Police officer & car fall into Teesta

RAJIV RAVIDAS;TT; An SUV carrying the officer in charge of Rambi police station rolled down 100 feet into the Teesta in Kalimpong. Along with OC Shiv Sagar Chhetri (right), his friend Soumen Banerjee and the driver of the car are missing. The accident happened at a place called Geilkhola, which is 17km from Kalimpong and on NH31A, on Saturday night. Banerjee is an employee of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

The driver’s name is Pritam Chhetri. Sources said the police officer was returning to Rambi after attending a programme. The accident happened at a point that had no crash barriers. “The accident happened between 9.30pm and 10pm but we were unable to ascertain the cause of the mishap,” a police source said. Shiv Sagar Chhetri, 48, is a resident of Mangaldara, and took over as the OC of Rambi outpost on May 21. Banerjee, 35, is a resident of Saradapara in Siliguri and had been working at NHPC’s Teesta Low Dam Project at Rambi since 2004. Driver Pritam, 20, is a resident of Rambi.

 “We have pressed three rafts into the search operation (top), but have not managed to trace either of them or the vehicle. The strong current of the swelling Teesta must have swept them down stream. We will try tomorrow as well,” said Sukbir Tamang, the president of the Teesta-Rangeet River Rafting Association.

राष्ट्रिय राजमार्ग 31 ए गेल खोला नजिक वाहन टिस्टामा झर्दा पुलिस अधिकारी संगै दुईव्यक्ति बेपत्ता

 डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 30 सितम्बर। कालेबुङबाट रम्बि गईरहेको पुलिस वाहन (डब्ल्यु बी 4557) राष्ट्रिय राजमार्ग 31 ए गेलखोला नजिक टिस्टा नदीमा झर्दा रम्बि थानाका प्रभारी शिवसागर छेत्री (48), एनएचपीसी पटेल ईञ्जिनियरिङमा एडमिनिस्ट्रेटिभ सुपरभाईजरको पदमा कार्यरत सौमेन बेनर्जी (36) अनि वाहनका चालक प्रितम छेत्री निखोज बनेका छन। जानकारी अनुसार उक्त सडक दुर्घटना हिज राती साढे नौ बजेदेखि दश बजे भित्र भएको हो।

 दुर्घटना हुनुको मुख्य कारण पत्तो लाग्न नसके पनि बिपरित दिसाबाट कुनै ठूलो वाहन आईरहेको समय बाटो छोड्ने क्रमम वाहन सिधै टिस्टा नदीमा झर्न पुगेको पुलिसले अनुमान गरेको छ। जानकारी अनुसार रम्बि थाना प्रभारी शिवसागर छेत्री कालेबुङ थानामा बिशेष कार्य लिएर आएका थिए भने उक्त कार्य सकेर पुन: रम्बि फर्किरहेको समयमा उक्त दुर्घटना हुन पुगेको हो। वाहन राष्ट्रिय राजमार्गबाट लगभग एकसय फिट तल टिस्टा नदीमा झरेको कारण वाहन संगै वाहनमा सवार तीनजना निखोज बनेका छन।

 उक्त दुर्घटना सम्भवत राती 9:45 मा भएको स्थानीय मानिसहरुले बताएका छन। दुर्घटना भएको खबर पाउँन साथ घटना स्थलमा पुलिस बल लगायत स्थानीय मानिसहरु उद्धार कार्यको निम्ति जुटे पनि रातको समय भएको कारण कुनै पत्तो लाग्न नसकेको पनि स्थानीय मानिसहरुले जनाएका छन। उक्त खबर प्राप्त भएपछि कालेबुङबाट अतिरिक्त पुलिस अधिक्षक सोङमित लेप्चा, कालेबुङ थाना आईसी प्रसाद प्रधान पुलिस दलबलसहित घटना स्थलमा पुगेका थिए। रातको समयमा उद्धार कार्य सम्भव नभएपछि बिहान देखि नै टिस्टा रङ्गीत रिभर राफ्टिङको तीनवटा राफ्टट्ररले खोजि कार्य आरम्भ शुरु गरेको छ।

 राफिटिङ टोलिले खोजि अभियान गरिरहेको भएपनि समाचार लेखुञ्जेल सम्ममा पनि वाहन अनि निखोज बनेकाहरुको कुनै पत्तो लाग्न सकेओ छैन। राती अविरल बर्षा भएको कारण टिस्टा नदीको जलस्तर बृद्धि भएको कारण वाहन संगै वाहनमा सवार तीनैजनालाई नदीले बगाएर लगेको अनुमान गरिएको छ। यस सम्बन्धमा टिस्टा रङ्गीत रिभर राफ्टिङका अध्यक्ष सुकबिरा तामङले दुर्घटना भएको जानकारी प्राप्त भएपछि आफु लगायत संगठनका सचिव सुरज छेत्री, सहसचिव अनुप प्रधानको नेतृत्वमा मोठ तीनवटा राफिट्ररले खोजिकार्य शुरु गरेको जनाए।

 तिनले टिस्टाको जस्तर बृद्धि भएको कारण खोजि कार्यमा असुबिधा सृजना भएको जनाउँदै नदीले वाहन संगै वाहनमा सवार सबैलाई बगाएर लगेकोहुन सक्ने जनाएका छन। दुर्घटना स्थलमा आफुहरुले जोडदार खोजि गरेपनि वाहनको समेत कुनै पत्तो लाग्न नसक्दा अनि दुर्घटना स्थलमा वाहनबाट तेल समेत निस्केको कुनै नमुना प्राप्त नभएको कारण उक्त स्थानबाट वाहनलाई टाडा बगाएर लगेको हुनसक्ने जनाउँदै खोजि कार्य राफिटिङले सेभोक सम्म गरेको पनि जनाएका छन।

 तिनले दुर्घटना स्थलदेखि आफुहरुले सेभोक सम्मको दुरी तय गरेर खोजि गर्दा सम्म कुनै पत्तो लाग्न नसकेको जनाएका छन। अर्कोतिर दुर्घटना स्थलमा अग्नि समन भिभागका कर्मचारीवर्ग पनि तैनाथ रहेका छन भने उनीहरुले पनि कुनै पत्तो लगाउँन सकेका छैनन। यता सडक दुर्घटना भएको खबर फैलिन साथ घटना स्थलमा कालेबुङका बिधायक डा हर्क बहादुर छेत्री, सभासदहरु क्रमैले काजिम छिरिङ भोटिया, रमेश लामा अनि सुनिल प्रधान पनि घटना स्थलमा पुगेका थिए। सडक दुर्घटना परेर रम्बि थाना प्रभारी सिवसागर छेत्री लापत्त बनेपछि पुलिस प्रशासनमा शोकको बादल छएको छ।

 तिनको खोजि अभियानमा सम्पूर्ण पुलिस टोलि जुटे पनि अझ सम्म पत्तो लाग्न नसक्दा सबै निराश बनेका छन। दुर्घटनामा परेर निखोज बनेका राम्बि थाना प्रभारी स्थानीय मगल डाँडा निवासी हुन भने घरमा तिनकी आमा जानुका छेत्री (75) पत्नि चन्द्रकला छेत्री (37) अनि दुईजना छोरहरु क्रमैले आकाश छेत्री (18) अनि आदित्य छेत्री (16) रहेका छन। उक्त दुर्घटना बारे आफुहरुले राती 11:50 मा जानकारी पाउँन सकेको श्रीमति चन्द्रकला छेत्रीले जनाएकी छिन।

 अर्कोतिर पटेल ईञ्जिनियरिङका कर्मचारी सौमेन ब्यानर्जी सिलगडी सरदा पल्लि निवासी रहेको जानकारी प्राप्त भएको छ भने तिनले उक्त कम्पनिमा 2004 देखि कार्य गर्दै आईरहेको थियो भने कम्पनिका अधिकारी थोमसले जानकारी दिएका छन। यसैक्रममा वहनका चालक प्रतिम सुब्बा भने रम्बिबजार निवासी रहेको जानकारी प्राप्त भएको छ।

 जानकारी अनुसार सडक दुर्घटनामा निखोज बनेको वाहन एनएचपीसी कम्पनिले रम्बि पुलिस बिभागलाई पुलिस सेवाको निम्ति प्रदान गरिएको थियो भने वाहनमा प्रितम छेत्रीले शुरु देखिनै चालकका कार्य गर्दै आईरहेका थिए। यद्यपि यस सम्बन्धमा वाहन कम्पनिको आफ्नो थियो अथवा कुनै मालिकको कम्पनिले हायरला ल्याएर पुलिसलाई प्रदान गरेको थियो भन्ने कुरा भने स्पष्ट हुन सकेको छैन। यस सम्बन्धमा एनएचपीसीका अधिकारीहरु संग सम्पर्क गर्ने प्रयास गर्दा समेत कुनै सम्पर्क हुन सकेन।

Breaking news... 

Rambi police station's Officer In charge Shivasagar Chettri, resident of Mangal Dara, Kalimpong and two others missing as their vehicle drowns in Geil Khola 31 A NH. on Saturday night around 10:30 PM.

Public upset over paying of pending telephone bills

 MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, September 28: “We followed GJM’s order and now they are doing nothing about it” 

 The BSNL in order to recover the telephone bills amounting up to Rs 10 crores in the hills organized a Telephone Fare at its office in Kalimpong. The fare organized by BSNL, Darjeeling edified the consumers about the old bills, wrong bills etc. and about bill payment options. The public are now upset over the fact that the GJM can do nothing about it.

 “We did not commit any mistakes. All we did was followed the orders of the Morcha. And now when the BSNL are asking for the payments, the Morcha whom we supported so much are staying put”, said one of the consumers. The BSNL have also issued a notice stating that all bills needs to be cleared whose units have been enlisted. Those whose units are not mentioned, only their bills have been excused. The GJM General Secretary, Roshan Giri when asked about the same affirmed that no bills which have been pending during the agitation time shall be paid.

 The case is still lying with the Government and is under process. However, in this regard, the BSNL Darjeeling AGM, P Yolmu said that they have not been informed to let off the pending bills. “All the consumers need to pay their bills irrespective of the bill dates and year. Instead legal actions will be taken against those who do not pay the bills”, said Yolmu. The BSNL will be hosting similar fare at Kurseong after Kalimpong.

 It may be mentioned here that during the time of GJM’s agitation in mid 2008 the public were directed not to pay telephone, electricity and many other governmental bills, because of which the public were relaxed the bill payments till July 2011. Soon after the GTA formation, the electricity bills started piling up after August 2011. Further, in December 2011, because of the vast telephone bills, the BSNL started disconnecting their services.

 In one hand the State Government relaxed the electricity bill payments, while in the other, telephone being the Centre’s subject nothing much could be done. Before the formation of GTA, the GJM had approached the then Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram and had appealed him to excuse the telephone bills. But nothing has been as of now.

Loot in the name of reforms and aam admi, says Mamata Banerjee ahead of October 1 agitation in Delhi

Kolkata: Ahead of her party's demonstration in Delhi on Monday to protest against the UPA government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has hit out against the Centre saying that "looting is on in the name of aam admi and reforms". Ms Banerjee, who left for Delhi during the day to attend her party's demonstration at Jantar Mantar, said in her post in Facebook: "Reforms are meant to usher development for the people. Now-a-days, the trend is whenever any anti-people decision is taken, it is taken in the name of reforms.

" Her comments came shortly after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated that the Centre may continue with the reforms process and expressed willingness to discuss issues with the allies. "We will do what is good for the country... reforms are not one-off process," he said in Delhi. Senior party leader and former union minister of state for Urban Development Saugata Roy told PTI that all the party MPs are supposed to take part at the dharna at Jantar Mantar on Monday. Referring to the Finance Ministry's decision to levy service tax on air conditioned passenger coaches and freight services fares in Railways from October 1, he said it would further burden the people after the decisions on hiking price of diesel, restriction on subsidised LPG cylinders, increase in fertiliser prices and permission to FDI in retail. news for p t i

One more body has been found by rescuers in the Rangma Range

GANGTOK;One more body has been found by rescuers in the Rangma Range where 12 GREF personnel, including their family members, were killed in the September 21 landslide following heavy rains. With the recovery of the body, which has been identified as that of Raj Narayan, 10 of the 12 killed in Rangma, about 4 kms beyond Chungthang towards Lachen, have thus been retrieved. Twenty people have lost their lives in a series of landslides in and around Chungthang following torrential rains. Of them, four ITBP personnel were killed at Pegong, three of the GMW company at the Teesta Stage III dam site, one at Kalapathar above Chungthang and 12 in the Rangma Range. The rescue team comprised ITBP, GREF and Army personnel, district officials, Zilla Adhyaksha and local people. The GMW company has begun excavation at the Teesta dam site slide area. Two of its employees Bishvanath Ram and Amar Jeet Singh were feared killed and believed to be buried under the debris at the site.

जीटीए पञ्चायत भन्दा सानो हो किन भने पञ्चायत जस्तो संवैधानिक समेत छैन – छेवाङ भोटिया

कालेबुङ, 28 सितम्बर। गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको चुनाउको मुखैमा तृणमूल कङ्ग्रेस पार्टीमा सामेल हुने छेवाङ भोटियाले जीटीएलाई दागोपाप भन्दा पनि निम्न स्तरको भनि टिप्पणी गरेका छन। तृणमूल कङग्रेस कालेबुङ खण्ड दुईका अध्यक्ष छेवाङ भोटियाले आज पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा गरेर दागोपाप भन्दा तल्लो स्तरको व्यवस्था स्वीकार गर्नु भन्दा पहाडको निम्ति छैटौ अनुसूचिनै ठिक हो भने।

 तिनले बिगत दिनमा छैटौ अनुसूचिको बिरोध गर्नुको कारण छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति हो भन्दै छैटौ अनुसूचिबाट केन्द्र शासित प्रदेश हुँदै छुट्टै राज्यको ढोकामा पुग्न सक्ने समेत दाबी गरे। जीटीए चुनाउ समाप्त भएर मौन बसेका छेवाङ भोटियाले आज गोजमुमो पार्टीको तिखो आलोचना गर्दै मोर्चाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको नाममा झुक्काएर फेरि अर्को दागोपाप ग्रहण गरेको भनि दाबी गरे।

 तिनले दागोपाप भन्दा पनि सानो इकाई मोर्चाले छुट्टै राज्यको नाममा ल्याएर जनतालाई भ्रममा पारेको बताउँदै जीटीए पञ्चायत भन्दा पनि सानो कुरा हो भने। तिनले जीटीए पञ्चायत भन्दा सानो हो भन्ने तर्कलाई पुष्टि गर्दै पञ्चायतमा संवैधानिक व्यवस्था हुनछ भने जीटीएमा संवैधानिक सुरक्षा छैन साथै आफ्नो कानून निर्माण गर्ने हक पनि छैन भनि पत्रकारहरुलाई जनाए। यस्तो अवस्थाम पहाडको निम्ति बरु जीटीए भन्दा संवैधानिक सुरक्षा भएको छैटौ अनुसुचिनै ठूलो हो भनि छेवाङ भओटियाले अझ बताएका छन।

 तिनले छैटौं अनुसूची भनेको पाकेको फल हो भन्दै यो फल खाएपछि अर्को फल भनेको राज्य सम्मुखिन फल छ। तर जीटीएको अर्को फड्‌को के हो? भनि प्रश्न समेत गरे। य्सै अवसरमा तिनले दार्जीलिङ पहाडको तृणमूलले मुख्यमन्त्री ममता व्यानर्जीसित पहाडमा छैटौं अनुसूची लागू गर्ने अपील गर्नेछ भनि अझ जनाएका छन। यस अवसरमा भोटियाले पुरानो भाका फेरेर सुवास घिसिङको समेत प्रश्ंसा गरे।

 पहाडमा सुबास घिसिङले छैटौं अनुसूची लागू गर्न जुन प्रयास गरेका थिए, अहिले आएर त्यो प्रशंसायोग्य रहेको पत्तो पाइएको छ भन्दै तिनले सुबास घिसिङ पैसाको पछि कुद्ने व्यक्ति होइन भनेर तिनले दागोपापमा छोडेको 1 सय 41 करोड रुपियॉंले प्रमाणित गर्छ, जो मोर्चाका नेताहरूले सकेको छ भनि दाबी समेत गरे।

Hills gaining its popularity back amidst filmmakers

MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, September 27: Darjeeling hills have always become a centre of attraction, either because of its much famous tea produce or because of the prolonged Gorkhaland agitation. Within the years, it has also become one of the most sought places for the filmmakers due to its scenic beauty. However, due to the reiterating agitation in between, there was less approach to this place. 

 

But the hills now seems to be gaining it lost popularity back after the shooting of ‘Barfi’, the recently Oscar nominated movie of the much acclaimed director, Anurag Basu, captivated the beauty of this place. After Sukna, the filmmakers are now studying locations at Kurseong and Kalimpong. Likewise, well known filmmaker and actor from Tollywood reached Kalimpong on Tuesday to shoot their film. Acclaimed director, Pramod Modi was seen shooting ‘Ajan’, a film based on Samsher Majumdar’s detective thriller, at Thana Dara. 

 

Dipankar Dey, Sabyasachi Chatterji, Manoj Mitra and Biswajeet Chatterji are playing the lead roles in the movie. Large number of locals gathered excitedly to witness the shooting. Most of the shooting is being done in North Bengal. “We are astounded by the beauty of the hills and want to show it in the film”, said Director Modi. Similarly, well known director, Kaushik Ganguly was seen shooting his film ‘Sar’ at various locales of Kalimpong on Wednesday. 

 

The shooting will go till a week at Delo, Durbin and Mungsung, it has been informed. Ganguly’s wife, Churni Ganguly, Raima Sen and Sabyasachi Chatterji are leading the roles. Long after the shooting of the blockbuster film ‘Barsaat Ki Ek Raat’, where Bollywood star, Amitabh Bachhan played the lead, Kalimpong is yet again being flocked by filmmakers.

NSS Day observed

MUKESH SHARMA'Kalimpong, September 27: The National Service Scheme (NSS) Day was observed today at the Town Hall where all the schools of Darjeeling Zone were included. A total of 12 schools from Darjeeling hills and Naxalbari attended the programme. This programme is conducted every year to help the school children for their overall development. The programme conducted under the presidentship of the Sub Divisional Officer, LN Sherpa had the presence of Education Department head, Roshan Giri as the chief guest along with the Advisor of NSS, Darjeeling Zone II, Nav Ratna Pradhan s the guest of honour. The heads of various schools were also present. The chief guest appreciated the efforts of the NSS is organizing such useful programme. The gathering was highlighted about the imperative role of the students towards prevention and stop of corruption. Also during the programme a blood donation camp was organized. NSS Coordinators of 12 schools was also felicitated.

Tibetan PM now 'Political Leader' after charter amendment

Dharamsala, Sep 27 (PTI) Dr Lobsang Sangay, the democratically-elected leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), today signed the Charter amendment for the change of the official title of Tibetan Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) to Political Leader (Sikyong). This ceremony was held at the Tibetan Secretariat here. The charter amendment bill related to this was earlier passed in the Tibetan parliament, which gave its unanimous approval to the charter amendment. The name change has been effected in keeping with the Dalai Lama's speech on August 8, 2011. Following the devolution of his political authority to the democratically-elected Tibetan leadership, Dalai Lama had said he was handing over the political leadership he inherited to "Sikyong Lobsang Sangay." "I took over the political leadership of Tibet from Sikyong Taktra Rinpoche, when I was 16 years old. Today, in the 21st century, when democracy is thriving, I hand over the political leadership of Tibet to Sikyong Lobsang Sangay," the spiritual leader of Tibet had said. Sangay was elected in the third direct elections for the Kalon Tripa held in March 2011. However, after this amendment, title 'Kalon' (minister) for the remaining seven members of the Kashag (Cabinet) will remain the same.

GRNM demands Kalimpong-Kurseong to be a separate district

MUKESH SHARMA'Kalimpong, September 27 Thirty-five Adavasis of the western parts of the Dooars today joined the Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha. The GRNM President Dawa Pakhrin welcomed them handing over the party flag. Pakhrin talking to the reporters said that the Chief Minister of the State who wil be demarcating new districts in the State must also segregate Kalimpong and Kurseong as a district. The party earlier also had submitted a memorandum to the State government on the same he added. ‘We are not opposing any developments in the Hills, but we are demanding the inclusion of the left out povinces during the formation of the GTA’ said Pakhrin. There are places in Kalimpong and Kurseong where people take a day to reach the town and if the two were districts, the story could have been otherwise. Pakhrin also said that soon they will kick start with the public awareness programmes. He also criticized the transfer of the adhoc workers under the various departments in the GTA and said that they too had huge contribution during the agitation.

CPRM to discuss on Gorkhaland at AILCC seminar

Darjeeling, September 27 The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) Spokesperson Govind Chettri today left for Delhi to attend a seminar being organised by the All India Left Coordination Committee (AILCC) scheduled to be held on September 30. Before leaving Chettri said that the issue of separate State of Gorkhaland will be discussed in the seminar. The AILCC has already supported the demand of the Statehood. The seminar on the other hand is to discuss mainly the three importants issues that of the corruption, illegal arrest of the people and the price hike. Chettri informed that a protest rally against the above three issues will also be organised before the seminar at the Jantar Mantar. The CPRM members of the other parts of the country will be partaking in the seminar. CPRM Darjeeling Branch is also the integral part of the committee.

No need of constitutional recognisation to GTA, it’s temporary- Giri

MUKESH SHARMA'Kalimpong, September 27 ‘Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has taken the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for a time being, there is no need of the constitutional recognisation to it’ said that GJM Genreal Secretary Roshan Giri talking to the reporters in Kalimpong today. If it has to be constitutionally recognized nothing less than the statehood or Union Territory is accepted he added. There is nothing to panic from the petetion filed by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) President on the constitutional validity of the GTA said Giri. He also informed that the documents of those candidates who had given their interview in 2002 for the post of primary teachers are being scrutinized. The GTA can establish the regional SSC in the Hills he believed. The GTA is to be a three-tier panchayat election system but the Government has to take decision taking into consideration the Siliguri Sub Division he said. A meeting is slated at Writers Building, Kolkata on October 1 for the transfers of the departments under the GTA, which will also hold talks on the reformation of the environment of the primary, secondary and the senior secondary schools in the Hills said Giri.

सुवास घिसिङले दर्ता गरेको मुद्दालाई लिएर भयभीत हुने आवश्यक्ता छैन – रोशन गिरी

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 27 सितम्बर। “जीटीए अस्थायी व्यवस्था हो। यसलाई संवैधानिक ग्यारण्टी हुनपर्छ भनेर हामीले आवश्यक्ता ठानेनौ। किन भने यहाँ संवैधानिक ग्यारण्टी भएको व्यवस्था लागु हुनपर्छ भने त्यसलाई केवल युनियन टेरोटोरी अथवा छुट्टै राज्यले मात्र पुरा गर्न सक्छ” – उक्त कुरा गोजमुमो महासचिव एंव शिक्षा बिभागका भारप्राप्त सभासद रोशन गिरीले एउटा कार्यक्रममा भग लिन आउँदा पत्रकारहरुले सोधेको प्रश्नको जवाद दिदै भनेका हुन।

 यस अवसरमा तिनले गोरामुमो अध्यक्ष सुवास घिसिङले जीटीएको संवैधानिक ग्यारेण्टीको प्रश्न उठाउँदै राज्यको उच्च न्यायलयमा दर्ता गरेको मुद्दामाथि बोल्दै यस मुद्दालाई लिएर भयभित हुने कुनै आवश्यक्ता नरहेको दाबी गरे। तिनले पत्रकारहरुले सोधेको प्रश्नको जवाब दिदै सुवास घिसिङले उच्च न्यायलयमा मुद्दा दर्ता गर्नुको कारण त्री स्तरीय पञ्चायत हुनाउलाई लिएर रहेको बताउँदै त्रीस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड छेत्रीय प्रशासनमा लागु हुनु हो भने मात्र संवैधानिक संशोधन आवश्यक रहेको जनाकारी गराए।

 पहिले दागोपाप गठन भएपछि अर्कोतिर सिलगडी महकुमा परिषद गठन गरेर सरकारले दागोपाप क्षेत्रमा त्रीस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउ लागु हुँदैन भनि 73 औ संविधान संशोधन गरेको पनि गिरीले जनाएका छन। उक्त कुरालाई लिएर गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनको निम्ति कुनै भयभित हुने कारण नरहेको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासनमा त्रीस्तरीय पञ्चायत चुनाउको कुरा सम्झौता पत्रमा नै उल्लेखित रहेको कारण यसलाई कार्यरुपमा परिणत गर्न सरकारले संविधान संशोधन गर्ने स्पष्ट पारे।

 यस अवसरमा तराई डुवर्सको स्थिति बारे प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले तराई डुवर्सको निम्ति फ्याक्ट भेरीफीकेशन कमिटि गठन भएर कार्य गरिरको बताए। यसै सिलसिलामा तिनले आगमी 1 अक्टोबरको दिन राज्य सरकार संग जीटीएमा बिभागहरु हस्तान्तरणको निम्ति बैठक रहेको बताउँदै उक्त बैठकमा पहाडको निम्ति छुट्टै स्कूल सर्भिस कमिसन, कलेज सर्भिस कमिसन आदिको निम्ति पनि कुराकानी छिनाफाना गर्ने पनि गिरीले बताएका छन।

 यसै सिलसिलामा अहिलेघरी नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग बारे चर्चा चलीरहेको बिषयमा प्रश्न गर्दा तिनले नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोगबारे आफु तयार रहेको जनाए। “नेपाली भाषाको प्रयोग हुनपर्छ भनेर हामीले आवश्यक्ता बोध गरेका छौ। यसबारे हामीले ध्यान दिईरहेका छौ। म स्वय भने नेपाली भाषा प्रयोगको पक्षधरमा छु” – रोशन गिरीले थप बताए।

25ft crater blocks highway Heavy rain blamed for road cave-in

TT; Sept. 26: A portion of the NH31C in Jalpaiguri caved in early today causing a 25-foot crater, deep enough to take in two small cars. The cave-in happened around 2am near the bridge over the Zurantee river near Bagrakote, which is 37km from Siliguri. Heavy rains in the last two days and the rising level of water in the Zurantee are being blamed for the cave-in. 

The condition of the NH31C stretch where the subsidence happened is not bad. Vehicles from the Northeast and the Dooars that are bound for Siliguri are now making a detour through the Gorumara National Park to the NH31D, which is in a deplorable state. Instead of a 55km drive, it is now 105km that vehicles have to cover. (See map) Residents said they woke up around 2am after hearing a deafening thud. 

 The Zurantee, originating from the Metelli hills, had been overflowing for the last few days because of incessant rains that had flooded its catchment area. “The sides of the road had eroded because of the excessive rain. The soil that forms the foundation of the highway near the bridge was swept away from underneath the road by the river.

 So, the highway was already weak,” said Nirmal Mondal, the executive engineer of state PWD (NH division IX). The crater, Mondal said, was 50ft long and 23ft wide and the road cave-in happened on the stretch that approaches the bridge from Siliguri. He said repairs had started and the road would be restored in 48 hours. Bagrakote is in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district. 

Some of the local people who went to the road after hearing the thud stood there all night to warn vehicles. Later, wooden planks were erected on the road to mark out the caved-in spot. “If we need to travel to Siliguri via Jalpaiguri, it means an additional distance of around 50km. 

While the distance between Malbazar and Siliguri through NH31C and Sevoke is 55km, the route via Jalpaiguri is 105km long,” said Rajen Pradhan, a Malbazar resident. The disruption in traffic on NH31C has come just a few days after the Coronation Bridge on the same highway was opened to heavy vehicles after repairs.

 The business community, especially the tea industry, is worried about the frequent disruptions on the highways in north Bengal. “The bar on heavy vehicles from taking the Coronation Bridge was lifted only two days ago. The opening of the Coronation Bridge had brought some relief to us as we could dispatch tea to Siliguri through NH31C, when NH31D is in such a pitiable state.

 But the collapse of an NH31C portion in the Dooars has posed fresh problems,” said Rajat Deb, the chairman of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association. “We request the state government to repair the two highways with utmost urgency or else the economy of north Bengal will suffer.” Smaraki Mahapatra, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, said: “We are aware of the collapse of the highway near a bridge in Bagrakote. Discussions have been held with PWD officials and it seems that the highway can be restored in two days.”

ममता ब्यानर्जीको स्वीजरल्याण्डमा खाना पकाउँने ग्यास कति पाउँछ ? – तारा सुन्दास

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 26 सितम्बर। “दिदी भनेर पहाडबासी खुबै चिच्चाएको थियो तर, खोई त दिदीले घोषणा गरेको स्वीजरल्याण्डमा खाना पकाउने ग्यास सिलिण्डरमा पहाडवसीलाई राहत दिएको ?” उक्त प्रश्न माकपा नेता तरा सुन्दासले उठाएका हुन। तिनले कतिपय राज्यहरुमा राज्य सरकारले भ्याट घटाएर भए पनि जनतालाई राहत प्रदान गरेको बताउँदै मूल्यबिरोधको बिरोधमा जुलुस निकालेर बिरोध गर्ने मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले बङगालमा पनि सिलिण्डरमा लागु हुने भ्याट घटाएर जनताको साथमा आफु रहेको प्रमाणित गर्नु भनि चुनौति दिए।

 अहिले पहाडमा दशैको मौसम शुरु भईसकेको बताउँदै एकातिर सरकारले वर्षमा उपभोक्ताहरुलाई केवल छ वटा सब्सिडी भएको खाना पकाउने सिलिण्डर उपलब्ध गराउँने निती पारित गर्छ भने उक्त नियमा कार्यन्वय हुन अगावै कालेबुङका ग्यास बितरकहरुले भने सब्सिडीयुक्त सिलिण्डर उपभोक्ताहरुले सितम्बर महिना देखिनै लगे भनेर मोहर लगाउँने कार्य गरेको बताउँदै उक्त कुराको जोडदार बिरोध गरे। सरकारले सिलिण्डरमा सब्सिडी सितम्बर महिना देखि लागु गरेको छैन भन्ने तरा सुन्दासले दाबी गर्दै यता बितरकहरुले भने सब्सिडीयुक्त सिलिण्डर उपभोक्ताहरुले लगेको मोहर लगाएर अन्याय गरिरहेको आरोप लगाए। 

यस सम्बन्धमा तिनले महकुमा शासकले हस्तक्षेप गर्नुपर्ने समेत माग गरेका छन। अहिले पहाडमा सिलिण्डर सम्बन्धि ब्यापक अन्योलता सृजना भईरहेको बताउँदै यस बिषयमा राज्य सरकारले जनताको हितमा काम गर्नुपर्ने पनि तरा सुन्दासले माग गरेका छन। यसै सिलसिलामा तिनले कालेबुङ महकुमा क्षेत्रको रम्फु, मल्लि, किर्णे, तार खोला, मामखोला आदि स्थानहरुमा बसोवासो गर्ने मानिसहरुको निम्ति सिलिण्डर बितरक नभएको बताउँदै यस बिषयमा सही पदक्षेप ग्रहण गरी सिलिण्डर बितरक राक्नु पर्छ भन्दै महकुमा अधिकारीलाई ज्ञापन पत्र सुम्पिएको छ। तिनले उक्त ठाउँहरुमा सिलिण्डर बितरक नभएको कारण मानिसहरु समस्यामा परिरहेको दाबी गर्दै महकुमा अधिकारीले समस्या समाधान गर्न यथाशिघ्र पहल गर्नुपर्ने माग गरेका छन।

Sikkim toll 11

TT; Gangtok, Sept. 25: The death toll in the flash flood in North Sikkim climbed to 11 with the recovery of four more bodies from Rangma near Chungthang this afternoon. Twenty people went missing when a flash flood triggered by incessant rain struck Rangma and the nearby Pegong in North Sikkim on Friday night. Seven bodies were recovered from Rangma and nine persons are still missing. The bodies found today were of two Border Roads Organisation employees S.K. Sikhya and Siddhi Ram and their wives.

 “The bodies have been airlifted out of Rangma in a helicopter and handed over to family members in Gangtok,” said A.K. Das, the joint director of the BRO. Searches are still on to trace five BRO employees at Pegong and four Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at Rangma. The relief commissioner, S.B.S. Bhaduria, said the government couldn’t airdrop essential commodities to Toong near Chungthang as scheduled today because of inclement weather. The village has been cut off from the rest of the state since Friday night after the landslides.

Desolated library’s miserable tale to tell

MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, ; Inaugurated in the year 1976 by the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Siddhant Shankar Roy, the Kalimpong Sub Divisional Library, at present stands desolated. The library which houses a total of 15, 600 books in Nepali, English, Hindi and Bengali is visited hardly by readers nowadays. During the past few years, only 4- 5 people approach the library in a day. The age of computer and technology seems to overpower the reading capacity of the people.

 To learn more about things, people prefer easy access on their computer systems rather than visiting the library for the same purpose. Another reason for the people not coming to the library is, because during agitation, the place is transformed into a shelter for the Para Military Force. Hence, the people are scared to enter the building. “Since its establishment this structure has been renovated only once,” says Ruben Singh, who is the book binder there since 1980. 

The water connection leaks, and still after many complaints to the concerned department about it, the problem seems unattended. After the retirement of the librarian here in June this year, no other individuals have been appointed for this post. The dedicated service of its former librarian, NP Aden, is appreciated by the staffs.Also the assistant librarian will be retiring at the end of this year. 

After both of their retirements there is nobody to look after this place. In total there are 4 permanent and 6 adhoc employees in the library. Out of the 4 permanent posts 1 post for librarian lies vacant and another is about to get vacant. But there seems to be short of candidates who can hold the post of a librarian. The library has all kinds of books as per the requirement of the readers. It even maintains the daily, weekly and employment newspapers. A different section which stocks entrance examination and guide books is also there.

 In order to attract the readers the library too has computer facilities. But the irony lies in the fact that neither there is any such person, who can assist the readers to use it, nor there is any who wants to use it. As an icing on a cake it also has Xerox facilities which the readers can avail it in a lesser price. But the machine holds no value as there are hardly any individual who come to this place. Under the Kalimpong Sub Divisional library, there are 28 rural libraries and 1 Municipality library whose condition too, lies similar to it. Without a librarian this main library looks like a family without a head. Now after the GTA formation, the library is awaiting its new dawn.

सिन्कोना निर्देशक डा जी सी सुब्बा पुत्री शोकमा

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 25 सितम्बर। सिन्कोना एंव अन्य औषधीय पौधाहरु, पश्चिम बङगाल सरकारका पहिलो गोर्खे निर्देशक डा जी सी सुब्बा पुत्री शोकमा परेका छन। तिनकी छोरी प्रियदर्शनी सुब्बा (लामा)को सोम्बार राती लखनऊ कमान अस्पतालमा असमायिक निधन भयो। 7 अक्टोबर 1980 को दिन पिता डा जी सी सुब्बा अनि माता आरती सुब्बाकी कोखबाट जन्म ग्रहण गरेकी स्व प्रियदर्शनी सुब्बा मेजर सिद्धार्थ लामा संग प्रणय सुत्रमा बाधिएकी थिईन।

 तिनी हाल आफ्ना पतिसंग कानपुरमा रहँदै आएको जानकारी प्राप्त भएको छ भने अचानक तिनको स्वास्थ्य बिग्रेको कारण लखनऊ अस्पतालमा उपचारको निम्ति भर्ना गरिएको थियो। सोही अवस्थामा तिनको राती लगभग दश बजे निधन भएको जानकारी प्राप्त भएको छ। ईञ्जिनियरिङ बिषयमा अध्ययन समाप्त गरेर एमबीए समेत समाप्त गरेकी प्रियदर्शनी सुब्बाको असमायिक निधनले सुब्बा परिवार शोकमा डुबेको छ।

 यता डा जी सी सुब्ब पुत्री शोकमा डुबेको खबर एकाएक सिन्कोना बगानमा फैलिएपछि सम्पूर्ण सिन्कोनाबासी स्तब्ध बनेको छ। यस सम्बन्धमा दार्जीलिङ तराई डुवर्स प्लान्टेसन लेबर युनियन केन्द्रिय समिति सिन्कोना जोनले गहिरो शोक व्यक्त गरेको छ। लेबर युनियनका अध्यक्ष गोपाल रुचालले यस सम्बन्धमा शोकित सुब्बा परिवारप्रति सम्वेदना प्रकट गरे। सोहि सिलसिलामा पुत्री शोकमा परेका डा जी सी सुब्बा अनि सम्पूर्ण परिवार प्रति कालेबुङ प्रेस क्लबले पनि गहिरो शोक व्यक्त गरेको छ। क्लबका सचिव अरुण कुमार राईले प्रियदर्शनी सुब्बाकी असमायिक निधनले तिनको परिवार पक्षमा परेको पिडालाई ईश्वरले सहने क्षमता प्रदान गरुन भन्ने बताउँदै मृत आत्माको शान्तिको कामना गरे।

Traffic Signal in Kalimpong soon, 1st time in the hills

MUKESH SHARMA; Kalimpong, September 24: For the 1st time in the hills, Kalimpong will be getting Traffic Signal installed likely within this year. The Sub Divisional Traffic Officer, Praveen Gurung informing about the same today said that after the recent primary level talks on this scheme, the implementation shall be initiated. The Kalimpong Municipality and Traffic Police are working towards successful implementation of this scheme which will improve the traffic and road safety conditions.

 The traffic signals will be installed at Thana Dara, Damber Chowk and 10th Mile. This step is being taken keeping in mind the ever increasing traffic issues and also to keep the traffic under control, notified Gurung. Likewise, he also mentioned that the Traffic Police have also suggested the Municipality to close the opening of the railings of the footpaths on the main road and only to keep 3 openings in front of which zebra crossings should be made. Due to the absence of traffic signals in the hills, the locals are not well aware of the signals and hence end up violating traffic rules while they drive at Siliguri.

 This is another problem which will be fixed after the signals are installed. Gurung also informed that they will be setting off traffic awareness programmes for the school children. The Traffic Police are beforehand bucking themselves up to tackle the traffic during the festive season followed by tourist and winter seasons. For this they are utilizing the newly constructed motor stand below Novelty Cinema Hall.

 The vehicles ferrying the travelers will drop them at the motor stand instead of entering the main town, and from there the passengers will be picked up by the local taxis. Similarly, Gurung also cautioned that those who park their bikes illegally at DS Gurung Road will face legal actions against them. A Police Help Centre Booth will soon be installed in the town to assist the tourists who visit Kalimpong. Lastly, he added that any organizations or individuals can also keep forward their suggestions in order to keep in control the traffic issue.

Assam CM gives directions for speeding up rescue & relief ops

 Guwahati, Sep 24 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today directed the administration to use helicopters and mechanised boats to step up rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state. Gogoi, who is in Japan, spoke to Revenue minister Prithibi Majhi, Water Resources Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu and Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das over the phone and directed them to step up rescue and relief operations, officials said. Besides, giving directions for use of helicopters and mechanised boats, the Chief Minister said that adequate food materials be supplied to the flood-affected. Gogoi also directed all ministers in his cabinet to visit flood affected districts immediately and oversee relief and rescue operations at first hand. The Chief Minister is on a six-day trip to Japan as a member of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers. The flood situation in the state worsened today with nine lives lost and ten lakh people rendered homeless in 16 districts as the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries continued to rise.

 Ten militants arrested in Manipur

 Imphal, Sept 24 (PTI) Ten militants of different organisations were arrested by police commandos during search operations in Manipur, police said today. Most of the arrested militants, including three women, were involved in extortion and planting bombs to attack security personnel, the police said.

 Mobile phones and important documents were recovered from their possession. Of the ten militants, Jilpao Baite and W. Premananda of United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) were nabbed from Paona Market complex here while five militants of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak- Progressive (PREPAK-PRO) identified as W Premkumar, M Chandrajit, A Santibala Devi, Kh Rita Devi and T Chaoba were arrested from Shingjamei area in Imphal west district yesterday. 

A militant of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) identified as Keisam Silvia Devi was also arrested during a search operation at Uripok area near here while a militant of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Gurumayum Ibomcha Sharma was nabbed from Zonjeng Leikai area in Imphal West yesterday. In another search operation, a militant of United Revolutionary Front (URF) identified as Huidrom Shyam Singh was arrested from Hatta area in Imphal East district yesterday, the police said. The militants were handed over to Imphal West district police station for further investigation, the police said.

Manaslu tragedy toll mounts to 12

Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Sept 24 (PTI) Helicopters scoured the icy Himalayan peaks in western Nepal looking for four foreign climbers still missing in a deadly avalanche on the 8,156 metre Mount Manaslu which left 12 mountaineers dead, including eight Frenchmen. The helicopters were pressed into service as a number of foreign expeditions attempting the peak were trapped by falling walls of snow near the base camp in Gorkha district, 350 kms west of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

 Twelve climbers including eight French nationals and a Sherpa guide were killed in the avalanche, said Jimba Jangbu Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Others who were killed include one Italian, one German and one Spanish climber, according to Sherpa. Eighteen western tourists were rescued alive from the avalanche site, according to Tourism Ministry officials. Of them, eight people, who were seriously injured, have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Ten tourists, who sustained minor injuries, had been provided with first aid treatment at the base camp.

 The avalanche swept away the team of climbers at an altitude of 7,300 meter as they headed towards the summit. Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak may not be as luring for the climbers as Everest or Annapurna, but it has dubious distinction of being branded a 'killer peak'. So far, the peak has claimed 53 mountaineers between 1956 when it was first ascended and 2006, with only 300 climbers making it to the top so far.

A Barfi bridge in Darjeeling? Possible - GTA mulls sprucing up shooting spots & naming them after films & actors

The St Paul’s School in Darjeeling
 where Barfi! and Main Hoon Na were shot.
File picture 

VIVEK CHHETRI TT; Darjeeling, Sept. 24: The success of Barfi!, which was shot here, has prompted the GTA to toy with the idea of beautifying the spots where films have been shot and name them after movie titles or lead actors to woo tourists. Bollywood films used to be shot in Darjeeling from the 1960s through the early ’80s, but most of the locations are forgotten.

 The GTA believes if it can turn these locations into landmarks, it will boost tourism. “We have found out that authorities in Switzerland usually mark the area where films are shot for the benefit of tourists. I have been told that the Jammu and Kashmir government has named a valley Betaab Valley where the film Betaab was shot,” said Binay Tamang, the GTA executive member in charge of information and culture. “Since Bollywood films are deeply loved by all Indians, we are confident that tourists would love to visit the locations, maybe, simply to take a photograph.

 We have already formed a team to scout all these locations so that we can beautify them and put up sign boards there,” Tamang said. It won’t be surprising if a road or a bridge is named after Barfi!. Many tourists visiting the hills want to visit St Paul’s School, where Shah Rukh Khan starrer Main Hoon Na was shot. “There is already much interest among tourists to visit places in and around Darjeeling where Barfi! was shot,” said Suraj Adhikari, a hotelier in town. Some scenes of Barfi! were also shot outside St. Paul’s. The mall, Ghoom railway station and Tindharia are among the other places where the film was shot.

 The GTA plans to complete the beautification of Bollywood locations in a year. “We have already worked out a proposal to name roads leading to these locations either after the film or the protagonist. For example, as Vinod Khanna-Shabana Azmi starrer Lahoo Ke Do Rang was shot extensively in Lebong near Darjeeling, the road leading to the location could be named after Vinod Khanna,” Tamang said. One problem that the authorities could face is the beautification of all the locales because of the large number of films shot in the hills. Sanjay Biswas, a writer from Darjeeling, said: “Over 200 films in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali have been shot in the Darjeeling hills.” 

 The list of Bollywood blockbusters which were shot in Darjeeling is impressive. Raj Kapoor was in Darjeeling for Barsat, Dev Anand visited the town many times to shoot for Mahal, Joshila and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. Amitabh Bachan was here with Rekha for Do Anjane and with Rakhi for Barsat Ki Ek Raat. “Anurodh, which had Rajesh Khanna, was also shot in Darjeeling. Sunil Dutt, too, had visited Darjeeling for Hamraaz,” said Biswas.

 The Rajesh Khanna-Sharmila Tagore starrer Aradhana and Shah Rukh Khan’s, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman were also shot here. A senior official said the GTA was trying to tie up with the Union information and broadcasting ministry to organise a film festival in Darjeeling. “The response is positive but since a confirmation is yet to come, we are not in a position to announce the details of the festival,” he said.

Children Club 2012 election held, Lamit Lepcha elected as President

MUKESH SHARMA;Kalimpong, September 23 The election of the Children Club 2012 under the Child Protection Scheme was today held at 8th Mile in Kalimpong. The children themselves elected their President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurers for placing forward their demands and grievances. 

A total number of 15 students had placed their candidature and the voters were to the tune of 150. The similar kind of election was held before in Mariya Busty Children Club, Kagey and Sristhi Children Club during the early months of 2012. As per the counting of the votes and in the result declaration, Lamit Lepcha was elected as the President, William Soren as the Vice President, Anmit Lepcha as Secretary and Diwas Biswakarma was elected as the Treasurer of the Club.

 The election was held under the rules of the Child Parliament Act. The elected members shall voice for the rights and demands of the children as enshrined in the constitution. The election was held under the supervision of the CPS Director Sister Subeshna Thapa, Sister Sujain Gurung, Sister Rachel Lepcha, working member Tej Kumar Thapa. The oath taking of the elected representatives were done by Sister Thapa.

‘Say no to drugs’, rally at Teesta

MUKESH SHARMA; Teesta, September 23 A huge rally which had the participation of the youths, political parties, associations, organisations, students and public highlighting messages of ‘say no to drugs’ and drugs peddling was organised today Teesta Bazar along the NH31A. The rally kick started from the Centre, encircled the Teesta bazar and ended at the play ground.

 The rally had the participation of the various school students from the Teesta Bridge High School, Teesta Primary School, Mt Star Academy, Triveni Nursery School who had placards, flags, leaflets and posters in their hands spreading the message against the drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The youths on the other hand spread the awareness messages through songs and music.

 The rally also visited the Teesta check post and appealed the concerned authorities to have strict eye on the matter. The organisers had also to say that the kind of awareness programmes will be held in regular intervals. The public are of the opinion that the civil society, the police and the administration has to play active reole in combating the menace as the area lies along the NH31A and is pretty accessible to such cases.

Sir sets date with Kalimpong - Kaushik Ganguly to shoot Tollywood film in hills from today

picture (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)

TT; RAJEEV RAVIDAS A monastery in Kalimpong where the film crew has done a recce for locations. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha) Kalimpong, Sept. 23: The beauty of the hills will show on screen next in the Bengali film C/O Sir, shooting for which begins in Kalimpong tomorrow. Barfi!, the Hindi film released recently, was shot in Darjeeling last year.

 Sir director Kaushik Ganguly hopes that his latest film, which tells the story of a visually-challenged schoolteacher’s battle with his disability, will be as well received as the tale of the hearing-impaired protagonist of Anurag Basu’s Barfi!. Ganguly and his crew have arrived here and will stay at the Deolo tourist lodge during the shooting which will conclude on October 1. Uday Mani Pradhan, Ganguly’s friend based in Darjeeling, said the director and the crew were here last week to scout for locations, and had zeroed in on few places, especially the Munsong area. “We visited Durpin, Deolo and Munsong, and Kaushik was very impressed with those places.

 I have been associated with the shooting of 11 films in Darjeeling, and felt why not try Kalimpong and Kurseong. The places we visited in Kalimpong are beautiful,” Pradhan said over the phone from Darjeeling. Pradhan said after Kalimpong, the cast and the crew would move to Kurseong where shooting has been scheduled at Dow Hill School and Victoria Boys’ School.

 “Churni Ganguly (actress and wife of Kaushik) studied in Dow Hill and her father taught at Victoria for 21 years. Kaushik has shot at both the schools before,” he said. Ganguly, who has to his credit films like Laptop, Waris and Ek Mutho Chhabi, has described his latest offering as a romantic thriller where “love, faith and mistrust run parallel”. The main character of the movie, a schoolteacher called Jayabrato Ray, will be essayed by Saswata Chatterjee. The others in the cast are Raima Sen, who plays Sushmita Gupta, a solicitor; Indraneil Sengupta, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Churni. 

रुद्र जुनियर बेसिक प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालो गएको वर्षदिन बित्दा समेत जिर्णोद्धार हुने कुनै छाँट रहेको छैन।

कालेबुङ 21 सितम्बर। भूईँचालो आयो गयो तर भूईँचालोले पुर्याेएको क्षतिहरु कहिले पुरिने हुन भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तर भने कसैसित रहेको छैन। गत वर्ष 18 सितम्बरको दिन आएको बिनासकारी भूईँचालोले क्षतिग्रस्त बनाएको यहाँको लोवर बोङबस्ति स्थित सरस्वती रुद्र जुनियर बेसिक प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालो गएको वर्षदिन बित्दा समेत जिर्णोद्धार हुने कुनै छाँट रहेको छैन।

 सन 1964 मा स्थपित उक्त प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालोको चपेटमा परेपछि अहिले श्रेणी कोठाभित्र पनि बिद्यार्थीवर्ग तारपोलिनको छतभित्र शिर अँटाउन परिरहेको छ। भूईँचालोको चपेटमा परेपछि बिद्यालय कर्तृपक्षले बिभाग, कालेबुङका बिधायक, क्षेत्रका सभासद अनि जीटीए प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङलाई समेत जानकारी गराईसकेका छन तर यस समबन्धमा बिद्यालयले अझ सम्म केवल प्रतिश्रुतिमा बाँच्नु परिरहेको छ। यस सम्बन्धमा आज उक्त बिद्यालयको परिदर्शन गर्न पत्रकारहरु पुग्दा बिद्यार्थीहरु तारपोलिनको छानो मुनि पढीरहेका थिए।

 बिद्यालयको सबै भित्ताहरु चर्किएर भत्किएको छ भने कुनै पनि समय भित्ताहरु झरेर ठूलो दुर्घटना हुने सम्भावना समेत रहेको छ। यस बिषयमा बिद्यालयका सह शिक्षिका शाकुन्तला शर्माले पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै भूईँचालोले क्षति पुर्यापएपछि सबन्धित बिभागका अधिकारीहरु लगायत बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले समेत भ्रमण गरेर बिद्यालय निर्माणको आश्वासन दिएको जानकारी दिदै पछि बाट बर्तमान जीटीए प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले समेत बिद्यालयको भ्रमण लिएर नयाँ भवन निर्माण गरिदिने बचन दिएको बताईन।

 यस समबन्धमा अहिलेसम्म बिद्लयको अवस्था सोचनीय रहेको भए पनि चाँडै निर्माण हुने कुरामा भने आफुहरु आशावादी बनेको पनि तिनले जनाईन। हाल पानी अत्याधिक परेपछि बिद्यालयको सम्पूर्ण श्रेणीहरु जल्मग्न हुने गरेको जानकारी गराउँदै धेर बर्षा भए अध्यापनको असुबिधालाई मध्यनजर राखेर छुट्टी समेत गर्न बाध्य बनेको तिनले जनाईन।

CM for legal means to dull strikes’ impact

{SNS KOLKATA}, 20 SEPT: Taking a strong stand against the frequent strike calls by private transporters, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state transport department will introduce a clause in the permits to be issued to private buses and taxis to prevent any such “disruption” in public service in future. Even though, on an earlier occasion, the chief minister had threatened private transporters saying that their permits will be seized, the absence of any such clause had posed a problem against taking action against errant cab and bus owners.

 But today she reacted sharply against the decision of taxi and bus owners to keep their vehicles off the roads. “How can they keep their vehicles off the roads every second day? Every time the Centre raises fuel prices they stop plying vehicles or demand more fare and even refuse passengers. And taxi owners under some trade unions are doing it more frequently than the bus owners,” she said. “We held a meeting with transport minister and officials.

 We have decided that the new permits which we will give would include a clause to prevent any such disruption in public service,” the chief minister added. Though the private transporters had assured that they have withdrawn the strike there was hardly any private buses visible on the roads except a few minibuses. According to transport department officials, a proposal to enact legislation banning bandhs in Bengal is also being mulled though chief minister is against the Essential Service Maintenance Act. 

“There might be a similar legislation but she has an anathema against the term ESMA," said an official. Three states, including Kerala and Rajasthan, already have this legislation in place and Maharashtra, too, has enacted it recently, banning strikes in essential services like hospitals and the transport sector. The issue was broached to the chief minister on 26 July, on the eve of a Citu-called bus strike which was eventually called off.

Trinamul might in Cong den Ruling party hits streets against strike in message to ally

TT; Sept. 20: Trinamul workers today hit the streets of north Bengal, particularly in places that are Congress strongholds, to foil the strike and drive home the point that their party is the bigger force in the region. Workers of Trinamul encouraged people in the Congress strongholds of North Dinajpur, Malda and Cooch Behar to defy the general strike called by the Left Front and go to work and keep shops and other establishments running, sparking clashes in several places with CPM activists. 

 Congress sources said the party did not oppose the bandh because there was no instruction from the high command or the state Congress leaders on the matter. On record, however, no Congress leader was willing to speak on the issue. The Left’s 12-hour strike was called to protest the diesel price hike, FDI in retail and the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders.

 Trinamul leaders held up the Congress’s “inaction” as an example of the party’s “tacit understanding” with the CPM. Bikash Choudhury, a Trinamul leader in North Dinajpur, which is the fief of Congress MP and Mamata Banerjee-baiter Deepa Das Munshi, said: “Our local MP (Deepa) claims that the district is a Congress stronghold but today, no party worker was seen opposing the bandh. “The Congress’s silence has made it evident that the party has a tacit understanding with the CPM. 

The Congress does not want to antagonise the CPM ahead of the panchayat polls, where it will have to contest alone. This is the Congress’s ploy to win more seats in the rural polls and the next Lok Sabha elections,” he said. In Malda too, Trinamul supporters tried to foil the strike. “Not a single Congress leader was seen in the district today. Our party workers helped people defy the bandh and keep life moving,” said Sabitri Mitra, the women and child welfare minister and district Trinamul president.

 “We think the Congress’s silence has got something to do with its relationship with the CPM. The bandh was called against the decisions of the Congress-led UPA, but the party’s leaders remained indoors and showed no concern for people.” Congress leaders Adhir Chowdhury and Mausam Noor attended a rally in South Dinajpur but did not speak on the bandh. In Siliguri, north Bengal development minister and Trinamul leader Gautam Deb went around the city requesting people to defy the strike. 

“We fail to understand why the Congress did not oppose the strike. The leaders seem to be least bothered about the interest of the people of the region,” he said. But despite Trinamul’s efforts, the bandh was near total in most parts of north Bengal. In the two Dinajpurs, Jalpaiguri, Malda and Cooch Behar, private establishments, educational institutions, most banks and shops and markets remained closed. Private vehicles kept off the roads. Government offices were open but the attendance was low in some places. Government buses plied on the roads.

 The strike, however, did not have any impact in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Tea gardens were open. Scattered incidents of violence were reported from some places. Around 7am in Raiganj, bandh supporters threw stones at an NBSTC bus plying on the Kaliaganj-Siliguri route at BBD More. The windscreen was shattered and driver Apurba Roychoudhury and a passenger suffered head injuries. In Panishala on the outskirts of Raiganj town later in the day, alleged Left supporters stopped another government bus and pelted it with stones.

 The passengers fled. Driver Ranjit Pal suffered injuries. Both drivers were admitted to the Raiganj district hospital.Trinamul and CPM supporters clashed in front of the District Primary Education Project office. Police brought the situation under control. In Cooch Behar, alleged Trinamul supporters assaulted SUCI workers who were enforcing the strike.The Trinamul supporters, led by youth leader Rajeev Narayan, beat up the 10-odd SUCI workers, including two women, with rods and sticks at Harish Pal More on Suniti Road. 

 “We had stopped an NBSTC bus when the Trinamul supporters armed with party flags attacked us. They did not even spare the women. One of our leaders, Bashad Ali, suffered serious injuries,” said Nepal Mitra, the Cooch Behar town committee secretary of the SUCI. The police arrested five SUCI workers, including the two women, on the charge of disrupting normal life. “Once they are released, we will file an FIR against Narayan and his accomplices,” Mitra said. 

 District Trinamul chief Rabindranath Ghosh denied the party’s involvement in the attack. “The SUCI workers faced the passengers’ wrath for stopping their bus.” Share on email Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services

His Holiness Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje concludes his Europe Tour 2012

New Delhi, September 19, Completing his first of its kind International Summer Tour 2012 of South East Asian & European Countries, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is back to his home country India to share His knowledge and experience among His listeners. 

His Holiness ran teachings with students, met with dignitaries and youth organizations, and hosted public events on his European tour as he diligently traveled from state to state for nearly three months. His Holiness commenced His European Tour in the middle of June 2012 and as a part of his expedition, He visited Spain, Lithuania, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Germany and France to teach, listen and learn about the importance of non-material wealth.

 He connected with youth in these six nations to discover the value that young people place on money and non-material values. Speaking on non-material wealth His Holiness said, ‘True wealth is learning how to generate compassion, wisdom and a proper ethics’. His Holiness was keen to comprehend how the financial crisis is affecting different groups and individuals in Europe, and understand what they feel about the true definition of wealth. As the global economy is facing a grave downturn, His Holiness believes that it is a chance to learn. 

He said ‘Yes, there is a crisis, but the world is not at an end. Thanks to the new communication technologies we can be aware, share our knowledge, and put our heads together to find solutions. This is a great opportunity, and I am sure that something positive will come out of it. Every obstacle is always a turning point. 

It is a challenge, but it makes us think, forces us to come up with solutions’. He further stated, ‘I have always said that if there is richness within each and every one of us - inner wealth then there is an almost limitless supply in the vision and values of our young people. The inner wealth is our mind, our consciousness. This mind is like a wish-fulfilling jewel.

 If you know how to utilize this mind, it can produce the most beneficial effects’. Throughout His travel to the European states, His Holiness meticulously enlightened all and sundry about ‘The Path of the Bodhisattvas’. He gave teaching on what is usually translated as the ‘Four Immeasurables’: immeasurable love, immeasurable compassion, immeasurable sympathetic joy and immeasurable equanimity.

 Even though the world we live in had undergone tremendous changes within a relatively short period of time, the timeless patterns of karma, emotions and habitual tendencies remained essentially the same.

 The practice of Buddhism, and particularly the practice of the Four Immeasurables, remains very relevant to this day. It is a practice that anyone can apply. Whether we call ourselves Buddhists or not, these qualities are there in all of us,’ He explained. His Holiness met many prominent dignitaries and leaders in each nation who were there in attendance to show gratitude towards him for bringing his message of compassion to their own people.

 Karmapa engaged in leading talks in London on "Is there more to life than making money" with youth and opinion leaders. His Holiness is lately becoming a global symbol of peace. Traveling from India as an ambassador of peace His Holiness spread the message of compassion and tolerance among His followers across the boundaries of the continent.

Heavy rains trigger flood, landslides in Arunachal Pradesh

 Itanagar,Sept 19 (PTI) Incessant rains over the past week has thrown life out of gear in Arunachal Pradesh with flood and landslides reported in many parts of the state. Floods triggered by rain submerged paddy fields, causing erosion and landslides in many areas of Nari, Ruksin, Pasighat and adjacent areas of East Siang district, officials said today. The historical MMJ road, considered as the lifeline of rural people of Ruksin sub-division, has been breached at several locations causing great problems to office goers and villagers. The flood also caused extensive damage to rural link roads, they said. Continuous rainfall for the last few days caused extensive damage to the Forest Beat office at Korang in the district. The flood water brought in huge debris with boulders damaging water tank, drinking water pipeline, some portion of buildings and also compound fencing. The rain triggered landslide blocked the main road culvert (PWD) near Beat Office causing soil erosion. If rain continues, government quarters and office buildings might be washed away, Beat Officer Bapak Koyu said. Meanwhile, DFO Bittem Darang has rushed to the spot and started relief and rescue operation to prevent further damage. The road communication to Mengio circle in Papum Pare district remains cut off as the rainwater washed away the road at various points between Sagalee to Mengio, the sources said. People of Mengio and Silsango areas are facing shortage of essential commodities due to disruption of road communication, officials added. PTI

 High Court orders reopening of liquor shops & bars in Guwahati 

 Guwahati, Sept 19 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court has directed all liquor shops and bars, closed earlier, having licences acquired before March 18, 2005, to reopen. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan in an interim order passed yesterday ordered reopening of bars here and directed the Assam government to submit a report of the administrative inquiry into grant of permission to liquor shops and bars by officials who violated norms. The order came after a high power committee formed by the state government to inquire into granting of liquor licenses and loss of employment and state revenue suggested that bars and wine shops having licences before March 18, 2005 may be allowed to reopen as the distance restriction of 500 metres was introduced only on that day. A petition was filed by the All Assam India Made Foreign Liquor Retailers' Association pleading modification of an earlier order by the court passed on July 9 directing closure of all liquour shops and bars within a radius of 500 metres of educational institutions and religious places. The high court had passed another order on August 24 allowing reopening of bars and liquor shops, which were granted licenses till March 13, 2000. There are 303 liquour shops and 128 bars in the city and following the latest order, about 22 liquor shops will still remain closed. The next date of hearing was fixed on November 26. PTI TI

Natural calamities hazardous for hills, residents dwell in fear

MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, September 19:

 Losses incurred during last year’s earthquake

 • Rs 2565.75 lakhs under Kalimpong Municipality

 • Rs 2711.03 lakhs under Kalimpong Block I 

 • Rs 3126.25 lakhs under Kalimpong Block II

 • Rs 1199.06 lakhs under Gorubathan Block

 Losses incurred during this year’s monsoon

 • 4 crores 59 lakhs 93 thousand under Kalimpong Municipality

• 1 crore 46 lakhs 90 thousand under Kalimpong Block I 

• 2 crores 73 lakhs 95 thousand under Block II 

• 1 crore 93 thousand under Gorubathan Block 

 The hills being prone to natural calamities are deteriorating with time. The cyclone Aila followed by the massive earthquake and the adversity of monsoons recently are few examples of such calamities which have hit the hills at worse. Along with the lives much damage to the property has occurred under the Kalimpong Sub division. Till date there has been no such technique which can alert the people before the occurrence of natural mishaps. Hence, the people are compelled to live with fear in their hearts and minds that anything unexpected can happen unannounced. 

 The 2009 Aila victims till date are living in the hope that someday they will be granted aides by the State Government. The last year’s earthquake engulfed 4 lives in a fraction of second. As per the Government records Kalimpong incurred loss worth Rs 2565.75 lakhs under Kalimpong Municipality, Rs 2711.03 lakhs under Kalimpong Block I, Rs 3126.25 lakhs under Kalimpong Block II and Rs 1199.06 lakhs under Gorubathan, during the earthquake. Likewise, this year’s monsoon has taken losses worth 10 crores under its credit in the Kalimpong Sub division. More than 300 houses have been damaged while loss of houses and other public property amounting up to 4 crores 59 lakhs 93 thousand has been recorded under Kalimpong Municipality. Similarly, under Kalimpong Block I the damages account up to 1 crore 46 lakhs 90 thousand, under Block II 2 crores 73 lakhs 95 thousand and under Gorubathan Block 1 crore 93 thousand.

76-yr-old dies after feeling tremors

NIRMAL MANGARTT; Gangtok, Sept. 19: The Sikkim earthquake yesterday claimed the life of a 76-year-old woman who had a cardiac arrest while trying to climb down the stairs after feeling the tremors. The East district administration today confirmed that no cases of damage have been reported after the 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit Sikkim yesterday evening. “There has been no damage to private or government infrastructure.

 I have also contacted the block development officers and have directed them to report if any such incidents have taken place,” said district collectorate, D. Ananadan. However, a 76-year-old woman at Balwakhani is reported to have died after a heart attack. “The woman has been identified as Chungda Bhutia, a resident of Balwakhani who suffered a cardiac arrest after the quake” said a senior police officer at Sadar police station.

 “The woman was declared dead on arrival when she was brought in the hospital” said the additional medical superintendent of Sir Thutop Namgyal Memorial Hospital in Gangtok. According to one of the neighbours, the old lady was gasping for breath while climbing down the stairs after feeling the tremors.

 An official here at the Central Seismology Department in Gangtok said the epicentre of the quake is 26km towards north-east of Gangtok and the tremors lasted for three seconds. “Sikkim falls in seismic zone four which is quite vulnerable to quakes and tremors measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale is regarded as mild,” said the scientific assistant Prashanta Roy. A devastating earthquake had hit Sikkim last year on the same day.

Bail granted

TT; Calcutta, Sept. 19: The high court today granted conditional bail to Ashish Tamang, one of the main accused persons in the Madan Tamang murder case, as the CBI had failed to file a supplementary chargesheet. A division bench of Chief Justice J.N. Patel and Justice Jaymalya Bagchi directed Ashish not to leave Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts without the court’s prior permission. The bench also asked Ashish to meet the investigating officer of the CBI twice a month. The bail was granted after the petitioner’s lawyer informed the court that even though his client had been behind bars for the last 26 months, the CBI had failed to produce a supplementary chargesheet against him. A supplementary chargesheet mentions further evidence that the probing agency has gathered in the course of investigation against the accused after the filing of the initial chargesheet.