दार्जीलिंग थाना इनचार्ज सौम्यजित रोई केशमा राहत को खबर

7:53 PM

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nepali

बिगत दिन मा दार्जीलिंग सदर थाना इनचार्ज सौम्य जित रोईको गोर्खे सन्तान साथै नारी माथि गरेको अभद्र टिप्पणी साथै धम्कि बिरुद्ध GSSS ले Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development श्रीमती मेनुका गान्धीलाई अर्जी चडाएको थियो भने उनले उक्त केशमाथि कारबाहीगर्दै होम मिनिस्ट्रीलाई यसको छानबिन गर्ने साथै उचित कारबाई गर्न निबेदन पठाएकी थिए . आज उक्त केसको फलोअपमा GSSS द्वारा राष्ट्रिय प्रबक्ता अन्जनी शर्मा सहितको टोलिले National Commission for Women का Chairperson श्रीमती रेखा शर्मा लाई भेट गरेर उक्त केशमा यथा शीग्र हस्तछेप गर्दै नारीमाथि भएको यो अत्याचार बिरुद्ध कारबाई गर्ने साथै अझ सम्म जेलमा थुनिएका निर्दोष नारीहरु लाई यथाशिग्र छोडिनु पर्ने मांग राखे।

श्रीमती रेखा शर्मा सित भएको वार्तामा उनले आफु उक्त केश लिएर गम्भीर रहेको अनि अति चाडो नै उनि आफु नै दर्जील्लिंग जाने अनि केशको छानबिन गर्ने बचन दिएभने गोर्खा हरु लाई उनको दार्जीलिंग भ्रमण अवधि उनको साथ् दिने निबेदन पनि गरे। उनको उत्सुकतालाई देखेर अब यो केशले सकारात्मक बाटो पाउने साथै हाम्रो नारीहरु सित न्याई हुने कुरोमा GSSS विश्वस्त छ भने न्याई नपाए सम्म संघर्ष जारी  रहने छ .

Via GSSS

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Three arrested for raping minor in Darjeeling

9:33 AM

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sexual assault

DARJEELING 10 Aug 2016 Police arrested three youths on Tuesday night from the Lebong area in Darjeeling for sexually assaulting a minor girl and the three were today produced in court and sent  to judicial custody. According to the police, the three are Bijendra Khawas (21) from Kothey Gaon, Harsingh; Dipen Rawat (30) of Gofley Phatak; and Sushant Pradhan (23) of Upper Harsingh.

The fourth culprit, Ajay Tamang of Banekburn, is absconding, they said.

All the youths are drivers of a local taxi syndicate and hail from the Lebong area, located 8km from Darjeeling town. Police sources said the minor, who appears to have known the accused, was raped twice  in the Lebong area. “The first rape took place on July 25 and the perpetrator was Tamang. That day, the accused picked up the victim and took her to a garage in Upper Harsingh and committed the crime,”  said a police officer.

The second assault was committed on August 1 by Khawas and Rawat. “We are trying to string together the incidents based on the complaint lodged by the victim’s uncle. It seems on August 1, the two accused had taken the victim to Rungdung Khola, a few kilometres below Harsingh, and committed the crime,” the officer said.

The victim’s family lodged a police complaint on August 9, after a week, and the police subsequently arrested the youths the same day. “An investigation has started. We were told by the victim’s family they  were not aware of crime. It was only yesterday that the victim told her family,” said the policeman.

Amit Javalgi, the Darjeeling SP, confirmed that a complaint had been lodged and three people arrested. “Yesterday a complaint was lodged in the Darjeeling sadar police station about rape. Acting on the complaint, we have arrested three people who were today produced in court, while a search is on to trace the fourth accused. Medical examination has also been conducted on the victim and reports are awaited,” he said.

The three accused were produced in the Additional District Session’s (second) court and sent to judicial remand. They have been directed to appear before court on August 19.

Condemning the incident, the Lebong Motor Syndicate today halted vehicular services from the town area to Lebong for the day. “We strongly condemn the incident and want justice for the victim. The accused must be arrested and given severe punishment to ensure such crimes do not recur,” said P. Hingmang, general secretary of the syndicate.

(EOIC)

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Sikkim State Women's Commission met Bijanbari Case victim Kala Subba actually from Nepal

2:18 PM

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Sikkim State Women's Commission

Writes ‎Prakash Lee‎ 

The news that went viral in social site (FB) on 14th June of Mrs. Kala Subba (31years), who was rambling around in search of job in Bijanbari, Darjeeling and ending the quest in hospital due to brutal physical assault by police personnel at Pool Bazaar Police Station, Darjeeling...thereby creating public rage on social media, some of them claiming her to be of Sikkim, some blamed Sikkim State Women's Commission of being headless, some tried to politicize the matter...But nobody investigated to its roots and got the concrete information of victim.

Finally, the State Women Commission of Sikkim, gathering information and after understanding the matter, made a team comprising (two members of Sikkim State Women Commission Laki Denzongpa and Leela Dulal, NGO Subha Lakxmi Social Organization (SLSO) President Lalita Lama, East Distt General Secretary Dev Gurung (SDF Party) and headed for Sahid Durga Malla District Hospital Darjeeling and visited the victim today.

It is so surprising to find her bed-ridden even after 13 Days. She is still under medical supervision with the support of Rastriya Naari Aayog and Limbu Association of Darjeeling.

State Women Commission Sikkim met Bijanbari Case victim Kala Subba

It is learnt that, she is completely sane, all she said was she, her husband and in-laws are originally from Taplejung, Nepal and temporarily staying in Rumbuk, West-Sikkim. She also said that her husband eloped with another woman and abandoned her thereafter, since then she was being tortured by her in-laws and bearing the burnt of torture and insult, she had to leave the in-laws house and went in search of job to sustain life. Further she claims that she has two children (a son and a daughter).

According to her claims and considering her matter as a top priority, the Sikkim State Women Commission assured her to trace her in-laws' whereabouts in Sikkim and ensure all possible help. And also hope that, the victim will definitely get justice, according to the law of the land.

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Darjeeling police busted International sex racket with the help of school kids

9:11 PM

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West Bengal

Writes Amitava Banerjee

Darjeeling, Jun 19, 2016: Intervention by schoolchildren helped uncover an international sex racket, leading to the arrest of the operation’s kingpin from Delhi along with a woman trafficker from Nepal.

Three traffickers were arrested at the West Bengal-Nepal border, and a police team from Darjeeling was rushed to Delhi to nab others involved in the racket. Members of Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG), an NGO, accompanied the police team.

Gagan Verma, the alleged kingpin, was arrested from his residence in DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon, by the Darjeeling police team along with Haryana police on Saturday. Verma allegedly forged government documents such as Aadhaar cards to traffic girls, and force them to dance in bars and into flesh trade.
Most of the girls were trafficked from the hills of Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal. The racket was operational in the National Capital Region, particularly in Gurgaon and Mudrika area of Delhi.
However, Verma’s aide, Sunni Tamang, managed to give police the slip and escaped to Nepal by road. MARG subsequently informed its partner NGO, Maiti Nepal, and Tamang was apprehended at the Nepal-West Bengal border at around 6pm on Saturday.

 Darjeeling police busted International sex racket with the help of school kids

The Darjeeling police team comprised of two sub-inspectors, two women and two men constables. “We are bringing Verma to the Darjeeling district. He will be produced at the additional chief justice court in Siliguri,” said Deo Gazmer, officer-in-charge of Khoribari police station.v
The operation to bring down the racketeers began after MARG received information from Maiti Nepal that a 15-year-old girl had gone missing from a remote village in the Sidhupalchowk district of Nepal.

The NGO has 12 Students Against Trafficking Clubs (SATC) running successfully in Darjeeling schools, under which students of Class 10, 11 and 12 are sensitised on the human trafficking issue.
“We had alerted our SATC regarding the missing girl. Four of our students from an SATC we run in a school located in the remote part of the district bordering Nepal managed to trace [the girl] on a social network site and befriended her,” said Nirnay John Chettri, president, MARG.

The students pretended to be residents of Nepal who were looking for jobs. The 15-year-old girl then introduced the SATC members to her “friend” in Delhi, who offered them jobs with a salary of Rs 15,000. They would have to work as bar dancers and entertain guests in Delhi.
When the SATC members raised concerns about being caught at the India-Nepal border, they were asked to e-mail their photographs and within 20 minutes they received fake Aadhaar cards along with their appointment letters.

“The students then laid a trap, stating that they would run away from their homes for Delhi. They requested the person in Delhi to send someone to meet them in Panitanki on the Indo-Nepal border, located in the plains of the Darjeeling district,” said Chettri.

At 1 pm on June 8, a man and a woman arrived at the rendezvous point in Panitanki, and were apprehended by police. The duo was identified as Ugen Tshering Bhutia, 23, of Jaldhaka in Kalimpong sub-division and Srijana Rai, 22, of Kumai in Darjeeling district.

“The whole evening, we continued chatting with the Delhi people from where we learnt that a girl from their group had boarded the Rajdhani Express to pick up our SATC girls from the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) on June 9,” said Chettri.

A second trap was laid on June 9 at NJP, and Pranita Mukhia, 22, originally from Sipchu in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, was arrested.

Along with her Hierien (39) of Shilong, Prashant Borah (24) and Pranjol Sunwar (37) of Dibrugarh were arrested from NJP.

MARG the key NGO working in this case states: After our recent intervention in Panitanki (Indo Nepal Border) and NJP on 8th and 9th of June we got certain lead information of sex racket flourishing in Gurgaon and Munrika area of Delhi and NCR.

Most of the girls were trafficked and recruited from the hills of Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal. Darjeeling Police Team organised by  Deodoot Gajmer (OC Khoribari) and headed by  Anup Roy (SI) and MARG members left for Delhi.

After taking support from  Robin Hibu (IPS) Jt. Commissioner Delhi Police, (Nodal Officer for the North East Folks), Deepak Saharan (HPS) DCP East of Gurgaon, Mam Tanya Singh (ACP) Gurgaon, SHO DLF Phase 2, Darjeeling Police Team raided and arrested  Gagan Verma from his residence.

Verma is one of the kingpin who was pushing girls into club dancing, flesh trade and was illegally making documents like Aaddhar Cards for the girls.

Sunni Tamang an aide of Verma escaped that very morning for Nepal by road. This information was again relayed to Maiti Nepal. At around 6pm yesterday Sunni was apprehended by Maiti Nepal Team in Nepal Gunj.

Mission Impossible became possible because all worked as a team.

It was the joint effort of Robin Hibu (Jt. Comm), Deepak Saharan (DCP), Mam Tanya Singh (ACP), Deodoot Gazmer (OC Khoribari), Kalyan Gurung (CI, Khoribari), DYSP (Khoribari), Sanjay Prasad (Maiti Nepal), Subir Roy (for arranging a vehicle for the team on the 16th), Lisa from Caritas India (Anthony Chettri, Delhi) for arranging vehicle for two days for the team, SATC members.

Via Hindustan Times

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Bijanbari police tourture victim referred to ‪Darjeeling‬ District Hospital

8:55 PM

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Sikkim

18 June 2016 Bijanbari The victim of alleged police torture Ms. Kala Subba has been referred to Darjeeling District Hospital.

Yesterday a team from Sikkim led by SDF Daramdim Samasty President Mr. Bhupendra Chettri arrived in Bijanbari to ascertain the facts relating to Ms. Subba's address.

Speaking to the Press Mr. Chettri stated, "we are trying to ascertain her address and we will do all we can to assist her... we have already lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission and we will proceed as and when we get more information."

A team from Darjeeling Women's Commission under the leadership of Ms Lalita Lama also visited Ms Subba and under their care and that of Bijanbari Nari Kalyan Samity Ms. Subba has been taken to Darjeeling District Hospital as her condition is still critical.

Victim of alleged police torture Ms. Kala Subba

In the meanwhile, cry for ouster of Bijanbari OC Saurav Sen has grown stronger with DYFI, local women's organizations, Bijanbari Limbu Samaj demanding his suspension.



Via The DC

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Sikkim woman not kept at Bijanbari police station, lied about her identity - says SP

10:17 AM

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Sikkim

Cloud on Bijanbari woman's identity

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, June 16: The woman, Kala Subba, who was allegedly beaten up at the Bijanbari police station where she had taken shelter on Sunday, has given wrong information regarding her family and whereabouts, the police said today.

She had been admitted to the hospital with bruises on her thighs and hands.

The woman in her mid-thirties had said she was from West Sikkim and had a daughter and a son. She had also said she had come to Bijanbari in search of a job.

Darjeeling police chief Amit P. Javalgi said: "The person she had described as her father and a gram panchayat member of the area from where she said she was visited the lady at the hospital yesterday. Neither of them could identify her."

He added: "The headmaster of the school in which the lady had said her son was studying could not verify if such a student was enrolled."

The SP said the woman was not kept at the police station on Sunday night.

"The lady was not kept at the Bijanbari police station for the night. The officer in charge of the police station got a call around 3.45pm (on Sunday) from some people in Bijanbari who told him that a lady, who was not in her senses, had lost her way. She was not from the locality and the caller asked if the police could take her to the police station."

He added: "The OC (officer in charge of the police station) asked if she was a minor or an adult and on being informed that she was an adult, a team consisting of a male ASI, lady constables, lady home guards and lady civic police were sent (to get her). On the way to the police station the lady became violent. She was brought to the police station so that her address could be traced and she could be handed over to her family."

The police chief said: "Since the woman couldn't provide any information and was intoxicated, she was taken to the hospital. With the help of some local people, she was taken there around 8pm the same day. The statement that she was admitted to the hospital the next day is wrong."do not providing also whether Everything is being verified said another police officer The medical from of the Bijanbari hospital also that that the woman was intoxicated.


Via Telegraph

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Bijanbari Police brutality on Kala Subba Case, FIR against policemen

11:53 PM

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Sikkim

Update on West Bengal Police brutality on Kala Subba Case, Bijanbari

Bijanbari 16 June 2016 Locals, NGOs and Human Right Volunteers gherau Pulbazar Police Station demanding justice for Kala Subba. People are very much anguished after Police tortured innocent woman brutally as such her health is very critical in Bijanbari hospital.

National Human Rights Crime Control Organisation Sikkim Team and VOS correspondent met with a victim Kala Subba at Bijanbari Hospital who was tortured by police of Pul Bazar Police Station on 12 June.

According to the local social volunteers and NGOs victim's condition is critical . They further alleged that on Sunday when Nari Morcha (Women Social Help Group) handed this homeless lone woman Kala to Police and had informed the police that she was from Sombarey West Sikkim, however, Pul Bazar police did not contact the West Sikkim police, instead they trashed her brutally that night. Next morning ie on Monday morning locals found her in severe condition after being beaten up mercilessly by the Police.

Locals, NGOs and Human Right Volunteers gherau Pulbazar
Police Station demanding justice.

Police 'Bada Bau' (Thana Incharge) and Doctor's role is been seen doubtful after she was admitted at hospital alleges locals.

The Team from Sikkim has lodged FIR against policemen in same Police Station today.




Pics and News Dipak Gurung, VOS Rangpo

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Sikkim women allegedly tortured by West Bengal Police, Police refuse to comment

10:36 AM

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West Bengal

DESTITUTE FEMALE BRUTALIZED IN BIJANBARI - Locals Allege Police Torture, Police Refuse to Comment

A distraught women from Rumbuk in Sombarey, Sikkim Ms. Kala Subba (31 yrs) whose husband had elope with another women and had left her and her two kids straddle, had come to Bijanbari in search of a job . Today some female members of Bijanbari Nari Society (BNS) found her in a helpless condition near Sai Mandir area and took her to the Pulbazar police station seeking help.
Locals alleged that instead of giving her help, the woman was brutally tortured and left with severe injuries by the police, her body is bruised all over and she is undergoing treatment in the local hospital premises.

Once the locals came to know, they gathered yesterday in the hospital and protested against the brutal torture that Ms Kala Subba had to undergo.

Corresponding with TheDC, one of the members of BNS stated, “we took her to the police station, so that she would be protected as we felt the police will help her get back to her family, little did we know the police themselves would turn on her and treat her with such brutality… whatever little faith we had in the police force is today shattered… how could they beat up a helpless woman with such brutality?”

Sikkim women allegedly tortured by West Bengal Police

Locals told us that according to the victim it was Pulbazar OC Sourav Sen who beat her up, however when we contacted OC of Pulbazar police station Sourav Sen, he stated that he could not comment at the moment as the inquiry was being undertaken.

From the duty roster we know that SI Lhakpa Bhutia was on duty today, however when we contacted him he said “I was not at the police station when this happened… I had gone to Singla so I am unaware of what transpired…”

We tried to reach the Duty Officer Mr. Burman who was at the police station today, however we couldn’t connect to him.

Taking a grim view of the issue, noted Women’s rights activist Ms. Rangu Souriya has stated, “This kind of activity of the police is condemnable and shameful... This situation makes us feel ilk girls’ n women r not safe anywhere and it is indeed a matter of grave concern... so we need justice.”
Sandeep Chettri a local social activist stated, “Today the entire police station says they didn’t see anything… how is it possible? A mentally disturbed woman gets brutalized inside a police station and every police officer present there is saying they cannot comment… is this how woman’s rights are protected in this nation?”

In the past 6 months we have received numerous complaints of police excesses, and most of the complaints have concerned Mirik police station.

It could be telling that the entire Bijanbari police has refused to speak on this issue, are they really unaware of what happened, or are they hiding something?

It is shameful that in today’s day and age, basic human rights is not respected in our hills, the officers whoever they are need to ponder, would they react the same way and keep mum, if the victim happened to be their mother, sister, wife or daughter?


सिक्किम सोमबारे निवासी कला सुब्बा (३१) आफ्नो पतिले सौता लिएर घरबाट चम्पट कसेपछि २ जना नानीहरु ११, र ८ वर्षको लाई बोज्युसित छोड़ेर काम खोज्दै बिजनबारी आएकी थिईन् |

तर घटना अर्कै भईदियो | यहाँको साई मन्दिर नजीक कलालाई त्यहीकै बासिन्दाहरुले भेटेपछि पुल थानामा खबर गरि दिए|

अहिले पुलिसले भक्कुचुर कुटपिट् गरेको आरोप छ भने, कला यहाँको ग्रामीण अस्पतालमा उपचाराधीन अवस्थामा छिन् |

आज यहाँ यस क्षेत्रको सचेत नारी र युवाहरु अस्पताल परिसरमा पुलिसको विरोधमा ओर्लिए |


Via:TheDC

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Gorkha runner wins Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon - Triumphs Over Kenyan and Ethiopian Runners

8:04 AM

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Tourism

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

The Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon had international participants, from as far away as Ethiopia and Kenya, but the winner in the male category was a Darjeeling runner.

Around 1,500 runners took part in the 21km half marathon which was flagged off at Sukhiapokhri today.

The event was organised by Darjeeling police in association with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to commemorate the 153th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Ajay Chhetri, 22, from Shivgram in Darjeeling who started running after joining the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles two years ago, stole the show by winning in the male category. Punjab's Kiranjeet Kaur, 22, won in the women's category.

"When I joined the Army, the officers asked me to concentrate on marathons after watching me do cross-country running during training. It is then that I put on my running shoes. I came fourth in this marathon last year. I am happy to win this year," said Chhetri.

Ajay Chhetri, 22, from Shivgram in Darjeeling

In the past two years, Chhetri has run six half marathons across India.

Today, he completed the run, from Sukhiapokhri to Chowrasta, in 1 hour 10 minutes and 39 seconds.

From the start to the finish line, Chhetri held the lead with two Ethiopian and two Kenyan runners following him closely.

Tewodros Haile, 32, from Ethiopia, came second clocking 1 hour, 11 minutes and 5 seconds. "The run was beautiful, but I had never trained for a marathon in a hilly terrain. After 18km, I was extremely tired," he said.

Haile added that he has taken part in 11 marathons across the world. "I have run in Ukraine and United States among other countries. Even in India, I have participated in six marathons so far," he said.

The four Ethiopian and Kenyans runners came to know about the event from the Internet. "We usually browse the net to find out about marathons and that is how we came to Darjeeling," Haile said.

Vikash Kumar from Delhi was the second runner-up in the men's catergory.

In the women category, Kiranjeet clocked 1 hour 25 minutes 8 seconds. Seema Khatoon, from Delhi, and Monika Chowdhury, from Uttar Pradesh, were the first and second runners-up, respectively.

The winners in both men and women categories got a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh each.

The first and second runners-up won a Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 each, respectively.

Darjeeling superintendent of police, Amit P. Javalgi, said: "This year, we had runners from Ethiopia and Kenya and different parts of our country. Nearly 1,500 people ran, including 200 women. The event is organised to promote peace and harmony between the plains and the hills and promote Darjeeling as an environment-friendly tourist place. We are happy with the turnout.

Source: Telegraph

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Darjeeling half marathon to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

9:07 AM

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sports news

Darjeeling district police will organise a 21km-long half marathon to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12, an event which is likely to see the participation of international runners.

Amit P. Javalgi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said here today that the main objective of organising the event was to promote tourism in the Darjeeling hills. "We would like to impart a message that Darjeeling is the place where peace and harmony prevail."

He said former Indian athlete Shiny Wilson would inaugurate the half-marathon at Sukhiapokhri.

According to him, around 1,000 people had participated in the race last year. This year, the organisers are expecting a higher turnout. "Registration for participating in the race has started and will continue till January 11. The registration fee is Rs 250. However, on January 12, we will allow any sports enthusiast to take part in the run without registration. Prizes will be given only to those who register their names," said Javalgi.

Ahead of the Darjeeling run, another half-marathon will be held in Siliguri on January 10 as part of the ongoing Uttarbanga Utsav. The Siliguri Marathon will be organised jointly by the north Bengal development department and Agrani Sangha, a local club.

The 21-km long run will be flagged off from Hashmi Chowk and end at the Agrani Sangha club.

Two more events, an 8km mini marathon and a 4km dream run will also be organised simultaneously. In the half-marathon, the winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the first runner-up will be given Rs 50,000.

Source: Telegraph

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22 schools in Kurseong asked to close early to make way for Mamata Banerjee

11:05 AM

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Mamata Banerjee

Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Aug. 24: Barely two hours before Mamata Banerjee's cavalcade was to cross Kurseong town, police there today requested 22 schools near NH55 to give over an hour early so that the highway could be kept clear for the chief minister to pass.

Members of the Bhutia community offer khadas to Mamata Banerjee in
Darjeeling on Monday. Picture by Suman Tamang

While the police said the request was made to the schools so that students would not be inconvenienced, an educationist from Kurseong, who did not want to be identified, said he found the police's action "hilarious". "I have never come across such a thing in my life, most of which has been spent as an educationist. Education is more important than ensuring a hassle-free drive for the chief minister."

Sources in various schools said they received a call from police between 1pm and 1.45pm, requesting their co-operation and asking that students be allowed to leave for home by 2pm, instead of 3pm that is the regular closing time. "The request also came a bit too late in the day," said the educationist.

One school source said: "It was not a diktat but a request from the police, who even went to the extent of saying that their jobs would be at stake if we did not co-operate."

Classes usually start in hill schools at 8.30am and get over by 3pm. Soon after the police called up the schools, many institutions did close for the day at 2pm. All schools in Kurseong could not be contacted individually. Those schools that declared an early holiday today did not want their institution's names to come on print. "Please don't print the name of my school as we don't want to be in the firing line," joked one teacher.

The chief minister has earlier too taken the same highway to Darjeeling but on most occasions, she reached Bagdogra in the afternoon and after administrative meetings, left for the hills around evening.

Today, the chief minister landed at Bagdogra airport at 2.35pm and left for Darjeeling in 12 minutes. The chief minister's convoy touched Kurseong town at 3.45pm, about two hours after the police called up the schools to make the request for an early closure.

The chief minister reached Richmond Hill in Darjeeling at 5.35pm.

When schools give over in Kurseong, a traffic jam usually follows as NH55 runs right through the town. "To make matters worse, there is no foot path in the heart of town," said a resident, which means that students walk right on the road while going home.

Since morning today, Kurseong police had been minding traffic in the heart of the town.

Many students walk back home and in the absence of a proper footpath, there is traffic congestion.

An equal number of students also go home in pool cars which too slow traffic.

When asked if the school authorities had managed to inform the parents, a principal said: "No, we could not. So we decided to keep the students back in school. However, parents usually come a bit early to fetch their children."

The GTA is constructing a parking space in Kurseong but work is not over yet.

C.B. Subba, the acting subdivional police officer of Kurseong, today denied that they had closed the schools. "We definitely cannot close schools. We don't have such powers. However, we sought their co-operation to basically ensure that students who would be returning home would not be inconvenienced and get caught in a traffic jam."

Source Telegraph

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Meghalaya's Anish Thapa and Raiganj's Shyamali Singh Win Darjeeling Marathon

10:42 AM

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sports news

About 1700 men and women took part in the second Darjeeling Police Marathon on Monday.

Meghalaya's Anish Thapa and Raiganj's Shyamali Singh Win Darjeeling Marathon

The runners started from Sukhiapokhri and covered a distance of about 21 km through the town ending at Chowrasta.

Anish Thapa from Shillong covered the distance in 1 hour 10 min 22 seconds to claim the first prize in the men's category, while Shyamali Singh from Raniganj won the first prize among women clicking a time of 1 hour 31 min 40 seconds.

Singh had also won the first prize last year.

Prizes will be handed over to the winners on January 21 at Lebong by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the police said adding the marathon was organised to build a better relation between the police and the public.

The marathon was flagged off by athletic coach Kuntal Roy who is a Dronacharya awardee.

Source: EOI

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2nd Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon 2015

9:54 AM

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sports news

The Darjeeling Police in Association with Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd is organizing the 2nd Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon.

1st Prize - Rs 1,50,000 
2nd Prize - Rs 50,000 
3rd Prize - Rs 25,000
Places 4th to 10th - Cash Prizes

2nd Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon 2015

The objective behind the event is to promote Darjeeling as one of the most beautiful and environment friendly global tourist destination. This event also aims to establish peace and harmony between the people of the hills and plains. Participating in this Marathon and running in the laps of the Queen of Hills would be a life time experience for all.

This is an open competition for both males and females within the age group of 18 to 45 years.

Vivek Chhetri for telegraph writes:
The Darjeeling police in association with The Telegraph will be organising a 21km half marathon on January 12, in which over 2,000 people from across the country are expected to participate.

The second Amway Darjeeling Police Marathon is being organised by Darjeeling police to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and to strengthen the police-public relations. The first run was held on January 12 last year.

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, the Darjeeling superintendent of police, today said: "The half marathon will start from Sukhiapokhri and end at Chowrasta on January 12. The winner, first runner-up and second runner-up in both the male and female categories will get cash awards of Rs 1.5 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively."

The race will start at 9am. The marathon, whose tagline is "Run for Peace, Run for Happiness", is being organised in collaboration with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and the state government.

"The last date for submission of forms is January 11. After the submission of forms is complete, the participants will have to undergo a medical test," Chaturvedi said.

According to the district police chief, over 2,000 participants are expected for the half marathon.

"We are getting a lot of inquiries from Calcutta and Siliguri. Runners from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and some other states have also submitted forms," Chaturvedi said.

The winners will be handed a trophy and cash prize by chief minister Mamata Banerjee during the Himal-Terai-Dooars Sports Festival, which will be held at Lebong on January 21.

"The top ten contestants in both the male and female categories will also receive consolation prizes," said Sudip Sarkar, the additional superintendent of police, Darjeeling.

Source: DC & telegraph

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More names of political leaders in Assam arms haul case

8:02 AM

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Hill

The Darjeeling police chief today said a “lot of names” of political leaders had cropped up in the Assam arms haul case.

Till now, police were known to be looking for GTA elected member Sanjay Thulung, who is also the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha vice-president, in connection with the case. Thulung is untraceable.

Two persons — one man hailing from Assam and the other from Alipurduar — have been arrested in the Chirang district in lower Assam with the arms and ammunition that they were allegedly carrying in a Tata Safari.

Darjeeling police superintendent Akhilesh Chaturvedi said: “During their interrogation, a lot of names have cropped up. We are verifying the facts.”

Asked if the names were those of political leaders, Chaturvedi said: “Yes, of course.… So many names are coming, we have to verify and then I can say who is involved or not.”

An M16 rifle, two Beretta pistols, three .32 bore pistols, 300 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 80 rounds of ammunition of AK-series rifles, 198 rounds of M16 ammunition and 60 rounds of .32 ammunition were found in the Darjeeling-bound Tata Safari in Chirang on November 8.

Umesh Kami, who hails from Alipurduar and is a member of the Gorkhaland Personnel in Darjeeling, and Ganesh Chhetri from Assam, were in the car.

Chhetri, who is a member of an Assam-based outfit called the United Gorkha People’s Organisation purportedly told his interrogators that the arms consignment was for a political leader of Darjeeling district in lieu of money.

On November 9, the Darjeeling police raided the house of Thulung.

The Morcha raised allegations of police atrocities after law-enforcers patrolled Tukvar on Monday following information that Thulung could be hiding there.

The hill party alleged that the police had raided two houses, ransacked property and harassed a schoolgirl in Tukvar, which is Morcha chief Bimal Gurung’s GTA constituency.

Chaturvedi today said: “So far, we are taking all legal action. Since the case is with Assam police, we have sent our team to examine those persons (arrested) and based on their information, we are taking all possible legal action.”

On November 17, the police had found an abandoned Tata Safari in Tukvar, near Darjeeling town. Asked about the vehicle, Chaturvedi said: “Yes, that was found after a statement from the accused person and we are verifying the facts and soon, we will be able to reach a conclusion.”

The Trinamul delegation met Chaturvedi today to seek the quick arrest of all those associated with the arms seizure.

“We are getting information that Sanjay Thulung had bought the vehicle (that was impounded in Assam),” said Binny Sharma, the general secretary of the Trinamul (hills).

Alluding to the Burdwan blast, Sharma took a swipe at the BJP, saying: “The BJP is making a lot of noise in south Bengal but why are they silent in the hills on an issue that concerns national security.”

The Morcha, which is the dominant party in the hills, and the BJP are allies.

S.S. Ahluwalia, the BJP MP in Darjeeling, was elected with the backing of the Morcha.

Rajen Mukhia, the president of Trinamul (hills), said the delegation had requested the police to ensure that the accused were immediately arrested.

“The Darjeeling hills share international borders and peace must be maintained in the hills. We want the accused to be arrested as early as possible.”

Vivek Chhetri for Telegraph

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GJM condemns police raids in Bimal Gurung's village Patleybas in Darjeeling

4:53 PM

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Politics

Protesting the alleged police raids in the village of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung at Patleybas in Darjeeling yesterday, the party today held its central committee meeting at its Singamari office and decided to enquire with the state government about the raids.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung

After the meeting, GJM central committee member Raju Pradhan said leaders condemned the police raids, and that they decided to ask the state government why innocent people are being harassed.

Police swooped down on two houses in the village last night, as they said Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) member Sanjay Thulung, who has been linked with the recent arms and ammunition haul in Assam, had been taking shelter there. Since the arms haul on 8 November and since fingers started pointing at Mr Thulung, the GTA official, and also the GJMM youth leader, has been absconding.
“Police have acted in similar fashion and they exercise monopoly in the hills whenever our party president is out of Darjeeling,” Mr Pradhan said.
“GJMM is a party that has all different elected leaders, like MLAs, councilors and GTA members. Hence, it is their (police) responsibility to look after the inconveniences of the common public and not harass them,” he added.
According to him, the three MLAs of the three hill sub-divisions will inquire about the raids with the state government and the police administration.
Darjeeling SP, AK Chaturvedi, however, said they had merely conducted ‘patrolling’ and not raids in the area, following reports that Mr Thulung was hiding there.
Almost all top GJMM leaders, including the party president, Mr Gurung, left for Delhi on 15 November, and are presently on a pilgrimage to Banaras.

Source: thestatesman

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Raids in Tukvar in connection to Assam arms haul case

12:53 PM

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GTA

'Raid' ireIn Morcha..

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has directed its three MLAs to find from "whichever level" the reason behind yesterday's alleged police raids on two houses in Tukvar, the constituency of GTA Sabha chief executive Bimal Gurung.

Raids in Tukvar in connection to Assam arms haul case

The police have denied conducting any raid yesterday, but said they were patrolling Tukvar as they had information that GTA elected member Sanjay Thulung, wanted in an arms haul case registered in Assam, was in the area.

The arms and ammunition were seized in Assam on November 8 and were allegedly meant for Thulung, two persons arrested in the case have said, according to police sources in the neighbouring state.

The Morcha today called an "emergency meeting" of the central committee to discuss the "raid" on the houses of Jaspal Gazmer and Dinesh Theeng yesterday.

The meeting was presided over by Morcha vice-president R.P. Waiba as party chief Gurung and general secretary Roshan Giri are away in Varanasi.

Raju Pradhan, assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: "We do not know why raids are being conducted there. We have directed our three MLAs to find out from whichever level, the reason behind the raids. Since the Morcha is the largest political power (in the hills), it is our responsibility to find out the reason behind the raids."

The Morcha today said a schoolgirl was harassed by the police in one of the homes they allegedly raided.

D.K. Pradhan, a Morcha central committee member, said: "We want to find out if any case has been registered against the people whose houses are being searched."

Pradhan said the police had misbehaved with a student at Gazmer's house. "These are serious issues concerning human rights," he said.

Police sources have said the force could raid a house in the state without registering a case as part of a probe in another state.

Gazmer's family members said the police had not only raided the house but also ransacked it yesterday evening.

Theeng's family said the police had entered and raided the house in the morning but in the evening, they stood outside the gate and threatened to take Theeng's wife to the police station for interrogation if he did not surrender.

Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi, the Darjeeling SP, said the allegations were "baseless".

Vivek Chhetri for Telegraph

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CRPF and Police Raid a House in Tukvar - GJM Accuses Police of Vandalizing

8:51 AM

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GTA

Police today raided two houses at Tukvar, the GTA constituency of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, in search of Sanjay Thulung, an elected member of the hill autonomous body.

CRPF Raid a House in Tukvar - GJM Accuses Police of Vandalizing

Thulung had allegedly ordered for arms and ammunition which had been seized in Assam on November 8. He is untraceable.

Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said: "We are patrolling the area. We had an input that Sanjay Thulung was staying in a house."

The houses of Jaspal Gazmer and Dinesh Theeng were raided by the police

A Morcha leader alleged that the police had vandalised the house of Gazmer during the raid at 5.30pm. "We protest the vandalism by police," said the leader.

Binay Tamang, an assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: "If the police have specific information, they can conduct a raid. But they should not harass innocent people and vandalise their property. We condemn such action of the police and the party's central committee will hold a meeting in Darjeeling tomorrow to discuss this issue."

Gurung and Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri are currently in Varanasi.

Pics clicked by Himalaya Darpan clearly show vandalism.

According to Jaspal Gajmer, the police and CRPF jawans entered their home without any notice and started to vandalize their place. He further accused teh police of misbehaving with his daughter who is a student of Class - 11, and accused that police even snatched her books which she was studying.

His wife, Mrs. Gajmer said that the police entered the house and said that they were sent by the SP and vandalized the house. She said the children are terrified and are in a state of shock, she asked, "if they are looking for an individual, why did they snatch the book off of my daughters hands? can anyone hide a person in a textbook?"

GJM leader Binoy Tamang stated that the police had even entered Kanchenjunga School without taking any permission from the school authorities, and that the students are terrorized.

Speaking to the press Anita Tamang wife of Dinesh Theeng said, "the police had entered our house and asked the whereabouts of my husband, and when I said, I didn't know... they threatened me and said that if I do not reveal his whereabouts they will arrest me... when I asked, what wrong has he done? they do not answer... right now annual examinations of my children are going on.. and because of police action my children are unable to concentrate on their studies... we haven't even had food since last night... "

Darjeeling SP Chaturvedi has, however denied the charges.

[With inputs from Telegraph and HD, Pics via Himalaya Darpan: shows vandalized house of Jaspal Gajmer]

Source: DC

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Police convoy at GTA headquarters uninformed, GTA to seek a report

8:10 AM

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GTA Sabha

Darjeeling, July 4: A police convoy of seven cars arrived at the  Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, GTA administrative headquarters unannounced this morning and became a cause of consternation for the hill body’s leaders, who have said they would write to the state home secretary.

Lal Khoti in Darjeeling

GTA sources and leaders said the cars that arrived at 11am and stayed for 10 minutes. Some policemen were seen checking vehicles on the Lal Khoti premises.

Binay Tamang, an executive GTA Sabha member, said: “I was informed that the additional superintendent of police of Darjeeling today entered the Lal Khoti with a convoy of seven police vehicles around 11am without intimating the GTA about the need to visit the premises.

“I have directed the secretary of the GTA to seek a report from the higher authorities of the police department on the purpose of the visit and have also told the secretary to request the police to give prior intimation of such visits.”

The alleged surprise visit by the police team has happened days after an elected GTA member, Kaziman Lohagun, was arrested as an accused in the Jamuni land case.

Lohagun is accused of supplying arms to six persons who threatened a landowner who alleged his plot was forcibly taken by the GTA for a tourism project.

The GTA has announced that the hill body would relocate the tourism project from the disputed area in Jamuni.

There was a buzz in administrative circles today that the police were looking for GTA Sabha member Satish Pokhrel, whose name had cropped up in the investigation related to alleged threatening of a landowner from Jamuni. There is no official confirmation on this from the police, though.

Don Bosco Lepcha, secretary of the GTA, who was asked about the visit by the police, said he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Sources in the GTA said the hill body would write to a state home secretary referring to Tamang’s letter to the GTA secretary. “A letter would also be sent to the Darjeeling SP and the matter would be conveyed to the Darjeeling district magistrate,” said a GTA source.

Darjeeling police chief Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi said the team had gone to check a police camp located on the Lal Khoti premises.

“There is a police camp located on the Lal Khoti premises and some officers might have visited the camp,” he said.

Asked if the police needed permission to visit any premises, Chaturvedi replied in the negative.

Six constables and an assistant sub-inspector of police are stationed at Lal Khoti for security.

Tamang, however, said the police did not visit the camp.

“I have been informed that the police personnel did not visit the area where the camp is located but they looked around in vehicles that were parked on the GTA office premises. They came towards the main Lal Khoti building,” Tamang said.

S. Sarkar, the Darjeleing additional SP, said he had gone “to visit the camp”.

Officials in the GTA, too, said that they were surprised.

“Usually, government officials send a requisition to the police for deployment of personnel where the officers apprehend trouble in cases like submission of deputations,” said a GTA official who did not want to be named.

Source: Telegraph

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Darjeeling police arrested youth (Nairitya Rai) with drugs

9:21 AM

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society

The Darjeeling police on Saturday arrested a youth from the town area for trying to sell prohibitory drugs. Nairitya Rai (24) of Tukvar-II division tea estate, about 15 km from Darjeeling town, is a history-sheeter and had been under police observation for quite a while.

Acting on a tipoff the Sadar police raided the Lal Dighi area in the heart of the town and arrested Rai with medicinal drugs which did not have the required prescription. “The accused has a history of such illegal activities and we were keeping a close watch on him. He had laid low for some time but a couple of day back we got information that Rai was again on the move. On Saturday, we got a tipoff that Rai was seen near Lal Dighi. We reached the spot and found Rai roaming suspiciously in the area and on searching him, we recovered unaccounted medicines,” said a police official who was part of the raid.

Police confiscated ten strips of Nitrogen-10 and eight strips of Spasma Proxyron tablets from Rai which did not have a doctor’s prescription. Rai has been arrested under section 27(b) (II) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act. The accused was produced to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court today and has been sent to five days police remand for further questioning and will have to appear before the court on June 12 for the next hearing.

Sources within the police department have admitted the growing menace of youths selling drugs and substances is on the rise even though every effort is being made to curb this anti-social activity. “It is difficult but we are doing everything in our disposal to ensure such activities do not occur. We appeal to the people to help us in identifying and providing information of individuals involved in such trade which is detrimental to the society,” the source urged.

Source: EOI

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