NATIONAL: Mob lynches (Gorkha Rifles) soldier on train near Bhubaneswar

FROM NEWS TRACK INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY PRANAVESH PRADHAN AND DEEPAK M (NEWS TRACK INDIA) 

Bhubaneswar, Dec.3 (ANI): An Army jawan was lynched by irate train commuters after he tried to stop them from entering the reserved coach of a train at the Lingaraj Railway Station on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Monday night.

Anish Kumar A, a cook with the Gorkha Rifles, was beaten to death by passengers trying to board the Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express.

Kumar was first admitted to the divisional railway hospital at the Khurda Road station and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where the doctors declared him dead.

Nobody has been arrested so far, the railway police said. (ANI)

GARHWAL: Children from Assam visit IMA

FROM GARHWAL POST

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Dehradun: Twenty school children (14-17 years of age) of Golpara District of Assam, along with two teachers visited the Indian Military Academy today.
The school children along with their two teachers are on tour of various places in north India. The tour has been organised under Operation Sadbhavana undertaken by the Army in Assam. The aim of the visit to Indian Military Academy is to motivate the youth of Assam to join the armed forces and serve the nation.

The children visited Chetwode Hall, Khetrapal Auditorium and the Salaria Swimming Pool. They were also taken around the IMA campus and shown the training carried out at IMA. While interacting with Lt General RS Sujlana, Commandant, IMA, the children expressed happiness at visiting IMA. In turn, the Commandant also shared experiences of when he served in Assam.

Lt Javed, one JCO and 4 NCOs are accompanying these students. Lt Javed stated that these students had already visited various places in Delhi including Qutub Minar, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Ghat and Lal Qila. They will be visiting Mussoorie after the IMA visit.

GARHWAL: Mumbai Hero consigned to flames – Army, state pay tribute to Gajender Singh

FROM GARHWAL POST

BY AMRISH BAAGRI

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Army, state pay tribute to Gajender Singh. Photos by Garhwal Post. Click on the images to enlarge

Dehradun: Residents of the city with misty eyes paid last tribute to the brave son of Uttarakhand, NSG Commando Gajender Singh, who lost his life while combating terrorists at Nariman House in Mumbai on 28 November.

Around a thousand people from far and wide gathered in Ganeshpur village at Shimla Bypass Road here to salute the brave man.

The last rites were performed on the banks of Asan River near Ganeshpur village with full military honours.
A contingent of the 1/5 Gorkha Rifles presented three rounds of gun salute. All present at the funeral site became emotional as the Army band played the ‘Last Post’.

The body of Gajender Singh wrapped in the Tricolour arrived at the Jolly Grant airport here in an AN 32 Aircraft at around 1 p.m.

From there, it was taken to Ganeshpur in an Army vehicle accompanied by a convoy of Army trucks and jeeps of Army officials.

Governor BL Joshi, Chief Minister BC Khanduri, his wife Aruna Khanduri, Speaker Harbans Kapoor, Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pande, Vikasnagar MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, Sahaspur MLA Rajkumar, SP General Secretary Vinod Barthwal, senior officials of ITBP, Army and Civil Police attended the last rites.

Gajender Bisht is survived by his wife Vineeta and two children – son Gaurav (12) and daughter Preeti (10).

Childhood friends of Gajender Bisht remembered him for his cheerful nature and simplicity.

One friend, Tahir Ali of Bhudowala village, recalled, “We studied together till class 10 in Janata Inter College. He was very simple and cooperative. He was a multi-faceted athlete. He was a long distance runner and played Kabbadi for the school team.”

People in large numbers thronged to his house since the morning. As the day progressed, the crowd grew bigger with the arrival of Army, administrative and police officials. People chanted slogans in praise of brave Gajender. ‘Gajender bhai ka yeh balidan, yaad rakhega Hindustan.’

Raghuveer Kandari, Principal of Janata Inter College, who had taught Hindi to Gajendra, said, “He was an average student, but a very good athlete. He was the champion athlete of our school.”

GARHWAL: Cannon Ball used in Anglo-Gurkha War remains as Collector’s item

FROM GARHWAL POST

BY AJAY RAMOLA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Cannon Balls of History. Photo by Garhwal Post. Click on the image to enlarge

Mussoorie: 30 Nov: A piece of a cannon ball used in the Anglo-Gurkha war on 30 November 1814 that has been kept intact with the expert and eminent historian of this town, Gopal Bhardwaj, is a great reminder of the Fierce Battle fought in Fort Kalanga also known as Battle of Nalla Pani, Dehradun between the British and Gurkhas (1814-1816).

According to Gopal Bhardwaj, the 18 pound cannon balls which destroyed the fortress of the Gurkhas at Kalanga was the major weapon used as the last resort and it saved the grace for the British against the Gurkhas. Speaking about the piece of the cannon ball, he said it was discovered by the Late Henry Keelen in 1969, a resident of Mussoorie and handed over to him a few years ago by a family member. Gopal Bhardwaj disclosed that that both Gurkhas and British were on a spree to extend their sphere of influence. Throwing light on the Battle of Nalla Pani, he said that Balbhadra Kunwar was the commander of the Nepalese forces at the Battle of Nalapani in 1814 during the Anglo-Nepalese War. Realising he could not defend the town of Dehradun, he withdrew to the strategic hill fort of Khalanga (Kalanga) with an army strength of 600 including women and children against the British force of 3000. He turned down a proposal of the British that they would make him Governor of Western Garhwal should he surrender or leave for Nepal. The British attacked on October 31, but were repelled. Kunwar’s marksmen killed General Gillespie and Colonel Alice of the British troops. They siege continued for a month until the British, convinced that they could not win by military ways, blocked the source of water to the fort so that the Nepalese would die of thirst. The battering ram for destroying the gates was brought from Delhi. He also said that the British used 6 and 12 pound cannon balls but were not able to achieve desired results. The 18 pound cannon balls were used in the end which did the trick. Ultimately, after 4 days of thirst and the havoc caused by the cannon balls, Balbhadra abandondoned this fort. He and his party escaped into the hills on November 30, 1814. Later, Balbhadra retired to Punjab in the service of King Ranjit Singh and was ultimately killed in battle by the Afghan artillery. The British commemorated his bravery with a stone inscription in Dehradun inscribing “in salute to our great opponent General Balbhadra’. This battle marked the downfall of the Gurkhas in Garhwal.

SIKKIM: 1st LD Kazi Memorial Football Tournament kicks off

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

CHAKUNG, December 01: With the start of 1st LD Kazi Memorial Football Tournament, Chakung has created history in the football scenario in Sikkim.

The inaugural match was kicked off in the presence of State UD&HD minister DD Bhutia as the chief guest and media advisor to the Chief Minister BB Gooroong as special guest.

A book entitled ‘Short Profile of Late LD Kazi’ was also released by the chief guest on the occasion.

In his address to the gathering, Mr. Gooroong said Lt. Kazi was a person who always lived his life for the Sikkimese people. Speaking on the contribution of the former Chief Minister, he recounted Kazi’s valour, who fought for communal harmony and brotherhood among the Sikkimese people.

The day also featured cultural events which were performed by local students and students from SUMI, Kalimpong.

Family members of Lt. Kazi, area MLA PS Tamang and other dignitaries from the sports department as well as other departments of Sikkim government were also present in the programme.

DARJEELING HILLS: Morcha stir stares at fruit trade – Bad news for market in good orange season

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Ripe and ready

Siliguri, Dec. 2: Traders and exporters at the Siliguri Regulated Market are apprehensive that the resumption of the agitation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha from December 7 will hit the orange business in what they see as a good season so far this year.

“We have already started exporting oranges to Bangladesh and last Saturday, our traders sent about 8 tones of the fruit, the highest consignment in a single day so far this year,” said Tapan Saha, the president of Siliguri Fruits and Vegetable Commission Agents Association.

“Besides, at least three to 4 tones of orange are exported per day from the market and the volume is almost double compared to the same period last year. But after learning from media reports that a fresh movement for a separate state may start after the end of the first week of this month, we apprehend that it will have a negative impact on the business here,” Saha said.

Usually, oranges start reaching the regulated market from various parts of Darjeeling hills and Sikkim every year from the end of November. The season ends in the last week of January.

The traders fear that if the Morcha calls for bandhs or roadblocks, the supply will be badly affected.

This year, good climate gave the traders and orange growers a reason to smile with all expecting a good harvest.

The association has 60 members and 10 of them export oranges to Bangladesh. The fruits are supplied to different parts of south Bengal, North and South Dinajpur, Malda and Bihar as well.

“About eight to 10 trucks have been arriving at the market every day for the past couple of days and once the season begins, the number of vehicles will increase to 15,” he said. “Each truck carries about 20,000 oranges and thousand fruits yield Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500 in the market.”

“The availability of the oranges in the market suggests that a good season is ahead and we expect a brisk business this year. Last time, we had received about four-five truckloads of oranges per day at this time,” said Samir Dutta, an exporter and a member of the association.

SIKKIM: SDF not sincere towards Chettri, Bahun, Newar: BJP

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 1: State BJP unit today claimed that it stands by its accusations that the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government is ‘not sincere toward inclusion of Chettri, Bahun, Newar etc. in the central list of OBC’.

“The statement of SDF that appeared in the media that SDF government approved the recommendation of the State Commission for Backward Classes (SCBC) by the cabinet and the Assembly in 2004 itself proves that the SDF gfovernment is not sincere to Chettri, Bahun, Newar etc for their inclusion in the central list of OBC”, said BJP in a press statement today.

The party said that SCBC under the chairmanship of Justice Srimal and PM Subba in their reports had ‘not recommended the inclusion of Chettri, Bahun, Newar etc’ even in the State list. Such report being adopted by the Assembly would mean that the SDF Government did not want to include Chettri, Bahun and Newar even in the State list, the party said.

“Forwarding such recommendation in no circumstances will enable the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to recommend inclusion of Chettri, Bahun, Newar etc in the central list of OBC and without the recommendation of NCBC, the Government of India will not included them in the Central list of OBC”, BJP said.

BJP also claimed that the SCBC under the chairmanship of MB Dahal in its first tenure itself is understood to have recommended the inclusion of Chettri, Bahun, Newar etc in the state list of OBC.

MB Dahal is presently the chairman of SCBC for the second tenure.

SIKKIM: Leopard sighted in Sikkim after a long gap

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 1: After a long hiatus, a leopard has been spotted in Sikkim. The sighting was done by villagers of Melli area in South Sikkim in November who tracked the animal daily.

On November 29, the leopard was captured in a camera for the first time by a wildlife guard Chenga Lachungpa at Khani khola forest.

Mr. Lachungpa is probably the first Sikkimese to photograph the elusive big cat, thus confirming its identity. As per the official confirmation received from the Wild Life Division of the Forest Department, South District, the sighting was first reported by the Panchayat and the local youths of Melli Dara on November 20 and had urged the department to take prompt action into it.

The adult leopard is clearly visible, perched on a large rock as close as 500 m, informed Usha Lachungpa, senior research officer (wildlife), State forest department.

“Any sighting of a wild predator is a good sign. Its timing is also perfect. The leopard is perhaps migratory, in search of new territory. It can even climb trees. If it decides to settle, and if we can keep away our livestock from the forests, this big cat is going to be of great help to the surrounding villages plagued by crop raiding peacocks, monkeys, deers and wild boar”, said Mrs Lachungpa.

The wildlife officer informed that they have encouraged the locals of areas where the leopard was sighted to feel hopeful about their new guest who has come to help solve their problems of crop depredation just when harvests are due or in. She added that the entire team especially Mr. Bigyan Rai and his colleagues as well as the DFO (WL) South and his men deserve commendation. “They now have the responsibility for their guest’s safety and keeping away potential poachers. What we should also note is that leopards are not as shy as tigers. Where tigers will avoid villages and people at all costs, leopards may come into villages to take prey like dogs, goats and even cattle, if deprived of their natural prey in the forests”, she said.

In fact they along with local forest officials are still scouring the area, spreading awareness, keeping vigil and giving us daily reports, said Mrs. Lachungpa. She informed that few know that the ‘Chituwa’ (because of spots or rosettes on its fur-coat), like the tiger is in fact responsible for the health of our forests.

SIKKIM: Chamling attends apex meeting of all political parties; offer suggestions to fight terror

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 01 (IPR): Chief Minister Pawan Chamling attended the apex meeting of leaders of all political parties convened and chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as president of the Sikkim Democratic Front in New Delhi on November 30 to discuss the situation arising out of the Mumbai terror attacks recently.

Condemning the mindless terrorist violence, Sikkim Chief Minister suggested fighting the menace with full force as second war of Independence.

“It is high time the Central Government should act tough and initiate firm action to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the soil of India,” he suggested.

He further suggested all political parties and State Governments should come forward and strengthen the hands of the Central Government on this cross cutting issue. “Any further delay in initiating the toughest possible concerted action to eradicate this menace from the soil of this great nation would not only demoralize and disillusion our citizens at home but also make the international community laugh at us,” he said adding ‘the morale of forces engaged in combating this menace, i.e. Police and other Para Military forces needs to be adequately boosted to achieve desired time bound results’.

“As all Indian citizens are now united on tackling this issue firmly and with tough hands, it is incumbent on we politicians and our political parties to also remain united on this and support the Central Governments initiatives and actions to fight this evil,” he said.

Stating that unleashing mindless and reckless violence is the way of life of terrorists who have no other affiliations to caste, colour, creed and religion, he said that all political parties and instruments of Governance, should not protect them under the garb of any specific religion.

SIKKIM: Change road layout, says Monastery

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: A meeting of Gumpa Committee (Duchi Committee) of Dubdi Sangha Dorden Monastery Yuksam, West Sikkim, held on December 1, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Roads and Bridges department that the proposed road be diverted to some other direction that it does not cause any pitfall or harm to the sanctity of the Monastic establishment in any manner.

The proposed road would be built upto Tsong village adjoining to Dubdi Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim, through the monastic complex and periphery. The committee expressed its happiness over the extension of the road to the remote village but expressed its deep sense of apprehensions regarding the rich heritage of the Monastery and its legacy, Tsewang Thendub Bhutia, Secretary of the monastery said in a press release.

The Monastery committee has sought clarification from the concern authorities as to how the plan for the proposed road is being carried out without taking the Monastic authority in confidence, the release said.

 

SIKKIM: Sikkim wins 4th JRD Tata Memorial Award 2008

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: Among the smaller states of India, is the winner of 4th JRD Tata Memorial Award 2008 for health and related matters.

The 14-point criteria for selection were: Percentage of women (aged 20-24) married before 18 years; Total Fertility Rate; Contraceptive Prevalence Rate; Infant Mortality Rate; Under-five Mortality Rate (Male/Female); Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years); Percentage of children underweight; Full Immunization; Safe Delivery; At least 3 Ante-Natal Check ups; Literacy Rate (aged 7 years and above); Female Youth (aged 15-24 years) literacy rate; School attendance rate for girls (aged 6-14 years); and Plan expenditure on social sector.

The indicators were examined by a technical committee headed by Dr. Shiva Kumar, Advisor, UNICEF. The award was decided by an Award Committee constituted with Ms. Justice Leila Seth as the Chairperson. The committee members were: Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Chairman, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, who is a noted agricultural scientist and Magsasay Award winner; Mr. B. G. Deshmukh, Former Cabinet Secretary; Dr. Abid Hussain, former Ambassador of India in USA; Prof. K. Srinavasan, former Director, Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai; Mrs. Nirmala Buch, IAS (Retd.); Dr. A. K. Shiva Kumar, Advisor, UNICEF and Chairperson, Technical Advisory Committee for the Tata Award, 2008; Dr. P. M. Kulkarni, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Member, Technical Advisory Committee for the Tata Award, 2008 and Mr. A. R. Nanda, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India.

The JRD Tata Memorial Award was instituted by the Population Foundation of India, a national foundation working on population issues since 1996.

The award is given to the best states for outstanding performance in population, reproductive health and family planning programme. The First JRD Tata Memorial Award winner state was Kerala in 1997, followed by Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

Save the Gorkhas

[Please Note: This post was originally posted on 3rd of August 2008  at exact 12:40 hrs. This post is reposted here in order to allow comments being made to it. Beacon now maintains the policy to shut down comment threads after one month of the publication of a post. This post thus have been moved ahead. Regs. Barun]

 

Dear friends,

We are starting a “Save the Gorkhas” campaign. Our presence in India has been historical and for a minority community our contribution yesterday and today has been stupendous! But sadly, outside the army, we are not yet recognized or acknowledged as the Pride of India! While we excel in our individual way, as an ethnic community we are disappearing. For what we have done, the Gorkhas have to be recognized as one of the greatest races India has had post-independence. This endeavor of ours will not be political, but the campaign will also help the well-meaning political leaders.

Most of all it will help us. Those who do not want to involve in politicking but yet want to be a part of the Save the Gorkha movement, please find this channel useful for your energies towards self-recognition and India-world awareness. This means no political discussion here. There are other links for that.

To start with we will be first gather information on our community-past and present. The information gathering will include not only the army, but every aspect of the Gorkhas. The history and Gorkha historical sites of the Darjeeling districts, Dharamshala, Dehradun, Assam, etc. We will highlight the Gorkha-powered industries of the tea gardens, mountaineering, horticulture, tourism, etc of Darjeeling and Assam. The military heritage powered- by Gorkhas of Dharamshala and Dehradun. (Today Darjeeling and Assam also have considerable presence in the Indian army). We will attempt to profile the Gorkha heritage/history, historical figures, important battles, events (non-military also) from the 18^th century as in Sikkim, Darj, Uttarakhand and Himachal. We will profile the Gorkha descendant community from the erstwhile states of Jammu and Kashmir, now living mainly in Jammu. We will also include the Gorkha descendants from the erstwhile state of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Punjab, now living mainly in Punjab and Pakistan (as Lahore was his capital). We will document how the many styles of Nepali language and culture as affected by the environment, such as Darj Nepali language (influenced by neighbouring Nepal and the Sikkimese hill tribes-without realising lot of Bhutia and Lepcha words have crept into the lingo as I notice), the Himachali Nepali which is Gorkha-paltan influenced, the Dehradun Nepali influenced by Garhwali and Kumaoni) and the Jammu Nepali is Jamwal influenced.

The present Gorkhas powering the IT industry in Bangalore, Delhi, Media-Print, Cinema, (Mumbai, etc), Mixed media, Design, Medicine (we have about 6 Drs from Dharamshala, let us gather the rest), Architecture, Management, Corporate world, Music, Literature, Art and Sculpture, PhDs, Politicians (untainted please), Social work, Freedom fighters. All names should be untainted figures. No defence figure or political figure with any scam attached.

With this background, we will then draw attention to the decay, discrimination, miseries of the Gorkhas whether in tea gardens or ex-servicemen or our culture, our environment and our history,

DOOARS TERAI: Work on tiger data at Neora

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Foresters at the tiger census in Neora Valley. (Biplab Basak)

Siliguri, Dec. 2: Foresters associated with the tiger census at Neora Valley National Park have completed field work and are now busy compiling data.

“After conducting the count in the park from November 20 to 25, we are now assimilating the data and samples collected by all the 31 groups that had worked during the census,” Tapas Das, the divisional forest officer (wildlife II), said yesterday. “These figures will be compiled, analysed and sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehra Dun which will examine them further before declaring the final figures of tiger population at the park.”

The previous two censuses conducted at Neora Valley in 2001 and 2004 put the number of tigers at 16 and 11 respectively. This year, the foresters used different methods, like pug impression pads, camera traps, collection of faeces, photo of scratches of claws on barks and stems and sighting of the animals to estimate the numbers of the big cats.

“We cannot say when the results will be out. We are concentrating on the compilation, which is a tough task and needs to be error free. The faeces collected will be sent for DNA tests to the WII,” Das added.

At Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, the tiger count will start either from December 17 or 18. “The 2004 census report shows 16 tigers at the sanctuary,” Sumita Ghatak, the divisional forest officer (wildlife I), said. “We expect the work to be completed by December 21-22.” The WII had conducted an estimation survey of tigers at Mahananda on 2005, but the reports wee yet to be declared, the foresters said.

SILIGURI: Rickshaws stay off roads in Siliguri

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Dec. 2: The near 20,000 rickshaws plying in Siliguri today remained off the roads following a strike called protesting against the alleged police atrocities and over the demand for removing the ‘unauthorised’ rickshaws from the town.

The Brihattar Siliguri Cycle Rickshaw Owners Association (BSCROA) had convened the 24-hour long rickshaw strike in the town.

The strike was withdrawn at 4 p.m. after the Siliguri acting-mayor Munshi Nur-ul Islam ‘assured the BSCROA of adequate action’ over their demands.

As alleged by BSCROA secretary Mr Ramen Dey Dhara, at least 15,000 unauthorised rickshaws ply on the Siliguri roads regularly inviting unnecessary trouble for the authorised ones.

“There are 6,300 rickshaws which run on the license issued by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and the rest are unauthorised ones which enter the town from the outskirts. While the authorities idle over the issue, the traffic police harass the genuine rickshaw-pullers at every little instance,” said Mr Dhara.

The BSCROA has threatened to go for an indefinite rickshaw strike in Siliguri if the administration fails to take action over the issues in a week time from now. During the strike-hour today, the association members brought out a protest rally in the town and served separate memoranda to the ASP, the DSP (traffic), the ADM and the SMC acting-mayor.

DARJEELING HILLS: Mumbai rally marches on statehood path

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

One of the processions brought out by the Morcha on Tuesday. (Suman Tamang)

Darjeeling, Dec. 2: Hundreds of people today came out on the streets to participate in a silent rally organised by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to condemn the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

However, the condolence meeting held at Chowrastha soon turned to be a platform for the Morcha to justify the demand for Gorkhaland.

Processions from different parts of the town started around 11am and converged at Chowrastha an hour later. Senior Morcha leaders like party general secretary Roshan Giri and media and publicity secretary Binay Tamang paid homage to the victims of the Mumbai carnage in front of a make shift martyrs’ column.

Addressing the crowd, secretary of the party’s youth front Puran Thami said: “We express our heartfelt condolences for our bereaved countrymen. This is the time for us to come forward and fight terrorism. We must ensure that India stands united and we must express our solidarity.”

The speeches soon swerved towards the need for Gorkhaland with Giri taking the lead in demanding immediate check on the entry of Bangladeshi immigrants. “It is estimated that there are 12 million Bangladeshis in India. According to the Census, the population growth from 1941 to 1951 in the Siliguri region was 61.2 per cent while that for the 1951-1961 period was 101.5 per cent. This was largely because of the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,” said Giri

Justifying the statehood demand, Giri said: “The Siliguri corridor had been identified as vulnerable and is being used by terrorist to enter India. Such unabated influx has to stop and the demand for Gorkhaland must be seriously looked into taking into account the country’s security.”

Accusing the “politicised administration” of abetting the influx, Giri said the Bengal government was encouraging the influx for political gain.

DARJEELING HILLS: GJMM blames govt for Bangla infiltration

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Dec. 2: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha leadership today held the “politicised administration” of the West Bengal government responsible for Bangladeshi infiltration in this country.

“It is a known fact that Bangladeshis are involved in major terrorist attacks in the country. Intelligence reports prove that around 800 Bangladeshi’s have settled as fishermen along the western coast of India and some have had a hand in the recent Mumbai attacks,” said party general secretary Mr Roshan Giri today.

Today, the GJMM organised silent rallies and blood donation camps in all areas of the proposed territory of Gorkhaland condemning the Mumbai attacks. In Darjeeling people lighted candles and paid tribute to all those who lost their lives at a martyrs column erected at the Mall. Indicating that the porous border between West Bengal and Bangladesh is facilitating easy terrorist movement, the GJMM leader added that Darjeeling district is strategically positioned sharing boarders with China, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. “India shares 4095 km border with Bangladesh of which 2216 km is in Bengal. Of this 6.5 km is not demarcated. Thus smuggling arms and ammunition is easy through this route,” Mr Giri said.

According to him, records establish that the UNHCR provided asylum to 12 to 17 million refugees in India, the bulk of which comprises of Bangladeshi people residing largely in West Bengal. “Between 1951-61 Siliguri’s population recorded a growth of 101.5%. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War around 4. 7 million Bangladeshi nationals sought refuge in West Bengal. All this is recorded in the West Bengal Darjeeling District Gazetteer,” said Mr Giri. Moreover, the Left Front government has “encouraged” the trend by providing immigrants with voter’s card, identity cards, for mere political benefit. “The CPI-M wanted to bring a demographic change in Darjeeling and Dooars reducing, the Gorkhas the original inhabitants to an insignificant minority. But this has only put the country in peril,” the leader said reiterating that formation of Gorkhaland would prove a pillar of support for the country.

The Himalayan Beacon Family wishes Jyoti Thapa Mani Didi a very very happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEACON ONLINE!

BEACON ONLINE REACHES ONE YEAR!

Dear friends, 

Greetings from Darjeeling! Today Beacon Online has reached 1 year. I would like to take this occasion to thank all the bloggers, contributers and patrons without whom Beacon Online would not have been possible. I would also like to thank every one involved who believed in me and supported me. I would like to thank Jyoti Thapa Mani, Anita Hagelin, Bishal Rai, Jyoti Rai, Rajneesh Thapa, Rashmi Dewan, Y K Shrestha, Josheph Chamling, Norbu Tshering, Icchamani ?, Rajesh Pradhan, Shiv Rana, Jyoti Mukhia, Pinky Pradhan, Bharat ManiPradhan, Shital Pradhan, Sachin Tewari, Uday Shrestha, Pravanesh Pradhan, Deepak Shrestha, Kamal Pradhan, Nanda Kirati Dewan, Uttam Chettri, Arnav Subba, Anant Dhamala, Kaushik Das, A K Rai, Amrit Singh, The Reader, Cephalus, Pseude,  Dirgha Raj Prasai, G. Chettri, M. Tamang, Patleybaskounpad, Nimesh Nepali/Gorkha, Johnny Gorkha, Prabhat Gorkha, Bantawa, Oscar Pradhan, Hackman, Amit Bhandari, Gorkhey Jeep, Anand Thapa, Gorkhamunda, Guru Tharchen, Pramesh Dewan, Ranbir Thapa, Pema Lama, Prakash Giri, Baba Black Sheep, Bikram Mukhia, Prakash Rai, Roltee, Yogesh Pradhan, Paras Pradhan, Kamaane Kancha, Binam S, Anand Rai, Jiwan K. Pradhan, Sumiran and all the other bloggers whose names could fill greater number of pages but more so my overwhelming heart. I thank you all from the core of my heart. 

I would also like to thank my family especially my mother and father and my beloved Sanjana Subba without whose love and support I would not have been able to pursue my dreams. God Bless you all. 

I hope in the future we will be able to achieve greater ambitions working together. Today is in fact the birthday of all our friendship and mutual respect. My the sense of comaradrie and brotherhood go from strength to strength. 

Regs

Barun