NEW DELHI: Darjeeling’s minorities join demand for Gorkhaland

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY BISHAL RAI

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) After Gorkhas settlers in the Darjeeling-Dooars region, leaders of minority communities from the region have now joined in the demand for carving a separate Gorkhaland state out of West Bengal. A host of community leaders representing Tibetan, Muslim, Christian, Bihari and Bengali residents of the Gorkha-dominated area today met senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee and Oscar Fernandes here to press for their demand for Gorkhaland.

The leaders, who have gathered under the umbrella of All Gorkha Minority Front – an “apolitical” body -, are urging leaders to re-initiate tripartite talks between the Centre, West Bengal and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) that is spearheading the movement for a separate state. Darjeeling’s Congress MP Dawa Norbula, who was part of the delegation, said that the Gorkhaland cause requires national attention, alleging that “the stagnancy and economic drain-out of the region under the regime of the Left ruled West Bengal government is a problem faced by all”. “Though my party is yet to take a stand on the issue, I personally support GJM’s demand for Gorkhaland. I have come to tell them that it is no longer an issue of just the the Gorkhas as the problem in the region have affected all communities,” he said. General Secretary of the All Gorkha Minority Front Ali Akhtar Hussain said that the Front is also keen on approaching key NDA leaders now over the issue. “We want the issue of the hill people’s aspirations to be discussed in Parliament,” he said.

President of the All Gorkha Minority Front Tshering Dorji claimed the minorities were also being marginalized along with the majority populace. Asked if they felt that the Left’s ouster from power, would solve the crisis, Dorji replied in a negative. “Even if chief opposition Mamta Bannerjee comes to power we know we will be ignored like we have been since the accession of the region with West Bengal from 1956,” he said. Activist Subhamoyee Chatterjee said that despite having three MLAs from the region, the people, who have only got “bits and pieces” of development, had run out of patience.

ESSAY: Beautiful princess subsumed by world power politics

THE AGE / AUSTRALIA

PRINCESS Coocoola, the beautiful widow of a Tibetan governor and a champion of the distinct culture of the tiny northern Indian state of Sikkim, has died, aged 84.

Combining oriental charm and Western sophistication, she relayed messages to the outside world as the Chinese invasion of Tibet began in 1950, then devoted 10 years to running a rehabilitation centre for Tibetan refugees in Sikkim.

Twenty-five years later, after New Delhi sent in troops and Sikkim became the 22nd Indian state, she played an active role in trying to retain its separate political status and unique character, giving a news conference in Hong Kong to protest against its loss of independence.

Acting as the hostess for her brother, the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, at state functions until he married his American wife, she travelled widely to lobby in New Delhi, and mixed with the likes of John Kenneth Galbraith and Senator Edward Kennedy in Washington.

When the Indian prime minister Pandit Nehru offered her a pension, she turned it down and asked instead for trading rights. She worked from a single room in Calcutta with her younger sister, Kula, importing turquoise from Iran. Later she joined the boards of a company that produced jewels for watches, and of the State Bank of Sikkim.

Princess Pema Tsedeun Yapshi Pheunkhang Lacham Kusho (known as Coocoola) was the daughter of Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal, and the granddaughter of a Tibetan general.

She was born at Darjeeling when the Himalayan kingdom, established in the 1640s, was a British protectorate.

Young Coocoola was educated by the nuns of St Joseph’s convent at Kalimpong, a hill station near Darjeeling. Later, the Tibetan Pheunkhang family asked for a Sikkimese princess to marry their 23-year-old eldest son. Her father did not force her to accept, and she asked to go to university first. On being pressed by the Tibetans, she accepted Sey Kusho Gompo Tsering Yapshi Pheunkhang, the governor of the Tibetan city of Gyantse and a son of one of the four ministers of Tibet. But she broke precedent by declining to marry both the bridegroom and his brother, as was the custom.

INTERNATIONAL: Indian Army in capital in search of militant leader

FROM EKANTIPUR.COM

By Kedar Ojha

KATHMANDU, Dec 17 – A team of Indian Army is currently in the capital in search of a leader of an extremist group active in the Indian States of Assam and Nagaland, suspecting he is in hiding here.

The team, which includes members of the Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army deputed at Assam, has centred its search for the leader of an ethnic group Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), Jewel Garlosa, in the capital’s tourist spot.

However, the Indian Embassy in the capital on Wednesday denied the claims.
Garlosa, who hails from the North Cachar Hills district in Assam, has been charged with murder of more than a hundred security personnel and civilians in Assam.

Assam local police speculate that over 300 members are active in the DHD. Some of its members have already surrendered before the security body.

Garlosa formed DHD-J after the group fractioned in 2004 and announced himself the “Commander-in-Chief”.

His group is also known as “The Black Widows”. The group’s goal is to establish a separate “Dimaraji State” in Assam and Nagaland where majority of the population belong to the Dimasa indigenous community.

The Black Widows group has been carrying out murder, abduction and attacks targeting the road, railways infrastructures and the police.

The Indian search team claims that Garlosa has been running his organisation from Nepal for some time now.

A team member said, “We have information that Garlosa has married a Nepali woman and has been staying as a hotel owner in Thamel or somewhere else in the capital.”

EFI CAMPAIGN: Citizens for Peace

CITIZENS FOR PEACE

Calling Central and State Governments, All Political Parties and Civil Society to Act Now to

1. Restore normalcy in Kandhamal of Orissa. 2. Rehabilitate all by providing effective security. 3. Reconstruct all damaged houses, institutions and places of worship. 4. Rigorously end hate campaign all over Orissa. 5. Reconciliatory steps between all communities.

MUMBAI 26/11  Unites One Billion People against TERROR. ORISSA 23/08 63 killed 50,000 displaced (and still homeless). Should we not UNITE ALSO AGAINST TERROR  within ?

 

Peace on earth and goodwill towards all women and men.

PHOTO FEATURE: All Gorkha Minority Rally, New Delhi Day 3, 17 December 2008

ALL PHOTOS BY JYOTI THAPA MANI

White Lion Dancers

 

Tenzing, a drummer from Kalimpong

 

"We want Gorkhaland" chants members of All Gorkha Minority Front

PHOTO FEATURE: God is everywhere

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

A statue of Lord Vishnu carved out of rock at Rimbick bazaar near Darjeeling

DARJEELING: MP calls for steps to revive recession-hit tea industry

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

Darjeeling: CPM Rajya Sabha MP from Darjeeling  Saman Pathak said in Parliament on Sunday that the tea industry has been affected by the global

meltdown and that urgent measures must be taken to save the industry. Sunday was International Tea Day.

Pathak urged the government to impose export regulations and formulate a master plan to save the tea industry from the crisis. The increasing influence of brokers, who manipulate the price of tea export, was also affecting the tea industry, he said.

Pathak urged the government to replace old tea bushes, as these had outlived their utility and had poor productivity. He said adequate facilities must be provided to the garden workers and their interests safeguarded.

“It is difficult to ascertain the quantity and market worth of the Indian tea that is exported, as private companies with support of brokers sell off nearly 60% of the produce outside the ambit of auction centres. Tea must be exported through auction centres to overcome this problem.” said Pathak.

Western countries, such as the UK, USA, Germany and Japan are major tea markets, especially for Darjeeling tea. The demand in international market last year was 178.75 million kg, is much less than previous years.

DARJEELING HILLS: Gorkhaland activists approach rights panel for justice

FROM THAINDIAN

Siliguri, Dec 16 (IANS) Protesting an attack on its supporters last week, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking an end to what it terms “state-sponsored terrorism”.”We have sent a letter to NHRC Monday demanding its intervention into the collusion of the police and administration with those perpetrating violence against us,” GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang told IANS Tuesday.

Tamang said he did not understand why Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) cadres were attacking supporters of the GJM, which is leading a democratic movement for the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state in the hill areas of northern Bengal.

He alleged as these parties were constituents of the state’s ruling Left Front, the police looked the other way when their activists attacked GJM members. “Later, instead of coming to the rescue of our suppporters who were being mercilessly beaten up, the police attacked them with canes,” he said.

“We have given a list of the accused, who had attacked the GJM supporters Dec 10, to the police and demanded immediate action against them. But now we find it has all been meaningless. So, we had to turn to the NHRC for justice,” Tamang said.

At least 25 people, including 10 policemen, were injured last week following violent clashes between rival GJM and Jana Jagaran Mancha (JJM) at Hamiltonganj in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.

The clashes took place occurred when GJM activists, who surrounded the Block Development Office and the Gram Panchayat office at Hamiltonganj under Alipurduar sub-division, met with resistance from workers of JJM, which is opposed to the creation of a Gorkhaland state.

PRESS RELEASE: Two North East Girls were severely Beaten with Sticks to yield Sexual Favor Demanded by Landlord

Fact Finding Team Met Victims of Two North East Sexual Assault in Gurgaon

Police manipulated the statement and refused to register FIR under relevant penal code pertaining to molestation and sexual assault and under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

New Delhi, December 16, 2008: A combined fact finding teams of North East Support Centre & Helpline, Vaiphei Welfare Association, Delhi; Young Paitei Association – Joint Delhi Cell met two tribal girls from Manipur. Victims were demanded sexual favor by landlord and his companion and beaten with stick to yield to the demand at wee hour at Sikanderpur, DLF Phase I, Gurgaon, Haryana. Victims suffered bruise on their backs, legs, hands, faces with black and red. Police refused to file First Information Report under relevant sections of the penal code pertaining to molestation and sexual assault and under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Photos of bruise are available

Honorable Member of Parliament Dr. Th. Meinya Singh visited the victims and render financial help and assured to take up the matter in North East MP Forum.

Victims report to the fact finding team, “Our landlord along with man in a drunken state, came at wee hour around 2 AM on December 13, 2008 demanded us to open the door. When we refused to open the door they broke the door and intruded our room and demanded sexual favor from us. When we refused to their demand, we were beaten with stick and repeatedly demand us to yield to their sexual demand.”

Both the victims tried to call up Police Helpline 100 three times and did not get any response. Later one of the victims managed to run away with a friend from Manipur who came to help them. Other victim was locked in another room and repeatedly demanded sex by both the accused.

NEW DELHI: All Gorkha Minority Front – plans to meet Union Ministers

BY BISHAL RAI

All Gorkha Minority Community Front has successfully has drawn attention of all section of the society in the whole of the country regarding the demand of Gorkhaland.

Perhaps this is the first dharna of its kind in the history of Darjeeling district, where Bhutias, Marwari, Muslim, Balmiki Harizan, Bhojpuri, Dukpa, Christian, Rajbansis Bengalis, Sikkimese, Chinese and Gorkhas of Delhi made their presence felt while demanding Gorkhaland.

All speakers highlighted the 101 yrs old legitimate demand of the statehood. They criticitcised the policy of Govt. of West Bengal in neglecting and ignoring the overall development of Gorkha communities.

Speakers from different communities highly appreciated the bond of relationship between Gorkhas and minorities in Darjeeling district which is not the same to the rest of this country. They all emphasized that all political parties and all citizens should stand united to the demand of Gorkhaland. Shri. Dawa Narbula, Member of Parliament also stressed that his party is seriously contemplating to consider the demand of Gorkhaland.

Shri Franchis Phantom, Member of Parliament, Congress also address the Dharna and stated that in 1988, Gorkhaland could have been achieved, had Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leaders exercised some patience. Yet the demand is constitutionally valid.

Shri. T.D. Sigh, an eminent leader if Bharat Bachao League, son of retired Army office who served I.N.A. with Subash Chandra Bose thrilled the crowd by stating that brave Gorkhas has done a great service to the nation and have sacrificed many lives to help attain ‘Swaraj’ from British rule. He along with 12 lakh followers would support the demand of Gorkhaland. He invited members of All Gorkha Minority Community Front to call for Hartal in Delhi to push forward the demand of Gorkhaland and he would support that.

PRESS RELEASE: Gorkha Samavesh for Gorkhaland at Jantar Mantar on December 21, 2008

Having suffered the barb of being erroneous described as settlers and foreigners, the Indian Gorkhas have long been demanding the creation of a state for Gorkhas in India. Such a state would reassert their identity as Indians and clear all misconceptions about their origins and nationality. Residents of India since pre-Mughal times and participants in large numbers in the Freedom Struggle, the Gorkhas of India feel that their being misconstrued as citizens of another country has denied them a fuller role in Indian national life. A state called Gorkhaland would help reiterate their Indianness and bring them fully into the mainstream.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, a national organisation of 1.25 crore strong Indian Gorkha community, has called for a Gorkha Samavesh for Gorkhaland at Jantar Mantar on the 21st of December 2008, to press for the creation of  a new state of Gorkhaland. Representatives of 22 states will gather at Jantar Mantar that day to ask Parliament to consideer this century old demand for a separate State for Gorkhas.

Simultaneously Gorkhas from all over India will send faxes to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in support of Gorkhaland. Individuals and organisations will come out in large numbers that day to request the Parliament to do justice to this demand of the Indian Gorkhas. 

The Gorkha Samavesh for Gorkhaland is part of the three day national programme of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh starting on December 19. Other programmes include the National Council on December 19, and a Seminar on December 20. At the two session seminar, prominent constitutional experts, and scholars will present papers  on the Themes of  “The Constitutionality of the demand of Smaller States,” and “The Gorkha Community and National Integration.”

About the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh: The only national body of 1.25 crores Indian Gorkhas, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh is a non-political, social organisation that has units in 22 states of India. It is headed by former Lok Sabha member Dil Kumari Bhandari and has as members former Bureaucrats, armed forces officers, professionals, literary and cultural figures and academics among others. Among the significant work undertaken by the Parisangh was the installation of the statue of Saheed Major Durga Malla of the INA in Parliament. The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh’s vision is to see the Gorkha community recognized and accepted as a dignified, cultured, and patriotic society at par with any other civilized modern Indian society, enjoying the full rights and privileges enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

DARJEELING: GJM women unit steels itself for Gorkhaland movement

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, December 14: Protesting the growing attacks on its members in the plain areas of Dooars, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) women supporters led out a massive rally in Darjeeling bazaar.

GJM women leader Sushma Rai said that rally was in protest against the attacks on the Gorkha community allegedly done by anti-Gorkhaland forces at the behest of the West Bengal government.

“Today our people are facing injustice in Dooars. We condemn the suppression of our Gorkhaland movement by our warriors”, said Mrs Rai.

Attacking the local opposition parties, the GJM women leader questioned why these parties are remaining silent on the attack on Gorkha people in the plain areas. Our fight is against the Centre and West Bengal government, he said.

Stating that even the Gorkha community is being marginalized in the job sector by the West Bengal government, Mrs Rai said that the State government is scheming in the job sector against the Gorkha community. This is the reason for our brothers and sisters to migrate to other States for jobs, she said.

SIKKIM: ‘We should stand united to create a history for the second time with Gorkhaland’: Prashant Tamang

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok: Indian Idol III winner Prashant Tamang said on Saturday that the Indian Gorkha community should remain united to create history for the second time with Gorkhaland.

“The Indian Gorkha community displayed unity to create history by making a common lad like me the winner of the Indian Idol III contest. Now, we should all be united to create history for the second time with Gorkhaland”, said Tamang while talking with Sikkim Express. He opined that only a united approach from the India Gorkha community spread all over the nation will lead to the realization of the separate State demand.

The Indian Idol III winner was in Gangtok to participate in a musical programme along with his friends, Deepali and Parleen Gill, both finalists of the reality show. The musical event is scheduled to be held today evening at Chakung, West Sikkim.

“I realized during the Indian Idol III contest that if the entire Indian Gorkha community works unitedly, we can achieve anything. But unity must be there”, Tamang emphasized. Gorkhaland is not only for the Nepalese of Darjeeling and Dooars, it is a dream for all the community spread in the nation, he said.

SIKKIM: Sikkim University to host international seminar on South Asia regional integration

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 14: Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate an international conference on South Asia on December 19 at Gangtok, informed the organizers and host Sikkim University.

Sikkim University is organizing a four day international Conference on ‘Sub-regionalism Approach to Regional Integration in South Asia : Prospects and Opportunities’ in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung from New Delhi, said the Vice Chancellor Prof. Mahendra P Lama to Sikkim Express.

“Foreign Minster Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the same on December 19 at at Chintan Bhavan”, said the Sikkim University VC.

Sikkim University was established by the the Government of India under an Act of Parliament came into existence in July 2007.

Under its academic programme the Sikkim University plans to initiate a series of dialogues on various issues of academic and public interests with the immediate neighbouring countries. The first such dialogue entitled ‘Economic Reforms and Development Dynamics: A Cross Border Dialogue between India and Nepal’ was held in April 2008.

The upcoming international seminar which will begin from December 19 and end on December 22 at Gangtok will primarily focus on the understanding and promotion of the idea that sub-regionalism based cooperation could transform the entire SAARC based regional cooperation process in a substantive manner.

The Foreign minister will be presenting his inaugural address on December 19 during the inaugural session which will be attended by Sikkim Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh, Ton Sinh Thanh (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Vietnam), Dr Ren Jia, Vice President (Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Yunnan, China), SAARC director Rishi Ram Ghimire and Sikkim University VC.

SIKKIM: SDF has failed to fulfill its promises: SHRP

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 14: Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) party has listed 38 points of abrogation by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party during its past 14 years in power.

In a 4 page documentation of SDF’s abnegations released today to press by the party general secretary Tara Shrestha, SHRP said that the SDF party has failed to fulfill its 38 promises as assured in its election manifestos of the past 3 elections.

“The ruling SDF party has not fulfilled its following promises and programmes of its election manifesto even as it enter in the final year of its 3rd term”, says SHRP.

“SDF party had pledged full protection to Article 371 F but several Central laws were extended to Sikkim during its 15 years in government. Where is the protection?”, said SHRP.

Regarding the SDF’s commitment for seats of Sikkimese Nepalis and Tsongs, the opposition party said: “What to talk about seats for Sikkimese Nepalis, when will seats be given to the Limboo and Tamang communities?”. When will Central OBC recognition be provided for Chettri, Bahun and Newar communites?, the party questioned.

SHRP claimed that Revenue Order No 1 has been diluted by the SDF government who procured lands from Sikkimese people and gave them to multinational private companies.

SIKKIM/DEHRADUN: Dehar Dun police promise security to Sikkimese students

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, December 14: The Uttarakhand Home Department has directed the Dehra Dun police to take strong action against the intruders who forcibly entered the houses of students from Sikkim here and beat them up.

Assuring total security to the Sikkimese students, State Home Principal Secretary Subhash Kumar said no one would be allowed to disturb the students in future.

It may be recalled that two Sikkimese students studying in Dehra Dun had been severely trashed up by locals on December 10.

Following this, representatives from Sikkimese Students Welfare Association and Gorkha Sudhar Sabha committee had met the Utttarakhand chief secretary and submitted a memorandum demanding action from the State government

SIKKIM: Magan Music Festival 2008 concludes Every town to be made as beautiful as Gangtok: CM

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

MANGAN, December 14: The 5th Mangan music festival concluded today in a musical note after three days of headbanging presentations from thirty bands drawn from Sikkim and other regions.

Out of these 30 contestants, eight bands have made to the grand finale today evening and are contesting with each other for the top crown. The eight finalists are Native Rules and Midnight Garden Factor from Shillong, Cannabis IQ, Om, Queen of Spade and US Band from Darjeeling, A-Live of Gangtok and Pearly Gates from Assam.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling presided over the closing day celebrations of the Mangan music festival which had commenced from December 12.

The Chief Minister first visited the 71 feet Sonam Gyasto Rock Climbing spot where 14 local youths demonstrated rock climbing techniques under the watchful eyes of their instructor Kazi Sherpa. The participants were introduced to rock climbing equipments and basic skills.

At the venue of the festival, the Chief Minister visited the health camp of Bhavishya Bharat Foundation (BBF) and assessment camp of Sarva Sikhsa Abhiyan. He also presented rock climbing equipments to Mangan Tourism Development Committee (MTDC) which was sponsored by the State tourism department.

Mr. Chamling also released the objectives of the community health scheme of BBF health for project affected areas of Teesta HEP Stage III. The BBF report also contains the data and progress report of the State heath department.

In his speech, the Chief Minister appealed the people for better health maintenance so as to ensure healthy and quality life. He also urged MTDC to explore more tourism spots of North Sikkim which will not only increase the district’s tourism potential but also generate more local employment.

SIKKIM: CPIM-BJP in bag, SHRP explores poll alliance with Congress Inter party tussles in SDF will reach gigantic proportions soon: Shrestha

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok, December 14: With State Assembly elections just a few months away possibly by the end of April-May next year, opposition political parties here are already trying woo each other to challenge the formidable ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party.

State units of CPIM and BJP are already riding along Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) in several burning issues including the controversial Limboo Tamang seat reservation issue.

The two national parties and SHRP are jointly organizing public meetings in different parts of the State on the Limboo Tamang seat and collecting signatures on post cards that will be posted to the Prime Minister appealing him to solve the issue for the coming Assembly elections.

“Without a strong alliance, we cannot give a strong challenge to the SDF party”, said SHRP general secretary Tara Shrestha during a press meet today here. Though SHRP party has its own support base, the corrupt SDF government can be ousted only with a successful alliance, he said.

We are also interacting with Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) for poll alliance, said the SHRP general secretary. He said the poll alliance will be finalized by the first week of January, 2009.

The SHRP general secretary reiterated his earlier claims that the ruling party is on the verge of a split due to inter party tussles and egos. What we saw during the December 12 meeting of the SDF party is a clear indication towards this direction, he said. With senior minister DD Bhutia himself stating that there is no discipline in the party, it means that the ministers and MLAs themselves are not secure, he said. How the people of Sikkim can remain secure in this party, he said.

Coming days will see the inter party tussles in SDF party assuming gigantic proportions, Mr. Shrestha said.

The SHRP general secretary further slammed Sikkim Nationalist Peoples Party (SNPP) president Biraj Adikhari for unnecessarily putting up hurdles in the Limboo Tamang issue. Biraj Adikhari is making unnecessary statements to cover up the Limboo Tamang issue and his party is moving ahead in anti-Limboo Tamang direction, he said.

Mr. Shrestha wondered what happened to SNPP’s earlier agenda of an Associate State status demand. There in no political stability in SNPP, he said.

NORTH BENGAL: ‘N Bengal’s history neglected’

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Dec. 16: Eminent historians associated with the North Bengal University complained today that neither the Centre nor the state government or the university authority were making an effort to unravel the history of the northern part of north Bengal comprising the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, “though the archeological evidence so far gleaned amply hints that the history of the region might have to be written anew if the evidence was rightly probed into.”

“The lack of initiative on the part of the centrally controlled Archeological Survey of India and its state agency in digging deep into the ancient history of this historically rich region is baffling,” said the head of the history department, North Bengal University Dr Bijay Sarkar and a professor of history in the same institution Dr Ananda Gopal Ghosh.

Dr Sarkar said that archeologists, historians and geographers were unanimous in their opinion that the pre-partitioned greater north Bengal, particularly the northern part of the region, was the oldest historical and human habitation site in undivided Bengal. “Yet the region is not receiving the attention it deserves from the archeologists and historians at the national and the state levels as far as exploration, conservation and preservation of the invaluable relics are concerned. Despite the richness, the region is being ignored archeologically in stark contrast to certain parts of the southern Bengal, barring a few places in Malda and two Dinajpurs,” he rued.

Speaking in a self-critical vein, Dr Sarkar further said that the role of the North Bengal University in this respect was conspicuous. “It is unbelievable that the department of the university dealing with ancient history has no post of reader or professor. Even the number of lecturers is pitifully scant,” he pointed out.

DARJEELING: Activists leave for Delhi sit-in

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Dec. 16: A team of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists supporters left for New Delhi today to participate in a three-day demonstration for Gorkhaland starting 19 December in collaboration with the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, an all-India association for Indian Gorkha’s. The programme includes a two-day dharna at Jantar Mantar followed by a conference on Gorkhaland on the third day.

“All our central committee leaders and hundreds of cadres will participate in the dharnas. Instead of engaging in trivial conflicts here, we have to raise our voice where it would have effect,” said CPRM general secretary Mr RB Rai. The Federation for Smaller States, which is also spearheading the issue of homeland for Indian Gorkha’s to which the BGP is associated, will be a part of the demonstrations. “We will have leaders demanding for Telangana, Vidharbha and Bundelkhand supporting us at the demonstrations and also as panelists for discussions on Gorkhaland,” Mr Rai said. The party’s youth and women’s wing will also meet the chairman of National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi regarding the speedy trial of Chattray Subba and five others accused of the assassination attempt on GNLF chief Mr Subash Ghisingh in 2001.

SILIGURI: CPM demands arrest of GJMM ‘hoodlums’

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, Dec. 16: Serving a memorandum to the IGP north Bengal, the CPI-M Darjeeling district committee today demanded immediate arrests of the “GJMM hoodlums” allegedly involved in the 11 December violence at Devidanga on the outskirts of Siliguri.

According to the CPI-M district secretariat member, Mr Jibesh Sarkar, despite an FIR lodged against the “GJMM miscreants” for attacking the houses of some local CPI-M members at Devidanga, police have so far not arrested any.

“It appears that the GJMM is blackmailing the police administration with its agitation threats, refraining the police from arresting the culprits. But we demand that the police must ignore the GJMM’s blackmailing tactics and take action in accordance with the law,” Mr Sarkar said.

Adding further, the CPI-M leader alleged that the GJMM was also trying to create communal tension in places like Bagdogra, Naxalbari and Salugara by resorting to instigating agitation in favour of Gorkhaland, which the local people are dead against.

“The communal rift is being created with the specific aim of destabilising the peace and harmony in the plains as the GJMM is fast losing the support of the hill masses. Hence, the police administration must take timely action even by adhering to the state government’s policy of avoiding any excesses,” he said.

Hill leader visits clash accused in jail – Morcha demands unconditional release of nine persons arrested from Kalchini

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Roshan Giri (right) talks to Bikash Lama inside the police lock-up on the premises of the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

Alipurduar, Dec. 16: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants the unconditional release of its supporters arrested after the clash in Kalchini last week

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri today visited the nine accused in the Alipurduar Special Correctional Home. All of them have been booked under Sections 353 and 307, trying to prevent government officials from performing duty and attempt to murder – both being non-bailable offences. He also met Bikash Lama before he was forwarded in court.

“Our demand is that the innocent people be released unconditionally and those responsible for the attack on our women members be punished,” said Giri. Other than Morcha supporters, five more persons had been arrested.

“We had gone to the houses that bore the brunt of the December 10 brick battle. We came to find out how our supporters are being treated inside the jail,” said Giri.

The Morcha leader said Bikash had been injured in the clash and was arrested yesterday after he was released from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. “We have written to Union home minister P. Chidambaram, the chief minister of West Bengal and the Human Rights Commission in details about the incident in Bandapani Tea Estate, where Madhukar’s brother was beaten up.”

Madhukar Thapa is a Morcha leader in the Dooars and his brother was assaulted on Saturday. An all-party meeting for peace was held in Kalchini panchayat samiti office on Sunday. “It was a local level meeting. We are peace loving. On December 10, our supporters were demonstrating peacefully, when the local people became violent. But we were shocked when police arrested more of our supporters and less of the others. These people had attacked our supporters and now they are clamouring for peace. We are keeping a close watch on the situation.”

The Adivasi Vikash Parishad, which organised a meeting in Gangutia Tea Estate yesterday, said it was against Morcha demands.

Joufil Soren, the secretary of the Kalchini branch of Parishad, said: “We are always against the demand of the Gorkhas. But all of us should be careful, as the situation is tense. We will, however, continue to protest against the demand for Gorkhaland. On the 21st, we will hold a public meeting in Satali where our state secretary will also participate.”

Bail bonds

The bail bonds of 13 of the 14 accused in the killing of Morcha supporter Pramila Sharma in Darjeeling on July 25 were furnished in the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court in Siliguri today, reports our correspondent.

The accused include Deepak Gurung, the president of the Darjeeling branch committee of the GNLF, N.K. Kumai, Tika Khati, Chandra Bahadur Subba and 10 others.

SILIGURI: Cops told to reach out

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Dec. 16: Police stations in north Bengal have been instructed to step up patrolling in villages and reach out to people living there so that incidents like the recent clash involving Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters do not recur.

“In a bid to avoid the deterioration of law and order and improve information network, officials posted at different police stations have been asked to intensify patrolling, especially in villages, and maintain a strong connection with the grassroots,” inspector-general of police K.L. Tamta sad today.

“To avert any untoward incident, officers have been told to maintain contacts with people and gain their confidence. Getting information beforehand is important to contain any law and order problem,” said the officer.

Tamta said the policemen would reach out to people and ensure that there is no infringement on democratic rights.

The officer, who reached here from Cooch Behar, met a delegation of Darjeeling district CPM leaders, who submitted a memorandum to him, alleging atrocities by the Morcha.

DARJEELING: Students threat to shut down institutions

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, Dec 16: The Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha has threatened to close down all education institutes in the area demanded as Gorkhaland if police fail to arrest those who were involved in the attack on the outfit’s leader in the Dooars recently.

Dhanraj Thapa, a Vidyarthi Morcha leader, had been attacked near Badapani tea garden, Birpara, while he was on his way home last Saturday.

“We had named five people in the FIR for orchestrating the attack. Among those named, only Prem Oaron and Krishna Oaron have been arrested so far. However they have been booked under bailable sections. If the police fail to act by December 22, we will call for an indefinite closure of all education institutes in the areas which we declared as Gorkhaland,” said Keshav Raj Pokhrel, the general secretary of the student outfit.

Apart from the arrest of Munni, Gopal and Sukra Oaron, who is also the gram panchayat pradhan of Bandapani, the Morcha has also demanded that the two arrested, Prem and Krishna, be booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Section 324 (causing grievous hurt) of IPC. Both the sections are non-bailable.

“Thapa is undergoing treatment in a private nursing home in Siliguri and the attack was a clear attempt to murder him,” said Kismat Chhetri, the president of the Vidyarthi Morcha.

DOOARS TERAI: Plea fails, strike on

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Members of the Morcha’s women wing on a fast at Rangpo on the Bengal-Sikkim border on Tuesday. (Prabin Khaling)

Siliguri, Dec. 16: The ongoing Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-sponsored strike at the Teesta Low Dam Project (TLDP) sites will continue till the tripartite talks scheduled for December 29 in Delhi, the party’s central leaders have told the Kalijhora unit.

Morcha leaders of the Highway Block Committee that looks after the entire stretch of NH31A from 10th Mile to Rangpo had been to Darjeeling yesterday to request the central leaders to withdraw the eight-day long strike from Rambhi and Kalijhora. The agitation has taken away the income of people in Kalijhora and other villages which largely depend on the TLDP Stage III and IV being executed by the NHPC.

“Several local people have faced a loss of income and are in a spot. They had requested us to meet the central leaders,” said Prakash Bomzan, the secretary of the Morcha’s block committee, today. “Accordingly, we met party general secretary Roshan Giri in Darjeeling and brought to his notice the hardship being faced by the people.”

Giri, however, made it clear that the Morcha would not withdraw the strike and the NHPC project sites, like the state government and DGHC offices, would continue to remain closed at least till the tripartite talks, Bomzan said.