NEW DELHI: Army chief’s aide to be charged soon

FROM TIMESNOW.TV

With each passing day it seems the probe into the Sukhna land scam is getting deeper. In the latest, sources have told TIMES NOW that charges against Lt General Avadesh Prakash are likely to be framed in Kolkata on Wednesday (February 10).

Sources also add that over a dozen Army officials are being flown to Kolkata to testify as witnesses when the charges are read out and Lt General Goel, who is the Chief of staff of Eastern command will be the commanding officer.

After the summary of evidence, the court martial proceedings are likely to begin thereafter.

Sources claim that the charges against the Army chief’s close aide will be framed soon, with Army officials standing witnesses when the charges are read out and only after a summary of evidence is presented will the court martial proceedings begin.

The Army had alleged yesterday that there was a “cover up” in the Sukna land scam case in Darjeeling in which three Lt Generals and a Major General are in the dock, and that the Force needed to get to the “bottom” of the issue. Justifying the Army’s action, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising said the main culprit behind the scam must be exposed. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH: Government committed for welfare of Gorkha community

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

GOVERNMENT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister presiding over the meeting of Gorkha Welfare Board at Dharamshala today said that the State Govt. had constituted various welfare boards for solving the problems of the different communities besides taking stock of the programme being implemented for their welfare.

Chief Minister asked to solve the issues and problems of Gorkhas on priority. He said that people belonging to the weaker sections of the society should come forward to take benefit of various programs launched by the Government for their welfare. He said that keeping in view the limited scope in Govt. jobs, youth should take up self-employment ventures.

It was informed in the meeting that estimate of Rs.55,000 was prepared for maintenance and upkeep of Amar Singh Burial place and Malaun fort in Ramshehar in Solan district. In addition to this direction had been given to all Sub-Divisional Magistrates to issue OBC certificates to the wards of Gorkha families living permanently in Himachal as per norms. It was decided that beautification of Amar Shahid Major Durga Mal and Capt. Dal Bahadur Thapa memorial at Dari in Dharamshala would be undertaken at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh. It was informed in the meeting that project was being prepared for implementation of Master Mitra Sen Musuem at village Totarani in Dharmshala.

Chief Minister appreciated the valuable suggestions and information provided by non official members for recommendation in the boards meetings.

Smt. Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister welcoming the Chief Minister said that Rs. 316 crore were being spent on various programs by the Social Justice and Empowerment department in the state. She further said that sincere efforts were being made by the department for the welfare of OBC/SC/ST, minority class, children and handicap. She said that 18,248 anganwadi centres were executing various schemes for better health care of women and child in the state.

Sh. Kishan Kapoor, Industry Minister was also present in the meeting. In addition to it non-officials members of Gorkha Welfare Board actively participated in the meeting. 

RADIO TALK: Radio Misty partners with Inter state Volleyball tournament

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]

Radio Misty 94.3 fm has partnered with second interstate Volleyball tournament held in Siliguri.

Patna Super Six won the inter-state volleyball tournament by defeating NF Railway from Maligaon. The championship was organised by the Himachal Sangha at Deshbandhupara in Siliguri. Krishna Kumar of Patna super six was declared man of the match.

A total eight teams participated in this tournament. Cash prizes were given to winning teams. State urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya gave away the prizes to the winners and the runners up. There was large crowd at the venue to watch the finals of the tournament.

Says Nishant Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, Radio Misty this tournament has became very popular in this region. Many National Volleyball players participate in this tournament. This gives inspiration to local players also. Radio misty this year teamed up with this tournament. We aired live updates and interviews of players.

NEW DELHI: Garhwal dominate but Gorkha win

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

The moment the weather turned cloudy at the start of the second half, it proved to be a blessing for the Gorkha Heroes. The team that was lagging in the first half, showcased exceptional football to trounce their rivals Garhwal Heroes 2-1 in the DSA Senior Division Football League at the Ambedkar Stadium on Monday.

The Garhwal Heroes dominated the game in the first outing, opening their account in the 31st minute. Nigerian striker Urseni showed his presence of mind as the ball ricocheted of his leg and landed into the net. Gorkhas felt the pressure as Garhwal left no stone unturned to make things difficult for them.

But as soon the referee blew the whistle to kick-off the second half, it was almost a different Gorkha side had entered the field, with stark changes to their gameplan. They controlled the possession and left Garhwal on the back foot.

In the 53rd minute, Deepanker Dass headed home a cross from Ajit to equalise the scoreline. In the 87th minute, Nigerian striker Stanley scored the winner with a gliding ball into the goal. The win takes Gorkhas to 22 points in 10 matches while Garhwal stays on 15 points in 10 matches. Garhwal had their chances, but Gorkhas proved to be the stronger side, as the rain came pouring down.

NEW DELHI: Govt works on Gorkha accord

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY ARCHIS MOHAN

New Delhi, Feb. 8: The Centre hopes to ink an accord with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha at the next tripartite talks on Gorkhaland, the date for which will be announced after a meeting on Wednesday.

The Centre and the Bengal government have offered to enhance the powers of the DGHC. Earlier, after the third round of talks in August 2009, it had been agreed that the DGHC Act of 1988 would be repealed provided the Morcha and the state proposed an alternative set-up.

The governments may agree to replace the DGHC with a body that would have more area under it and increased executive and legislative powers.

The date for the fifth round of tripartite talks will be announced after consultations at the cabinet committee on political affairs on February 10.

Home ministry sources today hinted that an agreement with the Morcha may be reached in the fifth round.

“If not for the Telangana issue, home secretary G.K. Pillai could have returned from Darjeeling with an agreement after the fourth round itself,” said a ministry official. Sources said the Centre had been in touch with Morcha chief Bimal Gurung.

The Morcha had demanded the fifth round of talks within 45 days of the fourth round held on December 21, but the government missed the deadline. 

SERIES: HIMALAYAN JOURNALS by Joseph Dalton Hooker – Episode 68 Vol II

THIS SERIES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF ABDUL KALAM EZANI

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

HIMALAYAN JOURNALS

DR. CAMPBELL LEAVES DORJILING FOR SIKKIM

On the 28th of the month the Singtam Soubah came up from Yeumtong, to request leave to depart for his home, on account of his wife’s illness; and to inform me that Dr. Campbell had left Dorjiling, accompanied (in compliance with the Rajah’s orders) by the Tchebu Lama. I therefore left Momay on the 30th, to meet him at Choongtam, arriving at Yeumtong the same night, amid heavy rain and sleet. Autumnal tints reigned at Yeumtong, and the flowers had disappeared from its heath-like flat; a small eatable cherry with a wrinkled stone was ripe, and acceptable in a country so destitute of fruit.* [The absence of _Vaccinia_ (whortleberries and cranberries) and eatable _Rubi_ (brambles) in the alpine regions of the Himalaya is very remarkable, and they are not replaced by any substitute.

With regard to Vaccinium, this is the more anomalous, as several species grow in the temperate regions of Sikkim.] Thence I descended to Lachoong, on the 1st of October, again through heavy rain, the snow lying on the Tunkra mountain at 14,000 feet. The larch was shedding its leaves, which turn red before they fall; but the annual vegetation was much behind that at 14,000 feet, and so many late flowerers, such as _Umbelliferae_ and _Compositae,_ had come into blossom, that the place still looked gay and green: the blue climbing gentian (_Crawfurdia_) now adorned the bushes; this plant would be a great acquisition in English gardens. A _Polygonum_ still in flower here, was in ripe fruit near Momay, 6000 feet higher up the valley.

On the following day I made a long and very fatiguing march to Choongtam, but the coolies were not all able to accomplish it.

The backwardness of the flora in descending was even more conspicuous than on the previous day: the jungles, at 7000 feet, being gay with a handsome Cucurbitaceous plant. Crossing the Lachoong cane-bridge, I paid the tribute of a sigh to the memory of my poor dog, and reached my old camping-ground at Choongtam by 10 p.m., having been marching rapidly for twelve hours. My bed and tent came up two hours later, and not before the leeches and mosquitos had taxed me severely. 

TEA TALK: Tea output loss limited to 2 m kg on late rebound

FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Kochi: Tea production in 2009 dropped marginally by 2 million kg because of improvement in production in the later part of the year.

According to Tea Board’s latest production data for 2009, exports dropped by 6% to 191.4 million kg as against 203.1 million kg in 2008.

Unit realisation of exports stood at Rs 136.64 per kg against Rs 117.81 in 2008.

In value terms, exports were higher in 2009 by 9.3% at Rs 2,616.63 crore against Rs 2,392.91 crore in 2008.

India ’s tea production in December 2009 marginally dropped to 58.1 million kg compared to the same month last year, though exports were up by 37 % on better demand. The country had produced 58.6 million kg of tea in December 2008.

Production in 2009 was estimated to be around 978.9 million kg, down just 2 million kg from 981 million kg produced 2008, in 2007; India produced around 945 million kg of teas.

Production in South India dropped by 2.7 million kg while in North India output was more by 0.9 million kg in 2009 as compared to 2008. Production in Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling was low because of drought in region, which pulled down overall output in North India in the early part of the season. Production in Assam Valley was higher.

In South India , production in all three tea producing states was lower in 2009. Lower production in Kenya and Sri Lanka—mainly CTC producing countries— did not lead to a quantum jump in exports from India in 2009 because of strong domestic prices. “The internal demand is very robust and strong,” traders said.

NEW DELHI: Army lawyer fumbles with names in Sukna land scam

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The army’s counsel and senior lawyer Indira Jaisingh today faced a strong remark from a court as she fumbled twice with names of individuals as she appeared before the Armed Forces Tribunal in connection with the Sukna land scam case in Darjeeling.

Jaisingh was appearing in the case where former Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash has filed a petition for quashing the court martial proceedings against him in the landscam case before a two-member Bench headed by Justice A K Mathur.

Jaisingh first fumbled while talking about the owner of controversial Chumta Tea Estate in Darjeeling S Bajoria, and repeatedly referred to him as Bagrodia.

When corrected by Justice Mathur, she apologised saying she had confused Bajoria with a former MP Bagrodia.

Chumta Tea Estate is the 70 acre land for which the No Objection Certificate was issued by Army’s 33 Corps.

NEW DELHI: There is a ‘cover-up’ in Sukna land scam case – Army

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The Army today said there was a “cover up” in the Sukna land scam case in Darjeeling in which three Lt Generals and a Major General are in the dock and it needs to go to the “bottom” of the issue.

This was stated by Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising while representing the Army in the Armed Forces Tribunal which has been moved by former Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash against his Court Martial in connection with the case.

Prakash has questioned the Army’s decision to order disciplinary action, which entails court martial, against him after deciding to take administrative action which does not necessarily lead to court martial.

NEPAL: Gang war looms large over Nepal

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET / TIMES OF INDIA

KATHMANDU: The spectre of yet another tit-for-tat war between two powerful gangs loomed large over Nepal after a man called up a private television station in Kathmandu on Monday and claimed responsibility for the gunning down of controversial media tycoon 24 hours earlier. Avenues Television said it received a call from a man who identified himself as Bharat Nepali, once the trusted lieutenant of gangster Chhota Rajan but now leading a gang of his own, and said he had caused the killing of Jamim Shah, the 47-year-old head of Space Time Network whose Channel Nepal cable television agency had triggered the Hrithi Roshan riots in 2000.

The call came as no surprise for Nepal’s intelligence agency, the National Investigation Department (NID). In 1998, Chhota Rajan had ordered the killing – in a similar manner – of Nepali MP Mirza Dilshad Beg. The 1998 killing was a fallout of the growing rivalry between Chhota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim, who was running a fake Indian currency racket with the notes manufactured in Pakistan with ISI help, shipped to Nepal as cargo and then sent to India across the porous Indo-Nepal border.

Jamim Shah, though he had always denied allegations of having links with Dawood and the ISI, went underground after Beg’s killing, surfacing cautiously two years later when he thought it was safer. Having started his career with modest gold smuggling in the 80s, he formed an alliance with Beg and was introduced to Dawood by the latter’s aide Sunil Sawant. After the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Sawant went underground in Nepal where he lived as Arun Singh for almost two years before heading for Dubai. In 1995, he was killed in Dubai by a vengeful Rajan’s men.

Though Nepal’s State Home Minister Rizvan Ansari on Monday denied any links between politicians and Shah, Beg and their killings, according to NID sources, two major political parties had sheltered the group that also included former Nepali minister Salim Miyan Ansari and a prominent businessman in Kathmandu. However, after intense Indian pressure during the visits of Nepal’s Prime Minister, and Foreign and Home Ministers to India, the ruling alliance agreed to end the political patronage enjoyed by the group. As a result, last month Ansari’s son Yunus Ansari, also a budding media baron, was arrested following a haul of fake Indian currency that police said had originated in Karachi.

NEPAL: Nepal completes child soldiers’ release

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET / DAWN

KATHMANDU: Nepal completed Monday the release of thousands of former Maoist child soldiers from UN-monitored camps, seen as a crucial step forward in the country’s faltering peace process.

The final transfer saw 268 young people leave a camp in Rolpa, 280 kilometres (175 miles) west of Kathmandu, which has been their home for the past three years.

“The release of these young people today is not only symbolic for the country but a milestone for these young men and women who spent their formative years inside a military structure losing out on critical skills” said Gillian Mellsop, country representative for the UN children’s fund.

Around 24,000 former combatants were confined to UN-supervised camps as part of the 2006 peace deal that followed the end of the decade-long bloody conflict between Maoist guerrillas and the state.

In December 2007 the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) completed a verification process and found that 2,973 former fighters were minors when the war ended and another 1,035 were not genuine combatants.

Their release began last month.

“We are very happy as the discharge process has come to an end. This is a significant achievement for the country’s peace process,” peace ministry spokesman Bishnu Prasad Nepal, told AFP.

Those leaving the camps are offered rehabilitation packages supported by the UN, which includes education and training for jobs such as hairdressing, bicycle repair and house painting.

NEPAL: Police tap jailbirds for information

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET / MY REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU: The government is yet to find any solid lead in the Jamim Shah murder probe although it has widened its investigation and fielded several teams. One of the ways the Nepal Police are investigating is to reach out to criminals in local jails, who are of Indian origin and considered to have close links to Shah. Sources say high police officials have visited jails in the capital with hopes for clues from convicts including big names involved in different abduction, drugs and fake currency cases.

An official who is a member of the investigative team formed by police headquarters said a preliminary conclusion was that Shah´s murder was orchestrated from within the jails.

Nepal Police are said to have been planning to use those convicts for help in the investigations on the basis of some success with this approach in the investigation of major abduction cases.

Nepal Police have created three layers of investigation with the central one headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rajendra Singh Bhandari under police headquarters.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner´s Office formed another team, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Madhav Nepal. Similarly, Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) has formed a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kedar Dhakal. “We are working for the facts and will hopefully succeed soon,” said DIG Bhandari.

Investigating officers have reached a conclusion that Shah´s murder in broad daylight in one of the busiest areas in the capital must have been carried out by professional criminals. Their modus operandi did not sync with anything that local criminals are believed to have followed, sources say.

Shah was shot dead in Lazimpat on Sunday afternoon by two masked men on a motorbike following him along a route where at least 500 security personnel were deployed for the movement of Vice-President Paramananda Jha.

SILIGURI: Girls go to cops against principal – Harassment on excursion: students

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The protesters on the Siliguri Women’s College campus. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Siliguri, Feb. 8: Students of Siliguri Women’s College today filed a police complaint against the principal alleging that she left them in the middle of an excursion without making proper security arrangements.

This morning, 13 third-year students (geography honours) after alighting from a train at New Jalpaiguri (NJP), went straight to Siliguri police station and submitted a mass petition, demanding action against Ruma Bhowmik Sengupta, the principal.

Saddled with their luggage and accompanied by the guardians, they went to the college and confined Sengupta to the administrative building for more than four hours. Soon, second-year (general) students joined the protest.

“The principal is not capable of shouldering our responsibility. She left us at the mercy of the tour operators who were drunk all the time and kept demanding money from us. The hotel in Agra had rooms without latches and the bathroom windows had big gaps through, which anybody could enter. We had to face a host of difficulties and could not concentrate on the field survey,” a third-year student alleged.

On January 31, the principal left for Delhi with a group of 25 second-year (general) students and 13 third-year (honours) students. Two college faculty members accompanied them. The trip was conducted by a Malda-based tour agency. The third-year students had paid Rs 3,200 for the trip and the second-year students Rs 2,200 each.

“The tour operators and the cooks reeked of alcohol when I had gone to see off my daughter at NJP. I was worried about her safety right from that time,” the mother of a third-year student said.

KALIMPONG: ‘Interim’ proposal shunned

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong, Feb. 8: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s revelation that the “secret document” it has sent to the Centre pertains to an interim arrangement has evoked strong reactions in the hills with the ABGL iterating that the so-called stopgap measure is only an alternative to the DGHC.

Citing the seven-point resolution adopted at the end of the third round of tripartite talks in October, ABGL president Madan Tamang said Point 2 of the document clearly mentioned that an alternative administration would be formed after repealing the DGHC.

“It is the same thing Subash Ghisingh (GNLF president) wanted to thrust on us. The only change is in the nomenclature. It (the new set-up) will be known as the Gorkha Tribal Autonomous Council,” he claimed. Calling on the people to foil the Morcha’s alleged design, Tamang warned it would be futile to protest once the task was accomplished.

The ABGL president said in the alternative council, the Gorkhaland Personnel would be converted into village police since the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) would not be applicable to Sixth Schedule areas. “The West Bengal government will then rule by proxy with the (help of) terror tactics of Bimal Gurung and his people,” he alleged. Tamang urged the people to make a success of the janta curfew called by his party tomorrow. “By staying indoors we must make it clear that we are not going to go for that sort of arrangement. Our demand is separation from Bengal.”

C.K. Pradhan, the president of the GNLF (C), too, said he had serious reservations about the interim arrangement. “An interim arrangement is a stopgap measure to run the administration once the decision to form a state is made. In this case, the government has taken no such decision. So where is the need to go for an interim arrangement?” he asked. 

SILIGURI: Asok at CM door for talks date

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

A stage erected by the Morcha for the memorial meeting in Birpara. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

Siliguri, Feb. 8: Urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya has urged the chief minister to talk to the Centre and announce the date of the fifth round of tripartite talks with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

“I have talked to the chief minister this morning over the phone. He has told me that he will discuss the issue with Union home minister P. Chidambaram, who will meet the chief ministers of Maoist-affected states in Calcutta tomorrow. I have also apprised him of the present situation in the hills and conveyed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s demand for a tripartite meeting at the earliest,” Bhattacharya told reporters here today.

The minister, the CPM MLA of Siliguri, was reacting to the claim made by Morcha president Bimal Gurung that the date of the next round of talks would be announced by February 10.

Sources in the Union home ministry today hinted that an agreement with the Morcha might be reached at the fifth round of talks, the date for which will be announced after a cabinet committee meeting in Delhi on Wednesday.

Bhattacharya welcomed the Morcha’s proposal of an “interim arrangement” till the Assembly election in 2011. “I have come to know about their (Morcha’s) latest stand through the media and I welcome the move that they have agreed to an interim arrangement. I feel it is a positive response from their side,” he said.

Sources in the home ministry, however, said a “separate Gorkha state was out of question”.

In Darjeeling, however, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said yesterday that the “secret” proposal sent by Gurung to the Centre pertained to an “interim arrangement” for the area the party wants as Gorkhaland till the Assembly election in 2011. “Every point in our proposal will have to be accepted. However, there will be no compromise on Gorkhaland,” he said. 

DOOARS TERAI: Cops unaware of Morcha night meet – Bandh and arrest fail to stop gathering

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

An office kept open on Monday in Darjeeling, where the Morcha has imposed a ban on the plying of government vehicles. Picture by Suman Tamang

Alipurduar, Feb. 8: Supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha “successfully” held a memory meeting at Birpara last night, hours after they had been arrested for assembling for the purpose flouting a prohibitory order and released on bail.

The Adivasi Vikas Parishad had observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the Dooars to thwart the meeting, but the Morcha members gathered at the Birpara Nepali High School grounds about 8pm. Police said they had no information about the gathering.

The meeting was organised in memory of Akbar Lama who had been killed in a clash between the members of the Morcha and the Parishad on February 7 last year.

The Morcha had sought permission for the meeting at the same venue, but the police refused and imposed Section 144 in Birpara.

Later, another group of Morcha members numbering around 100 were taken into custody while marching to the Birpara police station to demand the release of those arrested earlier. All were taken to Alipurduar and released on bail in the evening. They again started for Birpara, 65km from Alipurduar, and offered tributes to Akbar Lama.

Shyamal Gurung, the organising secretary of the Morcha in the Dooars, Saroswati Pradhan, a central committee member, and Ranjit Thapa of the outfit’s youth wing, delivered speeches. Every speaker criticised yesterday’s police action and congratulated the local leaders for organising the meeting in a short time. The supporters were exhorted to participate in the movement for Gorkhaland more actively.

Microphones and lights were used for the meeting that continued for two hours.

SUPPORT THE HIMALAYAN BEACON AND GORKHAPEDIA.ORG

1. The donated sum to be used as a seed money for the formation of Gorkha Research Foundation.

2. Gorkha Research Foundation to be registrated with Government of India as a non-profit research organisation.

3. Donors, irrespective of the amount of money they donate, to form the Honarary Board of Trustees, to look after the general functioning of Gorkha Research Foundation.

4. Gorkha Research Foundation to take over the functioning of Gorkhapedia.org

5. Gorkha Research Foundation to work towards conducting research on social, anthropological, economical and political issues involving the Gorkhas and the allied races.

6. The account of the expenditure of the donated sum of money and the budget of Gorkha Research Foundation and Gorkhapedia.org to be submitted to the Honarary Board of Trustees at the end of the financial year 2010 by a registered chartered Accountant and notarized by a Notary Public.

7. The Honarary Board of Trustees to unanimously or in majority guide the functioning of Gorkha Research Foundation and Gorkhapedia.org.

8. The Himalayan Beacon to act as the general online discussion platform where the Board of Trustees could interact with the rest of the world including deliberating on Current Affairs of the Gorkha people and the allied races.

NEPAL: Maoists force closure of 26 restaurants in Kathmandu

FROM THE HINDU

Twenty six restaurants operating under three chains in Kathmandu have been shut down after the Maoists affiliated union exerted pressure to fulfil their demands of hiking pay and perks.

Restaurants operating under the chains of Nepal Dairy’s, Hot Bread and The Bakery Cafe have shut down their outlays in Kathmandu since Sunday following the Maoists’ pressure, according to Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (RABAN).

The decision to close down the restaurant outlays was taken after the Maoist workers obstructed operation for eight hours on Saturday to press for their demands.

Although the restaurant owners and labour union had earlier agreed to review their pay and perks in every three years during previous agreement, the pro-Maoist workers obstructed the operation of restaurant one year before the agreement expires, one of the owners said. We will review their salary next year as it was increased just two years ago, he pointed out. 

RADIO TALK: Radio Misty Partners with Nepali Film

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]

Radio Misty Sikkim 95 fm has partnered with Nepali film Angalo yo mayo ko.This film will have Indian Idol 3 star Prashant Tamang in lead role. This film is made by Sinai commercial .The shooting for this film will be starting from 25th February in Sikkim and Darjeeling. The beautiful locations of Gangtok, namchi and north Sikkim will be featured in this film.

The star cast includes Mahindra Gurung, Keki Adhikari, Bijayata Baraily, Swagatika Thami, Chunnilal Ghimeray and other artist all belonging to Sikkim. This film is directed by noted director Vinod Sereng.

Says Nishant Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, Radio Misty we are proud to be radio partner to this film. Prashant Tamang is the biggest star in this region. We will promote this film with different on air and on ground activities.listerners can have daily update of shooting of films. Beside this all artists and team will be live at Radio Misty studios in Gangtok to interact with listeners’.

IMPHAL: Army aid

FROM THE SANGAI EXPRESS

Imphal, February 07: To encourage progressive measures for the upliftment of the society and to motivate the students, 4/8 Gorkha Rifles under the aegis of Red Shield Division donated computer sets and furniture to Oinam High School today.

According to a statement issued by PIB Defence Wing, the Commanding Officer of the Army Unit and local MLA Dr I Ibohalbi were present on the occasion.

A cultural show was presented by the students of the school.

Saplings were also planted as a part of the programme, the PIB Defence Wing statement added.

BENGAL: Buddha woos tribals, Basu steals the show

FROM THE FINANCIAL EXPRES

Kolkata: Seven after death, Jyoti Basu was overwhelmingly present during Sunday’s Left Front rally at Brigade Parade Ground here with the CPM patriarch’s cutouts, posters and recorded speech making an impressive show. Almost all Left leaders referred to Basu in their speeches. Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghose began his address saying, “Everybody is here, except Jyoti Basu.” Basu’s cutouts were placed beside the huge dais while many Left workers wore masks resembling Basu’s face. A song composed on the departed leader was sung at the venue. Some publication brought out special issues on the country’s longest-serving chief minister. A recorded speech of Basu was played at the end of the meeting.

To woo Muslims and tribals before the forthcoming civic polls, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee appealed to the communities to support the ruling CPM. “I appeal to the tribals. See how tribals in Jharkhand are facing problems. In our state, the living standard of tribals is higher compared to Jharkhand. But a lot remains to be done, and we will do it,” he told the rally. He said Kolkata is a symbol of communal harmony. “The state is an example of communal harmony for the nation,” he said. Accusing the Trinamool Congress of trying to prevent the Left Front government from carrying out pro-people programmes, he said: “We want good panchayats and municipalities to serve the people better.” 

PHOTO FEATURE: GJYM cadres court arrest at Birpara

Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha courting arrest at Birpara near Siliguri. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

DARJEELING HILLS: GJM threatens to drive out DM, SP from Darjeeling

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

After the Centre did not announce the date on political-level talks on Gorkhaland, which it was suppose to announce in the first week of February, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Sunday said that it would go for “home rule” by driving out the district magistrate and superintendent of police from the Hills if the Centre fails to respond positively to its demands.

The announcement was made by GJM president Bimal Gurung at a rally at Kalimpong. Four other rallies were organised at other places in the Darjeeling district where similar announcements were made by other leaders of the outfit.  

“We received feelers that by February 9 or February 10, the Centre will inform us about the next date. I will expect that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will be present in the meeting. And I will also be in that meeting where I will offer a formula which should be acceptable to all,” Gurung told the rally. 

“But if no positive response comes, we will start home rule in the Hills and as a first step we will drive out both the DM and SP from here,” the Morcha chief added. 

During the fourth round of tripartite talks — involving GJM, Centre and the state government — that took place in Darjeeling on December 21, the GJM had demanded that the next round of talks should be on political level. Union Home Secretary G K Pillai had told the GJM that the date on the next round of talks will be announced within 45 days. The deadline expired last week. 

Pillai, however, told The Indian Express that the issue would be decided at the CCPA meeting, which would be held “very soon”. 

DARJEELING HILLS: GJM sets deadline for tripartite talks

FROM THE HINDU

Demanding that a Gorkhaland State be carved out of the Darjeeling district and certain areas contiguous to it in north Bengal, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership on Sunday threatened to intensify its agitation unless the date of the fifth round of tripartite talks is announced by February 10. 

Volunteers from the GJM’s youth organisations will also go on a 48-hour relay hunger strike in different towns in the Darjeeling district and the Dooars from Tuesday in protest against the Centre and State government’s silence over the holding of a fifth round ofdiscussions at a political level on the issue, GJM general-secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling. 

“We have extended the deadline for a decision on the date of the tripartite talks till February 10 and shall intensify our agitation for Gorkhaland State if there is no announcement by then,” Mr. Giri added. 

The GJM is also insisting that Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee attend the next round of discussions which should be held “at the political level.” It has threatened to boycott the talks if the two leaders fail to turn up. 

The GJM had sought a fifth round within 45 days at the last round of talks that were held in Darjeeling on December 21, 2009. Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai had then said that the GJM’s request would be referred to the Centre and the State government. The GJM is yet to receive a response even though the 45-day period expired on Saturday. 

Last month, GJM president Bimal Gurung sent a proposal to the Centre for an interim administrative arrangement in the Darjeeling hills till 2011 to pave the way for the creation of Gorkhaland state. 

The political situation in the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars in the plains of north Bengal has been tense over the past few days. 

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LAMAS AND TRAVELLERS AT MOMAY

The temperature at this elevation, between 1 and 3 p.m., varied from 38 degrees to 59 degrees; the mean being 46.5 degrees, with the dew-point 34.6 degrees. The height I made 17,585 feet by barometer, and 17,517 by boiling-point. I tried the pulses of eight, persons after two hours’ rest; they varied from 80 to 112, my own being 104.  

As usual at these heights, all the party were suffering from giddiness and headaches. Throughout September various parties passed my tent at Momay, generally Lamas or traders: the former, wrapped in blankets, wearing scarlet and gilt mitres, usually rode grunting yaks, which were sometimes led by a slave-boy or a mahogany-faced nun, with a broad  yellow sheep-skin cap with flaps over her ears, short petticoats, and striped boots. The domestic utensils, pots, pans, and bamboos of butter, tea-churn, bellows, stools, books, and sacred implements, usually hung rattling on all sides of his holiness, and a sumpter yak carried the tents and mats for sleeping. On several occasions large parties of traders, with thirty or forty yaks* [About 600 loaded yaks are said to cross the Donkia pass annually.] laden with planks, passed, and occasionally a shepherd with Tibet sheep, goats, and ponies. I questioned many of these travellers about the courses of the Tibetan rivers; they all agreed* [One lad only, declared that the Kambajong river flowed north-west to Dobtah and Sarrh, and thence turned north to the Yaru; but all Campbell's itineraries, as well as mine, make the Dobtah lake drain into the Chomachoo, north of Wallanchoon; which latter river the Nepalese also affirm flows into Nepal, as the Arun. The Lachen and Lachoong Phipuns both insisted on this, naming to me the principal towns on the way south-west from Kambajong along the river to Tingri Maidan, _via_ Tashirukpa Chait, which is north of Wallanchoon pass.] in stating the Kambajong or Chomachoo liver, north of the Lachen, to be the Arun of Nepal, and that it rose near the Ramchoo lake (of Turner’s route). The lake itself discharges either into the Arun, or into the Painomchoo (flowing to the Yaru); but this point I could never satisfactorily ascertain.

The weather at Momay, during September, was generally bad after 11 a.m.: little snow or rain fell, but thin mists and drizzle prevailed; less than one inch and a half of rain was collected, though upwards of eleven fell at Calcutta, and rather more at Dorjiling.