KURSEONG: Women on Hunger Strike

Member of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha women's wing on hunger strike before Kurseong Police Thana. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

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NATIONAL: Two North East Girls Molested, Beaten and Hospitalized in Gurgaon

Police Refused FIR under SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act

Sexual and Racial Harassment to North East Community once again erupt in Delhi and NCR

New Delhi, December 13, 2008

Sexual and racial harassment to North East communities erupt again Delhi and NCR. Two North East girls were severely beaten by a landlord and his son after molestation on December 12 midnight at Sikandrapur, DLF Phase 1, Gurgaon. One among them seriously injured at leg, hand and face and hospitalized.

The incident happened at 2.30 AM on December 12, 2008 when landlord at drunken state entered the room rented to two girls just two days ago and molested them. The girls informed the North East community leaders of Gurgaon and they rushed to the spot to help them. The landlord and his son assembled the neighbors and severely beaten them.

The matter was reported to local police station and the victim who suffered the most was taken to local hospital. Both of the girls belong to tribal communities of Manipur.

North East Support Centre & Helpline has spoken to Sub-Inspector of Police Mr. Aberaj, who is the in-charge of the case, refused to register the case until the filing of this report. Mr. Aberaj intentionally refused to register the case under the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocity Act 1995. Victim from Hospital bed reports to NE Helpline that, Mr. Aberaj refused to take the SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act section in written complaint.

INTERNATIONAL: Proudest Gurkha loses final battle

FROM GET READING.CO.UK

By Jonny Fordham

News Shared by Aardee

Bhim Prasad Gurung pictured in Nepal in April. His family had already waited 18 months for permission to bring him to the UK for treatment. Click on image to enlarge

A champion of the Gurkha rights campaign and victorious claimant at the High Court from Newtown has died.

Proud Bhim Prasad Gurung, who guarded The Queen at Buckingham Palace, died on Sunday after a long battle with diabetes and pneumonia.

Read about his service with the British Army here

He applied for a visa in October 2006 and was one of only six former soldiers present during court proceedings in September this year to get the Government to give Gurkha soldiers who retired from service before 1997 the automatic right to settle in the UK.

Although wheelchair bound, he presented a dignified picture of a Gurkha veteran.

The brave 64-year-old, who lived in Filey Road, joined the British Army in 1958 as a child soldier and served as a junior for three years before fully enlisting aged 18.

The Nepalese national was made redundant in October 1970 following a distinguished tenure fighting and serving in the UK, India, Malaya and Hong Kong.

His son Biju had been caring for him 24 hours a day since they came to Reading in August this year after an 18-month settlement fight.

Mr Gurung’s wife Maina, 57, only arrived in the country on Friday after battling with the Government herself to visit him.

She was at his side in Royal Berkshire Hospital when he died.

Although she was too heartbroken to speak, her son said on behalf of the family: “It is very sad for us and in particular my mother. We have done all we can for my father.

“We have had little support still and are suffering badly.

SIKKIM: Darap festival on the cards

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

By Subash Gurung

Gangtok: First Darap Cultural Village Tourism Festival will be held from 18 to 20 December at Darap under Yoksum constituency in West Sikkim. The festival is organized by Darap Eco-Tourism Committee and Agro Farm and Tourism Development Cooperative Society, West Sikkim, sponsored by West District Zilla Panchayat and Darap Nambu Gram Panchayat, and supported by Tourism Department and District Administration, West Sikkim.

This is informed over phone to this correspondent by Darap Eco-Tourism committee general sectary Susil Tamang. He said theme of the festival will be “Livelihood through Eco-Friendly/ Sustainable Tourism” and its aim is to promote Culture Tourism and Eco-Tourism.

A workshop is charted for the occasion in which participants will be several NGOs, leading Travel Agencies and Panchayats of the State. Service of wild and organic food and drinks, display of traditional homes, mountain biking, nursery (mini) rock climbing, yak riding, paddy plantation and harvest demonstration, bonfire camp, a special trekking package, traditional cultural programme, traditional games and sports, traditional attire fashion show, musical nites, rock Concerts, department stalls and those of various communities of Sikkim, floriculture show and bungthing show are on the cards, Mr. Tamang said.

SIKKIM: Geo-tourism park planned around microfossil in dolomite rocks

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Fossils on Dolomite Rock formation. Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Namchi: A team of Mines and Geology department, Government of Sikkim, along with Professor Dr. Vinod C. Tewari, Head of Sedimentology, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, carried out a survey of dolomite rocks, having microfossils, on 10th December in areas of Mamley, South Sikkim, and Reshi Khado Sangphug cave near Tinkitam hot spring.

Prof Tewari informed that he has investigated 2 small petrographic thin sections of samples collected from exposures in the Rangit River, northwest of Rishi, that together comprise an area of 5 cms. According to him, this first report of Proterozoic microfossils in units of the Rangit tectonic window provides evidence of early life.

SIKKIM: All-round development of Sikkim in 14-year rule of pro-poor SDF government recalled by CM

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: “It was on this day, the 12th December 1994, the Sikkim Democratic Front party assumed power in Sikkim after receiving overwhelming mandate from the people of Sikkim who have reposed their complete faith on the present pro-poor ruling government by reelecting them to power for three consecutive and uninterrupted terms. On this momentous occasion I extend my greetings and felicitations to the people of Sikkim without whose unstinted support and co-operation Sikkim would not have become one of the best governed States in the country today”. This is stated in a message given SDF President and Chief Minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling, on the 15th anniversary of SDF government in the State.

The message further reads: “I also express my gratitude to my fellow Sikkimese citizens for their ready support and working hand in hand with the Government to make Sikkim a peaceful, poverty and illiteracy free and a model State in the Country.

“The all-round outstanding achievements made by the SDF Government during the last fifteen years were so unique, well-known and manifold that it may sound superfluous for me to reiterate here as the remarkable accomplishment of Sikkim in all the different fields is conspicuous to one and all. It will be suffice for me to say that the SDF Government has fulfilled its commitments given to the people in the election manifesto. Infact, it is not an exaggeration to state here that the present ruling Government has more than fulfilled its promises.

DOOARS: Agitation continues in Dooars

FROM THE STATESMAN

JALPAIGURI, Dec. 12: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha supporters today staged a demonstration in front of all the gram panchayat offices in the Dooars of Jalpaiguri district, demanding unconditional release of the Morcha supporters arrested after the Kalchini incident on Wednesday.

According to Mr Vinod Ghotali, convener of the middle Dooars GJMM unit, the demonstration would continue for an indefinite period. “Earlier we had decided to lock the panchayat offices but after the administration requested us and we were instructed by higher authority, we scaled down our plans to a demonstration,” the leader said.

He said: “If the administration does not take steps to release our arrested supporters soon we would lock the government offices up in the Dooars,” Mr Ghotali said.

The ASP Jalpaiguri, Mr Jayanta Pal, said that enough security had been arranged to maintain law and order. “We have 100 combat force jawans and two platoon police force stationed in the 20 gram panchayat offices in Malbazaar. The offices were open and some employees worked in those offices today. The pradhans and the upapradhans were present in the offices,” the ASP said. GJMM central committee member, Mr Madhukar Thapa, said that the Morcha supporters would demonstrate in front of all the police stations in the Dooars from tomorrow.

DOOARS TERAI: RSP leader taken ill after GJMM ‘tirade’

FROM THE STATESMAN

JALPAIGURI/SILIGURI, Dec. 12: The Alipurduar RSP MP, Mr Joachim Buxla, was admitted in the Alipurduar Junction Rail Hospital with high blood pressure last night after the GJMM secretary Mr Roshan Giri allegedly held him responsible for assumed attacks by RSP supporters on GJMM supporters at Kalchini on Wednesday.

According to Mr Buxla, the GJMM secretary threatened to attack his residence, which sustained the first spate of violence during Wednesday’s hostilities, again if the RSP supporters tried to undermine the Morcha movement. Mr Giri rejected the allegation against him in a Press briefing in Siliguri today.

“While returning to Alipurduar from New Delhi on Wednesday, I came to know that my house was attacked and that my wife was injured. I telephoned Mr Giri and asked him why the Morcha had attacked my house. He said that the RSP supporters had assaulted his party members in Kalchini and being an RSP leader I was responsible. The conversation turned bitter and so I had to terminate the call. Thereafter, I felt nauseated and had to be admitted in hospital,” the MP said.

Mr Buxla arrived in New Alipurduar Rail junction station by train where the super of Alipurduar Sadar Hospital, Dr Himadri Ari, with Dr Madhav Haldar (a physician) attended him. Realising that his condition was serious, they decided to shift him to the ICU of the Alipurduar Railway Hospital. “He was suffering from high blood pressure due to some tension but he is better. The railway doctors would keep Mr Buxla in the ICU for the next 48 hours,” Mr Ari said.

Refuting the allegation, the GJMM secretary, Mr Rosgan Giri, said in Siliguri today: “The MP had called me on my cell phone accusing the GJMM activists of attacking his house on Wednesday in which his wife was reportedly injured. In reply, I told him that it was from his house the CPI-M, RSP and Janajagaran hoodlums attacked the GJMM’s peaceful rally injuring a number of our activists.”

SILIGURI: LF parties say Hill talks should be flexible

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Dec. 12: The constituents of the ruling Left Front asked the Centre and the state government to be more flexible and sincere during the second round of negotiations on the Darjeeling imbroglio, slated to be held in New Delhi on 29 December. 

“The second round of talks is unlikely to yield a tangible outcome unless the Centre and the state government display enough flexibility and sincerity,” said the Darjeeling district leaders of the RSP, Forward Bloc and the CPI. The district CPI-M stressed upon carrying on the talks to break the ice.

The RSP Darjeeling district secretary, Mr Benoy Chakravarty, said that the responsibility rested more with the Centre and the state government in the matter than with the agitating Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha. “Leaving alone electoral calculations, the Centre and the state government must show statesmanship if the talks are to yield a tangible outcome,” he said.

Veteran district CPI leader Mr Pijush Guha sounded skeptical over the outcome of the serial tripartite dialogue, though he counseled for carrying on with the process. “Maybe a gleam of hope would flicker at the end of the dark tunnel,” he said.

The district FB secretary Mr Smritish Bhattacharya, however, said that a thaw would definitely emerge if the process were carried on with untiring vigour. “The problem is tricky and old. Yet dialogue can break the ice if the Centre and the state government shed all preconceived ideas to break new ground,” he said.

KALIMPONG: Bow boy waits for overseas call

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Prayash Biswakarma on the violin at a function in Kalimpong a few months back. Picture by C.F. Lepcha

Kalimpong, Dec. 12: Having just won over Calcutta, Kalimpong boy Prayash Biswakarma is all set to do an en core with audiences in venues overseas.

Following a string of mesmerising performances in the City of Joy over the past week, the 10-year-old violin prodigy was rewarded with a two-month training session at the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra. Next could be a chance to perform in Japan and England.

Prayash’s mother Laxmi Ghimeray said on her return from Calcutta that his main benefactor had told them that once her son was through with the special lessons, a trip to Japan and England could follow. She had accompanied Prayash and members of Dr Graham’s Homes choir during their tour to Calcutta.

Talking to The Telegraph over the phone from Calcutta, Prayash said he wanted to make the most of his practice stint with the Calcutta orchestra. “On my first day today, I practised for about one-and-a-half hours. I think I will get to learn new techniques during my stay here.”

“I have also been promised a new violin by an uncle who was present at one of our shows,” he added.

Asked how it was like performing in Calcutta, the youngster said he was initially afraid, but played nevertheless. “After every show, a lot of people came to me and congratulated me.”

Prayash said apart from violin, he also played the guitar, piano, drum and other percussions. “I can’t, however, play the saxophone. The only blowing instrument I can play is the flute,” he said with a hint of regret. Asked to name his favourite piece of music, the youngster said it was Vivaldi’s Summer.

Music seems to be in the family of the Biswakarmas. Prayash’s father Rudra himself is a violinist and music instructor at the Gandhi Ashram here. Not surprising then that the boy took to the bowed instrument when he was only three. “His first public performance was at the age of three-and-a-half,” said his proud mother.

DOOARS TERAI: Tea too less for auction to go online at Jalpaiguri

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The Tea Board of India office to be inaugurated in Jalpaiguri on Sunday. (Biplab Basak)

Siliguri, Dec. 12: Members of the North Bengal Tea Auction Centre (NBTAC) in Jalpaiguri have to be satisfied with only a demonstration of electronic auction system thanks to the pathetic inflow of the brew.

The experts from NSE.IT, the information technology wing of National Stock Exchange that has designed the software, will only make a presentation of the system at a programme in Jalpaiguri on December 14. The e-auction systems are being launched at six other auction centres in the country this month. While the system is already in place in Calcutta and Guwahati, it will be introduced in Siliguri tomorrow,

“The tea board has decided to introduce e-auction at all six auction centres save Jalpaiguri where the brew is hardly sold nowadays,” G.Boriah, the director (tea development), told The Telegraph over the phone from Calcutta. “A presentation will be held along with formal release of the Dooars-Terai tea logo at the centre.”

The centre, which became operational in February 2005, has been facing a crunch in the flow of the brew for quite a few months. Although it had recorded the sale of lakhs of kg in the first three years, only 6,000-odd kg of tea were auctioned in the current financial year, prompting the authorities to cancel the sales dates.

“We are aware that the e-auction will not be introduced in Jalpaiguri and it will be the only centre where the system would not be available,” said N.K. Basu, the secretary of the NBTAC.

“Given the present condition of the auction centre and its discouraging sales figures, we are keeping our fingers crossed and are not very sure of the centre’s future,” he added.

Stakeholders of the industry feel that the centre is at a difficult juncture now.

DARJEELING HILLS: Strike costs NBSTC Rs 20000 per day

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

A Morcha rally at the district magistrate’s office in Darjeeling on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Siliguri, Dec. 12: The North Bengal State Transport Corporation’s Siliguri division is incurring a loss of Rs 20,000 per day because of the strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the three hill subdivisions.

The NBSTC runs its daily service with 28 and 35 seaters buses from Siliguri to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik and Gangtok.

“We are not allowed to ply our buses in the hills because of the strike imposed on the state government offices in the three subdivisions,” said Uttam Gan, the NBSTC’s Siliguri divisional manager. “We are incurring a loss of Rs 20,000 every day and if the strike continues, the quantum of loss will increase.”

The official was apprehensive about the outcome of the tour programmes that were announced a week ago. Tourists were offered packages from Siliguri to Gangtok, Lava-Loleygaon, Bindu and Jaldapara.

“We had expected a good response during the Christmas and the New Year’s Eve this year. But considering the unrest in the region, we are doubtful about how to run our tour packages in the hills and the Dooars,” Gan said.

According to NBSTC sources, a daylong package tour to Bindu scheduled for Sunday, which had got full booking, is under clouds because of the Morcha strike. The department is also hesitating to accept advance booking for the Gangtok and Lava-Lolleygaon trips.

DARJEELING HILLS: Rally boost to hill demand

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Morcha supporters on a fast in front of Kalimpong police station on Friday to protest against the attack in the plains. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Darjeeling, Dec. 12: Hundreds of hill people today took part in a rally to protest against the attack on Gorkhaland supporters in the plains. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders claimed that the gathering has energised the party’s movement for a separate state.

The rally which started from the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan ground snaked its way to the district magistrate’s office and later converged on Chowrastha.

“The presence of so many people has once again shown that we are determined to achieve Gorkhaland. We will not budge an inch from our statehood demand and your support has given us more energy,” said Puran Thami, the general secretary of the youth wing of the party.

The Morcha, in a bid to streamline the party affairs, has issued a new code of conduct for its leaders and supporters. “We have specified the functions of the local and village units, block, subdivisional and the central committees,” said Raju Pradhan, the assistant general secretary of the outfit.

Pradhan said grievances would have to come to the party leaders for redress through a proper channel. “People tend to directly come to the central committee to pour in their grievances. However, we have decided to give every layer 15 days to solve the problem failing which it can be sent to the next level.”

DARJEELING HILLS: Morcha threatens 3-day bandh

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Dec. 12: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today threatened to hold a 72-hour bandh and skip the talks in Delhi on December 29 unless action was taken against those who allegedly attacked its pro-Gorkhaland rallies in the past two days.

“If the arrests are not made by December 22, we will call a 72-hour general strike across Gorkhaland. This strike will be very intense and we’ll mobilise our supporters in the plains to ensure it is total,” president Bimal Gurung said.

The party demanding a separate state also wants inspector-general police (north Bengal) K.L. Tamta to be shifted by December 22. “A probe must be ordered to find out if he is siding with the CPM to attack our supporters,” Gurung said.

The bandh across what Gurung calls Gorkhaland means it will include Siliguri, the Terai and the Dooars.

The Morcha has named 54 people in FIRs after the clashes at Kalchini (Jalpaiguri) and Debidanga (outskirts of Siliguri). It wants all 54 arrested in 10 days.

“On the one hand they (the state government) call a tripartite meeting and, on the other, their leaders incite ethnic strife,” the Morcha president said in Darjeeling.

The Morcha’s meeting with state and central officials is meant to end the impasse in the hills because of its agitation and frequent trouble.

Its general secretary, Roshan Giri, said the “original Bengali inhabitants” of the region were against strife. “But those who have come from Bangladesh in the late eighties and nineties are trying to destabilise the region.”

A “Bengali medicine shop owner in Kalchini”, he said, had sheltered a group of Morcha girls during the violence. “The immigrants have been given ration cards and government jobs by the CPM and they are the ones trying to create problems,” he added.