NRC Won't Hurt Gorkhas, Says PM Narendra Modi

11:31 AM

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Siliguri

SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL: Insisting that he won't spare infiltrators, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured justice for refugees from neighbouring countries and said the Gorkha community in north Bengal won't be hurt by a National Register of Citizens (NRC).

"The way Modi has acted against Maoists and terrorists, similarly Modi is not going to spare infiltrators. On the other hand, this chowkidar would do justice to refugees who are victims of a historic blunder by the Congress," he said, in an obvious reference to the partition of the country in 1947.

PM Modi said he had been told that rumours were being spread about NRC in the Darjeeling Hills.




"I want to assure all Gorkha brothers and sisters from this stage that none of you will be inconvenienced because of the NRC," he said.

Three days back, the BJP had accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of spreading misinformation regarding the impact of the NRC on the Gorkha community in the Darjeeling Hills.
"The Trinamool is running a false campaign in north Bengal through some local leaders. They are telling people that if NRC is implemented in Bengal, the Gorkhas living in the hills will have to leave the state," BJP national Secretary Rahul Sinha had said.

Without naming the Binoy Tamang led pro-Trinamool faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, PM Modi said he was warming all those "who are on the payroll of the Trinamool and spreading terror" that their days were over.

"The moment the BJP comes to power, those harassing innocent people will have to answer the law."
PM Modi said the alliance of "criminals and infiltrators" won't be able to continue for long in West Bengal and urged people to vote in the Lok Sabha elections fearlessly.

"I would like to urge BJP office bearers also to hold your ground. We are with you."


Via ndtv

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Buddhist rally to voice demands of Buddhist community in Siliguri

7:14 AM

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Siliguri

SNS  | Siliguri | March 26, 2018: The All Bengal Buddhist Development Committee is scheduled to take out a “mega peace (silent) rally” from Darjeeling More to Airview More here on 1 April.

Organisers said the rally is meant to voice the demands pertaining to the Buddhist community at large.

The listed set of demands of the committee are nomination of two members from the Hills and the Terai to the West Bengal Minority Commission, immediate formation of a Buddhist development board for protection of Buddhist culture and education, the Central government ensuring the administrative board of Bodh Gaya to the Buddhists, ensuring regular running of trains for pilgrimage at Bodh Gaya, nomination of a representative in the national minority commission, a Buddhist university in the Terai-Hills, central Buddhist station be named as Buddhist special, expansion of railway lines from Gaya to Bodh Gaya station, preservation of Buddhist universities, preservation and renovation of ancient caves, installation of the statue of the Buddha at Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Station, a Buddhist academy in North Bengal, and inclusion of Pali- Tibetan languages in North Bengal University syllabus.

Committee general secretary Akash Lama said the rally is meant to unite the Buddhist community. “We are marching in a peace rally on 1 April to make our voices heard by the state and the central governments,” he said.

“One of our demands was met by the CM (Mamata Banerjee) last year to declare Buddha Jayanti a public holiday. It had been our demand since long, and we are very grateful to her,” Mr lama added.

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No helmet, no petrol on Siliguri roads

11:07 AM

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Siliguri Police

Siliguri, July 10: Siliguri police today introduced a "No Helmet No Petrol" policy to check errant two-wheeler riders, two days after a similar campaign took off in Calcutta.

The Siliguri metropolitan police has also announced a ban on parking of two-wheelers in paid parking slots for riders without the protective headgears.

C.S. Lepcha, the Siliguri police commissioner, told a news conference here today: "The chief minister has launched a state-wide safe driving campaign in Calcutta to reduce the number of road accidents. An order has reached us from the state government, asking us to launch awareness drives and implement certain decisions taken by the government. From this afternoon, we are enforcing the "No Helmet No Petrol" initiative in Siliguri. Under the initiative, none of the 36 oil pumps in the Siliguri metropolitan police area will sell fuel to any biker not wearing a helmet."

No helmet, no petrol on Siliguri roads

She added: "Our officers have been asked to be on alert. They will intercept bikers who are not wearing helmets on roads and impose fines on them. There will be surprise checks on petrol pumps to see whether they are selling oil to bikers without helmets. If any pump is found to be flouting the order, we will take legal steps against the pump owners and others concerned."

Police sources said pump owners would be booked under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). "Anybody booked under this section might get a two-year jail term along with fine," said Shyam Singh, the deputy commissioner (traffic).

The commissioner said if a biker was not wearing helmet, his two-wheeler wouldn't be allowed to be parked in any paid parking zone.

"In this regard, necessary instructions will be passed on to all those who run fee parking zones across the town. Police will also be vigilant and take steps against rash drivers, both in case of two-wheelers and cars," Lepcha said.

Shyamal Pal Chowdhury, the president of the North Bengal Petrol Dealers' Association, said: "We came to know about the new directive during a meeting we had with police officers yesterday. We we come the decision and circulated the directive among our members, saying no pump should sell fuel to any biker who is not wearing a helmet."

Singh said the total number of vehicles (all kinds) registered in Siliguri in 2015 was 2,74,988.

He also said Rs 5.43 crore was collected by slapping fines on 83,181 vehicles in 2015 for various traffic violations. In 2012, the total fine was just over Rs 2 crore.

Telegraph

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Yet another Sex racket busted in Siliguri at Hakimpara

8:28 PM

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Siliguri

Siliguri 5th July 2016 After two consecutive sex rackets busted at Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri police today again busted another sex racket at Hakimpara but this time with the active support and information of a local NGO.

Five people including four females and a male have been arrested from a flat at ward number 16 of Hakimpara.

Three girls are resident of Kolkata while a woman who was running the racket and a man involved in supplying the girls are from Siliguri. One another man said to be the kingpin managed to flee during the raid of police.

Kingpin Raju Kamar is absconding while his wife Rina and driver Nandu and three girls are in police net.

The NGO STEPS who expose the racket had done sting operation and send their member acting as a customer and traced the flat through Mobile's GPRS.

Priya Paul, Joint Secretary of STEP was a woman behind making the intelligent and daring steps to expose the sex racket. The local people today termed Priya as 'Maa Durga' and thanked her for saving the society.

Sex racket busted in Siliguri at Hakimpara - Photo Siliguri Times

Priya said when she went with police to raid the flat three girls were hidden inside the box bed while others were preparing to flee.

BY: PRASHANT ACHARYA

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Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in NH55 and NH10, trees uprooted, toy train held up

12:02 PM

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Siliguri

Darjeeling Siliguri, July 4: Heavy rainfall since last night triggered landslides and brought down trees along NH55 and NH10, disrupting a toy train and road traffic for hours.

Narendra Mohan, the area officer of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, said a tree had been uprooted and fallen on tracks and NH55, which run parallel, at Rongtong. A Darjeeling-bound toy train was held up at Rongtong for more than two hours after the tree fall.

"The diesel train with 35 passengers left NJP around 8.30am. However, it had to stop at Rongtong because of the tree uprooted in the heavy rainfall. It took almost two hours to remove the tree from the tracks and the toy train resumed its journey towards Darjeeling at 3.30pm," said Mohan.

Rongtong is 20km from here.

The uprooted tree also disrupted traffic on NH55 between Gayabari and Tindharia at one end and Siliguri at the other end.

Traffic on NH10 was disrupted for five hours as heavy rain had ripped out a tree and caused a landslide. The tree fell on the highway at Labarbotay, 55km from here, while the landslide hit the road further 20km away.

Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in NH55 and NH10, trees uprooted, toy train held up 

"It has been raining continuously since last night and this led to landslips at several spots on NH10. The two major disruptions were at Labarbotay, where a tree had fallen on the highway, and another spot 20km further uphill. Vehicles had been stuck since noon and traffic resumed when the highway was cleared at the two spots around five hours later," said a source.

The Regional Meteorological Office in Jalpaiguri said the rainfall would continue throughout sub-Himalayan Bengal for the next few days.

"The southwest monsoon has set in and is strong over the region. This is leading to consistent rainfall in the sub-Himalayan Bengal. Heavy to very heavy rain, measuring 70mm to 200mm, has been forecast in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts in the next 48 hours," said a Met Office source.

In 24 hours till 8.30am today, it had rained around 70mm in Darjeeling. In other areas, the rainfall ranged between 20mm and 60mm, a Met Office source said.

Telegraph

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Bhaichung Bhutia inaugurates sports development office for north Bengal, push for cricket

11:21 AM

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sports news

Baichung inaugurates sports development office for north Bengal

Writes Prashant Acharya for EOI
SILIGURI 4 Jul 2016 Former footballer Baichung Bhutia today inaugurated the office of the North Bengal Board for Development of Sports and Games (NBBDSG) at the Kanchenjunga Stadium for the all-round development of games and sports in the region.

"The board will work for the development of sports and games in the seven district of north Bengal. Besides promoting football and other games, the board is working hard to bring IPL cricket league to Siliguri. But as the existing size of the stadium is small, we are planning to develop the infrastructure with the support of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). I have already discussed the matter with CAB president Sourav Ganguly. The names of the board members have not been announced yet; hence work and necessary procedures will start after the formation of the board," he informed.

When he contested the state Assembly polls as a candidate from Siliguri, Baichung had said his main focus would be to develop sports and games in the region. He had said, "I will change the entire picture of Siliguri within a year and promote sports and games, especially football, by developing a number of training centres."

Bhaichung Bhutia

The decision to open an office was after an announcement by chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her recent visit in Siliguri. She had announced the names of Baichung as chairman, table tennis player Mantu Ghosh as vice-chairman and GNLF chief Mann Ghisingh as board member. However, Ghosh and Ghisingh were not present at the inaugural function.

On the other news article published on Telegraph, Bhaichung push for cricket - Bhaichung Bhutia, the chairman of North Bengal Board for Development of Sports and Games, today said he would speak to Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, on holding IPL matches at the Kanchenjungha Stadium here.

Bhutia, who inaugurated the sports board's office at the stadium today, also said he would try to bring Indian Super League football matches to the ground.

"I will talk to Sourav Ganguly so that we can get IPL cricket matches at Kanchenjungha stadium. We have a good stadium that can host big cricket and football matches," said Bhutia.

Sources said the former national soccer team captain had already spoken to the president of the CAB in this regard.

"Ganguly has suggested that the existing infrastructure of the stadium be upgraded as the size of the ground is not big enough to host IPL matches," said a source.

However, the All India Football Federation has already marked the stadium as one where only soccer matches could be hosted. 

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Siliguri Sex Racket: Three more arrests from Pradhan Nagar

9:36 PM

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Siliguri Police

Siliguri: After the recent arrest of 18 people, allegedly involved in sex trade from Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri police yet again on Monday busted another big racket from the same area and arrested three people including two girls and a male from Pradhan Nagar.

Police said interrogation on arrested persons will lead to more arrest speculating that the number may rise till late night.

The racket was running inside a house at Pradhan Nagar and the police are still investigating on the details of the house owners and the kingpin.

Since last January 2016 police have arrested 26 people from Pradhan Nagar area.

Local people time and again have alleged that Pradhan Nagar, Hyderpara and NJP areas are becoming sex market and the series of arrest by police has proved their allegation.

Siliguri Sex Racket

On July 1 acting on a tip-off police from Pradhannagar Police station had conducted raid in a guest house located at Pradhan Nagar and arrested 18 people including 12 males and 6 females. Two cars were also seized.

On January 31 police had arrested five people including three females and two males from a flat at Pradhan Nagar. 

Via newstimetoday

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Sex racket busted in Siliguri, 18 arrested from Pradhan Nagar

10:27 PM

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Siliguri

Writes Prashant Acharya

SILIGURI 2 Jul 2016 An ongoing sex racket in Siliguri was busted on Friday night with police arresting 18 people from the Pradhan Nagar area. Acting on a tip-off, the Pradhan Nagar police conducted a raid  at a guest house and arrested 12 males and six females and also seized two cars from them.

Siliguri police commissionerate DCP Indra Chakraborty confirmed the arrest of the 18 people from the Pradhan Nagar area last night. He said the police have received bonafide information of the involvement of many more people in the sex racket.

The investigation is ongoing, he said, adding the accused are residents of Alipurduar, Siliguri, Kolkata and other adjacent areas.

All the 18 arrested were today produced in Siliguri court from where 12 were sent to police custody and the remaining six to jail custody.

Sex racket busted in Siliguri - file photo

A few months back too, the Pradhan Nagar police raided a flat where immoral activities were being carried out and arrested three females, of whom two were from Hooghly and the third from Islampur.


Via EOI

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Waterlogging in Siliguri, yellow alert on the banks of Teesta river

9:10 AM

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Siliguri

Siliguri, June 24: Incessant rainfall led to waterlogging today in areas in and around Siliguri, including New Jalpaiguri railway station, and a rise in the water levels of a number of rivers in north Bengal.

The downpour forced the state irrigation department to issue a yellow alert (primary alert) in the unprotected areas on either bank of the Teesta river this afternoon.

The data available with the department show the Teesta is flowing close to the danger mark at Sevoke and near the Teesta Bridge on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town.

Siliguri received 187.50mm rain in 24 hours till 8am today, leaving NJP, Santoshinagar, Shaktigarh, Champasari, Fogdoibari, Hatiaganga, Milanpally, Ashoknagar and Rajendranagar, areas located outside town, under water.

The exit point and a major portion of NJP station are under knee-deep water. Although water accumulated on the tracks, there was no disruption in rail traffic.

"We fail to understand what the railways and the state government have been doing. There is no proper drainage to let water flow out of the parking area and the exit point at NJP. In case of heavy rains, areas outside the station get marooned. Considering the importance of the station and movement of thousands of passengers everyday, we believe the railways and the state government should look at the issue and take necessary steps to avert water-logging," said Rajat Dutta, a schoolteacher who reached NJP from Calcutta by train this morning.

Waterlogging in Siliguri, yellow alert  on the banks of Teesta river

Rivers like the Mahananda, Jaldhaka, Raidak I and II and the Torsha are also on the rise because of rains in the sub-Himalayan north Bengal.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast rain measuring between 70mm and 200mm at isolated places in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts in the next couple of days.

Via Telegraph

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Bagdogra to get Instrument Landing System (ILS) soon, will not wait State Government

9:47 AM

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West Bengal

Writes AVIJIT SINHA

Siliguri, June 23: The Airports Authority of India has decided not to wait any more for land to be taken over by the state government to install the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Bagdogra Airport and put in place the facility immediately, though in a truncated way.

Rakesh Sahay, the Bagdogra airport director, today said the ILS of CAT-II (category two) would be installed by the Indian Air Force by September 20 and the work would begin on July 20.

"For two months from July 20, flights will operate in Bagdogra between 12pm and 6pm as work will be carried out on the runway. There were 10 meetings with airline companies and they have agreed to change flight schedules," he said.

At Bagdogra, most flights operate between 12pm and 5pm and there are only a couple of services before 12pm.

The Bagdogra airport terminal

Elaborating on the plan, the airport director said the existing runway at Bagdogra was 9,000ft long.

"The IAF will install the Approach Light System (also called ALS that is a component of the ILS) along the 1,500ft stretch of the runway. The remaining 7,500ft runway, where also some lights will be installed, will be available for flights to take off and land for the two months. That stretch of the runway is sufficient for the kind of airplanes which operate out of Bagdogra," he said.

Added to the installation of the ALS, two other instruments will be erected beside the runway. "We do not need land for installing the two equipment. One is a glide path indicator, while the other is a localiser, which helps flights align with the runway and gives horizontal guidance before landing," Sahay said.

"As of now, a flight needs at least 2,100 metres of visibility at Bagdogra. Once the CAT-II ILS is introduced completely, visibility of only 350 metres is required. Since the ILS is commissioned the way we plan to, visibility will come down to 1,000 metres.," the airport director added.

The required visibility of 350 metres will be ensured only after approach lights were installed over a stretch of 900ft ahead of the existing runway. "As the state government is yet to provide us with land to build the extra runway of 900ft, we are putting the lights only over the stretch of 1,500ft. That is why the required visibility will not come down to 350 metres but up to 1,000 metres only," said an AAI official.

According to sources, Bagdogra needs a total of 24.16 acres for installing the ILS. Out of the 24.16 acres, 9.97 acres are with the IAF. Of the remaining 14.19 acres, the state owns 12.91 acres.

However, out of the 1.28 acres, there is a temple on 0.12 acres, while five families own the rest 1.16 acres. The five families are not ready to accept the compensation at the rate offered by the state government and their land is yet to be taken over.

The AAI official said: "We are not ready to wait for the land any more. With the existing runway, the ILS is being erected. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit north Bengal next week. We will request her to see that the land is handed over to us."

Once the ILS is commissioned, all airline companies will be informed about the new infrastructure. "It is up to the companies to decide whether they would introduce evening flights. There is no problem with regard to other issues as the IAF, which manages the runway and Air Traffic Control, has agreed in 2013 to let commercial flights land and take off till 10pm," another AAI official said.

Via Telegraph

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Separate Siliguri district demand - Brihattar Siliguri Nagarik Mancha

10:47 AM

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Siliguri district

Siliguri, June 22: Members of the Brihattar Siliguri Nagarik Mancha have said they would request Mamata Banerjee to form a separate Siliguri district when she visits north Bengal later this month.

President of the apolitical forum Sunil Sarkar said: "We will meet the chief minister who is expected to visit north Bengal on June 27 and request her to declare Siliguri as a separate district. Residents of the town and its surrounding areas are facing inconveniences as they need to travel either to Darjeeling or Jalpaiguri for administrative work."

At a news conference today, Sarkar said: "As the state is all set to give a district status to Kalimpong, which has a population of merely 3 lakh, we urge the new government to consider our demand in the interests of about 15 lakh people."

Members of the forum said those living in Siliguri subdivision had to travel over 80km to reach the district headquarters in Darjeeling.

Separate Siliguri district demand - Brihattar Siliguri Nagarik Mancha

"People living in the 14 wards of Siliguri civic body and the adjoining panchayats in Jalpaiguri district have to commute for around 50km to Jalpaiguri to get administrative work done," Sarkar said.

He said the forum wanted Siliguri subdivision, which has three Assembly seats, and the two adjoining Assembly segments of Jalpaiguri district, to be declared as a separate district with Siliguri as the administrative headquarters.

The areas Sarkar was referring to are Siliguri, Matigara-Naxalbari and Phansidewa in Siliguri subdivision and Dabgram-Fulbari and Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district.

"We would urge the MLAs of these constituencies to raise their voices in support of our demand," a Mancha representative said.

Telegraph

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Darjeeling Everest girls back, Receive grand welcome

12:47 PM

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Southfield College Darjeeling

Writes: Prashant Acharya

Siliguri Darjeeling 15 Jun 2016 "The inspiration from the people of Darjeeling and the entire nation motivated us to conquer the world's highest peak," said Sulakchana Tamang and Trishala Gurung, the two college-going girls from Darjeeling, as they disembarked at Bagdogra airport this afternoon from Delhi. Tamang and Gurung were part of a 11-member NCC all-girls team who successfully scaled Everest last month.

At Bagdogra airport, they walked into a grand reception from well-wishers, family and the media, and the welcoming continued all the way up to Darjeeling where social organisations, educational institutions and enthusiasts had gathered in several places.

Darjeeling Everest girls Suloxchana Tamang and Trishala Gurung back, Receive grand welcome

Speaking to this correspondent, Trishala, a student of Southfield College, said she nearly gave up hope when the summit was barely 10 minutes ahead. But thoughts of her family and well-wishers back home prodded her forward despite severe pain in the legs, hunger and drowsiness. She said, "We were walking 7-10 hours each day without proper sleep and food and in very low oxygen supply.

I cried in pain, but our Sherpa guides encouraged us. A minute's walk seemed like an hour's journey for me. But I did not give up and succeeded in reaching the summit."

Her advice to the youths, especially girls, is to always think positive and never give up one's dreams. "Women should never underestimate themselves and never fear of dreaming positive in life."

Trishala started from base camp on May 19 and summitted Everest on the morning of May 22, while Sulakchana started a day earlier and scaled the peak on May 21.

Sulakchana, a student of Ghoom Degree College, was excited when she arrived at Bagdogra airport. "I am proud to be a daughter of Darjeeling and India," she said.

Suvedar Major Birender Yadav of 1st Bengal NCC, Siliguri said the two were among 11 girls to be selected from across the country to scale Everest. Initially, 100 girls were selected and 40 were shortlisted after training at the HMI, Darjeeling. Finally, 10 girls were selected to undergo training at the Siachen Army Base Camp, he said.

Bimal Gurung Officials wrote the following .

हिमबाघ तेञ्जिङ शेर्पाले सुनौलो अक्षरले कोरिराखेको सगरमाथा आरोहणको गौरवमय इतिहासलाई कायम राख्दै सगरमाथा आरोहण गर्ने दार्जीलिङ पहाड़का दुईजना चेलीहरू क्रमैले सुश्री त्रिशला गुरूङ अनि सुश्री सुलक्षणा तामाङलाई समग्र पहाड़वासीको पक्षबाट जीटीएले आज गोरखा रङ्गमञ्च भवनमा भव्य स्वागत जनायो। सगरमाथा आरोहण गरेर आजमात्र आफ्नो थलो दार्जीलिङ आइपुगेका यी दुई चेलीलाई स्वागत गर्न म स्वयँ पनि गोरखा रङ्गमञ्च भवनमा उपस्थित रहेको थिए।

पहाड़को भीर-पहराहरूमा फुल्ने गोरखे जाति कहिल्यै पनि हार मान्न नजाने वीर अनि साहसी जाति हो। कलिलो उमेरमै सगरमाथा आरोहण गरेर यसको ज्वलन्त उदाहरण प्रस्तुत गर्ने यी दुई गोरखे गौरवहरूलाई गोरखाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनले आगामी स्वतन्त्र दिवस समारोहको अवसरमा भव्य नागरिक सम्मान पनि प्रदान गर्नेछन्। यी दुवै चेलीहरूको उपलब्धिले पहाड़लाई गौरवान्वित तुल्याएको छ। उनीहरूको उक्त महत उपलब्धिदेखि म अति खुशी छु। दुवै गोरखे चेलीलाई बधाई-शुभकामनासहित उज्वल भविष्यको कामना पनि गर्दछु।

[Via: ECOI]

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CS Lepcha takes charge of Siliguri as first lady police commissioner

10:30 AM

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West Bengal

Writes: Prashant Acharya

CS Lepcha took charge today as the police commissioner of Siliguri, to become the first lady police commissioner of the state.

After taking over from her predecessor, Manoj Verma, the 1999 IPS batch cadre said, "My aim is to develop the relationship between the police and the public and put more emphasis on law and order in Siliguri."

Lepcha was in first posted in Darjeeling as additional superintendent of police before being transferred to Siliguri as DSP. She was then made Special SP IB, Siliguri following which she became DIG of Jalpaiguri range and Malda range before coming back to Siliguri as the police commissioner.

The First Lady Police Commissioner of Siliguri IPS C.S Lepcha taking chair as Siliguri Police Commissioner
in place of Manoj Verma Pic Prashant Acharya

Manoj Verma, who has been give charge as Special IG, West Bengal traffic, said, "My tenure as police commissioner of Siliguri was a good experience. I love the people of Siliguri as they have supported me in maintaining law and order."

At present, there are five police commissionerates in West Bengal, namely Howrah, Bidhan Nagar, Asansol, Barrackpore and Siliguri.

Via: ECOI

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Darjeeling toy train get glass walls for engine view

9:04 AM

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Tourism

Darjeeling June 8: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has replaced the opaque walls at the rear and front ends of two first class coaches with glasses so that travellers can see the more than century-old steam engine pull the train.

Narendra Mohan, the area officer of DHR, said the refit compartments were being used for toy trains running between Darjeeling and Ghoom since May.

He said two more coaches were also being given glasses at either ends and they would be put to use in two weeks.

"Tourists around the world come to Darjeeling to take a ride on the Unesco World Heritage railway. In order to make their ride more enjoyable and fulfilling, we have renovated two first class coaches and added glass windows at the rear and front ends. Prior to this, the coaches had opaque walls and the passengers in each of them could not see what was happening in the other coaches. But now they can easily do so," said Mohan.

The DHR compartments with glasses at the rear and front ends - file photo

The new feature has been introduced mainly to enable travellers to see how the steam engine functions. "They will now be able to see the driver operating the engine and the fireman feeding coal into the furnace," said Mohan.

"Earlier passengers could see these sights only when the train negotiated a bend. But now, they can see it anytime without having to leave their seats and rush to the windows. These coaches will be exclusively used in steam-driven joy rides between Darjeeling and Ghoom. Apart from the view in front, the tourists will also get to see the scenery behind through the glass," he added.

The coaches were renovated at Tindharia workshop - the locomotive and carriage workshop of the toy train - and the Siliguri loco shed.

While two of the coaches have already been put into use since the beginning of May, the remaining two will be in service within next fortnight.

The DHR official said the size of side glass windows of the four coaches had been made bigger so that tourists got a full view of the sceneries.

Telegraph

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Permission granted for MBBS admission in North Bengal Medical College Siliguri

9:24 AM

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Siliguri

Siliguri June 5: The Medical Council of India has granted permission to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for conducting admission to all 150 MBBS seats, including 50 provisional ones, for the 2016-2017 academic session.

The nod comes with a rider that adequate infrastructure should be provided to students before the next inspection of the MCI scheduled for later this year.

Samir Ghosh Roy, the NBMCH principal, said the MCI had given permission for admission to 150 MBBS seats for the 2016-2017 academic session that starts from August.

"The 150 seats include 50 that have been granted to us on a temporary basis. The permission has been given with a condition that we have to complete the infrastructure required for accommodating 150 students, like hostels, lecture theatres and auditorium before the next visit of the MCI," he said.

This is the fourth year that the MCI has granted permission to the NBMCH to take admission to 150 MBBS seats.

North Bengal Medical College District Darjeeling

Prior to granting the 50 additional seats in 2013, NBMCH used to take admission to 100 MBBS seats.

An NBMCH source said the permission had been granted on the basis of a report of a three-member MCI team that had visited NBMCH in March.

"The MCI team appeared quite satisfied with the progress of the work in setting up infrastructure. That is why the MCI has granted permission. Another team is likely to visit the medical college anytime between September and December and the authorities have been directed to complete all structures by then," said the source.


Via Telegraph

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Siliguri Police fined a vehicle on the way to receive martyred body for overload

7:54 PM

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West Bengal

In a most shocking incident West Bengal Police in Siliguri fined Rs 1000/- for the vehicle that was supposed to carry BSF Jawan, Saheed Dinesh Giri, who was martyred while fighting against terrorists in Kashmir for overload.

On Friday the 3rd June 2016 Constable Dinesh Giri was martyred in a militant attack near Gauri van in J&K. On 4th June when his family was going from their residence Durga Nagar, Isckon Mandir Road, Siliguri to Bagdogra airport to receive the martyr's body in a jeep they were intercepted by the West Bengal police for the vehicle being 'overloaded'. Even though the family members of Saheed Giri explained the police refused to listen to the humble submissions about the tragic circumstances in which the martyr's family had to rush to receive the body. They were allowed to move further only after paying a fine of Rs 1000/-.

According to the Srinagar based BSF spokesman, militants attacked the BSF convoy near Gorivan area on Friday leaving 13 BSF men injured. Head constables Giresh Shukla, Constable Dinesh Giri and Constable Mohinder Ram later succumbed to their injuries.

This is not the first time - repeatedly Wasted Bengal has refused to honour our brave Gorkha martyrs, and what happened yesterday was just an extension of that lack of respect, apathy and discrimination that Gorkhas continue to face in Bengal.This is the respect the West Bengal state machinery has for the martyrs who lay down their lives for the country. For some reasons the crony national media has not considered the incident news worthy.

Every nation loving Indian must understand that till date NO REPRESENTATIVE from Bengal government has gone to the airport to receive the dead body of our Gorkha martyrs.

Saheed Giri leaves behind his wife, two sons, a daughter and his parents. We Pray to God to grant the family strength to overcome this irreparable loss.


With inputs from TheDC

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Darjeeling toy train resumes its daily train service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling

9:48 AM

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Tourism

Siliguri, May 23: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway will resume its daily train service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling next week, more than five months after it had been rescheduled to thrice a week because of lack of diesel engines.

Narendra Mohan, the area officer of the DHR, said daily services between NJP and Darjeeling halted in January when one of the four diesel engines had developed problems.

"We had to run the services on alternate days, instead of everyday, because one of the diesel engines had developed a snag and was sent for repairs. We were short of engines and we had to reduce the number of trips on the route. Since January, we have been operating the trains on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays," Mohan said.

"But the engine has been restored and is back with the DHR. We will conduct trial runs to see if it is functioning properly and will commence regular services from NJP to Darjeeling by next week," he said.

Additional coaches have been attached to toy trains on the Darjeeling-Ghoom route since May 19 to cater to tourists.

"Normally, there are two first-class coaches but now there are four. The footfall of tourists has increased in the past one week. Two coaches were not enough," Mohan said. "We are planning to keep the additional coaches till June."

The four coaches can ferry around 120 passengers and the cost is Rs 630 per person.

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Siliguri Bagdogra Central Bank of India robbed

9:33 PM

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Siliguri

Siliguri, May 5: The Bagdogra branch of the Central Bank of India was found burgled last night with 16 lockers broken.

The robbery has sent customers into a tizzy and it is yet to be found out whose lockers were broken and what was stolen.

The bank, located on the first floor of a three-storied building at Bihar More, has 90 lockers. "Police and bank officials refrained from a proper check of the lockers as fingerprints will be collected only tomorrow," said a source.

Bagdogra is around 15km from Siliguri.

The robbery was discovered when employees arrived to open the bank around 10am. "There were two robbers who broke the grille of a window with gas cutters and entered inside. The main lock of the vault was also broken. There are 90 lockers in the vault and 16 of them were broken. We have recovered footage from the bank's CCTV. Fingerprint experts of the CIDs will reach here from Calcutta by tomorrow,' said a police officer.

Siliguri Bagdogra Central Bank of India robbed

 Manoj Verma, the Siliguri police commissioner, visited the spot.

The bank has no security guard. The entire building has a watchman engaged by its owner. The watchman, Ranjit Mallik, was interrogated by the police.

Several customers swarmed the bank when the news of the robbery spread. "There was no night guard at the bank. I don't know whether my locker has been broken and the bank will compensate us," said Susanta Kundu, an account holder.

Amal Sikdar, a local businessman, said: "I have a locker in the bank. But after the incident, I am worried and don't know what happened to my locker."

U.C. Guchhait, the regional manager of Central Bank of India, who reached the branch, said the loss could be assessed only after the investigation was over. "Necessary steps will be taken as per rules," he added.

The police have asked the customers to submit a list of items they had kept in the lockers.


Via Telegraph

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Teesta Torsha Exp looted at New Jalpaiguri station, Woman injured

12:24 PM

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Siliguri

Some 25-odd women, travelling in the ladies compartment of New Alipuduar-bound Teesta Torsa Express early this morning, were robbed of money and other valuables by an armed dacoit who wielded a knife at them.

A young woman, who tried to resists the loot, was injured after the miscreant attacked her with the knife. The incident took place between New Jalpaiguri and Belakoba railway stations in Jalpaiguri district around 3.30 am.

The Teesta-Torsa Express, which runs between Sealdah and New Alipurduar stations, had just rolled out from New Jalpaiguri that the dacoit, who was in travelling by the same train in the posing as a passenger, got into the ladies compartment.

Wielding the knife point, he asked them to part with their mobile phones, money and other valuables. Failing this, he would kill them, he thundered.

 Woman injured as armed dacoits loot Teesta Torsha Exp off New Jalpaiguri station

Anita Saha, who was travelling in the compartment, tried to put up a resistance but was attacked by the dacoit with the knife. She sustained injuries on her hand and shoulder. After this, the miscreant looted valuables from the remaining 24-odd women travelling in the compartment.

Several of the victim passengers said that they had shouted out for help but no Railway Police Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel came to their rescue.

Through with the loot, the dacoit jumped down from the train as it slowed down while approaching Belakoba station.

The robbed women lodged FIR at the New Alipurduar GRP station when the train reached their later in the morning.


Via newsmen

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Siliguri gets new super-specialty hospital in Shivmandir Medical More

7:48 PM

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Siliguri

Siliguri 14 Apr 2016 Mukta Healthcare a state-of-the art super-specialty hospital located in medical more, Shivmandir, Siliguri was inaugurated today on the auspicious occasion of Poila Baisakh. An effective beginning of the hospital has been made with a noble cause like blood donation camp and a free health check up camp organized on the hospital premise.

Mukta Healthcare is one of the prominent names in the healthcare sector in Siliguri with its ventures like Mukta Nursing Home, Mukta Sonoscan Centre & Mukta Medical, a valuable foundation has been made with its recently launched 60 bedded State of the art Super-specialty Hospital. The hospital being strategically located  comprises of 24 x 7 emergency and trauma services, highly equipped twin operation theatre, labour rooms, super specialty OPD clinics , IPD  & Daycare  services, male and female wards, deluxe and private rooms, comprehensive  indoor & outdoor pharmacy outlet and a widespread laboratory  &  radiology (X-ray and USG) services further to compliment with an comfortable and contemporary ambiance for patients and their keens .

File Photo

In the year February 2014 Managing Director of Mukta Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Samar Kumar Dhar had laid the foundation stone of Mukta Hospital. The hospital is equipped with modern equipments & latest infrastructure to provide finest healthcare services with a dedicated team of highly experienced and qualified Healthcare Professionals. The hospital is committed in its endeavor to provide safe, transparent and affordable super specialty medical services to its patients along with progressive patient centric diagnostic, & pathology services.


Source EOI

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