Students advised to leave hills | ||||||
OUR BUREAU , TT.July 10: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has “requested” students staying in hostels and tourists to leave Darjeeling hills by Monday noon after which an indefinite strike might be called if the government does not remove the senior-most police officer in north Bengal. This is the first time students are being asked to leave Darjeeling schools, some of which are still counted among the most reputable institutes of the country. However, the Morcha hastened to add that the advice had been issued to ensure that students were not confined in hostels without food if the threatened strike dragged on and not because they hailed from outside the hills. The three hill subdivisions have around 5,000 student boarders, including many from neighbouring countries. But it is not tourist season now. The latest round of unrest unfolded because of a turf battle between the Morcha and the Gorkha National Liberation Front that has largely been ousted from the hills but retains some pockets of influence in the foothills. Tension, building over the past few days over a rivalry to back construction orders, burst forth this noon, triggering clashes between Morcha supporters and police in Panighata, about 40km from Siliguri. The police burst tear-gas shells and baton-charged a Morcha rally after participants allegedly attacked the house of a GNLF leader. The Morcha, which has been accusing the state machinery of being vindictive towards its supporters, called a strike and demanded the transfer of K.L. Tamta, the north Bengal inspector-general of police, and two other officers. Morcha president Bimal Gurung also sought the arrest of Rajen Mukhia, whose house was attacked, for allegedly getting police to beat up rivals. “We will give time till Monday noon to the government to fulfil our demands. Even then, I request all tourists, along with school and college students, to leave the hills,” Gurung said, relaxing the strike till the deadline. “Even if our demands are met, some agitation will continue. That is why I have requested those residing outside the hills to leave.” A senior teacher of North Point, Darjeeling, said there were 250 international students in the hostel. “We do not know what we will do; we will take a decision at a governing body meeting tomorrow.” The Hindu,KOLKATA: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) served on Friday an ultimatum to the West Bengal government seeking removal of some police officials from their posts by Monday afternoon. It threatened to launch an indefinite bandh in the district if the demand was not met. The GJM leadership was protesting against police action on its supporters earlier in the day at Panighata in the Kurseong sub-division. “We have called for an indefinite bandh if our demands are not met by Monday in protest against police action on our supporters who had assembled at Panighata to hold a peaceful rally in protest against the atrocities committed on our workers by the local Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader, Rajen Mukhia,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. Trouble broke out at Panighata when GJM supporters, who had gathered to hold a rally, allegedly attacked the house of the Mr. Rajen Mukhia. District Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastava said that some in the mob were armed with petrol bombs. Five policemen were injured when they intervened, he told The Hindu over phone. In July last, GJM activists had attacked the house of a senior GNLF leader in Darjeeling, he recalled. DisputeAccording to the police, tension has been simmering in the area for the last two days due to a dispute within the GJM over a local issue. There were reports of supporters of a faction switching loyalty to Mr. Mukhia. The GJM, which has been demanding the creation of a separate Gorkhaland to be carved out of Darjeeling district and certain areas contiguous to it, has replaced the GNLF as the principal political force in the hills since October 2007. Yet, on odd occasions, its supremacy has been challenged at local levels. The incident at Panighata is, apparently, one such instance. ZEE News, Siliguri, July 10: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists demanding release of some of their supporters, went on the rampage on Friday, setting ablaze the house of a GNLF leader in Darjeeling district and hurling stones at the police when they intervened, leading to a baton charge on them. After holding a meeting, GJM supporters took out a procession to the residence of local GNLF leader Rajen Mukhia at Panighata, about 35 km from here, and set his house on fire, IGP (North Bengal) K L Tamta told agency. Police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells to disperse the supporters who attacked the police with stones, Tamta said, adding 15 policemen were injured, seven of them seriously. Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said in Kolkata that the attack on Mukhia’s house could lead to repercussions. Meanwhile, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri has called an indefinite strike in the Darjeeling hills from tomorrow to protest the baton charge, which he was termed as unprovoked, and demanded removal of Tamta and Additional SP (Headquarters). On July 8, some GJM supporters had attacked Mukhia’s house following which three of them were arrested. The GJM had observed a 12-hour strike in Kurseong sub-division yesterday demanding unconditional release of the three and the arrest of Mukhia and six of his associates. UNI Darjeeling, Friday July 10: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha tonight deferred the indefinite bandh by three days allowing tourists to leave hills, GJM leader Amar Lama here announced. He said the GJM in a meeting reviewed the situation and decided to defer the bandh till July 13. Earlier in the day GJM general secretary Roshan Giri had declared indefinte bandh in the hills of Darjeeling after its supporters fought pitched battles with police in which several were injured at Panighata under Mirik in Kurseong. The sudden bandh call and road blockades on NH 55, 31A disrupted life and prevented tourists from leaving the hills. Hundreds of homegoers were also stranded at various bus terminals in Siliguri as hill-bound buses and private vehicles were not allowed to move uphill by bandh supporters. Darjeeling District Magistrate Surendra Gupta told UNI special arrangment has been made to help tourists to reach their destination. He said a cell was also set up to monitor movement of travellers and security was deployed at all exit points. GJM general secretary Rosan Giri told UNI the bandh would continue till the GNLF leaders involved in clashes with the GJM were not arrested and policemen who used lathis were not punished. Additional Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, Akhilesh Chaturvedi told UNI GJM activists attacked police personnel, hurled petrol bombs and damaged several vehicles during the course of a public rally at Panighata, in which 15 policemen sustained injuries. Police had to resort to lathicharge and lob teargas shells to control the unruly mob. About 25-30 GJM supporters sustained injuries in the lathicharge. PTI, Siliguri, July 11: Demanding release of some of their supporters, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) workers went on a rampage on Friday and set fire to the house of a GNLF leader in Darjeeling district. Police had to lathicharge to bring the situation under control. After holding a meeting, GJM supporters took out a procession to the residence of local GNLF leader Rajen Mukhia at Panighata, about 35 km from Siliguri and set his house on fire, said IGP (North Bengal) K L Tamta. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the supporters who attacked the police with stones, Tamta said, adding 15 policemen were injured, seven of them seriously. State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said that the attack on Mukhia’s house could lead to repercussions. GJM general secretary, meanwhile, Roshan Giri has called an indefinite strike in the Darjeeling hills from Saturday to protest the lathicharge, which he termed as unprovoked. On July 8, some GJM supporters had attacked Mukhia’s house following which three of them were arrested. The GJM had observed a 12-hour strike in Kurseong on Thursday demanding unconditional release of their supporters. Statesman News Service PANIGHATTA, 10 JULY: Tension, smouldering in Panighatta since last Wednesday following a clash between the GJMM and GNLF supporters at Mirik and Panighatta, erupted in a major conflagration today. Several people, including police personnel, sustained injuries today when Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) supporters clashed with police at Panighata under Mirik police station in Kurseong sub-division of this district. At least 39 people ~ 19 belonging to the GJMM and the rest to the GNLF ~ were arrested.
The police had to resort to lathicharge and lobbing teargas shells to control the mob. Several vehicles were damaged and about 25 police personnel and some GJMM activists including the outfit's vice president Mr Pradip Pradhan were injured in the violence. They have been admitted to different hospitals of the region. The administration has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC till 13 July in the area. GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri alleged the outfit had organised a peaceful rally at Panighagta when petrol bombs were hurled at the supporters from the house of GNLF leader Mr Rajen Mukhiya. Mr Mukhiya was later arrested. GJMM activists also tried to set ablaze Mr Mukhiya's house but were prevented by police Meanwhile, the GJMM has called for an indefinite strike in the hill areas to protest the incident and demanded immediate arrest of Mr Mukhiya. They also demanded the immediate transfer of the inspector general of police, north Bengal, Mr KL Tamta, the additional superintendent of police, Kurseong, Mr AK Chaturvedi and sub divisional police officer, Kurseong, Mr R Singh. "We are issuing the state government an ultimatum to act on our demand by the noon of 13 July. If it fails to comply, we will stage an indefinite bandh in the hills," the GJMM president said. He also instructed the tourists to leave the hills at the earliest to avoid inconvenience in case of any eventuality. A senior GJMM leader Mr Binay Tamang said the party vice president Mr Pradip Pradhan was injured in the purported police atrocities. "The GNLF leader Mr Mukhia and his associates started pelting stones in a pre-planned design to foil the proposed party rally," he said. Rejecting the allegation, the GNLF leader Mr Mukhia said that the police had arrested him to prove that they were not biased. "My house was attacked with petrol bombs, but the police arrested me. The police did it to balance the arrest of the arsonists," he complained. The ASP, Kurseong, Mr A K Chaturvedi said that a large contingent of police personnel had been deployed although tension still prevailed.
Police fire tear gas at protestors in Panighatta on Friday. - SNSTT, Kalimpong, July 10: All offices of the education departments belonging to the Bengal government and the DGHC in the hills remained closed as a week-long strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha organisations began today. The strike is being spearheaded by the Education Monitoring Cell (EMC) — comprising the Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation, Gorkha Primary Teachers’ Organisation and Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha — to pressure the state government into accepting nine demands. Among others, the demands include the regularisation of teachers, who were appointed on contract by the DGHC, for existing vacancies, introduction of the Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) in the hills and upgrade of junior schools to the higher secondary level. A delegation of the EMC, led by the chief co-ordinator Tshering Tamang, met the additional chief secretary in-charge of education K. John Koshy at Mongpong, about 50km from here, last night and discussed the demands. Manish Jain, the state project officer of SSM, was also present. Tamang said Koshy had assured the EMC that he would look into three demands. “On the appointment of teachers, he said he would be seeking a report from the DGHC. He also said there was a scope for appointing para-teachers in the hills,” said Tamang. With regards to the introduction of the SSM, Koshy is understood to have asked the EMC to suggest how to go about implementing the scheme. With Koshy refusing to interact with the media, it was not possible to get the state government’s view on the EMC demands. In fact, the choice of venue itself was rather interesting, as it was held at a forest guest house in Mongpong, a tiny hamlet on NH31, a little distance from Coronation Bridge. With Koshy not even allowing The Telegraph to take pictures of the meeting, there were questions why a matter involving the future of education in the hills was shrouded in secrecy. The delegation, which consisted of the members from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik, travelled not less than 50km on roads ravaged by landslides to reach the venue. The EMC threatened to launch an intensified movement if its demands were not met. “The lack of sincerity and urgency displayed by the government in addressing the issues only proves it is least concerned about arresting the decline of education in the hills,” said Tamang. TT, Malda July 10: Malda police today arrested six persons in connection with Tuesday’s incident at Bhaluka in which a BDO was almost thrown into the Fulhar river by villagers protesting against lack of anti-erosion work. Narboo Tshering Lepcha, the BDO, had gone to Bhaluka to negotiate the release of an irrigation engineer who had been confined for more than 10 hours by villagers. The enraged people then attacked him. Siliguri: Green Environment Preservation Society and Sky Watchers Association of North Bengal will jointly organise a workshop on Total Solar Eclipse at Siliguri College on July 12. The solar eclipse will be visible on July 22. Himalayan Viagra excites Sikkim govt Statesman News Service, GANGTOK, 10 JULY: In an attempt to mobilise its untapped bio-revenue, the state government is all set to legalise the collection and marketing of an exotic medicinal herb, cordyceps Sinensis, from the highland forests of Sikkim.
Cordyceps Sinensis, popularly known as “caterpillar fungus”, is also known as “Yarcha-Gombuk” in the Himalayan region. Owing to its aphrodisiacal properties it is better recognised as “Himalayan Viagra.” One kilogram of the caterpillar fungus is said to fetch as much as US $2,000 on the global market.
Earlier this week, the "Cordceyps Sinensis (Yartsa Gunbu/Vegetative Caterpillar) Collection and Selling Rules-2009" notification, defines the collection and marketing rules of the exotic medicinal herb, along with provisions for penalties that would come into force with its inclusion in the official gazette.
Nepal and Bhutan have already legalised the collection and marketing of the exotic medicinal herb. Cordyceps sinensis, a rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus, is found in altitudes above 4,500 metres in the Himalayas. In Sikkim, it is found in areas like Green Lake, Dzongri, Thamjey, Nathu La Pass, Doman Valley, Tholung Pass and other areas above 8,000 ft. All these areas are under the forest department. Though no resource survey of this medicinal herb has been conducted in Sikkim, the forest department says that it knows where the herb can be found.
After a proper survey of the demarcated areas, the state forest department has framed certain rules for the collection of Cordyceps Sinensis. Only registered Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco Development Committees (EDCs) are allowed to collect the medicinal herb after obtaining permission from the Range Officer. Field verification via approval of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of the State forest department will also be required. No collection is permitted in the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the State.
The quantity collected would then be auctioned by a committee set up by the State government with 75 per cent of the proceeds going to the JFMC who have collected the Cordyceps Sinensis while the remaining 25 percent will be deposited in the government revenue.
The State government will also undertake research to determine the proper techniques of collection, drying, value addition, storage and transportation of Cordyceps Sinensis and then train the relevant persons. Experts on medicinal plants here have welcomed the proposal. They also said that foreign technology is readily available to artificially produce the medicinal herb in Sikkim. ABAVP demands new schools, colleges Statesman News service, JALPAIGURI, 10 JULY: The principal secretary of the state higher education department, Mr SC Tewari, held a meeting on 10 July with the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP) in the Jalpaiguri circuit house.
At the meeting, Mr Rajesh Lakra informed the secretary of the Dooars-Terai coordination committee of ABAVP that he would issue several demands at the meeting. Primarily, they requested the state government's compliance in the educational development of the tribal people of Dooars.
“Today we informed him that there are not enough Hindi medium schools in Dooars for the tribal students. Because of this, a large number of tribal scholars are refused admission to schools every year.
“The official assured us that they would conduct a survey within 6 months to find out where Hindi medium schools are required in Dooars, and that they would then take action to set up schools,” said Mr Lakra. He added that the principal secretary has assured them that two Hindi medium schools would be set up in Dooars and Terai. He said: “They are yet to select the place, but the process is almost complete. Officials promised to produce a special order to ensure that the SC ST students will not be dropped from the schools. The existing Hindi medium schools of Dooars are suffering from a lack of teachers which they also intend to remedy.”
The president of the Dooars-Terai Coordination Committee of ABAVP, Mr John Barla, said that the principal secretary also assured them that he would consider their demand to set up five Information technology colleges in Dooars: “we proposed he set up these colleges in Malbazaar, Nagrakata, Kalchini and the Shamuktala area of Jalpaiguri” said Mr Barla.
But Mr Tewari did not disclose much to the media: “The ABAVP leaders submitted their demands to me and we will seriously consider those matters. The required actions will be taken after that,” he said. TT, Midnapore, July 10: Students of a high school 15km from Lalgarh today marched to their institution and locked its gates demanding that policemen camping there vacate the premises and let classes resume. Over a dozen high schools in and around Lalgarh are shut now because they are being used to house security forces. At Binpur High School, where 250 students came in a procession and asked the 50 personnel living inside to clear out immediately, classes have not been held since June 15. Around 12.30, Binpur ins-pector-in-charge Kushal Mitra arrived with a large team of baton-wielding personnel and chased the children away. The force broke the lock on the school gate. “We have repeatedly asked the administration to shift the camp but nothing has happened. That is why we decided to demonstrate today but the police hit us with sticks,” said Dayal Sinha, who is in Class XI. A farmer whose son is in Class VIII threatened to boycott the police if they did not relent. “If necessary, we will go for a police boycott,” said Amitava Bera, 48. In Calcutta, home secretary Ardhendu Sen held out hope. “We will vacate the schools in 15 days and shift the forces to new camps (being set up across the region).” A senior former police officer said occupying schools for an “indefinite period” was also not a right “tactical” decision. “When a large contingent is involved in area domination, they should be provided with good accommodation. Government buildings such as schools are ideal, but only if the forces are going to be stationed there for a short time,” said S.N. Sarkar. West Midnapore police chief Manoj Verma said over 15 permanent camps were being constructed in Lalgarh, Binpur, Belpahari, Goaltore and Salboni. “We are trying to build them quickly.” Until the forces are moved out for good, attempts are being made to resume the higher classes. Jhargram subdivisional officer P. Ulganathan said: “We have requested the district police chief to vacate a few classrooms so Classes VIII to XII can be held.” |
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