JOB OPENINGS: Indian Coast Guard Special Recruitment Drive 2009

Indian Coast Guard

Special Recruitment Drive

Seeks Dynamic Young Men and Unmarried Women with courage and motivation for appointment as Assistant Commandant General Duty/Pilot for Cpl Holders only for Short Service Appointment/ General duty Pilot-Navigator and Asst Commandant Technical Branch (Engineering and Electrical) only for male.

The Indian Coast Guard, an Armed Force of the Union, offers you a challenging and inspiring career as group ‘A’ Gazetted officer. Applications are invited from Indian Male/ unmarried female as Asst Commandant for Cpl holders. (Short Service Appointment), General Duty, General Duty (Pilot-Navigator) and Asst Commandant Technical Branch (Engineering and Electrical) only for male

 Asst Commandant (General Duty)

Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s de

Branch/type of entry:gree in any discipline of a recognised University by the Central/State Government/UGC with Mathematics and Physics as subjects up to 12th std of 10+2+3 scheme of education

Gender: Male/Unmarried female

Age: *Born between (01 Jul 84 to 30 Jun 88)

Branch/type of entry: Asst Commandant General duty branch (Pilot – Commercial Pilot License (Cpl) holders for short service appointment) for period of 08 years, which may be extended to 10 years and may be further extended up to 14 years by the competent authority

Educational Qualification: 12th class passed or equivalent and should possess current commercial pilot license (Cpl) on the date of submission of application

Gender: Male/Unmarried female

Age: *Born between (01 Jul 82 to 30 Jun 90)

Branch/type of entry: Asst Commandant (General duty-Pilot-Navigator) The candidates failed in Pilot Aptitude Test (PABT) need not apply

Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree of a recognized University Central/State Govt. Mathematics and Physics as subject’s during graduation

Gender: Male/Unmarried female

MYSORE: DEMONSTRATION BY CNC FOR AUTONOMOUS STATUS

FROM STAR OF MYSORE

Mysore, Jan. 21: About 100 Kodava men and women representing Codava National Council (CNC) formed a human chain at K.R. Circle here this morning to urge the Union Government to present the bill seeking autonomous status to Kodava homeland on the lines of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

The Kodavas dressed in their traditional attire went round the Circle with men brandishing traditional swords and women toting guns.

Accompanied by the beating of the drums, they performed the Kodava dance. Carrying CNC banners, the members raised slogans demanding autonomy for their homeland.

Nepal rejects ‘fake’ Chamling papers

FROM THAINDIAN

Kathmandu, Jan 21 (IANS) As the chief minister of an Indian state became the latest high-profile public figure to become embroiled in a controversy over his nationality, a Nepali weekly here took up cudgels on his behalf Wednesday, calling the documents tabled by his critics fake and an attack on Nepal’s sovereignty and integrity.After singer Udit Narayan Jha and Nepali Minister Ram Chandra Jha, Pawan Chamling, chief minister of India’s northeastern Sikkim state, is in the eye of a storm over his nationality. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) this month asked India’s Election Commission to sack him on the ground that Chamling is allegedly a foreigner who comes from neighbouring Nepal.

In a bid to discredit Chamling, who is also chief of the Sikkim Democratic Front party, the local BJP leadership in Sikkim has distributed documents to the media to establish that Chamling also holds Nepali citizenship.

The documents include photocopies of Chamling’s alleged Nepali citizenship certificate, the inclusion of his family’s names in Nepal’s census list and receipts to show he paid house tax – Rs.10 – in Nepal.

With the BJP threatening it is going to court with its claim, Nepal’s Jana Aastha weekly Wednesday took up the cause of the beleaguered Indian minister, saying the bid to drag him into a controversy by calling him a Nepali was also an attempt to malign Nepalis.

According to the weekly, the citizenship certificate distributed by the BJP is fake. The certificate reportedly says the Indian minister was born in Sanischare village in eastern Nepal’s tea garden district of Ilam.

The census document, which says Chamling as well as his wife Tikamaya, son Vijay, daughter Sheela and daughter-in-law Vinita are residents of Budhbare village in Ilam, is dated 2008.

However, both Budhbare and Sanishchare are in Jhapa district and not Ilam, as claimed by the documents and in 2008, there was no local development authority in Nepal due to the political changes to issue such documents, the weekly said.

It has also quoted the district administration official concerned as saying that the citizenship code in the documents is wrong.

DHARMASHALA: Cong violated Sec 118 of land act: Dhumal

FROM THE TRIBUNE

SHARED BY JTM

Residents welcome Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal when he arrived for his winter sojourn at Dharamsala on Tuesday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who arrived here today on the first day of his winter sojourn at Dharmasala, launched a counter offensive against the Congress on the issue of violations committed while giving sanctions under Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act.

While talking to The Tribune he said the Congress had been levelling allegations regarding violations of the act against the present government. However, we have recently gone through 48 sanctions given by the previous Congress government under the act. Out of these, 47 cases of glaring violations committed under the act.

Under the current provision the government cannot allow permission to outsiders to buy agriculture land in case the agriculturist becomes landless. However, the previous government overlooked the fact while granting permission.

In some cases permission was granted on the day application was moved. How can the government verify all the credentials of buyers and sellers in a single day. In other cases permission has even been granted to sell the kitchen garden land that is against the prevailing rules. The cases would be put before people to expose the propaganda being launched by Congress leaders, he said.

JOB OPENINGS: Temporary Jobs at Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI)

Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI)
(Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Pilani (Rajasthan) – 333031

Advertisement No. 1/2009

Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) is a premier research Institute in the field of Electronics, setup under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research(CSIR). The Institute is looking for qualified incumbats for purely temporary positions of Project Assistants in varipis Projects :

1. Project Assistant Level-I : 14 posts (Microwave Tubes Area- 11, Electronic Systems Area -3), Emoluments : Rs.7000/- pm fixed, Qualification : 1st Class 3/4 years Diploma in Engineering.
2. Project Assistant Level-II : 14 posts (Microwave Tubes Area- 7, Semoconductor Devices Area -6, Electronic Systems Area – 3), Emoluments : Rs.10000/- pm fixed, Qualification : 1st Class BE/B.Tech. or 1st Class M.Sc. in Electronics/Physics or MBBS.
3. Project Assistant Level-III : 24 posts (Microwave Tubes Area- 10, Semiconductor Devices Area – 7, Electronic Systems Area -9), Emoluments : Rs.12000/- pm fixed, Qualification : 1st Class ME/ M.Tech.

Age : 28 years for Level-I & Level-II and 30 years for Level-III.

Walk-In-Interview : Eligible candidates may walk-in for the above posts in the Conference Room of CEERI with application on plain paper giving the information as in prescribed format alongwith original documents and attested copies of all certificats and testimonials on the following dates :

1. 04/02/2009 at 9.00 am for Microwave Tubes Area
2. 05/02/2009 at 9.00 am for Semiconductor Devices
3. 06/02/2009 at 9.00 am for Electronic Systems Area

For further details and application form format please view:

http://www.ceeri.res.in/recr/pa2009.pdf

HONG KONG: Julus in Hong Kong

FROM NEPALI TIMES

BY DAMBAR K SHRESTHA in HONG KONG

A procession at Hong Kong. Photo by Damber Krishna Shrestha

Nepali permanent residents of Hong Kong marched this week through the centre of the city, obstructing traffic and shouting slogans demanding an end to discrimination.

As curious passengers peered out of the top of double-decker trams, Nepalis in daura suruwal marched with placards that read: ‘Nepali Language is Hong Kong’s Language’, ‘Respect Nepali Culture’ and ‘End Discrimination Against Minorities’.

Ever since Nepalis born in Hong Kong before 1983 got permanent residence rights 15 years ago, the number of Nepalis who have settled down here has swelled to 30,000. But there are an estimated 10,000 others without proper papers and in 2005, the Hong Kong authorities stopped issuing student and work permits to Nepalis.

The Hong Kong Nepalis’ Foundation wants Nepalis to be treated like other Hong Kong citizens under the Basic Law, Bill of Rights and Hong Kong’s obligations towards the protection of the language and culture of minorities under international law.

The Foundation’s Ekraj Rai handed over a petition to Hong Kong government head, Donald Tsang on 11 January and says he has got an immediate and positive response from the government that it will look into the demands.

PHOTO FEATURE: Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi against the atrocites of West Bengal

PHOTO FEATURE: Bayern Munich coach Gerd Muller

Gerd Muller, the coach of the German football team Bayern Munich. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

NEW DELHI: Congress brass may not favour separate Telengana

FROM ECONOMIC TIMES

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

NEW DELHI: The Congress appears to be unwilling to commit itself to anything beyond constituting a second states reorganisation committee when it comes to statehood for the Telengana region.

However, given the importance of the Telengana question to the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections, the party is postponing any formal announcement. Instead it has said that the Congress high command will announce the party’s stand through a policy statement soon.

An ambiguous stand will allow the party to deal with the considerable internal pressure on the creation of a separate state of Telengana.

“The Congress high command is going to come out with a policy statement on the Telengana issue. Let us wait. The high command has said several times that it would take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time,” chief minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy said.

Mr Reddy, who has been in the Capital since the weekend, met senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi. On Sunday, Mr Reddy met Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel. On Monday, Mr Reddy along with the Andhra Pradesh PCC chief D Srinivas, met Mr Mukherjee, Mr Patel, Mr Veerappa Moily and Mr AK Antony. Mr Reddy said that Telengana figured in the discussions as “one of the issues”.

PHOTO FEATURE: DHR Diesel Engine drives past a procession

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Diesel Engine driven Toy Train drives past as Gorkha women take out a procession under the banner of Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

PHOTO FEATURE: The vanishing beauty of Darjeeling

The Toy Train makes its way throw the maze of Concrete Jungle in Darjeeling. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

KOLKATA: GJM buckles, agrees to sit on table with CM

“Peace gets a chance after days of violence between GJM supporters, tribals” Indian Express

Peace prospects got a fillip in North Bengal on Tuesday when after days of unremitting violence in Dooars, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) agreed to send a seven-member delegation to meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The chief minister had earlier extended an offer of talks with GJM leaders, but the outfit refused saying it was at the receiving end of the violence unleashed by “CPM-backed” tribals.

Meanwhile, the police thwarted a GJM bid to hold a pro-Gorkhaland rally in the strife-hit Dooars despite prohibitory orders. On January 16, a similar rally by the GJM had sparked violence between the outfit supporters and tribals, which spiralled further engulfing the entire region.

Special IG (Jalpaiguri Range) Zulfiqar Hasan said the GJM rally was stopped near Nean Glass tea estate. “The prohibitory orders are in place, and would be relaxed depending on the improvement in the situation,” he said.

On Tuesday, the GJM accepted the chief minister’s invitation for talks and its general secretary Roshan Giri said he would be leading the delegation on Wednesday. Morcha president Bimal Gurung was in favour of holding talks directly with Bhattacharjee in Darjeeling district, he added. “We will highlight the atrocities being perpetrated by CPM-backed Adivasi Vikas Parishad on our supporters. Our president wanted us to go and directly talk to the CM. The GJM has so far been speaking to the state home secretary and the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner. But now, we will be talking to the CM to put forth our views,” Giri said.

Among the issues the Morcha wishes to bring up are the GJM’s right to organise rallies at all places in the plains such as the Dooars, Terai and Siliguri. “We will also demand compensation for supporters whose houses were ransacked and torched. The ABAVP supporters are ransacking the houses of local Nepalis, but the district administration is a mute spectator,” Giri said.

BHUTAN: The right man for the job

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

By Passang Norbu

Druk Thuksey Medallist - Dasho Pema Wangchuk with his grandson

20 January, 2009: Born in 1942 in Gaselo, young Pema Wangchuk spent his early life herding cows in the jungles of Sewalakha. At nine, he was sent to school in Wangduephodrang but spent his holidays helping his parents in the fields and also doing woola (labour contribution to the government) for his family.

Over the years Dasho Pema Wangchuk will have walked the Bhutanese terrain more than any other civil servant. Dasho Pema Wangchuk, the secretary of International Boundaries cannot remember how many times he trod the snow-clad mountains but it is said that he knows Bhutan’s boundaries like the back of his hand.

Walking has been a part of Dasho Pema’s life since he first left Gaselo.

Selected to join 10 students sent to study in St Robert’s school in Darjeeling  in 1955, he walked for seven days to reach the nearest motor road in Phuentsholing. “Our country was a laidback and sleepy little state, unimaginable to the generation of today. It took us seven days to reach the border town from Wangdue,” he said.

Dasho Pema demonstrated leadership skill from his early days in  Darjeeling and was appointed “head boy” in school. He took active part in the national cadet course (NCC) and also won first prize in shooting.

One of his close friends and schoolmate, major (retd.) Kinlay Dorji describes Dasho Pema as a well disciplined and hardworking student. “He used to be friendly, helpful and always would abide by the rules,” he said.

SIKKIM:State Election Office inaugurated by CM

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Dr. Pawan Chamling inagurating the State Election Office. Photo by Sikkim Express

Gangtok, January 19: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today inaugurated the office of Chief Electoral Officer, Election Department also known as State Election Office here at the top floor of the Baluwakhani parking lot near Vajra Cinema Hall.

The spanking new office has spreads over 25,000 sq feet and has been modernized at an estimated costs of Rs. 23.85 lakhs.

The Chief Minister formally handed over the office to the concerned department after a brief puja ceremony.

Speaking to reporters, Joint Chief Election Officer CP Dhakal said that the new infrastructure will enable the office to complete all the pending works. The office has been constructed by National Buildings Construction Company.

The new office has provisions for library, separate rooms for each official, store, security and storeroom for keeping Electronic Voting Machines.

JALPAIGURI: GJM delegation to head to Kolkata for talks with CM

FROM THE STATESMAN

Jalpaiguri, Jan. 20: The  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Mr Bimal Gurung today said that his party would send a delegation to Kolkata following chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s letter urging for a peace dialogue in respect to the Dooars situation.

Although the GJM had imposed certain conditions for the meeting, its leadership today decided to send a seven-member delegation to Kolkata for the talks tomorrow. According to the GJM secretary Mr Roshan Giri, the delegation would include him, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri, Mr Norden Lama, Mr Amar Lama Mrs Asha Gurung, Mrs Urmila Rumba and Mrs Nomita Goutam.

Mr Giri said that they would demand the right to organise public conventions in the Dooars. “The delegation would also talk about the harassment of our supporters by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Bikash Parishad and other CPI-M sponsored organisations in Dooars over the last few days and claim compensation for the victims. The partial attitude of police would also be highlighted but we would not discuss the issue of Gorkhaland with the state government as it is the Centre, which would fulfill that demand,” Mr Giri said.

The president Mr Bimal Gurung said that they have faxed a detailed report to the Centre, describing the torture on their supporters. “Our Delhi based supporters are in contact with the Union ministers in this regard. We would not delete the Dooars from our proposed map,” Mr Gurung said.

Criticising the ABABP, the president said that it was an NGO working for the CPI-M. “We would discuss the matter with the Centre and demand cancellation of its registration. Several tribal people are with us and we all agree on the Gorkhaland demand,” the president said. Meanwhile, Amra Bangali demanded arrest of the GJM  chief Mr Bimal Gurung in the wake of the continuing violence in the Dooars.

Opposition hits out at CPM

Siliguri, Jan. 20: Several political parties welcomed the GJM’s decision to withdraw its Dooars agitation and sit with the chief minister to sort out the worsening ethnic tangle involving the tribals and the Nepali speaking population in the region. The Opposition, however, flayed the CPI-M for prodding an ethnic conflagration to serve its own electoral interests.

SIKKIM: Bird Flu in Sikkim

FROM THE STATESMAN

Gangtok, Jan. 20: Bird Flu has been confirmed in Sikkim. The disease was first detected at Rabangla in South Sikkim following some chicken deaths. Samples of the dead birds were sent to Bhopal for tests. The tests have proved positive for flu.

In a meeting attended by chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling, it has been decided that strict measures have to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of the state. The chief minister has directed the principal secretary, animal husbandry and veterinary services to obtain necessary medicine so that culling operations could be started at the earliest.

The chief minister has also directed the department to create awareness among the public regarding the disease and police department has been directed to ensure no poultry product sneaked into the state from outside. The CM has sought regular feedbacks on the situation and the steps taken regarding the same.

The state government of Sikkim has decided to allot Rs100 per full-grown chicken culled and Rs 15 for chicks. The principal secretary AHVS apprised the CM about the steps taken by his department. According to department officials, certain steps like spraying vehicles with chemicals at the entry points to Sikkim have begun. “The passengers are being asked to come out of the vehicles they are travelling in and walk on disinfectant layers of carpets,” the officials said.

SILIGURI: Not many starstruck as players arrive

FROM THE STATESMAN

Siliguri, Jan. 20: The police personnel in charge of security for the touring FC Bayern Munich II were a relieved lot today. Contrary to their apprehensions, there was no craze for the players of the visiting team in the town this afternoon, nor did reporters flock the footballers at the Bagdogra airport or team hotel after their arrival in Siliguri. The reasons: the touring players are unknown even to the diehard fans of Bayern Munich and only a few members of the squad can speak English.

“We had made elaborate arrangements to keep fans of the German football team in Siliguri away from the legendary footballer Gerd Muller, who is accompanying the touring side and apprehended that reporters would throng the touring players at the hotel lounge to speak to them. But since Muller and a majority of them do not follow English, we could breathe freely today,” said Mrs J Dorjee, deputy superintendent, 10th Battalion, Siliguri Police as she sauntered around in the hotel lounge soon after the arrival of the German team.

DOOARS TERAI: Flag march in Dooars as tension prevails

FROM THE STATESMAN

Jalpaiguri, Jan. 20: The Jalpaiguri district administration today deployed two company SSB along with a large police contingent at Nagrakata and Banarhat in the Dooars and CRPF personnel flag marched at Banarhat to maintain law and order situation following a clash between  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and Adivasi Bikash Parishad supporters in the region since last week.

Despite GJM’s claim to hold a public meeting at Nagrakata, the administration refused permission for any public gathering in the region to help normalcy return in the area. Although several shops opened in the area today and some buses plied, tension continues to dominate the Dooars. Most educational institutions remained closed and prohibitory orders remained in place. Following the administration’s denial for a public meeting, Gorkha Yuva Morcha supporters staged a demonstration near the Meenglas Tea Estate at Malbazaar. GJM supporters damaged the fire department vehicle at Cahmurchi last night and attacked DSP, DEB Mr SK Darnal at Lakhipara Tea Estate. Adivasi Bikash Parishad supporters torched a four-wheeler near Banarhat last night.

The commissioner, Jalpaiguri division, Mr Bihari Lal Meena and the DSP, crime Jalpaiguri, Mr Sitaram Sinha today visited Lakhipara Tea Estate where the agitators ransacked a few houses last night. The divisional commissioner urged the president of the Terai Dooars Coordination Committee of Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Bikas Parishad, Mr John Barla to have patience and to work for peace and harmony in the area. Mr Barla said the officials assured him of steps to control the overall situation. “Several Morcha supporters of Lakhipara Tea Estate surrendered to us today and apologised for attacking our houses last night. They promised not to participate in any such divisive programmes in future and joined our organisation,” Mr Barla said.

DOOARS TERAI: ‘Tribals do not back Gorkhaland’

FROM THE STATESMAN

Siliguri, Jan. 20: The veteran Naxalite leader, Mr Kanu Sanyal today dismissed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) claim that the tribals in the Dooars were with the GJM. “The GJM leadership seems to be beguiling itself that the tribals in the Dooars are backing the Gorkhaland demand. They have enough grievances against the state government, yet they would never acquiesce in the GJM-drawn Gorkhaland map,” he said.

“The tribals remain a deprived lot in the Dooars as elsewhere in the state. The state government has done nothing for them save for dangling some dazzling plans, which never get implemented. Employment opportunities for them are shrinking with the closure of the tea plantations.

Access to higher education is almost naught keeping in view the worsening of their pecuniary conditions with the market spewing fire. Even holding on to the land they possess is proving to be difficult. Yet, in spite of these hardships they are most unlikely to evince enthusiasm for the proposed Gorkhaland,” the Naxalite leader affirmed.

SIKKIM: Forest dept official arrested on bribery charge

FROM THE STATESMAN

Gangtok, Jan. 20: The vigilance department in Sikkim has arrested joint secretary, forest department Mr B P Gautam for his involvement in an alleged bribery case. He was produced in court today and taken into police custody.

According to the deputy superintendent of police (vigilance) Mr DB Giri in Gangtok, Mr Gautam was caught red-handed demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a woman, who had cleared the interview for a forest guard’s post in the department.

Sources said that the candidate, who is from west Sikkim received a call from the accused officer asking her to fork out the amount if she wanted the job. “The candidate pleaded with him stating that she was in no position to pay the amount. Later she complained to the vigilance authorities about the incident and a vigilance team accompanied her to the accused officer’s residence and as planned, the candidate went in to deliver the cash.

COOCHBEHAR: CPM leader among those held for statehood stir

FROM THE STATESMAN

RAIGANJ, Jan. 20: 30 members of Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association including a CPI-M member of Sitgram Gram Panchyat whom police arrested yesterday from a place near Nagar bridge in Raiganj of North Dinajpur have been produced before the court of chief judicial magistrates of Raiganj and Islampur from where they were taken into custody.

Sources said that the members of GCPA with a demand of separate statehood for Greater Cooch Behar staged a road blockade on two spots of National Highway 34 at Natunhaat and near Nagar bridge in Raiganj. After four hours, when police forced them to call off their protest, they started pelting stones in which around 20 people including a home guard were injured. Later the protesters were arrested from the spot. The members of DYFI of Raiganj zonal committee today condemned this movement for a separate state of GCPA and took out a rally in Raiganj demanding severe punishment of the protesters. Also a section of GCPA members today assembled near Soharai more and planned to organise another road block demanding immediate release of the arrested persons and handed the bicycles to the villagers which police yesterday seized from the incident spot. But their attempt to stage another roadblock was foiled as soon as police arrived at the spot.

SIKKIM: Leaders comment on CM’s citizenship sparks off row

FROM THE STATESMAN

Gangtok, Jan. 20: The BJP leadership has stirred up a hornet’s nest in Sikkim. In a recent statement made in Gangtok, Mr Harendra Prasad, BJP in-charge of the north eastern region had raised questions against the Sikkim chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling’s nationality. Mr Prasad had stated that Mr Chamling was enjoying dual citizenship of both India and Nepal.

While Mr Chamling’s party, the Sikkim Democratic Front had expressed contempt at the allegation, the Sikkim Nationalist People’s Party, a local outfit, has demanded the chief minister’s resignation till the matter stood resolved. In a fresh development on the subject today, Mr BB Gooroong, adviser to the Sikkim CM, said: “The issue of the CM’s dual citizenship as raised by the BJP is false and malicious and the government of Sikkim has taken serious note of it. This is an attempt to disturb the communal harmony and peace in the Sikkimese society, comprising the ethnic groups of Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. If the BJP leaders have any clinching evidence to prove the issue, it should approach the Union election commission and the Union minister for external affairs, not try to fish in muddy waters,” Mr Gooroong said.

Not just the CM’s adviser, the traders in the state have taken serious exception to the allegation as well. The All Sikkim Hawkers’ and Traders’ Association is observing a three-day protest that started yesterday and would continue till tomorrow against the BJP leader Mr Harendra Prasad’s comments on the CM’s citizenship issue.

SIKKIM: 933 culled on Day I to arrest bird flu spread

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Gangtok, Jan. 20: Over 900 chickens were culled in bird flu-hit areas of Rabongla in south Sikkim today. Three rapid response teams (RRTs) with seven members each are carrying out the operation in Golitar, 14th Mile and Hospital areas of Rabongla.

The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal confirmed yesterday that deaths of 33 chickens in Rabongla since January 13 had been because of bird flu, prompting the state government to order culling in the locality to contain the spread of the disease.

“Some 933 birds were killed by the health workers till this evening,” additional director of the state animal husbandry and veterinary services department S.K. Bhutia, who is supervising the culling, told The Telegraph over the phone from Rabongla.

The official said a meeting had been convened by South Sikkim district collector D. Ananadan at Rabongla yesterday and it had been decided that nine RRTs would be formed.

Before they started culling the chickens, the health workers were administered Tamiflu medicines which reached Rabongla late in the evening yesterday after being flown to Bagdogra from New Delhi. Bhutia said 15, 000 birds would be culled in a 3km radius of Rabongla and the operation would be completed in the next four days.

However, it may take six days if poultry owners put up resistance to the culling, he said. The Sikkim government had yesterday announced a compensation of Rs 100 for each fully-grown chicken and Rs 15 for chick that farmers gave for culling.

SILIGURI: Plea to launch mass protests

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Jan. 20: The CPM has been asking the people of Siliguri to launch mass protests if there are any attempts to disturb the peace and amity in the plains.

“In a bid to counter the  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)’s  plan to create tension in the plains, we are urging the common man not to respond to any sort of instigation,” said Mukul Sengupta, the Siliguri zonal secretary of the CPM. “We are holding regular meetings and rallies and have requested them to inform police if they face any inconveniences and organise mass protests to keep away the Morcha as they did in Salugara last Saturday.”

On that day, Morcha  supporters trying to enforce a bandh in Salugara had to backtrack after they faced resistance from the local people led by the DYFI, the youth front of the CPM.

Citu memorandum

The Citu-affiliated Uttarbanga Auto Rickshaw Drivers and Workers’ Union submitted a memorandum to the officer-in-charge of Bhaktinagar police station today, demanding that action be taken against those who had attacked its members on Saturday.

“We also have reports that they often stop autos and extort money from drivers. These have left our members feeling insecure and they stopped plying vehicles to Salugara,” said Ajoy Chakraborty, the joint convener of the union.

DOOARS TERAI: Traders lose crores

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Jan. 20: Traders in the Dooars have decided to seek the governor’s intervention after they incurred losses in crores since violence broke out in the region on Friday.

“Ever since the movements by the  Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and those against the hill party started in the Dooars on Friday, we have lost business worth over Rs 1 crore,” Bijoy Barua, the secretary of the Banarhat Byabsayee Samiti, said today. “Shops and business establishments have been shut down in Malbazar, Nagrakata, Banarhat, Chulsa and neighbouring areas. Everyone, from a footpath stall owner to a wholesaler has been hit by the violence.”

Barua said they could no longer sit and bear the losses. “So we have thought of writing to governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi to mount pressure on the state government to restore the law and order.”

In the Dooars, weekend markets that cater for the needs of the tea estates and forest village population were postponed last week. “How can a trader think of opening his shop or carry his wares to a haat when police fail to ensure security of common people?” Barua said.

The situation is the same in Malbazar. “The average daily transaction in our town is around Rs 50-60 lakh. The violence led to severe losses,” said Debiprasad Agarwala, the secretary of the Mal Caltex More Byabsayee Samiti. “Since yesterday, shops have started opening but there are only a handful of buyers.”

In the tea sector, planters have also expressed concern over the unrest in the region.