Bomb blast in Chukha Check Post....GTF meets Nagaland Rajaya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi

Bomb blast in Chukha Check Post

Rajesh Sharma, KalimNews, Jaigaon, Feb 18:A Royal Bhutan Police jawan was injured when a powerful bomb blasted near Kharbandi Bhutan Foreign Check Post. Karma Tobgay 32 was seriously injured when the improvised bomb blasted at about 8.32 hrs in the night of 17 February.Tobgay is admitted in a hospital of Thimpu Bhutan with injury on his back.

चुखा जिल्ले की फोरेन चेक पोस्ट कि पिछे हुआ बम ब्लास्ट मे रोयल भूटान पुलिस घायल

राजेश शर्मा, कालिमन्युज, जयगांव १८ फरवरी । भारत भूटान सिमा से करिवन चार किलो मिटर दुर में रहा खरबन्दी भूटान फोरेन चेक पोस्ट कि ठिक पिछे वाले क्षेत्र में १७ तारीख शुक्रबार रात के भूटानी समय ८ बज कर ३२ में बडे धमाका से बम ब्लास्ट हुआ । इस संबध में रोयल भूटान पुलिस सुत्र से मिलि जानकारी के तहत भूटान कि आगे खरबन्दी फोरेन चेक पोस्ट पर शुक्रवार रात निजि तयार किया बम फटा परन्तु बम फटनेसे उक्त स्थान में तैनाथ रोयल भूटान पलिस के एक जवान जखमी हुआ है जिसका नाम कर्म तोबगे उमर ३२ है । उस को कल फुन्छोलिंग भूटान अस्पताल में उपचार किया गया मगर आज उन जखमी रोयल पूलिस को भूटान कि राजधानी की अस्पताल में पहुचाया गया है। उक्त बम की धमाका से पिठ की तरफ जखम हुआ है। आज जयगांव एंव फुन्छोलिंग भूटान में सनसनी फैलि है मगर इधर उक्त बम फटने से भारत के क्षेत्र मे कोही असर नही दिखाई दिया ।
 एक गुप्त सुचना से मिलि जानकारी अनुसार् भूटान के रोयल परिवार के लोग भारत की रास्ता प्रयोग कर के भूटान कि और जाने कि खबर भि है जो उक्त खबर से यह घटना का सम्बन्ध होने का संदेह हुआ है, मगर जयगांव की जनता कि कहना यह भि है भूटान कि सरकारी वा रोयल परिवार के लोग भारत कि और आते है तो उने प्रोटोकल कि आवश्यक्ता है। कल उक्त बम ब्लास्ट के समय भूटान के शिक्षा मंत्रि भारत के किसि एक कल्ब कि निजि कार्यक्रम में भाग लेने के लिऐ आए थे मगर उस समय भारत के जयगांव पुलिस ने जयगांव कि उस कार्यक्रम के स्थान तक उनका एस्कर्ट् कर के लेजाया गया था । स्मरणीय है भूटान नरेस कि शादि के ठिक दो दिन आगे भि फुनछोलिंग भूटान में बम ब्लास्ट हुआ था जिस में दौ भारतीय जखमी हुआ गया था और् आगामी २१ फरवरी को भूटान नरेस का जन्म दिन है ।
GTF meets Nagaland Rajaya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi
Bureau, KalimNews: "I have studied from Darjeeling and I love Darjeeling", said Khekiho Zhimomi, MP of Rajya Sabha.MP Zhimomi, of Nagaland Peoples' Front was met by the GTF team at his Dimapur residence. The team of Gorkhaland Task Force consisting of Sukhman Moktan, R Moktan, JB Rai and Sashank Gazmer, Vice President of Nagaland Gorkha Association was presented Zhimomi some documents on Gorkhaland. 
The Nagaland MP said to the GTF team that by condemning GTA Gorkhas have proved their honesty on the quest for identity."We too have faced similar problems and I know the pain of Gorkhas, fighting for the demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland is the correct step", Zhimomi added. " We welcome to the North East union map and we support your cause, I will also raise your matter in the North Eastern MPs Forum", assured the MP. He further said "We hope to meet you during your programme scheduled during the monsoon session of parliament".
Army Mela held in Bengdubi
PR, KalimNews, Kalimpong: A two-day long Army Mela was today inaugurated amidst an impressive fly past and showering of flower petals by the helicopters at Bengdubi Military Station by Lt Gen K Surendranath, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC, Trishakti Corps. The Mela organized by Trishakti Corps was aimed at showcasing the military capabilities and to inculcate a sense of pride and affection in citizens towards the elite Army, which includes its serving soldiers, veterans and their families.
The event was also designed to acquaint the visitors with various facilities and amenities available with the Army and also it’s unique way of functioning besides enthralling the attendees with entertaining displays.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Lt Gen K Surendranath, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC, Trishakti Corps highlighted the numerous initiatives undertaken for the welfare of veterans and their dependents. He called upon all sections of society to come forward and extend maximum support for the veterans and veer naris. The chief guest emphasized that besides its primary role of ensuring the security of the Nation, the Armed Forces also play a key constructive role of nation building by undertaking projects for welfare of a sizeable segment of society comprising of Armed Forces Veterans, War Widows and their dependents. He also called upon the local civil administration to strengthen the hands of the Armed Forces by ensuring a high standard of administration and facilities for the families of serving and retired soldiers.
The crowd at the sprawling grounds of Bengdubi Military Station was enthralled by the impressive display by Army Bands, the dare devilry of the Sky Divers and the training of Army Dogs. The display of military equipment which included tanks, guns and other weaponry witnessed an enthusiastic interest of the civilians, especially the youth.
A large number of assistance stalls related to Ex-serviceman Contributory Health Scheme, Army Welfare Housing Organisation, Army Welfare Education Society, Family Welfare Organisation, other Employment Agencies, Rajya/Zila Sainik Board, NCC and Army Recruitment Organisation were set up in the mela to assist Army Veterans and local population of states of West Bengal and Sikkim. The mela was attended by war widows, handicapped soldiers and the Armed Forces Veterans of the states. Eight serving and retired handicapped personnel were presented modified scooters.
The Army Mela on 18-19 Feb 2012 enabled the general public, war widows and Armed Forces veterans to avail the benefits through the large number of assistance stalls established besides strengthening the bond between the local population and the Army.

Chhatrey: All are not fit for state struggle - But support welcome.....छत्र सुब्बा सितै जेल जीवन बिताउँने बिजय छेत्री गोजमुमोमा सामेल...42nd ALL INDIA POLICE CONGRESS CONCLUDED IN GANGTOK....Hill Cart Road repair set back by a year...Monitors to thrash out small tea problems

Chhatrey: All are not fit for state struggle - But support welcome

Chhatrey Subba with his wife Monica in Kalimpong after his release from Jalpaiguri jail in September

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT,Kalimpong, Feb. 17: Chhatrey Subba has ruled out joining the Gorkhaland Task Force but would welcome its support in his fight for Gorkhaland.
The GTF, an organisation of five outfits opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, was formed last year to lobby for statehood. Chhatrey, the president of the now dormant Gorkha Liberation Organisation, said not all in the GTF were true soldiers of Gorkhaland.
“I had not thought of starting an agitation for Gorkhaland after looking at the task force. If they want to lend their help to my struggle for Gorkahland, they are welcome to do so. However, not all in the task force are the right sort of people,” he said.
The GTF, which is made up of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang, ABGL, CPRM, Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha and the GNLF (C), has been touring the northeastern states for the past few weeks to garner support for Gorkhaland.
Following the recent spat between Morcha president Bimal Gurung and Chhatrey, the GTF had reportedly asked the veteran Gorkha leader to join its “non-violent” struggle for Gorkhaland.
But Subba, who was the chief of the Gorkha Volunteer Cell — the militant wing of the GNLF during the Subash Ghisingh-led Gorkhaland movement of the 1980s — complained that there was a lack of accomplished political leaders in the hills and people committed to the cause. “It is my duty to fight for Gorkhaland,” he said.
Immediately after his release from jail in early September, the 71-year-old Subba had hinted that he would quit politics owing to his old age. But since then, he seems to have had a change of heart and expressed his willingness to lead the agitation for Gorkhaland, provided he got the support of the people. Chhatrey had been in jail for more than a decade for allegedly masterminding an assassination bid on GNLF chief Ghisingh.
“If I don’t get the support (of the people), I can’t do anything,” he said last week. In fact, over the past few days, Chhatrey has been engaged in a verbal duel with the Morcha president.
Chhatrey said the Morcha could not be expected to lead an agitation for Gorkhaland since it had already settled for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
“How can the Morcha violate the pact (GTA) it willingly signed and start a movement for Gorkhaland? Nobody seems to be aware of this,” he said.
Chhatrey also accused the Sikkim government of helping the Morcha, despite knowing fully well that it had compromised on Gorkhaland.
Chhatrey’s wife Monica accused the state government of remaining silent on her complaint against the Morcha president who, she said, had openly threatened her husband at a meeting in Sibchu on February 8.
“I had lodged a complaint with the Kalimpong police against the threat issued by the Morcha president but it has not been acted upon,” she said.
Using the metaphor of an eagle pouncing on a chicken, Gurung had warned Chhatrey at the Sibchu public meeting that he would be picked up in the same manner if he were to create violence in Kalimpong. The Morcha president, however, had also said that perpetrators of violence would then be handed over to the government.
Sources in Kalimpong police confirmed receiving a complaint from Monica. “We registered a general diary on the basis of her complaint and forwarded it to the Nagarkata police station in Jalpaiguri since Sibchu falls under its jurisdiction. There was nothing actionable in the complaint,” said a source.
Jalpaiguri police chief Sugata Sen said he was yet to receive any such complaint. “So far as my knowledge goes, the complaint has not yet come,” he said over the phone.
छत्र सुब्बा सितै जेल जीवन बिताउँने बिजय छेत्री गोजमुमोमा सामेल

निमा तामंगसंग विजय छेत्री (दाहिने)

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ १७ फरवरी : एकातीर छत्र सुब्बाले पुन: छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन सुरु गर्ने घोषण गरिसकेका छन् भने अर्कोतिर बिगत दिनमा तिनी सितै आन्दोलन गरी संगै जेल बसेका साथीहरुले भने तिनको साथ छोड्न थालेका छन। बिगत दिनमा सुब्बा सितै आन्दोलन गर्ने कालेबुङका बिजय छेत्रीले छत्रको साथ छोडेर गोजमुमोमा सामेल भएका छन्। 

जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्र सुब्बाको आन्दोलनलाई बिगत दिनमा साथ दिने छेत्री सुब्बा सितै जेल समेत बसेर हाल घरमा बसिरहेका छन्। तिनले बर्तमान समयमा शसस्त्र आन्दोलनमा आफ्नो विश्वास हराएको बिचार पोख्दै छुट्टै राज्यको गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनमा नै होमिन चाहेको बताए। 

सशस्त्र आन्दोलनले निश्चित उपलब्धी हासिल गर्न नसक्ने कुरा बुझेर नै आजको परिवेश गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनको निम्ति सही रहेको तिनले बताउँदै मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङ कै नेतृत्वमा आन्दोलन गर्ने बिचार रहेको तिनले बताएका छन्। बिगत दिनमा शसस्त्र आन्दोलनमा बिश्वास राखेर छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड प्राप्तीको निम्ति आन्दोलनमा होमिने छेत्री आज गोजमुमोमा सामेल बने पछि तिनलाई युवा मोर्चा कालेबुङ महकुमा सचिव निमा तामङले स्वागत जनाए। तिनालई खदा लगाएर स्वागत गर्दै गोर्खाल्याण्डका एक सॉंचो योद्धाको रूपमा परिचित मोर्चाले गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनमा बिश्वास गर्ने भएको कारण कुनै पनि व्यक्तिहरु यदि ईमान्दार पुर्वक गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनमा सहभागी बन्न चाहेको खण्डमा मोर्चाले स्वागत गर्ने तामङले बताए।

42nd ALL INDIA POLICE CONGRESS CONCLUDED IN GANGTOK

PR, PIB, KalimNews, Gangtok 17th February, 2012: Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Mr. K.T.Gyaltshen stressed the need for a people-centric policing with a human touch to make Indian police more effective that will lead to positive results, transparency and accountability in the whole system. Addressing the valedictory function of the 42nd All India Police Congress in Gangtok this afternoon, Mr. Gyaltsen said the police force must be efficient, highly trained and skillful to intervene and counter the modern-day crimes which are technologically abetted and aided.

Stressing the need for modernization of the police infrastructure, the Speaker said there must exist a total discipline among the force accompanied by quality leadership, team work, mutual respect, understanding and commitment. Claiming that Sikkim is the most peaceful state in the country, Mr. Gyaltsen said the Chamling government has been able to provide to its people peace, security and opportunities which are the basic objectives of democracy.

Addressing the valedictory function, Director General of the Bureau of the Police Reforms and Development ( BPR&D) Shri Vikram Srivastava said ten papers were presented during the three day long 42nd All India Police Congress in Gangtok which concluded today. He said key resolutions arrived at following a thorough discussion included issues relating to police reforms, performs appraisal in police, comprehensive training policy, E-policing, emerging trends in cyber security monitoring and police investigation. He said developing human resources in police, technology as an aid to fight Left Wing Extremism and terrorism besides ensuring integrity in police and ways and means to strengthen institutional memory in police establishment were some major resolutions passed at the three day conference.

Director General of Sikkim Police Shri Jasbir Singh in his brief speech said themes including police reforms, changing technology, cyber crimes and means to ensure integrity were developed, probed and resolutions framed. He said Sikkim police is working towards improving its capabilities and developing its intuitions, describing the 42nd police congress as a learning experience.

Seventy delegates from various parts of the country including police chiefs of different states/UTs and former DGPs attended the All India Police Science Congress organized by BPR&D under the ministry of Home affairs and inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Pawan Chamling. 12 themes were selected for deliberation. 
Hill Cart Road repair set back by a year

The collapsed portion of the Hill Cart Road at Tindharia. File picture

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 17: The national highway linking Siliguri and Darjeeling will remain closed for at least one more year as the Centre is yet to firm up a proposal for the reconstruction of the road at two spots which are prone to landslides.
Traffic along the Siliguri-Kurseong section of NH55 or the Hill Cart Road has been suspended after 500 metres of the road had collapsed at Paglajhora in June 2010. Apart from Paglajhora, Tindharia along the highway is also a cave-in zone.
The delay in the repair of the road is an indication of the mammoth challenge landslides have posed to the Union ministry of surface transport which is still pondering over different options for the reconstruction.
A Delhi-based consultancy firm, LEA Associates South Asia Pvt Ltd (LASA), had earlier been entrusted by the ministry with the task of recommending measures for the restoration of NH55.
Nirmal Mondal, executive engineer, NH Division IX of the public works department, said: “LASA had suggested in early January that a geo-grid approach be adopted to reconstruct the highway (at Paglajhora and Tindharia). The cost of the repair was pegged at around Rs 70 crore.”
The geo-grid entails the construction of a concrete wall along the slope to reinforce the soil over which the road will be built using boulders and other materials.
Paglajhora is 50km from Darjeeling and Tindharia is further 5km downhill.
Even when the LASA proposal was under consideration, the ministry deputed experts from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) for a field visit to Paglajhora and Tindharia on Sunday to make their observations.
Members from the Japan-based National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, and Public Works Research Institute were part of the team. Even though the experts from the JICA and the NIDM conducted only an initial study, indications are that they are not very comfortable with the proposal made by the LASA.
“We have only made a preliminary observation and a detailed study needs to be conducted at the sites. The team has certain questions over the erection of a huge retention wall. We will make our recommendation in one week,” Chandan Ghosh, professor and head of the geo hazards department of the NIDM, told The Telegraph.The NIDM is under the Union home ministry.
The Japanese experts feel that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway lines should be realigned and tunnelled through the hill at Tindharia. The other suggestion was the construction of an overhead bridge along the highway to skirt the landslide-prone spot at Tindharia.
However, Ghosh offered a solution to landslides at Paglajhora and Tindharia. “If the drainage system is improved at the two spots, the area will be more stable and this would solve 70-80 per cent of the landslide problem. The cost of improving the drainage system would not even touch the Rs 1 crore mark,” said Ghosh.
The PWD officials said the ministry might draw up the final proposal for the repair after taking into consideration various parameters like construction cost, time needed to complete the project and engineering feasibility.
“It is the prerogative of the ministry to decide on the kind of project to be taken up for the restoration of NH55. Since the ministry will bear the entire cost of the repair, it will take a final decision,” said a PWD official.
With the Hill Cart Road being closed, vehicles travelling between Siliguri and Darjeeling take the route via Mirik and Mungpoo.
Quake memories melt with the snow- Tourist flow to Chhangu lake gathers steam

The frozen Chhangu lake in East Sikkim on Friday. Picture by Prabin Khaling

BIJOY GURUNG, TT,Chhangu, Feb. 17: The snow-clad mountains of Nathu-la are once again teeming with visitors after a bleak tourism season caused by the earthquake.
Around 100 vehicles carrying tourists visited the frozen Chhangu lake at 12,310ft daily on an average this month to enjoy the snowfall. The Chhangu lake in East Sikkim is the spot nearest to the state capital where one can enjoy snow before it melts in the summer.
Around 60 tourist vehicles used to reach the Nathu-la corridor consisting of the border pass, Chhangu lake and Baba Mandir on an average a day in January. “But now around 100 vehicles carrying tourists go to Nathu-la everyday,” said a constable posted at 3rd Mile checkpost along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.
With the tourist footfall increasing in February, snacks and souvenir stalls at Kyangnosla and Chhangu lake are doing brisk business and herders offering yak rides are taking home at least Rs 300 everyday. “Tourists have started coming here in January when the snowfall started. I think the fear triggered by the September 18 earthquake has waned. Each yak herder is now earning around Rs 300 on an average daily,” said Lalit Tamang, a yak herder at Chhangu lake, 35km from Gangtok.
About 120 families living in Chhangu and Chipsu, the two villages in the vicinity of the lake, are solely dependent on tourism for livelihood. Their businesses had dropped drastically following the quake, which killed scores of people and snapped road and telecommunication links. JN Marg , the road connecting Gangtok and Nathu-la, was also affected by the tremor. The road was restored by the Border Roads Organisation on September 30.
A Chhangu resident said he hoped that the number of tourists would go up in the summer. “Not many are visiting the place as this is an off-season. During the summer, around 700 tourist vehicles come here everyday. We didn’t have business till January after the earthquake. We hope tourists will come in large numbers from the next month,” said a shopkeeper at Chhangu lake shopping complex.
“But we are also worried about the road condition. If the road (JN Marg) is blocked by landslides, we are bound to suffer again.”
The Chhangu panchayat head, Chewang Norbu Bhutia, also voiced concern over the condition of JN Marg. “Landslides will occur anytime because of the BRO work to widen the JN Marg. Tourists won’t be able to come here if the road is blocked by landslides as it rains and snows here regularly.”
Monitors to thrash out small tea problems
AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Feb. 17: The Tea Board of India has decided to recruit development officers and factory advisory officers across the country to monitor the emerging small tea sector that contributes around 26 per cent of the brew in India.
“One development officer would be recruited for every 2,000-3,000 small growers to look into their problems and help in improving the sector,” G. Boriah, the director (development) of tea board, told The Telegraph here today. “As bought-leaf factories (BLFs) are integral part of the small tea sector, a decision has been taken to appoint one factory advisory officer for every 25 BLFs spread over India.”
Boriah said the officers would function under the Small Growers’ Development Directorate which was formed under the tea board last year. He was in north Bengal to assess the progress of utilisation of the Special Purpose Tea Fund, a scheme floated by the Centre in 2007 to help tea estates replant new bushes and rejuvenate old ones.
“Small growers and BLFs often come up with allegations against each other. Issues like lower price realisation, non-compliance with price-sharing formula and lack of government assistance are regularly raised by growers. The BLFs complain about irregular supply, poor quality of tea leaves and less auction prices,” Boriah said.
The officers, Boriah said, will deal with these complaints at the micro-level and sort them out.
The development officers will visit small tea plantations, keep tabs on the quality of leaves plucked and ensure that the growers get all available assistance from central and state governments. Factory advisory officers, on the other hand, will check the quality of tea produced at the BLFs and see that price-sharing formula is followed and growers are paid their dues. There are around 1.6 lakh small growers in the country, contributing 26 per cent of India’s total tea production.
The tea board has also decided to stand by self-help groups of small growers and help them set up their own factories.
“In the 12th Five Year Plan, we have proposed that we will give these self-help groups a one-time capital subsidy of 40 per cent of the project cost of the tea factories,” Boriah said.
The tea board will arrange for bank loans for remaining 50 per cent while 10 per cent will have to be borne by the growers.
College teachers on strike
TT,Siliguri, Feb.17: Around 150 teachers of 13 colleges in Darjeeling district organised a ceasework under the banner of the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association (WBCUTA) today to protest the frequent campus clashes across the state
The agitation was part of a state-wide protest organised by the WBCUTA to fulfil its eight demands, including the quick implementation of the UGC scheme that outlines promotions of teachers. Although the state government had passed the order in January 2006 for a revised pay scale, it was implemented only from April 2009. The other demands include the release of the 39-month arrears of their salaries and increase in the retirement age of college teachers from 60 to 65.
Visa sessions
TT, Siliguri: Jessica B. Pfleiderer, the consular officer of US consulate general, Calcutta, will lead a team of officials who will visit Darjeeling, Gangtok and Siliguri from February 20 to 25. The team will host sessions with the public on the requirements to apply for non-immigrant tourist, business, student and exchange visitor visas to go to the US.
Brew meet
TT, Siliguri: The Tea Association of India (TAI) will host a seminar on “efficiency and effectiveness for competitive leadership in tea sector” here on Saturday. The event will be organised in association with IIPM Bangalore and the Tea Board of India.

GTF team meets Manipur CM...Sukna gets a taste of Barfee - Director back with Priyanka and Ranbir....ABAVP rally...IPSC held in Sikkim....Shame of morphed nude picture kills mom....SSK & MSK to shut and converted to Formal centres

GTF team meets Manipur CM

KalimNews: "It is a very old demand. Many new states have been formed since the demand for Gorkhaland was voiced. It will be entirely appropriate if Gorkhaland is created," said Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to the delegates of GTF. The Gorkhaland Task Force, on a tour of the Northeast currently, met CM Singh today, February 16, 2012 at Babupara, Imphal .

Chief Minister Singh further said that the Gorkhaland demand was fully justified and he personally supported the demand.

The delegation also apprised the CM of a Gorkha girl, Devi Adhikari, losing her eyesight after an attempt at molestation in Takamai Busty in Senapati District. Shri Okram Ibobi Singh immediately called up the DGP and asked him to report back about the incident within one hour. He also assured of appropriate compensation.

The team comprised of R Moktan, Sukhman Moktan, John Poudel and JB Rai of GTF and KB Chhetri, Ghanashyam Acharya, Shiv Lama Karki, KB Karki, Gobinda Chaavhan officebearers of BGP Manipur state committee.
ABAVP rally against inclusion of Terai and Dooars in GTA
KalimNews: ABAVP has started its campaign against inclusion of Terai and Dooars in GTA. A series of programme is already announced and accordingly we have started it, stated Birsa Tirky, state ABAVP Seceretary. It is said that on 13 February the campaign was started from Sunkosh and on Thursday it organsied a cycle rally and meeting in Phansidewa. On 19 February it will organise a rally and a public meeting in Nagarkatta Dooars. He further said that ABVP will fight tooth and nail against any decision taken against the Adivasis. We are making aware of the people who are misleading the Adivasis during this campaign and we are gaining support as usual, he added. It will not permit to include an inch of the Terai and Dooars land in GTA, Tirky said.

Sukna gets a taste of Barfee - Director back with Priyanka and Ranbir

Priyanka Chopra shoots for Barfeeat a Sukna village, 12km from Siliguri, on Thursday; and Priyanka with Ranbir Kapoor during the shooting of a scene from the film. Pictures by Kundan Yolmo

MRINALINI SHARMA, TT, Siliguri, Feb. 16: Anurag Basu kept his promise and came back with Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor to shoot in Sukna today.
The Life in a Metro maker had said he would return with the entire Barfee team after the hills apologised for the spat that his crew had with some local people at the Mall.
For residents of Khairani-Punding, this was their second tryst with high-profile visitors after chief minister Mamata Banerjee had sauntered into the village while sightseeing at nearby Mahananda wildlife sanctuary when she came to sign the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement in July.
Basu had also chosen to shoot in a house above the one in which Mamata was treated to a cup of tea during her visit.
Unaware of the arrival of the Barfee team, 27-year-old Sharmila Rai had started her day with her usual chores at 6am. Around 7.30am she saw “a few unfamiliar faces” setting up cameras outside a house a few yards away.
“I was surprised to see unfamiliar faces moving around in our neighbourhood with cameras so early in the morning. When I enquired, a group of local people who had gathered there told me that Priyanka and Ranbir would be shooting,” said Sharmila who quickly wound up her chores to watch the shooting from 9am.
The story of the film is set in Darjeeling of 1960’s and 70’s.
It revolves around a deaf-and-mute man, played by Ranbir and the two women in his life, played by Priyanka and southern star Ileana D’Cruz.
The news of the shooting was kept under wraps to avoid chaos like the one that took place when the team was shooting for the first time in Darjeeling in June last year. During the earlier visit, only Ileana and Ranbir had come to Darjeeling.
“The director had come to our village to scout for locations earlier this month. The news of the shoot was kept a closely guarded secret to avoid a crowd here. Only a few of us chosen as volunteers were aware of it and had been making arrangements,” said a volunteer from the village which has barely 100 households.
Priyanka who was in Siliguri last night arrived in Sukna, 12km away, around 8.30am. Ranbir landed at Bagdogra around 10.30am today and reached the shooting spot in the afternoon.
The first scene shot was of a woman weaving brooms outside the house.
Next, Priyanka sporting a white frock with red sweater and Ranbir in a check coat and brown pants were shot arriving at the house in a rickshaw.
“She looks as good as in the movies,” said 21-year-old Sovit Sharma, a resident of Khairani-Punding.
Villagers had volunteered to manage the crowd and adequate combat force, too, was present. Diksha Rai, a college student, first waited for Ranbir at the Bagdogra airport and then came to the shooting site to catch a glimpse of Priyanka.
“A group of us got to know that Ranbir would be arriving at Bagdogra airport. We were lucky that he agreed to pose for a photograph with us. I have already posted it on a social networking site. We also visited the shooting spot later and saw Priyanka too. It was a hectic trip but was worth it”, Diksha said.
Why Sandakphu has to be dropped - CM’s trip troubles: logistics, time shortage

(From top) The road to Sandakphu; the Land Rover, the only vehicle that can negotiate the steep gradient; and cottages at Sandakphu. Pictures by Suman Tamang

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 16: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to set foot in Sandakphu, the highest point in Bengal, is likely to hit logistic and time hurdles and administrative sources said she might have to drop the idea of visiting it.
Mamata had said in Siliguri on February 11 that she would not only visit Darjeeling to announce some projects but would also make a trip to Sandakhphu at 12,000 feet. In that case, she will be the first chief minister to visit the high-altitude tourist hotspot located in the Singalila wildlife sanctuary.
Sources in the chief minister’s office in Calcutta said they were yet to finalise Mamata’s itinerary for the Darjeeling tour. “She had expressed her desire to visit Sandakhphu. Although she had not said anything more about her visit, we are keeping it tentative as of now. The final plans for her Darjeeling visit will be made after she returns from Delhi,” a senior member of the chief minister’s secretariat said.
Mamata had said she would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 24 for the early implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
A senior Darjeeling district administration official said the chief minister might not be able to make it to Sandakphu despite her announcement.
“According to information received, the chief minister will come to Darjeeling on February 29 and will hold a meeting with district officials on March 1 before leaving for Calcutta the next day. To visit Sandakphu, one would need at least two clear days and there is very little time available,” he said.
The local people — around 2,000 of them live in settlements scattered along the Maneybhanjyan-Sandakphu route — had hoped that the chief minister’s visit would usher in development in the area, which is only about 60km from Darjeeling but is one of the most backward places in the region.
Even if the chief minister does decide to visit Sandakphu at the last moment, working out the logistics would be a major problem. This is largely because only the 1950s-made Land Rovers ply on the 31km stretch from Maneybhanjyan to Sandakphu.
Maneybhanjyan is about 30km from Darjeeling.
No modern vehicle, even if it has a four-wheel drive, dare climb the rough terrain of the Singalila range. Apart from the drivers of the 34 Land Rovers that ply on the route, not many are ready to take their vehicles to Sandakphu.
“Even though the route from Maneybhanjyan to Meghma is in good shape, those unfamiliar will find it difficult to drive because of the steep gradient. It is better not to talk about the remaining stretch,” said Nima Sherpa, a resident of Maneybhanjyan.
The road from Meghma passes through Tumling — a favourite haunt of sky watchers — Gairibas, Kaiyakatta and Kalpokhri before reaching Sandakphu. Phalut, another tourist hotspot, is 10km away but the stretch is virtually unmotorable except for the Land Rovers.
At Sandakphu, accommodation could be a major problem given the size of the entourage of the chief minister. There are three DGHC cottages, apart from two private lodges and a guest house each of the forest department and the Darjeeling Improvement Fund. “If the chief minister does decide to go, then the entourage will definitely have to be made small. In such an event, there would not be problems in accommodations,” said the official.
He said usually a chief minister is accompanied by two-three ministers of her cabinet. “Then, at least 30 people will be in her entourage. Maybe more,” he said.
A Land Rover can comfortably accommodate around five persons.
The local people of Sandakphu, however, said the DGHC cottages were in bad shape and needed immediate repair. The district administration will also have to arrange for all food items and other amenities to be ferried over from Darjeeling. Besides, there is no electricity and cellphone connectivity is also very poor in the region. “We charge Rs 4,300 for a trip to Sandakphu and back with an overnight halt,” said Chandan Pradhan, secretary of the Singalila Land Rovers’ Association.
Taking the chief minister by helicopter would largely depend on the weather conditions which change every hour.
“There was once a talk of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visiting Sandakphu and a helipad was also constructed at Chandu, 3km away. However, the visit got cancelled for some reason,” said Migma Sherpa, who runs a homestay in the area.
The district administration has submitted a Rs 15-crore proposal to construct a road from Meghma to Sandakhphu-Phalut but it is yet to be sanctioned.
Shame of morphed nude picture kills mom
TT, Behrampore, Feb. 16: A young mother of two in Murshidabad hanged herself today apparently after a villager showed her nine-year-old daughter a morphed nude picture of the woman.
Residents of Domkal’s Bagdanga village said the picture had been circulated through an MMS in the area a few days ago and the 28-year-old woman knew about it. “It had been doing the rounds,” a neighbour said.
“This morning, a villager called her daughter when she was going for tuitions and showed her the MMS. The little girl ran home crying and told her mother about it. An hour later, she found her mother hanging from the ceiling fan in another room,” said Furkan Sheikh, a neighbour.
“The woman knew about the MMS. But the situation became unbearable when her daughter told her about the picture. I think she was overcome with shame,” Furkan added.
The girl informed the neighbours. “The woman’s husband was not at home. Only the girl, her two-and-a-half-year-old brother and their mother were at home,” another neighbour said.
Police said preliminary investigations had revealed that some local youths had clicked a picture of the woman when they came to buy cigarettes and provisions from her grocery shop.
“They then morphed the picture and circulated it through MMS. Those mentioned in the FIR lodged by her husband regularly go to the couple’s shop. The woman used to run the outlet most of the times,” an officer said.
The 35-year-old husband has mentioned the names of five local youths and a woman in the FIR. “The youths used to sit and chat in the woman’s house, a few yards from the house and shop of the mother who committed suicide,” the officer added.
Informal schools to get official stamp

Somdatta Basu, TNN , Feb 17, 2012, KOLKATA: The government has decided to shut down the Shishu Shiksha Kendras (SSKs) and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras (MSKs) and convert them into formal centres of learning. This is being done under provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. Government officials said the initiative, project which runs under the Sarva Shiksha Mission scheme, will benefit students.
"These schools were set up to provide education to students who live in a difficult terrain where there are no schools. The primary schools were at a distance of 1 km while upper primary schools were set up at a distance of 2 km away. Now, the central government has sent an instruction through RTE that no informal schools will receive any support or aid. Hence, they will have to be converted into formal schools. The GIS mapping has just been completed and we are aware about population and children residing in various areas of the state. Hence, now it will be easier to bring children into formal education," said project director Choten Lama.
"There are more than 1,600 Shishu Shiksha Kendras and more than 2,000 Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra's in West Bengal. While SSKs teach classes between I to IV, MSK's impart training to students between V to VIII. Funds are allocated by the centre to run these schools," added Lama.
The transformation of SSKs and MSKs into formal schools will require Government officials felt facilities needed to be upgraded at these SSKs and MSKs to provide children with better opportunities as is available in the formal schools. "Going by the RTE provisions, we will have to implement the pupil-teacher ratio, build etter infrastructure including a playgrounds, make arrangements for drinking water and mid-day meals and build adequate toilets for students abiding by the provisions in RTE," said a senior school education department official.
The stake of around 40,000 teachers who are involved in the schools, however, has also been proposed. "They will probably be recruited through School Service Commission. They will have to compete along with PTT and Rabindra Open University candidates among the 10% reservation," said a school education department official. The existing teachers will continue in their posts for the moment.
A panchayat and rural development department official said, "A proposal was sent by the school education in which they have suggested to convert SSKs and MSKs into formal schools while implementing the RTE Act. The act states that all schools have to be recognized by a board and should have an approval from the government. When these informal training centres were under our department, we had given them approval. But our department does not have any provision to recognize them by a board. Hence, these schools will have to be closed down and converted into formal education institutes."
He added, "The salaries are drawn from Sarva Shiksha Abhijan. Hence, the government will have to comply with the orders. The proposal will have to be passed in a cabinet meeting."
IPSC held in Sikkim
PR, KalimNews:The 42nd All India Police Science Congress started its 2nd day with an extended session on “Police Reforms” chaired by Dr. Tri Nath Mishra, Former Director, Central Bureau of Investigation and co-chaired by Shri Vikaram Srivastava, IPS, Director General, Bureau of Police Research & Development. 
During discussion, the Congress unanimously felt that the police reforms is an urgent need both at the national as well as State levels in qualitative and quantitative terms. The Congress identified various issues which need to be taken due care to bring police reforms in police forces across the country. The Congress constituted a committee of group of senior officers to examine all the issues and prepare a status report to take up these issues with the Government of India in a time bound manner.
The Congress discussed the subject titled, “Police As a Facilitator to Resolve Minor Disputes in Community” in a plenary session chaired by Shri Kamal Kumar IPS, former Director, National Police Academy, Hyderabad. During deliberations, it was felt that police is supposed to play a very vital role as an arbitrator or conciliator in resolving the minor disputes like family conflict, civil dispute etc. as prescribed under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 amended in 2000, a Pre-Litigation conciliation Forum is required to be established to resolve the minor disputes. Village Panchayats should be given more teeth in this regard as is incorporated in the Bihar Panchayat Act.

3 dead and 3 injured in Maruti van accident.....Morcha ‘blocks’ CPRM members...कालेबुङमा सडक दुर्घटना ३ जनाको मृत्यु ३ जनाको अवस्था चिन्ताजनक....AIPS Congress inaugurated...ARMY MELA AT BENGDUBI ON 18 AND 19 FEB 2012...क्रामाकपाले जीटीएको बिरोध सितै विविध मागहरु लिएर खण्ड बिकास कार्यालयमा धर्ना प्रदर्शन ग-यो....छत्र सुब्बाको सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा : बिभिन्न राजनैतिक दलहरुको स्वागत...कालेबुङमा सीआरपीले माओवादी पक्रेको अफवाह...GORKHALAND TASK FORCE DHARNA IN DELHI....Cancer doesn’t spare the young

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 15 February: 3 people died when a Maruti van carrying them fell 200 ft off the road in Shubedi Jhora of Bada Bhalukhop in Kalimpong this afternoon. The ill fated van WB 79-0773 was travelling from Kalimpong to Mahakal Danra and carrying five passengers.

Driver Gopal ghimirey 21 of Kashyem Busty, Van owner Mani Kumar alias Baley Pradhan 50 of Sangsey Pethong and Kumar Gurung 61 of Kasheym died on the spot. The injured Indramaya Gurung 57, Passang Tamang 35 have suffered serious head injury and their conditions are critical.The other injured Ruben Rai 17 has fractured his hand.
In another incident, a jeep on its way to Samthar village overturned at 12th Mile around injuring seven passengers out of the 15.

कालेबुङमा सडक दुर्घटना ३ जनाको मृत्यु ३ जनाको अवस्था चिन्ताजनक

डी के वाइबा: कालेबुङ १६ फरवरी; कालेबुङ शहरदेखि महाकाल डाँडा गईरहेको मारुति भ्यान दुर्घट्ना ग्रस्त हुँदा तीन जनाको घट्ना स्थलमा नै मृत्यु भएको छ। प्राप्त जानकारी अनुसार मारुति भ्यान WB 79- 0773 कालेबुङ शहरदेखि महाकाल डाँडा गईरहेको समयमा महाकाल डाँडा बडा भालुखोप स्थित सुबेदी झोडामा लगभग दुईसय फिट तल झरेर दुर्घटना ग्रस्त भएको छ। उक्त भ्यानमा सवार तीन जनाको घट्ना स्थलमा नै नृत्यु भयो भने अन्य तीनजनालाई गम्भिर अवस्थामा कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालमा भर्ना गरिएको छ। घटना लगभग साँझ साढे चार बजेतिर भएको हो। 

उक्त दुर्घटनामा मृत्यु हुनेहरु क्रमैले वाहनका चालक कास्योम बस्ति निवासी गोपाल घिमीरे (21), वाहनका मालिक साङ्से पेथोङ निवासी माणिकुमार प्रधान उर्फ बले नेवार(५०) अनि साङ्से पेथोङ निवासी कुमार गुरुङ(६१) रहेका छन्। यता घाईते हुनेहरुमा क्रमैले ईन्द्रमाया गुरुङ(५७), पासाङ तामाङ(३५)अनि रुबेन राई (१७) रहेका छन्। घाईतेहरु मध्ये ईन्द्रमाया गुरुङ(५७)अनि पासाङ तामाङ(३५)को टाउकोमा चोट लागेको कारण अवस्था चिन्ताजनक रहेको छ भने रुबेन राईको एउटा हात भाँचिएको थाह लागेको छ। दुर्घटनामा मृत्य भएकाहरुको शव कालेबुङ पुलिसले उद्धार गरि कालेबुङ महकुमा अस्पतालमा राती ल्याई पुराएको छ भने भोलि पोष्ट मार्टम गरिने जानकारी पाईएको छ। उक्त दुर्घटनाले क्षेत्रमा शोकको लहर छाएको छ भने दुर्घटनाको कारण बारे कुनै पत्तो लाग्न सकेको छैन।

छत्र सुब्बाको सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा : बिभिन्न राजनैतिक दलहरुको स्वागत
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ १६ फरवरी; गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका जङ्गी नेता छत्र सुब्बाले दार्जीलिङ पहाडमा पुन: एकचोटि छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याणडको आन्दोलन गर्ने केहिदिन अघि घोषणा गरे पछि अहिले सबै मानिसहरुको ध्यान तिनी माथिनै केन्द्रित बनेको छ। गोरामुमोको प्रमुख सुवास घिसिङको नेतृत्वमा चलेको हिंसात्मक आन्दोलनमा गोर्खा भोलेन्टियर सेल (जीभिसी)चिफ रहेका सुब्बाले यसचोटि कस्तो किसिमको आन्दोलन गर्नेहुन् भन्ने मानिसहरुले धारणा राखिरहेको समयमा आन्दोलन गणतान्त्रिक अनि शान्तिपूर्ण तरिकाले गर्ने तिनको बयान प्रकाशमा आए पछि झन दिनो दिन तिनको चर्चा बडेर गएको छ ।
गोजमुमो पार्टीले सम्झौता गरेको ब्यवस्था जीटीएले गोर्खाहरुको राष्ट्रिय राजनैतिक सुरक्षा नबोक्ने तर गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यले मात्र गोर्खाहरुको सपना साकार हुने दाबी गर्दै गोर्खाल्याण्ड कै निम्ति पुन: आन्दोलन गर्ने सञ्चार माध्यमहरुमा तिनले एक पछि अर्को बयान दिन थाले पछि झन तिनको चर्चाले बिस्तारै गति पक्रिन थालेको छ। एकातिर जीटिएको गठनमा बिलम्ब भईरहेको छ भने अर्को तर्फ सुब्बाले आन्दोलन थाल्ने घोषणा गरे पछि हाल पहाडका शक्तिशाली राजनैतिक दल अनि बिपक्षी राजनैतिक दलहरुको गिद्दे नजर तिनी माथिनै परेको छ। यति मात्र होइन सुब्बाको बर्तमान क्रियाकलाप माथि खुफिया बिभागको नजर पनि उत्तिकै परेको छ।
सुब्बाले केहि दिन अघि आफू एकमात्र गोर्खाल्याण्डको ईमान्दार नेता रहेको दाबी गर्दै आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाउँने बताएका थिए। तर अहिले तिनले सामुहिक आन्दोलनको कुरा गर्न थालेका छन्। गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन सामुहिक आन्दोलनले मात्र पार लगाउँनसक्ने सुब्बाले मन्तब्य प्रकट गरे पछि आज पहाडका बिभिन्न राजनैति दलहरुले तिनको कुरालाई स्वागत जनाएका छन्। सुब्बाले बिगत दिनहरुको आन्दोलन अनि बर्तमान समयको आन्दोलन बिफल हुनुको मूल कारक तत्व एकल नेतृत्व रहेको अनि यसलाई सफल पार्न सामुहिक नेतृत्व नै महत्व पूर्ण हुने बताए पछि गोर्खाल्याणड टास्क फोर्स, क्रामाकपा अनि हिल काङ्ग्रेसले सुब्बाको बयान प्रति स्वागत जनाएको छ।
गोर्खाल्याणड टास्क फोर्स एंव भारतिय गोर्खा परिसंघका राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष रेभरेण्ड् डा एनोसदास प्रधानले छत्र सुब्बाले सामुहिकताको कुरा गरेर राम्रो पहल गरेको बताएका छन्। बिगत दिनहरुमा एकल नेतृत्वको कारण गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य हुन नसकेको छत्र सुब्बाको बयान सही रहेको बताउँदै आज आएर तिनले सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा गरेर् बुद्धिमानी काम गरेको प्रधानले थप बताए। तिनले सुब्बाले आगामी दिनमा आन्दोलन सुरु गरे पछि मात्र आन्दोलन कस्तो किसिमको हुनेछ भनेर जनताले जान्न सक्ने बताउँदै यदि गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलन गरेर टास्क फोर्समा सामेल हुन चाहे स्वागत गर्ने तिनले थप बताए। टास्क फोर्समा कुनै ब्यक्ति नभएको बताउँदै यो बिभिन्न राजनैतिक दलहरुको सामुहिक मञ्च रहेको तिनले स्पष्ट पार्दै यदि छत्र सुब्बाको राजनैतिक दल टास्क फोर्समा ईमान्दार भएर मुद्दाको निम्ति आउँन चाहे स्वागत गर्ने थप प्रधानले बताए। यसरी नै क्रामाकपा कालेबुङ आञ्चलिक समितिका अध्यक्ष किशोर प्रधानले छत्र सुब्बाले सामुहिक्ताको जुन निर्णय लिएका छन् उक्त निर्णय एकदमै स्वागत योग्य रहेको बताए। सुब्बाले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन यदि आगामी दिनमा गणतान्त्रिक अनि शान्तिप्रिय तरिकाले गरेको खण्डमा क्रामाकपाले समर्थन गर्ने बताउँदै एकल नेतृत्वकै कारण गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुन नसकेको सुब्बाको बयान सय प्रतिशत सही रहेको तिनले दाबी गरे।
हाल क्रामाकपाले भारतको बिभिन्न स्थानहरुमा छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको समर्थनमा कार्यहरु गर्दै आएको बताउँदै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनमा सबै अघि आउँनुपर्ने तिनले आह्वान गरे। यता हिल काङ्ग्रेसले पनि सुब्बाको सामुहिकताको कुरालाई स्वागत जनाएको छ। हिल काङ्ग्रेसका सचिव दिलिप प्रधानले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति छत्र सुब्बाले गरेको सामुहिक नेतृत्वको कुरा एकदमै स्वागत योग्य रहेको बताउँदै यदि तिनले हिल काङ्ग्रेसलाई निम्ताए उक्त कुरालाई जिल्ला समितिमा राखेर चर्चा गर्ने बताए। हिल काङ्ग्रेस संधै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको पक्षधरमा रहेको बताउँदै गणतान्त्रिक तरिकाले आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाउँने राजनैतिक दलहरुलाई समर्थन गर्ने तिनले थप बताए।
कालेबुङमा सीआरपीले माओवादी पक्रेको अफवाह
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ १६ फरवरी; गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले कालेबुङमा माओवादी पसेको घोषणा गरेको ठिक १० दिन पछि आज सीआरपीले कालेबुङमा माओवादी पक्राउ गरेको अफवाह फैलियो। उक्त अफवाह यति जोडले फैलियो कि शहरमा सबै मानिसहरु माओवादी पक्रा भयो’रे भन्दै एकार्कामाझ कुराकानीहरु गारिरहेका थिए। चिया पसल, हाटबजार, मोटर स्ट्याण्ड आदि सबै ठाउँहरुमा नै मानिसहरु आज माओवदी कै कुरा गर्दै कुराको सत्यता खोजिरहेका देखिए। माओवादीको हल्ला फैलिन साथ खुफिया बिभागका मानिसहरु समेत यस बिषयमा खोज गर्न यता उता दौडधूप गरिरहेको देखियो।
उक्त अफवाह कसले फैलायो भन्ने कसैले भन्न नसकेता पनि दिन भरी नै शहरमा माओवादीको चिन्ताले मानिसहरुलाई सताई रहेको थियो। यसबारे कालेबुङ थानामा जान्न खोज्दा कालेबुङमा यदि यस क्षेत्रमा सीआरपी आएर माओवादी अथवा कसैलाई पनि पक्राउ गरे त्यसको जानकारी स्थानिय थानालाई हुने थियो भन्दै यस कुरा केवल अफवाह मात्र रहेको थाना सुत्रले बताएको छ। थाना सुत्रले दिएको जानकारी अनुसार कालेबुङमा गत १२ फरवरीका दिन सिआरपी आएको तर कसैलाई पक्राउको निम्ति नआएर बिभागीय कतिपय काम लिएर आएको थप जानकारी दिएका छन्।
क्रामाकपाले जीटीएको बिरोध सितै विविध मागहरु लिएर खण्ड बिकास कार्यालयमा धर्ना प्रदर्शन ग-यो
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ १६ फरवरी: क्रामाकपाको युवा एकाई गणतान्त्रिक क्रान्तिकारी युवा मोर्चा (गक्रायुमो) केन्द्रिय समिति महासचिव अरूण घतानीको नेतृत्वमा विविध 9 सुत्रीय माग लिएर क्रामाकपाले आज घण्टौंसम्म कालेबुङ खण्ड विकास अधिकारी कार्यालयमा धर्ना प्रदर्शन गर्‍यो। उक्त धर्ना प्रदर्शन दागोपापको सबै खण्डहरुमा गरेको तिनले जानकारी दिएका छन्। यसै अवसरमा उनीहरुले जीटीएको बिरोध गर्दै छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको मागमा नाराबाजी पनि गरे।
आजदेखि सुरु भएको पहिलो चरणको कार्यक्रममा क्रामाकपाले पञ्चायत पुर्नगठन गर्ने,सिलगडीको दुइवटा खण्डलाई चारवटा बनाउन सक्छ भने पहाडको 8 वटालाई किन 24 वटा खण्ड बनाउन सक्तैन? भन्ने प्रश्न, मनरेगामा 200 दिनको रोजगार पाउन पर्ने, सरकारी कार्यालयहरूमा भ्रष्टचार अनि राजनैतिक हस्तक्षेप बन्द गर्ने आदि विविध मागको नाराहरूसितै क्रामाकपाले खण्ड विकास अधिकारी कार्यालयअघि व्यापक धर्ना प्रदर्शन गर्‍यो।
मूल मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्ड रहेको अनि जीटीएको विरोध गर्दै ग्रामीण समस्याहरूलाई समाधान गर्नुपर्ने मागमा पहिलो चरणमा खण्ड विकास अधिकारी कार्यालय, त्यसपछि महकुमा अधिकारी, जिल्लापाल कार्यालय हुँदै क्रामापकाले क्रमबद्ध रूपमा आन्दोलन अघि बढाउने भएको अरुण घतानीले पत्रकारहरुलाई बताए। ग्रामीण जनताको हक, हीत र अधिकारसितै क्रामाकपाले आजदेखि जीटीएको विरोधमा सडक आन्दोलन शुरू गरेको पनि तिनले थप जानकारी गराएका छन्। गक्रायुमो प्रतिनिधि सन्तोष प्रधानको नेतृत्वमा एक टोलीले खण्ड विकास अधिकारी अनन्दिता भौमिकसित भेट गरी यी विविध मागहरूसितै क्षेत्रीय समस्याहरूलाई लिएर एक ज्ञापन पनि बुझाएको छ। कालेबुङ, अलगडा अनि गोरुबथानमा क्रामाकपाको धर्ना सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न भएपनि तकदाह खण्ड अन्तर्गत रङ्गली रङ्लीयट खण्ड विकास अधिकारी कार्यालयमा भने गाजमुमोले बाधा दिएकोले अनि खण्ड विकास अधिकारीले सुरक्षा प्रदान गर्न नसकेकोले क्रामाकपाले कार्यक्रम गर्न नसकेको गक्रायुमो महासिचव अरूण घतानीले जानकारी दिएका छन्। यद्यपि अन्य क्षेत्रहरूमा भने क्रामाकपाको कार्यक्रम सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न भएको क्रामाकपाले दावी गरेको छ।
अर्कोतिर गोर्खा जनमुक्ति युवा मोर्चाले छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति आन्दोलन गरिरहेको सन्दर्भमा तिनले टिप्पणी गर्दै छुट्टै राज्यको आन्दोलन गर्नेहरू सर्वप्रथम इमान्दार हुन आवश्यक रहेको बताए। तिनले युवा मोर्चाको आन्दोलन केवल जीटीए छिटो लागु गर्ने षड्यन्त्र मात्रै रहेको आरोप लगाउँदै यस्ताकुराहरु असान्दर्भीक रहेको बताए। तिनले साँचो रुपले गोर्खाल्याण्डको कुरा गर्नेहरुले सबै चानचुने ब्यवस्थाहरुलाई त्याग्नु सक्नु पर्ने चुनौति दिंदै पहाडमा अझै अगणतान्त्रिक परिवेश रहेको दाबी गरे । हाल टास्क फोर्सको माध्यममा थुप्रै कार्यहरु भईरहेको दाबी गर्दै आगामी 20 मार्चमा संसद भवन अघि धर्ना प्रदर्शन हुने भएको कारण क्रामाकपाले आजदेखि नै सडक आन्दोलन पनि शुरू गरेको अरूण घतानीले जानकारि गराए ।
Morcha ‘blocks’ CPRM members

Youth members of the CPRM in front of the Kalimpong block 1 office on Wednesday. (CF Lepcha

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 15: The CPRM was today allegedly prevented from submitting a memorandum to a block development officer by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, sparking charges that the predominant party in the Darjeeling hills was once again stifling Opposition voices.
“Members of our youth wing had gone to the Rongli-Rungleet block development office at Takdah after seeking an appointment with the BDO. Our supporters, however, could not enter the office as a large number of Morcha supporters had gathered in front of the building,” said Govind Chhetri, the spokesperson for the CPRM.
However, the Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front (DRYF) — the youth wing of the CPRM — submitted memorandums to all other seven BDOs in the hills.
Sources said the DRYF workers returned from the Takdah office without any resistance as they had been outnumbered.
Shekar Chhetri, the president of the DRYF, said: “The Morcha which claims that it believes in democracy has shown its true colours at Takdah. We will immediately write to the Bengal chief minister and the governor highlighting the terror unleashed by the Morcha in the hills.”
Today’s incident comes close on the heels of the Morcha’s allegation that the CPRM was hobnobbing with Maoists.
The Morcha has come under attack from other parties as well. “Memorandums are always submitted by political parties for the benefit of the common people. If the Morcha believes in democracy, it should have allowed the CPRM to submit the deputation to the BDO. The Morcha is unnecessarily creating tension in the hills and this has to be stopped immediately,” said Laxman Pradhan, the vice-president of the ABGL.
In the past, the Morcha had been accused of obstructing ABGL meetings also.
The DRYF memorandum had nine demands, including the creation of Gorkhaland and increase in the number of working days under the national rural employment guarantee scheme from 100 to 200.
Asked if the Morcha supporters had stopped the CPRM delegation, Rongli-Rungleet BDO Esther Lepcha said: “Since no one entered my office to submit a deputation, I cannot comment.”
Takdah is 35km from Darjeeling town.
The Morcha alleged that the Opposition was deliberately trying to defame the party.
“The Morcha is a democratic organisation and we do not indulge in such practices. The CPRM’s claim that it was stopped from entering the Rongli-Rungleet block office was strange as it did not face any such problem in seven other blocks. They are probably creating a story to defame us,” said Jyoti Kumar Rai, a central committee member of the Morcha.
GORKHALAND TASK FORCE DHARNA IN DELHI
KalimNews: Gorkhaland Task Force an alliance of political parties, social organisations and eminent personalities formed to continue the fight for a separate state of Gorkhaland. According to its programme it is meeting political leaders of the North East and North India.Apart from that it will be holding a day-long dharna in support of the demand for Gorkhaland at Jantar Mantar on 19th March 2012.
Supporters of Gorkhaland from all over India are expected to join in the Dharna. Parliamentarians and leaders from various national political parties will also join to express solidarity in the demand of Gorkhaland a separate state for Gorkhas of India.
Meanwhile delegation of the GTF, comprising members of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, the All India Gorkha League and Gorkha Rajya Nirman Manch have held meetings with the Gorkhas of Assam at Guwahati, Meghalaya at Shillong and Mizoram at Aizawl.
The delegation of GTF has also met Chief Minister Lalthanhawla of Mizoram and a galaxy of top political leaders from the Northeast, including PA Sangma, Assam minister Tanka Bahadur Rai, former MP Mani Kumar Subba, BJP Vice-President and MP Biyoya Chakravarty, BJP MP Ramen Deka, both from Assam, Congress MPs CL Ruala and Lalminghliana,both from Mizoram.
There is consensus among the Gorkha population that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, agreed to between the West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, falls fall below the expectations of the Gorkhas and nothing short of a separate state would address the vexing problem of the political identity and national security of Gorkhas across India.
While CM Lanthanhawla said that he would raise the "justified issue of a separate state" at the Northeast Coordination Committee of the INC, Sangma said that he fully supported a Gorkhaland state and said the GTA fell short of the Gorkhas' aspirations. Similar support was forthcoming from all the leaders that the GTF met.
The tour of the Task Force continues in the Northeast states. Also scheduled are visits to the Northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir later in February. (With inputs from Munish Tamang)  
AIPS Congress inaugurated
PR, KalimNews: 42nd All India Police Science Congress was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling on 15th February, 2012 forenoon. The inaugural session was attended by the Council of Ministers, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, MLAs, 70 delegates from various State and Central Police Forces of the Country, Heads of Departments and Sr. officers of Govt. of Sikkim.

The 42nd All India Police Science Congress is being organized by the Sikkim Police under the aegis of Bureau of Police Research & Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi at Gangtok, Sikkim from 15-17 February, 2012.A souvenir of this congress was also released by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling on this occasion. While welcoming the participants of this congress, the Director General of Bureau of Police Research & Development briefed about the genesis of this congress and introduced the various themes which are to be discussed during the coming three days.

Director General, Sikkim Polices Shri Jasbir Singh emphasized upon the need of having a National Police Act like the old Police Act of 1861 to be implemented by all the State Police forces across the Country.

While addressing the congress, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling emphasized upon the need to bring police reforms to meet the emerging challenges in the present day context.

The first Plenary Session on Police Reforms chaired by Sh. T. N. Mishra, IPS (Retd.). Sh. Kamal Kumar, IPS (Retd.) and Dr. U. N. B. Rao, IPS (Retd.) made detailed and thought provoking presentation during the session. During discussions, following issues emerged:-

(i) Police should be considered as “Service” not as a “Force”.

(ii) Need to implement Model Police Act by all the States on priority.

(iii) Selection and tenure of the police chiefs should be strictly made on the basis of seniority once empanelled.

(iv) Need to assimilate and disseminate best practices in policing across the country to set standards and norms.

(v) A standardized and successful model of Community Policing needs to be identified and circulated to all States/UTs for its implementation.

(vi) Need to ensure “registration of cases” in absolute terms.

(vii) Some of the functions of police may be outsourced under the close supervision of police officers like, serving summons, traffic management etc.

(viii) Need to run timely refresher training for police officers of all ranks to develop professionalism in objective terms.
ARMY MELA  AT BENGDUBI ON 18 AND 19 FEB 2012
PR, KalimNews: Bengdubi Cantonment will host an Army Mela on 18 & 19 Feb 2012, showcasing various programmes, including an exhibition of modern military weapons and equipment. GOC Trishakti Corps Lt Gen K Surendranath, AVSM, SM, VSM, will be inaugurating the Mela on 18 Feb 2012 at 1000 hrs. It will be open to the public on both days.
A Medical Camp will also be organized for the ex-servicemen. The exhibition will feature a host of weapons of Indian Army including Tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers, Rocket Launchers, Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare Suits, Artillery Guns, Automatic Grenade, Launchers, Bridging Equipment and a plethora of Infantry Weapons.
Other attractions will include sky diving demonstration by paratroopers, Equestrian Display and Horse Show. In addition, various cultural events including Bhangra, Mizo dance, Malkhamb, Khukri dance, Lejhim and Band display by Army Bands will also be organized. Help counters for ECHS, AWHO, Rajya Sainik Board, NCC, AWES will also be set up during the programme. Recruiting organisation and employment agencies for ex-servicemen will also set up their counters in the Mela as well as eight physically challenged serving personnel and ex-servicemen will be presented with modified scooters.
Aamir’s TV shoot in Sikkim

Aamir Khan at Bulbuley on Wednesday. (Prabin Khaling)

BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, Feb. 15: Sikkim will feature in Aamir Khan’s upcoming television series with the actor spending the past two days in the Himalayan state shooting at different locations.
“We have been touring different parts of the country for the television project. We are doing the tele-series on the celebrated thought of the country, Satyameva Jayate. We did some shooting here yesterday and today for the project,” said Aamir.
The actor was talking to journalists after a two-hour shoot in the forest of Bulbuley, 15km from Gangtok. He had visited Kashmir and Udaipur last week. Certain sequences of the serial were shot at Sangmartan, 25km from the state capital, yesterday.
The star had denied yesterday that he was in Sikkim scouting for locales for shooting. “I have come to Sikkim just for sightseeing… I heard that Sikkim is very beautiful and people here are fond of music,” he said after landing at Burtuk helipad in Gangtok yesterday.
Aamir, the face of Incredible India campaign of Union ministry of tourism, today sent out an “All Izz Well’ message to tourists as the hilly state looks forward to a summer season.
“Sikkim is a beautiful place for tourists to visit. I found Sikkim very fascinating. Natural calamities are not under anybody’s control. They happen everywhere. People should come to Sikkim to see its beautiful hills and receive hospitality from the wonderful people as All Izz Well here,” said Aamir.
Tourism industry in Sikkim had suffered a jolt following the earthquake on September 18. The actor’s visit has boosted the confidence of tour operators, who kicked off the two-week-long Sikkim Snow and Cultural Festival yesterday to lure the visitors back to the state.
Aamir cited a cloud burst in Ladakh to tell tourists that they should not shun Sikkim. “There was a big incident in Ladakh (two years back). But when I went there, it was safe. Tourists can come to Sikkim also as it is a safe place,” said the actor.
After wrapping up shooting at Bulbuley, the crew proceeded to Lingdum monastery at Ranka, 25km from Gangtok.
Aamir will leave Sikkim tomorrow.
Siblings dead
TT, Alipurduar: A 15-year-old boy and his brother were stabbed to death by a neighbour in Kalchini last night when they asked him to stop shouting. The accused, Nathinal Dukpa, has been arrested. Anup Jaiswal, the additional superintendent of police, Alipurduar, said: “The accused person will be produced in the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court tomorrow.”
Men have breast cancer too; they say it’s a ladies’ illness
Alifiya Khan, DNA, Pune, Feb 15: Star batsman Yuvraj Singh’s battle with cancer has once again put the spotlight back on the deadly disease which tops the list of health concerns all over the world. The city, too, is not untouched by it. DNA brings you stories which will give you an in-depth account on the deadly disease as well as guide you as to how to take preventive actions to keep cancer at bay.
An alarming statistic emerging from Pune Cancer Registry indicates that cases of breast cancer in the city are on an alarming increase. According to the registry, almost 30% of women suffering from some form of
cancer had breast cancer.
What’s even more shocking is that 5% of people affected by breast cancer are men. In fact city doctors said that most men come too late to the clinics or don’t agree easily for surgery as they believe that breast cancer is a “ladies illness” and cannot affect them.
“It’s a myth that men can’t get breast cancer. I am treating four men for the illness. In fact, instances of breast cancer in men are increasing and most common are men above 45 years of age,” said Dr Shona Nag, medical oncologist, Sahyadri Hospital.
“Breast cancer is basically a hormone related disease, the errant hormone being oestrogen which is found in women. However, if men inherit mutated genes, the risk increases. Also, lifestyle changes like oestrogen drugs or excessive alcohol can increase risks,” Dr Nag added.
Cancer surgeon, Dr Anupama Mane, operated on three men last year for the illness. The biggest hurdle in her opinion against fighting the illness in men was awareness and acceptance.
“In case of men, it is easily detectable. Unlike women, they have just tissue and not breasts. The signs of breast cancer like a nodule or lump on chest or in armpit, skin changes or nipple discharge are easily detectable. But men don’t take it seriously as they don’t think they can get affected and as a result come to us too late,” she said.
However, breast cancer in men is still not a very common phenomenon as 95% cases of breast cancer are still women.
The data compiled by Pune Cancer Registry, unit of Indian Cancer Registry, showed that out of total 1,493 women affected by cancer, 469 had breast cancer.
Doctors agreed with the statistics stating that they see a new case of breast cancer on a daily basis in their clinics.
According to Shravani Koyande, director of Indian Cancer Registry, the maximum cases of breast cancer were reported from women belonging to Hindu community.
“Maybe there is better reporting from women of that community and other community women may be shy to come forward. The common reasons that make women prone to breast cancer are high life expectancy, delayed marriages, early menarche, late menopause, delayed childbirth or no breastfeeding,” she said.
Oral cancer was leading cause of cancer in men with 144 cases of total 1,368 cases followed by prostate cancer.
Doctors rued that lifestyle related cancers were on increase which could be easily preventable. “While breast cancer is largely a lifestyle related ailment that causes maximum deaths in women, oral cancer and lung cancer are major killers in men which again depend on lifestyle factors like tobacco chewing, smoking, excessive alcoholism, substance abuse etc,” said Nag.
Cancer doesn’t spare the young

Alifiya Khan, DNA, Feb 15, 2012,Pune: If statistics derived from cancer therapy units of prominent city hospitals is any indication, it’s time to take cancer seriously.
 Hospitals in the city say that they see 20% new cases every year and the trend points towards younger people in the age group of 30-45 years being the worst affected. At Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital’s radiation therapy unit, oncologist, Dr Shailesh Shende, is seeing a record 34% increase in cancer patients as compared to a few years ago.
“In 2009, we had 558 patients on radiation therapy. The number rose to 705 in 2010 and 749 in 2011 of which most of them were breast and cervical cancer cases,” said Dr Shende.
“While cancer is multi-factorial and one reason cannot be pointed out as responsible for increase in patients; lifestyle changes and habits, increased stress, late child bearing, pollution and even increased awareness leading to more detection is responsible for rising cancer cases,” said Shende.
Radiation therapy is useful in a wide variety of cancers — except blood cancers — that are localised to one area of body or a part of curative therapy to prevent tumour recurrence.
With Ruby Hall Clinic being one of few other hospitals providing this specialised therapy, oncologist, Dr Bhooshan Zade, said that from 740 cancer patients on therapy in 2007, the number has jumped to 1,315 in 2011.
“The number has nearly doubled, but given the fast rate of new cases detected, we aren’t surprised. It is an epidemic and worryingly affecting the young,” Dr Zade said.
“The maximum clientele that visits us for therapy is less than 45 years of age,” he added.
“People take lifestyle problems lightly like unhealthy food habits, less breast feeding or tobacco consumption, but this is serious business. Youngsters consider smoking a style symbol. They are unaware of its consequences,” Dr Zade added.
Oncologist Dr Minish Jain who practices chemotherapy said he sees at least 200 new cancer patients in a month in his clinic.
“This is just one clinic’s data. Imagine what will happen if you combine statistics from all clinics, it would be mind boggling. While it is true that cancer doesn’t affect any particular age group, we are seeing rise in number of young patients. Most worrying are cases of oral cancers, tobacco-related cancers which are at most times avoidable. But young people are having fun at cost of their lives and one visit to a cancer department will shake them up,” he said.

Hills receive 20 crore....समाचार च्यानलहरुको बन्द सात दिन पुरा : प्रशासनको मौनतामा उठ्दैछ प्रश्न....कालिझोडालाई कालेबुङ महकुमा क्षेत्रमा गाभ्नु पर्ने क्रामाकपाको माग.बेरोजगार समस्या समाधान गर्नु पर्नेहिमालयन स्वरोजगार-वेरोजगार फोरमको माग.......शहरलाई सफा राख्न नगरपालीकाद्वारा डस्टबिन बितरण......42nd All India Police Science Congress to be held at Gangtok,...Nod to tea tourism without land lease....Rs 130cr package for north growth...Sikkim, Aamir’s valentine- Star hits snow-clad state

Hills receive 20 crore
KalimNews, 15 February: State Government has sanctioned Rupees 20 crore for the development of Darjeeling Hills. Out of 49 crore sanctioned for the development of North Bengal this amount is to be utilised by 31st March, announced Gautam Deb, North Bengal Development Minister.
समाचार च्यानलहरुको बन्द सात दिन पुरा : प्रशासनको मौनतामा उठ्दैछ प्रश्न

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 14 फरवरी: कालेबुङमा स्थानिय क्याबल मार्फत प्रसारण हुँदै आईरहेको मोठ पाँच वटा समाचार च्यानलहरु गत 8 फरवरीको दिनदेखि बन्द भयो। बन्द हुने समाचार च्यानलहरु क्रमैले दैनन्दिनी, एचपीसी, हालखबर, केटीभी अनि प्रतिदिन रहेका छन। क्याबल मालिक पक्षको बयान अनुरुप पाँचवटा समाचार च्यानलहरु बन्द हुनुको मुख्य कारण बिगत 20 वर्ष अघिदेखि शुरु गरेका ब्यापारमा समाचारको कारण ब्यापक धक्का लाग्ने सम्भावना रहेको छ। क्याबल मालिक पक्षले आफ्नो ब्यापारमा कुनै प्रकारको हानि नहोस भन्ने चाहना राखेर समाचार च्यानलहरु बन्द गरेको स्पष्टिकरण अगावै दिईसकेका छन। मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंगले कालेबुङको टाउन हल अनि सिब्सुमा कालेबुङका समाचार च्यानलहरु अवैद्य रहेको अनि यसमा प्रसारित हुने गरेको कतिपय समाचारहरुले जनतामा भ्रम सृजना गरिरहेको कारण च्यानलकर्मीहरु बिरुद्ध मुद्दा हलिदिने स्पष्ट घोषणा गरेपछि समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारणमा क्याबल मालिक पक्षले रोक लगाएका छन। 

दैनिक प्रसारण हुने समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारणमा रोक लागे पछि अहिले कालेबुङमा सबैको मुखमा समाचार च्यानल किन बन्द भयो भन्ने कुरा झुण्डिरहेको छ। कतिपय मानिसहरुले त मोर्चा प्रमुख गुरुंगले मिडीया कर्मीहरुलाई मुद्दा हलिदिने घोषणा गरेको कारण मिडीया कर्मीहरुले नै समाचार प्रसारण नगरेको कुराहरु गरिरहेका छन। यता मोर्चा नेताहरुले समाचार च्यानलहरु बन्द गोजमुमोले गरेको होइन भनि स्पष्टिकरण दिईसकेका छन। कालेबुङमा चलिरहेको समाचार च्यानलहरु अचानक बन्द भएपछि उक्त समाचार च्यानलहरुमा कार्यरत पत्रकारहरु बिलखबन्दमा परेका छन। आज समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारणमा रोक लागेको हप्ता दिन पुरा भयो तर समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण पुन: शुरु हुने कुनै छाँट देखिएको छैन। 

क्याबल मालिक पक्षले यहाँको वातवरण स्वाभाविक बने पछि मात्र समाचार च्यानलको प्रसारण शुरु गर्ने आश्वासन दिएका छन। तर क्याबल मालिक पक्षले दिएको आश्वासन कहिले पुरा हुने हो भन्ने गम्भिर प्रश्न अड्केको छ। दैनिक प्रसारण हुने समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारणमा अचानक रोक लागेपछि क्याबलको माध्यमबाट समाचारहरुको उपभोग गर्दै आईरहेका जनसाधरणमा अहिले घरी दिनो दिन आक्रोश बडन थालेको छ। समाचारहरुको उपभोग गर्ने मानिसहरुको आक्रोश क्याबल मालिक पक्ष प्रति दिनो दिन बडीरहेको कारण उक्त आक्रोशले कुनै दिन बिस्फोटक रुप लिन नसक्ला भन्न सकिन्दैन। किनभने मालिक पक्षले समाचार बन्द गर्ने कुनै पूर्व सूचना कसैलाई दिएनन अनि यसको पुन;प्रसारण हुने कुरा पनि अहिले सम्म स्पष्ट पारेका छैनन। 

अहिले विश्वमा नै क्याबलहरुलाई बिभिन्न कम्पनिहरुले निकालेका डिस टी भीहरुले चुनौति दिदै आईरहेको छ। यस्तो ब्यापारको जमानामा जनसाधारण भने लोकल क्याबलबाट स्थानीय समाचारहरु उपभोग गर्ने अवसर पाईरहेको कारण मात्र क्याबल जडान गरिरहेका छन। तर मालिक पक्षले आफ्नो ब्यापारमा कुनै धक्का नलागोस भनेर बन्द गरेको समाचार च्यानलहरु बन्द हुँदा के अपभोक्ताहरुले क्याबल कनेक्सन निकाले ब्यापारमा धक्का लाग्दैन भन्ने कुरा चाहीँ कति सोचेका छन त्यो क्याबल मालिक पक्षनै जान्दछन। 

यता समाचार च्यानलहरु बन्द भएको सन्दर्भमा माकपा नेता तारा सुन्दासले गोजमुमो पार्टीबाहेक अन्य राजनैतिक दलहरुको हस्ताक्षर लिएर समाचार च्यानल शुरु गर्नु पर्ने मागमा क्याबल मालिक पक्षलाई एक पत्र दिईसकेका छन। यसरी नै गोर्खाल्याण्ड टास्क फोर्स अनि कृषक कल्याण संगठनले पनि समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण यथाशिघ्र गर्नु पर्ने मागमा महकुमा अधिकारी एल.एन शेर्पालाई ज्ञापन चडाई सकेका छन। महकुमा अधिकारी शेर्पाले समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण यथाशिघ्र गर्नु भनि क्याबल मालिक पक्षसित कुराकानी गर्ने आश्वासन दिएको भएता पनि समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण बन्द भएको सात दिन पुरा हुदा पनि कुनै पहल नहुनु अचम्म नै मन्नु पर्ने स्थिति देखा परेको छ। 

स्थानीय क्याबलको सहयोगको माध्यमबाट प्रसारण हुने पाँचवटा समाचार च्यानलहरुको गत 8 फरवरीको दिन देखि रोक लागे पछि अहिले मनिसहरु क्याबल जडान निकाल्ने तरखरमा लाग्न थालेको जानकारी पाईएको छ। समाचारको माध्यमबाट अनेकौ मुनाफा कमाउँने क्याबलमालिक पक्षले यदि यथाशिघ्र समाचार प्रसारण शुरु नगरे आगामी दिनमा क्याबल उपभोक्ताहरुले क्याबल जडान निकाल्नु मात्र होईन तर प्रसारण हुने कन्ट्रोल रुममा क्षति पुरयाउने धम्किहरु दिइरहेको पनि थाहा लागेको छ । टास्क फोर्स अनि कृषक कल्याण संगठनले समाचार च्यानल बन्द गरेको कारण आगामी दिनमा जनताको आक्रोशमा शान्ति सृंखला बिग्रिए त्यसको उत्तरदायी प्रशासन हुने लिखित रुपले दिएको छ। जनसाधारणवर्गले अहिले समाचार च्यानलहरुको माध्यमबाट पाउँने सूचनाहरु पनि पाउँन सकिरहेका छैनन। यसैले मानिसहरुको आक्रोश दिनो दिन बडीरहेको छ भने अर्को तर्फ समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण हुने कुनै छाँट नदेख्दा प्रशासन यस कुरामा गम्भिर छैन कि भन्ने प्रश्न खडा भएको छ अनि जनता सडकमा ओर्लिएको दिन मात्र प्रशासनको पनि होस आउँने होकि भन्ने उत्तरबिहिन प्रश्न अड्केको छ।

कालिझोडालाई कालेबुङ महकुमा क्षेत्रमा गाभ्नु पर्ने क्रामाकपाको माग

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 14 फरवरी; क्रामाकपाले कालिझोडालाई खरसाङ महकुमा क्षेत्रमा होइन कालेबुङ महकुमा क्षेत्रमा गाभ्नु पर्ने माग गरेको छ। क्रामाकपाको एक प्रतिनिधि मण्डलले आज यसै विषयमा खरसाङ खण्ड कार्यालयका पञ्चायत अथोरिटी अधिकारी एन शेर्पासित भेटघाट गर्दै ज्ञापन दिएको आनन्द घतानीले जानकारी दिएका छन। कालिझोडालाई खरसाङ महकुमाको सिटोङ-3 ग्रामपञ्चायतमा अन्तरभुक्त गर्ने कार्यको विरोध गर्दै क्रामाकपा टोलीले कालिझोडाको भौगोलिक अवस्थान र यातायातको असुविधालाई ध्यानमा राख्दै कालेबुङ महकुमा अन्तर्गत टिस्टा ग्राम पञ्चायतमा गाभ्नु पर्ने माग गरेको छ। हाल कालिझोडा खरसाङ महकुमा अन्तर्गत पर्ने भएको कारण क्षेत्रबासीले अनेकौ समस्याहरु भोग्न परिरहेको क्रामाकपाको दाबी रहेको छ। यसै कुरालाई ध्यानमा राख्दै यथाशिघ्र कालेबुंग महकुमा अन्तर्गत गाभेर सधारण मानिसहरुले भोग्न परिरहेको समस्या समाधान गरिदिने पार्टीले माग राखेको छ। दिलु लोहारले जनाए अनुसार टिस्टा ग्राम पञ्चायतमा कालिझोडालाई अन्तरभुक्त गरेर पञ्चायतको पुनर्सिमाङ्‌कन गरिनुपर्छ। यसै सम्बन्धमा कालिझोडा शाखाको बैठक पनि भयो। माइकल सुन्दासको अध्यक्षतामा भएको बैठकमा वर्तमान राजनैतिक परिस्थितिमाथि बहस भएको दिलु लोहारले जनाएका छन्‌।

बेरोजगार समस्या समाधान गर्नु पर्नेहिमालयन स्वरोजगार-वेरोजगार फोरमको माग

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 14 फरवरी; दार्जीलिङ जिल्लामा दिनोदिन बडीरहेको बेरोजगार समस्या सम्बन्धित निकायले समाधान गर्नु पर्ने हिमालयन स्वरोजगार-वेरोजगार फोरमले माग गरेको छ्। आज एक पत्रकार सम्मेलन राखेर यस बिषयमा बुद्धिजीवी र सम्बन्धित निकायका अधिकारीहरूलाई पहल गरिदिने मग गरे। फोरमका प्रचार प्रसार सचिव लवाङ तामङले हाल दार्जीलिंग पहाडमा रहेका बिभागहरुमा थुप्रै रिक्त पदहरु रहेको बताउँदै उक्त रिक्त पदहरुमा बेरोजगारहरुको नियुक्ति प्रक्रिया थाल्नु पर्ने माग गरे। तिनले दार्जीलिङ जिल्लामा शिक्षित वेरोजगारहरूको समस्या सबैभन्दा जटिल समस्या रहेको छ तर उनीहरूलाई लिएर कसैले पनि चिन्ता नगरेको बताए। 

अहिले जिल्लाका विभिन्न विभागहरूमा रहेको रिक्त पदहरुमा शिक्षित वेरोजगारहरूलाई रोजगार उपलब्ध गर्नुपर्ने पहलमा फोरमले पहल गरिरहेको बताएका छन। तामङले भने, यो पहललाई प्रभावकारी बनाउन हामीलाई बुद्दिजीवी अनि निकायका अधिकारीहरूको परामर्शको खॉंचो छ।तिनले रिक्त पद्मा विरोजगारहरूलाई नियुक्त गर्नुको निम्ति महकुमा अधिकारी अनि जिल्लापाललाई बारम्बार ज्ञापन दिइरहेको पनि बताएका छन्‌। तिनी अनुसार विभागहरूमा नियुक्त गर्ने प्रणालीलाई पारदर्शी राखिनुपर्छ। फोरमले जिल्लामा कति रिक्त पदहरु छन भनेर आरटीआई मगेको जानकारी दिदै रिक्त रहेका पदहरुमा यथाशिघ्र नियुक्ति प्रक्रिया थालेर समस्याको साधान गर्नु पर्ने माग गरे।

शहरलाई सफा राख्न नगरपालीकाद्वारा डस्टबिन बितरण

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 14 फरवरी; कालेबुङ शहरलाई सुन्दरीकरण गर्ने दिशामा लागेको कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाले आज यहाँको मेन रोडमा मोठ 50 वटा डस्टबिनहरु बितरण गरेको छ। नगरपालीका उपाध्याक्षा गंगामाया गुरुंगको नेतृत्वमा रहेका टोलिले उक्त डस्टबिन बितरण गरे। आज बितरण गरिएको डस्टबिनको मुल्य अठारसय रुपिया प्रति डस्टबिन रहेको छ। उक्त डस्टबिन चारवटा दोकानहरुको निम्ति एउटा गरेर दिईएको छ भने अब उसो दोकानदारहरुले मैला डस्टबिनमा हाल्न पर्ने भएको छ। यस अवसरमा कालेबुङ नगरपालिकाका स्वास्थ्य अधिकारी एस.डी जिम्बा, स्वास्थ्य निरिक्षक संजय प्रधान लगायत बिभिन्न वार्डहरुका नगर पार्षदहरु उपस्थित रहेका थिए। चारवटा दोकानहरुको निम्ति नगरपालीकाले एक एक वटा गरेर बितरण गरेको डस्टबिनहरुको पैसा भने दोकानेहरुबाटै चार सय पचास रुपीया गरेर वसुली गरेको छ। बिगत दिनहरुमा शहरलाई सुन्दरीकरण गर्न बितरण गरिएको डस्टबिनहरु दोकानेहरुले राम्रो हेरचाह नगर्दा हराएको कारण दोकानेहरुबाट नै यसपल्ट पैसा वसुली गरेको नगर उपाध्याक्षा गंगामाया गुरुंगले बताईन। उक्त डस्टबिनमा प्रत्येक दिन दोकानहरुबाट निस्कने मैलाहरु बेलुका नगरपालीका कर्मचारीहरुले उठाउँने तर ति मैला उठाउँने ब्यक्तिहरुलाई प्रत्येक दोकानदारहरुले प्रतिदिन दुई रुपीयाको दरले पैसा दिनुपर्ने नियम रहेको पनि तिनले जानकारी गराईन।
GTF meets Reishang

PR, KalimNews: The Gorkhaland Task Force on its a month long mission to meet the political leaders and MPs met former Manipur Chief Minister, incumbent Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader Reishang Keishing today.

The team presented him a memorandum and booklet on Gorkhaland and apprised him about the demand of Gorkhas.

An emotional Keishing said, “I fully understand that you need Gorkhaland for your identity and security. A Gorkha state will also be good for the security of the whole Northeast region. I will write to Madam Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about this.”

42nd All India Police Science Congress to be held at Gangtok,
PR, PIB, KalimNews: Sikkim Police has been selected to host the 42nd All India Police Science Congress at Gangtok, Sikkim from 15th to 17th February, 2012. It is the first ever police conference of such magnitude to be held in Sikkim and Sikkim Police has expressed its gratitude to the BPR&D, Ministry of Home Affairs for reposing their trust.

In a press statement it states that though the devastating earthquake that struck the State in September, 2011 had challenged the idea of hosting the programme but with the kind support and backing of the Hon’ble Chief Minister it agreed to go ahead.

It further states that Sikkim is a compact State and so is the Sikkim Police. Organisation of an event of this size requires that each and every member of the force join in the efforts. I am proud to say that all officers of the Sikkim Police and in particular the members of the organizing committee and the officers assisting them have put in a lot of hard work in the organization of the Congress.

The Sikkim Police hopes to not only benefit from the organizational experience but also gain from the deliberations of the Congress on contemporary issues facing the police such as cyber crime, minor disputes, police reforms, ensuring integrity and technological up-gradations in police work. We hope to build up in all members of our force a scientific temperament and knowledge of the advancements in policing and use the same in the service of the society.

We also hope that with such exercises the police will grow out of the traditional methods of policing and manage crime and law & order through use of sound legal procedures and technology. It is an enhanced police-public partnership that we seek and we wish to have the support of the community and the media in our endeavors, report further adds.

Lastly the Sikkim Police has expressed its thankfulness to Her Excellency The President, Hon’ble Vice-President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Union Home Minister, His Excellency the Governor, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Home and senior officers of the Central and State Government for their kind messages of support for the success of the 42nd All India Police Science Congress being held at Gangtok, Sikkim.
Makeover takes off at Mall
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 14: The DGHC has started revamping the Mall and the first phase of the Rs 9 crore project for Darjeeling’s famous promenade is expected to be completed in five months.
Nearly Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for the first phase which includes an amphitheatre and landscaping the park where it will come up. Dismantling the band stand or the “hawa ghar” for an unhindered view of the mountains will be part of the second phase of the makeover.
P.R. Mehta, an architect from Delhi, has been hired as a consultant for the project.
“The entire revamp will be taken up in two phases. During the first phase, the park will be renovated,” said Anil Verma, the administrator of the DGHC.
The revamp of the Mall, with a daily footfall of 1,000 in peak seasons, has probably been propelled by Mamata Banerjee’s announcement to turn Darjeeling into Switzerland. In November, the state government had brought in RITES to draw up a comprehensive tourism master plan for the Queen of Hills.
But the Mall overhaul is a wholly DGHC initiative. The amphitheatre with a seating arrangement for 300 people will be set up at Brabourne Park.
“Work has just started and we expect to complete the project within the next four to five months. The open-air theatre in the park will have a very comfortable seating arrangement for about 250-300 people. The lighting arrangement in the park and its landscape will also be worked out. Green rooms and lavatories will also come up,” said Verma.
He said Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned for the first phase of the project. “Work has started as per chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s earlier announcement for the need for an integrated development plan for Chowrastha (or the Mall),” said Verma.
Brabourne Park is not a favourite with tourists. Darjeeling has around 3.5 lakh domestic tourists annually and another 50,000 foreign visitors. “During the peak season, almost 2,000 tourists arrive in Darjeeling town every day. Of them, 1,000 tourists can be found in the Mall in the afternoon,” said a tour operator.
The park turns slushy during monsoons. The DGHC under Subash Ghisingh had constructed a much-hyped musical fountain in the park for Rs 20 lakh in 2006. The fountain needed 10,000 gallons of water to function. But with the Darjeeling municipality unable to supply potable water to its residents, the fountain was bound to go dry and it stopped working after a year.
Last year, after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha replaced the GNLF at the Darjeeling municipality, the steel seating arrangement in front of the fountain was dismantled and a martyr’s column was erected in the park.
The estimate for developing the Mall has been pegged around Rs 8-9 crore. “The proposal had been sent to the Centre based on the GTA agreement. Till the grants arrive, DGHC will fund the project,” said Verma. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement has provision for allocating funds for hill tourism.
During the second phase, the “hawa-ghar”— the concrete structure where the bands, specially that belonging to the police have been playing since the colonial era — will be dismantled. “The hawa-ghar is obstructing the panoramic view of the hills and the designers have decided to do away with it. Instead, proper seating facilities will be made, though we will retain the old wooden benches that are here. The lighting system will also be improved,” said Verma.
Earlier, the Darjeeling Police used to operate an electronic temperature board at the tourist assistance booth at the Mall. It was a huge hit among tourists and locals but it stopped functioning more than two years ago. The police have also stopped playing instrumental music in the Mall through its music system.
Nod to tea tourism without land lease
BIRESWAR BANERJEE AND AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Feb. 14: The government will support tea tourism based on infrastructure already existing in plantations but will not issue fresh lease for any portion of the garden land to be used for tourism.
The government fears that issuing fresh lease would lead to rampant clearing of plantations for tourism, affecting the apex industry that employs lakhs of people. A new lease for a portion of garden land would mean that the plot could be used for alternative purposes like tourism.
Industries minister Partha Chatterjee, who was here last week to attend the North Bengal Festival, told journalists that tea planters had not yet sent any proposal to utilise the available infrastructure on their estates for tourism.
“We feel the planters should take stock of the bungalows, rest houses and other infrastructure available and send us specific proposals. We are ready to endorse such proposals,” Chatterjee said.
“We, however, will not grant fresh lease for any portion of garden land that may be used for alternative purposes like tourism.”
The minister also said the new lease might lead to uprooting of tea bushes. “Tourism infrastructure might come up on the garden land for which the new lease will be acquired. Tea tourism must be developed but in a controlled manner, without affecting the apex industry that employs lakhs of people in the region,” the minister said.
The tea tourism concept was conceived by the Left Front government in 2005. So far, only a handful of planters, with gardens in idyllic surroundings, have started promoting their properties as niche product with good response from both India and overseas.
Indranil Bhowmik, representing Solutions INC, a Calcutta-based company that runs tea tourism facilities in association with four estates — Zurrantee, Selim Hill and Runglee and Serrani — said already there was a shortage of accommodation.
“As of now, there are around 50 rooms available in bungalows in north Bengal gardens. The demand increases to over 140 rooms during the peak season,” he said. “We have found out that 20 more bungalows are in a position to supplement the need.”
Zurrantee alone, Bhowmik said, had 550 room nights (one room booked for one night) in the past fiscal and the figure is expected to reach 650 by the end of this fiscal. “Of the total tourists we have handled, around 40 per cent were foreigners, hailing from countries like the UK, US and even Hong Kong,” Bhowmik said.
Stakeholders of the industry, who had interacted with the minister, said all gardens didn’t have adequate accommodation for tourists.
“On some tea estates, it is possible to part with a portion of the available infrastructure and use it for tourists’ accommodation. But on most estates, new infrastructure is required. We have been asking for fresh lease for a specific portion of the tea land, so that we can set up the tourism facilities,” said Amitangshu Chakraborty, the principal adviser to the Indian Tea Planters’ Association. “Many planters are interested in investing in tea tourism but cannot do so as the decision on lease is pending with the state. They don’t have the available infrastructure either.”
Rs 130cr package for north growth
TT, Siliguri, Feb. 14: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb announced over Rs 130 crore for several projects from his new office on Hill Cart Road where he started working today.
Of the total, Rs 20 crore would be used for developing infrastructure in the hills, said the minister.
“It has been decided that Rs 20 crore would be sanctioned for the hills to develop infrastructure like roads, drains and culverts. The funds would be paid from my department and work would start in this financial year,” Deb said.
The minister added that Rs 48.67 crore has been distributed in the six districts of north Bengal. “It would be used to finish 228 ongoing projects across the region. The district magistrates have been provided with a deadline of May 31, 2012, and all the projects will have to be completed by then,” he said.
Deb said his department has allocated funds for the development of Jalpaiguri Sports Complex. “In the first phase, Rs 22 crore would be spent to build a gallery, gymnasium and a media centre. In the second phase, a synthetic track and some other infrastructure would be developed,” Deb said. Fresh funds would be sanctioned for the second phase.
He added that the department has received cash under the rural infrastructure development fund and the backward regions grant fund. “We have received Rs 12 crore and Rs 18 crore under the two central schemes. It would be used for infrastructure development in the rural and backward areas.” Deb added that Rs 6.2 crore would be allocated for tourism development. “A sum of Rs 10 crore will be sanctioned for the health sector.”
Sikkim, Aamir’s valentine- Star hits snow-clad state

Aamir Khan at Burtuk helipad in Gangtok on Tuesday. Picture by Prabin Khaling

BIJOY GURUNG, TT, Gangtok, Feb. 14: Sikkim had a date with actor Aamir Khan on Valentine’s Day. It was his maiden trip to Sikkim and the timing could not have been better as a two-week long festival took off today to lure tourists back to the state.
“I have come to Sikkim just for sightseeing. I have never been here before but I have heard a lot about Sikkim. I heard that Sikkim is very beautiful and people here are fond of music. I have been touring different places of the country and wanted to come here as well,” Aamir told journalists after his landing at Burtuk helipad in Gangtok today.
The actor arrived here at noon from Siliguri on a Pawan Hans helicopter along with three members of his team. While two of his personal bodyguards had already arrived here yesterday, six other members of the team reached Gangtok from Siliguri by road.
The actor is staying in a private resort in the state capital.
Asked whether he was scouting about for locales for shooting, Aamir said: “Not for films. I will stay in Sikkim for a couple of days and tour different places here. I love the people of Sikkim a lot and wish them a very happy Valentine’s Day.”
Speculations are that the actor, who makes his television debut later this year, is criss-crossing the country looking for locations and subjects for his new project. He had visited Kashmir and Udaipur last week.
Although announced in October last year, Aamir’s TV debut — set to air on STAR Plus — remains a closely guarded secret, with the actor not revealing either the format or the name of the show.
“It’s an audacious and a challenging idea and the show is very much about real-life situations and real people. There are emotional stories that will touch every Indian,” is what Aamir had told The Telegraph at the launch of the show in Mumbai.
The actor and the whole entourage spent more than half-an-hour in Sangmartan, East Sikkim. Sources said the team was in search of locales at Sangmartan, 25km from Gangtok, and might leave Sikkim tomorrow.
However, Aamir might visit more places in East Sikkim, possibly the Chhangu Lake, if the team decides to extend the stay by one more day.
“It all depends on an unnamed producer who is accompanying Aamir,” said a source.
As Aamir’s trip to Sikkim had been kept under wraps, only a handful of people could catch a glimpse of him. A bunch of students of Sikkim Law College located near the helipad, security personnel and those waiting to board the chopper managed to see the star when he landed.
The actor’s trip will be cashed in on by tourism stakeholders for sure as the number of visitors to Sikkim dwindled after the earthquake on September 18. His arrival synchronises with the launch of the Sikkim Snow and Cultural Festival here today.
The event is being conducted to regain Sikkim’s image as a safe destination.
An exhibition football match featuring World Cuppers had been organised at Paljor Stadium last month as a tourism recovery mission.
Players like Ruud Gullit and Christian Karembeu, Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker and actors Rahul Bose and Neha Dhupia had taken part in the match on January 22
“Although Aamir’s visit to Sikkim is a personal one, it does add to the efforts made by all tourism stakeholders to send a positive message to the tourists,” said a tour operator.