Deb accuses Cong mayor of failure

TT; Siliguri, Sept. 2: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today slammed the Congress mayor of Siliguri Gangotri Dutta and the civic board for their alleged failure to provide services to the city. Deb, the chief guest at the annual general meeting of the INTTUC-backed Siliguri Poura Karmachari Samiti, said: 

“Over the past three years, this mayor has been at the helm of affairs at the civic board. But unfortunately we have never seen any pragmatic approach from her end to provide quality services to the people of Siliguri. Property tax worth crores are due but no steps have been taken to collect them.

 According to our estimate, the civic body would have earned at least Rs 20 crore each year if the tax had been realised on time.” Dutta became the Siliguri mayor in 2009 after the Congress took over the civic body. In July 2011, a new board was formed jointly by Trinamul and the Congress with 15 members from each party and Dutta continued as the mayor.

 “The mayor keeps saying there is paucity of funds and manpower in the SMC. But sanctioned posts are lying vacant for years. The mayor and her board have failed to furnish us with details of the number of vacant posts, qualification of prospective candidates and other data to expedite recruitment process,” Deb said. The minister added that he had asked for a status report from the mayor in April but it had not been provided yet.

 “Why is it that the mayor could not find time to prepare and submit the status report to us? The solid waste management system is in a pitiable state. Although the mayor made foreign trips to bring in private firms for recycling and disposal of waste, nothing has been implemented,” Deb said. Deb sought help from the 200-odd staff of the civic body.

 “We seek your help to see that the SMC revives. I would also request the deputy mayor, MMICs and the councillors (from Trinamul) to take up these issues with the mayor and ask her to function with a progressive stance and not simply sit and let things turn worse. Three years have passed and the mayor cannot deny her responsibilities,” the minister said.

 He added that the Left that had run the SMC for 15 years should be given due importance. “The board must listen to the constructive criticisms and plans articulated by the councillors from the Opposition.” Observers said the move to criticise the Congress was Trinamul’s strategy to disassociate itself.

 “A couple of years are left before the civic polls... and it is unlikely that there would be an alliance. Trinamul is trying to prove that it is because of the mayor and the Congress councillors that the civic board has not performed well.” Mayor Gangotri Datta said: “Whatever the minister said today was a political speech. Everyone is aware of our financial condition and that we are still providing the best possible services. We would prefer not to comment further.”

Three friends held for booze party murder

Aditya

TT;VIVEK CHHETRI Darjeeling, Sept. 2: Police have taken into custody three persons in connection with the murder of their friend Wangdi Bhutia during a farewell bash here on Friday night. The interrogation of the accused showed that a four-year-old fight that had been sorted out resurfaced at the party, leading to the murder of the 29-year-old construction worker.

Sandip

 Wangdi was beaten to death with iron rods allegedly by four of his friends and the body dumped in a stream at Lower Bhotay busty in Darjeeling on Friday night. Darjeeling police arrested the main accused, 24-year-old Aditya Rai, from the Siliguri bus terminus last night, while Arvind Pariyar, also 24, surrendered at Bhaktinagar police station early this morning. Another accused, Sandip Chhetri, 24, was arrested yesterday, hours after Wangdi’s body was found. The fourth friend, Simon Limbu Subba, is at large. According to the police, Aditya confessed to his involvement in the murder.

 He reportedly told the police that talk of a four-year-old fight between him and Wangdi cropped up at the party, leading to the murder. L.T. Bhutia, the inspector in charge of Darjeeling Sadar police station, said: “Aditya was to leave for Kuwait yesterday and before his departure, he decided to treat his four friends, including Wangdi, at his own house (where Aditya was living alone).

 During a drinking session, old issues resurfaced, leading to an altercation and then the murder.” According to police sources, Wangdi had beaten up Aditya four years back over some minor issue but both soon patched up. Bhutia said the friends had dragged Wangdi’s body from Aditya’s house and dumped it in a nearby stream. “A rod smeared with blood was found near the body,” he added. The accused had also burnt a mattress in an effort to conceal the crime.

 The police are trying to recover another iron rod. Police sources said Wangdi’s father, Sonam Tshering Bhutia, was aware that his son had gone to Aditya’s place. “All the five lived in the same locality. When the villagers found Wangdi’s body, they went to Aditya’s house and found blood stains,” said another police officer. While Sandip had decided to stay back home, Aditya and Arvind had left for Calcutta yesterday early morning.

 “We found out that they had train tickets reserved for Calcutta. We had sent one team to the NJP railway station but we were sure that they wouldn’t board the train. Keeping this in mind, we sent another team to the Siliguri bus terminus where they were about to leave for Calcutta,” the inspector in-charge said.

 While the police managed to catch Aditya, Arvind fled as it was difficult to catch him given the crowd at the terminus. He, however, surrendered at Bhaktinagar police station early this morning. The arrested trio have been remanded in police custody for five days. “The next date of hearing is September 7,” said Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor.

Five die in Sikkim mudslide

TT;NIRMAL MANGAR Gangtok, Sept. 2: Four members of a family and their guest were buried alive on Saturday night after a mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall, swept away their house at Mangchek village in South Sikkim.

 The deceased are Chandra Bahadur Chettri, 62, his 50-year-old wife, daughters Duka Devi, 13 and Tika Devi, 7. The fifth victim was identified as Lal Bahadur Rai, 15, a friend of Chandra Bahadur’s son Devi Lal who was staying with the family. Devi Lal, 15, is the only survivor.

 He was extracted from the slush by rescue workers this morning and rushed to Namchi district hospital. The eldest and youngest sons were not at home yesterday night. Mangchek village falls under the Ravangla subdivision, and is 40km from the south district headquarters of Namchi.

 The bodies of the five victims were dug out from the debris by rescue workers and later cremated in the presence of local villagers and officials. Ravangla subdivisional magistrate P.K. Rai said a team from the subdivision, the Namchi disaster management cell, police and IRB jawans had been pressed into the rescue and recovery operation with the help of local villagers.

 Rai informed that the landslides damaged several houses in Ralong, including the local secondary school. Many families have been shifted to the houses of relatives, he said. Locals have informed that slides have also broken out at Dalam, Namlung, Lingding and other places in Lower Ralong.

 People of Ralong said the slides were caused because of heavy rainfall and a bad drainage system. Half a dozen houses have been damaged along with loss of cattle and crops, they added. Continuous downpour has caused several landslides in the area and rescue and relief operations were carried throughout the day, said disaster management district project officer Pempa Norbu Sherpa.

 The road connecting to Ralong is completely damaged and total extent of the natural calamity would be ascertained only after visiting all the affected areas, he said. All essential supply lines are disrupted in the landslide affected areas of Ralong and heavy rains have also hampered rescue and restoration works, it was informed. Area MLA Sonam Gyatso Bhutia visited Mangchek village with 30-40 volunteers from neighbouring villages to assist in the rescue and relief operations.

निस्कासित कर्मचारीलाई पुनर्वहाली गरेपछि बन्द फिर्ता लिईयो

कालेबुङ, 2 सितम्बर। दार्जीलिङ जिल्ला सहकारी ब्याङ्कका कर्मचारी एलपी मुखियालाई कार्यबाट निस्काशित गरेको बिरोधमा जनमुक्ति कर्मचारी संगठनले ढाकेको अनिश्चितकालीन सहकारी ब्याङक हडतालले निस्कासित एलपी मुखियाको नोकरी बाँचेको।

 बिब्गागले तिनलाई कार्यावधी लापारवाही गरेको आरोपमा 2006 देखिनै निलम्बन गरेको थियो भने 23 जुलाईको दिन पूर्णरुपले कार्यबाटनै निस्कासित गरेको थियो। जसको बिरोध गर्दै जकसले ब्याङक बन्दको घोषणा गरेर सडकमा उत्रेको दुईदिनपछि बिभागले तिनको निस्कासित पत्र फिर्ता लिने भएको छ।

 उक्त बिषयलाई लिएर शनिबार यहाँको महकुमा कार्यलयमा संगठनका प्रतिनिधीहरु संग बिभागीय अधिकारीवैगले बैठक गरेर निस्कासित कर्मचारीलाई कार्यमा पुनर्वहाली गर्ने बताएपछि संगठनले बन्द पनि फिर्ता लिएको छ। उक्त बैठक 3 बजे बेलुकी शुरु भएको थियो भने लकभग 9 घण्टा लामो चलेको थियो।

 बैठकमा दुवै पक्षमाझ निकै तर्का तर्की भएपछि अतिरिक्त पुलिस अधिक्षक सोङमित लेप्चा दलबल सहित महकुमा कार्यलय पुगेकी थिईन। नोकरीबाट निष्कासित सहकारी ब्याङ्‌कका कर्मचारी एलपी मुखियालाई नोकरीमा पूर्नबहाल गर्नुपर्ने विषयमा डिपुटी मेजिट्रेट-डिपुटी कलेक्टर जनमुक्ति कर्मचारी सङ्गठन, अनि व्यङ्‌कका अधिकारीहरूीच लकभग 9 घण्टासम्म तर्का-तर्की भएको थियो।

 अन्तमा उक्त बहसपछि ब्याङ्‌क पक्षबाट मुखियाको निष्कासन निर्देश लिखित रुपमा फिर्ता गरियो। निस्कासित कर्मचारी मुखियाको निस्कासित पत्र लिखित रुप्मा खारेज गरेको सन्दर्भमा संगठनका अध्यक्ष खडक बिक्रम सुब्बाले यो सङ्गठन अनि सत्यको जीत हो भनि दाबी गरे।

 तिनले कर्चारीलाई बिभागले बिनाकारण आरोप लगाएर कार्यबाट निस्कासित गरेको बताउँदै यो पीडीत कर्मचारीसितै जनताको जीत हो भनि तिनले अझ बताए। बिभागीय अधिकारीवर्गले निस्कासित पत्र फिर्ता लिएको कारण सोमबारदेखि जीटीए क्षेत्रभरिका खण्डहरूमा रहेका आठवटा दार्जीलिङ केन्द्रिय सहकारी ब्याङ्‌क बन्द फिर्ता लिएको पनि जानकारी गराएका छन।

CM pats judges for rights court ‘support’

  Mamata with Chief Justice Patel at the circuit bench building foundation ceremony. Picture by Sanat Kumar Sinha 

TT;Jalpaiguri, Sept. 1: Mamata Banerjee today shared a dais with judges, including Chief Justice J.N. Patel, in her first public appearance alongside members of the judiciary since her controversial comments on August 14.

 Today, the chief minister praised the judiciary for supporting the government’s efforts to set up human rights courts and delivering speedy verdicts through Lok Adalats and fast-track courts. “We are setting up 19 human rights courts in the state.

 Judges have helped us and without their support, it would not have been possible,” Mamata said after laying the foundation stone for a building for Calcutta High Court’s circuit bench in Jalpaiguri. “In the past one year, the fast-track courts and the Lok Adalats have cleared 1 lakh pending cases. 

They are doing a very good job. Justice is smiling through these new courts.” At a pre-Independence Day seminar in the Assembly, she had said: “What I see is that many verdicts are being delivered in exchange for money today.

 Why? The judiciary’s job is to give justice. Corruption has become the main pillar now.... This is our misfortune.” At Jalpaiguri today, Mamata promised air-conditioning for all the circuit bench courtrooms and better amenities for lawyers in every court in the state.

 “We are trying to build new courtrooms. Calcutta High Court has got a new building thanks to the efforts of the judges. Lawyers (still) have to sit under trees. It is very difficult for them. We will offer them amenities so that they can provide better services to people,” she said. 

 The circuit bench will be built at Paharpur More off NH31D. The government has sanctioned Rs 83 crore for the building, which is expected to come up in two years. Once the circuit bench starts functioning, many litigants from the six north Bengal districts — Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur — will be spared the trouble of travelling to Calcutta.

 Chief Justice Patel said: “The chief minister has assured me that the building will be ready in two years. If that happens, we may try to set up a permanent circuit bench. I have already written to the Union law ministry to issue a notification for the circuit bench to start functioning.” 

 The chief justice said that around 21,263 cases from the six districts were pending. “Once the bench starts functioning, the number of cases will go up since people who cannot afford to travel to Calcutta to file cases or appeal against a judgment would come here,” he added.

30 GTA members allotted with various departments

Darjeeling, September 1; The remaining thirty members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) members were today allotted with various departments.

 They will be called as the members on duty who can recommend but cannot approve. Giving the information after the GTA members meeting at the Lall Khoti, the GTA executive member Binay Tamang said the GTA executive chief, Bimal Gurung who already has nine departments under his charge was again allotted with Irrigation department. 

The others were, Tourism department to Dawa Lepcha, Irrigation department to Mahendra Pradhan in Kurseong, Satish Polhrel in Darjeeling, CP Poudyal in Kalimpong, Excise department to Taranga Pandit, Water Resource, Investigation and Minor Irrigation to Chandan Yonjon in both Darjeeling and Kalimpong, Arun Tamang in Kurseong, Labour and Employment to Birkhu Bhusal in Darjeeling, Nima Tamang in Kalimpong, Rabindra Lama in Kurseong, Museum and Ancient Historical Importance to Sanjay Thulung, PWD State Highway and National Highway to Pemba Tshering Ola, 

Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management to Shanti Thapa Chettri, Soil Conservation to Karjim Tshering Bhutia, Fisheries to Prakash Gurung, Welfare of Plain Tribe and Backward Classes to Anuj Thapa in Kurseong, Arun Singhvi in Darjeeling, Champa Diwar in Sukna, Sericulture to Gopal Ruchal, Darjeeling Improvement Fund to Deoprakash Prakash Pradhan, Market and Shares to Sabitri Rai in Darjeeling, Kalpana Tamang in Kalimpong, Yogendra Rai in Kurseong, 

Municipal Corporation and District Board to Uday Dewan in Darjeeling, Sunil Pradhan in Kalimpong, Pranay Thapa in Kurseong, Urban Development to Trilok Chand Roka, Minor Mineral and Mineral Development to Kajiman Lohagan, and Renewal Salt and Energy including Water Power to Norbu G Lama.

बिधायकहरुले जनताको आवजलाई बिधानसभामा उठाउँनुपर्ने क्रामाकपाको माग

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 1 सितम्बर: गोजमुमो पार्टीले 44 महिना आन्दोलन गरेर ल्याएको जीटीए चुनाउ सम्पन्न भएर गठन भए पनि क्रामाकपाले भने यसलाई उपलब्धि होईन भनेको छ। तिनले जीटीए गठन भएर आगमी दिनहरुमा छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति थप क्षेत्र संकुचित बन्दै गईरहेको ठहर गरेको छ।

 क्रामाकपा कालेबुङ आण्ज़्चलिक समितिका अध्यक्ष किशोर प्रधानले आज पत्रकारहरु सित यहाँको पार्टी कार्यलयमा कुराकानी गर्दै पश्चिम बङगाल सरकारले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यको मागलाई दवाउँन बाराम्बार षडयंत्र रचिरहेको बताउँदै जीटीए पनि यसै षडयन्त्रको उपज हो भनि दाबी गरे। यस अवसरमा तिनले दार्जीलिङ पहाडका तीनजना बिधायकहरुको नम नलिईकन आलोचना पनि गरे।

 पहाडका मानिसहरुले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दामा पहाडबाट चुनाउमा बिधायकहरु बिधानसभामा पठाएता पनि बिधायकहरु भने बिधान सभामा जनताको अकाक्षा बिरुद्ध मौन बसेको आरोप लगाएका छन। तिनले बिधायकहरुले बिधानसभामा गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यको मागलाई उठाउँनु आवश्यक रहेको बताउँदै गोर्खाल्याण्डको आवज नौठाउँनु खेदपूर्ण रहेको बताएका छन।

 यसै सम्बन्धमा तिनले हाल बङगालकी मौख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले सिलगडी महकुमालाई दार्जीलिङ जिलाबाट छुट्ट्य़ाएर छुट्टै जिल्ला बनाउँने पहल गरिरहेको बताउँदै उक्त पहलले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई आगमी दिनमा अझ घातक हुने दाबी गरेका छन। तिनले सिलगडीलाई जिल्ला बनाउँने मुख्यमन्त्री ब्यानर्जीको पहल बङगालबादले ग्रस्त मानसिकताको उपज हो भनि आरोप लगाउँदै माँ माटी मानुस केवल पहाडका मानिसहरुका निम्ति तिनले देखाउँने दाँत मात्र हो भनि जनाए। 

यदि ममता ब्यानर्जी साँच्चै माँ माटी मानुस भन्ने बिषयमा ईमान्दार छन भने पहाडका मानिसहरु दिर्घदिनदेखि रहेको छुट्टै राज्यको मागलाई समर्थन गरेर गोर्खाल्याण्ड गठनको निम्ति पहल गर्नुपर्ने पनि प्रधानले सुझाव दिएका छन। तिनले हाल सिलगडीमा पुलिस कमिसनरेट गठन गर्नुमा पनि ममता ब्यानर्जीको षडयन्त्र रहेको बताउँदै यसको बिधायकहरुले बिरोद्झ नगर्नुमा पनि खेद प्रकट गर्दै बिधायकहरु जनताको आवज उठाउँनको साटो उल्टै बङगालको गुनगान गाउँन व्यस्त रहेको पनो किशोर प्रधानले आरोइप लगाएका छन।

भेटेरेन्स क्लबद्वारा भरत छेत्रीलाई सम्मान

photo samten kabo

डी के वाइबा, कालेबुङ 1 सितम्बर: भारतीय हकी दलका अधिनायक गोर्खे खेलाडी भरत छेत्रीलाई आज कालेबुङ भेटेरेन्स क्ल्बले एक कार्यक्रमको आयोजना गरेर सम्वर्द्धना जनायो। यस अवसरमा भरत छेत्रीसंगै तिनका श्रीमती गिता छेत्री पनि उपस्थित रहेकी थिईन। कार्यक्रमा भरत छेत्री अनि तिनकी श्रीमतीले केक काटेर सबैलाई खुवाएपछि शुरु भएको कार्यक्रमा क्लबका प्रमुख संरक्षक क्याप्टन प्रकाशमणी प्रधान, पूर्व बिधायक गौलन लेप्चा लगायत, महकुमा अधिकारी एलन एन शेर्पा आदिको उपस्थिती रहेको थियो।

photo lava info

 यस अवसरमा हकी खेलाडी भरत छेत्रीलाई दोसल्ला, ढाका टोपि अनि स्मृति चिन्ह प्रदान गरेर सम्मान जनाईयो। कालेबुङ आफ्नो घरमा सपरिवार आएको अवसरमा आयोजित सम्वर्द्धना कार्यक्रममा नर्थ बेङगाल भेटेरेन्स क्लबका मूल सचिव ढेण्डुप भोटियाको बहुलीबाट छेत्रीलाई स्मृति चिन्ह प्रदान गरियो भने संरक्षक क्याप्टन प्रकाशमणी प्रधानले ढाका टोपि ओडाएर सम्मान जनाए।

photo lava info

 यस अवसरमा भरत छेत्रीले आफुलाई आफ्नै जन्मथलो कालेबुङमा सम्मान गरेकोमा हर्षव्यक्त गर्दै भेटेरेन्स क्लब प्रति आभार प्रकट गरे। तिनले यसवर्ष लण्डन ओलम्पिकमा आफ्नोदलले राम्रो प्रदर्शन गर्न नसके पनि आगमी दिनहरुमा राम्रो प्रदर्शन गर्ने जनाए। यस अवसरमा सबैले उत्साह प्रदान गर्ने पनि तिनले अपिल गरेका छन।

JKS seeks justice for Cooperative bank employee, stages indefinite Dharna

MUKESH SHARMA;Kalimpong, August 31: The Janmukti Karmachari Sangathan (JKS) Kalimpong Sub division Committee staged indefinite Dharna commencing from yesterday in front of the Cooperative bank due to which the bank remained closed further paralyzing the banks services.

 It may be recalled that few days before, the Janmukti Karmachari Sangathan (JKS) Kalimpong Sub division Committee, had cautioned of an infinite dharna if justice is not done to one of the employees. 

As per the incident, one Lakshmi Prasad Mukhia, a junior officer at the Darjeeling Branch Cooperative Bank was suspended on the grounds of irregularity on May 23, 2006. Following the same, the Bank formed a Committee Board under the lead of Retd officer, JP Yadav as per which last year, the charges was marked baseless and Mukhia was requested on January 19, 2012 to join back to work.

 Until now everything was fine, however, after the implementation of the West Bengal Cooperative Act & rules the Committee/ Board was dissolved resulting in the loss of power of the special officer. 

The said officer had before not accepting the verification report of the Board had dismissed it and had requested PC Bhattacharya, an advocate of the Kolkata High Court to once again verify the Committee’s report.

 The latter report by Bhattacharya proved the charges as correct and Mukhia was terminated vide Memo no 339/2012-13/DDCCB dated 23.07.2012. Hence, the JKS raising their concern over the issue had totally voiced against it and had forwarded a memorandum to the special officer of the Cooperative Bank asking various questions and had not accepted the dismissal order and had also requested the bank to re-instate Mukhia in the normal service of the bank taking into the humanitarian approach of the fact that Mukhia is retiring from September 01, 2012.

Councilor Ramesh Lama inspects Animal Husbandry Dept.

 MUKESH SHARMA;Kalimpong, August 31: ;The GTA councilor Ramesh Lama yesterday inspected the head office of Animal Husbandry Development Department and in this course tried to understand the issues pertaining to the department. Alongside, he also visited other departments which come under the Animal Husbandry such as, Livestock and BLDO office. Lama was accompanied by officers JD Bhutia and NW Bhutia. Lama during the inspection stressed on the development of animal husbandry in the hills as only due to its development, the rural areas shall flourish making a sustainable source of livelihood. It will also pave way for employment and help increase revenue generation, he added.