SIKKIM: Sikkim student commits suicide in Allahabad

FROM THAINDIAN

Allahabad, Jan 7 (IANS) A meritorious B.Tech student, hailing from Sikkim, allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room here Wednesday, officials said. Sovit Agarwal, of the Moti Lal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) in Allahabad, ended his life by hanging himself from the ceiling fan of his hostel room, according to the police.

“It is an unfortunate incident,” said A.B. Samdar, a teachers of the institute. He declined to comment any further.

Institute authorities and the police were ascertaining the reasons behind the incident.

According to Agarwal’s room mates, he had returned from Sikkim Tuesday night.

“We saw a Hindi movie on his new lap top which he got from his parents recently. In the morning, he was sleeping and refused to attend class. We thought he was tired and wanted to take rest,” Anshul Shekhar, one of the deceased’s roommates, told reporters.

SIKKIM: Putting the bite on rabies in India

FROM THE DAILY

Dr Catherine Schuetze will begin working on Project Vet Train in India this month. Photo: Che Chapman/

A former Burnside High student has signed a ground breaking agreement with the Indian government that may one day free the country of rabies.

Dr Catherine Schuetze, president of Vets Beyond Borders (VBB), will begin working this month on Project Vet Train in collaboration with the Indian government’s department of animal welfare and the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The agreement marks the first major partnership with a national government for the four year old VBB, which Dr Schuetze, who studied veterinary science at the University of Queensland, helped found.

Rabies claims between 30,000 and 40,000 lives in India each year.

Vet Train’s director, former Adelaide vet Dr Ian Douglas, said operations would begin with the formation of international teams of VBB selected veterinary educators to deliver instruction on a wide range of topics.

It is anticipated that during its early stages the project will give clinical training in anaesthesia and surgery to more than 120 Indian vets and nurses at the National Institute of Animal Welfare.

The training would allow those professionals to refine their skills.

“The next stage will involve establishing more teams staffed by an increasing per centage of Indian vets. In a few years the operation will become self sufficient and run by local graduates of Vet Train,” Dr Douglas explained.

OUTBREAK WARNING: Fresh outbreak of bird flu in Darjeeling

FROM SINDH TODAY

Kolkata, Jan 7 (IANS) A fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in Darjeeling Wednesday prompting the authorities to restart culling operations, an official said.

‘We have started culling operations at Rangli Ranglikot area of Darjeeling . This time a total of 7,000 poultry will be culled,’ district magistrate Surendra Gupta told IANS over telephone.

Gupta said the blood samples of dead poultry from the area sent to the High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Bhopal had tested positive for avian flu.

‘We got the reports Wednesday that confirmed that the dead birds had H5N1 virus,’ Gupta said.

About 31,000 poultry have already been culled at Matigara in  Siliguri subdivision and Pubang in Takdah of Darjeeling  sub-division of the same district after avian flu was confirmed in the areas Saturday.

SILIGURI: Senior cop regrets inaction during separatist move by GJM

FROM INDOPIA

A number of incidents took place during the agitation by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) for a separate Gorkhaland state as police have to exercise restraint as advised by the West Bengali government, a senior officer today said.

Inspector General of Police, K L Tamta said that the GJM had illegally changed the number plates of cars from’WB’ ( West Bengal) to’GL’ (Gorkhland) and replaced’ Government of West Bengal’with’ Gorkhaland’recently, but the police did not intervene because of instructions from Kolkata.

He also referred to an incident last week when Urban Development minister Ashok Bhattacharjee was heckled and his car spat on by the Gorkha Narimukti Morcha, the women’s wing of the GJM at Darjeeling More.

” Even though the police were present, they could not take action because we have been advised restraint,”he told media here. The police also could not arrest GJM Kurseong  district president Pradip Pradhan from the Bagdogra airport, wanted in connection with violence at Rohini in Kurseong on January 1 and 2, because GJM president Bimal Gurung threatened that it would lead to unrest, he said.

ADVERTORIAL: Special Offer for Students and Office Goers this Winter – Best Trekking Packages

Dawn at Sandakphu

SHORT TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE: [DURATION 3 NIGHTS / 4 DAY]

Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)

Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
Day 4: Phalut – Rammam (24 km)
Day 5: Rammam – Rimbick (16 km) and back toDarjeeling by jeep

LONG TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT WITH HALT AT GORKHEY [DURATION 5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS]

Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)
Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
Day 4: Phalut – Rammam (24 km)
Day 5: Rammam – Rimbick (16 km) and back toDarjeeling by Jeep

 

Atop Sandakphu

LONG TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT, WITH HALT AT GORKHEY [DURATION 5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS]

 

Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)
Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
Day 4: Phalut – Gorkhey (15 km)
Day 5: Gorkhey – Srikhola (17 km)
Day 6: Sri Khola – Rimbick and back to Darjeeling by Jeep

LONGEST TRE AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT [DURATION: 6 NIGHT / 7 DAYS]

Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang to Tonglu / tumbling (11 km)
Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling to Kalipokhari (14 km)
Day 3: Kalipokhari to Sandakphu (6 km)
Day 4: Sandakphu to Phalut (21 km)
Day 5: Phalut to Gorkhey (15 km)
Day 6: Gorkhey to Sri Khola (17 km)
Sri Khola to Rimbick, and back to Darjeeling by Jeep

PHOTO FEATURE: Procession at Kurseong

Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha members during a political procession at historic Kurseong DHR Station. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

SILIGURI: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activists stage a mass rally in Siliguri

FROM NEWS TRACK INDIA

Siliguri, Jan 7 (ANI): Activists of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) staged a huge rally here on Tuesday to voice their concern over the November 26 terror attacks on Mumbai.

They also used the occasion to demand the creation of a separat Gorkhaland.

A sea of humanity dominated the Siliguri landscape as around half a million GJM members and their sympathisers participated in the rally, raising slogans against the terror attack on Mumbai.

Among them were thousands of former Gorkhas from the armed forces.

“We are here to demand Gorkhaland. People from both the hills and the plains have gathered here for the rally,” said Dipen Rai, a GJM activist and retired soldier of Indian Army’s Gorkha Regiment.

Likewise, Colonel (retired) Ramesh Alley, the President of the Gorkha League, said they are looking for unity of every Indian citizen against terror attacks going on in the country.

“We are all united in the fight against terrorism. All the people of Siliguri took out this protest to show oneness against the terrorist attacks,” said Col. Ramesh Alley (Retd).

DARJEELING HILLS: Gorkhaland strike in Darjeeling hills today

FROM MORUNG EXPRESS

Siliguri: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which is spearheading a movement for a separate Gorkhaland state, called for an indefinite office strike in West Bengal’s Darjeeling Hills from Jan 7. “We’ve taken a decision not to allow any central government, state government and Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) office to reopen in the Darjeeling hills from Jan 7,” GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang said Monday.

He said GJM activists would not allow any government office to reopen in Darjeeling  from Wednesday as part of the protest for Gorkhaland. “However, the banks, post offices and the BSNL’s emergency services will be kept out of the purview of our agitation programme,” Tamang said. Following a decision taken in the party’s central committee, the GJM leadership decided to allow the government offices to reopen in Darjeeling hills from Dec 26 last year.

Tamang said the payment boycott of all telephone bills, electricity bills and other government taxes would continue till the demand for a separate state was met by the government. The GJM, led by its president Bimal Gurung, has been mobilising a movement in the hills for a separate state, besides opposing the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling district.

ADVENTURE SPORTS: Khanchendzonga Mountain Bike Challenge in India March 20 – 29

FROM BIKE RADAR

The 2009 Khanchendzonga Mountain Bike Challenge, held March 20 – 29, is a nine-day race through the foothills of the Himalayas, covering 430km and 14,000m of climbing, all in the shadow of the third highest mountain in the world, Mount Khanchendzonga, with a stake of $25,000US in prize money for the participants.

“With the countries of Nepal to the west, Tibet bordering the north and Bhutan on the east, Sikkim’s isolation has created a unique existence separate from the rest of India,” said Harlan Price, US race liaison. “The Sikkim tourism department is excited to give participants the opportunity to travel from Buddhist monasteries to Hindu temples, and alpine meadows to glacial tundra. As part of the event there will be opportunities for helicopter rides to the race start, an Indian Airforce Air Show and a day of site-seeing after the race is over.”

Racers will discover Sikkim through the daily mix of single track, village back roads and jeep tracks that meander through uncharted foothills of the highest mountains in the world.

SIKKIM: Himalayan state of Sikkim to get its first airport

FROM ECONOMIC TIMES

MUMBAI: Over a decade after the central government sanctioned the plan to build an airport in the eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim,

construction for the first airport is to begin on January 10 at Pakyong, a town located in east Sikkim about 20 km from the capital city of Gangtok.

Pakyong shares its borders with Bhutan and China. There are only roadways travel available to move anywhere in the state. The government of India had sanctioned a plan to build an airport in Sikkim in the late nineties.

The new airport will make a significant contribution to the tourism infrastructure of the state. Awarded by Airports Authority of India (AAI), this contract is valued at Rs 264 crore and is scheduled for completion in 24 months. The scope of work will include construction of 30 m wide runway of 1.7 km length, taxiway, apron drainage system and electrical work for the Airport.

The airport will be built by the Punj Lloyd Group. The company says it is a challenge to build an airport in the hilly terrain. According to the company the airport will have a height of 1404 m above mean sea level. The scope of work shall involve excavation of 100 m depth and earth filling of slopes of 80 m height, stabilised with Geogrid Reinforced Retaining Wall.

DARJEELING TEA: Total tea offerings amounted to 1,32,838 packages

FROM INDOPIA

Kolkata, Jan 6: The total tea offerings during the last week amounted to 1,32,838 packages comprising 1,00,701 packages of CTC, 26,392 packages of Orthodox and 5,745 packages of Darjeeling teas.

There was a good demand for CTC offerings, while Assam teas were selling at lower prices in line with quality. Dooars and Cachars too followed a similar pattern.

Tata Tea was active but HUL remained selective with some support from DTL. Western India operated on liquoring teas. There was select North India and local interest on grainy and well made sorts with exporters showing interest on the larger brokens and fannings.

Orthodox offerings saw good demand during the sale. Few selected clean and well made whole leaf and bolder brokens were barely steady. Remainder tended lower following decline in quality. Middle East was active. HUL lent good support to fanning&aposs and liquoring smaller brokens. North India buyers lent good support on the bolder brokens.

Darjeeling teas met with good demand at the auction. Here well made improved whole leaf and brokens sold around last levels. Remainder were irregularly lower. Fannings sold at lower rates amd saw some withdrawals. Packeteers operated actively with some local interest.

NATIONAL: Gurung to meet UPA, NDA leaders over Gorkhaland demand

FROM THAINDIAN

Siliguri (West Bengal), Jan 6 (IANS) A team of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists, led by Morcha president Bimal Gurung, is in the national capital for talks with the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the main opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders over demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.”A six-member team, led by Gurung, went to New Delhi Monday to have a political dialogue with the top UPA and NDA leadership over the Gorkhaland demand,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said at Salugara Tuesday.

According to GJM sources, Gurung will discuss the issue of Gorkhaland with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and senior BJP leader L.K Advani.

“We got appointments with the top UPA and NDA leadership in New Delhi,” GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang said.

The GJM has been spearheading a movement in the hills for a separate state and also opposing the ‘Sixth Schedule’ status for Darjeeling.

GORKHALI RECIPES: Potato pickle Gorkhali Style

RECIPE AND PHOTO BY RAJNEESH THAPA 

Potato pickle Gorkhali Style - Recipe and Photo by Rajneesh Thapa

Ingredients

Potato — 1 kg
Cooking oil –half cup
Sesame seeds– half cup
Methi(fenugreek) seeds –30 – 40
Coriander powder — 1 small spoon
Cumin powder –1 small spoon
Turmeric powder — ¼ spoon
Asafoetida powder (heeng) (optional)– pinch
Green chillies – 5 – 10
Lime/Lemon juice — half cup
Salt — according to taste
Coriander leaves (optional)– few leaves

Instructions

Boil potatoes (1 kg), peel skin off and cut into quarters.

Roast sesame seeds (Til) (half cup)on a pan till it turns light brown and starts crackling, after which grind it in a food processor.

In a frying pan heat half cup of oil then add about 30 – 40 methi seeds till it turns dark brown, now add half cut green chillies(about 5 – 10 depending on how hot you want it) light fry chillies for 15 seconds.

Now add spoonful each of coriander, cumin and turmeric powder and add the ground sesame seeds and salt to taste. (a pinch of Asafoetida can also be added).

Cook for one minute in low flame stirring continuously. Now add the potatoes cook for about 2 – 3 minutes (stirring continuously) then add half cup of fresh lime/lemon juice…..mix it well.

Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves. It is ready.

BHUTAN: Bhutan returns to ACC trophy

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

By Tandin Wangchuk

Bhutanese Cricket Team

Bhutan will make its second appearance at the Asian cricket council trophy challenge early next week to be held at Chiangmai, Thailand.

The team, comprising a 14-member squad, will be led by coach Damber S Gurung, manager Jigme Norbu and a physiotherapist.

The participants will be divided into two groups: A – Bhutan, Brunei, Myanmar and tournament favourite Oman; B – host Thailand, Maldives, Iran and China.

Bhutan will play Oman on January 12 at the Prem center ground and Brunei on January 14 at Gymkhana cricket ground. Bhutan will play their last match of the league against Myanmar on January 17 at Gymkhana.

Bhutan stood 8th from 15 other countries at the first ACC trophy held in Malaysia, 2006.

NEPAL: Nepal bans protests around temple over priest row

FROM THE PENINSULA

KATHMANDU: Temple authorities in Nepal banned demonstrations around one of the holiest Hindu shrines in Kathmandu yesterday amid a row over the replacement of an Indian chief priest with a Nepali holy man.

Regular prayers at the centuries-old Pashupatinath Temple have been disrupted since last week, when three new Nepali priests were chosen by the Himalayan nation’s coalition government, which is led by former Maoist rebels.

More than 100 junior priests of the temple have been protesting against the appointments, saying the Maoists had ignored normal procedures in making the choice of the chief priest and two others.

Authorities say the changes were prompted by the resignation of the former chief priest, an Indian, last week. About a dozen people were injured at the weekend in clashes between the protesters and Maoist supporters outside the temple, a UN world heritage site.

“We have prohibited demonstrations in the temple complex,” said Parmananda Shakya, a senior official of the Pashupati Area Development Trust. “There is a possibility of more clashes taking place there.”

Protesters called on businesses around the temple complex to close yeserday, demanding the government reverse the appointment quickly. “The government is trying to politicise the place of worship,” said junior priest Harihar Man Bhandari.

ASIA: Bhutia nominated for Asian award

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

New Delhi: India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been named as one of the contenders to receive a top Asian award by a pan-Arab Abu Dhabi soccer weekly. The Arabian soccer weekly is honouring top players in Asia, Africa and among Arabian nations and the award carries a purse of USD 100,000 in each category. Italian World Cup final referee Pierluigi Collina has been roped in as president of the board of trustees for the award sponsored by Sheikh Hazaa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi who is also the chairman of the city’s sports council.

SIKKIM: Prasant Tamang greets players at Jorethang

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Prashant Tamang meets sports-persons at Jorethang, South Sikkim. Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Namchi: Inter constituency volleyball tournament under rural sports festival 2009 was kicked off Tuesday at Jorethang play ground. This tournament is a part of Maghey Sankrati Festival which is organized every year in Jorethang, South Sikkim, by the department of Sports & Youths Affairs (SYA). Those present in the opening ceremony included Area MLA and RM&DD minister K.N.Rai, SYA minister P.S.Tamang and 3rd Indian Idol Prashant Tamang.

The opening match was played between Jorethang constituency and Hee-Bermiok constituency which the home team easily won by straight set 25-15 and 25-07. Earlier, in the Open Girls Football Tournament, which was kicked off on 5th January, Jorethang won over Lachen Mangsila. Tuesday’s match was to be held between Sang Martam and Yuksam.

SIKKIM: 10-yr old brings Taekwondo gold

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY SUBASH GURUNG

Gangtok: Sourav Sunar (10) of Sikkim has won gold medal in Fly Wt. (21-23 kg) category of 26th Sub-Junior Taekwondo Championship 2008 held from 19th to 21st December 2008 at Rajajipuram Indoor Stadium Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, informs the coach Mr. Dawa Tamang.From Sikkim team of 10 Boys and 10 Girls, Tseteej Sivakoti won silver medal in Heavy Wt. (41-44 kg) category. The team ranked 4th and won ‘Best Fighting Spirit' trophy, Mr. Tamang informed.

SIKKIM: Give an inch, will take a yard – Thieves bleed FCI in crores

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY SANJAY AGARWAL

Food Corporation of India, Rangpo godown. Photo by Sikkim Express

Rangpo, January 6: Two major aspects have been surfaced from the wheat pilferage racket that was busted by Rangpo police yesterday when four drivers were caught red handed selling wheat to unauthorized dealers at Khali khola merely two kms away from the source, Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown.

Firstly, the FCI management has been stripped naked and bled crores of rupees by the second facet- the ingenuity of the accused truck drivers.

Their modus operandi was simple and rooted to a single point – FCI does not have a system to weigh each sack of wheat or rice while loading into the trucks. Instead, the traditional method is to first weigh the empty truck which is then allowed to enter the godown. Then goods are loaded into the truck and its weight is derived by canceling the weight of the truck measured earlier.

It is here when this system is outsmarted. The accused driver sneaks in some heavy items into the empty truck which adds to the weight of the truck when it’s weight is measured. Once inside the godown, the smuggled heavy items are cast away and the suspect benefits by getting extra goods equal to the extra load. The weigh system simply notes the weight of the empty truck and cancels it with the weight of the goods which in fact is an overload.

The surplus goods are then sold illegally to waiting dealers aware of the pilferage by the accused drivers as it happened at Khai khola yesterday. Four drivers who were ferrying wheat from Rangpo FCI to Tadong meant for the Army had managed to pilferage some portion of the consignment by apparently taking advantage of the above mentioned loopholes.

SIKKIM: High Court grants Khatiwada four weeks to remove belongings from his sealed chamber

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok, January 6: Dismissing the petition filed by beleaguered NB Khatiwada over the notice served by DM (East) to evict from the 0.35 acre Bansilal petrol pump lot, the single vacation bench of Sikkim High Court has granted four weeks time to the petitioner to remove his belongings items which are still inside the sealed premises.

The court also directed the concerned authorities to facilitate Mr. Khatiwada to remove his inventory articles from his sealed chambers. The petitioner had been earlier given 72 hours to vacate from the disputed property by the East district administration on December 24.

Following his refusal to do so, the administration had sealed Mr. Khatiwada’s chamber at the Bansilal petrol pump on December 29 after making an inventory of the items present in the chamber. In the meantime, the noted advocate responded by approaching the High Court on December 26.

Justice AP Subba, the vacation judge granted four weeks time to the petitioner instead of the earlier 72 hour deadline of the DM (East) and also granted 3 months time to file a special leave petition in the apex court for further redressel of grievances made by the petitioner.

SIKKIM: Khatiwada should not blame Bhutia community: Bhandari

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok, January 6: SPCC president Nar Bahadur Bhandari today advised noted advocate NB Khatiwada not to blame the Bhutia community for sealing of his Bansilal petrol pump lot.

“It was me who had given the order to take over the Bansilal petrol pump when I was the Chief Minister”, said Mr. Bhandari. He added that the decision was taken as it was felt that petrol pump was unsafe in market places. I had given the compensation amount of Rs. 6.7 lakhs to the original owner of the land, late LD Kazi.

“Why Mr. Khatiwada is blaming the Bhutias?”, Mr. Bhandari questioned. I happy that the land has now become public property once again, he said.

SIKKIM: SPNCP fixed on ‘Save Sikkimese Nepalis’ campaign

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok, January 6: Sikkim Pradesh Nationalist Congress Party (SPNCP) today deliberated on the status of its ‘Save Sikkimese Nepalis’ campaign being conducted in the rural areas of the State as per the directions of the party leader Ashoke Tsong, informs a party release.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the party east district general secretary Jeet Male at Development Area here and was attended by party youths from all the four districts.

According to the press note, Mr. Male told the gathering that Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party is doing ‘politics of lies’ and misleading the Sikkimese youths for the past 15 year.

SIKKIM: Congress to pitch for uniform tax relief to all Sikkimese ‘No Sikkimese person will be discriminated’

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Nar Bahadur Bhandari. Photo by Sikkim Express

Gangtok, Jan 6: Attacking the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government over the skeletons coming out the Income Tax exemption cupboard, arch rival Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) today promised to deliver uniform exemption to all Sikkimese persons with voting rights in the State.

“We will make the income tax a key issue during the elections. We have already drafted our election manifesto where SPCC assures to provide uniform income tax relief to all those in Sikkim with voting rights once our party comes to power. This manifesto will be signed by our national president Sonia Gandhi. This way, no Sikkimese person will be discriminated on income tax relief”, said SPCC president Nar Bahadur Bhandari in a press meet here. He added that all voters in Sikkim will be also extended all Central schemes.

Assembly elections in Sikkim are due in April-May and already political temperatures are high over the various skeletons coming out of the income tax exemption cupboard.

“The Income Tax Act 1960 which was enforced from June 16, 2008 is illegal in Sikkim. People say that Sikkim subject holders have been exempted but do they know that Income Tax Manuel 1948 of Sikkim has also been repealed. Had it not been repealed then it could have given permanent protection Sikkimese people under Article 371 F. No, people jumped to felicitate Pawan Chamling. Demand back those khadas”, said Mr. Bhandari.

“Once Congress government comes to power in Sikkim, the next day everyone with voter cards in Sikkim will also be exempted at par with Sikkim subject holders. This is my big agenda for the coming elections”, said Mr. Bhandari. He squarely leveled the responsibility for the income tax mess to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

“Why did Chamling did not raise these issues when he agreed with the Centre for enforcing Income Tax Act in Sikkim? He knew this will happen but yet he kept silent”, accused Mr. Bhandari.

Earlier in February last year, the Centre had exempted Sikkimese persons with Sikkim Subject certificates from paying income taxes while enforcing the Income Tax Act 1961 into Sikkim. An office of the Income Tax department was also set up in August last year.

KURSEONG: Leaders booked for Kurseong hostilities

FROM THE STATESMAN

Kurseong, Jan 6: The police and some court officials have filed a suo motto case against some GJM leaders in connection with the 2 January incident near the ACJM court in Kurseong in which five persons arrested allegedly for murdering a GJM  leader at Rohini on 31 December night, were gravely injured.

The Kurseong SDPO, Mr Rakesh Singh today said that police were raiding different areas constantly for the offenders but no one has been arrested so far.

Mr Singh also added that additional forces including commandos have been deployed in the region to avert law and order problems. The administration reportedly is also contemplating to deploy para-military forces in the hills.

“The GJM  leadership would meet district administrative officials in Darjeeling tomorrow on the situation,” the GJM  spokesperson Mr Binay Tamang, said today.

SIKKIM: Five held for stealing Army provisions

FROM THE STATESMAN

Gangtok, Jan. 6: The police in Rangpo, Sikkim have arrested four lorry drivers, a Food Corporation of India staff and a trader yesterday at Majhitar along National Highway 31C for allegedly pilfering Army provisions. The police also seized four lorries bearing registration numbers SK-03/0496, SK-03/2774, SK-03/0918 and SK-03/1517 that were being used for the crime.

According to the SDPO Rangpo, Mr Shammi Rai, the six arrested persons were caught red handed offloading sacks of wheat from the lorries earmarked for the Indian army. The buyer was also arrested and cases under sections 379/411/349 of the Indian Penal Code were registered against them for siphoning government property/military supply.

The arrested persons were produced in the court of the judicial magistrate in Gangtok today and an investigation has been launched into the incident. The police would also ascertain whether the grains in transit would be considered the property of the FCI or the Indian Army