Super specialty wing inaugurated in CRH

Gangtok

4 Oct 2013

Chief minister Pawan Chamling today inaugurated the super specialty wing of the Central Referral Hospital or Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) at 5th Mile Tadong.

The wing, set up at some Rs37.67 crore, has diagnostic facilities including Radiology, MRI, Digital X Ray, Cardiac Cath Lab and Ultrasonography, among others. The Neurosurgery, Urology, Gastroenterology, Skin and Cosmetology, Cardiology, Cardio Vascular and Onco-surgery departments will function from the super specialty wing.

SMIMS Pro-Chancellor Dr. Ram Das Pai felicitated the chief minister and presented him with a memento as a mark of appreciation and gratitude.

Chamling expressed happiness at the establishment of the super specialty wing in the CRH terming it a “significant milestone”. He expressed confidence about the hospital delivering quality services to benefit all seekers.

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Siliguri bound Bolero plunges into Teesta, five dead

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

4 Oct 2013

A Bolero vehicle with registration number SK 01-J-1900 on its way to Siliguri from Sikkim plunged into the Teesta this morning while trying to overtake another vehicle near Gale-Khola. The accident has claimed the lives of five people whose bodies have not been found yet except for one who has been identified as Ram Krishna Rai (32).

According to sources, the vehicle collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction while overtaking another vehicle and plunged into the Teesta. The four who are missing are Deepak Kumar Gupta and Ganesh Kumar Gupta from Sikkim, Bilawal Hussain from Islampur and Tek Bahadur Bhujel, the Bolero driver from Gurung Busty, Siliguri. There were altogether 11 people in the vehicle when the accident occurred and six managed to swim ashore and were rescued. They have been admitted to the Rambi Primary Health Centre.

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Committee formed to keep vigilance on child right violations

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

4 Oct 2013

Bal Suraksha Aviyan Trust, a NGO working for eradication of child labour, has formed a vigilance committee at Pedong to keep watch on trafficking of children from the area. BSAT, in association with social organisation Anujyal initiated this move as part of the ‘Towards a Child Labour Free Society’ campaign run by Data Sanstha Karitas India.

The vigilance committee comprises regional GTA Sabhashad Dawa Lepcha, Padam Gurung, Vhakta Rai, Amrit Rai, Thendup T Bhutia, PB Rai, Basanta Kanu, PS Tamang and other residents. Its task is to keep watch on incidents of child right violations in the region and continuous efforts to curb them. One such vigilance committee has been formed at Upper Dalep.

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Morcha hope on talks

VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, Oct. 3: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said it was hopeful of the Centre convening the tripartite meeting on October 23 to solve the hill impasse though the state government has protested Delhi’s unilateral decision to call the talks.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, today said: “We have been told by the Centre that the meeting will take place on October 23. As of now, there has been no change in the Centre’s plan even though we have not yet formally received a letter. The talks will definitely be held.”

On September 30, Giri had said that Suresh Kumar, the joint secretary of the Union home minister looking after Centre-state relations, had called him up to convey that the tripartite meeting will be held on October 23.

Home ministry sources had not been as definite about the date as Giri. Sources in Delhi had said the talks would be held after October 22.

The Mamata Banerjee government is, however, displeased that such an announcement was made without taking the state into confidence.

“We are not happy with the Centre’s role. Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating that no talks (between the Centre and the Morcha) would be held without taking the state government into confidence, the Centre is working in its own way,” said north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb in Bijanbari yesterday.

Deb did not specify whe-ther the state would attend the meeting if the Centre does go ahead with the schedule.

“The Trinamul workers will take to the streets across the hills to protest against the Centre’s role,” he said.

Morcha leaders, however, are eagerly waiting for the Centre’s official communication on the talks.

Observers believe that the Morcha and even the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee, which was steering the statehood protests, have little option but to hope for the best.

“The Morcha can only hope for the best now. The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee had lifted the month-long closure on the grounds that the Union home minister had assured them that the talks would be held. The meeting would be the Morcha’s only face-saver,” said an observer.

All eyes are also trained on the Morcha’s foundation day celebration at Chowrastha on October 7. Morcha chief Bimal Gurung is expected to address the public that day.

Today, Deb started distributing compensation cheques to victims of the Saradha scam in north Bengal.

Fifty-two beneficiaries were given compensation ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 at the SDO’s office in Kurseong.

Transport strike

The 12-hour transport agitation by the drivers of Darjeeling was almost total across the hills today. Very few vehicles were seen plying.

The agitation also affected schools as attendance was less than normal in many institutions.

The agitation had been called by the co-ordination committee formed by the transporters to protest against the arrest of Narbu Lama and Pramod Srimal, the president and secretary of the All Transport Joint Action Committee, respectively.

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Tremor in Sikkim

Gangtok, Oct. 3: An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale jolted Sikkim around 11.43am today forcing people out of their houses.

No damage was reported but the panic was palpable as Sikkim, especially the north, had suffered serious damage in a 6.9-strong quake on September 2011.

Last year, on the anniversary of the quake when people in Gangtok were lining up for a memorial, another, much milder, tremor shook Sikkim. Over 60 people died in the 2011 tremor.

According to the India Meteorological Department website, today’s quake was “moderate” and 10km deep from the surface.

District collector (east) A.K. Singh said the epicentre was near the Teesta Stage V hydel project of the NHPC at Dikchu in East Sikkim, 41km northwest of Gangtok.

The tremors lasted nearly three seconds.

“There are no reports of any deaths or injuries or damage of buildings,” said the secretary of information and public relations department, D. Anandan.

Singh said the tremors shook Gangtok when a meeting on earthquake preparedness was in progress at the secretariat building. “The officers who attended the meeting did not move from their seats. The meeting was called off and I rushed to the district control room on MG Marg,” he said.

Hundreds of people came out of buildings on to MG Marg in a panic. “I was at a shop on MG Marg when the earthquake happened. I ran out along with other customers and the shopkeeper,” said Manihar Begum, a tourist from Calcutta.

Power supply was cut off for an hour after the quake.

Classes in all private and government schools and colleges in Gangtok were suspended today.

“There was no damage at the (Teesta) dam site,” said the junior engineer of NHPC,” Ranjit Kumar Chanchal.

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वार्ता आन्दोलनको एउटा अंश हुनेछ - ड़ा छेत्री

कालेबुङ 2 अक़्टोबर-(प्रदीप) प्रस्तावित त्रिपक्षीय वार्तामा फलप्रद परिणाम निस्कन सकेन

भने पनि यसले आन्दोलनलाई अघि बढाउन सघाउ पुग्ने मोर्चा प्रवक्ता डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीको धारणा छ। तिनले आउँदो लोकसभा चुनाउलाई केन्द्र गरी केन्द्र सरकारको नियत देखेर आफूलाई यस्तो लागेको बताएका छन। तथापि, वार्ता अपेक्षाअनुरुप फलदायक हुन सकेन भने पनि निराश भइहाल्नु पर्ने कुनै कारण नरहेको डा छेत्रीको भनाइ छ। ‘केन्द्र सरकार धेरै दुब्लो छ अहिले, अगाडी 2014-को लोकसभा चुनाउ छ। ममता व्यानर्जीप्रति पनि यिनीहरूको ध्यान केन्द्रित छ। नयाँ सरकार बनाउन उसको योगदानको महत्व छ, व्यवहारिक कुरा यिनै हुन। यसलाई ध्यानमा राखेर केन्द्रले के कति कुरा गर्छ त्यो अहिले भन्न सकिँदैन। यो बैठकमा कुनै निष्कर्ष निस्केन भने पनि निराश हुनु पर्ने कारण छैन। मलाई चै के लाग्छ भने 20-14को सरकार गठन अघि कुनै पनि उल्लेखनीय निर्णय यो सरकारले लिन सक्दैन। तैपनि हामीलाई आन्दोलन अघि बढाएर लैजान चै सहज हुन्छ। बैठकमा पहाडको ताजा परिस्थितिबारे कुरा उठाउन सक्छौं’ मोर्चाप्रवक्ताले भने। तिनले वार्ताको वहसको विषय गोर्खाल्याण्ड नै हुने दाबी गर्दै मोर्चाले जीटीए प्रमुखको चयन गरेको घटना पछि पनि मुद्दा अघि बढाउन सहयोग पुगोस् भन्ने उद्देश्य रहेको स्पष्ट पारेका छन। जीटीएलाई सरकारले नियञ्त्रणमा लिन अघि नै मोर्चा यसमा भागीदार भएर यसलाई एउटा हतियारको रुपमा प्रयोग गर्ने रणकौशलका साथ बिनय तामाङलाई जीटीए प्रमुख चयन गरिएको तिनको भनाइ छ। आफ्नो तर्कको व्याख्या गर्दै डा छेत्रीले भने, ‘हामी जीटीएतिर बढी रहेका छैनौं। हामीले प्रमुख छान्ने काम नगरेको भए दोहोरो लडाईँ लड्नु पर्ने स्थिति आउने थियो। किनभने राज्य सरकारले जीटीएमा आफ्नो मान्छे राख्ने तयारी गरीसकेको थियो। यदि त्यस्तो भएको भए एकापट्टि  हामीले जीटीएलाई नै काउण्टर गरि बस्नु  पर्ने थियो भने अनि अर्कोतिर मुद्दालाई पनि लिएर अघि बढ्नु पर्ने थियो। जीटीए प्रमुखको चयन गर्दा पनि हामीले जेलमै भएका मानिसलाई छान्यौ। अब यो जीटीए पनि एक प्रकारले जेलमै छ भन्दा हुन्छ। यसलाई अचल राखेर आन्दोलन अघि बढाउन सकिन्छ’ तिनले बोडोहरुले बोडो टेरिटोरियल काउन्सिल त्याग नगरी  राज्य प्राप्तिको आन्दोलन जारी राखेको उदाहरण दिँदै अझ भने, ‘यो जीटीए छोड्नु भनेको चै एउटा हतियार फ्याँकेर खाली हात लड्नु भनेको जस्तो हो। जीटीए एउटा हतियार हो तर यसको सदूपयोग चैँ गर्न जान्नु पर्‍यो। अलग राज्य पाउनलाई  कसरी यसलाई काममा लाउन सकिन्छ, त्यो चै जानु पर्यो’ तिनले 23-को बैठकको मूल एजेण्डा गोर्खाल्याण्डमाथि केन्द्रीत हुने बताउँदै  यस अघि केन्द्रीय गृहमंत्री सुशिल कुमार सिन्दे अनि गृहसचिवसँगको भेटमा जीटीएको असफलता र समस्याबारे विस्तृतमा चर्चा गरिसकिएको बताएका छन। तिनले राज्यको नियञ्त्रणमा रहेर कुनै पनि व्यवस्था सञ्चालन गर्न मोर्चालाई मञ्जुर नभएको कुरा केन्द्र सरकारको संज्ञानमा पुर्‍याउने काम भइसकेको बताएका छन। ‘हामीलाई बङ्गालदेखि पूर्ण रुपले बाहिरको व्यावस्था  दिनोस भनेका छौं। केन्द्रको सोचाइमा यो चैँ स्पष्ट होस कि गोर्खाहरूले दार्जीलिङको लागि मात्र आन्दोलन गरेका  होइनन् अनि परिचयको समस्या देशभरिका गोर्खालाई छ। अनि एउटा सिमानाले मात्रै गोर्खाहरूको परिचय संकटको हल गर्न सक्छ। त्यसकारण मात्र हामी वार्ता होस् भन्ने चहान्छौं भनेपछि केन्द्रले यो मिति तय गरेको हो’ मोर्चा प्रवक्ता डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले भने। तिनले अहिले बहसको केन्द्रमा देखा परिरहेको युटीको मुद्दाबारे मोर्चाको कुनै सरोकार नरहेको बताएका छन। यसबारे दलको अडान खुलाउँदै तिनले भने, ‘ यो मुद्दा हाम्रो पक्षबाट आएको होइन, केन्द्रीय नेताहरूले यो विचार एउटा सेमिनारमा प्रकट गरेका हुन्। त्यो विचारबारे हामी टिप्पणी गर्दैनौं। हाम्रो मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्ड नै हो। पछि अघि बढ्दै जाँदा कुन कुन खुड्किलो भएर जानुपर्छ त्यो अहिले नै भन्न सकिँदैन, तर यो चैँ केन्द्रीय नेतृत्वले यसरी सोचेको रहेछ भने एउटा झलक मात्र हामीले पायौं’ तिनले एउटा प्रश्नको उत्तरमा वार्तामा गोजोएककै प्रतिनिधि टोलीले भाग लिने बताएका छन्। गोजोएक अध्यक्षको पदबाट बिमल गुरूङले दिएको राजीनामा स्वीकार नभइ सकेको अवस्थामा यही साझा मञ्चमार्फत मुद्दाको पहल गर्ने मोर्चाको सोचरहेको तिनको भनाइ छ। ‘किनभने यतिबेला गोजोएक र मोर्चा भनेर छुट्ट्याउनेबेला होइन। बैठकमा जाने टोली गोजोएककै हुन्छ अनि कार्यक्रमहरू पनि यसकैब्यानरमा गर्छौ’ डा छेत्रीले भने।

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Centre weak; maintain faith even if tripartite talks fail: Chettri

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

2 Oct 2013

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri today suggested people should not give up hope even if the upcoming tripartite meeting fails to yield any major results.

He said, “The central government is in a weak position given the impending general elections and is eyeing the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for support. The truth is her support is very crucial for the formation of a new alliance after the polls. With this in the backdrop, the centre’s move cannot be predicted precisely. I believe until a new government is formed next year, no major step is going to be taken on the Darjeeling issue.”

Chettri however, said the main agenda during the tripartite talks on October 23 would be the formation of a Gorkhaland state. He said the GJM has taken over the GTA once again to render futile the state government’s designs regarding the administrative body, adding the Morcha would use the GTA as a weapon for pressing forward the statehood agitation.

“We are not dropping the statehood demand and reverting to the GTA. The state government was ready to field its own candidate as GTA chief. In such an event, we would have had to fight him as well as the government. Hence, we elected Binay Tamang as the GTA chief executive although he is in prison as we perceive the GTA itself as a prison. We can stall the GTA and go ahead with our demand,” said the GJM spokesperson.

He cited the case of the Bodo people who are fighting for statehood while keeping the Bodo Territorial Council alive. “Quitting the GTA means throwing away a very important weapon,” said Chettri. “We should know how to make proper use of it.”

According to the GJM leader, who is also the Kalimpong MLA, the Morcha has already apprised home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde aware of the failure of the GTA. He further said the GJM will not work under any form of setup under the state government. “We have demanded a completely separate setup that will not be under the control and influence of the West Bengal government. We want the centre to realise the Gorkhas are not just fighting against injustice meted out them alone, but to all other communities residing in the Darjeeling hills.”

Chettri refrained from commenting on speculations that a Union Territory status may be demanded for Darjeeling. “We have not demanded for a Union Territory and it was only a suggestion tabled by some central leaders during a seminar held recently in Delhi. We have no comments on the proposal as our main goal is a Gorkhaland state,” summed up the GJM spokesperson.

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‘Janta’ poster accusing GJM chief surfaces again

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

2 Oct 2013

Kalimpong today saw yet another ‘janta’ poster urging the GJM leadership of refraining from including students in any form of agitation. The poster in the town’s main road addresses GJM chief Bimal Gurung saying involvement of students in the agitation is adversely affecting the standards of education in the hills.

The source of the ‘janta’ posters, which come out every now and then, has not been identified yet by the police or political parties. The latest poster takes a dig at Gurung and accuses him of ruining the future of students here.

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Deb warns of strict action against agitators

Darjeeling

2 Oct 2013

The state government will not tolerate anyone, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, taking the law into their hands,  ministers will continue visiting the hills to oversee development work, while the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration can be run by a deputy chief executive.

The above assertion came from North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb today in Bijanbari and thoroughly reflected the state government’s mood.

Deb, the Trinamool Congress leader from Siliguri, said strict action would be taken against those who have called the 12-hour ‘chakka jam’ on Thursday and also warned of arresting more GJM leaders.

“Nobody can take the law into their hands, which includes GJM leaders. We will take strict action against those individuals trying to create trouble in the hills,” said the minister who was in Bijanbari to inaugurate a North Bengal State Transport Corporation bus service from to Siliguri via Darjeeling.

The minister also distributed aata, potatoes and rice and surveyed the newly-built bridge over the Chota Rangeet river.

Further, Deb made it clear the state government could not be by-passed to convene a tripartite meeting. “The prime minister has given a written assurance about the state government being taken into confidence and its consent taken while calling tripartite talks. However, the central government is playing games and instigating the GJM by unilaterally calling for talks. We will vehemently protest this decision and take to the streets if need be,” the NBDD minister said.

The Union government has conveyed to the GJM of holding a tripartite meeting on October 23 in New Delhi to discuss the hills issue.

Responding to questions of the Morcha’s threat of continuing its agitation post October 20, Deb advised the party to opt for the development path instead.

“I hope good sense will prevail among the GJM leadership. They must honour the GTA agreement and concentrate on development work.

Peace in the region is of prime importance,” he said, adding a lot has to be done in rural areas that have been long neglected.

“I will visit all the eight blocks in the hills comprising 112 gram panchayats to see what needs to be done. I have found from my previous visits there is a considerable BPL populace in the rural regions that require MR shops to avail of subsidised food grains. I will take the matter up with the state government,” said the minister.

The TMC minister also refused to accept the spree of arrests of GJM leaders and their bail rejections were on the behest of the state government. “The police department is doing its duty. If the law is broken, those responsible will be arrested. The court takes its own decisions and the state government has nothing to do with it,” he maintained.

On the query about Binay Tamang, the GJM assistant secretary and GTA member who is still behind bars even after being elected as the new chief executive of the GTA, Deb said, “The deputy chief executive can run the GTA in the absence of his superior. His (Tamang’s) release is a prerogative of the court and we have no opposition to it”.

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BM Garg gets interim bail

Darjeeling

1 Oct 2013

The Darjeeling Chief Judicial Magistrate court today granted interim bail to prominent businessman Brij Mohan Garg who was arrested on September 11 on the charge of diverting PDS food grains to statehood agitators.

Garg, the president of the Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce, was granted interim bail on health grounds after being levied a penalty of Rs 3,000. Garg is undergoing treatment presently as his health had begun deteriorating following his arrest.

Food and supply department officials had also temporarily closed three PDS storehouses, including a flour mill co-owned by Garg.

Following Garg’s detention, the police had gone on an arresting spree of businessmen in the hills in order to cut off funds and supply to statehood agitators.

Meanwhile, the legal procedure for seeking bail for GJM assistant secretary and newly elected GTA chief executive Binay Tamang has been initiated at the CJM court. Tamang, the elected GTA member from Bloomfield constituency, had 11 cases against his name. Although he has been granted bail in seven cases, two cases are still to be heard, in Jalpaiguri district and Darjeeling. Tamang will have to appear before the CJM court on October 5 for the next hearing.

Sources have said a parole has been sought in a Jalapaiguri court in order to ensure Tamang’s presence for his oath-taking ceremony as the new GTA chief.

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Film fest on Public Service Announcement prog

Darjeeling

1 Oct 2013

In what could be termed as the first of its kind in the hills, students from the Mass Communication and Journalism department of St. Joseph’s College today organised a film festival dealing with a Public Service Announcement campaign tilted ‘Sachetna- Hear it loud, 2013’.

Aimed at creating awareness and part of a social responsibility initiative, the students showcased 21 two-minute duration films dealing with a wide variety of issues pertaining to the Darjeeling hills.

Speaking about the film festival, Fr. C Pragasan, director of self financed courses in the college, said, “We too have social responsibility and must give back something to society. We must make the community in which we live aware of the various social issues that touch people’s everyday life. As such, we came up with the PSA- Sachetna.”

PSAs are messages issued in public interest and disseminated for the benefit of citizens with the sole objective of changing their attitude and behaviour towards various social issues.

The PSA campaign in two-minute films also served as a medium to provide a morale booster to students as the best films were shortlisted for awards. The directors (students) touched varied issues such as the menace of human trafficking, eve-teasing, rash driving, right to education, social networking sites and earthquake among several others.

Surprisingly, the film ‘Helmet-safe measures’, was declared the best short film in all (technically, concept, editing, cinematography and treatment) aspects. Coming in second was ‘Healthy Eating’, while ‘Domestic Violence’ grabbed the third position. The films were judged by prominent filmmakers, journalists and educationists.

Vikram Rai, lecturer and guide to the budding filmmakers, applauded their efforts. “The whole concept and idea of the film festival and issues were conceived by the students themselves. We teachers only guided them. The issues they selected pertain to various social issues that they have felt,” Rai said.

He added, “The short films the students have come up with could be used in schools where children can be made aware of burning issues in society. As a matter of fact, the films can be made available on the website of the police department.”

Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal, who was the special guest of honour, appreciated the students’ endeavour and praised the college for coming up with the film festival that not only honed youngsters’ skills, but also spread important messages to the society. “It is amazing to see the students’ knowledge and vision and their efforts to make a difference.

Attending this festival for me reminds me of my alma mater. I wish these budding students the best for their future,” said the SP.

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BGP to organise Gorkha congregation in Delhi this Dec

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

1 Oct 2013

The Bharatia Gorkha Parisangh has decided to hold a Gorkha Congregation in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan from December 14 to 16 as part of its ‘Delhi Chalo’ campaign for Gorkhaland.

The BGP plans to gather thousands of Gorkhas in the national capital to press for the separate state demand. BGP president Dr. Enos Das Pradhan briefed the press today in Kalimpong on the Delhi Chalo for Gorkhaland campaign.

He said, “We earlier organised demonstrations in Delhi with limited number of participants to press for the demand of Gorkhaland, but they failed to make much impact. This time we have targeted the winter session of Parliament to form a congregation of thousands of Gorkhas at the Ramlila Maidan. Whichever party or organisation one belongs to, whichever religion one believes in, every Gorkha is welcome at the Ramlila Maidan.”

Pradhan also said the BGP plans to involve Sahitya Academy members for the congregation. He appealed artists, musicians and litterateurs to represent their respective sectors in the gathering.

The BGP president said a huge gathering in the national capital will provide immense support to the Gorkhaland demand. Stating power display plays a major role in any movement, he said, “Display of power has lots of space in this country, we can make use of it. It is a useful strategy but should be followed with talks.”

Pradhan said the statehood demand should not be concentrated in the Darjeeling hills only and added, “Thousands of Gorkhas shouting for Gorkhaland in Delhi in the presence of MPs will have a positive effect.”

Meanwhile, the BGP president rubbished reported talks about seeking a Union Territory status for Darjeeling. He said, “We are not concerned with a UT. We don’t know where this issue came from. We have only one demand, and that is Gorkhaland.”

Pradhan further said, “Does a UT solve the problem of our identity? Does it provide us political security? Only a separate state can address all these problems.”

He also said GJM chief Bimal Gurung has been urged to withdraw his decision to resign from the post of GJAC president and the forum’s future course of action will be prepared after he gives an answer.

Further, Pradhan condemned recent reports about Christian Gorkhas being denied certification as Gorkhas, saying the move is an old ploy of the central and state governments of playing along divisive lines. He said the same has been done in the case of Lepchas and now Christian Gorkhas are being divided on the basis of religion.

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Tripartite talks on Gorkhaland issue Oct 23 - Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

DARJEELING : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading a separatist movement in West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills, Monday said the central government has convened tripartite talks Oct 23 on the Gorkhaland issue. “I am happy to get a call from the central government for tripartite talks on the long pending demands of the Gorkhas. The talks are scheduled on Oct 23. The GJM believes that our demand can be solved with dialogue. “We are also appealing to the centre for withdrawing central forces immediately,” GJM chief Bimal Gurung said on his official Facebook page. The GJM-led Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) -a forum of pro-Gorkhaland parties which has been carrying out an intensified movement demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, Sep 10 suspended its agitation till Oct 20 in deference to the appeal by union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to facilitate tripartite talks.

Following hectic parleys by the GJM with the central leadership, Shinde earlier in the month assured the Gorkha outfit of tripartite talks on the issue. On July 18, 2011 a tripartite agreement was signed between the Gorkha outfit and the state and central governments creating the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), an autonomous hill council with the GJM at the helm. However, the GJM has maintained that the GTA was “not autonomous” and said it will be “repealed at an appropriate time”. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has taken a stern stand on the Gorkhaland issue and ruled out any division of the state, has been cracking down on the GJM-led movement by deploying central and state security forces and arresting over 1000 Gorkha leaders and activists

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Ghising returning to hills with new strategy, slogan: GNLF

KURSEONG/MIRIK

29 Sep 2013

The Gorkha National Liberation Front and its chief Subash Ghising will return to the hills soon with a new strategy and slogan, according to the party’s Kurseong unit spokesperson Daya Dewan.

He said Ghising’s comeback will kick-off with a public meeting in Sumeru Manch at Chowkbazar, Darjeeling. “Our president will most likely make a comeback between Dusshera and Diwali. Our demand will have a new slogan: a constitutionally protected and stable setup until Gorkhaland is achieved,” informed Dewan.

He said the GNLF was busy reorganising its cells when the GJM launched its renewed agitation for statehood from July-end in the wake of the announcement of Telangana.

“We stopped all activities and without opposing the statehood demand, we chose to remain ‘invisible’ from politics as Gorkhaland is the paramount aspiration of the hills. But now the GJM has again reverted to the GTA instead of continuing with the agitation for statehood,” said the GNLF leader.

He further said the GNLF has nothing to comment on the GTA, but the state and central governments must think of an alternative set-up that has constitutional guarantee and is stable.

When asked what the ideal alternative could be, Dewan pointed at the Sixth Schedule status, saying it is constitutionally protected and hence the best option for the hills. The Sixth Schedule status has already been discussed and passed by the State Assembly and is only awaiting Parliament’s final nod, he said.

As part of its new strategy, the GNLF plans to form sub-divisional units across the hills from the first week of October to propagate the benefits of the Sixth Schedule status, added Dewan.

A tripartite agreement was signed on December 6, 2005 between the centre, state and the GNLF to grant Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills. But this was strongly opposed by Madan Tamang, the then All India Gorkha League president, arguing the people of the hills would be divided on racial lines. Moreover, with the GJM gaining ascendance, the tripartite agreement got curtailed further and the bill that was about to get passed was deferred indefinitely by Parliament.

The Mirik unit of the Gorkha National Liberation Front has echoed the same. GNLF Mirik president Ladup Ghising, hinting of demanding the Sixth Schedule status, today said his party is preparing a blueprint to seek a constitutionally recognised setup for Darjeeling. “The central government has kept on neglecting the Darjeeling region, but now it is time for it to introduce a constitutionally recognised administrative in the larger interest of the nation,” he said. 

The GNLF leader also criticised the state government for adopting a divide and rule policy and uttered, “The government is creating a communal divide to deprive the Gorkha community of its constitutional rights. This is a predetermined policy of the government to create disorder in the hills.” The GNLF is dedicated to solving the ongoing problems in the hills, claimed Ghising.

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MOLESTATION INCIDENT

Darjeeling

29 Sep 2013

The police have blamed Saturday’s incident to rumours spread by opportunist elements that instigated students to turn violent resulting in a clash between the administration and the public in the heart of Darjeeling town.

Taking stock of Saturday’s clash, Darjeeling Special IG Jawed Shamim today said, “We have always maintained good relations and want to be in the best of terms with the public. But things went out of hand yesterday because of rumours spread by elements who do not want to see the bonhomie continuing. We are presently trying to identify these elements whose intentions appear to be diabolical.”

Darjeeling town was engulfed in violence on Saturday in the wake of reports of a Rapid Action Force jawan molesting a minor near Ghoom-Bhanjyang. The police had to resort to lathicharge and fire eight rounds in the air in the Chowk Bazaar area to disperse the agitators.

In retaliation, the angry crowd set ablaze a state transport bus and tried to attack a police outpost near Singamari with petrol bombs. About 100 people have been arrested from Darjeeling as well as from Kalimpong sub-division, where angry protests were also witnessed. Another state transport bus was set on fire by the mob in Kalimpong.

“There hasn’t been any incident of such magnitude in the past couple of months in spite of the heavy presence of security forces. Saturday’s incident was a one-off case,” the special IG said.

He also pointed out public sentiment, based on wrong information, was another factor that led to the outburst.

“Rumours were spread about the RAF constable raping the girl, but this was not true at all. Whenever a man of uniform is linked to such cases, emotions get the better of reason,” noted Shamim, adding whatever necessary action that was needed to be taken against the accused has been carried out.

The accused, Arun Pramanik, a constable of the 2nd Battalion from Barrackpore, was today produced before Darjeeling court. Since no bail plea was moved, the court sent the RAF constable to judicial custody till the next hearing on October 5.

Meanwhile, the police are questioning and seeking explanations from school heads as several students in uniform were seen among the agitators.

“We are getting in touch with school heads to ask them why students were allowed to participate in the gherao of the police station. The heads cannot shrug off responsibility as many students have been seen in uniform,” said the Special IG.

“Not only was the future of the students put in danger yesterday, but their lives were also at risk. If students get arrested, will they be able get government jobs in future?” asked Shamim.

Reacting to the charge, a school head on condition of anonymity said, “We called off classes when news of the molestation attempt spread and were waiting for parents of junior students to come and take them away. We had asked the seniors to go home, but it appears some picketers approached and took along some senior students. Under such a circumstance, we cannot be put at fault”.

In another development during the day, the chief judicial magistrate court granted interim bail to Jyoti Kumar Rai and Anjali Subba. The duo had been arrested yesterday along with 21 others.

Rai, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha assistant secretary and an elected member of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, and the others were arrested on charges of arson and criminal conspiracy under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. They will all have to appear before the court on October 5.

The bandh called today in the three sub-divisions by the Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha to condemn Saturday’s molestation incident was fully successful with no untoward incidents reported.

GJM leaders refused to make any comments on the incident even as students have said they will hold rallies on Monday. Eleven CRPF companies along with state security forces have been put on patrol and stationed at strategic places of town.

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Kalimpong bandh condemning molestation incident peaceful

KALIMPONG

29 Sep 2013

The 12-hour bandh called today by the Vidhyarthi Morcha across the Darjeeling hills to condemn Saturday’s molestation incident was fully effective in Kalimpong.

All shops were all closed as also transportation, with only ambulances and security vehicles seen plying the roads. The townsfolk also chose to remain indoors giving the streets a desolate look.

Paramilitary and police forces were present in town in large numbers following the torching of a state government transport bus at the motor stand last night. Security personnel were deployed at several points in town to prevent untoward incidents. However, national highway 31A was not affected by the bandh.

Kalimpong police have arrested five people in connection to the bus torching incident. The suspects in custody are Kiran Das from Bagdhara, Chandra Tamang from Primtam Road, Kushal Tamang and David Lepcha from Lower Primtam and Kumar Sharma from 10th Mile. The five were picked up last night.

They have been charged under IPC Section 435/34 and under charges of destroying public property under IPC Section 6. They were presented before court today after a medical check at the Municipal Hospital.

The Kalimpong chairman of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, Sekhar Khati said higher authorities have been informed about the incident. Talking to journalists, he said some people had set the bus on fire angered by the rape attempt on the minor. He added the torching of the bus has cost a loss of around Rs15 lakh to the corporation and efforts are on to get a new bus for public convenience.

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Darjeeling town tense following clash between students & cops

Darjeeling

28 Sep 2013

Students and the general public clashed with the police Saturday evening following reports of a rape attempt on a minor by a jawan of the Rapid Action Force at Ghoom-Bhanjyang, about 16km from Darjeeling town.

The police had to fire three blank rounds and resort to lathicharge in the main town area to disperse the agitated mob. Media personnel were also lathicharged and their vehicles damaged, resulting in injuries to at least one journalist.

The incident started when a section of the crowd that had gathered to protest the rape attempt tried to torch a police van parked outside the police station. They failed in the attempt, but managed to set ablaze a state bus.

Arun Prawanik of the 2nd RAF Battalion from Barrackpore has been arrested on charges of wrongful restraint and assault or criminal force with intent to molest the 16-year-old.

“We have arrested Prawanik, who was stationed at Ghoom-Bhanjyang, on molestation charges. He will be produced before Darjeeling court tomorrow,” informed Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal.

The victim, a resident of Barbattey Busty, has been admitted at the Darjeeling district hospital. Unable to bear the trauma, she fainted when media persons reached the hospital to seek her statement.

Meanwhile, tension built up in the evening in town with both the agitators and police pelting stones at each other. Heavy central forces have been deployed and raids launched to nab the agitators, mostly youths.

The Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha, the student wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, has called a bandh on Sunday to protest the molestation and lathicharge incidents.

Students and the general public together asked markets and business establishments in the afternoon to close down and blocked the Hill Cart Road for a while.

“The bandh will continue tomorrow to condemn the rape attempt on the girl student and police atrocity. Students will organise rallies on Monday in all the three sub-divisions to condemn today’s incidents,” said a GJVM leader not wanting to be named.

Naren Subba, uncle of the victim, said, “My niece had forgotten it was an off today and left for school as usual. On seeing the school closed, she headed back home around nine thirty in the morning and when she approached a densely forested area near Ghoom-Bhanjyang, a RAF jawan in plain clothes stopped her abruptly. He asked my niece to befriend him and then started molesting her.”

He added, “My niece started screaming and tried to run away with the jawan in hot pursuit. Had it not been for some passers-by, anything could have happened. They nabbed the culprit and handed him over to the Jorebungalow police station.”

GJM leaders have condemned the incident and have faxed a letter to the Union home minister to recall the central forces from the hills.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said, “We strongly condemn the incident and demand justice for the girl. Today’s incident proves the security forces deployed in the hills are only creating trouble and disturbances. As such, we have asked the centre to remove them at the earliest. People now have lost faith on the administration.”

When asked about the bandh call, he said, “The bandh was called spontaneously by students and the public in protest.”

A two-hour road blockade was also staged in Kurseong sub-division to condemn the incident.

Meanwhile, reports have come of unidentified people trying to set ablaze the police out-post near Singamari around seven thirty in the evening. Police personnel doused the fire and fired three rounds in the air. There were no reports of injury or damage to property.

Further, it is learnt the police detained GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai and several other party cadres late in the evening.

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Too early to question GJM’s sincerity: Pradhan

kalimpong

28 Sep 2013

The GJM’s decision to revive the GTA has given rise to confusion and discontent both among the general public and within the GJAC.

Binay Tamang’s appointment as the GTA chief executive is also receiving negative comments on social networking sites. Statehood aspirants have expressed fear that the GJM may shelve the Gorkhaland agitaion and stick with running the GTA’s affairs. However, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh president and GJAC spokesperson Dr. Enos Das Pradhan has expressed faith in the Morcha saying the appointment of a new chief executive doesn’t necessarily mean a full-fledged revival of the GTA.

Speaking to journalists in Kalimpong today, Pradhan said appointing a new chief executive was a political and legal compulsion for the GJM and that it would not be just to question the party’s sincerity regarding the statehood demand so soon.

“The GJM has promised us of appointing a chief executing and then keep the setup dysfunctional after passing a resolution on Gorkhaland,” he said.

The Morcha must now focus on scrapping the GTA failing which it would be a huge betrayal to the GJAC and the general public, observed Pradhan.

GJAC constituents including the CPRM and BGP want the GJM to pass the resolution on Gorkhaland in the very first meeting of the new GTA Sabha.

The GJAC spokesperson acknowledged that the absence of a proper code of conduct in the joint platform has given constituents the leeway to act independently, but he said a fitting code of conduct will be adopted in the September 30 meeting.

Pradhan further noted that the absence of a code of conduct resulted in only GJM representatives being present at a seminar in Delhi held recently, giving an impression of disunity in the GJAC.

With pressure mounting on the GJM after it announced Tamang as the new GTA chief executive, the GJAC meeting scheduled on September 30 stands on a crucial juncture. Crucial matters will be up for discussion that day including the adoption of a code of conduct.

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Infuriated mob burns govt bus in Kalimpong

PRADIP LOHAGUN

KALIMPONG

28 Sep 2013

The Darjeeling hills has again erupted in violence after today’s rape attempt incident in Ghoom-Bhanjyang by a RAF jawan. Following the showdown in Darjeeling, an infuriated mob in Kalimpong too set a state bus on fire around 9pm.

The bus that leaves for Siliguri every morning at6:15am has been reduced to ashes. The bus with registration number WB 76/3028 was parked at the motor stand when a crowd of people provoked by the incident set it on fire.

The police reached the spot along with the fire brigade, but could not douse the flames. A shop in the vicinity has also been partially affected by the fire, according to reports. The police have started investigations and deployed additional forces at the motor stand area.

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