your house is Burgled- sikkim cups

RANGPO-2ND JUNE12
First time in the history is that the police has informed that your house is burgled .according to the news .police staff in check post duty at Rangpo check post shown the vehicle coming from Gangtok side taking one passengers only plying towards siliguri and in suspension the police staff checked the vehicles and started interrogating with the alone passenger travelling in the vehicles .he was carrying one beg too and when the beg checked huge quantity of ornaments seen inside the begs .the police bring him to the check post and when questioned he clearly asked that he along with one friend has burgled one house at Gangtok and was on the way to siliguri .Rangpo police informed Gangtok police and given the details of the house provide by that thieves .when police reached that house they has shown that the house was burgled .the house was of babulal malu .they was out of station from some days and the thieves has totally clear their house in the midnight of 1st June .Rangpo police has arrested one youth named bidhan khatri of sayari Gangtok along with approx 25 tola gold,40 tola silver ,25 wrist watches ,and other miscellaneous items total amount more than thirty lakh from the beg .according to the information provide by arrested youth from Rangpo check post Aryan alias bikash was also arrested by Gangtok police from Gangtok.

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sikkim started development work in turism sector

RANGPO-2ND JUNE 12
State government has started the developmental work in west Pandam in tourism sector to make the area famous in spiritual tourism sector .the infrastructural development of budang Gadi has been started and road has been reached and the statue of mata kali construction is on stream line .Rangpo indrakil prayag project has also been started .in first two phase approx three crore amount has been sanctioned by the state government for the development of Rangpo indrakil prayag .Mrs. niru sewa area mla cum minister industries was addressing the meeting at Rangpo indrakil prayaag specialy requested all the local residents ,public ,ngo ,club ,association ,industrial units to support and come forward to make the area a modal area .Mrs. sewa addressing the meeting also appealed with the public of Rangpo to show good hospitality ,cleanness etc as Rangpo is the main gateway of Sikkim and state images is totally depend upon the Rangpo .meeting conducted by mr ganga ram guragai of Pandam Mr. bikash Prasad councillor Rangpo nagar Panchayat ,mr rudra pokhrel Panchayat Duga gram Panchayat unit ,Mr. swaminath Prasad president Sikkim bihari jagran manch central committee and others participated from whole west pandam area has commented their views over the agenda of the meeting .

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Steps planned against overcharge

AVIJIT SINHA

Siliguri, June 1: The increase in the incidents of tourists being overcharged by sections of taxis and hotels during the current season has prompted the tour operators in north Bengal and Sikkim to plan steps that could put an end to such illegal practices.

The Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association said a campaign against the unethical practices in the tourism sector would be launched among the taxi drivers and hoteliers once the summer season was over.

“Once the tourist rush comes down in the next two weeks, we will seek the intervention of Bengal and Sikkim governments to end the overcharging of passengers by taxis and overpricing of hotel rooms. We will sit with the associations engaged in tourism and urge them to carry out campaigns among their members against the fleecing of visitors,” said Raj Basu, the advisor to the tour operators’ association. The tour operators also plan to bring about transparency in various rates charged by the taxis and hotels. The operators will ask lodges and hotels to display room tariffs in front of the buildings.

“We will also display taxi fares at tourist entry points like Bagdogra airport, NJP, Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus in Siliguri, and taxi stands in Darjeeling and Gangtok,” said a tour operator.

A hotel manager was arrested in Darjeeling last week for overcharging a tourist. The manager of Hotel Swati was arrested for charging Rs 6,000 per day for a room, while the police felt the rate should have ideally been Rs 1,000.

The tour operators said they had also suffered losses because of the overpricing of rooms by the hotels. “We had made hotel bookings and reserved vehicles in advance for our clients at standard rates,” said Partha Pratim Guha, a Siliguri-based tour operator.

“But during this season, many of us had to pay extra amounts to hotels and taxis because of the unprecedented inflow of tourists. We had to pay from our pockets to keep our commitments.”

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Scan on fleecing of tourists by taxis - Action against six cabs in Gangtok

NIRMAL MANGAR

Gangtok, June 1: Sikkim police today launched a crackdown on taxis overcharging passengers in the peak tourism season. One vehicle was taken into custody and documents seized from five other cabs.

Traffic police personnel were deployed at five points along NH31A and they checked each taxi carrying tourists to Siliguri.

The East Sikkim police swung into action following unofficial complaints that tourists were fleeced by taxis trying to exploit the shortage of cabs and ignorance of the visitors about the actual fares.

The superintendent of police of East district, Mandeep Tuli, said the law enforcers had been keeping tabs on the Mainline Taxi Stand at Deorali from the morning.

“We have been receiving complaints from the tourists that they are being forced to cough up charges double the rates fixed by the government. A team headed by subdivisional police officer of Gangtok conducted a checking at the Mainline Taxi Stand in Deorali this morning. We have also deployed two police personnel there to check the tickets bought by the passengers and ask them how much they have paid. If we find that any tourist has been fleeced, immediate action will be taken against the errant driver,” Tuli told The Telegraph.

The SDPO, Ongmu Bhutia, said the police had seized a cab from the Mainline Taxi Stand during the drive. “The taxi was taken into custody for refusing to ferry passengers to Siliguri if they didn’t pay higher fare. Besides, we also seized driving licences and other documents from five taxis for overcharging the tourists,” he said.

Apart from Deorali, the police also conducted checking at Tadong, Ranipool, Singtam, and Rangpo to find out if any passenger was overcharged by the cabs. The East district SP said fines would be slapped on drivers who duped passengers under the relevant sections of the Sikkim Motor Vehicle Act.

Some tourists have complained that drivers asked them for almost double the actual rate (Rs 150) fixed by the motor vehicle department for carrying a single person from Gangtok to Siliguri (110km).

“One driver asked me to pay Rs 5,000 to hire the entire taxi to travel from Gangtok to Siliguri. We tried to negotiate with the driver to reduce the fare, but he refused to ferry us at a lower rate. Later, we learnt that the rate of hiring the entire taxi (Tata Sumo) was only Rs 2,500,” said Shekhar Roy from Raiganj in North Dinajpur.

The crackdown has also targeted the touts at the Mainline Taxi Stand. The police warned them against loitering near the stand and exploiting the unsuspecting tourists.

The police said although the tourists always alleged that the taxis were overcharging them, none had ever come forward to lodge a complaint.

“We are here to help the tourists and commuters, but nobody comes forward and lodges the complaints. If the harassed tourists approach the police for action against the drivers, such illegal practices could be stopped,” said Bhutia.

The main reason for the commuters being taken for a ride by the taxis is the shortage of cabs during the peak season. So, the police have written to the Sikkim Nationalised Transport to operate two additional buses till the tourism season gets over. “We have requested the SNT to ply at least two more buses between Siliguri and Gangtok for the next 15 days. As of now, the SNT operates 10 buses between Sikkim and Siliguri,” said Tuli.

Around 200 cabs are available in Gangtok for trips to Siliguri.

Police in Siliguri had also launched a drive against taxis overcharging the tourists on the way to the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim. Around 30 taxis were fined and four touts arrested during the crackdown last week.

The treasurer of the Mainline Taxi Drivers’ Association, B.B. Chamling, said: “Although there is a growth in the tourist flow to Sikkim every year, there is no corresponding increase in the number of taxis. Its difficult to provide vehicles to 1,000 tourists everyday during the season and added to that, there are traffic jams on the highway because of the road widening work. We appeal to the tourists to buy tickets from the counters and avoid touts.”

Some tourists, however, felt that there should be a police help booth at Mainline Taxi Stand.

“We learnt that the nearest police outpost is almost 500 metres away. If the Sikkim police set up a kiosk at the stand, it would be more convenient for the commuters to lodge a compliant,” said a tourist from Cooch Behar. (TT)

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Rambi School, the story of ‘Fish without Water’

MUKESH SHARMA
Rambi, May 31:
Rambi, a small village along the stretch of National Highway 31A has the population of two thousand peoples. The village in the name of education has only a high school to cater education for the populace of the place which was established on 1972. The school receiving the junior school recognisation after 10 years of its inception had dig up the secondary tag last year. The school which is said to be constructed by the NHPC still lacks the toilet facilities, fans facilities in classroom and the stories of the desk-benches are a serious subject of concern. The world when joins hand with the 21st century, the students of the school are not lucky enough to glimpse a computer. The school has pigs shed on its surrounding whose savor distracts the students as well as the teachers. The question here arises that why the children of the poor backgrounds have to face such facilities? Did the students have committed any sins, and being born in a BPL family is a curse?
The school having the strength of 250 students is run by only 5 teachers. The school does not have maths as a subject. The teachers are working voluntarily, some adhoc etc. Sanctions of 6 lacs have been learnt in 2010 for the up gradation of the classes, where 4, 1100 had been was secured by the SMC in its first installment for the construction of the school hall. The hall remains incomplete today as they SMC have not been able to get the rest for the completion. The school that has got the secondary recognisation had to do a lot more but who cares. The school has neither fencing nor proper drinking water facilities and it must be the above reason that the results of the school remain humiliating year by year. The principal when asked about the circumstance of the school, he thought of remaining silent whereas the GJM party workers and the locals are worried about the deteriorating condition of the school. The Rambi Yuwa Morcha president Jiten Chettri, Branch president MB Singha, Arjun Tamang deeply touched by the condition of the school has started their steps for the amplification the school which in fact is the only ray of hope for every household at Rambi. On the other hand when asked to the SMC president also the secondary school AI Dr Anjana Thapa about the worsening condition of the school, she said that they have been concerned about the condition of the school. The school on the other hand till date has not printed any complaints pertaining to the clause of the school, if so the justice could have been dispensed. The school not having the basic amenities like teachers, toilets, officials, hall, computer, drinking water, desk-benches seems like a fish without water. There is a dire need of the voices from the teachers’ representatives, MLA, party, department and the intellects for the overall development of the school.(kalimpongnewsexpress.blogspot.in)

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GJM dismissed the Highway Block Committee

MUKESH SHARMA
Kalimpong, May 31

MEMBERS OF HIGHWAY BLOCK
The GJM party has today dismissed the Highway Block Committee demands for a separate constituency after the news of division among the Committee itself. Commenting on the issue GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said that the attitude of the Committee has forced the GJM to take the steps. The Committee which has been demanding an aloof constituency from Sevoke to Rangpo was distressed by Wednesday when the Melli to Rangpo branch slammed their demands and followed the party high command orders. The Rambi branch also today decided to join the Labda-Mangpoo constituency leaving Teesta alone.(kalimpongnewsexpress.blogspot.in)

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"World No Tobacco Day 2012"

RANGPO-1ST JUNE 12
Golden Cross PHARMA PRIVATE LIMITED RORATHANG observed the "World No Tobacco Day 2012" on 31st May 2012 on the theme of "Tobacco Industries Interference". 3 day long Different type of programme like Awareness Training on ill effect of Tobacco by doctor Sudeep Pradhan (Rongli), open Chalta Bolta Quiz and Poster competition was also conducted from 29th may to today at company complex .The programme was concluded with prizes distribution to all winners of quiz and poster by the hand of chief guest Mr Karma G. Bhutia,SDPO,RONGLI. Mr Bhutia SDPO Rongli has appreciated such types of concept and programme organised by any pharmacy company. in other side world anti tobacco day was observed in Duga secondary school complex .according to Mr. d b Chettri head master several type of awareness programme related to tobacco was organised in the day .

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"World Environment Week"

RANGPO-1ST JUNE 12
Zydus Healthcare, Baghey khola is celebrating "World Environment Week" from 30 May to 5th June 2012. During this week the company will organise inter - department Environment Health & Safety audit competition; best idea competition, quiz & slogans competition, some community based awareness programs and few other such activities.
In fact, as part of the celebrations the company decided to contribute towards reducing a bit of the carbon footage like the previous two years. Towards this, on 30th May, the first day of the environment week, all employees came walking from their respective houses to the factory. The employees came to the factory in two groups with banners conveying healthy environment messages. One group came from Singtam which was led by Mr. NN Kabade, the Unit Head and the other from Rangpo led by Mr. Suman Bag. Ms Geetanjali Singh D/O Major Ajit Singh, who happened to be in Sikkim for her summer vacation, walked for the third time in succession along with her father to the factory. No vehicles were used for coming to the factory in A and G shifts. On reaching the factory Mr. Kabade addressed all employees on the environmental issues and there after all employees took "Environment, Health & Safety" pledge.

The Unit Head along with the heads of departments and Mr. Purna Bahadur, Councilor Nagar Panchayat, Rangpo, spent the day with the students and staff of Majhitar High School on 1st June and shared their environmental thoughts with them. Besides planting saplings, the program at the school included drawing & painting competition; green idea/slogan and essay competition with the basic theme on environmental awareness. The company also screened the famous movie on environmental awareness, called "The Inconvenient Truth" for the students and staff of the school.

The World Environment week will be concluded on 5th June by planting saplings within the factory premises and prize distribution. The occasion will be graced by Dr. Gopal Pradhan, Senior Scientist, State Pollution Control Board, Sikkim. Various activities of the Environment Week are being organised by Major Ajit Singh (General Manager HR & Admin), Mr. Sharad Sawant ( Manager Engineering) & Mr. Jayaram Pattnaik (Safety Officer)

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Nathu-la road cleared - Trapped tourists recount army’s hospitality

NIRMAL MANGAR

Gangtok, May 31: Tourists left stranded overnight on their way back from Nathu-la returned to Gangtok this morning after the BRO cleared the road blocked by a series of landslides.

The 2,500 tourists spent nearly 18 hours at army camps and homes of villagers in Kyongshala near the landslide spot, 20km from Gangtok.

The visitors praised the army and the people in Kyongshala for taking care of them throughout the night, providing food, administering oxygen to those who were suffering from respiratory trouble at 12,000ft and even arranging a cake to celebrate the birthday of a four-year-old.

A fresh batch of 400 vehicles with tourists left for Chhangu lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la after 11am today.

Tourist vehicles parked on JN Marg near Kyongshala village on Thursday morning before leaving for Gangtok. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Among those stranded was Prosenjit Kundu from Calcutta. “This is our first experience of being left stranded because of a landslide. We thought we would have to spend the night in the vehicle but the army and the villagers were so kind to put us up. We were given not only good food but also places to sleep,” said 35-year-old Kundu as the car carrying him rolled past 2nd Mile checkpost.

“We have a train ticket to Calcutta this evening from New Jalpaiguri, we hope we will make it there,” he said.

Most tourists were relieved that they were rescued by the army but the Sahas from Gujarat were really happy to be at the camp: they could celebrate their four-year-old son’s birthday despite being held up in a remote mountainous pocket.

“It was all possible because of the army. We had plans to celebrate the birthday of my son Ayush Saha in Gangtok but it could not happen because we could not return. When the army jawans came to know that our plans were spoilt, they managed a cake for us and my son was able to celebrate his birthday. He was so happy,” mother Nisha Saha told The Telegraph.

The steady rain yesterday had delayed the army efforts to clear the debris from the road. The series of landslides that started at 3pm at 15th Mile continued till 8 at night.

Kundu said the jawans vacated their rooms for the tourists.

“The army provided us with warm blankets and food. The jawans vacated their rooms for the ailing and spent the night outside in the warmth of wood and diesel fires,” said Kundu. He also praised the villagers for sharing the little that they had with the visitors.

“We consider guests to be God. Above all, humanity is more important. It was our pleasure to help the tourists,” said Milan Chettri, a resident of Kyongshala.

The BRO cleared the debris on the highway this morning.

“We tried to clear the debris last night but it was not possible because of the falling boulders now and then. It took us almost two hours to clean the road,” BRO engineer R. Khulal.

The vehicles, which had taken permission on Wednesday to visit Nathu-la, were allowed to go to the border pass today.

“We ensured that all the stranded vehicles came down first. Cars going up were permitted only after 11am. A total of 400 vehicles headed for Chhangu and Nathu-la today,” said inspector Sabitri Pradhan posted at 2nd Mile checkpost.

The president of the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim, Luckendra Rasaily, said some vehicles had been sent to bring down the tourists. “Some cars had broken down and extra vehicles were needed,” said Rasaily.(TT)

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Siliguri shuts out tourist needs - Visitors grapple with overcharge by vehicles

AVIJIT SINHA

Siliguri, May 31: Tourists today grappled with overcharging vehicles and transport shortage in Siliguri as the gateway to the hills and Sikkim remained indifferent to their needs, citing the bandh called by the BJP.

Stakeholders in the tourism industry blamed the “spirit” of Siliguri for today’s tourist inconvenience, alleging that the town shut down on the slightest pretext.

Many tourists complained they had to pay extra to reach Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus or New Jalpaiguri station or Bagdogra airport from the outskirts of Siliguri where they were dropped by taxis coming down from the hills.

Most travellers were unaware that the “extra” they paid was more than double the usual fare.

Tourists wait for vehicles near New Jalpaiguri station during the strike on Thursday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

“We are a group of 15 people and have reservations in the Sealdah-bound Darjeeling Mail tonight. Accordingly, we came down from Darjeeling this morning. The vehicle dropped us at Siliguri Junction where we got an auto-rickshaw which agreed to take us to NJP for Rs 350 for each trip,” said Santanu Bagchi, a banker and a resident of Barasat. “We had little option but to agree to his proposal.”

The normal fare for an auto-rickshaw ride for this distance is Rs 150 for four persons. Few private cars had come out on the bandh day but those on the streets charged double the normal rate.

Nilambar Sethia, a resident of Mumbai and his family, had to pay Rs 1,000 for a Maruti van which picked them up at Salugara and dropped them at Bagdogra.

“The driver of the taxi that brought us to Salugara from Gangtok said he would not enter the town, fearing attack from bandh supporters. He fixed another car for us and we had little scope for bargain as we had to catch the flight,” said Sethia. The normal fare is Rs 400.

Some hill taxis, however, agreed to drop the tourists at NJP and Bagdogra but for “tips”.

“We had agreed to pay Rs 4,000 to the driver who brought us from Darjeeling and dropped us in Siliguri. We told the driver that we would tip him Rs 400 if he drove us till NJP,” said a tourist.

Tour and travel operators felt Siliguri and its “nature” were responsible for today’s problems. “Siliguri is supposed to be a big business town but it shuts down on the slightest pretext. Or else how would you explain this situation? A political party with little support base in the area called a bandh and everything just shut down. The shutdown has little to do with the political party. Rather, it is in the spirit and the nature of Siliguri to close down and not work,” said a stakeholder of the tourism industry.

The business community has defended the decision to keep establishments shut on any strike day. “We oppose any strike as it directly affects the economy. But we cannot force our members to keep their establishments open. Who will take responsibility if the shops are ransacked or burnt down. They will suffer huge losses,” asked Biswajit Das, the general secretary of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, North Bengal.

Scenes of tourists being fleeced unfolded at NJP and Bagdogra too.

“Two rickshaws said they would take Rs 150 from NJP to Siliguri Junction. Since we bargained, they refused to take us,” said Rajkumar Ghosh, who arrived from Kharagpur and was headed for Darjeeling.

“Finally we settled for the third rickshaw, which brought us to Siliguri Junction.” The rate at other times is Rs 50.

The administration, which had been conducting raids to rein in tourist extortion, was almost a silent spectator to the tourists’ plight today. Asked for the reason, a police officer said: “We admit that there was rampant extortion today and we could do nothing. We were busy keeping a watch on the law and order situation. Besides, if we had started a drive, no vehicle would have come out and people would have blamed us for coming in the way of a normal life.”

Some tour operators brought their clients down from the hills early in the morning, dropping them at NJP or at Bagdogra hours before their departure time.

“This was done to avoid any inconvenience, which might crop up because of the strike,” said Samrat Sanyal, the president of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association. “We could, however, send tourists to the hills without hassle. ”

In the Darjeeling hills, dominant party, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, had said it would not “participate” in the strike.(TT)

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Morcha’s GTA stand

Jalpaiguri, May 31: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today stuck to its demand for the inclusion of the entire Dooars and Terai in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and said the statement made by John Barla contrary to that effect was “purely personal”.

Rebel adivasi leader Barla had said on Sunday that towns in the brew belt of Jalpaiguri district should be kept out of the purview of the GTA. He said only villages and tea gardens in the foothills could be brought under the GTA as there was stiff resistance from the people in the urban areas to the demand.

A Morcha central committee member from the Dooars and a member of the Joint Action Co-ordination Committee, Madhikar Thapa, today countered Barla’s statement. “Barla’s statement that towns should be left out of the GTA is purely personal. We have not endorsed any resolution to that effect on behalf of the Morcha at any meeting of the co-ordination committee. Such a resolution has never been placed before the committee,” he told The Telegraph.

Thapa said the inclusion of towns like Birpara, Banarhat, Kalchini, Jaigaon and Hasimara in the GTA was very much on the agenda of the co-ordination committee. “It is not correct to say that these towns would not be included in the GTA. We have strong support base in these areas as was evident during Bimal Gurung’s stay there in March.”

Barla today reiterated his earlier claim that he had scaled down the demand after consultations within the committee. “The committee has met and taken a decision and that will be conveyed to the Morcha. I won’t say much on the matter,” said Barla.

The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today decided to hold candlelight rallies across the Terai and Dooars on June 8 to oppose the demand to include the areas in the GTA.(TT)

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“Municipality does not maintain records in a systematic manner”- Municipality President CPRM Secretary, files RTI against Municipality, receives startling explanations

MUKESH SHARMA KALIMPONG, May 30: CPRM KPG SEC MOHAN POUDYAL The Right to Information (RTI) Act implemented by the Government of India (GOI) provides liberty to any citizen to request information from a public authority which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. But much lately, brow raising facts has been come under the light through this Act in the region. Taking the support of this Act, the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) Secretary Mohan Poudyal, had filed an RTI on March 30, 2012 to the Darjeeling District Magistrate (DM) and the Information Officer. His questions enquired about the funds released by the State/ Central Government to the Kalimpong Municipality from April 1994 till March 2012, details of development works along with name of the works, locations and areas since April 1994 till March 2012 and list of the beneficiaries under the Housing Scheme in different heads of the State/ Central Government since April 1994 till march 2012.

The DM on April 16 had directed the Municipality to provide the necessary information. The Municipality President, Retd IAS, LB Pariyar taking the direction answered Poudyal’s enquiries through a letter on May 11. The reply read, “Unlike Government offices this Municipality does not maintain records in a systematic manner. Some files according to the direction of the Chairman and the Board of Councilors of the concerned period may have been maintained, but they too in a very limited basis. 1 or 2 years old papers may be traceable, but no old papers are easily traceable. So, we regret to say that it is not possible to reply on your questions (i) and (ii). As for question (iii), the list of the beneficiaries is enclosed herewith”. Surprised by the Municipality’s answer, Poudyal asserted that it is shameful for a Government Department not to keep proper track of its finances and where it has been used. The Municipality President has therefore accepted the fact that they have not recorded how much funds have been received for the public development and where and how the funds have been used. This proves that the money meant for the public has been misused by some people, he underlined. This can happen only in Kalimpong, where files having record of crores of fund goes missing and there is no mention of these funds anywhere, said the Secretary in disbelief. “Even a small Club keeps its record properly, but it is a disgrace that the Municipality cannot do so”, stated Poudyal. Hence, he demanded a thorough investigation by the Government in this grave issue. Lastly, Poudyal also questioned the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that, “Will the general public benefit this way or are these funds only to fill the pockets of some corrupted people?”
(kalimpongnewsexpress.blogspot.in)

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Attack in the government officers on duty at Rangpo IBM

RANGPO-31ST MAY Attack in the government officers on duty at Rangpo IBM creates a big unsatisfication and threat from the officers working at Rangpo area .on Sunday two youth attacked Mr. janak gurung of bazaar inspector under Rangpo nagar Panchayat .though the Rangpo police has arrested the duo youth and has send to fifteen days judicial custody but its not sufficient the strict norms and action is needed for collecting the tool tax and vehicle parking too. this time the government officers was targeted by the illegal collector but every time the many businessman has to face misbehaved from the tool tax collector .the collector of vehicle parking is also very serious ,the drivers are facing lot of difficulty due to misbehaved by the vehicle parking collector. many time tourist from the nearby state and also came to Sikkim with their vehicles .as they don’t know the norms of the state the collector start misbehaving .the state is entering the big market of tourism sector .this type of mentality and behaviour shall badly hamper in this sector .everyone must think and have to learn atithi dev path .

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Eight Nepal kids rescued - Three held after bus raid

Siliguri, May 30: Police today rescued eight minors from a group of 25 while being taken to Sikkim by alleged traffickers.

Three suspected traffickers escorting the boys from Nepal were arrested from Hill Cart Road, the result of a raid on a bus carrying them based on a tip-off. The police said the boys in the age group of 13-16 were on their way to Sikkim to work at construction sites.

“We acted on source information from Naxalbari and found three persons taking 25 boys from Nepal to Sikkim on the pretext of giving them jobs at some construction sites. They boarded the bus from Panitanki (on the Indo-Nepal border). We stopped the bus near Mahananda Bridge on Hill Cart Road and rescued the boys,” an officer of the Siliguri police said.

He said the age of the minors in the group ranged from 13 to 16. “Most of them were barely in their teens,” said the officer. He said the police could not have acted suo motu if only adults were in the group. “In that case, there had to be complaints against exploitation from the adult workers.”

Sources in the police said the traffickers had promised the minors a daily wage of Rs 250. The adults, that is those above 18, were promised Rs 450. They were also told they would be given three meals a day. Most of the boys are from the eastern parts of Nepal.

The Siliguri traffic police, which intercepted the group while carrying out raids on errant auto-rickshaws on Hill cart Road, said the boys had no clue where they were being taken for jobs.

“Most of them appeared innocent and oblivious to the nature of job which was assured by the traffickers,” an officer of the STP said. “

It was a simple case of trafficking, with the promise of well-paying jobs. Those brought from Nepal we-re lured with the wages and meals.” The traffickers, police said, are from Nepal, Sikkim and Matigara on the outskirts of Siliguri. They have been identified as Ram Pariwar of Morang district in Nepal, Harinath Burman of Matigara and Mahadeb Prasad Sharma of Sikkim.

“The trio were to receive Rs 12,500 from the construction company which had given them the task of bringing 25 workers,” police said.

The police have filed cases under sections 363 (kidnapping), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 367 (kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc) and 374 (unlawful compulsory labour) of the IPC against the arrested men.

“The three accused will be produced before the additional chief judicial magistrate’ court tomorrow while the boys will be sent to a children’s home for safe custody. In due course, they would be produced before court and will be handed over to their parents. We are trying to contact their parents through Nepal police,” Pinaki Majumdar, the inspector in charge of Siliguri police station, said.(TT)

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Sikkim oil tanker strike lifted till June 7

NIRMAL MANGAR

The meeting between Lachungpa (right) and leaders of the tanker owners’ association in Siliguri on Wednesday. (Kundan Yolmo)

Gangtok, May 30: Private tankers supplying oil to petrol pumps in Sikkim today suspended their indefinite strike for eight days after the state government offered to look into their demand for an increase in the freight charge.

The assurance was given at a meeting between the Sikkim Bengal Tanker Owner’s Welfare Association and the additional chief engineer of the transport department, Ganden Lachungpa, in Siliguri today.

The 103 private tankers went on the strike from Monday, demanding that the transportation charge be hiked to Rs 8.50 per kilo litre per kilometre from the present amount of Rs 5.80.

“We had a meeting at the Sikkim Nationalised Transport office in Siliguri today. We received a letter from the state transport secretary, requesting us to call off the strike and come for talks in Gangtok on June 7. The government assured us that it would look into our demand for the hike in the freight fare. So, we decided to withdraw the strike till June 7,” said Shamal Dey, the adviser to the association.

However, he warned that the association would resume the strike from the next day if there was “no positive outcome” at the Gangtok meeting.

Dey said all tanker drivers had been told to fill petrol and diesel from the depots at NJP from this evening.

The private tankers are hired by the SNT to ferry fuel from the depots of different oil companies at New Jalpaiguri to 40 petrol pumps across Sikkim. The owners sought the increase in the freight fare, saying the maintenance cost of the tankers had gone up after the last hike in 2009.

The petrol pump owners heaved a sigh of relief following the temporary withdrawal of the strike.

“We have been rationing petrol and diesel for the past two days. Each vehicle was given only five litres of petrol. We hope the situation will come back to normal soon,” said a pump manager here.(TT)

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Landslides trap Nathu-la visitors - Travellers accommodated in army camps & village homes

Gangtok, May 30: Nearly 2,500 tourists on their way back from Nathu-la were left stranded after a series of landslides blocked Jawaharlal Nehru Marg that links Gangtok to the border pass.

According to police and the army, the landslides continued well past 8pm preventing any attempts by the Border Roads Organisation to clear the road. All tourists, most of them from Bengal, have been accommodated in army camps and houses in Kyongshala village near 15th Mile where the landslide first struck around 3pm.

This morning the temperature at 15th Mile, 20km from Gangtok, was around 19 degrees Celsius. The mercury is expected to come down a little at night, specially since there was a drizzle though earlier in the day.

Inspector Sabitri Pradhan, who was on duty at the Sikkim police checkpost at 2nd Mile, said tourists in 418 vehicles had been unable to return. “In all, 585 vehicles had gone up Jawaharlal Nehru Marg today to take tourists to Nathula, Baba Mandir and Chhangu lake and 418 of them were stranded because of the landslide that stretched along 500 metres. Huge boulders are still coming down on the road at 15th Mile from the hillside. The police, the army and local villagers are looking after the stranded tourists. They are being put up in army camp and the local houses there,” she said.

Tourists have to report with their police permits at the 2nd Mile checkpost before proceeding towards Nathula, the border pass with China at 14,400ft. Usually the vehicles start at 8am and return by 4.30pm. No vehicle is allowed to pass the checkpost after 11am during the upward journey.

Pradhan said no vehicles would be allowed to proceed towards Nathula tomorrow. “But if the stranded vehicles returned and the road becomes motorable by 8am, then we might reconsider the decision,” she said.

The chief engineer of the army’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Brigadier Rajiv Shahni, said a unit was on standby to remove debris from the road. “Our men and machinery like excavators are camping at the spot and as soon as there are indications that the landslide has stopped, we will start work,” he said.

The president of the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), Lukendra Rasaily, said efforts were on to bring the tourists back here tomorrow morning. In that case, the tourists would have to cross the landslide stretch on foot to board the vehicles.

“We are in the process of getting hold of vehicles and load with eatables and fruit juice for the stranded people. We will start sending them from 5am. Priority will be given to those who have to catch trains or flights tomorrow. TAAS will bear the entire cost,” Rasaily said.

He said there were about 10,000 tourists in Gangtok now. “All the 400 registered hotels in Gangtok are full. The tourists are from all over India, with a large number from Bengal. Usually tourists reach Gangtok and prefer a trip up to Chhangu lake and Nathula the next morning. The next day they either visit North Sikkim or make a beeline for Pelling in West Sikkim or to Char Dham and Ravangla in South Sikkim,” Rasaily said.(TT)

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mandi bazaar is came in dispute

RANGPO-30TH MAY12 The site allotted by urban development and housing department government of Sikkim at Rangpo mandi bazaar is came in dispute now a daze .according to the news after the formation of Sikkim democratic front government in Sikkim in 1994 according to the manifesto the government has started allotting site to the residents of Rangpo mandi bazaar according ly .the department of UDHD has first assured and finalised to provide 14 feet side to every residents of mandi bazaar .some days after again the department notifies regarding preventing measures every aloes has to left one feet side that means every household shall receive only 13 feet side .the local residents has accepted as it was the matter of preventation .but suddenly the department has without any type of information to general public has allotted the side in galli which is seen completely illegal and against the assurance .the local residents has blamed that in one side in the name of galli the department has Asked to left one feet land to everyone and in other side the department has assorted the side in galli is totally against the feeling of the local residents .

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Sikkim welcomed everester Mr. kazi Sherpa today at Rangpo

RANGPO-30TH MAY12 Sikkim welcomed everester Mr. kazi Sherpa today at Rangpo Sikkim the main gateway of Sikkim. The delegates and members from denzong Sherpa association Sikkim and Sikkim mountaineering association along with tourism minister Mr. Bhim dhungel was specially present in the welcome programme. he was left from Sikkim on 27th april and reached mount everest on 20th may .at Rangpo during welcome programme the delegates from Sherpa association has specially congratulated the kazi Sherpa and also thanks Sikkim chief minister Mr. Pawan kumar chamling for supporting in the drive.

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ब्लु सीपले बच्चा जन्माएको घटनाले जू प्रशासन उत्साहित

30 मई(कालेबुङ):- दार्जीलिङस्थित पदमाजा नाइडू हिमालयन जुलोजिकल पार्कमा दूर्लभ प्रजातिको ब्लु सीपले बच्चा जन्माएको घटनाले जू प्रशासनलाई उत्साहित बनाएको छ। संसार नै बिलुप्तिको संघारमा पुगीसकेको दूर्लभ प्रजातिको ब्लु सीपले हिजो दुइवटास् बच्चा जन्माएपछि पार्कमा अहिले यसको संख्या नौ पुगेको छ। यस अतिरिक्त यहाः रहेको अर्को दूर्लभ प्राजातिको हिमालयन थारले पनि केही दिन अघि बच्चा जन्माएको छ। जू कर्तृपक्षले सञ्चालन गरीरहेको प्रजनन कार्यक्रमअन्तर्गत हिमालयन थारले जूमा पहिलो पल्ट बच्चा जन्माएको हो। अहिले यसको संख्या बढेर 6 पुगेको छ। पदमाजा नाइडू पार्कको विशेष आकर्षण मानिने रेड पाण्डाको पनि संख्या बढने तय छ। यहाँका तीनवटा पाण्डाहरु आजभोलि नै प्रजनन गर्ने अवस्थामा छन। यस जूका अन्य जनावरहरु पाण्डा, स्नो ल्योपाड अनि टिबेटन स्यालको प्रजनन कार्यक्रम पनि जारी रहेको छ। अहिले बच्चा जन्माउने दुइजोडी ब्लु सीपलाई बर्ष 2009मा जापानको ओकिनावाबाट पारम्परिक प्रजननको निम्ति ल्याइएको थियो। बर्ष 2010मा प्रजनन कार्यक्रम अंतर्गत ब्लु सीपले चारवटा बच्चा सफलतासँग जन्माएको थियो। यस जूमा दूर्लभ प्रजातिको जंतुहरुको संख्या लगातार बृद्धि भईरहेको कुराले पार्क प्रशासनलाई खुशी र उत्साहित पारेको छ। जूका निर्देशक ए के झाले जूको प्रजनन कार्यक्रमबारे बताएका छन।

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Only head to know panel report: Morcha

Calcutta, May 29: The report of the territory committee will be submitted to the state government by its chairman in early June without revealing the contents to other members, a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha representative on the panel said today.

The Morcha protested at the decision to keep other members out of loop.

At the end of the concluding meeting of the committee headed by Justice (retired) Shymal Sen today, one of the four Morcha representatives L.B. Pariyar said: “We discussed all issues pertaining to the territory after which Justice Sen would draw up the recommendations in about 10 days and send the report directly to the chief minister. They would not be shown to us or any other member of the committee.”

Pariyar said the Morcha representatives were “unhappy” with this decision. “At today’s meeting we have registered our dissatisfaction in this regard,” Pariyar said. “We wanted to be allowed to go through the recommendations before they are handed over to the chief minister”.

The committee headed by Sen is looking into the Morcha’s demand to include Gorkha-dominated mouzas in the Dooars and the Terai in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Emerging from the meeting, Justice Sen said: “In accordance with the request that was made to me, I will try to submit the report by early June. I have received the census report (on the linguistic pattern in the Dooars and the Terai) that I had sought from the home ministry. But I cannot reveal its contents. This was the last meeting held before we submit the report.”

Pariyar said “given the sensitive nature of information”, only Justice Sen, the chairman of the committee, would have access to the census report. He added that the Morcha expected that 50 per cent of the 398 mouzas in the plains would be brought under the jurisdiction of the new hill body.

“Yes, we certainly expect to get 50 per cent of the mouzas we have identified for their included in the GTA,” Pariyar said. “The GTA election process is on and it is likely that it would be held by the second week of July. The delimitation process is about to be concluded.”

Asked about the Morcha’s probable stand if its demand was not met, Pariyar said: “Let us first come to the bridge and only then will we cross it.”

The Sen committee, formed in September, started work seeking written submissions from the people of the Dooars and the Terai on the demand to bring parts of the plains under the GTA.This was followed by assessing the views of political parties on the Morcha demand.

The committee was supposed to submit its recommendation by February 2012. However, it could not do so and sought a six-month extension.

Committee members said one of the reasons for missing the deadline was the delay on the part of the Union home ministry in forwarding the census report on the linguistic pattern in the Dooars and the Terai.Today’s meeting was held after the data arrived a fortnight back.(TT)

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