DARJEELING HILLS: Culling begins in bird flu-hit Darjeeling

FROM THE HINDU

Siliguri, West Bengal (IANS): Authorities in West Bengal on Sunday began culling operations in the bird flu-hit Darjeeling and Siliguri subdivisions, officials said.

“A three-day culling operation has begun in the affected areas of Siliguri. Twenty-four teams comprising of a total of 200 veterinary workers have culled at least 100 chickens since morning,” Sarod Dwivedi, sub-divisional officer of Siliguri, told reporters.

The district administration had on Saturday ordered the culling of about 60,000 poultry at Pubang in Takdah of Darjeeling subdivision and Matigara in Siliguri subdivision.

Dwivedi said that authorities were not facing any resistance from farmers.

“People are willingly handing over their chickens to our workers. For the time being, each household is getting a compensation of Rs.500. But we will soon be having a high-level meeting to decide the compensation to be paid to poultry farmers and if any animal can be given in exchange of the birds,” Dwivedi said.

In Darjeeling subdivision, nine culling teams started operations on Sunday.

Said Milan Halder, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC): “Culling operations have started. Initially we have only nine teams, but the number will increase as and when required.”

PHOTO FEATURE: Minister under seize!

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters stops the convey of State Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattachary. Photo Himalaya Darpan

NEPAL: Deposed king adds to voices of discontent over temple row

FROM GULF TIMES

KATHMANDU: A row over a controversial appointment of priests at Nepal’s biggest and most important Hindu temple deepened yesterday with the disposed king adding his voice to the discontent.

“The issue should not be allowed to turn political as Pashupatinath temple is the centre of faith for millions of Hindus,” Independent Kantipur Television quoted former king Gyanendra as saying. “The affairs of the temple should be kept well away from politics.”

Gyanendra’s comments were his first on public affairs since the Nepalese monarchy was abolished in May last year.

On Friday, the Nepalese government deployed riot police at the temple as hundreds of people protested the appointments of two new priests by the Maoist-led government, and prevented regular prayers at the temple.

Low ranking priests accused the Maoist-led government of appointing their own people without meeting requirements.

Former Nepalese monarchs were the patrons of the temple, which is a Unesco-listed world heritage site located in Kathmandu and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. After the abolition of the monarchy, the head of the government became the temple’s patron.

Earlier this week, the Nepalese supreme court issued a stay order on the new appointments pending further hearings.

This is the second time that the Maoist-led government has courted controversy over religious issues.

In September last year, riots broke out in Kathmandu over the government’s decision to stop paying for religious ceremonies that included animal sacrifices essential for most Hindu rituals in Kathmandu Valley.

Three days of running battles between protesters and riot police finally forced the government to back down on its decision. 

JOB OPENINGS: NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL

Set up by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India as a registered Society, financially self-supporting with an independent Board of Governors and Hqs. in Navi Mumbai invites applications for:

Sl. No. Title of Post Post Pay Band + Grade Pay (Rs.) Gross Salary P.M. (Rs.)* Annual Package (Rs.)* 1 Dy. Director General (DDG) 1 37,400-67,000 + 8,700 74,018/- 13.57 lacs Break-up 2 Dy. Director (DD) 5 ** 15,600-39,100 + 6,600 41,973/- 7.75 lacs Break-up 3 Technical Officer (TO) 1 9,300-34,800 + 4,200 21,966/- 3.76 lacs Break-up

(*) At the minimum of pay.       (**) Including two posts for construction safety.

Annual increment 3% of pay in the Pay Band + Grade Pay. Pensioners will continue to draw pension in addition to salary. Higher pay may be considered for deserving candidates.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, AGE AND OTHER DETAILS FOR THE ABOVE THREE POSTS

ATTRIBUTES: Persons applying should have initiative & drive and be committed to the mission and service culture of NSC.

1. DDG : Thorough professional knowledge on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH); dynamic personality; outstanding organizational and administrative ability; leadership skills in planning & raising resources, identifying market needs for NSC’s services in different sectors & developing such services; effectively interacting with Govt. & other key stakeholders at national & international levels and NSC’s counterparts in other countries.

2. DD : Good professional knowledge on OSH, co-ordination, team building, inter-personal relationship, communication, sales promotion skills and job versatility.

JOB OPENINGS: Assistant Executive Engineers in Various Departments (General Recruitment)

Applications are invited On-line through the proforma Application available on Website : (www.apspse.gov.in) from 12/03/2009 to 28/03/2009 for recruitment to the post of Assistant Executive Engineers in Various Departments.

The desirous eligible candidates may apply on-line by satisfying themseles with the terms and conditions of this recruitment. The commission has dispensed with the sale of applications through at HPO’s/Sales counter of Commission’s office. The details of the provisional vacancy position is as follows:

Post Code Name of the Post No. Of Vacancies Age as on 01/07/2008 Min.Max Scale of Pay Rs. 01 AEE in I & CAD in Civil Engg. Branch 527 18-39 Rs.9285-21550 02 AEE in I & CAD in Mech. Engg. Branch 60 03 AEE in I & CAD in Electrical Engg. Branch 140 04 AEE in I & CAD in Agriculture Engg. Branch 40 05 AEE in I & CAD in Instrumentation Engg. Branch 30 06 AEE in R & B in Civil Engg 40 07 AEE in R & B in Electrical Engg. Branch 03 08 AEE in PH & ME Dept. in Civil/Mechanical Engg. 12 09 AEE in Ground Water Engineering Service in Mechanical Engg. 03   Total 855

Note 
For 136 Vacancies of I & CAD Dept. orders of Age relaxation upto 39 years awaited.

Post Code	Name of the Post	Educational Qualifications
01	AEE in I & CAD in Civil Engg. Branch	Must Posses BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering of University or an equivalen qualification.
02	AEE in I & CAD in Mech. Engg. Branch	Must Posses BC/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering of a University or an equivalent qualification.
03	AEE in I & CAD in Electrical Engg. Branch	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Electrical Engineering or Electrical and Electronics Engineering of a University or an equivalent qualification.
04	AEE in I & CAD in Agriculture Engg. Branch	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering of a Universtiy or an equivalent qualification.
05	AEE in I & CAD in Instrumentation Engg. Branch	Must posses BE/B.Tech in electronics and Instrumentation Engineering of a University or an equivalent qualification.
06	AEE in R & B in Civil Engg	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering of a University or an equivalent qualification
07	AEE in R & B in Electrical Engg. Branch	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Electrical Engineering Engineering Branch of a University or an quivalent qualification.
08	AEE in PH & ME Dept. in Civil/Mechanical Engg.	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Civil or Mechanical Engineeing of a University or B.Sc (Engg.) of Banaras Hindu University or a pass in Section A & B equivalent qualification.
09	AEE in Ground Water Engineering Service in Mechanical Engg.	Must posses BE/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering/ Agriculture Engineering Branch of a University or an equivalent qualification.

Detailed Notification with breakup of vacancies, scale of pay, age, community, Educational Qualifications (www.apspse.gov.in) After filling the necessary details, the applcation form along with challan will be generated in downloadable/printable PDF. Candidates are required to take printout of the online application along wih the challan which may beretained with the candidates for reference. Through challan form candidates are required to pay the amount indicated in the challan in any branch of State Bank of India across the country.

SOUTH ASIA: Manipulating terrorism in S. Asia

FROM ASIAN TRIBUNE

By Janaka Perera

The resounding victory of the Sri Lankan armed forces in Kilinochchi stresses the moral duty of sane people in Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan to resist all forces hell-bent on destabilizing the South Asian region. Our troops have shown the way towards real conflict resolution. The fall of the LTTE ’s so-called administrative hub is no doubt a cause of joy not only for Sri Lanka but also for countries like China and Pakistan which have always firmly stood by this country in its armed struggle against Tiger terrorism. Their governments – to which GOSL owes its gratitude – stand out as perhaps the only states that have never urged this island nation to “negotiate” with the intransigent Tigers and give “political solutions” to them.

South Asia is a region exhausted by insurgency and terrorism. They have been widespread here much before it hit the United States in a horrifying and dramatic fashion on September 11, 2001. S. Asian countries have been victims of one or more of various forms of terrorism, many of them manipulated by foreign powers. To the latter the LTTE are generally ‘good terrorists’ (though banned in statute books) because they do not attack the Western democracies. Small wonder since the Tigers have been receiving all the moral support they need from many a Western ‘human rights’ organization.

During a visit to Pakistan last month, a senior defence official there (who did not wish to be named) told the Asian Tribune that Sri Lanka is probably the South Asian region’s first country to give birth to suicide terrorism.

“Suicide bombing is a phenomenon which perhaps started in your country. It was copied by extremists in our country and for the first time and Pakistan saw suicide bombers. We also noticed another feature alien to our culture. These terrorists used small children to slaughter captives (identical what the LTTE did to Sinhalas and Muslims in so-called border villages of Sri Lanka)”

Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan just as much as India are victims of terrorism. But to the U.S. and its allies what is important right now is India’s case since it serves the Western agenda for the subcontinent.

There are hardly any calls from Delhi’s U.S. Ambassador or any other Western envoy for “negotiated settlements” or “political solutions” in relation not only to Islamic militancy but also the many insurgencies that have plagued the Indian Union over the past several decades.

The country is facing terrorism, violence, ethnicity, regionalism and separatist movements in Assam, Mizoram, Gujarat, Manipur, Punjab, Kashmir, Tripura and Nagaland. Among those spearheading the violent campaigns are the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), Mizoram’s Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the Darjeeling Gorkha Maobadi Sangthan.

SILIGURI: GJM blocks minister’s car

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

SILIGURI: Around 600 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters blocked state urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya’s car at Salbari near

Sukna in Darjeeling district on Saturday.

CPM Rajya Sabha MP Saman Pathak, Siliguri Mahakuma sabhadhipati Moni Thapa and other party leaders were also held up along with the minister for more than an hour. The minister, who was on his way to inaugurate a drinking water project, could proceed only after police dispersed the GJM men.

The GJM men mobbed the minister with black flags and ransacked a bus carrying CPM cadres. On the way back, Thapa’s car was blocked again.

________________________

RELATED STORY

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

GJM women hold protest in front of minister’s convoy

Kolkata Woman members of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) staged a demonstration in front of the convoy of state urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya in Siliguri on Saturday following the administration’s decision to deploy more paramilitary forces in the Hills.

They were also protesting against being denied the permission to hold rally in Siliguri. Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastava said that he had asked for paramilitary forces in the hills and added that raids were on to apprehend the 10 persons allegedly involved in cases of arson in the past two days, including the torching of a tourist bungalow at Rohini and setting aflame a police vehicle at Kurseong on Friday.

He said the additional superintendent of police has been asked to inquire into Friday’s incident when GJM supporters attacked the five peope accused of killing a local Morcha leader. “The ASP has been asked to submit a report and to find out if there has been any lapse,” said Srivastava.

NATIONAL: “Approach U.N. rather than rely on U.S.”

FROM THE HINDU

KOLKATA: India should approach the United Nations Security Council with the evidence collected on the Mumbai terror attacks rather than relying on the U.S. to solve the problem, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Saturday.

Addressing the 43rd anniversary celebrations of the CPI(M) daily Ganashakti, Mr. Karat said: “It is unfortunate that the ruling establishment thinks that terrorism can be fought with U.S.’ help … What prevents the Indian government to go with the evidence they have collected to the U.N. and ask the Security Council to take action against Pakistan according to Resolution 1373?”

Instead of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram handing over to the U.S. the evidence collected during his visit to that country, Mr. Karat suggested, “Let us internationalise the Mumbai attacks because not only Indians, many people from other countries had also died in the attacks.”

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, both West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mr. Karat stressed on the need for a political alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, based on the principles of secularism and an independent foreign policy and that would pursue pro-people policies.

“The struggle for alternative economic policies and rights for the working class people will not succeed if only the Left parties take it up. We have to gather other powers around us for carrying forward the struggle,” Mr. Karat said.

NATIONAL: Well planned onslaught against CPI (M): Prakash Karat

FROM THE HINDU

Kolkata (IANS): Opposition parties in West Bengal have launched a “well-planned onslaught” against the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that leads the state’s ruling Left Front, party general secretary Prakash Karat said here Saturday.

“What is now happening in West Bengal is a well-planned onslaught against the CPI-M. These activities – happenings in Lalgarh in the name of tribal agitation, growing Maoist attacks on the communists, the Gorkhaland movement in northern West Bengal – are targeted to weaken the Left Front in the state,” Karat maintained.

“We’ve to constantly fight against all the opposition forces. Our party is not addressing this as a problem of West Bengal alone. It’s a national issue. Our party has been built through a class struggle and we’ve to see to it so that this conspiracy against the communists is defeated,” Karat said.

Karat was here to celebrate the 43rd foundation day of the party’s Bengali daily Ganashakti. He also attended a meeting of the party’s state secretariat.

DARJEELING DISTRICT: Bird flu in Darjeeling, culling ordered

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

Bird flu has been detected in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, prompting the administration on Saturday to order culling of 60,000 poultry over three days starting on Sunday.

Alarmed at the death of 80 poultry at Pubang in Takdah of Darjeeling subdivision and 67 poultry at Matigara in Siliguri subdivision within a week, the district administration sent the samples to the High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Bhopal.

“One of the samples has tested positive for avian flu,” the state’s Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rehman told IANS over phone.

“We have asked the district administration to take all measures. Culling will start on Sunday,” Rehman said.

The development comes 18 days after bird flu struck Malda district in the state.

In Siliguri, Darjeeling district magistrate Surendra Gupta said: “60,000 poultry will be culled over three days from Monday, in both the hills and plains over a five km radius from the epicentre.”

The culling operations will also be conducted at Phulbari of Jalpaiguri district which comes under the radius zone.

SILIGURI: Bird flu hits Siliguri fringe

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Jan. 3: Bird flu has been confirmed in Matigara on the outskirts of Siliguri town.

The Darjeeling district administration today said 60,000 birds within 3km of Benoy Krishna Pally village of Matigara block would be culled in the next few days.

The operation began this evening itself in some areas. Officials said around 500 poultry birds were killed.

“The culling area will cover Siliguri subdivision, Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri and 34 wards of Siliguri town. Around 1,000 birds will also be culled at Pubong village in Darjeeling Sadar subdivision.

All areas within 10km of the flu zone will be under surveillance,” district magistrate Surendra Gupta said.

After several meetings with senior police officers and officials of the animal resource development department and the district administration, he announced the formation of 30 culling teams.