GORKHA ADIVASI POLITICAL DIMENSIONS: GJM withdraws indefinite strike in Darjeeling

GORKHA ADIVASI POLITICAL DIMENSIONS: GJM withdraws indefinite strike in Darjeeling – GJM ‘investigation team’ to search for Nicole and to come up with proof of CID foul play, highly implausible ?!!

GJM Secretary Roshan Giri - eye on the Tripartite Talks on the 7th and hopeful of a pliant Bengal ?!! (TT)

From The Times of India

DARJEELING, Aug 30, 2010, 02.55pm IST (PTI): The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has withdrawn the indefinite strike called in Darjeeling hills from Monday in view of the tripartite talks with the Centre and West Bengal government on September 7.

The decision was announced by GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri after a meeting with the Darjeeling District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police Devendra Pratap Singh.

The indefinite strike had been called to demand production of Nicole Tamang, the main suspect behind the May 21 killing of Gorkha leader Madan Tamang in the town, in court by Monday.

To press for the demand, Giri said batches of seven GJM supporters would fast in Kalimpomg, Kurseong and Darjeeling from September 1 to 17.

A GJM ‘investigation team’ has also been formed, he said, adding it would leave for Assam and Nepal in search of Nicole.

He also announced that henceforth government and Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council offices in the hills would be allowed to function unhindered.

Asha Gurung travels to Dooars to rope in supporters – GJM meeting in Dooars cancelled – not cancelled but postponed till the 5^th ?!!

Asha Gurung - now in Dooars to activate all the Gorkha Nari Morcha there for the next meeting in Jaigaon on the 5th of September, 2010, just before the Tripartite Talks ?!! (HB Files)

From the Himalayan Beacon
By Barun Roy

Darjeeling, August 29, 2010: Asha Gurung, the wife of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President Bimal Gurung and president of Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha is touring Dooars Terai.

She is being accompanied by other leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha which include Jyoti Subba, Latika Sinha and Prava Chhetri. It has been reported Gurung met residents from Dooars Terai at the Deokota Nepali High School in East Khairbari, Madarihat and informed them that the party will not accept any setup without Dooars Terai.

Asha Gurung in Dooars - gathering those serious about the inclusion of Dooars and those who want separation from Bengal ?!! (Darpan)

Meanwhile, according to unconfirmed report the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has cancelled tomorrow’s meeting in Jaigaon.

Earlier, Beacon Online had reported of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad’s opposition to the meeting and their resolve to stop it at all cost. It has also been reported that there were chances of the meeting being cancelled, postponed and the venue changed. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung was to address his first political meeting in Dooars Terai.

A number of political analysts based in Darjeeling has questioned the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s decision to cancel its meeting in Dooars Terai while allowing the Communist Party of India Marxist Politburo member Sitaram Yechury to deliver Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture at Gymkhana Hall in Darjeeling today.

“Why has the GJM cancelled the meeting when the people in Dooars Terai needs to briefed in on the on going negotiations between the party and the State and Union Government. A majority of the people in the Dooars Terai are of the opinion that Dooars Terai will once again be left out on the settlement. And this all the while the party has allowed the CPIM to go ahead with the Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture in Darjeeling delivered by none other than Sitaram Yechury the staunch opposer of the formation of the state of Gorkhaland.”

Yechury for all parties at hill talks – first vehemently boycott and now desperately want in ?!!

Sita Ram Yechury at Gymkhana on Sunday - platform to call for unity in Darjeeling ?!! (Darpan)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT

Darjeeling, Aug. 29: CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury today said all political parties from the Darjeeling hills should be invited to the next round of talks on the interim set-up for the region and promised to raise the issue in Parliament in the next two days.

“The issue must be collectively taken forward and we would want all the political parties from the hills to be invited for the September 7 talks,” said Yechury while delivering the Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture at the Darjeeling Gymkhana Club hall.

Audience attending the program - much less than expected ?!! (Darpan)

The CPM had once lorded over the hills because of Ratanlal Brahmin. He was among the first three communist MLAs in Bengal along with Jyoti Basu and Rupnarayan Roy.

On the sidelines of the lecture, Yechury said if “procedural” problems arose in raising the issue in Parliament, he would talk to the Prime Minister. “I will separately take up the matter with the Prime Minister tomorrow itself.”

The CPM leader said he was dissatisfied at the way the Centre was handling the Darjeeling issue. “What should have been the priority (finding a permanent solution to the hill problem) has not been taken up by the government. The people must not be allowed to suffer.”

Yechury made it clear that new states would not “automatically” guarantee development. “We want maximum autonomy for the region under the framework of the state legislature. The local people must be given an opportunity to frame their own policies,” he said.

‘All political forces for dialogue’ – earlier walk out of dialogues and back stabbing all forgotten ?!!

Sitaram Yechury - now calling for inclusion in talks, to help or jeopardize it like the Tower of Babble ?!! (TOI Files)

From The Hindu Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, August 29, 2010: A dialogue process involving representatives of all political forces in the Darjeeling hills should be initiated to find a way out of the political impasse in the region, Sitaram Yechury, member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said on Sunday. “All political forces should be brought on board in efforts to find a solution to the problems of the region that might require various stages of dialogue,” Mr. Yechury told The Hindu over telephone.

He had gone to Darjeeling to attend an event commemorating the 110^th birth anniversary of Ratanlal Brahmin who was a prominent figure in the communist movement in the hills.

The CPI(M) will raise, both in Parliament and outside, the need to invite all political parties of the hills for talks to break the deadlock in the region, Mr. Yechury said.

So far the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has been the only political party that has been invited to the tripartite talks with the Centre and the State Government to discuss matters related to the region. The next round of talks is scheduled for next month. “We want the Centre to invite all the political forces in the region in future talks”, Mr. Yechury said.

All outstanding issues will, however, have to be resolved within the framework of the State with maximum autonomy and full rights to the people of the hills to determine how best the resources can be utilised for the development of the region, the CPI (M) MP said.

Keen on dialogue – now that the fruits are ripening ?!!

The State government too is keen on dialogue with all of the region’s political forces, Minister for Urban Development Ashok Bhattacharya said. On the tripartite talks, he said, “Let the tripartite talks continue, but the other political parties should also be involved in them.”

“We hope that the GJM appreciates the political reality in the region,” Mr. Bhattacharya said, referring to the growing resistance of the people against the violent forces in the hills.

The non-GJM parties who have been demanding participation in such talks, have been critical of the autocratic ways of the GJM. They have been demanding a restoration of democracy in the hills.

EARLIER

Sitaram Yechury to deliver Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture today in Darjeeling – anything new to say ?!!

Sitaram Yechury in front of the CPIM emblem - now soon to fade with the fast losing consensus in Bengal and the world over as a dying ideology ?!! (HB Files)

From Himalayan Beacon
By Barun Roy

Darjeeling, August 29, 2010-08-30: The CPIM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury will be delivering the Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture at Gymkhana Club in Darjeeling today.

The CPIM stalwart is known to hold anti-Gorkhaland sentiments and him being allowed to deliver the lecture in Darjeeling is not being taken lightly by political analysts both in the hills and Siliguri.

Speaking to Beacon Online, a political analyst based in Siliguri said, “The allowing of the Ratanlal Brahmin Memorial Lecture in Darjeeling points to the fact that the GJM has soften its stand towards the CPIM. Further it is interesting since GJM still disallows any other part in the hill to organise any political meeting.”

A political analyst based in Darjeeling said, “During 1980s up until the late 1990s the GNLF would not allow any political party to function let alone hold political meetings for rallies. It would however, allow CPIM leaders to visit Darjeeling Hills and hold indoor meetings. The GJM has certainly picked up from where the GNLF leaders had left suggesting that much like the GNLF who after the signing of the DGHC accord began to look at CPIM as a partner in maintaining its hegemony in Darjeeling Hills, the GJM it seems now acknowledges that it needs the CPIM to maintain its political grip in Darjeeling Hills.”

Sitaram Yechury himself has come under fire for his slated lecture in Darjeeling.

A political analysts from Kalimpong speaking to Beacon Online on phone said, “What has Sitaram to offer us? We know more about Maila Bajee then he does. So there is no point for him trying to help us know him better. The CPIM has also since its very inception opposed the very detachment of Darjeeling Hills from Bengal”.

”It is certain that he will offer autonomy and will as such endorse both the Bengal Government and the GJM’s bid to resolve the present political turmoil by working together to form an interim setup. I would like to hear him say that after the signing of the interim accord his party will work towards the formation of a Union Territory incorporating Darjeeling Hills but I am certain he will make no such promise. Autonomy will certainly once again be the key word.”

Postering against frequent strikes – do need a mature opposition in a good democracy ?!!

CPM posters in Kalimpong - a need for a mature opposition but aimed at the 'Greater Gorkha Cause' of separation from Bengal ?!! (DT)

From The Himalayan Beacon
By Barun Roy

Kalimpong, Aug 30, 2010: Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) has opposed the call for frequent strikes by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the hills by postering to that effect here in Kalimpong.

The party has also called upon the workers to stop the indefinite strikes as this halts the progress of the society and economy at large.

The party has also condemned Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for forcing on the people indefinite strikes using the escape of Nickole Tamang as an excuse.

BRIEFS FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Baby swap charge

Malda, Aug. 29: Angry relatives of a patient demonstrated in front of the district hospital here this morning, alleging that a newborn boy had been swapped with a dead girl child.

Ruqsana Bibi, 20, a resident of Rangaipur in Harishchandrapur claimed she gave birth to a boy last night. She said the attendants had shown her the baby. But this morning they told her that her newborn, a girl, died. Irate over the incident, her relatives demonstrated on the premises alleging that the baby had been swapped. They also wanted to take Ruqsana out of the facility. Superintendent of the hospital Himadri Anri assured the protesters that he would look into the matter. The hospital authorities have said Ruqsana will have to stay at the facility for further inquiry.

Bus strike

Siliguri: The North Bengal Passengers Transport Owners’ Coordination Committee will go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday to protest the poor condition of national highways and state highways that pass through north Bengal. The decision was taken on Saturday. The members said no buses would ply in the region during the strike and it would continue until they received any concrete assurance from the administration that the roads would be restored at the earliest.

Cartridge haul

Islampur: Islampur police arrested Md Pazid, a resident of Ramganj, and recovered two live cartridges from him on Saturday night. The police said he was wanted in several criminal cases.

Bike seized

Jaigaon: Acting on a tip-off, Madarihat police arrested Satish Roy, a snatcher, from his Chekamari residence on Saturday night. A stolen motorcycle was seized from him.

SIKKIM NEWS: OT Lepcha tables Bill in Rajya Sabha seeking special financial assistance to Sikkim

SIKKIM NEWS: OT Lepcha tables Bill in Rajya Sabha seeking special financial assistance to Sikkim – moving well ahead of the times ?!!

RS MP from Sikkim OT Lepcha - thinking ahead for the benefit of all ?!!

From Sikkim Express

GANGTOK, August 28, 2010: Lone Rajya Sabha member from Sikkim, OT Lepcha has tabled a private member’s Bill in the Upper House of the Parliament seeking special financial assistance to his State.

The ‘Special Financial Assistance to the State of Sikkim’ Bill was introduced by Lepcha yesterday. It seeks to special financial assistance to Sikkim for promoting welfare of STs and other sections of the people along with development and exploitation of its vast natural resources in the Hilly State.

As per the clauses of the proposed Bill, special financial assistance to Sikkim shall be drawn from consolidated fund of India annually as the Parliament may by due appropriation provide, to meet the costs of developmental schemes in Sikkim besides proper utilization and exploitation of the State’s resources.

Priority has also been sought in five key subjects for Sikkim-early completion of Pakyong airport and to convert into an international airport, time bound completion of rail link to Sikkim, construction of an alternative highway, early census for reservation of Limboo and Tamang communities in Legislative Assembly, development of Sikkim as an international tourism destination and preservation of flora and fauna of Sikkim.

“There is a lot of resentment among the people of the State due to inadequate development and welfare of Schedule Tries and other sections of the people of the State. It is, therefore, essential that special financial assistance should be given to the State of Sikkim so that the plans can be implemented for an all-round development of this State”, said Lepcha in his statement of objects and reasons while introducing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Lepcha pointed out to the House that not much development has taken place due to financial constraint even after 35 years of merger of Sikkim as the 22nd State of Sikkim in 1975.

“It is a landlocked State with no air and rail connectivity as of now, with the rest of the country. The only lifeline of the State, NH 31A is often blocked due to various bandhs and agitations called in the hilly terrain of West Bengal which causes a lot of difficulties in sustaining the supplies to the State. There is a constant demand for an alternative national highway via Bhutan for better connectivity of the State”, said Lepcha.

The Rajya Sabha member also strongly advocated for developing Sikkim as an international tourism destination.

“Sikkim is also popularly known as mini Switzerland of India with abundance of natural and scenic beauty and has the third highest peak in the world, Mt Kanchenjunga. If adequate financial assistance is provided, it can be developed into an international tourist destination”, said Lepcha.

Bill priorities

• Early completion of Pakyong airport and to convert into an international airport
• Time bound completion of rail link to Sikkim
• Construction of an alternative highway
• Early census for reservation of Limboo and Tamang communities in Legislative Assembly
• Development of Sikkim as an International Tourism Destination
• Preservation of flora and fauna of Sikkim

Tourism Minister announces grant for IHM – a priority sector well funded with good forethought ?!!

Sikkim Toursim Map - a tourism paradise ?!!

From The Sikkim Reporter Correspondent

Gangtok, Aug 29, 2010: Tourism minister Bhim Dhungel on Saturday announced a government grant of Rs.1.25 crore to the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) based here at Tadong during a function organized by the institute to welcome the first year students. The 2nd and 3rd year students of the Tadong IHM organized the welcome function which was graced by the tourism minister as chief guest.

In his address, Mr. Dhungel reminded all about the rapid growth of tourism in Sikkim and reiterated the commitment of the State government to make Sikkim tourism as the best managed tourism sector in the country. “Sikkim is the most sought after destination today”, he said. IHM principal, JT Gyaltsen highlighted the curriculums and achievements of the institute since its inception. The institute has recorded 100 percent placement in the past years and students from this institute are working in hotel and hospitality industries across the country and abroad.

For the 2010-11 academic session, 29 candidates have been enrolled in the 1st year B.Sc. degree course, out of which 4 candidates have been selected through the HRD department against the State quota and the rest through JEE. Tourism minister distributed certificates to the outstanding students of the institute.

EARLIER

Labour front backs NHPC Stage V workers – We will also join the strike: ASDLF – changing the good precedent of no-strikes in Sikkim’s history ?!!

From The Sikkim Epress

GANGTOK, August 28: The labour frontal organization of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party has backed the NHPC Teesta Stage V workers who have threatened to launch an indefinite strike at the hydro-electric power plant at Balutar from August 31 if their pending demands are not met by the management.

In a meeting held today at SDF party headquarters here at Indira Bypass, the All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front (ASDLF) said that the demands raised by the labourers of NHPC Teesta Stage V plant are fully justified. The labour front also demanded the NHPC management to resolve the labour issue without any further delay.

“We will like to draw the attention of the NHPC Teesta Stage V management not to play with the rights of the labourers and not to allow the peace and discipline of Sikkim to be vitiated. If the demands are not met in due time, the labour front will also join the peaceful strike to be started by the workers at the plant”, warned the ASDLF in a press statement.

On Thursday, the fifty three workers recruited by the NHPC Teesta Stage V project as part of its rehabilitation and resettlement package for the project displaced families had threatened to launch an indefinite strike at power plant from August 31. They have been demanding ‘re-designation of existing grade as per educational qualifications’ as all of them have employed in the lowest grade of W-0 as helpers.

The NHPC management has been given a deadline of August 30 to fulfill their demands, failing which, the workers have threatened to launch an indefinite strike from the next day stopping all production work in the power plant.

Backing the agitating workers, the ASDLF said that the steps taken by them are in the interests of Sikkim and Sikkimese labourers. “We also appeal all the NGOs to support the strike call of the NHPC workers,” the labour front said.

Accommodation assured to left out traders depending on ‘availability of space’ – where space is at a premium getting a license is the key ?!!

Solving the Lal Bazar issue - amicably enough ?!! (Sikkim Express)

From The Sikkim Express
By SE Staff Reporter

GANGTOK, August 28, 2010: The State urban development department has assured to provide accommodation to those left out 125 hawkers at the Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex here at Lall Bazaar depending upon the availability of space.

These 125 hawkers had been given a similar promise when they had shifted their businesses along with other traders from old Lall Bazaar to Old Children Park to make way for the construction of the shopping complex.

After the complex was inaugurated in 2006, these 125 hawkers found out they had not been provide allotment orders and were doing business in the shopping complex at adhoc sites.

Matters came to confrontation stage when UD&HD evicted all traders without allotment documents or trade licenses from the shopping complex two days ago.

The traders lodged a strong protest the next day and finally, the department allowed those with trading licenses to operate from the shopping complex.

A meeting between the traders, UD&HD and Gangtok Municipal Corporation was held today at the shopping complex to resolve the sore issue during with the department assured to provide accommodation to the left out traders depending on the ‘availability’ of space.

New trade licenses will also be issued after proper verification of the documents submitted by the traders.

Mayor KN Topgay, who chaired the meeting, said that accommodation priority should be given to those 125 traders left out during the relocation back to the shopping complex in 2006. He strongly pointed out that subletting of licenses is an office adding that strict action will be taken against those who had indulged in such practices.

A departmental survey reveals that 70 traders have sublet their trade licenses to non-license holders. It is also informed that many trade licenses have been issued to government employees, some of them being from the urban development department.

Many shopkeepers are also holding more than one license.

All Sikkim Hawkers Association president Sangay Sherpa demanded an early settlement of the issue for the left out traders during the meeting.

UD&HD joint secretary Dhan Jyoti Mukhia said that duplication of trade licenses should be avoided and preference should be given to those who do business on their own. She said that a verification process will be launched to find the names of those government employees holding trade licenses. Such licenses will be cancelled, she said.

ACCIDENT WATCH: Young lives lost as tyre-burst propels crowded bus into north Bengal pond

ACCIDENT WATCH: Young lives lost as tyre-burst propels crowded bus into north Bengal pond – a time for tragedies across the region ?!!

A crowd gathers at the spot where the bus fell into the pond at Dewanhat, 14km from Cooch Behar, on Sunday - A bad moon rising ?!! (Main Uddin Chisti)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT

Cooch Behar, Aug. 29: As many as 15 people, many of them school students and young job aspirants, died this afternoon when a suspected tyre-burst sent a minibus hurtling into a pond beside the Cooch Behar-Dinhata road.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the driver of the bus lost control around 1pm after its right front tyre burst. It is not clear yet if the tyre was old but worn-out accessories and ancillaries have been a bane of Bengal’s public transport system.

The tube within the tyre was visible through the burst layer when the bus was fished out of water two hours after the accident. The delay and alleged lack of preparedness of the administration triggered a backlash with a mob attacking police.

No one was inside the bus when it was winched out. Some people claimed the driver and the conductor had fled but the version could not be confirmed independently.

Officials expressed the fear that some people could have been trapped in the silt of the pond bed. The officials could not say with certainty if anyone was missing as no one knew how many passengers the “crowded bus” was ferrying. Such vehicles ferry around 50 persons, although they can seat only 25-30.

Around 1.45pm — 45 minutes after the accident — Dinhata subdivisional officer Chiranjib Ghosh and the superintendent of the Dewanhat block primary health centre, Nikhil Das, arrived at the accident spot to face angry demonstrations.

At the health centre, about 200 metres away, five persons were declared brought dead followed by four others. Two persons died on way to the Dinhata hospital. At MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar town, four persons were declared dead on arrival.

A crane was brought at 3pm and the bus was hauled out of the water.

Apathy trigger anger in the crowd of onlookers - tragedy upon tragedy ?!! (Darpan)

An hour later, the mob that had gathered in front of the health centre began throwing stones at the police who retreated into the premises and burst tear-gas shells.

The people then smashed windowpanes of a police van parked some 50 metres from the health centre.

The mob attacked policemen with stones, injuring several of them, including the deputy superintendent of police (crime), Sandip Mondol.

Some people said they were taken aback by the lethargic response of the administration. “They have no quick response team and no plan on how to handle such emergencies. Moreover, these private buses are never inspected and allowed to be overcrowded,” said Anirban Dutta, who owns a roadside grocery at Dewanhat.

District magistrate Smarki Mahapatra said: “The police had to used tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd. Fifteen persons died in the accident.”

At the morgue of the MJN Hospital stood Dilip Barman, whose son, a Class XII student from Dinhata, had gone to Cooch Behar in the morning for a clerkship examination. “I have lost my son, but he had a friend with him, Tinku Barman, who also went for the test. We cannot find him,” Barman mumbled.

Ratan Barman, 25, and his nephew Bimal Barman, 23, both exam candidates from Dinhata, have also died. “They are gone and we had some other distant relatives, too, who had appeared for the test. They are missing,” said Benoy Ray Sarkar, a relative of Ratan and Bimal.

Sakina Bibi, her five-year-old son Sakin and her sister Shaunaz Parveen, who had managed to climb out of the bus, at the house of Mozzammal Haque, a local farmer - shocked and shaken ?!! (Main Uddin Chistii)

Sakina Bibi, 25, who was in the bus with her son, Sakin Haque, 5, and sister Shaunaz Parveen, 18, survived as she forced open a windowpane and scrambled out as the bus slowly sank into the pond.

“We were all standing in the crowded bus after boarding it outside Cooch Behar town. Near Dewanhat, there was a loud bang and the bus that was going moderately fast fell into the pond. We screamed as the water gushed in. I clutched my son and broke open a window, clambered out and pulled out my sister and son,” Sakina said, sitting in the house of Mozammel Haque, a farmer who lives near the accident site.

Residents managed to rescue three men and send them to the Dewanhat block primary health centre, where they are recovering.

Chanchal Kanti Roy, who works for an NGO at Dewanhat, said minibuses ply the 24-kilometre Cooch Behar-Dinhata route on a regular basis.

“They often carry around 50 passengers. I heard a loud bang and then saw the bus fall into the pond that is nearly 12 feet deep. As we rushed towards it, we realised that it was slowly sinking into the water,” he said.

Fourteen killed on Black Friday in South – Yangyang mishap kills four, one still missing in Rangeet, nine bodies handed to Singla – Sikkim CM announces Rs 50,000 for each victim as reported by Darpan ?!!

From Sikkim Express
By OP Chettri

NAMCHI, August 28, 2010: Four persons were killed when a private car skidded off the track along Yangyang-Satam road and crashed some 300 feet down a cliff yesterday night at Yangyang making it a nightmarish Friday for South Sikkim where altogether fourteen people were killed in accidents.

During the day hours, two vehicles had serially slipped into Rangeet River along Jorethang-Melli road at Chirbirey Bhir near Jorethang town, killing nine and one more occupant is still untraceable.

SP (South) Manoj Tiwari told media here that a Maruti 800 (SK02A/0333) proceeding from Yangyang to Satam had fallen down 300 feet down the road yesterday night at around 11 pm.

“There were five occupants in the car and four were found dead when police personnel from Ravangla and Yangyang reached the spot”, said the SP.

Those killed in the tragic incident were the vehicle owner, Tika Ram Gurung (27), Dil Kumar Rai (35) from Upper Satam, Bisnu Prasad Rai (33) from Upper Satam and Pawan Kumar Subba from Dhojak Ravangla.

Nik Kumar Gurung from Upper Pathing who was injured in the incident has been admitted at Yangyang primary health centre for treatment.

Bad weather, fog and slippery conditions of the road may have caused the accident, said the SP.

The bodies were handed over to the family members after postmortem at Yangyang primary health centre.

Meanwhile, Jorethang police have traced the Bolero (SK02A-3925) that had slipped down into Rangeet River from Chirbirey Bhir yesterday. Efforts are on to recover the vehicle out of the river while the driver, Roshan Denuka from Jorethang is still missing, police said.

The Bolero is said to have fallen into the river at around 10:30 am yesterday.

Hours before the Bolero mishap, a Spacio (SK04-4683) had met with an accident at the same spot and had drowned into the river killing nine persons including the driver. The vehicle was proceeding towards Siliguri from Singla tea garden, Darjeeling district to attend a marriage at Siliguri.

The bodies were handed over to the legal guardians after completing all formalities by Jorethang police.

While from KalimNews

4 people died in a road accident near Yangyang of south Sikkim. A Maruti 800 SK 02 -0333 that skidded off the road at Samroc Bhirkuna on Yangyang Ravangla road.

The dead are Bishnu prasad Rai, Dil kumar Rai, Madan Gurung and Lolay Subba of Tam, Upper Yangyang and Tojok. Mir kumar Gurung is injured and admited at Hospital of Yangyang.

Krishna Chettri - driving too fast ?!! (Darpan)

In a bike accident 1 young girl died in Kalimpong.

The accident occurred at 6th Mile  Barbot when a Pulsar 200  WB 74 N- 8385 driving by Krishna Chhetri 20 with Deepika Sunar 19 in the pillion collided with a truck WB 73- 5244 .

Both Sunar and Chhetri  were of Mangal Danra.

The girl Deepika died at the spot, while Krishna is severely injured in the accident and admitted in the SD hospital.

HUMAN INTEREST: Pak frees Bengal teacher

HUMAN INTEREST: Pak frees Bengal teacher – five years for straying ?!!

Abdul Karim freed - now 5 years older and wiser ?!! (TT)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY MEHEDI HEDAYTULLAH

Islampur, Aug. 29: A North Dinajpur man who taught in a Patiala madarsa became the first Indian prisoner since 26/11 to be released by Pakistan, walking free yesterday after a five-year term for straying across the Punjab border.

Abdul Karim had been discovered by the International Red Cross in the Rawalpindi prison in 2007. After that, the 25-year-old had written to his parents through the Red Cross saying he was alive and well, after his family in Goalpokhor’s Betabi village, 90km from North Dinajpur’s Islampur, had given him up for dead.

Nagesh Singh, director (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division) in the Union ministry of external affairs, told The Telegraph over the phone from Delhi that this was the first time since the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 that an Indian had been released from a Pakistani jail. “The release will go a long way in improving the bilateral relations,” Singh said.

Karim walked into India around 4pm yesterday after being handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah international checkpost, near Amritsar.

Utpal Roy, the secretary of NGO Diganta Welfare Society, which had taken up Karim’s cause after he was found in 2007, said the madarsa teacher had stayed at the Red Cross Bhavan in Amritsar last night.

“Our members have left for Calcutta by train. On Tuesday, he is expected to arrive at the Aluabari Road station (near Islampur). From there, we will take him to his recently widowed mother Gulshan Begum,” Roy, who is in Delhi to receive him, said. Karim’s elder brother Iqbal Hussain is accompanying him home.

In Betabi, Id seems to have arrived early. The villagers are particularly happy that Karim is returning in the holy month of Ramazan. “So far, I had been living with the knowledge that my son was at least alive in a Pakistani jail. Now he has been released during Ramazan. But my husband couldn’t see him,” said mother Gulshan, who has nine children.

Karim’s father Mohammad Tazuddin, who died of a heart attack this May, had yearned for his son till his last day, said Gulshan. But Karim is still unaware of his father’s death.

“Karim had strayed into Pakistani territory while playing football with the madarsa students. But 26/11 caused all talks with Pakistan to break down and we were feared we would not be able to bring him back,” Roy said.

He said Diganta had sent several appeals to the Indian and the Pakistani governments for his release.

Teacher out of Pak jail – at long, long last ?!!

Freed teacher Abdul Karim’s mother Gulshan Begum with her children at her home in Betabi on Sunday - how happy they must be ?!! (Mehedi Hedaytullah)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY MEHEDI HEDAYTULLAH

Islampur, Aug. 29: Abdul Karim yesterday walked out of a Rawalpindi prison and became the first Indian to be freed by Pakistan since the Mumbai terror attacks.

The 25-year-old Karim, who hails from a North Dinajpur village but taught in a Patiala madarsa, was handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah international checkpost.

Five years ago, Karim was caught by the Pakistani border guards when he strayed into no-man’s land at Patiala in Punjab while trying to retrieve a ball during a soccer match with the local boys.

Nagesh Singh, director, (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division), ministry of external affairs, told The Telegraph over the phone from Delhi that this was the first time that an Indian had been released from a Pakistani jail after the Mumbai terror attack on November 26, 2008.

“This release will go a long way in improving the bilateral relations between the two nations. Our officials and senior BSF officers were present during the handing over yesterday,” Singh said. Karim walked across the border into India around 4pm yesterday.

The secretary of Diganta Welfare Society, Utpal Roy, who is camping in Delhi, said Karim was the Red Cross Bhavan in Amritsar last night. “He was handed over to us by the ministry of external affairs and our members have left Amritsar with him in a train for Calcutta. On Tuesday he will reach Aluabari Road station (the nearest railway halt near his house),” Roy said. Karim’s elder brother Iqbal Hussain is accompanying him home.

Diganta had taken up Karim’s cause after he was discovered by the International Red Cross in a Rawalpindi prison in 2007. Back then, Karim had sent a note to his parents through the Red Cross saying that he was alive. His family in Goalpokhor’s Betabi village, 90km from here, had given him up for dead.

In Betabi, everybody was rejoicing — all the more because Karim was coming back in the holy month of Ramazan. “So long I had been living with the knowledge that my son was at least alive in a Pakistani jail. Now he has been released in the month of Ramazan. But my husband could not see him,” said Gulshan Begum, who has nine children. Mohammad Tazuddin, who died of heart attack on May 6, had yearned for Karim till his last day, said Gulshan. Karim is still unaware of his father’s death.

“After we found out in 2007 that the youth was alive, we and the International Red Cross, were working to secure his release. But the 26/11 Mumbai attacks caused all talks with Pakistan to break down and we were very anxious that we would not be able to bring him back,” Roy said.

He said Diganta had been sending repeated appeals to both the Indian and the Pakistani governments about his release. “We are happy that it has finally happened, mainly because of improving relations between the two countries,” he said.

HOMELAND SECURITY: Driver abducted from train – Bodo rebels snatch pilot, assistant from Sonitpur

HOMELAND SECURITY: Driver abducted from train – Bodo rebels snatch pilot, assistant from Sonitpur – still don’t understand how a peaceful solution always wins in the long run ?!!

The train returns to Rangapara station on Sunday - too large to abduct ?!! (Projections Eastern)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY PULLOCK DUTTA

WITH INPUTS FROM SAURAV BHAGAWATI

Jorhat, Aug. 29: Bodo militants jumped into a slow-moving goods train, forced rail staff to apply emergency brakes at gun-point and dragged away the pilot and his assistant after quizzing them about their salaries near a Sonitpur station this morning.

The dramatic rail abduction by the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland is probably the first of its kind in the state’s insurgency history.

The militants chose the pilot and his assistant after they blurted out their salary figures at gunpoint, while the other railway employees on board quoted lower figures.

Carrying foodgrain, the train travelling from Rangapara in Sonitpur district to Bhalukpung in Arunachal Pradesh, was just 8km from the destination when a militant, wearing black battle fatigues, jumped into the brake van. The train was moving at just 15km per hour at the time — as trains usually do on this metre gauge hill section.

“He (the militant) held a gun at us and ordered us to stop the train by applying the emergency brakes. As the train came to a halt, three more youths attired similarly boarded the brake van. While three of them had small arms, the other was armed with an automatic rifle,” Braja Mohan Sinha, a pointsman, told The Telegraph.

Two militants kept watch on guard A.M. Baruah, goods clerk Saumir Dutta and Sinha, while two more walked up to the locomotive of the three-rake train and brought locopilot A.C. Phukon, assistant driver N.C. Borgohain, and a gateman, Arjun, to the brake van.

“They started asking us our salary,” Sinha said.

While the driver and the assistant driver mentioned that they earned between Rs 17,000 and Rs 18,000 per month (while they actually earn between Rs 20,000-25,000), the other railway employees said they earned between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000 (though they earn between (Rs 15,000-17000).

“The militants, after holding a discussion among themselves in Bodo, forced the driver and the assistant to accompany them,” Sinha said.

Ten minutes after the militants left, Sinha walked about 12km to an army camp and reported the incident.

The PRO of Northeast Frontier Railway, S. Hajong, said the train started from Rangapara station at 7.55am. Bhalukpung is the last station in this meter gauge section of the NFR and only goods trains ply on this stretch.

The train was brought back to Rangapara station around 2pm to be greeted with protests by railway employees demanding more security for trains running in the “vulnerable” section.

The railway workers’ union held a dharna at Rangapara station demanding security for railway employees and action to secure the release of the driver and the assistant driver.

They decided not to allow plying of trains from Rangapara to Bhalukpung till their colleagues were released.

Sonitpur superintendent of police, Jitmol Doely, said a search operation has been launched in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh to rescue the hostages.

They were in all probability taken to Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

BOXING: Shiva Thapa – Emerging star of boxing circuit

BOXING: Shiva Thapa – Emerging star of boxing circuit – making all India and Indian Gorkhas most proud ?!!

Shiva Thapa - packing a powerful Gorkha punch, slated for Gold at the Commonwealth Games later this year ?!! (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

From DNA
By Gutam Sheth

Mumbai, Monday, Aug 30, 2010, 2:25 IST (DNA): Shiva Thapa looks like any other 17-year-old. But it’s his well-chiselled biceps, which suggest that this youngster can throw a few mean punches as a boxer, a sport he believes he was born to play. “I always wanted to be a boxer, nothing else,” said Shiva.

The Assamese boy, who won a silver in bantam weight at the recently concluded Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, was second time unlucky losing to the same opponent he lost to in the Youth World Championship in Azerbaijan.

But Shiva is unfazed and said that he lost to a better opponent, Cuban world champion Ramirez Robeisy Aloy.

“I should have won the gold, but it’s a sport and someone wins and someone loses,” Shiva told DNA from New Delhi.

Shiva was always fascinated by Mike Tyson. “I loved football and I did play well too, but I realised it is a team game and you need to have a good all-round team to succeed whereas to achieve good results in boxing, one had to rely on their own capabilities,” explained Shiva on why he chose boxing.

Shiva’s inspiration and support came in the form of his elder brother Gobind and father Padam. Gobind was a state-level medal winning boxer while Padam used to be a karate coach in Guwahati.

“My brother’s and father’s fascination has made me what I am,” said Shiva.

It was Padam, Shiva’s first coach, who tapped his son’s flair for exchanging punches and made sure that his youngest one got all that he needed.

Shiva dedicated his achievements to the groundwork his father had done all these years. “He made sure I got up by 3:30am so that I get ample time for training and studies,” remembered Shiva.

He first started practicing in the drawing room of his house at the age of seven with his father and now at 17, is training at Army Sports Institute at Pune.

But is hasn’t been an easy way up to the ring for Shiva. He is the youngest among six siblings, which includes four sisters. “It wasn’t easy for my father to support my passion. My travelling, training, stay and the biggest cost — my diet — didn’t make matters any easy at home,” said Shiva.

But Padam made sure his youngest son never had to bear the brunt. The monthly costs of approximately Rs30,000 was difficult, but Shiva’s talent finally got him support from the Olympic Gold Quest.

And now Shiva is excited after his experience at the Youth Games. “YOG gave a platform to the next world champions of all sports,” he said. His immediate aim is to qualify for the 2012 Games in London and if he doesn’t, Shiva is clear he wants to win a medal in the 2016 Games.

Youth Olympic medallists want more exposure trips – reasonable enough to ask for the greater glory of India ?!!

Shiva Thapa displays his Silver at the Singapore Youth Olymics 2010 - handsome enough to make hearts flutter ?!! (Himal News)

From Sify News

August, 28, 2010, 18:20:00 (IANS): Fresh from the success at the Youth Olympics in Singapore, India’s medal winners asked the government and the sports federations to organise regular foreign trips and hire better coaches for improving their performance at the highest level.

India won nine medals at the first edition of the Youth Olympics and were 58th in the medal’s tally. India won medals in athletics, badminton, judo, tennis and wrestling.

The medal winners complained that they play very few international tournaments in a calender year, in comparison to their foreign counterparts.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi said he has directed the federation to look after the needs of their athletes.

‘We will make sure these young athletes get proper training. The IOA will be writing to chief ministers of the respective states to provide the winners with whatever they ask for,’ said Kalmadi.

Shiva Thapa, 17-year-old boxer who won a silver, has played in five international tournaments since picking up the gloves five years back.

‘We hardly get to play outside. If we play 100 bouts in a year, a boxer in Cuba plays 200 bouts. The more exposure we get the better it is for us. I hope it will start happening after our good performance at the Youth Olympics,’ Thapa told IANS.

The lanky boxer from Guwahati is based in Army Sports Institute, Pune. Thapa is now eying a gold medal in the Commonwealth Youth Games and the Asian Youth Games in 2011.

Discus thrower Arjun won a silver and got the first medal for India in athletics. Arjun said he gets to play only the state championships and a one-off tournament annually, leave aside competing outside India.

‘Whatever I achieved is because of my coach. The federation has not done much for me. The athletes around the world participate in events every week. We need to do the same so that we perform well at the senior level.’

Arjun took up discuss throw in 2006 under the guidance of coach Suresh Yadav. He stays and practices in Delhi.

Not very far from the national capital, wrestler Pooja Dhanda has been training at her hometown of Hissar. She feels the younger coaches with good technical skills are the need of the hour.

‘We need younger and skilled coaches who point our mistakes. We need better technology, so that we can improve our performances and our mistakes are rectified instantaneously. The SAI centre here in Hissar is not up to the mark,’ said Dhanda.

Dhanda won a silver in Singapore and has been wrestling since 2003.

GAMES WATCH: Bungling Games eye Bolly rescue

GAMES WATCH: Bungling Games eye Bolly rescue – to pay or not to ?!!

Sharukh Khan - will he come, of course to rescue the Indian nation's corrupt political blunder ?!!

FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY ARCHIS MOHAN

New Delhi, Aug. 29: If the song can’t, surely the dance Khan?

The Commonwealth Games organisers may fall back on tried-and-trusted Bollywood to make the October 3 opening ceremony a success after A.R. Rahman’s theme song failed to impress the Group of Ministers (GoM).

The two names being considered are both Dilli da puttars and big international brands: Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Till now, the Games committee’s policy had been to keep Bollywood out, but sources said it may just have been an excuse to keep Amitabh Bachchan out. Now, with the preparations suffering one setback after another, the temptation to draft in tinsel town is growing.

There’s hallowed precedent too, although when Bachchan was the brand ambassador for the 1982 Delhi Asiad, there was no hip-shaking. That was a different era, when official opening ceremonies were all about official “culture”.

But when the BJP’s V.K. Malhotra mooted Big B’s name for Games 2010 five months ago, Suresh Kalmadi quickly nixed the suggestion, no doubt mindful of the changed Bachchan-Gandhi equations. Both Shah Rukh and Akshay, though, pass the Congress-Gandhi test comfortably.

SRK not only comes from a traditional Congress family but is also close to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. Akshay is the son-in-law of veteran actor and former Congress MP Rajesh Khanna, who lost narrowly to L.K. Advani in the 1991 polls but won the by-election a year later against the BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha.

However, there is a hitch: Shah Rukh may be abroad around the time of the opening ceremony.

“I have not been asked to lead any aspect of the Commonwealth Games from my line of work, to do a dance to promote it, but if I were asked, I would have done it,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying on Thursday.

He denied having been offered a huge fee to perform at the Games inauguration. “I am yet to be asked… but I am out of the country in October shooting for Don 2.”

Sources in Delhi, though, hoped that an approach from the “right quarters” would persuade SRK to participate.

Yesterday, Rahman had unveiled the Games theme song, Yaaro Ye India Bula Liya, 12 days behind schedule. At an earlier preview at a GoM meeting, he had been requested to tweak it a little. Today, Malhotra said people expected a better song from Rahman.

Many old timers feel the song isn’t anywhere close to the one for Asiad 1982, Swagatam Shubha Swagatam, whose lyrics were recited by Bachchan at the inauguration.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL PROMOTION: Back with Bayern memories – Siliguri players share dressing room experience

FOOTBALL PROMOTION: Back with Bayern memories – Siliguri players share dressing room experience – inspirational tales, hills secluded purposely or maybe next time for schools in the hills with greater talent – any challenges ?!!

'(From left) Abhishek Chhetri, Deepu Burman, Amit Thakuri, Sanjib Kerketta, Nishant Toppo and Litan Shil. They returned to Siliguri on Sunday after their week-long trip to Germany - great experiences and great expectations ?!! (Kundan Yolmo)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT

Siliguri, Aug. 29: They flew to Germany, shared the dressing room of FC Bayern and posed with World Cuppers who did not offer any soccer tips.

But that did not dampen the spirit of the Siliguri Six. “So what (if they did not offer us tips)? Otherwise, it was a wonderful experience, as their grounds and stadium were picturesque and the training was systematic marked by sheer punctuality,” said Amit Thakuri, one of the six Under-17 footballers from Sliguri, after returning from a week-long dream tour.

The six players were selected for the overseas tour by FC Bayern when the German club visited the town for an exhibition match in January 2009. While the state government had paid the passage money, the German team had arranged for their food and accommodation during the trip.

Apart from posing with World Cuppers like Thomas Mueller and Frank Riberi, there was not much interaction. But the Siliguri players practised with the Under-17 team of the German club and picked up some vital tips.

“We reached Munich on August 19 and started our training at the FC Bayern ground the next day. The same evening, we visited the BMW headquarters in Munich,” Thakuri said.

On August 21, the players went to see the inaugural match of the Bundesliga (Germany’s premier football league) between FC Bayern and Wolfsburg which the former won 2-1.

After the match, the six players met their football heroes, Mueller, Schweinsteiger, Riberi, Mark Van Bommel and Miroslav Klose.

“We were taken to their dressing room and they obliged us with their autographs on the team jersey. Although we did not get the chance to interact with them, we got an opportunity to get photographed with the players,” said Abhishek Chhetri, another player.

“It was an experience, which we had only dreamt about. Watching a bunch of World Cup footballers from a handshake distance and visiting their dressing room and the ground are almost a lifetime achievement for us,” he added.

On August 22 and 23, the Siliguri players went for a local tour which included the famous Europa Park.

The budding players from Siliguri also enjoyed their training session with their foreign counterparts that continued from August 24 to 27 at Rust. They were surprised by the German club’s punctuality at the training programme.

“The second phase of our training started in Rust, which is a three-hour drive from Munich. We stayed with the Under-17 players of the Bayern team in Rust. During the four-day training, we got Stephan and Andreas as our trainers. The training was in two shifts. The first session started at 9am and continued till 11.30am, while the second schedule was from 1.30pm to 4pm,” said Sanjib Kerketta who hails from a tea estate.

Nishant Toppo, also from a tea garden, recounted how he was punished for being late. “I had to do six push-ups on the second day of our practice as I was late. But it was not a serious punishment, as they know that we were from abroad.”

The players said they were ready to utilise the techniques they learnt from the foreign team. “Whatever we have been doing here, the same thing we did there also but in a different way. We learnt how to tackle the ball, how to increase the power in our shots, dribbling and the movement. If we are exposed to such an organised training schedule throughout the year, we could play much better,” Dipu Burman said.

Litan Shil said if he got another opportunity like this in future, he would not miss it.

The six footballers will be felicitated here on September 3 by the Siliguri Mahakuma Krira Parishad.

RAILWAY PRINT: Tech tickets after 2012 print wind-up

RAILWAY PRINT: Tech tickets after 2012 print wind-up – long time coming ?!!

An NFR employee at work in the press at Kurseong - neglect finally noticed ?!! (Kundan Yolmo)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH
BY MRINALINI SHARMA

Siliguri, Aug. 29: Northeast Frontier Railway has started revamping its printing press at Kurseong and has plans to install a computerised ticketing system at the only facility of its kind that caters for the section extending from Tinsukia in Assam to Katihar in Bihar.

The computerised ticketing system for unreserved ticketing system (UTS) and passenger reservation system (PRS) will, however, take place after the ticket printing section of the press shuts down in 2012.

Currently the unit prints manually generated tickets for the entire NFR zone.

“The railway board has sanctioned Rs 4.30 crore for upgrading the unit. This amount would be used to install machinery and revamp the infrastructure at the press,” Keshav Chandra, the general manager of the NFR, told The Telegraph over phone.

The 62-year-old press has two printing sections.

While the general section prints books, forms and railway passes, the ticket section prints and supplies manually-generated tickets for the Tinsukia, Lumding, Rangiya, Alipurduar and Katihar divisions, under the NFR, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

“The ticket printing section will wind up in 2012 because manually generated tickets are being phased out,” said Chandra.

The press that was established in 1948 is the only unit in the hill railway section that does not come under the DHR. It is controlled from the NFR headquarters in Maligaon.

Currently, computerised ticketing facility is only available at the Darjeeling railway station.

The move to close down the ticket printing unit at Kurseong had evoked strong protests after it was announced by the Indian Railways in 2008 because it would stop the production of manually generated DHR tickets that are popular as souvenirs all over the world.

“We had submitted a memorandum to the general manager of the NFR with a proposal to upgrade the press on August 5. Chandra surveyed the press and announced the railway board’s decision to revamp it,” said Rajiv Rai, the NFR Employee Union’s joint secretary and an employee at the press.

According to NFR sources, the railway has already removed some of the machinery at the general printing section.

“Around four old equipment have been scrapped and three more which have become obsolete will be removed. These machines would be replaced by offset printing machinery. The press will require three to four such equipment,” the source said.

Almost the entire sum of the sanctioned funds would be used for installing the computerised ticketing machine. “The remaining amount will be used for purchasing offset printing equipment,” the source said.

LANDSLIDE DISASTER: Highway to Sikkim opened for traffic – Sunshine helps BRO clear debris from NH31A & Mud blow to PSU

LANDSLIDE DISASTER: Highway to Sikkim opened for traffic – Sunshine helps BRO clear debris from NH31A & Mud blow to PSU – while waiting for next heavy rains, clearning equipment should be busy with infrastructural damage shoring and expansion work, or to be left to rust ?!!

A bulldozer clears the debris near the Government Food Preservation Factory on NH31A on Sunday, shortly before the highway was cleared for traffic - sends slush over the side instead of using dump trucks ?!! (Prabin Khaling)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT

Gangtok, Aug 29: Road connectivity between Gangtok and the rest of the country was restored this morning, three days after the vital link, NH31A, struck by landslides at seven places between 32nd Mile and Singtam.

Two days of sunshine helped Project Swastik personnel of the Border Roads Organisation, which maintains the highways of Sikkim, clear the debris and restore traffic. “The landslides were cleared before 11am and the highway is open for both light and heavy vehicles,” said A.K. Singh, the executive engineer of Project Swastik.

While five landslides had been cleared by the BRO, two near the Government Fruit Preservation Factory (GFPF), 28km from here, had been a major headache for the BRO. One of the two had breached about 15m of the road and the other had piled up huge slush on the highway. Fifty labourers and two excavators were engaged to repair the breach and sweep the slush.

Manav Prasad, the commander of 764 Border Roads Task Force, said his personnel had been clearing the debris near the GFPF for the past two days. “But three artificial ponds had been created by the slides about 200m uphill.”

The executive engineer said talks were on with geologists of the Sikkim government to “do something” about the ponds. “We have to wait till the weather clears up. Right now the only temporary measure is to clear the slush whenever it comes,” said Singh.

In the past two days before the traffic was restored on the highway, commuters to and from Gangtok had to depend on transshipment. They used to reach the troubled spot near the GFPF and take a 300m detour on foot and jump into the waiting taxis on the other side. Most of the vehicles from Gangtok used to take a detour from Ranipool, reach Pakyong (28km from here) and then drop 25km down to Rangpo to join NH31A bypassing the slides. Vehicles coming from Siliguri also took the similar route.

The BRO has sought three weeks from Sikkim High Court to file an affidavit on the time schedule for execution of the highway work. It was responding to a suo-motu public interest litigation initiated by the court in May on media reports on the condition of NH31A, North Sikkim Highway and Gangtok-Nathu-la road.

On August 25, A division bench of Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice S.P. Wangdi had directed the BRO to use the best technology in executing the repair within six months from September 1. “Similarly, the state government shall also identify the roads which are required to be repaired and maintained properly and make such roads fit for transportation,” the court had said. Senior advocates and members of of the Sikkim Bar Association have been asked to bring to the court’s notice the roads that are required to be attended.

Slush shuts down fruit factory – now requesting slush funds, BRO liable ?!!

Mud flowing down to the fruit factory on Sunday - BRO cleanup unplanned and liable ?!! (Prabin Khaling)

FROM THE TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT

Gangtok, Aug. 29: The Government Fruit Preservation Factory will remain shut for at least 10 days because of muck and slush seeping down from the national highway above in Singtam.

The temporary shutdown comes at a time the state government has agreed in principle to disinvest or privatise four PSUs, the GFPF being one of them.

The factory, 28km from Gangtok, was set up in 1956 and produces 40-odd items including pickles, juice, ketchups, jam and marmalade with most of the raw material procured from the local farmers.

A landslide on Thursday night had peeled off the hillside and buried around 200 metres of NH31A just above the factory. But three days later, slush continues to flow down the hill into the factory. “Three ponds have been created in the hillside 300 metres above because of the accumulation of rainwater and supply from small streams. Slush continues to pour down even as we clear the existing muck on the roadside,” said 764 Border Roads Task Force commander Manav Prasad who is supervising the restoration of the highway.

The continuous flow of slush has threatened the staff quarters of the GFPF prompting the East district administration to evacuate 18 families.

“We shifted eighteen families yesterday to safer places,” said subdivisional magistrate (East) A.B. Karki. There are 90 employees in the factory.

The managing director of the GFPF, Karma Zimpa, said the unit had been shut since August 27. “The landslides above the factory were dangerous and slush continues to flow down into our premises,” he said. The Rani Khola flowing along the factory has also swelled and has damaged the retaining walls, said the managing director.

“This is a major blow. We are suffering a loss of Rs 1 lakh daily. There is no power and supply of raw material has been hit because of the road condition. The factory will remain closed for 10 to 12 days at the least,” said Zimpa. He also accused the BRO of sweeping down the slush into the factory from the road above.

Project Swastik chief engineer Brigadier Rajeev Sawhney, however, said he would see that the factory compound was cleaned.

The GFPF has been in a financial mess for the past decade. A committee has been formed to see how GFPF and three other state PSUs have been performing for the past seven-eight years and then submit its recommendations to the state government.

“This is a big blow for the factory caused by natural calamity and we hope for full support from the state government,” said Zimpa