First statue of Yalambar of Kirati community unveiled in Mirik

10:25 PM

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tribal news

The first statue of Yalambar of Kirati community was unveiled on Sunday at Mirik on the occasion of Sakela. The massive  statue was laid by the Kirat Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sansthan of Mirik Unit at the Mirik Lake Kirateshwar temple complex. With the demand of Tribal status for the Kirati community the organization is highlighting their primitive culture and tradition. Today a large rally was organized at Mirik, where Kiratis showcased their traditional culture wearing own outfits, traditional instruments and much more.

First statue of Yalambar of Kirati community laid down in Mirik

Students and other members of the community took part in the rally holding placards demanding tribal status for the socio-economic development of the community.The community members also celebrated their traditional ‘Udhauli’ festival where thousands of Kiratis from Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars and Sikkim participated in the cultural programme.

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Shalika Gurung Set to Create History as the Only Female Driver in 1st Rally De Orange

10:17 AM

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sports news

Shakila Gurung has been driving for the past 25 years but this is her first stint as a driver in a car rally and she is really excited about it.

Shalika Gurung

Shakila from Mirik is the only female driver of Rally De Orange, the first car rally organised by GTA Sabha in association with The Telegraph.

“I am looking forward to a lot of a fun and adventure over the next two days,” said the 42-year-old lady, who would be assisted by her husband Navin as the navigator.

The two-day car rally will be flagged off from Gorkha Rangamancha Bhavan here tomorrow. Ramkrishna Race Performance Management is providing the technical support, while the event is being managed by Wind Oz, an organisation which promotes adventure tourism.

At the inaugural session held today, bands from Kumidini Homes, Kalimpong and Municipal Boys’ High School, Darjeeling, escorted the 22 participating teams in their cars from Gorkha Rangamancha Bhavan to Chowrasta.

Twenty-two teams will be participating in the car rally. While 15 are from the Darjeeling hills, seven teams are from different parts of the country.

Leg I of the rally will start from Gorkha Rangamancha Bhavan at 8am tomorrow and will proceed towards Ghoom. It will finish at Murti in Dooars at 4pm, covering a distance of 175km. On November 26, Leg II will be flagged off from Murti at 7am and terminate at Sittong, covering a distance of 130km. The rally will be held in the Time-Speed-Distance format where the participants are supposed to cover a particular distance within a stipulated time at a given speed.

“The car rally is an effort of the GTA to make adventure tourism popular in the hills,” said Sonam Bhutia, the executive director of GTA’s tourism department.

The winning team will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and those in the second third and fourth positions will receive Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000,

Souece: Telegraph

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Darjeeling Cultural and Tourism Festival 2014 concluded

11:35 AM

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Tourism

The Darjeeling Cultural and Tourism Festival came to a close on Friday with fanfare after enthralling the tourists and the locals for a month.

Darjeeling Cultural and Tourism Festival 2014 concluded

Cultural events by local artists were performed in the last day with the “Carnival” group exciting the audience with their songs.

Tourists flocked to Chowrastha- the venue for the festival - to get a last chance to see the different culture and traditions of the Hills which was displayed by the participants.

The festival started on October in Darjeeling and was also organized in Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-divisions and in Mirik, in the foothills over the month.

The organizers gave a grand farewell to the month long festival by a fire work display in the evening much to the delight and awe of the crowd. The organizers also thanked the people for their support in making the event a success while assuring make the programme more glitzy next year.

Source:EOIC

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Army Personnel Arrested for Attempt to Rape 13 Year Old in Mirik

12:33 PM

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sexual assault

Mirik: In a shocking incidence, Mirik police have arrested an army personnel Kundan Tamang a resident of Mirik Municipality Ward no. 1 on the charges of attempting to rape a 13 year old girl/neighbour from his own village.

According to sources, the accused Kundan Tamang had come home for his holidays and entered the 13 year old girl's house when her parents were not at home. After ensuring that there was no one around, the accused then tried to rape the child.

The most shocking aspect of this whole incidence is that the child used to call Kundan daju and he tried to rape her on Bhai Tika.

Various organizations and individuals across Mirik have demanded stringiest punishment for the accused. Police have registered a case of 354(B) IPC 18 POSCO.

Source: DC

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GTA to ban plastic and gutkhas in the Darjeeling hills

10:39 AM

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Roshan Giri

The Gorkhland Territorial Administration (GTA) has decided to enforce ban on use of plastic and gutkhas in the hills from October 28 and has directed the municipality to frame new by-laws in this regard.

GTA to ban plastic and gutkhas in the hills

Since the municipality is a transferred subject, the GTA has empowered it to enforce the ban along with fine and even revoking licenses of traders violating the order.

On the sideline of meeting to discuss the implementation of the Swach Bharat Abhiyan in Darjeeling, GTA executive member Roshan Giri said, “We have taken a decision to ban use of plastics and gutkhas in the hills. The use of plastics in any form is harmful in hilly areas, besides intake of gutkhas is dangerous to health”.

The GTA will form a core committee comprising 50 members in each of the three sub-divisions including in the foothills of Mirik. “The committee members will be responsible to ensure traders are not using plastics. They will basically be checking every shop in their respective area to see traders are not using plastics,” Giri said.

In fact, the municipality will be serving notices to the traders from Monday informing about the ban order. “We will serve notices to the traders of the town from tomorrow. They will be informed about the ban and also the consequences which include fine and revoke of license if they are found violating the order,” Darjeeling municipality chairman Amar Singh Rai said on Sunday.

However, the municipality has not yet decided on the fine amount. “We will first have to chalk out new by-laws and modalities to enforce the ban and also the amount of fine to impose. This will take some time but we will try to make it soon,” Singh said.

Incidentally, some years ago the Darjeeling municipality had taken the initiative to enforce ban on use of plastics. It had also made Chowrastha, a popular Hill promenade a no smoking and spit free zone. It had levied fines too. But, the initiative fizzled out after a couple of month.

It may be mentioned that neighbouring Sikkim has been declared a plastic-free state and the ban on the use of plastics has been enforced with a reasonable degree of success.

The GTA will kick-start the Swach Bharat Abhiyan from October 28 in the entire Hills area as a result being the first district in Bengal. For this purpose the council body has asked all the GTA Sabhasads, the four municipality chairmen, schools and colleges and various associations to participate to make the campaign a success.

Source: EOI

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Mirik Cultural and Tourism festival started - Photos

9:30 AM

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photos

Mirik, October 11, 2014: The annual GTA programme, the Cultural and Tourism festival started in Mirik today. The Organizing Committee headed by Rajkumar Rai successfully initiated the festival under the Cultural & Information Dept. of GTA. Sabasadh Binay Tamang was the chief guest of the programme today.

Glimpse of  Cultural and Tourism festival in Mirik

Meanwhile speaking at the programme, chief guest Binay Tamang said, the word ‘Tea’ has been removed from the name of festival this year, as the name ‘Tea’ is already world famous, Darjeeling tea was served in last World Cup too. Therefore, we have emphasized more on our Culture, to make it internationally well known. He also emphasized on traditional attire and Nepali language.

Organising committee also felicitated the social workers and distinguished guests during the occasion. The programme was hosted by Ambika Thapa. The Festival will continue till October 20.

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Yuva Morcha Demands "Lifetime Jail" for Binny Sharma TMC leader

1:13 PM

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TMC

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ( GJYM) Mirik block committee has demanded the immediate arrest of Hill TMC leader Binny Sharma and lifetime jail term for him.

Yuva Morcha Demands "Lifetime Jail" for Binny Sharma

Speaking to the reporters Yuva Morcha Sub-Divisional President Yogesh Golay and Block President Ram Chandra Rai said, "Binny Sharma should not be allowed to use his influence to hush up this matter... we demand swift investigation into the matter by an independent agency so that justice is not denied to the 16 year old."

The further said, "While the Prime Minister of India is currently in USA helping India to regain our lost glory and self-respect, the TMC in Bengal is doing exactly the opposite and have brought shame to the whole nation."

Binny Sharma has called this incidence an "act of vengeance by his detractors within TMC and has said he will write to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on this matter."

[Pic and report: Bishan Rai for TheDC]

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Mirik tourism get boost with movie, serial shootings

12:04 PM

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Tourism

The legitimate proof to the improvement of tourism in Mirik can be seen from a number of movies and serial being shot at the picturesque surroundings of the town in the past. Currently, a leading Bengali serial director is camping in Mirik with his cast and crew to shoot his latest creation, dubbed as ‘Theek Jeno Love Story’.

A still from the Bengali serial being shot
at Mirik Helipad area on Tuesday.

The director Subhjeet Chakraborty said if Mirik would not have been a tourist destination there would not be any shooting of serials and movies. The writer of the serial, Rakhi, was also equally enthralled by the beauty of the area and said she would write her next serial story keeping Mirik in mind.

Chakraborty said his unit started shooting for the serial since September 13 and most of the shots include romantic scenes between the leading pair, with the beauty of Mirik in the background. Chakraborty and his team were in Mirik Helipad area today, where he interacted with the local media personnel. “If this serial does well, I will be back here to shoot my next venture called Bhoomi,” he added.

The serial being shot under the banner of Shree Venkatesh Films Pvt Ltd will be aired in Star-Jalsa Bengal channel. Chakraborty said this is his fourth serial and will start airing from November. “Following the completion of the first phase of the shooting here in Mirik, my team will travel to Darjeeling and Kurseong for the second phase,” he informed.

Mirik has been used by many leading movie and serial directors in the past and continues to attract many more. With such inflow of movie and serial makers, locals and experts in the region believe Mirik tourism has continued to flourish and has a long way to go in the future.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Cultural and Tourism Festival 2014 to be held in Mirik

9:53 AM

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mirik

An important meeting related to the Gorkha Cultural and Tourism Festival 2014, scheduled to be held in Mirik from October 11-20, was today conducted at the community hall here. The meeting was presided over by Sabhasad Phurbi Rai in the presence of Information and Culture Department Sabhasad Binay Tamang along with other GTA officials.

GTA Sabhasad Binay Tamang speaking during the
meeting in Mirik on Monday.

The meeting today decided to form an organising committee, which will collate the report related to various aspects of the event and its success. The Gorkha Cultural and Tourism Festival 2014 will be celebrated officially under the guidance of the GTA. Tamang warned that people using political banners in the fest and collecting money unofficially for the event will be dealt seriously. “We need cooperation from all sectors of the society to make the event a grand success,” he added.






Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ready for Gorkhaland Movement

12:48 PM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) today conducted a massive public meeting in Mirik, where its leaders stressed the youths of the Hills were always ready and will always be ready for the Gorkhaland Movement. The GJYM central committee president Sanjay Thulung said, “Gorkhaland is not something that can be achieved overnight. There is a constant need of keeping the agitation alive, patience and perseverance.” He said the youths will have to be ready for a peaceful agitation against the government to realise the long standing dream of a separate state.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha ready for Gorkhaland Movement

On youth who have left the GJM for other parties, Thulung urged them not to run behind people with vested interest and to keep away from small benefits, which many not be enough in the long run. “The youths should be united for the common cause of Gorkhaland instead of losing everything by running behind parties that are completely against the cause,” he stressed.

Slamming the ruling TMC, Thulung said the party is only interested in power and the people who join it are only interested in filling their pockets in the name of development. “Trinamool congress never wanted welfare of Gorkhas and will never do that in future,” he stated. The GJYM president further said the morcha youths will continue to work in the fields of Gorkha literature, language, music, art and education in the days to come.

Conducted by GJYM leader Sunil Bhandari and presided over by Yogesh Golay, the meeting today was also addressed by area youth leaders including Prakash Gurung and Sidhant Gurung along with Parashmani Chettri from Terai unit and Balkrishna Thapa from Kalimpong unit. The meeting was also attended by top GJM leaders including Sabhasads Phurbi Rai and Sunil Pradhan, along with Arun Ghisingh, Champa Bibhar, Kajim Tshering, Kalpana Tamang, Dawa Lepcha and many other GJM central committee members.

Source: EOI

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Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha massive public meeting in Mirik for Gorkhaland

12:40 PM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) has decided to hold a massive public meeting in Mirik on September 7, where more than 30,000 youths from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Siliguri and other places are expected to attend. Speaking to reporters at the ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Mirik Press Club here, the GJYM central committee general secretary Priyavardhan Rai, spokesperson Prakash Gurung and vice-president Sanjay Thulung said the public meeting will focus on youth related issues.

The GJYM leaders speaking to reporters at
Mirik Press Club on Tuesday.

Rai informed the yuva morcha will also conduct a blood-donation camp as part of its strategy to draw attention of the state government towards the pathetic condition of NH-55 and NH-31. The blood donation camps will be conducted at strategic points along the two highways. Reiterating the GJYM’s stand on the GTA, the youth leader said it neither supports nor opposes it.  “Our sole aim is the formation of Gorkhaland and our entire focus will be on achieving it,” Rai added.

He further said the GJYM believes and is positive that the NDA government would fulfill the dreams of Gorkhas across the country. “The next five years are the most crucial phase in the history of the struggle for Gorkhaland,” he stressed. Meanwhile, Sanjay Thulung emphasises the Nepali language will be made as one of the key factors during the course of the Gorkhaland movement and each and every youths in the Hills will play a huge role in it.

Source: EOI

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Multipurpose auditorium at Mirik

2:31 PM

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mirik live news

Kurseong MLA Dr. Rohit Sharma in the presence of GTA information and culture department sabhasad Binay Tamang today laid the foundation stone for a high-tech multipurpose auditorium at Mirik School Ground. Tamang also attended the bhoomi puja before the foundation stone laying ceremony. The function was also attended by other dignitaries including the GTA small-scale industry sabhasad Phurbi Rai, sabhasad Arub Ghisingh, Mirik Municipality chairman Mala Subba, GTA information and culture department’s additional director Bhanu Kant Ghisingh and secretary Suden Tshering Bhutia among others.

Sabhasad Binay Tamang addressing the gathering
at the foundation stone laying ceremony in Mirik on Sunday.

Tamang said the multipurpose auditorium is a gift to the people of Mirik by the GTA. “Once the auditorium is completed the people of Mirik can use it for various social and government functions. The auditorium will be constructed near Mirik School Ground at an estimated cost of around Rs. 3.68 crore,” he added. The auditorium will have a main hall, a mini hall, a green hall, a VIP lounge, restrooms, manager’s office, a canteen and a common room. The auditorium can also be used as an indoor stadium, where a modern badminton court will be installed. The construction is expected to be completed in one year.

Source: EOI

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land allotted for Mirik fire station at Ward No. 7

12:21 PM

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Mirik Municipality

The land allotment for the construction of a fire station at Ward No. 7 under Mirik Municipality was today completed, after the land revenue department officially handed over the documents to the fire department in Kurseong. The long standing demand of the people of Mirik for the construction of a fire brigade building is finally taking shape. The foundation stone for the proposed fire station was laid by GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung and fire department officials earlier this year.

Officials inspect the site for the fire station at Ward-7
under Mirik Municipality.

The land deed papers were today signed here in the presence of many senior officials from the fire department and the land revenue department. Among the dignitaries present were Darjeeling District Fire Department director Kumar Mondal, fire department’s senior official from Siliguri D Lepcha, Sabhasad Phurbi Rai, Mirik Municipality chairwoman Mala Subba, vice-chairman MK Zimbha, Mirik BDO Hiramani Pradhan and Mirik PS in-charge Sanjay Das among other

Source: EOI

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Separate state Gorkhaland main objective of GJYM Mirik

12:11 PM

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mirik

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) Mirik committee president Yogesh Golay reiterated that the main objective of the Morcha youths is to fulfill the demand for the separate state of Gorkhaland. Speaking to reporters here today, Golay said the yuva morcha has always worked for the development of the hill, but it nether supports the GTA nor opposes it. “Our paramount objective is the formation of Gorkhaland and nothing else,” he stressed.

The GJYM Mirik unit president Yogesh Golay.

“The way Nepali language was recognised constitutionally 22 years ago, the same way Gorkhaland will also be formed,” Golay claimed. He said the youth strength needed to form a separate state is available in the hills in good numbers. “Now it is time all the youths across the hill unite together to fight for the common cause,” he added.

The GJYM leader informed the Mirik unit will conduct a massive general meeting in Mirik during the first week of September to galvanise the youths of the region for the statehood movement. “We have a BJP-led central government which supports the cause and an MP from the same party to represent us. Everything is set. This is an extremely important phase in our struggle for statehood and we should make good use of the opportunity,” Golay explained.

Source: EOI

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SSB seized items worth Rs.3 lakh at Indo-Nepal border in Pasupathi

11:26 AM

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mirik

Mirik: The 29th Khaprel battalion of SSB ‘B’ company today busted cross-border smuggling activities and managed to seize illegally shipped items worth Rs.3 lakh. The company's deputy commander M Mala Singh said the battalion at the Indo-Nepal border in Pasupathi managed to seize the items from people who smuggle goods to-and-fro across the border. He said the SSB will make sure such activities do not occur and will do everything to ensure legal cross-border trade.

SSB personnel with the seized items.

“The mission started by Pasupathi border outpost assistant commander Abhijeet Sarkar and Khaprel unit commander Ashok Sajwan will be continued in future to make sure such activities are completely eradicated,” Singh said. Meanwhile, Pasupathi Phatak (Nepal) outpost officer in-charge I Thapa also appreciated the initiative started by the Indian forces and offered full cooperation.

Source: EOI

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Mirik : Crime against women, human trafficking and child labour awareness rally

10:35 AM

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mirik

Mirik: An awareness rally on crime against women, human trafficking and child labour was held today at Panighatta Bazaar, organised jointly by Panighatta Police Outpost under Mirik Police and Kanchenjunga Uddhar Kendra. The rally was participated by students from various schools in the region. It started from Panighatta PP area and culminated at Loreto Convent School, where the rally converted into an awareness programme.

Students participate in the awareness rally
in Panighatta on Sunday.

The chief guest for the programme today was Darjeeling District Session Court’s CJM Biplab Roy, while the guest of honor was Kurseong SDPO CB Subba. The students and local people attending the function were addressed by the two guest along with others including Judge Biswanath Bhattarai, Shantanu Mishra and Suchna Rai. The speakers made people aware about the evil practice of human trafficking and child labour along with ever increasing crime against women. They urged the students and people to be extra careful and take preventive measures to avoid getting into such situations.

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New disease named Scrub Typhus in Mirik

10:27 AM

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mirik live news

Amidst rising scare of encephalitis across North Bengal, a new type of disease named Scrub Typhus has gripped Mirik following a reported infection on an adult man. The disease can even kill if not cured on time. CB Rai (49) from Malikthung Chota Kothi was admitted to Mirik hospital today with the disease.

A Scrub Typhus patient at Mirik Hospital.

Scrub Typhus initially starts with severe itching and then develops into a wound in the second phase, causing immense pain and fever. The disease, if not taken care on time with proper medical intervention, can kill a person. It is spread by touching or coming in contact with dead and rotten wooden planks near a person’s house or in forest, while it also has the tendency to spread through cats and mouse.










Source:EOI

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Sajha Manch efforts to develop Mirik Lake as natural tourism destination

11:50 AM

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Tourism

Mirik-based tourism stakeholders’ organisation Sajha Manch has continued its efforts to develop the region as a major natural tourism destination by planting flower and tree sapling all over. Underdeveloped for the past two decades due to negligence and lack of awareness, the Phoolbari Maidan in Mirik is set to bloom in the next six months with various species of flowers planted by the organisation. The tourists who frequent the region and the ones who have plans to visit the place again are upbeat the area will be more vibrant and colourful by next year.

Mirik Lake.

The Phoolbari Maidan was established by the then state government in the 1970s as one of the key tourism spot in Mirik and has been a major attraction for thousands of tourists since then. The park used to have eye catching array of various Himalayan and other species of flowers back in the days, recalls a family from Maharashtra, who had visited Mirik 25 years back. However, looking at the current state of the area, they expressed their dissatisfaction on the condition of different tourist spots and the government’s negligence on the sector. Observing the work done by Sajha Manch, the family appraised the efforts by the organisation and hoped the park will return back to its former glory.

Manch president Santa Mani Rai said his organisation is working with the motto “Aaphno Samjhau, aaphai sajjau” and in the first stage of the development the organisation is working on beautifying the park by planting large verities of flowers. “The park will be have the same ambience and beauty as it used to have before,” he added. Rai further said any people who love and wishes well for Mirik can lend their hand in the process to beautify it and promote tourism here in a grander way. He informed a Siliguri based businessman has donated 10 concrete chairs for the park and many more such help is expected and anticipated from other well wishers. The Manch has also continued its efforts to develop Mirik Lake by planting trees along the banks and by helping in cleaning efforts.

Source:EOI

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Gorkhaland in the next four and half years - Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha

10:17 AM

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mirik live news

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha today held a press conference in Mirik, exuding confidence on the BJP-led central government to help the formation of Gorkhaland in the next four and half years. The press conference was conducted by GJYM central committee president Sanjay Thulung in the presence of secretary Amriut Yonzon and central committee member and GTA Sabhasad Prakash Gurung. 

GJYM leaders at the press conference in Mirik on Friday.

The leaders said the next few years will be important for the youths from the hills and all should unite together for the cause. They said the formation of Gorkhaland will be a great boon for the development of the hills as well as the thousands of unemployed youths. The GJYM will also form a committee to take the demand for Gorkhaland ahead. Meanwhile, the youth leaders also informe.

Source: EOI

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GJM and GNLF prepares for Shahid Diwas on July 27

8:45 AM

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Politics

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and rival Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) have started their preparations for Shahid Diwas, scheduled to be observed on July 27. Shahid Diwas is observed every year to pay respect to martyrs of the first statehood movement during the 1980s. Mirik police sources informed the two Hill party units from Mirik and Soureni have sought permission to hold the function and all have been issued the sanction.

Shahid Memorial in Soureni Bazaar.

The administration on it part has increased security across the hills for smooth conduct of the function. The GJM and GNLF have made extensive preparation for the function in Mirik and Soureni. The day will be marked with felicitation to family members of the statehood martyrs. Notably, more than 1,200 people were killed during the bloody statehood agitation in the 1980s.

Source: EOI

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