GJM chief meets Advani

KURSEONG, Dec. 21: A 14-member delegation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha headed by its chief Bimal Gurung met BJP leader Mr LK Advani in Delhi today and submitted a deputation expressing their views on the proposed Sixth Schedule for Darjeeling hills and Gorkhaland. Mr Advani took stock of the socio-political situation in Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, Terai and the Dooars region during the 45 minute meeting.

BJP not to back Sikkim quota Bill

PTI, GANGTOK, Dec. 21: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided not to support any Bill for reservation of seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly until seats are reserved for the Limboo-Tamangs as Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim.
“There is a long pending processes for reservation of seats from passing a proposal by the Sikkim State Cabinet to reservation of seat by the Delimitation Commission.
The SDF Government has not even initiated the first step,” alleged Mr HR Pradhan president of the BJP, Sikkim.

Red Pandas to be counted

Gangtok, Dec. 21: A survey of red pandas across seven sanctuaries of Sikkim began today as the government tries to get, for the first time, an official estimate of the population of the state animal and develop a long-term conservation plan.

The red panda is classified as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

The state forest wildlife and environment management department has joined hands with WWF, the global conservation organisation, for the red panda project, which will cover, among others, Khangchendzonga National Park and Barsey Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kitam Wildlife Sanctuary in South Sikkim has been left out of the exercise because there is little chance of finding red pandas in the dry forest comprising mainly sal trees.

Two teams from the forest department and the WWF today reached Fambonglo Wildlife Sanctuary in East Sikkim for the survey.

Assistant conservator of forests Mani Ram Subba will question people living on the periphery of the sanctuary about sightings of red panda, said divisional forest officer (wildlife) Karma Legshey.

Priyadarshani Shrestha, the senior programme officer of the Sikkim unit of WWF, said the survey aims to come up with an approximate number of red pandas in Sikkim. No such official survey has ever been conducted in the state.

The teams will also collect data on the state’s food resources for the red panda (it feeds mainly on bamboo) and possible locations were reserves can be set up for its conservation.

Teesta warning for dam residents

The Telegraph, Gangtok, Dec. 21: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited has asked the residents of Dikchu, the site of a 95m-high dam for the Teesta hydel project, to keep off the area from the last week of December when water would be filled up in the reservoir.

“People are advised to remove their belongings including cattle that may get submerged by the dam’s water. They are also advised not to go near the dam or its banks,” reads a public notice issued by the NHPC in Nepali.

Eight arrested for picnic murder

Siliguri, Dec. 21: Eight persons, who had been earlier detained for interrogation, have been arrested for their involvement in the murder of Kabita Subba.

Udai Tamang, the officer-in-charge of the Rambhi police station, said the arrests were a breakthrough that is likely to provide some vital leads. All eight — residents of the Malbazar subdivision — were produced in the Kalimpong subdivisional court today and remanded in police custody for five days. A hunt is on for at least six others.

The body of 26-year-old Kabita, a resident of Hyderpara, was found near Monpong, 26km away, on Monday. It was later identified by her neighbours Soma Saha and Jyoti Chetri. The body has been handed over to her husband Kumar Subba, who works in Gouripur, Assam.

Fijians Xmas Gift

The Telegraph, Kalimpong, Dec. 21: The carol festival ended here tonight with a dance performance by a three-member Fijian troupe. The all-men team comprising Mark Barvear, Letani Quranivalu and Jerry Bosevanua danced with gusto, at times even threatening to bring down the temporary stage set up on Main Road. Through their dances, they sought to spread the message of Christ. Attired in a mix of traditional Fijian and modern clothes comprising lavalava (a cloth worn like a kilt or skirt) and black T-shirts with leaves tied around the wrists, the dancers won the hearts of the evening crowd.