Rs 1500cr wish for hills - ‘Full & final consensus’ reached on all issues except finances.... Dooars bandh.. Nim Tshering dons United Sikkim captain jersey... ममता नै जानुन्‌-विमल.... विमल नाथुलाको भ्रमणमा.... Sikim youth arrested for murder in Goa

Rs 1500cr wish for hills

- ‘Full & final consensus’ reached on all issues except finances

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, July 12: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has asked for a special package of around Rs 1,500 crore for the new hill set-up as part of the tripartite agreement expected to be signed by the party, the state and the Centre in Darjeeling later this month.

Morcha sources said though a “full and final consensus” had been reached on the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration with the state government on July 8, the issue of finances — the quantum that the GTA would receive as well as the pattern of funding — would be finalised only after the Centre studied the draft of the agreement.

“Since Delhi would be a major source of funding for the new body, a final decision on the financial issues can only be arrived at after the Centre studies the draft agreement,” a Morcha leader said. “We have asked for something between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1500 crore to be given under the special package to the GTA over a period of five years.”

This package would exclude the annual budgetary allocations under central assistance, the state’s matching grant, plan and non-plan funds and allocations under other central projects like the central job scheme.

However, the Morcha leader said both the state and the central governments had agreed “in principle” to development schemes like setting up of a super-speciality hospital along with a medical college and a central technical university in the region.

The leader said it had been agreed upon that the GTA would have 45 elected members and five nominated members. The proceedings of a secretariat, which would be created for the GTA, would be conducted by a speaker, much like the chairman of a municipal corporation.

The school service commission, college service commission and provident fund department, regional transport authority and tauzi department, that deals with land leased to the tea gardens, would be brought under the new body. “It (the new body) will have 59 departments,” the leader added.

The GTA will also have jurisdiction over the cinchona plantation, the biggest public sector undertaking in the hills. The cinchona plantation is spread over 24,000 hectares in Mungpoo, Latpanchar, Rongpo and Munsong and employs around 5,000 workers besides providing indirect subsistence to over 40,000 hill people.

The new body will also have the power to recruit Group D, C and B employees.

The three-tier panchayat system would also be revived under the new agreement. “There will be a three–tier panchayat system but the GTA would be above the zilla parishad. It will also supervise the functioning of the zilla parishad,” the leader added.

At the moment, there are no functional panchayats in the hills. A system comprising gram panchayats and panchayat samitis was in place in Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council areas, but no election has been held since 2000. Till then, polls were held only to the gram panchayats as the GNLF that ran the DGHC felt the powers of the panchayat samitis would overlap with the council’s.

“We shall have a properly functioning panchayati raj in Darjeeling soon,” the leader said. “Let us hope the region now prospers.”
Dooars bandh
TT, Siliguri: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad on Tuesday called a 48-hour general strike in the Dooars and Terai on July 16 and 17 to protest the non-inclusion of tribal representatives in the committee that will be formed to look into the territorial demand of the Gorkha Janmuti Morcha. The Morcha wants Gorkha dominated pockets in the Terai and the Dooars to be brought under the jurisdiction of the adminsitrative set up for the hills.
One dead
TT, Alipurduar/Jaigaon: A 20-year-old was trampled to death and two huts were damaged in separate elephant raids in Alipurduar and Jaigaon on Monday. Pulit Rai, a resident of Achhapra tea estate in the Dooars, was returning home when the animal that came out of the nearby Bhutri forest attacked him. Pulit died on the spot. In another incident, two elephants damaged two huts on Jiti tea estate in Nagrakata.
Stranded
TT,Siliguri: A group of 66 tourists from Bhubaneswar in Orissa was stranded at the Bagdogra airport on Tuesday after the flight they had booked for their return trip could not land in the airport because of bad weather. Police said the tourists had arrived in Siliguri on July 9. They visited the hills and were scheduled to return to Orissa on the flight at 4pm on Tuesday. The police said the flight would arrive here on Wednesday and leave at 11am.
Nim Tshering dons United Sikkim captain jersey
TT, Gangtok, July 12: A local boy will wear the captain’s armband for Bhaichung Bhutia co-owned United Sikkim Football Club for this season when the team features in a number of regional and national tournaments and second division I-League.
Nim Tshering Lepcha, a product of the Sikkim government’s Search for More Bhaichungs programme launched in 1999, was today announced the United Sikkim captain during the club’s first practice session at Paljor Stadium.
“Bhaichung and chief coach H. Stanley Rozario decided yesterday during the club’s first meeting that Nim Tshering would lead United Sikkim for the 2011-12 calendar. During the last season, he had given fantastic performance and had shown commitment and hard work,” said club spokesperson Pema L. Shangderpa.
Nim Tshering, 23, had joined United Sikkim last year. He is from Dzongu in North Sikkim.
“I was really surprised to know that I was selected as the captain of United Sikkim. I thank Bhaichung, chief coach and the management for the faith and trust they have reposed in me. I am very happy,” said Nim Tshering.
Apart from Bhaichung and Nim Tshering, there are four more players from Sikkim in the 35-member squad of the team. Like last season, Reneddy Singh has been retained in the team and the squad has been bolstered by the presence of three national players — Sushil Kumar Singh, Gobind Singh and Thoi Singh.
Two foreigners Quinton Jacobs from Namibia and former Sporting Club de Goa player Bidemi Daniel from Nigeria are also in the squad. “Striker Baba Tunde from Nigeria is expected to join the team in a couple of days,” said Pema.
Rozario is confident that his boys will perform well in the coming season. “I am very happy with the team as we have got a mix of young and experienced players. We are training on the artificial turf of the Paljor Stadium and the weather is excellent. With the inclusion of three national players and the presence of Bhaichung and Reneddy, the squad looks strong,” he said.
The immediate challenge for the club is the Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup (state level Independence Day tournament) to be organised by the Sikkim Football Association in August.
“We are looking forward to the new season. Our major target is to qualify for the I-League and win the Federation Cup. We will take part in the Independence Day tournament also as it gives us an opportunity to play together as a team and get our combination right. Most of the players are new to each other and it will take time before they gel as a team,” said Bhaichung.

ममता नै जानुन्‌-विमल

मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 12जुलाई। गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति थालिएको आन्दोलन अहिले गोर्खाल्याण्ड टेरिटोरियल एड्‌मिनिष्ट्रेशनमा आइपुगेको छ। मोर्चाको आन्दोलनले पहाड़को आर्थिक क्षेत्रलाई नै डावाडोल गरेपछि अहिले आर्थिक खाडल पुर्न मोर्चाले केहीवर्षको निम्ति गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई थन्काउँदै एड्‌मिनिष्ट्रेशन ग्रहण गर्ने भएपछि देशभरिका गोर्खाहरूले मोर्चालाई धोका दिएको आरोप लगाइरहेको छ भने मोर्चाले विकासको निम्ति आन्दोलन गरेर गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाम जोड़ेर अहिलेसम्म जनता र देशभरिका गोर्खाहरूलाई दिग्भ्रमित पारेर अन्तमा आफ्नो स्वार्थ पुरा गरेको आरोप पहाड़का जम्मै दलले लगाइरहेका छन्‌। यहॉंसम्म कि मोर्चाकै दार्जीलिङ बाहिरका सङ्गठनहरू पनि मोर्चासित खुशी छैन। अहिले तराई र डुवर्सका मोर्चाका शाखाहरूले धारावाहिक सभाहरू गरेर राजनैतिक छलफल गरिरहेको अनि निष्कर्षमा यसपल्ट पनि तराई र डुवर्सले धोका पाइरहेको अनुभव गर्न थालेको समाचार पनि छापामा आइरहेको छ।
मोर्चाले तराई डुवर्स पसेर मात्र हस्ताक्षर गर्ने बताएको भए पनि वास्तवमा हस्ताक्षर गरिसकेपछि जोइन्ट भेरिफिकेशन कमिटीले गरेको जॉंच रिपोर्टको आधारमा नै एड्‌मिनिष्ट्रेशनमा तराई र डुवर्सका मौजाहरू पस्ने जनाइएको छ। यसको सम्झौतामा चुक्ति हुँदा जोइन्ट भेरिफिकेशन कमिटी बसाइने बुँदासित नै जॉंच अवधी त्यसक्षेत्रका मानिसहरूको इच्छा, मन्तव्य तथा समर्थन-विरोधलाई पनि प्रमुखता दिने कुरामा मोर्चा महासचिव रोशन गिरीले हस्ताक्षर गरिसकेका छन्‌। यस्तोबेला तराई र डुवर्सबाट विरोध हुनु भनेको व्यवस्थामा तराई-डुवर्सका क्षेत्र नपस्नु हो भनेर तक्निकीयरूपले बुझिने भएकोले अहिले तराई र डुवर्सले खुलेर मोर्चाको बिरोध गर्न सकिरहेको छैन।
यता राज्य सरकारले मोर्चालाई विकासमा अल्झाउँदा मुद्दालाई सधैँभरिको निम्ति थन्को लगाउने सकिने कुरा सोंच्नु गल्ति हुने बताउँदै हस्ताक्षरपछि गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनको निम्ति गर्नुपर्ने कार्यनीति बनाउन धेरैवटा राजनैतिक, गैरराजनीतिक सङ्गठनहरू सक्रिय भइरहेका छन्‌। अर्कोतिर दार्जीलिङ बाहिर पनि राष्ट्रियस्तरमा आन्दोलनको रूपरेखा बनाउन देशभरि नै सङ्घसंस्थाहरू सक्रिय भइरहेको थाहा लागेको छ।
मोर्चाले चारैतिरबाट अहिले विरोधको सामना गर्नुपरिरहेको छ भने राज्य सरकारले पनि अब विरोधको सामना गर्न परिरहेको छ। व्यवस्थामा हस्ताक्षर गर्न अनि दुइ दिन पहाड़मा नै बस्न 18 जुलाईको दिन मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जी पहाड़ आउने भएपछि तराई र डुवर्सका जम्मै गोर्खाल्याण्ड विरोधी शक्ति सक्रिय भएको छ। बंग्ला ओ बंग्ला भाषा बचाओ समिति, आमरा बाङाली तथा यस्ता अन्य सङ्गठनहरूले मिलेर मुख्यमन्त्रीको पहाड़ यात्रा रोख्न वा सम्झौता रोक्न 15 देखि 19 जुलाईसम्म नै बङ्गाल बन्दको घोषणा गरिदिएको छ। यसै सन्दर्भमा कालेबुङका संवाद माध्यमहरूलाई गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाका अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले टिप्पणी गर्दै यसप्रकारको कुरामा टिप्पणी गरिहाल्न नमिले पनि जम्मै परिस्थितिलाई ममता व्यानर्जीले नै बुझ्ने जनाएका छन्‌। तिनले भने, जे पनि हुँदैछ, त्यसबारे ममता नै जानुन्‌। वास्तवमा सॉंचा बङ्गालीहरूले गोर्खाल्याण्डको विरोध गर्दैनन्‌। विरोध त्यस्ता बङ्गालीहरूले गर्छन्‌ जो कॉंडेतारबाट छिरेका छन्‌। यस्ता बङ्गालीहरू पेटपाल्नको निम्ति गोर्खाल्याण्डको विरोध गर्छन्‌।
तिनले जुन व्यवस्थाको विरोध भइरहेको छ, त्यो व्यवस्था सरकारले नै बनाएको बताउँदै भने, मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई पहाड़ आउन नदिनेले नै जान्दछन्‌, यसको नतिजा के हुन्छ। यसमाथि टिप्पणीको आवश्यकता छैन। तर व्यवस्थामा हस्ताक्षर जहीँ पनि हुनसक्छ। दार्जीलिङ होस्‌ कि दिल्ली अथवा कोलकाता। हस्ताक्षर त हुने नै छ।

विमल नाथुलाको भ्रमणमा

मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 12 जुलाई। गोर्खाल्याण्ड छोड़ेर पहाड़मा नयॉं व्यवस्था आउने कुरामा आन्दोलनकारी दलसित सरकारी सहमति भएपछि पहाड़मा राज्यका मन्त्रीहरूले रेकर्ड भ्रमण गरिसकेका छन्‌। भ्रमण मात्र होइन पहाड़लाई स्वीट्‌जरल्याण्ड बनाउने मुख्यमन्त्रीको सपनालाई साकार पार्न आश्वासन र घोषणाहरू पनि रेकर्डतोड़ नै रहेको छ। मन्त्रीहरूपछि अहिले गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाका अध्यक्ष विमल गुरूङले पनि जीटीए क्षेत्रको परिभ्रमण शुरू गरिसकेका छन्‌। तिनी घरि अस्पताल पसेर रोगीहरूको निरीक्षण गरिरहेका छन्‌ भने रोगीहरूलाई केही रकम पनि हातमा थमाइरहेका छन्‌। प्राथमिक पाठशालादेखि संघसंस्थाहरूसम्ममा नै तीनको भ्रमण र निरीक्षणपछि अहिले गुरूङ नाथुलाको भ्रमणमा छन्‌।
तिनको नाथुला परिभ्रमणलाई लिएर विभिन्न अड्‌कलबाजी गरिएको सुनिए पनि गुरूङले भने यसभ्रमणलाई केवल 'घुम्न'मात्र रहेको जनाएका छन्‌। तिनले आफ्नो भ्रमणसम्बन्धमा बताए, कहॉं कुन कुराको खॉंचो छ, के के आवश्यकता छ, त्यो हेर्न मात्र भ्रमण गरेको। नाथुला त्यसै घुम्न निस्केको। हाम्रो सीमाना, सिक्किमको सिमाना कहॉं कति छ हेर्न आएको। राजनीतिकरण गर्न होइन। तिनले नाथुलालाई व्यवसायको ठूलो फाटक रहेको जनाउँदै भने,यो मार्गबाट हाम्रा व्यवसायीहरूले पनि व्यवसाय गर्न सक्छन्‌ कि, हेर्दैछु। सिक्किम सरकारसित पनि कुरा गरौला।

Sikim youth arrested for murder in Goa
PTI, Panaji: Panaji police arrested a youth from Sikkim, who worked as a waiter in the coastal belt, for allegedly killing a 42-year-old woman near the city bus stand.
The accused was caught by the police on Monday as per the statement given by a security guard, who had seen both the victim and and the accused -- together, at the bus stand on Sunday night, Deputy Superintendent of Police Deukumar Banaulikar.
The woman was found dead, few hours after she was seen with the 26-year-old Rohan Gurung, who hails from Gangtok, Sikkim, SP Banaulikar said.
The verification whether the lady was raped before being killed on Sunday is on, he said.
The investigations have not been able to ascertain the motive of the murder and the case would be clear once the post-mortem report is available, Banaulikar said. 

The Sikkim Times, 12 July,GOA: A resident of Sikkim, Rohan Gurung, 26, was arrested by the Panaji police for the alleged murder of 42-year-old Poornima Pednekar at the KTC bus stand during the wee hours of Monday.

A resident of Sikkim, Rohan Gurung, 26, was arrested by the Panaji police for the alleged murder of 42-year-old Poornima Pednekar at the KTC bus stand during the wee hours of Monday.

"We have registered the case under Section 302 of IPC (murder) at Panaji police station," said deputy superintendent of police Deu Banaulikar.

According to the police, the KTC bus stand watchman called the police station early Monday morning, informing them that a woman was lying motionless behind the bus stand`s public toilet. "The watchman also told us that earlier, he had seen Pednekar with a man and the couple was kissing each other," Banulikar said.

Later, the man in question was apprehended by the watchman and handed over to the patrolling police.

"The suspect involved in Pednekar`s death, who introduced himself as Rohan Gurung, a native of east Sikkim, Gangtok, said he has been working as a waiter at Foodicted bar and restaurant, Baga, since February 2011," Banaulikar added.

The police later sent the body to the Goa Medical College and hospital (GMC), Bambolim, for a postmortem. According to the report submitted by Dr Silvano Dias Sapeco and Dr Pannag Kumar of the GMC`s forensic department, the reason for death is: "Asphyxia as a result of smothering in soft soil, which was fatal in the ordinary course of nature in the person with injuries over the body which were ante-mortem and fresh at the time of death."

Banaulikar said that the accused has been placed under arrest and has been referred for a medical examination to ascertain if he sexually assaulted the deceased.