मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 अगस्त। सन्तोष सुब्बालाई केरकार गर्न सिलगढ़ीबाट आज सीआईडी अनि आईबी टोली कालेबुङ आइपुग्यो। सुब्बालाई हिजो एडिसनल चिफ जुडिसियल म्याजिस्ट्रेडको कोर्टमा उभ्याएर पुलिसले सातदिनको निम्ति हिरासतमा लिएको थियो। यता सन्तोषसित संलग्न रहेको आशंकामा सोधखोजको निम्ति पक्राउ गरिएका तोपखानाको राजु दूतराजलाई कालेबुङ पुलिसले मुक्त गर्यो। सन्तोषलाई सीआईडीको दुइ सदस्यीय टोली अनि आईबीको तीन सदस्यीय टोलीले थानामा लगभग तीन घण्टा केरकार गर्यो। सीआईडी प्रतिनिधिहरूसित जान्न खोज्दा उनीरूले यस मामिलामा केही बताउन चाहेनन्। अहिलेसम्म नै मीडियालाई सन्तोष सुब्बा अनि स्टोभ बम विस्फोटबारे पुलिसले आधिकारिकरूपले केही बताइरहेको छैन। तर् मीडियाले पुलिस सूत्रलाई नै प्रयोग गर्दै धेरैवटा कुरा अघि ल्याइरहेको छ। मीडियाले प्रकाशमा ल्याइरहेका कुराहरू कति सॉंचो हुन् पुलिसले अहिलेसम्म कुनै पनि टिप्पणी खुलेर नदिएकोले यसको पुष्टि हुन सकिरहेको छैन।
केही प्रिन्ट मीडियाले सरकारी बसमा स्टोभ बम पड्किएको अनि सार्वभौम राष्ट्रको माग गर्दै बम विस्फोटको जिम्मेवारी लिने कथाकथित यूएलए अनि यसको चिफ एम. थेगिमको टिप्पणीलाई आधार गरेर नेपालमा भइरहेको लिम्बुवानको दाबी अनि ग्रेटर नेपालसित पनि जोड़ेर हेरिरहेको छ। नेपालमा टिस्टादेखि सतलजसम्मको भूभाग नेपालमा फिर्ता हुनुपर्ने भन्दै ग्रेटर नेपालको आन्दोलन गर्ने सङ्गठनहरू निक्कै सक्रिय नै छ। माओवादीहरूले पनि नेपालबाट गुमेको 55 वटा राज्यहरू पुन प्राप्त हुनुपर्ने कुरामा आन्दोलन चलाएको राष्ट्रिय मीडियाले प्रकाशमा ल्याइसकेको छ। यता एम. थेगिमले सार्वभौम राष्ट्रको कुरा गरेर ग्रेटर नेपाल अथवा लिम्बुवान कै संकेत गरेको हुन सक्ने अनुमान पनि भारतका गुप्तचर विभागले गरिरहेको सूत्रद्वारा थाहा लागेको छ।
गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनमा जब सिब्सुकाण्डको इतिहास जोड़ियो त्यसबेला बङ्गाल सरकारप्रति जनताको रोष चुलिमा पुगेको थियो। त्यसबेला कालेबुङ कै मोटर स्ट्याण्डमा बसहरू जलाउने काम भएको थियो। त्यसकाण्डको धेरै महिनापछि जब सोही ठाउँमा सरकारी बस उडाउन स्टोभ बम पड्काइयो तब बङ्गाल पुलिसले घटनालाई सामान्य मानेन। यसकारण सेन्ट्रल फोरेन्सिक साइन्स लेबोरेटोरीका सदस्यहरू विस्फोटले क्षतिपारेका भागहरूको जॉंच गर्न कालेबुङ आए। सीआईडीका सदस्यहरूले पनि रौचिरा उपस्थिति कालेबुङलाई दिइरहेको छ। बम विस्फोट गरेको दुइदिनपछि एम.थेगिमले विस्फोटको जिम्मेवारी लिँदै गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चाले जीटीए थापेर जनतालाई धोका दिएको अनि अब छुट्टै राज्य होइन यूएलएले सार्वभौम राष्ट्रको दाबी गर्ने चुनौति दिएपछि घटनाले नयॉं मोड़ लिएको थियो। थेगिमबाट यस्ताखाले टिप्पणी र चुनौती आए पनि पुलिसले गम्भीर नलिएको विस्फोट काण्डको जॉंच गर्न आएका आइजी रणबीर कुमारले बताएका थिए।
यता पुलिसले आधिकारिकरूपले कुन्नै टिप्पणी नदिए पनि पुलिस सूत्रले भने एम.थेगिमले जुन मोबाइल फोन र सिम प्रयोग गरेका थिए त्यो सन्तोषबाट उद्वार गरेको समेत बताइसकेको अनि पुलिसले फोनको आईएमई नम्बरसितै सीम फेला पारेको समाचार केही प्रिन्ट मीडियाले प्रकाशित गरेपछि एम.थेगिम सन्तोष सुब्बा नै हो भन्ने कुरा प्रमाणित हुने देखिएको छ। एम. थेगिमले सार्वभौम राष्ट्रको कुरा गरेकोले राष्ट्रिय सुरक्षाको सवाल उठिरहेको छ। यसै पनि गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई ग्रेटर नेपालसित जोड़ेर गोर्खाहरू राष्ट्र विरोधी हो भन्ने प्रमाण गर्न बङ्गालका गोर्खा विरोधी सङ्गठनहरूले थुप्रै प्रदर्शन गरिसकेको छ।
यस्तो अवस्थामा सन्तोषको मुद्दाले गम्भीररूप लिने देखिएको छ। तर यता सन्तोष सुब्बाले भने मीडियालाई आफू निर्दोष रहेको अनि आफ्नो पिता छत्रे सुब्बाको रिहाई हुन लागेको बेला षड़यन्त्र गरेर पक्रिएको स्पष्ट जनाइसकेका छन्। छत्रे सुब्बाको रिहाइ हुने बेला तिनको छोरालाई यो मुद्दामा पक्राउ गर्नुले पनि रोचक शंकाहरू उपार्जन गरिरहेको सबैले अनुमान गरिरहेको छ।
अगस्तमा सुनवाई-छत्रे सुब्बाहरूलाई राजनैतिक बन्दीको दर्जा दिइनुपर्छ-दास
मनोज वोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 2 अगस्त। ममता व्यानर्जीले बङ्गालमा सरकार गठन गरेपछि राजनैतिक बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्ने प्रक्रियालाई तीब्र गर्दै एउटा रिब्यु कमिटी गठन गरेको छ। जसको अध्ययन अनुसार अहिले 52 जना बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्ने प्रायः स्पष्ट भइसकेको छ। 52 जनामा 48 जना उत्तर बङ्गाल कै बन्दीहरू रहेका छन् भने रहल 4 जना पूर्व बङ्गालका बन्दीहरू रहेका छन्।
पहिलो चरणमा ती बन्दीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्ने भएको छ तर यसमा छत्र सुब्बाहरू परेनन्। ममता व्यानर्जीले गठन गरेको रिभ्यु कमिटीमा रहेको बन्दी मुक्ति कमिटीका छोटन दाससित यस सम्बन्धमा कुरा गर्दा तिनले 52 जना बन्दीहरू राजनैतिक बन्दी रहेकोले उनीहरूलाई पहिले चरणमा मुक्त गरिने बताए।
अहिलेसम्म बन्दीमुक्ति कमिटीलाई छत्र सुब्बाहरूले राजनैतिक बन्दीको मर्यादा प्राप्त गरेको छ कि छैन भन्ने कुरा अझसम्म स्पष्ट भएको छैन। तिनले भने, हामी छत्र सुब्बाहरूलाई दोस्रो चरणमा मुक्त गरिनुपर्ने मागमा रहेका छौं। यसको निम्ति कागजपत्रहरू बुझाइसकिएको छ। जसको जॉंच भइरहेको छ। तर छत्र सुब्बाहरू मुक्त हुनको निम्ति उनीहरूलाई राजनैतिक बन्दीको दर्जा दिइनुपर्छ। यस सम्बन्धमा कुनै खबर हामीलाई छैन।
यता बन्दी मुक्ति कमिटीका दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला उपाध्यक्ष अरूण घतानीसित बुझ्न चहॉंदा तिनले छत्र सुब्बाहरूको सजाय समाप्त भइसकेको जनाए। तिनले भने, छत्र सुब्बाहरूलाई जति पनि मुद्दा लगाइएको थियो त्यसैको आधारमा पनि उनीहरूको 10 वर्षको सजाय समाप्त भइसक्यो। अहिले उनीहरूलाई राजनैतिक बन्दीको मर्यादा दिइनुपर्ने माग गरिरहेका छौं। तर कोर्टमा उनीहरूको सम्बन्धित कागजपत्रहरू हराएको कुरा आइरहेको छ। यो कतिको सत्य हो जॉंच गरिनुपर्छ। नत्र फेरि अर्को षड़यन्त्र ममता सरकारमा पनि भइरहेको स्पष्ट हुनेछ।
तिनी अनुसार गणतन्त्रको बहालीको कुरा गर्ने ममता व्यानर्जीको सरकारले कुन गणतन्त्रलाई बङ्गालमा स्थापित गर्ने हो त्यो यसै मुद्दाबाट पनि छर्लङ्ग हुने बताउँदै भने, अगस्त महिनामा छत्र सुब्बाहरूको सुनवाई हुने भएको छ। यो सुनवाई उनीहरूलाई मुक्त गर्नको निम्ति हुनुपर्ने छ तर हामीले फेरि कतै न कतै फेरि कुनै षड़यन्त्र मडारिरहेको आभाष पाउन थालेका छौं।
Morcha plan for district rejig in GTA - Hill party to oppose Jalpaiguri division move at all-party meeting
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| Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri: Armed with ideas |
The party might moot the idea at the all-party meeting convened by the government in Calcutta tomorrow on renaming of the state and reorganisation of the districts.
Morcha president Bimal Gurung, along with general secretary Roshan Giri and central committee members, Jyoti Kumar Rai and Diwakar Gurung, today left for Calcutta to attend the meeting.
“We are going to attend the meeting. We will see what the government has to say. Our party president will attend the meeting and he might later meet the chief minister,” said Giri.
A Morcha central committee member told The Telegraph that the demand for the creation of two districts in the final GTA set-up was being considered by a section of the leadership.
“We are of the opinion that one district should be formed by merging the present Darjeeling and Kurseong subdivision with the areas in the Terai that can be brought under the jurisdiction of the GTA once the joint verification committee submits its report. The other district should comprise the Kalimpong subdivision, which is very large, and certain areas in the Dooars,” said the leader.
The committee was formed to study the Morcha’s demand to bring Gorkha majority areas in the Terai under the jurisdiction of the GTA.
The leader clarified that the Morcha would attend the meeting to get a clear picture on the state government’s opinion on the reorganisation of the districts. “Depending on how the discussion takes place, we will react with our proposals. If the discussion on the GTA areas does not take place, we might raise the demand for the creation of two districts on a later date. Our first priority is to get the GTA area finalised,” said the leader.
The Morcha will, however, definitely resist the reorganisation of the Jalpaiguri district until the joint verification panel drafts its report.
The government is looking at the possibility of forming a separate Alipurduar district by carving up the Jalpaiguri district. The Morcha, however, is of the opinion that as many Gorkha-dominated areas of the Dooars, like Madarihat and Kalchini block, presently fall in Alipurduar subdivision, Alipurduar district should not be created until the GTA’s territory is finalised.
The Morcha has demanded 199 mouzas each from the Dooars and the Terai for the GTA.
The central committee member has also said if two districts are created after the GTA territory is finalised, then areas under Siliguri Municipal Corporation, most of which do not have Gorkha dominated areas, could be transferred to the Jalpaiguri district or become part of a new Siliguri district.
This, observers, believe will solve a number of issues, including the implementation of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills as has been agreed by the state and the Centre in the GTA accord.
The implementation of the three-tier panchayat system could be a problem as the Constitution was amended in 1992 to set up a mahakuma parishad for Siliguri (which is equivalent to a zilla parishad). After the amendment, there have been only two tiers of panchayat for the three hill subdivisions. If a three-tier panchayat system is to be implemented, the mahakuma parishad has to be abolished as there is provision for only one zilla parishad in one district under the constitution.
“If the two districts are formed, a lot of these issues could be solved. After all, it makes little sense in trying to include areas in the plains, where there is no Gorkha population, in the GTA territory,” said the Morcha leader.
Asked if the hills’ sparse population could be a hurdle in the creation of the two districts within the GTA, the leader said: “We have been telling the government that the same yardstick cannot be taken for the hills and the plains. Look at Sikkim; it has four districts although the state’s population is less than that of the hills. The ratio of 1:4 must be considered while comparing the population of the hills and the plains,” said the leader.
Landslides prolong highway repair
TT, Siliguri, Aug. 2: The National Highway 55 is unlikely to open this year as frequent landslides are disrupting the restoration work along a 300-meter stretch near Paglajhora.
The stretch had to be closed after a mudslide in June last year completely damaged the road that connects Siliguri to Darjeeling.
According to PWD officials, the recent landslides that occurred at 14th Mile, 35km from here, has damaged the road again and debris is falling on it from the hillside regularly
“The onset of monsoon has triggered fresh landslides on a stretch on NH55 which is under restoration. So far around 300 meters of the road has succumbed to heavy rainfall and mudslips since mid-June. Although we have discontinued the restoration work because of the monsoon, our workforce and machinery are engaged in removing the debris as and when the slides occur,” Nirmal Mondol, the executive engineer of the PWD (NH division-9), said.
The PWD, which undertook restoration work near Paglajhora last year, had partially repaired the damaged stretch and light vehicles were allowed to ply from April.
“We have submitted a tentative report to the chief engineer of national highway division of the state government. A final estimate (for the repair work) can be submitted only after the monsoon because we expect more landslides,” said Mondol.
He added that the major tasks of giving shape to the road that had completely collapsed after the mudslip has been completed. “This time the damage is not as severe as it was last year. But it will take two to three months more for us restore the road fully. But it will be difficult to get NH55 fully operational by this year,” Mondol said.
With the highway shut, heavy vehicles travelling between Kurseong and Siliguri are plying the Rohini-Pankhabari route that is not strong enough to withstand huge weight.
“Permanent repair of the stretch is not possible because the area around Paglajhora is a sinking zone and has had a history of landslides for the past 50 years. The ministry of road transport and highways had released Rs 3.5 crore (for restoration) of which Rs 2.5 crore has been spent. We require more funds to repair the current damage and will submit a fresh proposal when the rainy season is over,” Mondol added.
Traffic restored on one track - Rail safety officer starts probe into collision, seeks speed data recorder
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| A train runs on the repaired track at Jamirghata on Tuesday. Picture by Surajit Roy |
The tracks were destroyed during the collision between Guwahati-Bangalore Express and a local train at Jamirghata, 10km from Malda, on Sunday night.
The commissioner of railway safety, Eastern Railway, has started a probe into the accident, while experts have reached the spot to salvage the speed data recorder of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express from the mangled remains of the engine.
The data recorder holds clue to the speed and other details of the train.
“We completed the repair of the track (on which the Azimganj-Malda passenger was running) yesterday night and the first train to pass the spot was the Malda Town-Sealdah Gour Express. We have imposed a speed limit of 10kmph on trains passing through the accident spot,” said Harsh Kumar, the divisional railway manager (DRM) of the Malda division of the Eastern Railway.
The DRM expressed hope that the other track would be ready for traffic tonight.
“We are taking extra time to open this track as around 500 metres of the rail (used by Guwahati-Bangalore Express) had twisted during the accident. Nevertheless, work is on and we hope that the track will be opened up to traffic tonight,” said Kumar.
The railway safety commissioner, R.P. Yadav, was at the accident spot today. Sources said he had asked for the speed data recorder of the engine of the express train. ‘That is why the experts have been summoned to the spot. They are trying to locate the data recorder, whose data are needed to know if the depositions made by the driver and other staff are true,” said a railway source.
The safety official conducted a hearing of railway staff at the DRM office today and recorded statements of 25 employees, including the drivers of the two trains, guards, station managers and cabin men. The data recorder, railway experts said, is a memory chip fitted with the speedometer of the engine, which keeps the speed and some other data related to the train.
The sources said the driver of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express had told the officials that the train was running at a speed of 70-80kmph. The driver said the tracks had subsided at the spot where the engine and the compartments jumped off the rails.
“The driver said he could not see that the tracks had subsided. He said immediately after the engine had jumped the tracks, he had pulled emergency brakes,” officials said.
Survey to source stream power - Focus on rural electrification
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| The Memanchu river in East Sikkim. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
The survey will exclude certain streams in North and East districts where groundwork has been laid for 13 mini power projects.
The hydropower potential of streams in Sikkim is roughly estimated to be between 400MW and 600MW. But as there are no concrete data available, the SREDA has decided to take up the exercise to find out the exact hydropower potential of the each stream. The electricity harnessed from the rivers will be supplied to the villages near the project sites.
“We will start the GIS mapping of all streams and rivulets in Sikkim from August. Then, we will come up with a roadmap to develop mini hydel power projects (up to 100KV) to provide electricity to the nearby villages. The data collected will be of use not only for power generation but for irrigation and water supply also,” said SREDA director L.B. Chettri.
The survey team will identify the streams where the projects can be launched and find out the distance between the sites and the nearby villages. “We need to create a database on the amount of water flowing in each stream during the peak (monsoon) and lean (winter) seasons. We will also find out the amount of rainfall in the catchment areas and see whether the water source is more important for irrigation and drinking purposes than for electricity generation,” said SREDA project engineer Bhanu Nepal.
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| The Dalapchand stream in East Sikkim. Picture by Prabin Khalin |
The survey will also find out if the villages near the possible power project sites are electrified. “Even if the village is electrified, we have to study the quality of power as transmission loss is quite common in rural areas,” said the SREDA director.
Asked how much time it would take to complete the survey, Nepal said: “It could take a long time, maybe one year. We will engage consultants and officials of departments like PHE, irrigation, science and technology and power in the database preparation,” said Chettri.
The process has already kicked in to develop 13 micro hydel power projects on streams and rivulets flowing in the North and East districts.
“We are planning mini hydel projects with capacity ranging from 25KV to 100KV. Each project will cater for the nearest villages. The ministry of new and renewable energy has already given sanction for the 13 projects,” said N.P. Singh, advisor, ministry of new and renewable energy.
The total cost of the 13 projects is pegged at Rs 19 crore, of which 90 per cent will be borne by the ministry and the rest by the state government.
Workers strike for safety - Leopards maul 4 tea garden labourers in one month
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| The deputy field director of Buxa Tiger Reserve (west), Rajendra Jakhar (in civvies), in the garden with other foresters on Tuesday. Picture by Anirban Choudhury |
The protesters numbering around 400 alleged that although four workers had been mauled by the animals in the past two months, the management and the forest department did not take any step to keep the leopards away.
On Thursday, a woman worker was attacked by a leopard while she was working in the garden. Namita Oraon was later admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.
Yesterday around 1.30pm, a leopard mauled Lalita Oraon, another worker of the garden.
Seven women, who were working on section seven of the garden, lost consciousness when they saw the animal attacking Lalita.
While the women were admitted to the garden hospital, Lalita is undergoing treatment at the Alipurduar subdivisional hospital.
Jiten Oraon, mother-in-law of Shibani Mahali who has not regained consciousness yet, said: “After seeing the leopard attacking the worker, Shibani fainted and she is still unconscious. She is just saying bagh kha raha hai (leopard is injuring) and nothing else. Saline was given to her along with other medicines, but her condition is still the same. She fell into a drain after she lost consciousness and injured her hand and chest.”
According to Jiten, the other six women who had fainted after the incident also fell in the drain.
Workers of the garden, owned by Mcleod Russel India Limited alleged that foresters reached the spot several hours after the incident.
Anita Oraon, a worker, said: “There are at least three leopards roaming in the garden. How can we risk our lives and work? The forest department has to pay compensation to the families whose members have been injured by leopards. Foresters have to trap the leopard, otherwise, it is not possible for us to go for plucking. The management is not bothered about the frequent attacks on the workers.”
The garden, 42km from here, has 2,100 workers.
Around 11.30am today, Rajendra Jakhar, the deputy field director of Buxa Tiger Reserve (west) visited the spot where the leopard was seen yesterday.
Two hours later, when garden officials and Jakhar were about to enter the estate office, around 400 workers gheraoed them.
The officials were allowed to leave only after they assured the protesters that necessary steps would be taken to trap the animals.
“We are setting up cages in four places of the garden. During the night and early in the mornings our staff will patrol the area and if they say no wild animals are there, only then the plucking will start. The patrolling will continue till the leopard is trapped. Workers had complaints about the payment for the treatment of the injured people. I have asked them to submit the relevant forms to my office. If necessary, we have to take permission from the higher officials to kill the leopards.”
Brij Jamwal, senior manager of Mcleod Russel India Limited, said: “We contacted Jakhar after yesterday’s incident and he has visited the garden. Today the workers could have plucked tealeaves in the presence of the foresters but they did not do so. They will not be paid for the day because our system is: no work, no pay.”
The labourers, however, said there was a meeting with the management later during the day where it was decided that those who would pluck tealeaves for half-a-day on Sunday, when the garden is closed, would get today’s wage.
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