Nickol Tamang’s whereabouts.
7. November 4, 2010 : Nickol’s property attached.
8. January 20, 2011: The case is later transferred to the CBI.
मदन हत्याकाण्ड मामिलामा युवा मोर्चा प्रवक्ता दिपेन माले सीबीआईद्वारा पक्राउ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25मई। अखिल भारतीय गोर्खालीग
का नेता मदन तामङको हत्याको आरोपमा सीबीआईले दार्जीलिङ पुलिसको सहयोगमा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाका एक कार्यकर्तालाई पक्राउ गरेको छ। मदन तामङको हत्यापछि आरोप सोझै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चालाई लागेको थियो भने मोर्चा कै केन्द्रिय समिति सदस्य निकोल तामङले सीआईडी कै कस्डटीबाट सुइँकुच्चा ठोकिसकेका छन् | सीआईडीले हत्याराहरूलाई पक्राउ गर्न नसकेपछि अनि पक्रा परेका निकोल तामङलाई पनि हातैबाट गुमाएपछि लीगले साआईडीको विश्वास गर्न छोड़ेको थियो। यसैकारण मदन हत्याकाण्डको जॉंच कार्य सीबीआईले गर्नुपर्ने माग लीगले गरेको थियो।
सीबीआईले पनि अहिलेसम्म यसमुद्दालाई
लिएर केही गर्न सकेको थिएन।विस्तारैसाबीआईले आफ्नो करामत देखाउन शुरू गरिरहेको छ।
आज मदन तामङको हत्याकाण्डको दोषीकोरूपमा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको भातृ सङ्गठन गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाका प्रवक्ता दिपेन मालेलाई पोख्रेबुङस्थित तिनको घरबाट नै पक्राउ गरिएको छ। दार्जीलिङका एएसपी कुनाल अग्रवालले मालेको पक्राउको जानकारी दिएका छन् । मालेलाई सदर थानामा राखिएको छ। हाइकोर्टको निर्देश अनुसार मदन तामङ हत्याकाण्डको जॉंचको जिम्मा सीबीआईलाई जनवरी २०११को दिन दिइएको थियो। यसैकारण सिलगढ़ी अनि दार्जीलिङमा क्याम्प राखेर सीबीआईले जॉंच पक्रिया अघि बढ़ाइरहेको छ। सीबीआईले जॉंचको रिपोर्ट मुख्य न्यायधिस जे एन पटेल अनि न्याधिस् के रोयको निर्देशनमा हाइकोर्टलाई २३ जुनभित्र बुझाउनुपर्ने छ।
यता यसै मामिलाका दोषी निकोल तामङ लापत्ता बनेका छन् भने तिनको स्वास्नी पेमा तामङले निकोलको फिर्ताको गुहार हाइकोर्टमा नै लगाएकी छन् ।
मदन तामङको हत्या २१ मई २०१०को दिन दार्जीलिङको क्लबसाइटमा विहान ९.३०मा भएको थियो। त्यसपछि २३ मईको दिन मुद्दाको छानबीनको जिम्मा सीआईडीले लिएको थियो। सीआईडीले ३० अगस्तको दिन छानबीनको ५१९ पन्ने चार्जसिट जारी गरिसकेको छ जसमा मोर्चाका ३० जना कार्यकर्ता अनि ६१ जना गवाहीको नाम उल्लेख छ। जसमा ८ जनालाई अहिलेसम्म पक्राउ गरिसकेको छ।
Headllines: KalimNews
का नेता मदन तामङको हत्याको आरोपमा सीबीआईले दार्जीलिङ पुलिसको सहयोगमा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाका एक कार्यकर्तालाई पक्राउ गरेको छ। मदन तामङको हत्यापछि आरोप सोझै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चालाई लागेको थियो भने मोर्चा कै केन्द्रिय समिति सदस्य निकोल तामङले सीआईडी कै कस्डटीबाट सुइँकुच्चा ठोकिसकेका छन् | सीआईडीले हत्याराहरूलाई पक्राउ गर्न नसकेपछि अनि पक्रा परेका निकोल तामङलाई पनि हातैबाट गुमाएपछि लीगले साआईडीको विश्वास गर्न छोड़ेको थियो। यसैकारण मदन हत्याकाण्डको जॉंच कार्य सीबीआईले गर्नुपर्ने माग लीगले गरेको थियो। सीबीआईले पनि अहिलेसम्म यसमुद्दालाई
लिएर केही गर्न सकेको थिएन।विस्तारैसाबीआईले आफ्नो करामत देखाउन शुरू गरिरहेको छ।आज मदन तामङको हत्याकाण्डको दोषीकोरूपमा गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाको भातृ सङ्गठन गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाका प्रवक्ता दिपेन मालेलाई पोख्रेबुङस्थित तिनको घरबाट नै पक्राउ गरिएको छ। दार्जीलिङका एएसपी कुनाल अग्रवालले मालेको पक्राउको जानकारी दिएका छन् । मालेलाई सदर थानामा राखिएको छ। हाइकोर्टको निर्देश अनुसार मदन तामङ हत्याकाण्डको जॉंचको जिम्मा सीबीआईलाई जनवरी २०११को दिन दिइएको थियो। यसैकारण सिलगढ़ी अनि दार्जीलिङमा क्याम्प राखेर सीबीआईले जॉंच पक्रिया अघि बढ़ाइरहेको छ। सीबीआईले जॉंचको रिपोर्ट मुख्य न्यायधिस जे एन पटेल अनि न्याधिस् के रोयको निर्देशनमा हाइकोर्टलाई २३ जुनभित्र बुझाउनुपर्ने छ।
यता यसै मामिलाका दोषी निकोल तामङ लापत्ता बनेका छन् भने तिनको स्वास्नी पेमा तामङले निकोलको फिर्ताको गुहार हाइकोर्टमा नै लगाएकी छन् ।मदन तामङको हत्या २१ मई २०१०को दिन दार्जीलिङको क्लबसाइटमा विहान ९.३०मा भएको थियो। त्यसपछि २३ मईको दिन मुद्दाको छानबीनको जिम्मा सीआईडीले लिएको थियो। सीआईडीले ३० अगस्तको दिन छानबीनको ५१९ पन्ने चार्जसिट जारी गरिसकेको छ जसमा मोर्चाका ३० जना कार्यकर्ता अनि ६१ जना गवाहीको नाम उल्लेख छ। जसमा ८ जनालाई अहिलेसम्म पक्राउ गरिसकेको छ।
Headllines: KalimNews
CBI arrested GJYM spokesperson Dipen Maley in Madan Tamang’s assassination case today from Pokhriabong. Malay GJM's youth wing Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha's spokesperson was arrested with the help of Darjeeling police. After the handover of the case from CID to CBI, it is the first arrest.
West Bengal cabinet decided to talk with the three hill MLAs on 26 May. Possibly Bimal Gurung will accompany them.
Mamta rejected statehood demand of GJM as out of question.
200 crores is granted for the development of North Bengal.
The Railway Board has decided to lower the age-limit for availing concession from 60 years to 58 years for women senior citizens. The concession will remain at 50 per cent.
1 held in Madan case
TT, Darjeeling, May 25: The CBI detained a Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha leader today in connection with the murder of ABGL leader Madan Tamang.
Dipen Mallay, a central committee member of the Yuva Morcha, was picked up from Pokhriabong, 25km from Darjeeling. A senior police officer said: “The CBI team wanted to examine the person. After examination if the team thinks that he should be arrested, he could be or else, he might be let off and asked to report to the police station on given days.”
Mallay’s name does not figure in the list of 30 people named in the chargesheet filed by the CID that investigated the case earlier. The CBI is also investigating the disappearance of Nickole Tamang, the prime accused in the murder case.
Road blocked
TT, Islampur: Residents of Islampur blocked NH31 at Millanpally on Wednesday protesting the bad condition of the road. The blockade was withdrawn after a deputy magistrate assured the protesters that necessary steps would be taken to repair the highway.
College attack
TT, Balurghat: Supporters of the SFI allegedly ransacked the principal’s chamber at Balurghat College on Wednesday when they were asked to shift their camp office from the campus. Earlier, members of the Chhatra Parishad and the TMCP had protested the setting up of the camp office by the SFI on the campus. They had also asked the principal to remove the office that they thought was causing inconveniences to the students. Principal Batakrishna Pal, however, said the issue had been settled and no untoward incidents had occurred so far.
Cash snatched
TT, Balurghat: A gang of youths snatched Rs 37,455 from a field officer of a micro finance company at Sahidpur on Tuesday night. Police said Biplab Das was travelling towards Harirampur from Itahar on a motorcycle when he was waylaid by the youths. Holding him at gun point, the robbers snatched the money and fled. The police said an investigation was on.
ममताले स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड बनाउने हो भने दार्जीलिङलाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्छ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25मई। गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दामाथि खासै कुनै चासो नराखेपनि बङ्गालका मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले तीनमहिनाभित्रमा नै दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान गर्ने बताएकी छन्। तिनले तोकेको मियादमा एक महिना त सकिनै लागेको छ भने अब ममतासित दुइ महिना चोखो रहेको छ। ममताले दार्जीलिङ स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड बनाउने प्रतिश्रुति दिइसकेकी छन्। सॉंच्चै ममताले दार्जीलिङलाई स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड नै बनाउँछन् भने दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्छ-आज कालेबुङ कृषक कल्याण सङ्गठनको तर्फबाट मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीलाई यसै सम्बन्धमा महकुमा अधिकारी मार्फत ज्ञापन बुझाएपछि सङ्गठनका सचिव विष्णु छेत्रीले भने।
भारत सरकारले देशभरिका पर्यटकीय नगरहरूलाई पर्यानगरमा रुपान्तर गर्दै त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गर्ने योजना बनाएको छ, तिनले भने, दार्जीलिङ पनि एक विश्वविख्यात पर्यटकीय जिल्ला हो। कालेबुङ, दार्जीलिङ, खरसाङ अनि मिरिक गरी जिल्लाको तीनवटा क्षेत्र नै पर्यटकीय नगरहरू हुन्। यी नगरहरूमा रहेका आर्थिक सम्भावनाहरूको विकासको निम्ति नै जिल्लालाई नै इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्ने माग गरिएको छ। तिनले यही माग वामफ्रण्ट सरकारसित पनि गरेको तर वामफ्रण्ट सरकार दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई लिएर संवेदनशील नरहेकोले कुनै काम हुन नसकेको बताए। तिनले भने, केन्द्र दार्जीलिङको हरेकक्षेत्रको विकासको निम्ति संवेदनशील छ, अबको राज्य सरकार पनि यस्तै संवेदनशील रहेको हामीले विश्वास गरेका छौं। यसकारण ममता व्यनर्जीको सरकारले पहाड़को विकासको निम्ति यस्ता खाले फाइदाकारी योजनाहरूलाई कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याउने आशा गरिएको छ।
10 औं पञ्चवर्षिय योजनाले नै पर्यटकीय नगरहरूलाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टमा हालेर त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गरिनुपर्ने योजना निर्माण गरिसकेको छ जसलाई अहिले वराणसी, बृन्दावन, मधुराई, शिलङ अनि तिरूपति जस्ता पर्यटकीय नगरहरूमा कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याइएको छ। यो योजनाले यस क्षेत्रको पर्यटनीय क्षेत्रको संरक्षण गर्ने छ भने नगरहरूको सुन्दरीकरण, बाटो, बिजुली पानी अनि आधारभुत पुर्वधारहरूको विकासलाई बलप्रदान गर्छ, जसबाट रोजगारका अवसरहरू निर्माण हुनेछन्। छेत्रीले नगरलाई पर्यानगरमा रुपान्तर गरेर त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गर्न वहाली गरिनुपर्ने सम्पूर्ण योजनाहरू यसैभित्र रहेकोले यसलाई प्राथमिकता दिए ममताको स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड नै बनिने पनि बताए। तिनले सङ्गठनले अहिले सरकारलाई पॉंचबुँदे माग राख्दै आइरहेको बताउँदै प्रथम नै जिल्लालाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्ट भित्र हाल्ने बुँदा रहेको बताए। तिनले जनाए अनुसार यसबाहेकपनि दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई स्पेशल इकोनोमिक जोन फर हर्टिकल्चरकोरूपमा घोषित गरिनुपर्ने,टेम्प्रेट हर्टिकल्चर रिसर्च एण्ड डेभलोपमेन्ट सेन्टर जिल्लामा स्थापना गरिनुपर्ने, चिया-सिन्कोना अनि राजमार्ग क्षेत्रका निवासीहरूलाई किनारीकृत कृषक घोषित गरेर उनीहरूलाई पर्चापट्टा दिइनुपर्ने अनि बीपीएलको दर्जा दिइनुपर्ने, चिया श्रमिकहरूको रोज निम्नतम 130 हुनुपर्ने, दार्जीलिङमा ग्रामीण-कृषि उद्योगको स्थापना हुनुपर्ने अनि गैरसरकारी क्षेत्रमा कार्य गर्ने(जस्तै होटल,वाहन चालक)हरूलाई बीपीएलको दर्जा दिएर उनीहरूलाई वीमा र पेन्सनको सुविधा दिइनुपर्ने रहेको छ।
More funds for north
TT, Calcutta, May 25: The state government today decided to raise by Rs 140 crore the annual allocation for the North Bengal Development Council.
The cabinet has decided to raise the council’s budget from Rs 60 crore to Rs 200 crore. A budget of Rs 60 crore for the six north Bengal districts was too meagre,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee said.
She said that although the state had a “debt of over Rs 2 lakh crore”, her government would not compromise on development.
The chief minister said the additional funds would be provided from the state government’s coffers.
Government sources said north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, under the guidance of the chief minister, would supervise the utilisation of the funds.
It was also decided today that the council would be “extensively overhauled and restructured”.
Debaprasad Roy, the Congress MLA from Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar who was a member of the council, said: “It is good that additional funds have been allocated for the North Bengal Development Council. It will go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the people of north Bengal.”
Mamata said she would meet Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders tomorrow to discuss the hill situation. “We believe in dialogue. We are ready to talk to everyone. They (the Morcha) wrote to me requesting a meeting after their three MLAs are sworn in tomorrow. I have asked them to come over,” the chief minister said.
Asked if Morcha chief Bimal Gurung was expected to attend the meeting, Mamata said: “I think so. In their letter, they mentioned something about their leader (Gurung) coming along.”
State government sources said the Morcha would “receive maximum possible co-operation” but the party’s statehood demand “would remain out of question”
Maoists, Naxal outfits observe Naxalbari day
Caesar Mandal, TNN , May 25, 2011,KOLKATA: Different Naxal organisations including outlawed CPI(Maoist) observed 45th Naxalbari Day on Wednesday commemorating the Naxalbari peasants uprise in 1967 in a small area of north Bengal.
Intelligence officers fear that Maoist guerrillas may strike in different parts of their strong holds spread over central and eastern India to commemorate the 'martyrs' of Naxalbari.
In 1967, Naxalbari peasants uprising led by Charu Mazumdar gave birth to the Left wing extremism in India. After Mazumdar's death, his party CPI(ML) was divided into several factions. One among those splinter groups, Peoples War Group continued arms struggle against the state and converted their group into CPI(Maoist) after merger with the Maoist Communist Center. The outfit is now the most powerful leftist insurgent group in South Asia. It has killed 1532 police personnel in the last five years and looted more than 2500 shophisticated weapons from the state forces.
Among overground Naxal parties that participate in electoral politics - CPI(Ml) New Democracy, CPI(ML) Janashakti and five other groups- are observing the day at Naxalbari today. "Like previous years, we have gathered at Bengaijote village where peasants were gunned down in police firing in 1967. We will pay tribute to our martyrs and other slain leaders," said Nathuram Biswas, on behalf of the Sahid Smriti Committee at Naxalbari.
Maoists are observing the day in their different forest bases in Dandyakaranya, Jharkhand and Orissa. Security Forces have started special vigil at all Maoist hit areas to prevent any untoward incident.
West Bengal cabinet decided to talk with the three hill MLAs on 26 May. Possibly Bimal Gurung will accompany them.
Mamta rejected statehood demand of GJM as out of question.
200 crores is granted for the development of North Bengal.
The Railway Board has decided to lower the age-limit for availing concession from 60 years to 58 years for women senior citizens. The concession will remain at 50 per cent.
1 held in Madan case
TT, Darjeeling, May 25: The CBI detained a Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha leader today in connection with the murder of ABGL leader Madan Tamang.
Dipen Mallay, a central committee member of the Yuva Morcha, was picked up from Pokhriabong, 25km from Darjeeling. A senior police officer said: “The CBI team wanted to examine the person. After examination if the team thinks that he should be arrested, he could be or else, he might be let off and asked to report to the police station on given days.”
Mallay’s name does not figure in the list of 30 people named in the chargesheet filed by the CID that investigated the case earlier. The CBI is also investigating the disappearance of Nickole Tamang, the prime accused in the murder case.
Road blocked
TT, Islampur: Residents of Islampur blocked NH31 at Millanpally on Wednesday protesting the bad condition of the road. The blockade was withdrawn after a deputy magistrate assured the protesters that necessary steps would be taken to repair the highway.
College attack
TT, Balurghat: Supporters of the SFI allegedly ransacked the principal’s chamber at Balurghat College on Wednesday when they were asked to shift their camp office from the campus. Earlier, members of the Chhatra Parishad and the TMCP had protested the setting up of the camp office by the SFI on the campus. They had also asked the principal to remove the office that they thought was causing inconveniences to the students. Principal Batakrishna Pal, however, said the issue had been settled and no untoward incidents had occurred so far.
Cash snatched
TT, Balurghat: A gang of youths snatched Rs 37,455 from a field officer of a micro finance company at Sahidpur on Tuesday night. Police said Biplab Das was travelling towards Harirampur from Itahar on a motorcycle when he was waylaid by the youths. Holding him at gun point, the robbers snatched the money and fled. The police said an investigation was on.
ममताले स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड बनाउने हो भने दार्जीलिङलाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्छ
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25मई। गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दामाथि खासै कुनै चासो नराखेपनि बङ्गालका मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले तीनमहिनाभित्रमा नै दार्जीलिङको समस्या समाधान गर्ने बताएकी छन्। तिनले तोकेको मियादमा एक महिना त सकिनै लागेको छ भने अब ममतासित दुइ महिना चोखो रहेको छ। ममताले दार्जीलिङ स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड बनाउने प्रतिश्रुति दिइसकेकी छन्। सॉंच्चै ममताले दार्जीलिङलाई स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड नै बनाउँछन् भने दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्छ-आज कालेबुङ कृषक कल्याण सङ्गठनको तर्फबाट मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीलाई यसै सम्बन्धमा महकुमा अधिकारी मार्फत ज्ञापन बुझाएपछि सङ्गठनका सचिव विष्णु छेत्रीले भने।
भारत सरकारले देशभरिका पर्यटकीय नगरहरूलाई पर्यानगरमा रुपान्तर गर्दै त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गर्ने योजना बनाएको छ, तिनले भने, दार्जीलिङ पनि एक विश्वविख्यात पर्यटकीय जिल्ला हो। कालेबुङ, दार्जीलिङ, खरसाङ अनि मिरिक गरी जिल्लाको तीनवटा क्षेत्र नै पर्यटकीय नगरहरू हुन्। यी नगरहरूमा रहेका आर्थिक सम्भावनाहरूको विकासको निम्ति नै जिल्लालाई नै इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टभित्र हालिनुपर्ने माग गरिएको छ। तिनले यही माग वामफ्रण्ट सरकारसित पनि गरेको तर वामफ्रण्ट सरकार दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई लिएर संवेदनशील नरहेकोले कुनै काम हुन नसकेको बताए। तिनले भने, केन्द्र दार्जीलिङको हरेकक्षेत्रको विकासको निम्ति संवेदनशील छ, अबको राज्य सरकार पनि यस्तै संवेदनशील रहेको हामीले विश्वास गरेका छौं। यसकारण ममता व्यनर्जीको सरकारले पहाड़को विकासको निम्ति यस्ता खाले फाइदाकारी योजनाहरूलाई कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याउने आशा गरिएको छ।
10 औं पञ्चवर्षिय योजनाले नै पर्यटकीय नगरहरूलाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्टमा हालेर त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गरिनुपर्ने योजना निर्माण गरिसकेको छ जसलाई अहिले वराणसी, बृन्दावन, मधुराई, शिलङ अनि तिरूपति जस्ता पर्यटकीय नगरहरूमा कार्यान्वयनमा ल्याइएको छ। यो योजनाले यस क्षेत्रको पर्यटनीय क्षेत्रको संरक्षण गर्ने छ भने नगरहरूको सुन्दरीकरण, बाटो, बिजुली पानी अनि आधारभुत पुर्वधारहरूको विकासलाई बलप्रदान गर्छ, जसबाट रोजगारका अवसरहरू निर्माण हुनेछन्। छेत्रीले नगरलाई पर्यानगरमा रुपान्तर गरेर त्यहॉं आर्थिक स्रोतहरूको विकास गर्न वहाली गरिनुपर्ने सम्पूर्ण योजनाहरू यसैभित्र रहेकोले यसलाई प्राथमिकता दिए ममताको स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड नै बनिने पनि बताए। तिनले सङ्गठनले अहिले सरकारलाई पॉंचबुँदे माग राख्दै आइरहेको बताउँदै प्रथम नै जिल्लालाई इकोसिटी प्रोजेक्ट भित्र हाल्ने बुँदा रहेको बताए। तिनले जनाए अनुसार यसबाहेकपनि दार्जीलिङ जिल्लालाई स्पेशल इकोनोमिक जोन फर हर्टिकल्चरकोरूपमा घोषित गरिनुपर्ने,टेम्प्रेट हर्टिकल्चर रिसर्च एण्ड डेभलोपमेन्ट सेन्टर जिल्लामा स्थापना गरिनुपर्ने, चिया-सिन्कोना अनि राजमार्ग क्षेत्रका निवासीहरूलाई किनारीकृत कृषक घोषित गरेर उनीहरूलाई पर्चापट्टा दिइनुपर्ने अनि बीपीएलको दर्जा दिइनुपर्ने, चिया श्रमिकहरूको रोज निम्नतम 130 हुनुपर्ने, दार्जीलिङमा ग्रामीण-कृषि उद्योगको स्थापना हुनुपर्ने अनि गैरसरकारी क्षेत्रमा कार्य गर्ने(जस्तै होटल,वाहन चालक)हरूलाई बीपीएलको दर्जा दिएर उनीहरूलाई वीमा र पेन्सनको सुविधा दिइनुपर्ने रहेको छ।
More funds for north
TT, Calcutta, May 25: The state government today decided to raise by Rs 140 crore the annual allocation for the North Bengal Development Council.
The cabinet has decided to raise the council’s budget from Rs 60 crore to Rs 200 crore. A budget of Rs 60 crore for the six north Bengal districts was too meagre,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee said.
She said that although the state had a “debt of over Rs 2 lakh crore”, her government would not compromise on development.
The chief minister said the additional funds would be provided from the state government’s coffers.
Government sources said north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, under the guidance of the chief minister, would supervise the utilisation of the funds.
It was also decided today that the council would be “extensively overhauled and restructured”.
Debaprasad Roy, the Congress MLA from Jalpaiguri’s Alipurduar who was a member of the council, said: “It is good that additional funds have been allocated for the North Bengal Development Council. It will go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the people of north Bengal.”
Mamata said she would meet Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders tomorrow to discuss the hill situation. “We believe in dialogue. We are ready to talk to everyone. They (the Morcha) wrote to me requesting a meeting after their three MLAs are sworn in tomorrow. I have asked them to come over,” the chief minister said.
Asked if Morcha chief Bimal Gurung was expected to attend the meeting, Mamata said: “I think so. In their letter, they mentioned something about their leader (Gurung) coming along.”
State government sources said the Morcha would “receive maximum possible co-operation” but the party’s statehood demand “would remain out of question”
Maoists, Naxal outfits observe Naxalbari day
Caesar Mandal, TNN , May 25, 2011,KOLKATA: Different Naxal organisations including outlawed CPI(Maoist) observed 45th Naxalbari Day on Wednesday commemorating the Naxalbari peasants uprise in 1967 in a small area of north Bengal.
Intelligence officers fear that Maoist guerrillas may strike in different parts of their strong holds spread over central and eastern India to commemorate the 'martyrs' of Naxalbari.
In 1967, Naxalbari peasants uprising led by Charu Mazumdar gave birth to the Left wing extremism in India. After Mazumdar's death, his party CPI(ML) was divided into several factions. One among those splinter groups, Peoples War Group continued arms struggle against the state and converted their group into CPI(Maoist) after merger with the Maoist Communist Center. The outfit is now the most powerful leftist insurgent group in South Asia. It has killed 1532 police personnel in the last five years and looted more than 2500 shophisticated weapons from the state forces.
Among overground Naxal parties that participate in electoral politics - CPI(Ml) New Democracy, CPI(ML) Janashakti and five other groups- are observing the day at Naxalbari today. "Like previous years, we have gathered at Bengaijote village where peasants were gunned down in police firing in 1967. We will pay tribute to our martyrs and other slain leaders," said Nathuram Biswas, on behalf of the Sahid Smriti Committee at Naxalbari.
Maoists are observing the day in their different forest bases in Dandyakaranya, Jharkhand and Orissa. Security Forces have started special vigil at all Maoist hit areas to prevent any untoward incident.
भाग्यले बॉंचे सुबास, जॉंकिए राजेन
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25मई। राष्ट्रिय राजमार्गमा एक चालकले चालकलाई नै छुरी हानेर हत्या गर्ने कोशिष गरेको अनि घाइते चालक भाग्यले बॉंचेको समाचार प्राप्त भएको छ। भाग्यले बॉंचेका चालकले रम्फू थानालाई दिएको बयान अनुसार घटना यसप्रकार रहेको छ। गान्तोकका यात्रीहरूलाई पुर्याउन इण्डिका(डब्ल्यु.बी.74 एस्, 0871)गाड़ी लिएर सिलगढ़ीका फुलेश्वरी निवासी चालक सुवास रोय गान्तोक आएका थिए। यात्रीहरू उतारेर तिनी आफ्नो गन्तव्यतिर फर्किरहेका थिए। जब बरदान भन्ने पैह्रेनी ठाउँमा तिनी पुगे, तिनले वाहनलाई धिमा गरे। बस् त्यही बेला पछिल्तिरबाट आइरहेको बोलेरो(एस.के 04 ए,0155)ले तिनको बाहनलाई जोरले धक्का दियो। जसको कारण तिनको बाहनको पछिल्लोभागमा आंशिक क्षति भयो। दुवैले वाहन रोके अनि भनाभन शुरू भयो। मामिला गर्मिने देखेर सुवास वाहनमा चढेर हिँड़े। पछिल्तिर बोलेरो पनि हिँड़िरहेको थियो। बोलेरोका चालक रम्फू निवासी लच्छु तामङ अनि तिनको सहयोगी लाक्पा तामाङलाई भनाभनले मात्र पुगेन। अनि उनीहरूले सुवासलाई नै ठेगानमा लगाइदिने योजना बुने।
लच्छुले रम्फूका साथी राजेन राईलाई योजनामा सामेल बनाउँदै तयार रहने निर्देश फोनबाट नै दिए। रम्फू गेटमा प्रवेशपास गर्दैगर्दा राजेन वाहनमा चढिसकेका थिए। त्यसपछि हुइकिएको बोलेरोले सुवासको इण्डिकालाई अन्धेरी झोड़ामा भेट्यो। लच्छुले बोलेरो इण्डिकाको अघि लगेर रोक्यो। सहयोगी लाक्पा बाहनबाट झरेर सुवासलाई भन्यो, तिम्रो गाड़ीको क्षतिपूर्ति दिनेरे। सुबास जसे आफ्नो बाहनबाट निस्किएर बोलेरोतर्फ बढ़े कसैले तिनलाई रडले प्रहार गर्यो। केही सोंच्न अघि नै फेरि कसैले तिनको भुँडीमा छुरीले प्रहार गर्यो। निष्प्राण बनेपछि सुवासलाई लच्छु, लाक्पा अनि राजेनले घिस्याउँदै सड़कमुनी फ्यॉंकी दियो। मरोस् नै भनेर उनीहरूले माथिबाट ढुङ्गामुड़ा पनि गर्यो। त्यसपछि इण्डिकालाई उनीहरूले टिस्टामा धेकेलेर डुबाइदियो। काम तमाम गरेर उनीहरू त्यहॉंबाट भागे। भगवानको दयाले सुवासको प्राण गएको थिएन। तिनी घस्रँदै रम्फु थाना पुगे अनि घटनाबारे वृतान्त बताए। सुवासलाई सिलगड़ीको कुनै अस्पतालमा भर्ना गरिएको छ। यो घटना 23 मईको दिन भएको थियो। घटनाको ठीक दुइदिनपछि रम्फू थाना अनि कालेबुङ थानाको अथक प्रयासपछि रम्फुका राजेन राईलाई भने राजमार्गमा आफ्नो बाहन सफा गर्दै गरेको अवस्थामा पक्राउ गरिएको छ। थाना सूत्रले बताए अनुसार अन्य दुइ दोषीहरूको खोजी कार्य पुलिसले तीब्र राखेको छ।
वामफ्रण्ट-गोरामुमोको राजनैतिक शक्तिको अन्तपछि अल्झियो ममतामा छत्रेहरूको आशा
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25 मई।गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाममा आन्दोलन गर्दै गोरामुमो प्रमुख सुवास घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई दागोपापसित बेचेको मन नपरेपछि छत्रे सुब्बाले भूमिगत सङ्गठन जीएलओ खोलेर त्यसको बिद्रोह गरे। तिनले भने, हुन्छ भने केवल गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुन्छ, अरू केही हुनेछैन। छत्रे सुब्बाको यही अड़ान मौकाखोरहरूको निम्ति बाटोको कॉंड़ा बन्यो।
10 वर्ष अघि 2001मा पङ्खाबारीको सातघुम्तीमा यात्रा गरिरहेका सुबास घिसिङमाथि गोली बर्षियो। घिसिङ घाइते बने। तिनका अङ्गरक्षकको मृत्यु भयो। त्यसपछि बङ्गाल प्रशासनले रौचिरा अभियान चाल्यो अनि भारत-नेपालको सिमानाबाट छत्रे सुब्बा पक्रा परे। दस वर्ष वित्यो तिनी अहिले पनि आफ्ना सहयोगीहरूसित नै जलपाइगुड़ी जेलमा छन्।कुनै चलचित्रको कथा जस्तै बितिरहेको छ छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको जेलजीवन। बङ्गालको न्यायपालिका यहीँ आएर गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति नरहेको प्रमाण बनिन्छ। किन भने जुन दोषमा छत्रे सुब्बाहरू जेलमा 10 वर्षदेखि सड़िरहेका छन्, त्यो दोष नै खुट्टिएको छैन। सुनवाईहरूका तारिकहरू जति सरे त्यति नै सर्यो छत्रेहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सपना पनि। जुन कारण उनीहरूलाई जेलमा थुनियो त्यसमाथि कानूनी छानबिन हुन दसवर्ष लाग्ने हो भने त्यसलाई अन्यायपालिका बाहेक केही भन्न सकिन्न।
सुवास घिसिङलाई गोली हानेको दोषमा पक्रा पर्ने छत्रेको अन्तिम गवाही सुबास घिसिङ स्वंयले नै यसमुद्दाबारे आफूलाई कुनै जानकारी नभएको अनि आफूले छत्रेले नै गोली हान्यो भनेर प्राथमिकी समेत दर्ता नगरेको बताएर बङ्गालले नै छत्रेहरूलाई कुनै महत कारणको निम्ति जेलमा सड़ाएर राखेको स्पष्ट पारे पनि छत्रेहरूको निम्ति कुनै पहल कसैले पनि गर्न सकेको छैन। सुवास घिसिङले पहाड़मा आफ्नो पकड़ भइञ्जेल कहिल्यै न्यायलयमा उभिएनन्। जब तिनी खेदुवा लागे तब न्यायलयमा उभिएर छत्रेहरूको दोष प्रमाणित गरेनन्।
छत्रेहरूबाट राजनैतिक फाइदा नदेखेपछि नै घिसिङले बङ्गालकै न्यायपालिकालाई ठेसपुग्ने गवाही दिएको अनुमान पनि गरिइएको छ। राजनैतिक शिविरबाट गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग गर्नेहरूलाई बङ्गालको दण्डकोरूपमा मिथक स्थापना गर्न अनि आन्दोलनकारीहरूलाई खबरदारी गराउने उदाहरण बनाउँदै छत्रेहरूलाई वामफ्रण्ट सरकारले जेलमा सड़ाएको आरोप छँदै छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रतिको मोह भङ्ग नभइ छत्रेहरूलाई उन्मुक्त गरिए गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई मागिखाने भॉंड़ो बनाउने दलहरू अनि वामफ्रण्ट सरकालाई नै खतरा हुनेभएकोले पनि जेलको हावा खुवाइरहेको पनि विश्लेषकहरूको अनुमान थियो। सुबास घिसिङ अनि वामफ्रण्ट सरकार अहिले दुवै नचल्ने दुवानी बन्यो। उसो भए के छत्रेहरूको उम्नुक्तिको सम्भावना छ त? अहिले यही प्रश्न उठिरहेको छ। यसप्रश्नलाई अझ बलियो बनाएको छ हाइकोर्टले केही दिन अघि यस मुद्दालाई दुइमहिनाभित्रमा नै समाधान गर्ने दिएको निर्देशले। छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सम्भावनालाई अझ प्रगाड़ बनाएको छ बङ्गालको प्रथम महिला मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले जेलजीवन बिताइरहेकाहरूको निम्ति शीघ्र नै बन्दीमुक्ति कमिटी बनाउने घोषणाले।
क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी, गणतान्त्रिक क्रान्तिकारी युवा मोर्चाले छत्रेहरूको मुद्दालाई राजनैतिक मामिला मान्दै राजनैतिक तौरले नै उनीहरूको उन्मुक्तिको निम्ति प्रमुखरूपले आवाज उठाइरहेको भए पनि केही हुन सकिरहेको छैन। यता गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले यसलाई कानूनी मामिला मान्दै तरङ्ग पण्डित अनि दिनेशचन्द्र राई जस्ता अधिवक्ताहरूलाई खटाएको भए पनि कुनै परिणति आएन। अब केवल ममता सरकारको उदारवादी नीतिमाथि नै छत्रे सुब्बाहरूले आशा लगाएर बसेका छन्। छत्रे सुब्बाको छोरा सन्तोष सुब्बाले भने, हाइकोर्टको निर्णयमा हामी आशावादी छौं। छत्रे सुब्बाकी स्वास्नी मनिका सुब्बाले पनि भनिन्, यो बङ्गालको कस्तो कानून हो जसले बिनादोष कसैलाई पनि 10 वर्ष जेलमा षड़ाउँछ? यो अन्याय हो। ममताको सरकारले मेरो लोग्नेलाई न्याय दिन्छ भन्ने आशा राखेकी छु।
यता सुब्बाहरूको सुनवाई 2 जुलाईको दिन छ। वामफ्रण्ट र गोरामुमोको सत्ता बिलिन भएपछि छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सम्भावना बढ़ेको सबै दलहरूले पनि अनुमान लगाइरहेको छ। छत्रे सुब्बासित नै जलपाइगुड़ी जेलमा शरण देवान, गुञ्जे लामा,विजय छेत्री, श्याम छेत्री अनि कुमार छेत्री रहेका छन्, जो ममता सरकारमा आशा राखेर बसेका छन्।
Malda Four resign from Cong - Hint of top brass joining Trinamul
TT, Malda, May 25: A district Congress vice-president and three general secretaries have resigned from the party and many more are threatening to do the same as the sway of the Khan Chowdhurys takes a beating in Malda.
मनोज वोगटी, कालिम्न्युज, कालेबुङ, 25 मई।गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाममा आन्दोलन गर्दै गोरामुमो प्रमुख सुवास घिसिङले गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई दागोपापसित बेचेको मन नपरेपछि छत्रे सुब्बाले भूमिगत सङ्गठन जीएलओ खोलेर त्यसको बिद्रोह गरे। तिनले भने, हुन्छ भने केवल गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुन्छ, अरू केही हुनेछैन। छत्रे सुब्बाको यही अड़ान मौकाखोरहरूको निम्ति बाटोको कॉंड़ा बन्यो।10 वर्ष अघि 2001मा पङ्खाबारीको सातघुम्तीमा यात्रा गरिरहेका सुबास घिसिङमाथि गोली बर्षियो। घिसिङ घाइते बने। तिनका अङ्गरक्षकको मृत्यु भयो। त्यसपछि बङ्गाल प्रशासनले रौचिरा अभियान चाल्यो अनि भारत-नेपालको सिमानाबाट छत्रे सुब्बा पक्रा परे। दस वर्ष वित्यो तिनी अहिले पनि आफ्ना सहयोगीहरूसित नै जलपाइगुड़ी जेलमा छन्।कुनै चलचित्रको कथा जस्तै बितिरहेको छ छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको जेलजीवन। बङ्गालको न्यायपालिका यहीँ आएर गोर्खाहरूको निम्ति नरहेको प्रमाण बनिन्छ। किन भने जुन दोषमा छत्रे सुब्बाहरू जेलमा 10 वर्षदेखि सड़िरहेका छन्, त्यो दोष नै खुट्टिएको छैन। सुनवाईहरूका तारिकहरू जति सरे त्यति नै सर्यो छत्रेहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सपना पनि। जुन कारण उनीहरूलाई जेलमा थुनियो त्यसमाथि कानूनी छानबिन हुन दसवर्ष लाग्ने हो भने त्यसलाई अन्यायपालिका बाहेक केही भन्न सकिन्न।
सुवास घिसिङलाई गोली हानेको दोषमा पक्रा पर्ने छत्रेको अन्तिम गवाही सुबास घिसिङ स्वंयले नै यसमुद्दाबारे आफूलाई कुनै जानकारी नभएको अनि आफूले छत्रेले नै गोली हान्यो भनेर प्राथमिकी समेत दर्ता नगरेको बताएर बङ्गालले नै छत्रेहरूलाई कुनै महत कारणको निम्ति जेलमा सड़ाएर राखेको स्पष्ट पारे पनि छत्रेहरूको निम्ति कुनै पहल कसैले पनि गर्न सकेको छैन। सुवास घिसिङले पहाड़मा आफ्नो पकड़ भइञ्जेल कहिल्यै न्यायलयमा उभिएनन्। जब तिनी खेदुवा लागे तब न्यायलयमा उभिएर छत्रेहरूको दोष प्रमाणित गरेनन्।
छत्रेहरूबाट राजनैतिक फाइदा नदेखेपछि नै घिसिङले बङ्गालकै न्यायपालिकालाई ठेसपुग्ने गवाही दिएको अनुमान पनि गरिइएको छ। राजनैतिक शिविरबाट गोर्खाल्याण्डको माग गर्नेहरूलाई बङ्गालको दण्डकोरूपमा मिथक स्थापना गर्न अनि आन्दोलनकारीहरूलाई खबरदारी गराउने उदाहरण बनाउँदै छत्रेहरूलाई वामफ्रण्ट सरकारले जेलमा सड़ाएको आरोप छँदै छ। गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रतिको मोह भङ्ग नभइ छत्रेहरूलाई उन्मुक्त गरिए गोर्खाल्याण्डलाई मागिखाने भॉंड़ो बनाउने दलहरू अनि वामफ्रण्ट सरकालाई नै खतरा हुनेभएकोले पनि जेलको हावा खुवाइरहेको पनि विश्लेषकहरूको अनुमान थियो। सुबास घिसिङ अनि वामफ्रण्ट सरकार अहिले दुवै नचल्ने दुवानी बन्यो। उसो भए के छत्रेहरूको उम्नुक्तिको सम्भावना छ त? अहिले यही प्रश्न उठिरहेको छ। यसप्रश्नलाई अझ बलियो बनाएको छ हाइकोर्टले केही दिन अघि यस मुद्दालाई दुइमहिनाभित्रमा नै समाधान गर्ने दिएको निर्देशले। छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सम्भावनालाई अझ प्रगाड़ बनाएको छ बङ्गालको प्रथम महिला मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीले जेलजीवन बिताइरहेकाहरूको निम्ति शीघ्र नै बन्दीमुक्ति कमिटी बनाउने घोषणाले।क्रान्तिकारी मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी, गणतान्त्रिक क्रान्तिकारी युवा मोर्चाले छत्रेहरूको मुद्दालाई राजनैतिक मामिला मान्दै राजनैतिक तौरले नै उनीहरूको उन्मुक्तिको निम्ति प्रमुखरूपले आवाज उठाइरहेको भए पनि केही हुन सकिरहेको छैन। यता गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले यसलाई कानूनी मामिला मान्दै तरङ्ग पण्डित अनि दिनेशचन्द्र राई जस्ता अधिवक्ताहरूलाई खटाएको भए पनि कुनै परिणति आएन। अब केवल ममता सरकारको उदारवादी नीतिमाथि नै छत्रे सुब्बाहरूले आशा लगाएर बसेका छन्। छत्रे सुब्बाको छोरा सन्तोष सुब्बाले भने, हाइकोर्टको निर्णयमा हामी आशावादी छौं। छत्रे सुब्बाकी स्वास्नी मनिका सुब्बाले पनि भनिन्, यो बङ्गालको कस्तो कानून हो जसले बिनादोष कसैलाई पनि 10 वर्ष जेलमा षड़ाउँछ? यो अन्याय हो। ममताको सरकारले मेरो लोग्नेलाई न्याय दिन्छ भन्ने आशा राखेकी छु।
यता सुब्बाहरूको सुनवाई 2 जुलाईको दिन छ। वामफ्रण्ट र गोरामुमोको सत्ता बिलिन भएपछि छत्रे सुब्बाहरूको उन्मुक्तिको सम्भावना बढ़ेको सबै दलहरूले पनि अनुमान लगाइरहेको छ। छत्रे सुब्बासित नै जलपाइगुड़ी जेलमा शरण देवान, गुञ्जे लामा,विजय छेत्री, श्याम छेत्री अनि कुमार छेत्री रहेका छन्, जो ममता सरकारमा आशा राखेर बसेका छन्।
Malda Four resign from Cong - Hint of top brass joining Trinamul
TT, Malda, May 25: A district Congress vice-president and three general secretaries have resigned from the party and many more are threatening to do the same as the sway of the Khan Chowdhurys takes a beating in Malda.
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| Netai Ghosh (left) and Hasan Ali Sha in Malda after resigning from the Congress. Picture by Surajit Roy |
All the four top-rung leaders, highly critical of the way the party is being run in Malda, particularly by the Khan Chowdhurys of Kotwali, are planning to join the Trinamul Congress.
They have alleged that A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s legacy has been ignored by his surviving family members. The Khan Chowdhurys have two Congress MPs and two MLAs in the family. While district Congress president Abu Hashem Khan Chowdhury is the MP from Malda South, his son Isha Khan is a newly elected MLA.
Abu Hashem’s brother Abu Naser is the MLA from Sujapur. Their niece Mausam Noor is the MP from Malda North.
On Sunday, district Congress vice-president Ashim Maitra had sent in his resignation to district president Abu Hashem.
In the next two days three influential general secretaries of the party, Hasan Ali Shah, Netai Ghosh and Fazlur Rehman resigned. Sources close to them said they would join Trinamul, decision that has been taken after discussions with Sabitri Mitra, minister and party MLA from Manikchak.
Maitra was not hesitant to take a dig at Kotwali.
“The present leadership has drifted from the ideals set by Barkatda (Ghani Khan). We cannot remain in the Congress any longer under the present situation. There are no movements, no effort to stand by party workers in times of need. Also, there is no talk about the lack of development in the district. Winning elections is the only big thing for them,” he said without naming district president Abu Hashem.
The three general secretaries too were highly critical of the district party president. “Those running the show are not knowledgeable and survive on sycophancy, there is no place for leaders who have the right to run the party. It is because of this that people like Gautam Chakrabarty and Sabitri Mitra joined Trinamul. Chakrabarty lost because of a dummy candidate fielded by our party in Malatipur facilitating a win for the RSP. Sabitri switched to Trinamul and won and she is now a minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet. We are not getting the right respect from the party leadership and that is why we have left the Congress,” said Hasan Ali Shah.
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| The Khan Chowdhurys’ residence in Malda. File picture |
Sources in the breakaway camp said Mitra’s selection as minister (in charge of the department of women and social welfare) had acted as a catalyst for the resignations. She is supposed to reach Malda tomorrow and formally induct these leaders into Trinamul.
“The people of Malda have elected two MPs from Kotwali. Two years have gone by and they are yet to deliver. Dalubabu has been an MP for five years now. He has done nothing. Instead, the Congress in the district has sunk down to favouritism and corruption. Both the MPs are either in Delhi or Calcutta. They are also not available on the phone. There are some sycophants who tell us to first speak to them before contacting Dalubabu. Can the party be run in this way? The Congress could win eight seats because of the wind of change that had been blowing. The district Congress has no credit for the victories,” said Rehman.
Abu Hashem, however, tried to put up a brave front when asked about the erosion.
“Those who are leaving the Congress have no public presence, they were our burden. If they go the party will not suffer. The people of Malda know them well enough, they are nothing but opportunists and that is why they are queuing up to join Trinamul,” he said.
He said if the Congress had no presence in the district, “how did eight MLAs win?”
“They have done nothing and are now blaming others. They have no support base. Malda will forever remain a strong Congress bastion.”
Tearful Deepa ready to give up MP post
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| Deepa Das Munshi in Raiganj on Wednesday. Picture by Nantu Dey |
TT, Raiganj, May 25: Congress MP Deepa Das Munshi today offered to resign from the Lok Sabha after party members accused her of causing an erosion in the credibility of the party by fielding dummy candidates against alliance nominees.
As she fielded questions from the block leaders, a tearful Deepa said she was willing to resign as the Raiganj MP. District president of the Congress and the MLA from Raiganj, Mohit Sengupta, who was also present at the discussion, was also accused of non-cooperation by a section of workers.
Deepa arrived at the Congress party office here from her Kaliaganj home around 11am. Among those present were the defeated candidates — those who contested as Independents with her backing — as well as organisational leaders.
The collapsible gate at the end of the stairs was locked to keep reporters at bay. However, with a loudspeaker being used by those making speeches, everything could be heard loud and clear by those waiting outside Mahatma Gandhi Bhavan on Station Road.
A speaker, who said he was from Hemtabad where Deepa had fielded Chittaranjan Roy against Trinamul’s Shekhar Roy, reminded her that she had not heeded their pleas to withdraw the rebel candidate. The CPM had won the seat because of it, he said.
“We had told her that the Congress is strong in Hemtabad and we had asked Boudi (Deepa) to try and request Trinamul (not to field a rebel), but she did not listen (to us),” the speaker said.
He said while campaigning for the rebel candidate, the anti-Left voters had branded him and the others “anti-alliance and power-hungry”.
“These voters lost faith in us and voted for the Left in anger. We lost the seat while trying to pander to the egos of senior leaders,” he said.
The defeated Congress rebel candidate from Islampur, Kanhaialal Agarwal, said that he had contested the polls against Trinamul’s Chowdhury Abdul Karim to “keep the confidence of the Congress workers in Islampur intact”.
“I filed my nomination after being told to do so by Boudi. But after that the district leadership in her presence announced that we were being expelled by the party. This dichotomy destroyed the morale of our workers. I also did not get the help of the district Congress president,” said Agarwal, who is the chairperson of the Islampur municipality.
Deepa, in her speech at the end of the meeting, said: “My husband, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, is ailing. I have done what he would have, had he been active, to keep the party strong in the district.
“I have entered politics under his tutelage. From the panchayat level to the Lok Sabha level, the Congress has always been strong here. When the seats were being distributed we noticed that many of our strong seats had not been given to the Congress and there was resentment among our workers there. In order to keep our organisation intact we fielded Independents after consulting leaders in the district. Now it seems, after hearing you all, that I was wrong,” Deepa said before choking in tears.
After gathering herself, she said that she was admitting her mistake.
“If you think the party suffered because of me, I will resign from my Lok Sabha membership. There are some in our party who are openly saying that I have taken money from the CPM to try and break the alliance. Let them not stab me in the back let them say this on my face. But I will request you to make our party even stronger in the coming days,” she said before walking out of the building at 4.15pm.
Bhaichung’s Delhi boys train in Gangtok
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| Bhaichung Bhutia: Eyes on new goal |
TT, Gangtok, May 25: Seventeen boys from Bhaichung Bhutia football schools in New Delhi are honing their skills at Paljor Stadium, which will become the hub of the soccer player’s post-retirement programmes.
With its newly laid artificial turf, Paljor Stadium will be the base of United Sikkim, the football club co-owned by Bhaichung, from June. It will also be a camp for the summer training of players from his three football schools in New Delhi.
Besides, the Indian football captain is also planning to establish a soccer academy within the 30km radius of the state capital.
Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) had been set up in New Delhi last November and have currently 150 students aged between five and 19. Bhaichung has tied up with a Portuguese football academy, run by Carlos Queiroz, the 2010 World Cup coach for Portugal and the present coach of the Iranian football team, to train the budding talents.
A 22-member team, including four coaches, from the three schools arrived here on Monday for the weeklong residential camp. Among the four coaches, two are from Portugal — Jose Tavares and Guilherme Faria.
“We have come here for a weeklong residential camp as our boys have summer vacations back in Delhi. Our boys will get an opportunity to practise for two sessions daily on an artificial turf in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the country. We don’t have artificial turf in Delhi and our boys learn football skills only after school hours thrice a week,” said BBFS director Kishore Taid.
The agreement with Queiroz stipulates that two coaches from the Portugal academy have to be present in the schools throughout the year, along with 16 Indian coaches.
Sikkim sports secretary Karma P. Bhutia said ten football coaches from his department and various clubs in Gangtok would attend the camp from tomorrow. “Seven kids from Namchi sports hostel run by the sports department are also joining the camp with BBFS kids. Another group of kids will start the session tomorrow,” he said.
According to Farai, the camp in Gangtok will provide a unique experience to play on an artificial turf in a cool climate.
“Since we are getting enough hours to practise in such cool climate, we want our boys to play as a team so that their skills can be improved in a competitive environment. The Sikkimese boys will also get to know a different training methodology. It’s a great ground here,” said Faria.
Taid said they would come back here every summer with more kids from the BBFS. “We are planning to open 10 schools in a couple of years all over the country,” he added.
Talented kids from the schools will be sent to Gangtok for trials in the United Sikkim football club which had recently played in the second division I-League.
The club will set up a base in Gangtok in June with a new team led by Bhaichung and Rennedy Singh. The duo will arrive in Gangtok tomorrow to play for United Sikkim in an exhibition match against Ministers’ XI to mark the inauguration of the artificial turf at Paljor Stadium on May 28.
The chief minister, Pawan Chamling, is scheduled to inaugurate the turf laid at a cost of Rs 3.77 crore.
Ponds dug in forest for animals- Dolomite pollutes natural water sources
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| Ponds dug up at Sursuti (top) and Moraghat. Pictures by Biplab Basak |
TT, Jalpaiguri, May 25: Foresters have excavated ponds in the sanctuaries bordering the Bhutan hills to provide alternative water sources to animals as the streams originating from the neighbouring country are contaminated.
Eight ponds have been dug in the Gorumara National Park, Chapramari wildlife sanctuary and the forests adjoining Jaldapara.
With the streams and rivers getting contaminated by dolomite mined in the Bhutan hills, the wild animals had been left without any source to drink and bathe.
The divisional forest officer of Jalpaiguri, Kalyan Das, said the tanks had been excavated at eight sites in Moraghat, Lataguri, Panijhora, Bandapani, Kalapani and Neora. The excavations began in October last year with funds sanctioned under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
“We are going to start work on about six more such tanks in the forests. An adult elephant drinks about 250 to 300 litres of water a day during the summer. We have observed that the animals not only refrained from drinking water from the streams but also stopped taking bath. Moreover, many streams dry up during the summer and the tanks will provide uninterrupted supply of water,” said the DFO.
Das said the North Bengal University’s geography department had carried out a survey about three years back of the streams and rivers that flow down from Bhutan to determine the level of dolomite contamination.
“The report was submitted to us about eight months back and the findings were very alarming. We have been keeping a watch on the animals, particularly elephants, bison, rhino and deer and observed that they were straying out of the forests in search of fresh water sources.”
The study conducted by Subir Sarkar found that streams and rivers like Diana, Murti, Hollong, Bandapani, Kalapani, Chapramari, Panijhora and Garati were highly contaminated by the dolomite mined in Bhutan. The mineral is used to smelt iron.
The foresters are elated that the animals are using the ponds, each spread over six-seven hectares with depth ranging between 20 and 40 feet.
“Herds of about 20-30 elephants are regularly using the tanks in Lataguri, Moraghat, Kalapani and Bandapani. Bison were also spotted drinking water from the new tanks.We will dig ponds on the edge of the forests also so that animals do not stray into human habitats. The forest department is working with the public health engineering department and the North Bengal University to find out means to harvest rain water in the forests,” said Das.
Expert tips to reduce gender crimes
TT, Alipurduar, May 25: The government has taken an initiative to introduce “gender protocol” in all the 55 correctional homes of Bengal, the first-of-its-kind initiative in the state.
Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, an expert on gender issues, has been invited by the government to tour the correctional homes and sensitise the prison staff and the inmates to gender crimes and help frame the protocol. The prison staff will be tipped on how to reintegrate the perpetrators into the mainstream as better persons and also on how to rehabilitate the family members of the accused.
“The protocol is being introduced on the basis of an order issued this month by the state additional director general of correctional services. The idea is to sensitise the accused and the staff to gender crimes, how to reduce such crimes and make them aware of gender equality,” said Kaml Mukherkjee, the additional deputy inspector-general of correctional services (north).
Mitra Chaudhury has started her tour on May 15 with the Darjeeling district. After her visit to Alipurduar Special Correctional Home this weekend, she is now in Cooch Behar. She is expected to deliver 100 lectures in 55 homes of the state.
Every lecture session will be followed by nearly 10 hours of “class work”.
By June 15, Mitra Chaudhury is expected to cover Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, North and South Dinajpurs and Murshidabad.
“The main aim of the project is mainstreaming of the prisoners as well as creating an environment for social reintegration of prisoners. I started with Darjeeling because it is a strife area, there are development issues (involved), agitation and restlessness. I took classes on Saturday and Sunday at Alipurduar Correctional Home. There I saw mainly two groups of prisoners linked to gender crimes. One is rape accused while the other group was involved in domestic violence: They were either involved in bride burning or witch hunting or killing of woman for property. Most of the prisoners belong to the tribal community,” said Mitra Chaudhuri, the chairperson of the Institute for Gender Justice.
Mitra Chaudhuri also said the literacy and the income levels of these accused were very low, some of the reasons for their involvement in trafficking or witch hunting.
She said most of the time, the accused were little aware of the punishments that could be meted out to them and committed the crimes for a paltry sum.
“But again when they go back home after getting bail, they are ostracised, they told me so. I tried to make them understand what legal literacy was and how they should change their mind set. I told them not to commit anything illegal after going back home and how to fight the situation.”
The expert said she also saw children above six years with their mothers in prison while the law says they should be going to school. “Children above six should not be allowed to stay in prison. They should be like normal kids, going to school.”
The “surprise and shock” for Mitra Chaudhuri was that little was done to “correct” prisoners at the correctional home. “Officials have no knowledge about correction. There is no gender sensitivity, no discussion about the rehabilitation of the family members of the prisoners, nobody thinks about the condition of the children inside the home. The prisoners told me that this is the first time somebody interacted with them with an open mind. Gender justice is a key word internationally and the laws to attain this justice have to be followed.”
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