All Party Meeting in Darjeeling!

Darjeeling, Feb. 4: An all party political meeting was organised at Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling today. The meeting participated by Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Sikkim National Congress and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha remained conspicuous with the absence of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League, Gorkha National Liberation Front and the CPIM (Communist Party of the India - Marxist). The main speakers in the meeting were G. S. Yonzone of the BJP, R. P. Moktan of the Sikkim National Party and R. B. Rai of the CPRM. All the speakers spoke in favour of Gorkhaland and against the proposed Sixth Schedule status. R. P. Moktan and the Sikkim National Party which had always advocated the merger of Darjeeling Hills into the state of Sikkim for the first time announced his parley into the Gorkhaland movement. He said that West Bengal had no authority over Darjeeling Hills.

Epidemic outbreaks - Arunayan Sharma Director of the Centre for Ecological Engineering Malda.

Though the bird flu virus in major districts in Bengal and North Bengal has been widespread, much remains to be learned about the epidemic wherein, unlike most avian flu viruses that mainly affect the respiratory tract, A(H5N1) has been found to damage the liver and kidneys in humans, writes Arunayan Sharma

Birds are in great danger. They are posing threat to our lives as they have been detected as carrier of the deadly virus known as Avian Influenza or Bird Flu. Although threat is mainly for the domesticated varieties of poultry chickens and ducks but can pass through wild variety of migratory birds. Avian influenza viruses have been found in many bird species, but are most often found in migratory waterfowl. Wild birds, especially waterfowl and shorebirds, have been a reason of concern for long time in poultry industry as a source for influenza infections in poultry birds. The first influenza virus was from marine birds and it was classified as subtype H5N3. Other wild birds yielding influenza viruses include various species of shorebirds, gulls, quail, pheasants, and ratites (ostrich and rhea). Bird flu is considered lethal.

With recent out break of this disease among poultry birds in various districts including Malda, North and South Dinajpur of West Bengal millions of chickens either died of infection or were put to death. The majority of waterfowl migration takes place within geographic areas. Many species other than waterfowl follow these same migratory pathways from their breeding grounds to the wintering grounds and return to the breeding grounds. Influenza virus has been found in wild birds throughout the year, but waterfowl are the only group in which these viruses are always found. “Bird flu” is a phrase similar to “Swine flu or “Human flu” refers to an illness caused by many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species: Influenza “A”virus. All subtypes (but not all strains of all subtypes) of Influenza “A” virus are adapted to birds, which is why for many purposes avian flu virus is the Influenza “A” virus ( “A” does not stand for “avian”). Adaption is non-exclusive. Being adapted towards a particular species does not preclude adaptions, or partial adaptions, towards infecting different species. In this way strains of influenza viruses are adapted to multiple species, though may be preferential towards a particular host.

Nepal stir prompts security alert

The Statesman, Siliguri, Feb. 3: Security forces have been deployed along the Nepal border in Siliguri sub-division. They have been put on high alert in view of the bandh-related violence and vandalism in districts of eastern Nepal which share their borders with India. Two Indian vehicles, including a truck and a passenger car were burnt down on Saturday at the Birtamore area in Jhapa district of Nepal. It has been crippled by bandh. Following the incident, Indian vehicles are not entering Nepal from the Panitanki border corridor in Siliguri sub-division fearing further wrath of the agitators.
Likewise, owing to the continuous bandh in eastern Nepal, no vehicle from the Himalayan nation have crossed the Panitanki corridor to come to India since yesterday. This has brought the Panitanki border corridor to a standstill as a large number of lorries have been stranded at the site. According to the ASP, Siliguri, Rajesh Yadav, there has been no fresh incidents of violence, involving Indian property and vehicles today, but the security forces have been put on alert.

GNLF leaders underline the importance of Sixth Schedule

The Statesman, Kurseong, Feb. 3: Today the GNLF organised a public meeting at St Mary’s Hill in Kurseong in which the speakers mainly underlined the importance of the proposed Sixth Schedule status and stressed that the people should be aware of the present political situation in the Darjeeling Hills. The GNLF Kurseong branch general secretary, NB Khawas, said that till date, the second SRC (state reorganisation commission) has not been formed, but the GJM supporters have recently burst crackers in the Hills. They celebrated in such a way as if they would get Gorkhaland through SRC. These activities prove that the GJM leaders are trying to mislead the people of the Hills for their own interests by using the Gorkhaland issue as their main weapon.

Khawas also added that we are not against Gorkhaland, but if the Sixth Schedule is our present, then Gorkhaland is our future. Through the Sixth Schedule only, we would be able to create Gorkhaland, in a proper way. He also added that the Sixth Schedule would also prepare us to govern Gorkhaland.  Khawas said that states like Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya have been formed after getting the Sixth Schedule status. He also added that even in case of Bihar, the SRC had submitted its reports that there is no need to separate Bihar, but presently, Jharkhand has been formed.

Avian Influenza and now Antharax!

The Statesman, Siliguri, Feb.3: Sudden death of five cows on Friday night fuelled anthrax fear at Nishiganj under Mathabhanga-I. Deputy director of animal resources development department, Dr Tapan Kumar Roy said they collected blood samples for examination. If the samples test positive of anthrax, the cattle of the entire area will be vaccinated to stop spreading of the infectious disease, he assured. Meanwhile, the Central observer Dr Vijay Kumar who came from New Delhi to monitor and supervise the bird flu situation in this district visited Jaridharla village in Dinhata yesterday. This village was the first in this district from where the samples were tested positive of bird flu virus. Dr Kumar inquired about the present situation of the village and preventive measures taken after completion of culling. [Inset: Photo www. pathmicro.med.sc.edu]

When asked about the recent spurt of ailment with cold and fever among the villagers in the bird flu affected areas, the DM said the patients were examined and no symptoms similar to avian flu were found. The ongoing cold wave may be the cause of their illness, he said. At the same time he added that teams of health workers are visiting villages regularly to ensure that there are no cases of avian flu in humans has been reported.

40 vehicles burnt, SDF members under cloud

The Statesman, Gangtok, Feb. 3: About 40 vehicles were allegedly damaged by the youths of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) at South Sikkim yesterday. Twenty-five vehicles in Namchi, three in Kamrang South Sikkim, six in Rinchen, three in Bermiok, two in 5th Mile in West Sikkim were damaged yesterday. The vehicles were used for the mass meeting held by the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP).  “Police had to lathicharge the rowdies, but failed to arrest them,” Tara Shresta, the general secretary, SHRP said.
In another incident, some unknown youths burned down a Gypsy bearing a number plate of SK 02/4148 around12: 45 a.m. at Tadong yesterday. Police immediately rushed to the spot and controlled the blaze. Some youths had burnt some vehicles belonging to SHRP members at Gerathang, Soreng and Daramdin in West Sikkim on 23 -25 January.
Retaliating against this incident, some youths from SHRP too had burned two vehicles belonging to the MLA at Daramdin on 26 January. This was an act of political vengeance.

Do-it-yourself mantra for varsity

The Telegraph, Vivek Chettri, Darjeeling, Feb. 3: The soon-to-be functional central university in Sikkim is set to introduce some sweeping changes in the perception of higher education. For one, professors will lead the way in keeping the campus spick and span, instead of the Group D staff.

“We will not recruit non-teaching employees just because there are vacancies. It will be need-based as we are looking towards making the varsity an institute espousing independent thought and making people self-reliant,” Mahindra P. Lama, the vice-chancellor of the university, told The Telegraph, over phone from Guwahati.

“This means that a professor will have to dust his own office instead of depending on a peon to do the work,” Lama added.

Apart from the name of the university — the recently formed executive council is still mulling whether to call it the Central University of Sikkim or Sikkim University — all other processes are almost complete.

“The institute will be set up 28km from Singtam in a place called Yangang (in Sikkim) and the government is acquiring an area of 300 acres. In the next five to 10 years, investment will be to around Rs 500-800 crore,” said Lama.

The university is expected to have its own hospital, multi-cuisine cafeteria, schools and even a helipad to attract the best brains from across the world. “They should be given a reason to join our central university instead of the others located in metropolitan cities. They will after all be entitled to the same salary and we need to give them some extra perks,” said Lama.

Concert boost to Prakriti

The Telegraph, Kalimpong, Feb. 3: Hundreds of residents here braved the winter chill to attend an open air concert organised at Motor Stand this evening to drum up support for Chhote Ustaad contestant Prakriti Giri.

The euphoria around young Prakriti from Darjeeling, who has entered the final rounds of the nationwide singing contest being aired on an entertainment channel, brought back memories of the mass hysteria surrounding Prashant Tamang, who eventually went on to bag the Indian Idol crown last year.

Various local artistes, including Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (Bangla) finalist Karma Sherpa, entertained the crowd for about two hours in the presence of Prakriti’s proud father Naresh Giri, who had driven down from Darjeeling for the concert.

Border bar on traffic

Siliguri, Feb. 3: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Darjeeling district police have stopped all vehicles from entering as well as leaving the country through the Panitanki border with Nepal following an unrest in the Himalayan kingdom.

Over 60 Indian vehicles have been held up at Panitanki, about 40km from here, since yesterday evening, and are waiting to cross into Nepal.

In a bid to demand recognition from the Nepal government, the Limbus of Jhapa, Dharan, Koshi and Narayani districts had staged protests in the eastern part of country. The Youth Communist League, a breakaway faction of the Communist Party of Nepal, has also joined the movement, sources said.

Lawyer IDs soon on bar website- Push for cross-check system after arrests

Siliguri, Feb. 3: To identify lawyers who do not have valid degrees and prevent them from cheating litigants, the Bar Council of West Bengal has decided to launch a website containing information about every practising attorney in the state. [Inset: Photo by Bar Council]

The move, council sources said, follows the arrest of six fake lawyers and identification of three others in Calcutta on Friday.

“Our apprehension that a section of lawyers in the state are practising with fake certificates and degrees has been confirmed,” said Gautam Das, the chairman of the enrolment committee of the council, today. “The council has already lodged a complaint with the Hare Street police station in Calcutta and is planning to maintain a database to help litigants and stop frauds from cheating them.”

The database, Das said, would be continuously updated. “Our plan is to launch a website as well, which will carry information about every lawyer in the state. It will also have the council’s phone and fax numbers and e-mail IDs. In case any litigant wishes to cross-check the genuineness of a lawyer, he or she can surf the website or call us,” he said. “The bar would charge Rs 10 for verification to be done on the same day.”

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaves for Delhi on SC issue

Darjeeling, Feb. 3: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today sent a delegation to Delhi following indications that the Standing Committee on Home Affairs has cancelled its trip to Darjeeling.

Bimal Gurung’s party has threatened an agitation if nothing positive works out by Tuesday.

“A team led by Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the party, has already left for the capital to apprise the committee members of the need to visit the hill town. The party will announce a fresh agitation programme in protest if nothing matures by February 5,” said Binay Tamang, the spokesperson for the Morcha.

In fact, the announcement of the programme is expected to be made at Risheehat tea garden, 23km from here, at a public meeting the same day.

The parliamentary panel, which is currently going through the constitutional amendment bill to grant Sixth Schedule status to the hills, was expected in Darjeeling on a three-day visit starting February 6.

Tea demands carbon credit

 

The Telegraph, Siliguri, Feb. 3: Planters of north Bengal have demanded that the tea industry be included in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a mandate of the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. [Inset:A Tea Pot (Photo: teatimenasville)]

The demand comes at a time when carbon credit is a boom in India and a few organisations have earned money in the past few years by selling credits to companies in the European Union (EU) and the US.

“Though there had been revolutionary resolutions on global warming and greenhouse effect at the international level, tea, an eco-friendly industry, has never been conferred the Certified Emissions Reduction status,” said P.K. Rahut, a senior vice-chairman of the Dooars branch of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA). He was speaking at the 59th annual general meeting of the organisation at Binnaguri on Friday.

MiG-27 pilot recalls Thursday horror flight - I was lucky to survive: Jaspreet

 

MiG-27 (Photo: militarypictures.info)

The Telegraph, Hasimara, Feb. 3: The MiG-27 that crashed in Bhatpara Tea Estate on Friday afternoon had developed a mechanical problem minutes after it took off from the Indian Air Force station here, the pilot said today.

Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh had taken off at 12.28pm and soon sensed trouble in the fighter plane’s engine.

Sitting in room 142 in the officers’ ward of the station hospital, Singh said he had immediately radioed the air traffic control.