Jorethang police constable committed suicide by hanging

10:56 AM

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Sikkim

Jorethang Sikkim: In a shocking incident this morning, Til Bahadur Chettri (34), a police constable cum driver of Jorethang police, committed suicide by hanging himself to a ceiling fan in his flat at the Jorethang Police Quarters. The incident came to light when the deceased failed to pick the numerous called made by his wife and colleagues. When a few of his colleagues from the Jorethang PS reached his flat, they found him hanging from a ceiling fan using a ‘dupatta’.

Tulsi Thapa, second officer in-charge, Jorethang PS, said Chettri was a constable in rank and doubled as a driver at the station since the past 5-6 years. He further informed the incident occurred when Chettri was alone at his flat as his wife had gone to her maternal home. The couple has a four year old son, he added.

The body was sent to Namchi District Hospital for postmortem and later handed over to the family. A case of suicide has been registered by the police and an investigation into the matter has been initiated.

Source:EOI

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Sikkim 7-year-old student found hanging in Hotel washroom

10:39 AM

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Sikkim

A Class XII boy was found hanging in the washroom of a hotel at MG Marg here this morning, after attending a get-together with seven of his friends who study in different schools in and around Gangtok.

The 17-year-old student was a resident of Daragoan, 5km from here, and was appearing for Class XII exams.

The superintendent of police, East District, Manoj Tewari, said prima facie, it seemed that the boy had hanged himself from the shower in the toilet using a leather belt. “There were four girls and four boys who spent the night in a single room. Two of them had booked the room on March 12 and invited the others to the hotel last night. It seems the students wanted to have fun and party,” said Tewari.

The boy was found dead when the other friends broke open the door after he had failed to respond to repeated calls.

The police said the eight had gathered in the hotel without informing the parents.

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Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad supports Trinamul in Lok Sabha elections

9:21 AM

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Trinamool Congress

The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) today announced its support for Trinamul in the Lok Sabha elections.

The announcement, which could boost Trinamul’s chances in the Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar Lok Sabha seats, has come a day after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announced it would support BJP candidates in Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Mamata Banerjee is felicitated in Malbazar, Jalpaiguri, on February 12 by Somji Bhai Damor, the all-India president of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad. On stage is Birsa Tirkey (extreme right), the state president of the Parishad

The way the contest is set now, the Morcha, which wants statehood, and the BJP, known to favour creation of smaller states, are pitted against Trinamul, which is against dividing Bengal and the Parishad, which shares the state’s ruling party’s stand on the matter.

Of the tea garden unions in the Dooars and Terai, the Parishad-backed Progressive Tea Workers’ Union (PTWU) is the strongest. It has worker unions in almost every garden in the Dooars and Terai. Most of the workers in the tea gardens are tribals, except in few pockets where Gorkhas are larger in number.

The Parishad’s sign of support — this is the first time the outfit has officially said it would support a particular party — has come about a month after the tribal organisation felicitated chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Jalpaiguri for the development work done by the government for them.

Birsa Tirkey, the state president of the Parishad, said from Calcutta over phone today: “The initiative taken by Mamata Banerjee for the tribals is unprecedented in this state. We are overwhelmed by her sincerity to help the backward tribal population by initiating socio-economic development. So we have decided to issue a directive to the tribal community to vote for Trinamul candidates.”

Tirkey added: “Tribals will vote Trinamul across Bengal and also in other states where Trinamul will field candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.”

The sitting MP of Jalpaiguri, which is a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, is the CPM’s Mahendra Roy. Alipurduar, a Scheduled Tribe seat, is held by the RSP’s Manohar Tirkey. Both have got tickets for the same seats this time.

Trinamul has fielded a new face in Jalpaiguri — Rabindra Bharati University assistant registrar Bijoy Krishna Burman. In Alipurduar, the candidate is Dasarath Tirkey, who switched from the RSP to Trinamul after the recent Rajya Sabha elections.

Trinamul is expected to benefit the most in Alipurduar where the tribals make up around 60 per cent of the voters.

Their percentage is around 15 per cent each in Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.

North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, aware that his party is unlikely to get any Gorkha votes after the Morcha leadership’s directive to plains supporters to vote for the BJP, said he was “happy” with the Parishad’s announcement.

He said the Trinamul government had “tried to do our best to bring development to the tribal belt in north Bengal”.

As examples he cited revision of tea workers’ wages, the opening of Hindi-medium colleges and ration shops in tea gardens.

It is the Left, which is already under siege from Trinamul across the state, which could suffer the hardest.

“Since 2009, Trinamul has made inroads into the tea gardens and set up units of the INTTUC there,” said a CPM leader. “The Parishad-backed Progressive Tea Workers’ Union is the strongest union in the tea gardens here.”

He said that in such a scenario a signal by the Parishad to garden workers to support the Trinamul would have a “significant bearing” on the voting pattern here in the coming elections.

“We used to depend a lot on the tribal support to win elections here,” the CPM leader said.

Salil Acharya, a district secretariat member of the Jalpaiguri unit of the CPM told The Telegraph: “We are against identity politics. Whether it is the Morcha or the Parishad, they are just trying to create a rift between the different communities living here. We are opposed to such vote-bank politics. The people of this region will give a fitting reply to such outfits.”


Source:Telegraph

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गोजमुमोको तथाकथित गोर्खाल्याण्ड़ आन्दोलनका उपलब्धिहरू

11:46 AM

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news

दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ मात्र नभएर सम्पूर्ण भारतभरिका समस्त बुद्धिजीवीहरू,शिक्षाविद्हरू, शैक्षिक कर्मचारीहरू, प्रशासनिक अधिकारी, न्यायिक व्यक्तित्व, डाक्टर, अवकाशप्राप्त कर्नेल देखि लिएर पुलीसका भूतपूर्व अधिकारी अनि गोर्खे समाजका स-साना बनिबुतो गरिखाने देखि लिएर व्यापारी वर्ग र भविष्य निर्माण गर्न हिँडे़का कर्णधार युवा-युवती अनि विद्यार्थी तथा धामी-झाँक्री, बिजुवा, फेदाङ्वा, फादर र गुरुदेवहरूसम्मलाई समेत आन्दोलनमा होमेर वर्तमान ममताको पुच्छर विमल गुरुङ र तिनका चेला-चमुण्डाले हामी गोर्खे जातिलाई आन्दोलनको मार्फत दिएका उपलब्धिहरू---

Neeraj Zimba Tamang

01) गोर्खाल्याण्ड़ भन्दा तलको केही पनि थापिँदैन भनेर पुङ नपुछरको जीटीए थापे।

02) बंगाल हाम्रो चिहान हो भनेर 86को आन्दोलनमा फर्काएको पहिचान युक्त माटो पुनः बंगालमैं गाभे।

03) दार्जेलिङ पुलीस जो बंगाल पुलीस भन्दा पनि पुरानो जल्लाई अंग्रेजहरूले दार्जीलिङ बंगालको हैन भनेर अलग्गै प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था बनाएका थिए, त्यसलाई दुइ फ्याक पारी सिलगड़ी पुलीस कमिश्नरेट गरी दार्जीलिङ पुलीस सधैंभरिका लागि समाप्त पारे।

04) दार्जीलिङमा भएका सबै गोर्खा समुदायसंग जड़ित ऐतिहासिक दस्ताबेज र नेपालका राजाहरूले बनाएका स्मारक अनि गोर्खा पहिचानयुक्त चौताराहरू हटाएर सम्पूर्ण बंगालको दासत्वको पराकाष्ठामा दार्जीलिङ पहाड़लाई पुर्‍याए।

05) दार्जीलिङ पहाड़मा बस्ने भूमिपुत्र गोर्खा, भोटे, लेप्चामा समानता थियो तर विमल गुरुङ र ममताको साँठगाँठद्वारा लेप्चामात्र भूमिपुत्र अनि माटोसहित भारतमा विलय भएका गोर्खाहरूलाई विदेशी बनाइयो र गोर्खा जातिभित्र फूट लाइयो।

06) दार्जीलिङे जनता त के विश्वमा नै नेपाली हैन गोर्खा भनेर चिनाउने सुवास घिसिङ हुन्। उनकी श्रीमतीको मलामी जानसम्म रोक लगाइयो। जनतालाई घिसिङ गोर्खाविरोधी हो, विमल गुरुङ सही भन्ने आभास गराउन के गरिएन तापनि गोर्खे जनताले बुझ्ने बेला आएको छ कि विमल र घिसिङ कुन् सही हो।

07) पहाड़मा सधैंभरि घिसिङ र विमलको तानाशाहीको विरोध गरिरहने कर्मठ योद्धा मदन तामङको हत्या गरियो।

08) जीएल पी गठनको नाउँमा थुप्रै गोर्खा युवाहरूलाई घरको न घाटको बनाइयो।

09) अनशनको नाउँमा थुप्रैको किड्नी फेल गराइयो।

10) सिब्सू काण्ड़मा गोर्खे चेलीको ज्यान गवाइयो।

11) डुवार्स , तराई र सिलगढ़ीको गोर्खाहरूलाई तिमीहरू पनि आन्दोलन गर, गोर्खाल्याण्ड़ दिलाइदिन्छु भन्यो अनि उनीहरूलाई थाङ्नुमा सुताएर सुटुक्क दार्जीलिङमा जीटीए थाप्यो।

यस्तै अरु पनि थुप्रै के के उपलब्धिहरू गोजमुमोले गरेको छ यदि तपाईँहरूलाई पनि थाह छ भने प्रस्तुत गर्नुहोस्। जय गोर्खा। जै गोर्खाल्याण्ड़।

अझै भन्नु मन लाग्यो—तृणमूल र गोजमुमो मा केही फरक छ र। तृणमूल नेतृको इशारामा श्रीविमल गुरुङज्यू महोदय हिँड़िसके पछि गोजमुमो र तृणमूल अलग्गै हो किन भनिराको। विमलजी महान् ले पनि आफ्नो पार्टी तृणमूलमैं विलय गर्दा भएन र।

Source : Neeraj Zimba Tamang

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Justice for NIDO TANIA

6:57 PM

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northeast live news

Northeastern students seek justice  for NIDO TANIA after his death - Demanding justice, students from the country's northeastern states held a protest on Saturday at the market where a 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh was beaten up, leading to his death. 

Northeastern students seek justice  for NIDO TANIA

They carried placards with slogans including "Hang the culprits," and "Why are we treated like outsiders?"

"This was a racist hate crime," said Albina Subba, an advertising writer originally from the northeast Himalayan town of Darjeeling.

"Our community is often targeted like this. ... We look different, so it's easy for people to see we're not from Delhi."

She added: "We have little faith in the Delhi police, but this time we want them to take action."

A Facebook page titled "Justice for Nido Tania" had received support from more than 19,000 people by early Sunday morning (NZT).

"There is no place for elements trying to spread hatred against people belonging to any particular part of the country," Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a statement.

Several hundred people protested outside a Delhi police station Saturday, shouting demands for justice against what they called a hate crime.

The capital's newly elected chief minister Kejriwal asked that a magistrate investigate the incident as well as the police response.

Police detained two shopkeepers and launched a murder investigation Friday night, after being criticized for doing little following Wednesday's altercation.

"We are questioning several people in the case," said Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

Many indigenous people from India's northeast, some ethnically closer to people in Myanmar and China, often say they encounter racism and discrimination in the rest of India.

Lok Sabha MP and Sikkim Democratic Front spokesperson P.D. Rai Saturday condemned the incident, saying the state's people were "horrified" on knowing about Tania's death and its causes as it played out on TV and social media.
"We wholeheartedly condemn this kind of racist slur and violence that happened in the middle of a major market in New Delhi," Rai said in a statement.

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Jorethang Maghay Mela 2014 all set to kick off

11:47 AM

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Sikkim

The state’s biggest extravaganza of the New Year 2014 is all set to kick off here at the border town of Jorethang, South Sikkim. The yearly fair which attracts over one lakh visitor on a daily basis from across Sikkim and outside features various cultural and traditional programs apart from the other attractions. Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling will officially inaugurate the 3-day long fair on January 14.

Preparations for the Jorethang Maghay Mela 2014 in full swing on Sunday.

Chief Patron of the mela organizing committee and also the area MLA Zoom–Salghari constituency Madan Cintury informed, the main event which include cultural programs and exhibitions will be held at the Jorethang Ground, while the other fair attractions will be in display along the Rageet River bank. He further said other stalls featuring various culinary delights of the state, departmental and traditional items will be installed across Jorethang bazaar. This year’s mela will also feature adventure sports like paragliding and river rafting along with other sports events including the ongoing Inter-constituency Rural Football Tournament and skill games etc.  

The inaugural day will be marked with performances by dancing and singing troupes from Sikkim and other states, while the special men and women exhibition football matches will also played during the day, according to Century. Expecting a huge number of people, the Jorethang administration have also tighten the security in and around the town. The Governor of Sikkim Shriniwas Patil will be the chief guest for the second say of the mela, he added.  

Source:EOI

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Mirik - three under sixteen players selected by Cricket Assiciation of Bengal (CAB)

10:48 AM

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sports news

The Cricket Assiciation of Bengal (CAB) has three under sixteen players from Mirik Cricket Association for state level tournaments. Mohammad Saddam, Sujan Rai and Kunal Mallay have been selected owing to their good performances in the sub-division level under 16 tournament organized by CAB in Kanchungena Stadium, Siliguri.

Mirik Cricket Association team that took part in
under 16 tournament in Siliguri.

Delighted over the selection of three club players, Mirik Cricket Association’s official Sanjiv Thapa said the club’s overall performance in the sub-divisional level tournament was excellent. He said the club has been training the players in the local Ilu gorund in association with the CAB. The youngsters are being trained by mentors Bipen Thapa, Phiroj Thapa, Rakesh Rasaily and KP Lama.

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Gorkha Mela in Mumbai to begin on 11 January

10:30 AM

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news

SNS,Gangtok:To bring the Gorkha community staying in Mumbai under one platform, Basibiyalo ~ an organisation engaged in promoting literary excellence in the community all over India ~ would host Gorkha Mela next month.

Gorkha Mela in Mumbai 

The two-day long Mela that would begin on 11 January, would stage literary and cultural programmes along with exhibitions of various traditional food, attire and article in Mumbai. Informing about the Mela, its publicity in-charge, Sudesh Khati informed it aims at uniting the Gorkha community people either working or staying in Mumbai. “For these two days, we will make them feel at home in Mumbai,” he said.

The Mela is being organised in collaboration with Mumbai-based Sunakhari Nepali Mahila Samaj at Trivedi Hall, Mira Road in the Thane district.

“During the Mela, three books in English, Hindi and Nepali will be released. Besides, the programme will also witness poetry recital in Marathi, Urdu, Maithili, Urdu, Telugu, Hindi and English besides Nepali,” he added.

Prabin Khaling, representing Sikkim chapter of Basibiyalo, informed the programme will have the participation from Kalimpong, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Dooars.

“We appeal to all the Gorkhas staying in Mumbai to be present at the Mela as we will be presenting different cultural performances and the ethnic cuisine will also be there,” he added.

The two day long literary-cultural programme will be graced by the literati from Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim. Kavita Lama and C K Shresta are among others litterateurs to be present at the Mela in Mumbai.

Source - SNS

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Kurseong Municipality fails to dump garbage at dumping ground

9:58 AM

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news

With the failure of the Kurseong Municipality administration to dump garbage at the Dhargaon dumping ground since past one week, garbage and wastes have again amassed at different nooks and corners of the town. The reason for the failure being the pathetic road conditions in Dhargaon and protests by the locals for the construction of dumping ground there.

Garbage heap in Kurseong due to dumping ground issue.

It has been learnt, when the construction of dumping ground at Dhargaon was initiated, the Municipality had assured the locals of constructing a metal road in the area connecting the dumping ground site.  However, no signs of metal road construction are apparent in the area. Demanding immediate initiation of construction of a metal road, the resentful residents of Dhargaon have been opposing and obstructing dumping of town garbage in their area.  

Following the unfavorable developments, garbage bins across the town are overflowing with wastes. The town possesses a degraded and smelly atmosphere with all kinds of wastes lying in heaps at road sides.  Even in the prevailing freezing weather the horribly stinking garbage has created an unhygienic atmosphere causing inconvenience to the locals pedestrians here.  This has also multiplied the fear and chances for the town to develop various diseases.

Notably, the Kurseong populace had been living in such unhygienic atmosphere due to lack of proper dumping ground in the region. But after the formation of new municipality board a proper dumping ground site was located at the China OG in Dhargaon. It can be mentioned here that the site was already being used as a dumping ground for town wastes since one year before the construction works began.

On being asked about the matter KM Sanitary officer Ramesh Subba said the wastes are not being dumped properly since the road to the dumping ground is in shambles added to the protests being staged by the residents of Dhargaon. However, he said the municipal administration is working on the relevant formalities to begin construction of proper road to the Dhargaon dumping ground.

Source- EOI

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Bimal Gurung gets new office in New Year 2014

11:04 AM

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news

Darjeeling, Dec. 31: Bimal Gurung has decided to start his second innings as the chief executive of the GTA Sabha from a new office, the Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan from January 2 as his previous office cannot be accessed easily by the public because of transport problems, said sources in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

(Left) The Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan, where Gurung will resume
his second innings as the GTA chief executive; Lal Khoti, the building where he sat earlier. Telegraph

Gurung’s office during his earlier stint as GTA chief was at Lal Khoti. Even though Gurung had an office at the Rangamanch Bhavan, he operated from Lal Khoti.

“Bimal Gurung will take charge on January 2 but unlike in the past, he will work from a new office at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan,” said a Morcha source.

“The chief’s decision to shift to a new office is to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced. The fact that transport is not easily available to the Lal Khoti area has prompted the chief executive to shift his office. From now, anyone can walk to his new office,” said the source.

While Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan is situated at Mall, the heart of Darjeeling, Lal Khoti is about 3km away from the town.

Lal Khoti had been the administrative headquarters of the DGHC. Subash Ghisingh, the chairman of the erstwhile DGHC, had his office at Lal Khoti, a bungalow formerly owned by the royal family of Cooch Behar.

After taking oath as the chief executive in August 2012, Gurung, too, set up his office there.

He, however, asked the GTA officials to allocate the room used by Ghisingh to the principal secretary of the GTA. The chief executive’s office was set up in the room that was being used as a conference hall by Ghisingh.

However, Gurung hadn’t gone to his office since January to protest the perceived interference by the state government in the functioning of the GTA. He resigned from the post on July 30 to concentrate on the agitation for Gorkhaland in the wake of the Congress’s green light to the formation of Telangana.

At the moment, offices which are situated at Lal Khoti include those of Lt. Col. (retd) Ramesh Allay, the deputy chief of the GTA, and executive Sabha members Roshan Giri (school education), Binay Tamang (information and cultural affairs) and Anit Thapa (public health engineering).

The offices of the principal secretary, tourism executive director and the finance executive director are also situated at Lal Khoti. The meetings of the GTA Sabha are held at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan, where the offices of the chairman of the hill body and his deputy are also located.

“Gurung hasn’t yet taken a decision whether other offices should also be shifted to Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan. The Lal Khoti office of the chief executive will not be closed down though he is shifting to a new building,” said the Morcha source.

The Morcha has decided to hold a public meeting at Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling on February 3.

“The meeting will be attended by central committee members of the Morcha and will be organised by the party’s town committee,” said Narayan Pradhan, the general secretary of the town committee.

“The meeting is being organised to talk about the present situation and the need to make the GTA fully functional so that development and jobs can be created through the GTA,” he added.

Source : Telegraph

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GNLF criticized GTA chief executive hosting initiation ceremony in Kolkata

10:37 AM

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news

The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has raised question regarding the hosting of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration's (GTA) chief executive initiation ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata.

Talking to the reporters, the GNLF spokesperson, Daya Dewan said “how can an oath taking ceremony of GTA chief executive be organised at the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata.” He pointed out the Raj Bhawan and the Governor are parts of the constitution and officials of an unconstitutional body like the GTA cannot be swore-in by him at the state house.

He further informed GNLF had for long been saying the GTA is an unconstitutional body and have even filed a case against its legitimacy. “As the GTA is unconstitutional, its authenticity is in doubt and begs a lot of question and hence under the circumstances we ponder how the oath was taken at Raj Bhawan when no constitutional amendment has been made on the GTA,” Dewan questioned. There are different cases and disputes against the GTA and so far whatever development has materialized from court it has come in GNLF’s favour, he claimed.

Notably, on 26 December, the GJMM chief, Bimal Gurung in the presence of the state CM Mamta Banerjee was sworn in by the Governor at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata to the post of the GTA chief executive.

Meanwhile, almost all the parties in the hills have criticized Gurung and the state government saying they have betrayed the people of the hills. The GNLF party had even termed the day as a black day for the Gorkha Community. But now, the GNLF party has also raised the question on the legitimacy of hosting the oath taking ceremony of the GTA at Raj Bhawan. 

Source:EOI

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Kalimpong CPM condemns rise in the taxi fares

10:07 AM

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news

CPM leader Tara Sundas in a press statement today complained of the exorbitant rise in the taxi fares from Kalimpong to other places in the Hills. He said the people are forced to pay twice the amount at the ticket counters. He added the agencies hide their taxis deliberately to increase the fare and has been affecting commutation as the people have to wait for long hours before their ride arrive.  Moreover, Sundas also complained about the shortage of taxis travelling from Kalimpong taxi stand to Siliguri and Darjeeling. He also appealed the concerned department to initiate an investigation on the Taxi Drivers Association and take necessary actions.

Further, he mocked the recent statement of West Bengal Tourism Minister Krishnendu Choudhury who had claimed of making positive changes in Darjeeling tourism. He questioned the activities of government and condemned the recent trend of rise in the taxi fares. He added the tourists who visit the Darjeeling Hills are being deprived of facilities from the government which might reduce the number of tourists in Darjeeling Hills. He further warned the administration that the CPM will take strict action if the current trend continues.

Source - EOI

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Kalimpong - Free eye camp at Bhagesong Busty

10:51 AM

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news

Kalimpong - Preservation of Humanities Buddhism in association with the Emmi Bhutia Association today organized a free eye camp at Bhagesong Busty, about 12 kms away from Kalimpong town. Around one hundred residents of the village benefited from the free eye camp which also included few other general medical check-ups.

Free eye cam in Kalimpong

Eye specialists from Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre conducted the eye check-ups in the camp today along with providing medicines to the patients with minor problems. Meanwhile those with major problems have been asked to visit Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre on January 15 for necessary tests and medicines. They will also be provided spectacles.

Emmi Bhutia Association’s regional president Jigme Bhutia lamented the people of the region are deprived of the medical facilities and the camp was organized to help the locals benefit from the free medical servic

Source : EOI

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Gorkha National Liberation Front holds meeting in Mirik

10:38 AM

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Politics

The Mirik constituency unit of Gorkha National Liberation Front today held a meeting under the chairmanship of unit head MK Pakhrin in its party office here. The meeting was attended by party’s hill coordinator Arjun Rai, spokesperson Ladup Ghising, VPC chief Santamani Rai, HPWU unit coordinator Janak Kharka among others.

Addressing the meeting Janak Kharka pledged to form HPWU units in all the tea gardens in the region and fight for the rights of the workers. Some GJM supporters also joined the GNLF in the meeting today, who were handed the party flag by Pakhrin and other leaders.

Source : EOI

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Gorkhas of Assam demand 500 posts for Nepali teachers

7:12 PM

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northeast live news

GUWAHATI, December 28: The Akhil Assam Gorkha Sammelan today submitted a memorandum to the Mission Director of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan indicating some persistent problems faced by the Gorkha community.General Secretary of the assoviation Gangaram Dhakal said, “The advertisement floated recently for the posts of medium teachers dated 11.12.2013 by Empowered Committee on Elementary TET, Government of Assam has put us in dire strait as because we know that only regular posts to be filed up by the Government Should go through TET only. As such medium teachers posts advertised by  will benefit only Six persons as only three Nepali Medium schools are running throughout Assam presently which are in very deplorable conditions due to lack of teacher, books and infrastructures.”

“The Gorkhas of Assam have been focusing on the longstanding demand of M.I.L (Nepali teachers) since inception by various apex bodies of Gorkha Community. Accordingly the Government was very considerate and gracious to provide 200, 100 in 1993 and 100 in 2001 for Nepali M.I.L teachers. But due to non–confirmation of Nepali (M.I.L) posts, these posts have been confirmed and regularized in other categories. And thereby the Gorkhas were deprived of their rights.” He further added.

The Gorkha body has further demanded 1500 posts for M.I.L teachers all over Assam where more than 15% Gorkha students are studying as per RTE 2009. If only medium teachers are provided for the Nepali MIL teacher, they expressed concern that the future generation will be doomed.

Source - sentinelassam

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Kurseong - increase in wild bear attacks

11:55 AM

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news

Kurseong - The people of Chimney, Majua Busty and its adjoining areas under the Kurseong sub-division have been spending sleepless nights due to increase in wild bear attacks. The residents have complained that wild bears from the adjacent Baggora Forest have been attacking their pets and cattle at night. The people are mostly farmers depending on agriculture and livestock, for which the costs of loss is high.

Increased in wild bear attacks in Kurseong

A resident of Majua, Rudra Tamang said the people have been facing several problems due to the frequent attacks. He added recently a bear attacked a bee keeping farm of Birlal Tamang and damaged the entire infrastructure. He added the forest officials have already been informed and they have been taking stock of the incidents but the attacks have not decreased. 

Meanwhile, forest officials claimed that the incident has not been reported to them. They said even though several measures have been taken time and again the menace of wild bears has not decreased. They added the wild bears foray into settlement areas due to continuous deforestation. 

(EOIC)

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Subash Ghising's surprise visit to Kurseong after exile for more than two years,

11:37 AM

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political news

After remaining in exile for more than two years, Gorkha National Liberation Front supremo Subash Ghising today made a surprise visit to the Darjeeling hills and toured several areas under Kurseong sub-division.

Subash Ghising in Kurseong

Along with some associates, Ghising entered Tindharay via Sukna this morning from Matigara where he presently resides in a rented apartment. He surveyed the landslide spot NH55 in Tindharay and also paid a visit to the GNLF party office there.

Later, the GNLF chief visited to the Seti Devi Mandir at Giddha Pahar from Ghayabari and offered prayers. He next headed towards Jagdambaha lake in Rohini to finally return to his residence in Matigara.

Commenting on the visit, GNLF spokesperson Daya Dewan said the party president has provided a much-needed impetus to the otherwise declining morale of GNLF supporters. He added Ghising will soon make a permanent comeback once the festive season is over

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GNLF set to restart party activities in Mirik

9:19 AM

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political news

The Gorkha National Liberation Front, which claims a separate state of Gorkhaland can be easily achieved through the Sixth Schedule, is set to restart party activities in Mirik. The erstwhile ruling party of the Darjeeling hills says the people have now come to understand that the formation of a separate state is not an easy task, but with the Sixth Schedule, Gorkhaland can be achieved without much of a hassle. 

Nonetheless, GNLF sources said the leadership is waiting for the outcome of the GTA meeting scheduled on September 27 and will move ahead with its programmes of expanding support base after this. Observers say the GNLF is at present playing the role of a silent spectator as far as political developments in the hills are concerned.

They add the developments are being discussed by the party leadership and the hills will soon witness a political wind of change. 

The GNLF has been batting for the Sixth Schedule and has remained virtually mum amid the ongoing agitation for separate statehood. The GJM’s acceptance of the GTA in 2011 had given a platform to the party to raise its voice, but it fell silent again following the renewed agitation after Telangana was approved by the centre.

Meanwhile, a GNLF meeting was today held at Baidardhura in Dhajia TE under Sukhay block. Party unit convener Manoj Rai informed the meeting was organised under directions of the GNLF’s central committee.

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GNLF leader IN Pradhan and 11 others released after 5 years

3:49 PM

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news

KURSEONG, 16 Sep 2013: The Additional District Judge of Kurseong Court today acquitted former GNLF leader IN Pradhan and 11 others who were in custody since the past five years.

According to court sources, the failure of the prosecution to establish charges framed against them led to the release of the 12 accused. The GJM leadership had alleged that Pradhan, with the help of his associates, had fired on GJM women wing supporters in Kurseong on February 22, 2008. The GJM had alleged Pradhan had fired on the women from his Ghayabari residence and one woman had been injured.

While talking to reporters over phone today, Pradhan said, “I am really very happy that I am finally acquitted. I and my family members have faced several problems during the period. The GJM leadership framed false allegations on me and boycotted us socially. I was tortured and assaulted by police officials on several occasions. My wife Deepa Tamang (Pradhan) was also victimised and had to spend time behind bars on baseless charges. She was also expelled from the school where she was teaching on an ad hoc basis on the orders of GJM leaders.” 

EOI

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