Kapil Thapa – Will he be Indian Idol 4?

Kapil Thapa

About myself: I am from Dehradoon and am part of the army band

Nickname: Fauji bhai

Family: Dadi, parents, two elder brothers, sister-in-law, nephew. My father is retired from the army. Both my brothers are in the army

Inspiration: Shaan

Fears: God

Passion: Love to dance-have done many shows

One thing I would like to change in myself: I don’t want to change anything in life

Indian Idol judge I am most scared of: Javed Akhtar

Pals on Indian Idol 4: Remo, Sunakshi

BREAKING NEWS FROM KALIMPONG: One arrested in Kalimpong with Rs 38000 Fake Currency

BY A K RAI

PHOTOS FROM DAINANDINI

Md. Raju alias Bablu caught at Kalimpong with fake Indian Currency

A person in possession with Fake currency of Rs 38000 IC was apprehended by local public of Murgihatta Kalimpong and handed over to Kalimpong Police.

Md . Raju alias Bablu of Chaterhat Phansidewa was arrested by police and will produced in the SDJM court tomorrow..

He was using the money slowly for the last couple of days. And he use to deposit the currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 to a nearby shopkeeper where he use to buy things and exchange for other currency.

Fake Indian Currencies. Photo by Dainandini. Click on the images to enlarge

Later when the shopkeeper by the name  Gopal Prasad tried to deposit the money he received from a a local baker (Rotiwala ) it was reported by the bank that they were fake. On hearing this Gopal straightway came to Raju’s place with local public and found huge currency notes with him in his pocket.Police is yet to start an investigation on this case.

NATIONAL: I&B plans media guidelines for ‘emergencies’

FROM THE INDIAN EXPRESS

By Anubhuti Vishnoi

News shared by Aardee

New Delhi : With the media’s allegedly irresponsible coverage of the Mumbai terror siege under the scanner, the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry is set to introduce a set of specific guidelines for reporting on “emergency situations”. 

I&B Minister for State Anand Sharma is learnt to have issued directions for instituting a ‘standing media consultative committee’ under the I&B Secretary to frame guidelines for coverage of emergency situations like terror strikes, natural disasters, riots and so on. This committee would have representatives from the Editors Guild of India and broadcasters’ associations as its members.

While the ministry has already shot off a showcause notice to India TV for airing a conversation between two terrorists and is considering serious action against the channel, it is also learnt that similar notices have been despatched to a couple of other prominent news channels, under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act’s Programming Code. Incidentally, Television Audience Measurement (TAM) data ratings of news channels jumped up substantially during the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Centre is of the view that the minute-by-minute coverage of the Mumbai attacks had exposed the NSG commandos to “grave risk” while security operations were on. So much so that security agencies are learnt to have submitted in writing that commando operations were hampered due to the live media coverage. In addition, says the ministry, the media showed great insensitivity by cornering even injured people in ambulances to get sound bytes.

HIMACHAL PRADESH: Gorkha Rifles win khad race

FROM THE TRIBUNE

NEWS SHARED BY JYOTI THAPI MANI

GOC Rising Star Corps giving away prizes to winners of the khad race at Dharamsala on Thursday. A Tribune photo

Dharamsala, December 4: The Rising Star Corps organised a khad race competition here in which participants, most of the Army personnel from the formations of the command, ran through a rivulet near here. The event was organised in the area of Nod Khad in Yol.

The preparations for the final event were going on in the area for the past two weeks with troops scanning hills and rivulets in their regimental colours.

Representing all formations of ‘Rising Star Corps,’ including Division and Corps troops, as many as 18 teams participated in it. The teams were selected after having won their respective formation race competitions.

GOC ‘Rising Star Corps’ Lieut-Gen Vinay Sharma gave away prizes to all participants and special awards to individual position holders, winners and runners up teams.

ESSAY: Nationality and Scenic Beauty of Nepal

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SIKKIM: Joint task force to deliberate on security in Sikkim

FROM ZEENEWS

Gangtok: A joint task force comprising top civil, police and Army officials will meet on December 11 to assess the security mechanism in Sikkim in the backdrop of terror attacks across the country and formulate strategy to deal with any eventuality, an official said on Thursday.

The joint task force, which has been in place for many years, will formulate mechanism to address various issues to meet any terror-like situation, he said.

Although Sikkim has been by and large a peaceful state with no threats from terrorist elements till date, the need for putting in place an adequate security mechanism has been felt keeping in view the spate in terrorist activities elsewhere in the country, the official said.

Issues like infiltration of foreign nationals and strengthening security measures in the border areas – both national and international – will come up for discussion, he said adding that a mechanism for intelligence sharing will also be formulated.

NATIONAL: A Nepali Survives The Mumbai Attack

Purushottam Basyal Was Making Chinese Cuisine When Terrorists Stormed Into Taj Mahal Palace Hotel In Mumbai WRITES DINESH WAGLE FROM NEW DELHI

FROM Wagle Street Journal [ALSO UNITED WE BLOG FOR DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL] 

NEWS SHARED BY A K RAI

Purushottam Basyal, who hails from Malungwa village in Syangja district, works a Chef specializing in Chinese cuisine at the Taj Palace. He was busy preparing food when terrorists entered the hotel premises at around ten in the night (read more about the attack in the box below). “All of a sudden I heard rattling noises”, Mr. Basyal told me from his house in Mumbai. “I thought someone was creating noises with utensils at a time when the restaurant was filled with guests. Then I was told there was firing going on in the hotel. I thought a gang fight had broken out. Then someone told me it was a terrorist attack. We were all frightened.”

Basyal along with other Chefs rushed to the main kitchen in the first floor when guests busy drinking in a bar nearby started running away in fear. That was when he knew it was a terrorist attack. Overcome by fear Basyal and the rest rushed to the basement to hide. Two chefs who worked with Basyal were killed in the shootings. Another Indian Chef, Hemant was a serious casualty.
“He was in the upper floor when he was got shot. He’d called me on my mobile to save him. Unfortunately we could not go for him. We could get killed too. God saved us!”

Basyal was in touch with his wife from his hideout in the basement when the shootings were going on. “I told my wife not to worry”, he said. “She was watching the news on T.V and it showed Taj Hotel in fire. I was scared knowing that. I thought, may be I wouldn’t survive the fire. But at around 3 in the morning the commandos came and rescued us.”

Once rescued, Basyal had rushed to his friend Hemant who had been taken to JJ Hospital. Hemanta’s condition was critical, but on knowing that he would survive, he’d left for home situated two hours away from the place.

SIKKIM: Sikkim pugilists eyes gold

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: Here’s another opportunity for Gangtokians to watch their sub-junior boxers in action in the 24th Sub-Junior Boxing championship to be held at Paljor Stadium here from December 5 to 11.

Over 400 young pugilists from all over the country including Sikkim will be seen in action in the week-long boxing tourney. Fourteen boxers and five officials will represent Sikkim at the championship.

The shortlisted 14 boxers are presently getting trained in both tactical and technical levels at least thrice in a day under the supervision of state chief boxing coach, Jasslal Pradhan and assistant coaches- Raju Rai and Tenzing Sherpa at White Hall sports complex and at Paljor Stadium premise.

Amongst the selected pugilists, Bishal Thapa, a student of Penlong Secondary School alongside Shishir Rai of Bojoghari Junior High School, Ruben Gurung (West Point Senior Secondary School), Bir Hang Subba (Mangshila Secondary School) and Sanil Subba (New Light Academy, Namchi) are participating for the first time in the current national championship. Others will be participating for the third consecutive year in row since 2006.

Speaking to these promising talents in boxing, Diwakar Rai, 16, is training hard to improve upon his footwork. He is a bronze medalist at the 22nd Sub-Junior National Championship held at Jamshedpur in 2006.

A recruit with the 58 GTC Boys Sports Company-Shillong, Diwakar looks confident of securing a medal for Sikkim in the C-9 (38-40 Kgs) event category. According to him, the championship being conducted in hometown Gangtok will be a moral boost for the players which would definitely open up floodgates to win laurels for the state.

Bishal Thapa, another state participant in the E-3 (32-34) kgs event too is looking forward to win gold against tough competitors from Services Sports Control Board (SSCB).

SIKKIM: Final touches before the rumble at Paljor Stadium begins

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY PRANIL SUBBA

GANGTOK: Twenty three teams from various parts of the country have confirmed their participation for the Sub Junior National Men’s Boxing Championship to be hosted by Sikkim Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) at Paljor Stadium here.

The meet is slated to being from December 5 and conclude on December 11 at Paljor Stadium.

Thirty four teams including Services, Railways and Tata Steel were scheduled to participate in the event considered a launching pad for bigger championships.

The organizers SABA today said during a press meet here that so far 23 teams have confirmed their participation. The press meet was addressed by SABA chief coach and Arjuna awardee Jaslal Pradhan, prominent boxer and Indian Boxing Federation coordinator LB Chettri and other officer bears of SABA.

Each State was scheduled to send their teams with fourteen players each for the meet. Around 400 boxers, coaches, team officials and representatives from the Indian Boxing Federation will be seen in action during the championship here.

DARJEELING HILLS: ‘7, 896 identified disabled persons in Sikkim’

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: About 7, 896 identified disabled persons have been recorded in the State till date.

Speaking at a function held to celebrate the ‘World Disability Day’ here this morning, Joint Secretary of the State Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare Department (SJE&WD) KP Sharma said the department at present sponsors 33 disabled students in regular schools.

While 26 disabled children are availing free education at the special school for the deaf and the dumb at Sichey, 14 disabled adults are being employed on a muster roll basis to make cane and bamboo products at a shelter workshop in Jorethang, he added.

He also spoke about the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre at the premises of STNM Hospital which offer free artificial limbs and callipers to disabled people.

The function was organised by SJE&WD in collaboration with the local NGOs and voluntarily organisations.

Attending the function as the chief guest, Gangtok MLA NK Pradhan in his speech emphasised at generating the requisite awareness amongst the local populace to work for the betterment of people living with disability.

“We should not look down upon disabled persons but we should rather provide care and moral support to enable them to lead a healthy meaningful life,” he said. Mr. Pradhan added that a comprehensive management institute for the disabled will soon be set up in Sikkim.

SIKKIM: Photo ids compulsory for visiting Nathu La and restricted areas of Sikkim

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Indian and Chinese Soldiers at Nathu La border. Photo by Sikkim Express. Click on the image to enlarge

GANGTOK: Photo identity cards have become mandatory for domestic tourists who are keen to visit the snow capped mountainous corridor of Nathu La border and other restricted areas of the border State of Sikkim.

Sikkim shares its borders with Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China, Nepal and Bhutan.

Of these borders, the Nathu La border between India and China located 50 kms away from Gangtok is the most favourite tourism itinerary for the tourists who want to see this famous international border and the Chinese soldiers deputed at the border.

The domestic tourists must now carry with them their photo identity card for obtaining the mandatory permission from the State tourist department.

With Centre stepping up tight vigil in the international borders in wake of rising terrorism activities especially after the Mumbai attacks, the State tourism department has mandated the visiting domestic tourists to present their photo identity card as a documentary proof permission to visit Nathu La and other hotspots near the border like Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir in East District enroute to the Sino-India border.

SIKKIM: Sikkim to be an organic State by 2015: Chamling

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling visiting stalls at Regional Agriculture Fair, 2008 and Rabi Kisan Mela. Photo by Sikkim Express. Click on the image to enlarge

GANGTOK: Asserting Sikkim’s determination to becoming an organic State by 2015, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today urged the other Northeastern States to move towards the directions of organic farming for multiple sustainable benefits.

Northeast could be the destination for health conscious people of the world who are looking for organic food, said the Chief Minister during the valedictory session of the 3 day Regional Agricultural Fair and Rabi Kishan Mela for the Northeastern States organized here at Saramsa Gardens.

Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) had organized this event along with the Sikkim government.

If Northeast States could develop as organic States it would not only attract health conscious people but also boost tourism that will have a multiplier effect on the local economy, Mr. Chamling said. I will like to Northeast region develop as organic belt producing organic food for the nation and world, he said.

The Chief Minister appealed the ICAR scientists to look into this aspect while reminding all that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the Northeast region. He further highlighted the need for planning sustainable strategies for agriculture of Northeast region.

On Sikkim’s shift towards organic farming, Mr. Chamling pointed out that Sikkim was the first State to opt for organic farming practices since 2003. He informed about the measures taken by the State government towards this objective by distributing organic seeds, integrated pest management system and setting up rural market network. We have started reaping in the benefits, he said.

We want to make Sikkim as an organic State by 2015, the Chief Minister said appealing for more support from ICAR and Government of India.

State agriculture minister Somnath Poudyal said that efforts are on full swing to make Sikkim an organic State by 2015.

Full efforts are on by the State government to make Sikkim an organic State by 2015, Mr Poudyal said. We have banned use of fertilizers and pesticides but even then there is on drop in the production output, he said.

Around 1500 farmers from Northeast and Sikkim had participated in the fair where various produces were exhibited and ideas were exchanged.

DARJEEELING HILLS: Security beefed up in the Hills

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Dec. 4: Police have beefed up security in Darjeeling following Intelligence reports suggesting possible terrorist attacks in the region. Five districts in West Bengal have been identified as possible terror targets after the Mumbai attacks any time between 20 November and 20 December. Among those are the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Malda from north Bengal.

“We have received centralised information about the threat and have upgraded security arrangements in the area,” said ASP Darjeeling, Mr AK Chaturvedi.

Considering the strategic location of Darjeeling and its proximity with neighbouring countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China, entry points around it are being manned and stringent checking of vehicles being carried out. “All entry points like Sukna, Rohini, Kurseong and the Nepal border at Pashupati are on high alert and guarded strictly by our force,” Mr Chaturvedi said.

The Chowrasta, the Rink Mall and other shopping centres in Darjeeling, which are popular spots for tourists and locals alike, are being closely guarded as well. “Hotels are regularly checked for anything or person unusual. In the Sadar area we have divided our forces into groups so that no area goes unnoticed,” he informed.

BENGAL: Left Front ‘fine with’ (Sixth Schedule)Bill pullout

FROM THE STATESMAN

By Romit Bagchi

SILIGURI, Dec. 4: The principal constituents of the ruling Left Front in the state today gave enough hints that they would not oppose the withdrawal of the controversial Sixth Schedule Bill for Darjeeling from Parliament provided “the withdrawal ensured prompt resolution of the vexed Darjeeling tangle.”

Reacting to All India Gorkha League leader Mr Madan Tamang’s statement issued yesterday that the hill-based outfits should close ranks in demanding immediate withdrawal of the Bill from Parliament, the CPI-M, CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc leadership today said that they had no political inhibition to the withdrawal of the Bill. “But the withdrawal must ensure prompt resolution of the Darjeeling impasse,” they said.

Mr Jibesh Sarkar, a member of the CPI-M state committee, said that his party was not concerned with the now shelved Sixth Schedule Bill. “The Bill was tabled on the floor of Parliament to provide enough empowerment to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council to carry on development in the hills. Later the hill-based outfits rejected the bill. As things stand now, my party stands for an amicable solution to the tangle through the tripartite negotiation. The Sixth schedule Bill figures nowhere in my party’s political scheme regarding Darjeeling,” the CPI-M leader said.

Speaking on the matter, the FB Darjeeling district secretary Mr Smritish Bhattacharya said that his party would not come in the way of the withdrawal of the Sixth Schedule Bill if it helped put an end to the protracted imbroglio in the hills. “We are willing to provide a decent burial to the Bill if it paves way for a better solution through the tripartite negotiation,” he said.

DARJEELING HILLS: Rights notice on youth death

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, Dec. 4: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Darjeeling police to submit a report on the death of Samsul Zaman by December 14.

The body of the 35-year-old resident of Chappalpatti in Siliguri was found by the side of railway tracks on October 20. The NHRC has taken up the case (no 659/25/7/08-09/UC) following a complaint by Ali Akhter, secretary, Anjuman E-Islamia.

If the district police failed to submit the report by the stipulated date, the NHRC said it “may proceed to take such action as it deems proper”.

The family members of Samsul had alleged that the youth was threatened by police officials to be implicated in a false case if he did not pay them the money they demanded. Biman Poddar, an assistant sub-inspector of police in the district intelligence branch, had been accused of abetting the suicide.

Samsul and his brother had been jailed on charges of being “anti-nationals” in 1998 but acquitted by Delhi High Court. Since then, he was running a vegetable export business in Siliguri.

After Samsul’s death, the police officer who had threatened him was arrested following a hue and cry but was granted bail by a sessions court on November 11. He is currently under suspension.

A letter written by the assistant registrar (law) of the NHRC to Rahul Srivastava, the police superintendent of Darjeeling, said: “Upon perusing the complaint, the commission has passed an order calling for a report to (the) concerned SP.” A copy of the letter has also been forward to the state director-general of police.

DARJEELING HILLS: Six dead, 20 hurt after truck falls into gorge

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Dec. 4: Six construction labourers died and another 20 were injured when a truck carrying them fell into a gorge at Faparkheti near Gorubathan in Kalimpong sub-division last evening. The labourers were returning after work from Lava to Siliguri via Gorubathan when the mishap took place.

The 20 injured are currently admitted at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri and the condition of five among them is stated to be serious.

According to Mr Kumar Chhetri, the OC Gorubathan police station, there were around 35 labourers on the lorry, all of whom hailed from in and around Siliguri. A private contractor had taken the labourers’ contingent to Lava ~ some 110 km from Siliguri ~ to work on an upcoming Buddhist Gumpha (temple) there.

“After finishing the day’s work, the labourers were returning home on the truck. But while negotiating with a road-turning at Faparkheti, the driver Sasi Gurung lost control over the vehicle and the truck fell into a gorge killing five persons on the spot,” the OC said.

Police reached the spot from Gorubathan, located some 19 km away and rescued the injured persons, including the driver. The injured were taken to the Gorubathan block hospital, wherefrom 21 were sent to the NBMCH in Siliguri while the rest were released on first aid. One of them, Lalan Kumar (24), a resident of Gurung Basti in Siliguri succumbed at the NBMCH today raising the total number of dead to six.

DARJEELING HILLS: Monkey menace on a high!

FROM THE STATESMAN

By Mrinalini Sharma

DARJEELING, Dec. 4: People’s zeal to worship the descendants of Lord Hanuman has put Southfield College (formerly Loreto College) at peril of monkey menace.

As part of their daily religious ritual, early morning strollers around the Mall feed the animals attracting hordes of them exactly at the time when classes begin in the college. The raised area near the gate, which is actually the water storage tank of the college, forms a convenient platform to make these offerings. Situated below the Mahakal Dham shrine, a haven for monkeys, the girls’ college has always been in news because of them since decades. A couple of years back the creatures had wreaked havoc when they attacked the college’s library, damaging books and assets worth Rs 50,000.

“We have made several appeals to the people not to lure monkeys with food but they have always turned a deaf ear to our problems. When monkeys attack, the big ones come in groups of 20 and 30. What’s more, they are multiplying by the day,” said an exasperated Mr Kashinath Ojha, Head of the History Department. Resistance from religious quarters and animal lovers prevented any permanent solutions like sterelisation or injecting tranquilisers to capture the monkeys. The forest department installed cages to trap the monkeys, which worked initially but the monkeys were quick to sense trouble and started avoiding places where the traps were set. “This is a perennial problem. Our classrooms are raided, students bitten and slapped. Only 20 monkey were trapped and released in the forest so far,” Mr Ojha said. Southfield has a full-time watchman to escort the girls up and down the pathway that leads to the college. Armed with a catapult and a stick, Dhamu Chettri the watchman is busy shooing away monkeys all day.

DOOARS TERAI: KLO regroups with Ulfa help

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Policemen check the luggage space of a bus on NH31D in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, Dec. 4: The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), which had borne the brunt during the Operation Flushout in Bhutan, has started regrouping with active support from Ulfa.

“The two KLO militants arrested in Cooch Behar this year had told their interrogators that the outfit, in a desperate attempt to renew its activity, have resumed training at the Chittagong hill tracts in Bangladesh,” said Manoj Verma, the superintendent of police of Jalpaiguri. “We know that the training for the ninth and the 10th batches, comprising some 25-30 youths from Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, are in progress.”

Ramanath Roy, one of the two militants arrested in Cooch Behar’s Baxirhat in September, had told police that the training was going on at Chittagong. The rebel’s confession confirmed senior officials’ apprehension that the outfit was inducting cadres again.

Intelligence officials also spoke on similar lines. “There is a specific information that youths of Mainaguri, Dhupguri, Falakata and Kumargram blocks in Jalpaiguri and Tufanganj and Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar have joined the outfit,” an officer said. “Our suspicion has confirmed when the family members of the recruits, whom we approached, claimed that the youth have been working in other states. However, when we cross-checked, none of them could be traced in those locations. We are trying to figure out the exact number and other details.”

The regrouping has also pointed finger to the threat that the Huji, a Bangladesh-based outfit, together with the KLO, may strike between November 20 and December 20 in north Bengal.

NGO support

Darjeeling police will engage NGOs working in the district for a surveillance job to ward off terror threats in and around Siliguri.

BENGAL: Bangla SIM in market, BSF for jammers – Grameen security concern in border district

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

A trader in Balurghat replaces his Indian SIM with a Grameen card. Picture by Ramen Mondal

Balurghat, Dec. 4: The BSF is worried about a Bangladeshi mobile network active on this side of the border and has issued an alert that it may be a cause of serious security concern.

Besides, the government is losing out on revenue, for calls to Bangladesh, which otherwise would have been ISD, are being charged at local rates.

The deputy inspector-general of the BSF (Malda range) Probhat Singh Tomar said he had forwarded the alert on Grameen Phone, a popular mobile service network in Bangladesh, to his higher authorities.

Tomar has asked for jammers even as the South Dinajpur district police have appealed to local mobile service providers to conduct thorough identity checks of the buyers before giving SIMs.

“The matter (concerning Grameen Phone) is now under consideration of the department of telecommunication. A team from the ministry had recently travelled along the border with Bangladesh for an on-the-spot study of the situation,” Tomar said.

The BSF official said he has urged the inspector-general of the border force’s headquarters in Calcutta to expedite the process of introducing jammers to deactivate the Bangladeshi mobile network on Indian territory.

Grameen has been running brisk business in this border district for the past few years. Residents of Hili, Trimohini, Teor – areas along the border – avail of Grameen network to make calls to Bangladesh at local charges. Grameen SIM cards are sold clandestinely in many shops in South Dinajpur, even in Dangi which is 5km from here.