New Delh: Switching off their television set, Sushil Kumar’s wrestling buddies at Satpal’s akhada in Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi didn’t waste a minute to begin the frenzied celebrations. Their sport wasn’t even mentioned among the medal prospects in the run-up to Beijing, but along came this man, seemingly out of nowhere, to break India’s one-medal jinx at the Olympics.
The celebrations will continue for a while, but a peek into the everyday lives of the country’s second medallist at the Games shows he had to battle a lot more than his opponents in Beijing. Squeezed into tiny rooms at the stadium’s residential facility, with rats, cockroaches and cobwebs for company, the conditions are not really conducive to breed a champion. But for these men, it’s just a way of life.
The disbelief grows as one enters the dingy room. It looks dark despite the light outside, and with barely any space to walk between the beds, the room gives the impression of being much smaller than it is. The shelf at the back has a number of trunks thrown together, taking up precious space, but it’s all they have to spare for their belongings.
Sumit, one of the wrestlers who bunks in the same room as Sushil, proudly points out his now famous colleague’s mattress among nine others in the small room. “See, this is where he sleeps. In the summer he sleeps this side, but in winter he moves to the other mattress. We have to manage with just these two coolers, so he moves to be more comfortable,” he says.
“With this medal, we hope our needs are better looked after than before. Here, there are 20 people to a room with two people to a bed. Not all rooms have coolers like ours, and we have to share the space with rats and other animals. Here, there’s room for everybody,” laughs Arvind, another inmate cheerfully resigned to the conditions.
For their food and lodging, they pay a sum of Rs 1000-1500, depending on the size of the room. “This is how we’ve been living. We have to make do with what we have. It’s very tough, but what choice do we have?” says Sumit, before adding: “Perhaps now that Sushil had got a medal, more money will come into the sport. We have brought it to the attention of the authorities many times but it hasn’t made a difference, so we carry on.” Read the rest of this entry »
Harish Bhatta (Bhattarai?) of Darjeeling died and his body is now lying in the Ratnagiri Distt. Hospital in Mumbai . He reportedly hails from Lalkothi Area, Darjeeling. The hospital authorities have not handed over the body to his friends in Mumbai and wants to contact his relatives for proper identification.
You are requested to kindly enquire if you know the deceased or his relatives and immediately contact at 09766943199 in Mumbai so that the dead body could be handed to the Gorkha Community of Mumbai and the final rites be carried out. The matter is urgent!
If you have problem contacting at the Mumbai number you could directly comment to this post and we will have your message conveyed to Mumbai.
The Himalayan Rock Album ‘Dreamers on the Road’ by GottaGo, the Trans-Himalayan Rock group – carries with it the emblem of many firsts. It is the first full fledged English Album, under standard norms, from the Himalayan zone. This Rock Album has been the only one from North eastern India to have received the offer for an international release through BMG Germany by Pan Music @ CBS Records Mumbai in 1996. It is also the first time that the studios in Kathmandu did a full length English project.Though, eventually this debut album was released by Santana Records, Nepal in 1998; ever since, it has been steadily winning music loving hearts world-wide.
Perhaps, inspired by the ethereal beauty of Kanchenjunga the Darjeeling based rock artist M. C. Rana who is the lyricist, singer and front-man of the super-group GottaGo composed classics like “Welcome to Darjeeling” and “Don’t fade Away”. The unique music video of “Don’t Fade Away” is another first in the Western music scenario of the Himalayas.
The album consists of ten songs which range from medium hard rock to soft ballads, not devoid of ethnic touches. Each of the songs are original, thought, provoking and unique in their own right.
THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF DREAMERS ON THE ROAD
Centuries-old custom in Nepal of worshipping a virgin girl-child residing in a palace as a “living goddess” has been scrapped after it was branded outdated by the supreme court, which ruled that the “deity” must go to school.
Religious authorities are searching for a new Kumari – chosen from a handful of three-year-olds – after it was revealed the current living goddess would retire later this year. Such a process looks likely to be scrapped, however, after the country’s highest court accepted arguments that keeping a girl locked up in a medieval palace in the capital, Kathmandu, breached her fundamental rights.
“There should be no bar on the Kumaris from going to school … as there are no historical and religious documents restricting Kumaris from enjoying child rights,” the supreme court said. Analysts said the ruling was in response to a new atmosphere in the Himalayan nation under former rebels, now ruling Maoists, who are determined to end feudal practices.
Kumaris, which are revered until they menstruate, preside over key Hindu festivals in Nepal. The tradition was started in the 16th century by the Nepali monarchy, which believed the girl would protect them. Attributes are said to include a voice “as soft and clear as a duck’s, the body of a Banyan tree and the chest of a lion”.
One of the first acts of the Maoist government was to scrap the 240-year-old monarchy. It was custom for Nepal’s king to be blessed by the Kumari, whose horoscope had to match that of the monarch.
Maoist MPs have described the institution as an “evil symbol”, although some would say a Kumari’s life is not too harsh: she can eat what she likes and act with impunity. Her parents are not allowed to tell her off.
ITAHARI: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda, who arrived here today to observe the flood situation in Sunsari, was moved by the gravity of the problem. He said the havoc caused was more horrible than he had imagined and international assistance might be needed to cope with the situation. At a temporary relief camp set up in Inaruwa, 66-year-old Bhutani Sada, displaced by the flood from Sripur-5, fell at the PM’s feet and said, “My son, daughter-in-law, grandsons and grand-daughters have gone missing. Please, help us find them. I can no longer live without them. I wish to see my grandsons before I die.”
Over 40,000 people have been rendered homeless after the Saptakoshi River gushed into more than six VDCs in Sunsari after breaching the embankment on Monday.
Another displaced person, Sewai Lal Yadav said, “I lost my son and mother in the flood. Please, help find them.” He also claimed that they were not receiving enough food and necessary clothing. The PM was accompanied by MJF leader Upendra Yadav, general secretary of CPN (Unity Centre) Prakash and CPN-UML central member Bhim Acharya. Flooded by complaints, they were at a loss of words to comfort them.
The PM later told the flood victims that the government would assist them in every possible way. When Ajaya Mehata, 12, appealed to the PM Prachanda to find whether his parents, who have been missing for three days, were dead or alive, the PM was left speechless and it was MJF leader Upandra Yadav who promised the boy of help to search his parents.
Crowds of people were seen searching for their dear ones on the bank of Sunsari river and other flood ravaged areas. “I have been looking for my nine-year-old brother for three days but in vain,” said Rakesh Haluwai. With every passing day, the kin of the missing persons have been giving up hope for finding them alive. “My family might have been swept away by the flood by now,” said 19-year-old Devaki Sada, who along with her brother was rescued by an army helicopter. She said the NA abandoned the day’s rescue operation saying it was becoming dark, but nobody knew what will happen to the missing or stranded people by tomorrow morning.
Speaking at a programme in Inaruwa, Prachanda urged all to get involved in rescuing flood victims. He said the government had allocated Rs 20 millions as relief for flood-displaced. He also promised more funds for the flood-hit as and when needed. He said the Koshi pact with India was a historic mistake and it should be reviewed, adding that there should now be a permanent solution to the flood havoc caused by the Koshi River. Read the rest of this entry »
KATHMANDU: The CPN-Maoist, CPN-UML and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum were close to reaching a power-sharing deal, according to Maoist leader Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran.’ Maoists want the cabinet formed very soon, as it would be almost impossible for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to leave for China to attend the closing ceremony of Olympics scheduled for Sunday if no cabinet is formed here.
Baidya said in all probability the cabinet would take shape tomorrow after a power-sharing dialogue with the UML. He said things had been finalised with the UML and issues with the MJF would be sorted out tomorrow morning.
UML leader Bishnu Poudel told this daily that the cabinet would take shape tomorrow and standing committee meeting of the party will finalise UML’s nominees to the cabinet. Another UML leader, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, said at an interaction today that the new ministers would be sworn in by tomorrow evening.
Besides the three main partners, Adhikari said CPN-ML, CPN-United, Janamorcha Nepal and Sadbhawana Party would also join the government.
Meanwhile, MJF has decided to send its representatives to the cabinet under party chairman Upendra Yadav’s leadership. Though Baidya said they had not talked anything about creating the post of deputy prime minister, it would not be a surprise if MJF gets DPM’s post, as Adhikari said creating such a post was a possibility.
MJF leader BP Yadav claimed that the Maoists had already agreed to give DPM’s post to MJF. Since the NC is in the opposition, the Maoists are unlikely to antagonise the MJF and force it to join the NC in the opposition, analysts say. Yadav said his party had decided to send only new faces to the cabinet. Read the rest of this entry »
KATHMANDU: A Nepali tradition of locking a young virgin girl in a palace and worshipping her as a “living deity” has been dealt a blow with the country’s Supreme Court ruling she has the right to go to school.
The court said there was no justification for the specially chosen pre-pubescent girl, known as the Kumari, to be subjected to a practice that dates back centuries. The current Kumari is nine-year-old Preeti Shakya.
The ruling comes barely three months after Nepali lawmakers abolished the country’s 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, who received annual blessings from the Kumari in a ceremony designed to underpin the legitimacy of the royals.
The court’s verdict was prompted by a complaint from local lawyers that keeping a young girl cooped up in an ornate but decrepit palace in Kathmandu’s medieval quarter was a violation of her rights.
“The Supreme Court came up with a verdict… asking the government to take action to protect the rights of the Kumari,” Supreme Court spokesman Hemanta Rawal said.
“The court ruled there were no historic or religious documents that state the child should be denied the rights of education, movement etc. She should not be denied these things just because she is the Kumari.” Read the rest of this entry »
KATHMANDU: : The US has provided a sum of $50,000 for emergency relief to flood victims in eastern Nepal.
A US embassy release said the US AID’s office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has authorised immediate release of $50,000 to provide emergency relief supplies to the flood victims. The OFDA response came in request from US ambassador Nancy J Powell.
Interestingly, the US relief is the first interantional assistance to come to the country after the CPN-M – still on its terrorist list – took over.
The disaster assistance will be used by Nepal Red Cross in partnership with Save the Children for local purchases and transport of relief supplies for people in Nepal who lost their homes in the flooding of August 18, 2008.
The US also hinted that it was willing to provide more relief if needed. “The US is prepared to provide additional assistance if needed, according to the US AID official.
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20: In a clear departure from the normal practice of any new Prime Minister visiting New Delhi first, Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda was all set to visit Beijing on invitation from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Prachanda was determined to leave for Beijing on a four-day visit ostensibly to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympic that Beijing has hosted, a Maoist leader said. And he was apparently keen to give a shape to his Cabinet that has been witheld following differences over controlling the key portfolios among the potential coalition partners.
Prachanda returned to the capital from a visit to Eastern Nepal where a severe breach on embankment of the Kosi river, an dam built by India, inundated a vast area displacing more than 40,000 people. He got into an intense consultation with two major coalition partners – Communist party of Nepal-Unfied Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) – on the Cabinet formation, which he hoped would take place on Thursday.
At the outset, he informed the two parties that he would not include the Maoist combatants or the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the security system of the Prime Minister’s office as well as the residence. Prachanda’s decision comes 12 hours after his meeting with Chief of the Nepal Army Gen Rukmangat Katawal, who apparently informed the Prime Minister that they would under no circumstances accept a private army in the official security set up. Prachanda was apparently keen to sort out all major differences with him by Thursday, so that he faced no problem flying to Beijing on Saturday where, among other things, he will be paying a visit to Mao’s hometown, a dream that he has cherished for long. Read the rest of this entry »
President of the Republic of Korea has congratulated newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
In his congratulatory message, President Lee Myung-bak said, “On behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of Korea, I would like to extend to you my sincere congratulations on your inauguration as PM of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.”
“I would also like to congratulate you on the smooth political process in which the historical Constituent Assembly election was conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner. I hope that a democratic republic will successfully take root in your country and Nepal will achieve remarkable growth in every area under outstanding leadership in the years to come.”
“I also hope to work closely with your Right Honorable during your tenure to further strengthen the friendly ties between our two countries,” a statement issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kathmandu quoted President Lee as saying.
Meanwhile RSS adds, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Ilankovan Kolandavelu have separately sent congratulatory messages to Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on being him elected the Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
Russian Prime Minister Putin has wished PM Prachanda good health and success, and peace and prosperity of Nepali people.
He expressed belief that the bilateral relations subsisting between the two countries would further strengthen in the days ahead. Read the rest of this entry »
SILIGURI, Aug. 20: Problems related to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital have at last made the policy makers sit up and take notice. And, to address the burning issues, the state health minister Dr Surya Kanta Mishra, the state urban development minister and chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity, NBMCH, Mr Asok Bhattacharya and the NBMCH principal Dr Udayan Ganguly would hold a meeting at the Sasthya Bhaban in Kolkata tomorrow.
Informing this here today, the medical superintendent, NBMCH Dr Samir Ghosh said that almost all the problems being faced by the ailing hospital are expected to be discussed in full at the meeting. Meanwhile, the Junior Doctors’ Council, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, demanded immediate revamping of the emergency infrastructure and along with it, installation of Intensive Care Unit in the hospital. In a deputation to the principal it said that unless these things were done, the hospital would continue losing credibility among the common people.
“The confidence of the common people with this hospital is at its ebb right now. To bolster it, the NBMCH management can take some measures immediately. Revamping of the emergency facilities and installation of IOC are two major measures we deem indispensable for bringing this hospital in tune with the growing expectation of the people,” said Dr Prasanta Sarkar, the secretary of the JDC. Read the rest of this entry »
SILIGURI, Aug. 20: Bandhs, in any form are drawing flak from the common man. The one today was severely criticised. “We are suffering mainly because of the failure of the authorities to prevent bandhs,” gushed Sagari Sarkar, a 54-year-old domestic help this morning, as she sat hopelessly near a blockade put up by Citu activists at Phokdaibarimore in Siliguri in support of their countrywide general strike.
Like Sagari, over 700 maid servants, most of whom have to walk at least six kilometer everyday to reach their workplaces in Siliguri from their homes in areas along the eastern fringes of the town and whom the Citu activists squatting at various points along the Eastern Bypass today prevented from reaching their workplaces, lambasted the courts and the government for not adopting proper measures to prevent bandhs.
“I work on a daily-wage basis and if I do not go to work today, I will miss a day’s wage,” regretted Bulu Sarkar of Ashighar, who said that it was the first time in her 12-year-long career as a maidservant that bandh supporters prevented domestic helps from reaching their workplaces.
Purnima Barman (38 ) of Naresh More rued the state government’s decision to back a bandh, which caused immense inconvenience to people. “As I was sick, I could not go to work since 10 August and if I remain absent today, I will definitely lose my job for a political party which we elected to power,” lamented the only breadwinner in a family of four. Read the rest of this entry »
RAIGANJ, Aug. 20: Police have arrested Mr Safir, former CPI (M) member of Panditporta -II gram panchayat, Islampur block in North Dinajpur district last night for allegedly sheltering Bangladeshi infiltrators.
According to police, the BSF arrested two Bangladeshi infiltrators from a village near Belaguchhi border outpost at Islampur in North Dinajpur district yesterday. The arrested people were identified as Md Imajuddin and Md Hamim, residents of Jagirhat village under Harinmari police station in Bangladesh. After interrogating them, police came to know that they had taken shelter in the house of Md Safir. The vice president of Islampur block Congress committee Mr Mahan Das alleged that Mr Safir was providing shelter to Bangladeshi infiltrators for political gains.
The secretary of the Islampur CPI (M) zonal committee Mr Swapan Guha Neogi said Mr Safir had no connection with the infiltrators.
A section of Congress supporters of the village had hatched a conspiracy against him and were instrumental in his arrest. The SDPO Islampur Mr Devid Lepcha, said that police had arrested Mr Safir for accommodating two Bangladeshi infiltrators.
SILIGURI, Aug. 20: About fifty people belonging to the CPI-M and Trinamul Congress were injured in clashes that occurred at four places in Tufanganj sub-division in Cooch Behar during the Citu sponsored bandh today. No one was, however, arrested in connection with the violence.
Except in Tufanganj, the bandh was successful in Cooch Behar district. Bandh supporters detained the Up Teesta-Torsa Express at New Cooch Behar Railway Station. The bandh supporters also held the Kanchanjangha Express at Mainaguri Road Station in Jalpaiguri district. They, however, distributed milk among the children and porridge among the passengers. Most of the tea plantations in the Dooars remained closed.
In Balurghat, South Dinajpur district, bandh supporters allegedly forced down shutters of shops and establishments, discouraged rickshaw pullers to transport passengers and even beat up the driver of the power department while he was on his way to office. Around 10 a.m, Citu workers with party flag in hand came out on the streets in Balurghat to force down shutters of small time traders for whom losing a day’s income is crucial. The activists also attacked the rickshaw pullers and punctured their tyres to keep them off the roads as police remained mute spectators. Read the rest of this entry »
DARJEELING, Aug. 20: Critical of GJMM’s refusal to support their 12 hour strike on 22 August demanding the speedy trial of Chattray Subba, prime accused in Mr Subash Ghisingh’s assassination attempt case, the CPRM today said that the GJMM’s act merely reflected the party’s awareness towards human rights. “GJMM should understand that the CPRM has no political agenda in the issue but is simply standing up for human rights,” asserted CPRM organisational chief Mr Gobind Chettri.
The strike, convened by the CPRM frontal organisations Democratic Revolutionary Women’s Front (DRWF) and the Democratic Revolutionary Youth Front (DRYF), has now been left entirely upon the general public. “This is a vivid example of human rights violation and West Bengal’s tyranny upon the Gorkhas. The success or failure of this strike will reflect the people’s consciousness and worth of human rights in the Hills,” said Mr Arun Ghatanay, general secretary of DRYF.
Taking a dig at the insinuations cast upon the CPRM on being a breakaway faction of the CPI-M and hence betrayers of the 1986 ’Gorkhaland’ agitation Mr Ghataney said: “The CPRM is not a party that was formed yesterday. Since the past twelve years when people were blindly supporting Mr Ghisingh’s idiosyncrasies in the Hills, the CPRM through its endeavours was preparing groundwork for Gorkhaland. We survived then, we will survive now.” Read the rest of this entry »
SILIGURI, Aug. 20: The state leaders of the CPI and the RSP have made it clear that their parties would not accept the Gorkhaland demand being raised by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha.
“Further division of West Bengal is unacceptable and the GJMM leadership should redraw its political strategy keeping this reality in view,” Mr Manju Kumar Majumder, the CPI state secretary and Mr Kshiti Goswami, the state PWD minister and a senior RSP leader said this today.
The CPI leader said that his party was sympathetic to the cause of development in the Darjeeling hills and wanted the GJMM leadership to raise the development issue vigorously in course of the scheduled tripartite dialogue to be held in New Delhi soon. “Yet, any demand related to further division of the state is absolutely unacceptable. The sooner the GJMM leadership gives up the unrealistic demand the better for the Darjeeling hills and the state as a whole,” Mr Majumder said.
“The CPI as a party is not against the idea of formation of smaller states, but ‘Gorkhaland’ demand is unacceptable because it is economically not viable. Besides, we have learnt in course of our experiences that a mere formation of a new state does not prove to be a panacea as far as development is concerned,” the CPI leader said.
Taking a more strident stand on the ‘Gorkhaland’ issue, the RSP leader Mr Kshiti Goswami said that if the statehood demand for Darjeeling hills was accepted it would strengthen the hands of the separatists active in other parts of North Bengal, Bankura and Purulia districts and in the long run, the very existence of the Bengalis as a race would be at stake. “The Bengalis, who as a community were in the forefront of struggle for freedom, have already experienced the grim pangs of division and under no circumstances would it acquiesce to further bifurcation of the state. Read the rest of this entry »
SILIGURI, Aug. 20: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has demanded the extension of roaming facility to the prepaid cell phone users in the north eastern states and has put it on the agenda of the 4th North East Business Summit to be held in Guwahati in September.
The ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the ICC are jointly organising the business summit at the National Games Indoor Stadium in Guwahati on 15-16 September. The Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate the meet.
At present, owing to ‘security concerns’, roaming facility is not available to the prepaid mobile phone users in the north eastern states viz., Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura. Sikkim, however, is an exception as it falls under the jurisdiction of the West Bengal Telecom Circle.
“The non-availability of roaming facility on prepaid mobile phones is proving out to be a major lacuna for telecommunications facilities in the north east and is also hampering the business prospects of the remote region. Hence, we are demanding that the Union government at least allows an intra-region roaming facility on the prepaid mobile connections originating in the northeast,” the ICC secretary general Mr Rajeev Singh said during his recent visit to Siliguri. Read the rest of this entry »
Two species of butterflies found in north Bengal, the Common Imperial (top) and Knight of Chilapata. Picture courtesy: forest department
Alipurduar, Aug. 20: The government will come out with a brochure on butterflies to woo more tourists to the Dooars before Pujas. Cooch Behar Forest Division will train local youths on the winged creatures to guide the visitors.
The trained youths will also show the tourists other small insects like dragon flies and spiders and wild flowers to create an awareness among them.
Bengal is home to about 600-650 species of butterflies. Of them, 193 are available in the Cooch Behar division.
Ujjwal Ghosh, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Cooch Behar, said: “Tourists come to Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and other forests in the region to watch large animals like rhinos and elephants. But they are often disappointed as the animals are not sighted always. Our intention is to inform the visitors that apart from large animals, the area is the habitat of a lot of small creatures, particularly butterflies. Now we are working in Chilapata, Mendabari, Kodal Basti and CC Line forests.”
According to Ghosh, 25 boys aged above 18 years from nearby villages and the 15 tourist guides of Jaldapara will be trained on the butterflies available here. “We will compile the brochure with all information and photographs and bring it out before Pujas,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Rabong, Aug. 20: A national level volleyball tournament will be organised here in September as part of the silver jubilee celebration of Pang Lhabsol, which has been declared a state programme by the Sikkim government this year.
Pang Lhabsol is observed to pay obeisance to Mt Kanchenjunga as the guardian and protector deity of Sikkim. The festival, which is celebrated in Rabong, a subdivision of South Sikkim, turns twenty-five this year.
The sports division of the Pang Lhabsol Celebration committee in collaboration with the sports and youth affairs department will hold the tourney beginning September 10. Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra have already confirmed their participation.
The Sikkim team will be constituted from among the best players taking part in the intra-state tournament, which will commence in Rabong from September 1.
Sources in the administration said Rs 50,000 would be given to winners at the national level and Rs 30,000 to the runners-up. For intra-state winners, the prize is Rs 25,000. Read the rest of this entry »
Gangtok, Aug. 20: A study conducted by the Sikkim government has revealed that the number of girls attending school in the state is more than boys.
The government cited the report to claim that there are no gender inequalities in the hill state. There are 765 government schools in the state, which enrolls 1, 27,726 students.
“Of them, 61,973 are boys and 65,787 girls. This indicates that there are no gender inequalities in the state,” said Chankapa, the secretary of the state human resource development department which had conducted the study.
Chankapa said Sikkim had 70 per cent trained teachers and the government was in the process of constituting a State Council of Educational Research and Training. Three District Institutes of Educational Training would also be set up, the secretary told an audience which attended a meeting of the Regional Institute of Education of the North Eastern Council here today.
P.P Shrivastava, a member of the NEC, educationists S. Sathyam and D.S. Bhattacharjee and the joint directors of NCERT New Delhi and Bhopal G. Ravindra and Poonam Agarwal respectively were among those who were present at the meeting.
Chankapa in his address thanked Shrivastava for choosing Sikkim as the venue for the meeting and said it would help and encourage the state HRD officials to learn more about the schemes and programmes undertaken by the council in the education sector. Read the rest of this entry »
Siliguri, Aug. 20: Three persons were arrested with mind altering drugs or heroin from different parts of Siliguri in the past 24 hours.
Rabi Chhetri, a resident of Singmari in Darjeeling, was picked up by Pradhannagar police from Darjeeling More this afternoon for possessing a large quantities of sedatives and painkillers. The heroin was recovered from Md Alam alias Alma, and Rabi Das, residents of Goalapatty and Prankrishna Colony in the town respectively.
While Alma was arrested with 65gm of heroin from Burdwan Road, Das was held with 260gm of the drug at the bus stand near Court More. Both the arrests were made by Siliguri police last night. According to them, 100gm heroin costs Rs 1000,00,0 in the market.
“Based on a tip-off, we arrested Chhetri and recovered 90 tablets of Nitrosen-10 and 144 tablets of Spasmoproxivon from him. During the preliminary interrogation, he told us that he had collected the sedatives from Siliguri. Chhetri could not show us any documents to prove that he is a medicine trader,” said Swapan Ghosh, the inspector-in-charge of Pradhannagar police.
The officer said Chhetri was taken into custody after he had failed to explain why he was carrying such large quantity of drugs. “He told us that he was carrying the tablets to Darjeeling. We will interrogate him further to know how he could procure the tablets without any valid document,” he said.
On July 30, the Siliguri police had arrested a youth from Siliguri-Sevoke Road area with 200 nitrosen-10 tablets, 50 bottles of cough syrup and 1,800 Spasmoproxivon tablets. He, too, could not produce any valid document to suggest that he had been authorised to trade in those medicines. The arrested person told the police that he had bought the drugs from Siliguri. Read the rest of this entry »
Darjeeling, Aug. 20: A student was found dead in his room at the hostel of St Joseph’s College (North Point) here today.
The body of Sunil Barman (21), a second year BSc student, was found hanging from the window panel of his room by other boarders of Xavier Hostel. They broke opened the room as Sunil did not wake up even after 10.30am. Police said the student had committed suicide, but they did not know the reason behind it.
Father K.L. George, the principal of the college, said Sunil was a quiet student and he had gone to bed after dinner last night.
The police said Sunil, the resident of Lodhama, about 60km from Darjeeling, had used a muffler to hang himself.
Even though North Point is a co-education college, it has hostel only for boys.
N.T. Sherpa, the officer-in-charge of Darjeeling Sadar police station, said as no suicide note was found, it was difficult to gauge what had prompted the student to kill himself.
A hostel official said Sunil had probably personal problems which he did not discuss with anybody in the institution. Read the rest of this entry »
Siliguri, Aug. 20: Nearly 90 per cent of vehicles running between the plains and the Darjeeling hills are carrying permits and fitness certificates that have expired.
The regional transport officer (RTO) in Darjeeling usually renews the documents for a fee, but with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha not allowing government offices to collect revenues since April 1, the process has come to a standstill.
“Only commercial vehicles registered in Siliguri can get fitness certificates from my office here. For permits, the owners need to approach the RTO in Darjeeling,” Rajen Sundas, the assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) of Siliguri, said. “For all other vehicles registered in Darjeeling, both permits and fitness certificates have to be obtained from there.”
Kamal Khawas, the secretary of the Siliguri Taxi Owners’ Association, said around Rs 2,000 has to be deposited every quarter to renew the permit for a light vehicle to Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and other destinations in the hills.
“But because of this ban (imposed by the Morcha), we could not renew the documents and as many as 90 per cent of the vehicles that go to the hills and back have permits and fitness certificates that have expired,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Perhaps, inspired by the ethereal beauty of Kanchenjunga the Darjeeling based rock artist M. C. Rana who is the lyricist, singer and front-man of the super-group GottaGo composed classics like “Welcome to Darjeeling” and “Don’t fade Away”. The unique music video of “Don’t Fade Away” is another first in the Western music scenario of the Himalayas.
