Bimal Gurung on suspicious movement of Rohingyas in the region

12:51 PM

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Press Release

PRESS RELEASE:-

The Darjeeling, Terai and Duars touches three international boundaries - Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Tibet (China) is also located right above our region. Given which the significance and importance of this highly sensitive and strategic border area, that connects the Indian mainland to the rest of North East India, cannot be overstated.

Of late, I have been hearing ground reports from our cadres about suspicious movements of new people in our region, many of whom reportedly do not even speak Hindi, and they fear that these people are Rohingyas who are now being gradually pushed into our region with the intention of diluting the existing Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbonshi and Indian Bengali population. It seems like sinister plans are afoot to further marginalize the original inhabitants of these land, and render us homeless.

It has been widely acknowledged that Rohingyas pose a national security threat, and it seems like certain political elements are allowing them to settle here for one and only reason - 'vote-bank' politics. Despite the central intelligence agencies having repeatedly raised the national security risk posed by Rohingyas, some political outfits are allowing politics of votes to supersede national interests.

I am hopeful that the Honourable Prime Minister and Union Home Minister will kindly take cognizance of the situation developing in our region, and do the needful to put an end to these sinister designs.

I request everyone living in our region to kindly remain vigilante and report all such suspicious settlements that may be coming up near you.

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New York Gorkhas for Gorkhaland

11:33 AM

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international news

Writes: Indira Chongbang

New York Gorkha Welfare Society East Cost NY organized a BBQ program in New York in order to support the Gorkhland movement and for the solidarity from the foreign land to pass the message we are united for the Gorkhaland regardless of the physical distance and united together throughout the world.

The gathering was a symbol of the single voice they want to live and thrive in their nation with equality and respect which is possible only if their demand of Gorkhaland will be granted. They tried to disseminate their emotions towards the people and spread their sentiments through play cards and a banner stating they stand along with the people of Darjeeling and against the violations of human rights which are disrupting due to the police brutality and inhumanity.

It was motioned to be united among the Gorkha diaspora who live in the United States and scattered around the globe, but they are together for the common cause of Gorkhaland wherever they are. According to the sources, about 1200 people have sacrificed their lives for this same mission and they have been fighting for 110 years in the history demanding the independent state of their motherland India. Though they are considered as the migrated Nepalese, their ancestors already have spent the numerous years even many of them don't know which part of Nepal they belong from.

Gorkhaland is the dream of the West Bengal people of India.  The mission of the movement which carries the long history along with it.The demand of this separate Gorkhaland state has been raised since 1907 after the  Hillmen's Association in Darjeeling submitted a memorandum to Minto-Morley Reforms. After then different groups raised their voices. In the 1980s, Subhash Ghisingh raised the demand for the separate state called Gorkhaland within India to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling and areas of Dooars and Siliguri Terai contiguous to Darjeeling.

The solidarity of the Darjeeling people around the globe is also in tribute the martyrs who lost their lives during the movement. People around the world who are in favor of humanity and against the violence have joined the hands together with them directly and indirectly. The own country is against its people making the blockage and letting the people live without internet and enough foods. It is against the humanity and violence of human rights. The Darjeeling, the beautiful place, and the attraction of tourists is in turmoil and inflicted by its own state and national leaders.

Seven agitators killed from recent violence,  several injured, human rights are mishandled, the voices have been suppressed, the protestors are arrested, the way of communications, internet and networks are blocked even the mainstream media are not covering the news to bring the truth to this world. This is the panic attack of human rights and it hurts not only the residence of that place but also the people who know what is going on and how the people are living with one-third of food.

This group in New York started their campaign to support the Gorkhaland and to be united toward this mission together in the world. They organized the candle lights for the condolences of the people who lost their lives in New York. On 30th Aug the people of Darjeeling who are scattered around the globe; marched in front of the United Nation worldwide. No attention has been paid to the foreign concerns so far yet though the livelihood of the people has been vicious due to rippling the important aspects of survival like basic foods, sanitation, supplies, education and other needs. I wish and pray for the people of Darjeeling and my support for the humanity and aspiration to the upcoming days stand along with their demand to let them live enjoying their human rights with respect, dignity, and equality.

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First International Nepali Poetry Festival held Successfully

6:55 PM

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nepali

The first ever International Nepali Poetry Festival was held yeaterday at the South Asian  University (SAU), New  Delhi yesterday.  The one-day  festival  was organised by Nepali student community of the university, in collaboration with the university’s  Institute  of South Asian  Studies (ISAS) and book  club. The poetry festival was supported  by  the BP Koirala Foundation under  the  Nepal  Embassy  in New Delhi.

The  programme  began with  Dr.  Kavita  Sharma,  President,  SAU,  welcoming  all guest  and  participants.  She shared her  vision  of  South  Asia and underscored the  importance  of poetic  exchanges  between  countries in  the  region. The  Nepali Ambassador to India, Deep  Kumar Upadhyay applauded the efforts of the organising team for their efforts and encouraged the participants to engage themselves more in such events in future.

The  festival  proceeded  to  explore  poetic  imaginings in Nepal and  India through  a  conversation between Professor Abhi Subedhi, renowned writer  and  critic from  Nepal, with  Shri Ashok  Vajpeyi,  poet and  former  Chairman  of the  Lalit  Kala  Akademi of India. Featured were  panels  on  South-Asiaism - first  on  the  various South  Asian  translations of  Pablo  Neruda’s poems and  later  on  feminist  writings in  various languages  of  South Asia:    Bangla,  Daree,  Hindi,  Urdu, Sinhala,  Tamil,  Telugu  and  Nepali.

The session  was  followed  by  the  discussion  on  Nepali  session  which was  the  major  attraction  of the festival. The  Nepali session  began  with the  discussion  on  ‘Nepali  Poetry  outside  Nepal’ by  the  panelist which included noted  poet  Dr.  Rajendra Bhandari  from  Sikkim,  Daibaki Timilsina  from  Assam, and  Raja Puniani from  Darjeeling. The  second  session of the peotry festival focused on the discussion of various  aspects of Nepali poetry  by Bhupinder Adhikari  from  Dehradhun,  Madan Puskar recipient  Ram  Lal Joshi from  Nepal and  Sukul  Pradhan  from Delhi.

Later on, Vishnu  Gurung  from  All  India Radio,  Dr.  Naba Raj  Lamsal from  Radio  Nepal, and  Jogen Darnal from  Darjeeling  expressed  their  views on  ‘Poetry  in  Media and  Academia’. The  invited panel guests enthralled the audience with their captivating poetries that focused on different issues and themes.

Sarubhkata  Shrestha, the Chancellor of Nepal  Academy  of  Music and  Drama, delivered  the  most  awaited keynote  address  on  ‘Contemporary  issues  on  Nepali  Poetry.’

The twenty young poets who came  from  different  parts  of Nepal  and  India also entertained  the large  gatherings by  their poetry  recitation. Besides, there  were  also  video recitation from  different  parts  of the  world, including China,  USA,  Israel,  and  Norway. The  program  was streamed live through DC-Nepal and was coordinated by Ram N. Shrestha and Krishna Sharma.

Via TheDC

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UNESCO World Heritage Status for Khangchendzonga/Kanchenjunga National park Sikkim

9:44 PM

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Sikkim

Sikkim Gangtok 17th July 2016: Congratulations to The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Culture, Govt of India and the Govt of Sikkim for successfully ushering in Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga) National park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World Heritage Sites fall under three categories: cultural, natural and mixed. These sites are a legacy from the past, what we live with today and what we pass on to future generations as irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration, as stated by UNESCO. Presently there are more than 1,031 World Heritage sites, of which 802 are cultural, 197 natural and 32 mixed. India has 32 sites: 25 cultural and seven natural.

India's two ministries, MoEFCC through its Wildlife Institute and the Ministry of Culture through its World Heritage advisory body proposed, that Khangchendzonga National Park be inscribed under the mixed category.

UNESCO World Heritage Status for Khangchendzonga/Kanchenjunga  National park Sikkim

This category is meant for sites that are an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement living sustainably with ecosystems, with treasure of invaluable traditional knowledge and culture that highlights human interaction with the environment. Such heritage sites have the sort of intangible features that provide an encyclopedia of lessons for vulnerable communities under change of ecosystems. Such lessons are of immense value today when we are faced with the challenge of climate change.

Situated in the eastern Indian state of Sikkim, Khangchendzonga National Park exhibits one of the widest altitudinal ranges of any protected area worldwide and occupies a third of the state's area.

Mount Khangchendzonga and park around are endowed with deep cultural meanings and sacred significance. The multi-layered landscape of Khangchendzonga is sacred to both Buddhists and Lepchas as Mayel Lyang. The expanse represents a unique example of co-existence and exchange between different religious traditions and ethnicities, constituting the base for Sikkimese identity and unity.

The ensemble of sacred texts, the still-performed rituals, the oral history and traditional practices around Mount Khangchendzonga - third highest peak in the world - strengthen human bonds with nature. It conveys and manifests the cultural meanings projected onto natural resources and the indigenous and specific Buddhist cosmogony that developed in the Himalayan region.

The indigenous traditional knowledge of the properties of local plants and the local ecosystem, which is peculiar to local people, is on the verge of disappearing and represents a precious source of information on the healing properties of several endemic plants. The traditional and ritual management system of forests and the natural resources of the land pertaining to Buddhist monasteries express the active dimension of Buddhist cosmogonies and could contribute to the property's effective management.

The participation of Sikkim, which has already shown its extraordinary stewardship by totally converting itself into an organic farming state, in developing the proposal has provided a "bottom-up" approach to the process.

Two international bodies of experts evaluated India's proposal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed the area's natural values and its outstanding universal values. The International Council on Monuments and Sites evaluated the cultural aspects of the nominated property, both visible and invisible.

Both bodies had found undeniable outstanding universal natural and cultural values and clear tangible and intangible authenticity and integrity of the 178,400 hectares of this Himalaya global biodiversity hot spot that has with a buffer zone of some 114,712 hectares.

KNP has now become the second largest World Heritage Site in India after the Western Ghats, which were inscribed in 2012.

Via TheDC

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SAS Soldier chopped and killed 3 ISIS terrorists with khukuri

11:35 AM

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terrorism news

A Special Air Service (SAS) soldier reportedly stabbed to death three ISIS members with a traditional Gorkha knife when the militants tried to abduct him in Fallujah. The SAS soldiers are reportedly fighting Daesh (as ISIS is also known as) in Libya and Iraq, advising curter attacks and also occasionally taking part in fighting.

The SAS has been operating in Iraq for years. They are responsible for assassinating  Jihadis high-up in the ranks of terrorist organizations and in assisting other forces fighting against the ISIS.

According to reports, earlier in June this year, a SAS snipper debarred two men with a single bullet from carrying out a car bomb attack.

According to a report by Daily Star, a SAS soldier was caught in a stand-off with the ISIS members with an Iraqi team after the jihadists bombed a factory in Fallujah. Several Iraqi soldiers were killed, and four were seriously injured in the face-off.

Gorkha Soldier 

The soldier, who quickly went out of ammunition, was left only with the famous Khukuri knife to defend himself.

The 27-year-old Hindu Gorkha soldier had apparently been gifted the Khukuri knife by another British Gorkha soldier.

According to a SAS source,

“As soon as his ammunition was expended, the IS gunmen tried to storm him. As they went to grab him he unsheathed his kukri and began slashing away…He decapitated the first gunman, slit the throat of second and killed another with a third blow. He then sliced away at three others. The IS gunmen fled in panic allowing the SAS soldier to carry the injured men to safety….He expected to be killed but thought he’d take as many of the enemy with him. When he was reunited with Iraqi troops they thought the he was seriously wounded because he was covered in blood but he explained that the blood wasn’t his.”

He added later,

“He cleaned his knife, grabbed some more ammo and then led another Iraqi special forces team into battle.”

Via thelotpot

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Nepal Disallows Celebration of HH Dalai Lama's Birthday

11:39 PM

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international news

6th July 2016 The Songtsen Brikuti School in Boudhanath in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where the Tibetan community was scheduled to celebrate the 81st birthday of the Dalai Lama was swarmed by Nepalese police early this morning, disrupting the celebrations and even detaining close to 30 Tibetans including the Tibetan Settlement Officer. The celebratory event was forced to be canceled.

The developments came as a surprise move by the police, considering the fact that proper permission had earlier been granted by concerned Nepalese authorities for the celebratory function, according to a source who wish to remain anonymous. The source further adds that, “the Police threatened the Tibetan people to leave the venue immediately or else face detention.” Currently, the detained Tibetans are being held at the Brikuti Mandap police station in Boudha area.

Nepal Disallows Celebration of HH Dalai Lama's Birthday

The Nepalese police blocked the main gate to the school and were seen nudging and shoving Tibetans instructing them to abandon the event. Pema, a Tibetan youth living in Boudha, who was at the venue spoke with Phayul about the situation and described the incident as “hellish”. “Anyone who is wearing Tibetan dress or wearing monastic robes is detained in the vicinity. We were merely celebrating the birthday of our beloved leader, it is not political. Besides, the same police were smiling and accepting our help and donations during the earth quake last year when Tibetans and Nepalese people were working together for relief efforts in the aftermath. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion has turned into a sad one,” Pema lamented.

The birthday celebration is an important date in the calendar for the Tibetans and more so for the Tibetan refugees who are increasingly targeted by the police under pressure from China.

Nepal which is home to more than 20,000 Tibetans who either came across the border or were born to settlers, are finding it hard to sustain a free and normal existence. The Nepalese government’s treatment of the Tibetan refugees has taken a turn for the worse in the last few years with China pumping in cheap interest loans and relaxed FDR (Foreign Direct Investment) schemes in exchange for its will to be imposed. China’s FDR in Nepal has shot to $128 million in 2015 up from $24 million in 2014 besides perks such as a fleet of Mercedes SUVs.

The Nepalese government has publicly spoken on the issue when Nepal's foreign minister, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, earlier during a visit to Beijing in March, said that they, “will never allow any forces to use Nepali territory to engage in anti-China activity."

With China gaining the upper hand in controlling the moors in the tiny Himalayan nation replacing India with the promise of riches, the Tibetans who set foot on Nepalese soil decades ago are once again subjected to thinly veiled wrath of China.

SHAME ON NEPAL!!

[Info via: Phayul]

Via TheDC

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Darjeeling Zoo to receive snow leopard from Britain

8:36 PM

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West Bengal

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling  West Bengal will receive a two year old snow leopard as a part of an international breeding programme. Makalu born at the Black Country zoo in Britain will arrive from DZG on Friday at Kolkata airport and then will be taken to the Darjeeling zoo for conservation breeding programme. The big cat species is on the list of endangered animals. It's believed there are between 4,000 and 6,500 left in the world.

'Makalu', named after the world's fifth highest peak rising to 27,765 feet (8,463 metres), southeast of the Everest, left Dudley Zoo on Wednesday for Darjeeling zoo, almost 8,000 km away, in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.

Darjeeling is the native region of the snow leopard and the zoo is internationally recognised for its 33-year-old conservation breeding programme for the species, with 56 births to date.

Representational Image

"The breeding programme could "potentially see Makalu's descendants released into the wild," DZG curator Richard Brown said.
"We are hugely proud to be involved in this transfer, which is an incredibly exciting move for Makalu and the snow leopard species in general," Brown said.

"The international studbook coordinator in Finland has identified Makalu as a genetically important snow leopard and recommended him for the move, so we are proud to play our part in helping secure the future of the endangered species and we're thrilled with where he is going," Brown added.
The DZG will financially support Makalu for the next five years.

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Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack

8:05 PM

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terrorism news

“We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun, died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted late on Monday night.

The Taliban and the Islamic State both claimed the first attack, which killed 14 security guards, including the Indians, working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

Two Indians were among 25 people killed in a suicide blast in Kabul Monday. Officials said they worked for a private security company, Sabre International, and were probably deployed at the Canadian embassy. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which also killed 14 Nepalese guards working for the embassy. A suicide bomber on foot had targeted a mini bus transporting them.

Within hours, a second blast went off inside the vehicle of MP Ataullah Faizani in Chehlsitoon area, injuring him.

The Indian government is working with its Afghan counterpart to repatriate their bodies at the earliest, Swarup said without giving other details. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died in the blast. The government is in touch with their families and is working to repatriate their mortal remains.”

An injured Nepalese security guard in Kabul - Source: AP

Soon after a Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the attack, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which it named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group. An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was denied by the Taliban.

Police said the attack on the security guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot on a key road leading east out of Kabul towards Jalalabad. The interior ministry said in a statement that five Nepali citizens and four Afghans were wounded. The Canadian embassy confirmed the “cowardly” attack in a tweet and said it had employed the guards.

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14 Nepalese killed in Kabul sucide bomb attack by taliban

12:57 PM

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terrorism news

20th June 2016 Kabul: A Taliban suicide bomber killed at least 14 people and wounded eight in an attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early on Monday, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the yellow bus while police and emergency service vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district of the city.

The attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

The casualties appeared to include both Afghans and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near the compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam`s holy month.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement from the Islamist group`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter.


Via TheDC

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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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Ranjana Pradhan Rai selected for "The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award"

10:27 AM

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international news

Big shout out to Gorkhas daughter Ranjana Pradhan Rai from Darjeeling for being selected for "The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award". Over the past 60 years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has transformed the lives of millions of young people in 140 countries and territories worldwide. This year to celebrate their anniversary they've made 60 films of 60 seconds which tell the incredible stories of the Award from around the world.

Ranjana Pradhan Rai is from Darjeeling, West Bengal and is the proud daughter of Lt. Col (Veteran) Sukul Pradhan, Ex-Deputy Director - National Cadet Corps (NCC) and General Secretary of Nepali Sammelan Delhi (Regd since 1959).

About the The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
The Award equips young people for life and work.The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is available to all 14-24 year olds and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It equips all young people for life regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. Doing the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes young people to their personal limits and recognises their achievements consistently. Since its launch 60 years ago, the Award has inspired millions of young people to transform their lives. Through non formal education, the Award can play a critical role in a young person’s personal development and is achievable by any 14-24 year old who wants to take up the challenge.

In her 1 minute film  “THE AWARD BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER” Ranjana says the following:-

There is more in you than you think. The Award directly or indirectly helps in building our society and community, it brings everybody together.The award programe engages, equips and empowers young people. It equips them with essential life skill and it gives them a sense of responsibllity to give back to the community.Ever since I got involved with the Award itt has changed my life. It helps people practice democraccy in the true sence, because every individual involved with the award programme is free to practice and pursue what they wish to without cultural bias. And the prejudice in society that often occurs in small pockets are erased with the help of volunteers who reach out to people in a more sober through the award programme.

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Second Short film by Gorkha TEZ in the 69th Cannes International Film Festival 2016

5:19 PM

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international news

Another Gorkha Filmmaker's Short film TEZ selected FOR 69thCannes International Film Festival (Festival De Cannes) 2016

Guwahati , Monday, 2nd May 2016: An Eastern Green Pictures production, Assamese language short Film TEZ has been selected under the Short Film Corner section at the prestigious 69th Cannes International Film Festival (Festival de Cannes) which will be held from May 11th to May 22nd 2016 at Cannes, France.

The film has been catalogued in the official ‘Short Film Catalog’ for this year’s selection in the Short Film Corner [Details: http://bit.ly/1QP0qQo]
Also, TEZ has received official selection in the 6th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival – 2016.

Adding another feather to the cap, TEZ has been selected at the 16th International Film Festivals to be held in Jaipur from May 15, the short film finds selection among 65 films selected out of 975 films received from 60 countries from 16 different subjects Tez is directed by Bhaskar Upadhyaya and Prabhat Goswami. The story and script is written by Prabhat Goswami and Producer of the film is Bhaskar Upadhyaya under the banner of Eastern Green Pictures. Chief Assistant Director is Manas Sagra. Pranab Vivek is the technical director and Amiya Ranjan Das is the Director of Photography of the film.

Gorkha Filmmaker's Short film TEZ selected for 69thCannes International Film Festival 2016

Tez is a short film based on a father who abandons his new born girl child in the want of a boy. The story is based on the backdrop of the 90’s era, when in certain societies a male child meant prosperity and an extra earning hand, and whereas the ‘weaker sex’ was looked down upon. The father associates the birth of a girl with unending responsibilities and liabilities. However, the world turns upside down for the father when he has his moment of realization.

Produced under the banner of Eastern Green Pictures, Tez stars Prastuti Parashar, Angurlata Deka and Giridhar Roy; and Tarali Sarma is the music director of the film. Tez was shot in Guwahati and its outskirts late in 2015. Tez puts forward the message of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Girl child, Educate the Girl child) in a very subtle yet cinematic way.

Talking to this correspondent in Guwahati Engineer turned passionate filmmaker Bhaskar Upadhyay said, ‘Selection of TEZ in film Festivals like Cannes Film Festival, International Film Festival, and Dada Saheb Phalke means creative efforts and cinematic excellence and experience of Eastern Green Pictures is rewarded. EGP congratulates people of Assam and the North East for this achievement by an regional language Short Film and we look forward for filling the void of the cinema industry of regional movies in the region in the days to come’.

It may be recalled Eastern Green Pictures recently announced its full length Assamese movie ULKA (https://web.facebook.com/UlkaTheFilm/?fref=ts to be produced by Bhaskar Upahyay and Meghraj Timsina and to be directed by Pranab Vivek. This movie will be first of its kind and audience will find a completely new genre film in regional language which will dubbed in few more regional language and released nationwide among the North Easterner crowd.



via: TheDC

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Prof Mahendra P Lama in Eminent Persons Group (EPG)

12:17 PM

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National

Feb 21, 2016- India has formed the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to review treaties and relations between the two countries and it is proud moment for all Indian Gorkhas that Prof Mahendra P Lama is part of it. Dr. Lama is one of the four members representing the country in EGP.

Former Indian ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Nepal expert Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Professor Mahendra P Lama and Professor BC Upreti, a senior fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation have been named as the members.

An agreement to establish the EPG was reached in 2011 during the official visit of former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai to India. The two countries agreed to prepare the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EPG in 2014 during the third meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission in Kathmandu.

Nepal formed its EPG last month. Former secretary and chief commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Surya Nath Upadhyay, former ambassador Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, former ambassador Nilambar Acharya and UML lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai are the EPG members from the Nepali side.

Prof  Mahendra P Lama 

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made the announcement of formation of the EPG on Saturday during a press briefing coinciding with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s six-day visit to India.

Members
Indian side
Jayant Prasad, former ambassador to Nepal
Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, BJP leader
Prof Mahendra P Lama
Prof BC Upreti, senior fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation

Nepali side 
Surya Nath Upadhyay, former chief commissioner, CIAA
Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, former ambassador
Nilambar Acharya, former ambassador
Rajan Bhattarai, UML lawmaker
* Nepal formed its EPG last month

Via kathmandupost

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Dr. Mahendra P Lama addresses India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue VIII

8:50 AM

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National

The prestigious Delhi Dialogue VIII organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India to promote and strengthen the political, economic, socio-cultural and strategic relations between 10 countries of South East Asia (Association of South East Asian Nations) and India will be over on 19th February in Delhi.

It started on 17th Feb 2016. It is attended by the high level Ministerial and business delegation from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia. Indian delegation is led by the Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, Chief Ministers, top bureaucrats, eminent academics and well known business houses.

The India-ASEAN trade has already reached a level of Rs 450000 Crore in 2015. ASEAN countries receive the highest amount of US foreign investment. Prof Mahendra P Lama was invited to address a specific session on “Promoting Cross Border Trade with ASEAN: Capitalizing on Comparative Advantage”. He primarily focused on the following issues. i) India’s Look East Policy has reached a crucial phase where the participation of the North East region is very vital. It is because the NER will be a physical gateway to the South East Asian countries as this region has 98 percent of its borders with neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Bhutan and Nepal and 2 percent with the rest of India. Socio-culturally and historically this region had had very close relations with all these countries. ii) There are several opportunities as the concept of borders is fast changing. Borders are now becoming borderlands where there are huge opportunities for exchanges and interactions in areas like trade, investment, tourism, energy, disaster management, natural resources exchanges, education and health among many countries.

Dr. Mahendra P Lama addresses India-ASEAN Delhi Dialogue VIII

After the reopening of Nathu la trade route between Sikkim and Tibet the warming up in reconsidering the exchanges in borders have started. Government of India wants this to be consolidated. iii) There are several opportunities emerging particularly in the arena of small and medium enterprises, energy and services sector like tourism, education and health and agriculture, horticulture and floriculture.

For instance, in the Small and medium enterprises like in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand the top multinational with widely accepted brand names like Toshiba, Apple, Sony, Hyundai and Samsung could be invited to Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim. The products could be exported anywhere in the world. iv) In the energy front the NER has almost 40 percent of India hydro power potentials and 18 percent of hydro carbon including gas, oil and coal. Therefore NER could play the role of a centre of energy pool. This could be connected with the Greater Mekong Sub-region where Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunan and Guangxi Zhuang the two provinces of China have made huge cross border electricity exchange projects.

This has been a huge success. v) The small and medium enterprises in the NER should be opened to the investors from the ASEAN countries and whatever they produce could be sold in India and other South Asian and South East Asian countries under the India-ASEAN Free Trade agreement.

For instance, the bamboo shoots, pine apples, avacado, lichis, ginger, cardamom, flowers could be harnessed by the companies like Makro and Alligator Industry of Myanmar. It was suggested that clauses to promote such integration of trade and investment could be included in this agreement. vi) The Ministry of Development of North East Region (MDoNER) could now be located in the North East region only from its present location in New Delhi. This way Ministry can devote exclusive time both to the development of NER and also to strike linkages with the South East Asian countries for promotion of India’s Look East Policy. This way the MDoNER and North East Council could effectively use the huge funds for infrastructure provided by the Central Government. vii) The Darjeeling and Dooars region of West Bengal could also be incorporated in the North Eastern Council so that this regional also get all the facilities. The session was chaired by the Dr Rajat Nag , former Director General in the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

Source: Kalimpong News.

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Kalimpong as a tract of Leasehold Land, rented from Bhutan

7:27 PM

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Subash Ghishing

Hague

Writes ANMOLE PRASAD

The bogey of Kalimpong as a tract of Leasehold Land, rented from Bhutan raises its bald wrinkled head once again; back in the nineties, its inventor, Sri Subhash Ghising used it successfully to boycott the vote. Three decades later his own disciple, who since deposed him, has pulled the same issue out of mothballs in a bid to obfuscate and belittle the declaration of Kalimpong as a district. In their speeches at Mela Ground on the 28th of January 2016, Messrs R. Moktan and Bimal Gurung roared that the District of Kalimpong could not be declared unless and until the area was integrated into the territory of India from Bhutan. They even threatened to internationalize the issue if necessary. They did not discuss the effect of such a statement on the demand for the creation of a separate State [which includes the territory of Kalimpong in its map] within the Indian Union, a cause they profess to champion.

The chickens neck area

Many of their supporters were born well after Ghising raised this bogey which had the 'intellectuals' of that era all reaching for their history books. No doubt, the same is happening now. Expect pronouncements on international law to fly through the air as new 'intellectuals' trawl and google through the net for full texts of the Treaties of Sugauli and Punakha and, for good measure, the Government of India Act 1935.

Few writers now are old enough to remember that the word "Hague" popularised by Ghising in a similar canard, became a byword for bullshit in Darjeeling parlance. Any windbag who spoke too much used to be quickly deflated by someone else retorting "ऐ , Hague न गर्न है ।"

But nostalgia clouds the vision, and now, years later, one obviously young writer gushes : "Never before in the history of politics from Darjeeling region did we ever have a leader with the political acumen, and impeccable sense of political timing as Subash. From a very close quarter I have observed him use various political terms to his advantage, with which we wouldn't even be familiar today if it wasn't for him - terms like "Gorkhaland," "Leasehold land," "Ceded land," "No Mans land," "Hague," "Article 371," "Sugauli Sandhi," and "Schedule Sixth." [sic]

One fully expects a cottage industry to grow up around Messrs Gurung and Moktan's announcement that the territory of Kalimpong belongs to Bhutan and needs to be incorporated into the Indian Union. Amateur historians will now hold forth on the various clauses of the treaties between British and Independent India with Bhutan; the definitions of lease and leasehold will be lavished microscopic attention and much time will be wasted over an issue that committed hara kiri without much persuasion years ago.

The Jan Andolan Party's invitation to Gurung for a public personal televised debate on the question has not been responded to. A debate, which if it takes place at all, will waste further time flogging a dead horse. One cannot help wondering though, whether the Hon'ble Member of Parliament from Darjeeling is not now musing over the possibility that he may have been elected partly on the strength of Bhutanese votes from Kalimpong. Intellectuals [a description none of us deserve] of all hues would do better to apply their own bald wrinkled heads to the more pressing and explosive issues of unemployment and drought exacerbated by the corruption and mal-governance of the past thirty years.

History repeats itself. But then, so do windbags.

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Gorkhey Film "Ek Dhakar Jiwan" makes to 20th International Short Film Festival

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Video

After  bagging The Best Short Film Peace Award in the just concluded Gothenburg Independent Film Festival in Sweden Phurba Tshering Lama, a young filmmaker from Darjeeling, has made us all proud as his film "Ek Dhakar Jiwan" has been selected for the 20th edition of the International Short Film Festival. His film has been selected in the Indian Panorama Section. The festival will take place in Canada in march. It is a big honour for the Indian Gorkha community and country as a whole.

For Phurba who owns a production house in Darjeeling "FerryTale Pictures" this is like a dream come true. Phurba was born on 21st January, 1982 in Kurseong. He studied Literature from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling and pursued Direction in Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. His debut short film ‘Ek Dhakar Jiwan / The Beaten Path’ won the Best Short Film Peace Award at Gothenburg Independent Film Festival and a Special Mention Jury at the Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival. He is currently working on his debut feature film titled as Macqee, in Darjeeling.

Gorkhey Film The Beaten Path (Ek Dhakar Jiwan) in 20th International Short Film Festival

About the Film The Beaten Path (Ek Dhakar Jiwan)

India 2014; 27 min
Original version: Nepali
Genre: Drama, Short

Synopsis: In the face of an apparently meaningful world Balvir lives and coexists in the grand mosaic of nature like any other entity. However, his human spirit yearns to understand life especially from a sense of disorientation and confusion as a result of the material world.

Director: Phurba Tshering Lama
Writers: Phurba Tshering Lama, Gupta Pradhan (story)
Star: Man Bahadur Tamang
Cinematography: Ayan Saxena

His short film "Grey and Matter" went on to be project in Nepal Cine-Symposium, 2012 and SIGNS Film Festival / Kerela (India) 2013

Ek Dhakar Jiwan (The Beaten Path) has gone all the way to many festivals. Some of them are;

• - Gothenburg Independent International Film Festival, 2014 / Sweden (Best Short Film Peace Award) 
• - SIGNS International Film Festival, 2014 / India (National Competition Section)
• - XX Film Festival Della Lessinia, 2014 / Italy (International Competition Section)
• - IDFL Film Festival, 2014 /India (National Competition Section)
• - Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival, 2015 / France (Special Mention Jury)
• - JAGRAN International Film Festival / India (Top Shorts Section)
• - WIZ-ART International Film Festival, 2015 / Ukraine (Special Screening) 
• - Ajyal Youth Film Festival, 2015 / Doha (International Competition Section)
• - International Short Film Festival, 2016 / Canada (International Competition Section)

Watch the Trailor of The Beaten Path (Ek Dhakar Jiwan)

His vast Experiences includes:-

• - Visa Girl (Nepali Feature Film): Position: Chief AD / Casting Director / Supporting Role
• - Sikkim University (Documentary): Chief AD / Post-production Supervisor
• - Have made social documentaries for CARE International (in Nepal and Lucknow) and for 
• - Himalayan Climate.
• -Worked as a Chief AD for an IndiaMART Advertisement in Mumbai.

We wish him success in future.

Via-GYASA

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Rewati Chetri represents India in 27th World Miss University

6:20 PM

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Rewati Chettri

Writes Sanjog Chamling

Rewati Chettri / Chetri , Femina Miss India 2015 Miss Popular & Miss Multimedia, Gorkha girl from Assam's 'Ant Hill' Haflong is representing India in the 27th World Miss University which is held in Beijing, China in 2016.

World Miss University is an international beauty contest held annually in Seoul, South Korea since 1986, with an average of about 70 contestants every year.The event is to select World Miss University Peace Corp Representatives.

As an event was organized by the International Association of University Presidents after the United Nations named 1986 the Year of Peace, the organizing committee dispatches peace missions to regions in conflict like Kosovo and Rwanda. These days, the event is organized by World Miss University Organizing Committee which has headquarter in Manhattan, New York, USA.

The current titleholder is Michelle Lucas of the Philippines who was crowned on December 19, 2015.

Danced for Pinga song from Bajirao Mastani for Talent round in 27th World Miss University

Rewati has already made the Indian Gorkhas proud several occasions in the past and we hope she'll make us proud this time around too. However, one cannot deny the fact that by representing nation in the event such as World Miss University she has already made the community, rather the whole of North East proud of her.

What can you do?
Vote for Rewati to win Miss Popular at World Miss University 2016. Follow the below link.
http://www.wmu.world/board_DRfW87

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Indian Gorkha Woman Jailed in Dubai with no help or support

8:47 AM

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international news

A housemaid in Dubai, who is originally from Darjeeling, Inaia, was jailed for life for allegedly strangling her employer’s baby last year.

The 29-year-old woman who has 2 children of her own, was sentenced at Dubai Court of First Instance in January of 2014 after being found guilty of murdering the infant.

Prosecutors said she strangled the baby girl with a scarf, however, the maid insisted in court that she HAD NOT KILLED the child, saying that SHE WAS A MOTHER HERSELF and would, therefore, NEVER HURT AN INFANT.

But prosecutors told the court that, on January 18, 2014 the maid had waited for her sponsors to leave home for work about 10AM before wrapping the scarf around the baby’s neck and strangling her.

They said the woman then continued with her work as normal.

The incident was reported to police by Zulekha Hospital in Dubai after the baby was taken there by a relative of the family, who live in Al Nahda.

The baby’s mother received a call about 3PM from her sister, who said the maid had called her and told her that the baby was not waking up and was having breathing difficulties.

The mother asked her sister to go around and check on her daughter.

The sister went to the house then rushed the baby to hospital after finding the infant wasn’t breathing.

Doctors pronounced the infant dead, and suspected foul play so they notified Dubai Police. Initially, the family refused to believe the maid could have killed the child.

They said the defendant was loved by their children and she was good at her job.

However, they added that the maid’s mother had recently died.

“We knew from her that her mother had passed away about a month before and we asked her to wait until her residency procedures were finished before going back,” said the father.

The Girl from Darjeeling is still languishing in Jail with no help or support... 

Can anyone help her please?

Source 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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India Gorkha’s and Korean youths to India

9:01 PM

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international news

Writes Anmol Mukhia

On the 3rd January 2016, Mr. Anish Ale and his family have set an example of Good Samaritan to save the life of Korean youths in Indian railway station. Mr Anish Ale is an Indian gorkha from state of Nagaland, India. According to Anish, it was basically one of the most boring days as train was delayed for 9 hrs and around 3:30.p.m two young Korean men approached for help. They were Korean University (고려 대학교) students from Seoul (Republic of Korea) who had come to India on a trip to visit a few places. One of them had lost his phone along with his debit card which had most of their trip money. Pick pocketing is nothing new in India but, “I couldn’t react very well as I was in shock and disbelief as to how people can be selfish enough to steal from Guests in our country and cause them difficulties in their journey. They could have been penniless and hungry” says Anish.
Anish helped them to find the Railway police on the advice of his kind mother Mrs. Ana Ale and a gentleman who was seated nearby. Ale family rush to show their humility towards the Korean youth with patience and without honour or reward. When they met the railway policemen they were surprised once again at their reluctance to help the foreigner friend who had been there earlier. Most of the cases in India show police hesitate in helping when it is their obligation. On the conversation with Anish the policeman asked “how is it possible for a cellphone to be stolen from the pocket?”…he replied “the same way thieves steal people’s wallets.” The policeman finally agreed to file a complaint in the form of an application and gave them a copy of it.
Anish says we then headed for a recharge store to buy recharge for my phone so that they were able to reach the Bank in Korea (한국 은행) to block the card as well to reach their families on phone regarding this incident. And fortunately, soon enough the card was blocked. My friend was not worried about his phone, he was worried about his card as their train was bound to Varanasi and they had to travel with limited amount of money after losing the debit card. They will get in touch with a Korean man they know there and get their money transferred through him and in about two weeks they’ll head back to Korea. It didn’t take long for us to become good friends. We had enough time to talk about one another as both theirs and out trains were delayed. According to Anish, he felt he didn’t do much because that was the right and humane thing to do, he gave his time and effort but it meant the world to them at that moment.

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