Delhi team on hill mission TT, Darjeeling, Sept. 29: A seven-member inter-department team from Delhi will visit the Darjeeling hills tomorrow according to an agreement between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the state and the central governments at the last tripartite meeting. “The team consists of officials from different departments and is headed by a joint secretary from the ministry of home affairs. The team will oversee the development activities undertaken by the DGHC,” said the district magistrate of Darjeeling, Surendra Gupta. The decision to send the team to Darjeeling to review various hill projects was agreed upon during the third tripartite meeting in New Delhi on August 11. Union home secretary G.K. Pillai had chaired the meeting. Apart from overseeing the various activities of the DGHC, the team is likely to go through the details of the rehabilitation being conducted by the council following the devastation caused by Cyclone Aila. After the cyclone-triggered landslides, the district administration had worked out a report which said Rs 345 crore would be needed to carry out the restoration. State finance minister Asim Dasgupta during his visit to Darjeeling in June — a month after the cyclone — had said 4,500 houses had been fully destroyed while 12,000 were partially damaged. The Morcha on its part had demanded that 1,400 houses, which included 309 fully damaged ones, be included in the initial list prepared by the district administration. The Centre which had provided a Rs 1,000 crore package to the cyclone victims in West Bengal is likely to check out the allotment given to Darjeeling. So far the state government has sanctioned Rs 55 crore for temporary construction, maintaining that the permanent restoration would start once the dry season started. The visit of the central team is important given the fact that the Morcha had said it was dissatisfied with the council, which had to be dissolved immediately. In fact, both the state and the Centre have agreed to dissolve the DGHC once an interim arrangement was worked out. The central team is likely to obtain firsthand information on the running of the DGHC so far. “The team will be in the hills till October 1 and they will also be visiting Kalimpong,” said Gupta. Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said his party would meet the delegation in Darjeeling tomorrow. SIX HOUSES GUTTED IN KALIMPONG A fire that broke out near 10th Mile in Kalimpong gutted six houses on Tuesday evening. It took around three hours for firemen to douse the flames. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha) SNS,KALIMPONG, 29 SEPT: A fire broke out at a wooden building in 10 Mile area around 7 p.m. here today, where a family of 10 members used to reside. The Kalimpong fire brigade was informed immediately but they failed to bring the situation under control. So the Army from Durpin had to come to carry on the rescue operations. All the nearby houses and shops were evacuated. No reports of injury has been filed. SNS

PIX: SAMTEN KABO

Four-hour road blockade to protest vandalism - 5 injured, 9 cars & 10 houses damaged in kalimpong attack TT, Kalimpong, Sept. 29: Traffic on the Teesta-Lopchu-Jorebunglow road came to a standstill for about four hours today after residents of Teesta Bazaar put up a blockade to protest alleged police inaction against vandals. Yesterday, the residents had served a 24-hour ultimatum on the police for arresting 17 people from adjoining Teesta Pool who, they said, went on the rampage in the bazaar on Sunday night. Five persons were injured, 10 houses damaged and the windshields of nine vehicles smashed in the attack, the police said and added that the motive behind the attack was being probed. Two persons have been arrested. No one from Teesta Pool village could be contacted. After the deadline ended this morning, the residents set up the blockade at 9am. The road links Darjeeling and Kurseong with Kalimpong and Sikkim. The protesters have threatened to launch a bigger agitation if no action is taken against the accused by October 6. “We decided to lift the blockade after we obtained a written assurance from the police that the culprits will be brought to book at the earliest,” said Kishen Gupta, a senior citizen of Teesta Bazaar. The assurance was given at a joint meeting of residents, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders and the police. Kalimpong additional superintendent of police K.B. Dorji was present. The residents have named 17 people from Teesta Pool in an FIR who raided their riverside hamlets, 16km from here, around 11pm on Sunday. “On hearing the commotion, I came out of my home and saw a group of boys attacking houses and vehicles parked on the road. When I tried to intervene, I was hit on the head with a khukuri,” said Santosh Lama, a resident. Another resident of the bazaar attributed the attack to envy. “Compared to us, the residents of Teesta Pool lag behind both in education and economy,” he said. The police said they were trying to establish the motive behind the attack. “Two persons have been arrested. We are conducting raids in the area,” said an officer. GJMM holds up Darjeeling development Sulagna Sengupta SNS, KOLKATA, 29 SEPT: A project to develop circuit tourism in some areas of Darjeeling has been stalled following the ongoing agitation called by the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM). This circuit destination development project includes illuminating monuments and historical sites, setting up of information centres, lodges as well as other infrastructure development, that could ensure a steady flow of domestic and international tourists. The areas in which the project would be undertaken include Dilaram in Kurseong, Kalijhara in Darjeeling area and some areas in Terai region. A senior official of state tourism department said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 8 crore fund to develop circuit tourism in Darjeeling and regions in Eastern Dooars, but the project had to be put on hold following stiff resistance from the GJMM supporters. A senior official of the tourism department, however, said as a result of such tension the implementing agencies were also reluctant to work here. Members of GJMM would not allow labourers and contractors work in the area and put up their flags in various areas, thus hampering the project. An official pointed out, that unless GJMM's demands were met with the project could not be carried forward. They had already sent a detailed report to the DM of Jalpaiguri mentioning the difficulties faced by the labourers and contractors. The feasibility report has already been prepared but the work is yet to kick off in these areas. Another senior official of the tourism department said if the agitation continued it would be a serious jolt to the tourism industry. The resisting development work, the GJmm supporters are trying to pressurise the Centre to give in to their demands. Earlier, members of GJMM had also stalled the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) which was mooted in Kalijhara area in Darjeeling so that it could generate electricity for West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand Bhutan and Nepal, an officials said. It may be recalled that the occupancy in hotels had reduced ever since the agitation had started. The domestic tourists are now shifting their tourist destinations from Darjeeling to other hilly regions especially in Himachal Pradesh after such tension. According to West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) hotel bookings have come down by at least 10 per cent in the past two months in Darjeeling with the average occupancy hovering around 40 per cent. Almost all the premium and three star hotels have been running on 50-60 per cent losses for the past three months. Tips on eco-tourism: from Singapore to Sikkim

(From top) Trekkers cross a valley at Hee Bermiok in West Sikkim; and youths playing ethnic musical instruments to entertain tourists in the area where the eco-tourism training centre will come up. Telegraph pictures TT, Avijit Sinha Siliguri, Sept. 29: In a first-of-its-kind initiative by tour agencies of the region, a training of unemployed youths in eco-tourism ventures will begin high in the mountains of Sikkim in December. Help Tourism, a Siliguri-based tour operator, and Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society have tied up with Jet Airways and the Singapore Scout Association to open the centre at Hee Bermiok in West Sikkim. “The aim is to train the youths of Mangalbari, Kaluk, Rinchenpong, Hee Bermiok, Dentam and Uttaray, all in West Sikkim, on eco-adventure tourism in the region,” said Raj Basu, associated with Help Tourism and the conservation society. “The centre will be run by the Singapore-based organisation which will train the local youths on a long-term basis so that they can be part of a participatory model of the venture. The youths can also work for sustainable development in the area keeping in mind the conservation of nature.” Gopal Lama, the deputy director of the state tourism department, north Bengal, appreciated the initiative to train unemployed youths. “It is a first-of-its kind effort,” he said. Hee Bermiok, on the fringes of Barshey Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim, is over 150km away from Siliguri. The hamlet located in the idyllic surroundings and has potential to be developed as a centre for adventure sports like mountain biking and cycling, trekking and camping. “We want the pristine natural surroundings of the area to be protected for which it is important for the local people to know the pros and cons of eco-tourism and eco-friendly development,” Basu said. The conservation society will provide land for the centre while the scout association will raise funds for it. “The Singapore body will also send volunteers to execute the project. A delegation from Singapore has visited the area early this month and another team of 12 volunteers from Singapore will reach Hee Bermiok on December 1 and stay there for a fortnight ,” Basu said. The Singapore team that visited the site this month included Gerry Oh, the regional vice-president of Jet Airways (southeast Asia), Tan Si Jie, an expert on environmental conservation, Patrick Tan, a photographer, and Christopher Khoo, a tourism consultant. “They interacted with the local people on training, skill development, followed by promotion of tourism and conservation of nature,” Basu said. “The response was good and they have agreed to go ahead with the project, supported by the Changi Airport Group and India Tourism office of Singapore.” During the visit, the team members also went to Kolakham village located on the fringes of Neora Valley National Park in Kalimpong subdivision. “We want two model centres to be developed in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Kolakham is also ideal for a centre for eco and adventure tourism. These will complement the initiatives of the state and central governments to promote tourism in the region and can also contribute in employment generation,” Basu said. “Neora Valley is equally attractive like Barshey and houses the red panda and tiger.” What’s pulling down on Hill tourism? SNS, SILIGURI, 29 SEPT: The sombre shadows of political uncertainty keep hanging over the Darjeeling Hills as is evident from the much less tourist inflow this Puja than expected in what is universally acknowledged as “the queen of Hill stations”. Despite the apprehension, the common people, whose livelihood bank heavily on tourism, kept hoping against hope that the tourists would not disappoint them this festive season. Yet, as things have turned out, the tourism season is about to be wasted this time too from the point of view of the commoners. There is a silver lining though, as the inflow has picked up slightly since yesterday, the day marking the end of the four- day Durga Puja festivities. It is still being hoped that tourists would arrive as the season lingers beyond Deewali. And, as per experiences, the volume of the tourist inflow approaches its zenith as the ‘Festival of Illumination’ draws near. According to Mrs Bandana Prova Saha, a tourist from Salt Lake, Kolkata, finding accommodation is easy and smooth. “The Mall, the promenade of the Darjeeling town, seems crammed with tourists, but the locals sound dispirited. They say, the festive grandeur which assumed almost mythical proportions over the years, is conspicuously absent this time,” Mrs Saha said. The deputy director, West Bengal Tourism, Mr Gopal Lama sounds a depressed man. “We would calculate the tourist turnout at the fag end of this year. But, it seems that the political volatility has taken its toll this time too. We hope, the momentum would pick up as the season advances,” he said. Commenting on the matter, a senior functionary of Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association, Mr Raj Basu said that the tourist inflow in the hills was far from satisfactory. “Usually around this time we are beset with countless enquiries as the bookings get exhausted. But this time around the booking chapter is still dragging on. This is unusual. Whether the momentum would pick up or not is anybody's guess,” Mr Basu said. However, putting up a brave front, a senior functionary of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hotel Owners’ Association, Mr Panden Lama said that the tourist inflow was gaining apace since yesterday. “Most of the hotels are almost full with the tourists. Things would look up further with the Deewali approaching. Darjeeling seems emerging out of the penumbra of uncertainty,” Mr Lama asserted. Bus owners threaten strike in Dooars SNS, JALPAIGURI, 29 SEPT: The Dooars Mini Bus Owners Association (DMBOA) leadership of Jalpaiguri today threatened to launch a bus strike soon concerning the dismal condition of roads in the Dooars area. According to the secretary of DMBOA Mr Chandi Sarkar, even after the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri assured them to look into the issue, there has been no development of the roads’ condition on this route: “Most of the roads on the Dooars route have been damaged badly following the last rainy season, especially the roads at Mainaguri, Dhupguri and Falakata areas as there are several huge potholes on these roads. “Road accidents are happening frequently and we have been bearing huge costs in the past few months repairing our buses,” said Mr Sarkar. The leader also added that they even stopped paying the Teesta Bridge toll collection to agitate against this issue:“Recently the national highway authority took over some portions of these roads from the state highway authority but we are not sure which portions the NH authority has taken. It's a complicated situation and neither the SH, PWD nor the NH authorities seem to care about repairing these roads. After we stopped paying toll we sat for a meet with the DM Jalpaiguri and she assured to initiate some steps before the Durga Puja festival but nothing has happened so far,” he added. The bus owners have threatened to boycott the bus service soon if there is no immediate development of the road conditions: “We would again sit for a meet with the DM Jalpaiguri soon and if the meet doesn't produce any satisfactory result we would go for a bus strike,” the leader stated. Mr Jayanta Sengupta, a daily passenger of the Jalpaiguri- Dhupguri route, said that they are also quite concerned over the bad condition of roads on this route: "We are travelling every day, risking our lives, and the district administration should immediately interfere into the matter for the public interest,” said Mr Sengupta. The DM Jalpaiguri Mrs Vandana Yadav also admitted there was a problem and said that the district administration would soon sit for a meet with the NH authority to find a positive solution. Are Indians racist? ~A plural, multi-racial and multi-ethnic society often experiences such We, as a nation, have been very sensitive to the issue of “racism” for a long time and continue to be so. The recent times have seen a lot many issues relating to race and racism hogging media attention. The recent attacks against Indians in Australia have also kept the racism debate alive in this country. It was our own Mahatma Gandhi who had taken up cudgels against apartheid, the dreaded racist policies in South Africa of yore. His first encounter with racial discrimination at the Pieter Maritzburg railway station in South Africa towards the end of the 19th century became the symbol of a fight against the colonial powers all over the world. When India became independent, non-discrimination on the basis of race was included in Article 15 of the Indian Constitution. Later, India also joined and signed various global instruments, including the International Convention against Racial Discrimination. But one finds it really surprising when Indians are accused of racism and racist behaviour. Be it the ESPN advertisement during the Cricket World Cup, the preference for fair complexioned cheer leaders over dark ones during the Indian Premier League cricket matches, the alleged comment made by a radio jockey against Prashant Tamang, the Sony Indian Idol, or the Andrew Symonds controversy surrounding Harbhajan Singh’s alleged “monkey” remark against the former, the issue of racism seems to have become a regular part of our intellectual consciousness. Very recently, one very senior and respected politician from the Northeast alleged that he had been the butt of racist remarks in this country. Are we, as a nation, really racist? Is the hoary caste system or the related obnoxious practice of untouchability (now banned vide Article 17 of the Constitution) responsible for this? Even though caste system and untouchability are still living realities (though with subdued rigour and vigour) in this country, is it that they have also fashioned our likes or dislikes for a particular community, caste, race, religion or is it just our misplaced fascination with the fair complexion? After all, fair complexion has been associated with the high caste Aryans in this country even though that barrier has long been broken. We have dark complexioned members in any and every caste or community as a result of inter-caste and inter-racial matrimonies. Not only this, we also have differently complexioned members as part of the same family. Still, the affection for fair complexion subsists and survives in our sub-consciousness and often comes forward to modulate our behaviour towards differently complexioned differently. The Indian perception of beauty is often defined in terms of fair complexion. Since then, dark complexion is believed to be associated with sins and vices while fair complexion has been associated with piousness, chastity, virtue and beauty. Indians’ craze for the white/fair complexion is borne out by the huge market for the fairness cream and other such cosmetic products in this country. You can sell any “damn” product here as long as you can promise that it will enhance fairness of the skin. Our matrimonial advertisements also bear out the preference for a fair complexioned spouse. Many males in this country want a fair complexioned wife, at least to have fair complexioned children. If your kids are fair complexioned, you could be assured of finding a suitable match for them quite easily. This applies more to the daughters than to the sons. Many African nationals have often alleged discriminatory/racist behaviour by Indians. Being relatively fairer than the Africans, many Indians deem themselves racially superior. There was a time when there was an innate bias in favour of fair complexioned people while selecting air hostesses, TV news-readers, actors and actresses, or at least so it was alleged. Still most of our successful actors and actresses are not shot with their true complexion. Most of them, even though not-so-fair-complexioned, are all portrayed as fair complexioned persons. At least, that’s how most of us know them. Various colloquial appellations with racial overtones are also part of our day-to-day cant. Words such as Mallu, Chinky, Sardarji, Gujju, Punju, Bihari and so on have become an inalienable part of our day-to-day vocabulary. And so have become jokes based on stereotypical behaviour relating to them. And we all love sharing or cracking jokes based on a Mallu, a Sardarji, a Bihari or a Gujju. But does that prove that we are racist? One feels that such prejudices are not natural to India or Indians alone, but it is a global phenomenon. Racial, gender or regional typecasting or such prejudices are formed on the basis of our day-to-day interactions. Such typecasting also stems from some hoary folklore or history. All this slowly becomes ingrained in our subconsciousness and forces us to form a particular opinion about a particular caste or community. We gradually start accepting the same as natural. At least, the hoi polloi does the same. And that is why a Gujju or a Marwari is associated with his love for money or a Mallu or a Bihari is known for his penchant to go anywhere in search of work or a business. A Mallu is also ridiculed for his accent and so is a Bihari or a Jat. A Sardarji is the perpetual butt of many of our jokes, as is a blonde, or an Indian (read Red Indian) or a Pathan elsewhere. One feels that this is all very healthy as long as it is done and accepted with a sense of humour without making much of it and as long as it helps us in enjoying a hearty laughter at the expense of each other. This is how societal camaraderie grows and a civilisation evolves. Actually, it is our unwarranted and over-the-top reaction which is responsible for creation of a needless controversy. It is definitely not in the same genre as “apartheid” or the abhorrent “slavery” of the recent past. It is definitely not racism unless and until it is not said or done with an intent to insult or humiliate someone. When someone cracks a Sardarji or a Mallu joke, the idea is definitely not to inflict insult or humiliation on someone as both are supposed to be very successful members of the Indian society. But it becomes a problem once we take the same too seriously and start depriving each other of the deserved opportunities or social goodies or in allocation/distribution of societal values (a la David Easton) on the basis of such prejudiced opinions. The violence stemming from such opinionated prejudices can actually turn out to be serious enough as to break a nation as happened to Pakistan during the 1970s. Thankfully, this is not true in the case of Indian society. If separatism in Punjab could not succeed, one reason for the same is said to be the Roti-Beti Ka Rishta (relationship of livelihood and matrimony) between the two dominant communities there. Similarly, as we go along and the society experiences more inter-caste, inter-religious, inter-community and inter-regional marriages, such notions and prejudices will slowly lose their sting. And then even if cracked or commented, such jokes or remarks will probably not evoke the same reactions as they do now. India traditionally has been a very open society, welcoming and accepting anyone reaching its shores. And that is why it has become what it is today, a “salad bowl”. A plural, multi-racial and multi-ethnic society often experiences such behaviour by members of the society and it is not abnormal as long as it is done in a good spirit without malice to anyone. One also feels that such conduct or such reactions will get tempered with time as we go along and become more mature as a society, when our nation building process is complete in all respects, when our society becomes more egalitarian and when almost all members of our society become relatively more educated and enlightened. (The writer, an IAS officer, is Additional District Magistrate, Burdwan, in West Bengal. The views are his own and not those of the government- SNS- 30 Sept 09) अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय गोर्खे मुक्केवाज थापालाई लाचुङपाद्वारा आर्थिक सहयोग गान्तोक, 24 सेटेम्बर-:(हिस): रुसमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मुक्केवाज प्रतियोगितामा स्वर्ण पदक जि[ने असमका गोर्खा सन्तानशिव थापालाई सिक्किमका पूर्व मन्त्री तथा सिक्किम सिटिजन फोरमका अध्यक्ष थुक्चुक लाचुङपाले थापाको प्रतिभाको कदर गर्दै केही आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान गरेका छन्।प्रतिभाशाली मुक्केवाज थापालाई सन् 2012मा लण्डनमा सम्पन्न हुनु गइरहेको ओलम्पिक प्रतियोगिताको तयारीको निम्ति तालिमको खॉंचो हुँदा तिनी तालिमको निम्ति लण्डनमा जाने तर्खरमा छन् भने तिनको पारिवारिक आर्थिक कमजोरीको कारणले तिनलाई तालिमको निम्ति पठाउन केही कठिनाइहरू भएको छ।उक्त विषय बारे आज तमाम सिक्किम र सिलगढ़ीबाट प्रकाशित हुने दैनिक समाचार-पत्रहरूमा खबर प्रकाशमा आएपछि पूर्व मन्त्री लाचुङपाले मुक्केवाज थापालाई आफ्नो निजी कार्यालयमा निमन्त्रणा गरेर सो आर्थिक राशि प्रदान गरे। सो अवसरमा खेलाड़ीका पिता पदम थापा र तिनका निजी सचिव तथा पत्रकार नन्द किराती देवान पनि विशेषरुपमा उपस्थित थिए। लाचुङपाले खेलाड़ी थापालाई शुभेच्छा व्यक्त गर्दै जाति र देशको गौरव राख्नुको लागि आफ्नो तरफबाट हरतरहले कोसिस गर्ने आग्रह गरे। प्रेस क्लब अफ सिक्किमद्वारा अभिनन्दन कार्यक्रम अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय-स्वर्णपदक विजेता मुक्केवाज शिव थापा गोर्खाहरूको अर्का एक गौरव फोटोः प्रेस क्लब अफ सिक्किमका अध्यक्ष पारसमणि दंगालले शिव थापालाई क्लबको तर्फबाट अभिनन्दन जनाउँदै, अर्कोतर्फ नन्द किराती देवानद्वारा सम्बोधन फोटोः मुक्केवाज शिव थापा प्रेस क्लब अफ सिक्किमका पदाधिकारीहरूको साथमा गान्तोक, 23 सेटेम्बर, (हिमगिरि सम्वाददाता): आज प्रेस क्लब अफ सिक्किमको तर्फबाट रुसमा विश्व जुनियर मुक्केबाज प्रतियोगितामा स्वर्ण पदक् हत्याउनु सफल हुने असमका गोर्खा सपुत शिव थापालाई अभिनन्दन जनाइयो।प्रेस क्लबको प्रेक्षागृहमा आयोजित सो अभिनन्दन कार्यक्रममा क्लबका अध्यक्ष पारसमणि दंगाल र सल्लाहकार विजय बान्तवाले मुक्केवाज थापालाई गोर्खाली वा नेपाली खाता पहिराए तथा क्लबकोतर्फबाट स्मृति चिन्ह भेट गरी अभिनन्दन जनाइए। राज्यका प्रतिष्ठित पत्रकारहरू तथा प्रेस क्लबका सदस्यहरू उपस्थिति रहेको सो कार्यक्रममा मुक्केवाज शिव थापासित उनका पिता पदम थापा र निजी सचिव तथा असमका प्रतिष्ठित पत्रकार नन्द किराती देवान विशिष्ट अतिथिको आसनमा रहेका थिए। कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै उनका निजी सचिव देवानले मुक्केवाज खेलाड़ी थापालाई राज्यका मुख्यमन्त्री डा. पवन चामलिङको तर्फबाट निमन्त्रणा प्राप्त भएपछि गान्तोक आएको बताए। मुक्केवाज थापालाई भारतीय गोर्खाहरूको समक्ष तथा देशमा नै असल प्रकारले पहिचान नभइरहेको स्थितिमा सबैलाई उनको प्रतिभाबारे जानकारी गराउनु तथा उनको अदम्य प्रतिभालाई अझ पनि तिखारेर लैजानुको लागि उनलाई भारतमा मात्र होइन विदेशी मुलुक लण्डनको एक प्रतिष्ठित तालिम केन्द्रमा लैजानु पर्ने खॉंचो रहेकोले तथा भविष्यमा सन्2012 मा लण्डनमा हुनु गइरहेको ओलम्पिक खेलको लागि तैयार गर्नको निम्ति त्यहॉंको वातावरणमा तालिम दिनु पर्ने अनिवार्यता रहेको कुरोलाई पत्रकार एवं मुक्केवाज थापाका निजी सचिवले पत्रकारहरूलाई जानकारी गराए। उनले अझ जनाए, उनको परिवार सामान्य परिवारको पृष्ठभूमी भएका हुनाले तथा यस्ता युवा प्रतिभालाई हाम्रै समाजले पहिला चिनेर अगाड़ि बढ़्ने अभियान चालिनु पर्दछ भनेर नै शिव थापालाई गोर्खा समाजको अघि पहिले परिचय गरेर उनको प्रतिभा फस्टाउने कार्यमा प्रोत्साहन मिलोस् भनेर आर्थिक सहयोगिताको आग्रह सबै समक्ष राखिएको छ भनी देवानले अझ भने। भविष्यमा शिव थापाले ओलम्पिक प्रतियोगितामा भाग लिएर गोर्खा समाज साथै भारत देशकै शान बढ़ाउने कुरोमा आफू दृढ़ विश्वस्त रहेको जनाउँदै सबै सिक्किमका समुदाय तथा विशेष गैर सरकारी प्रतिष्ठानहरूले उनको तालिमको लागि लाग्ने खर्च15 लाख रुपियॉंको निम्ति सहृदय तथा उदारभावले सहयोग पुराउने आग्रह पनि देवानले गरेका छन्। कुनै महानुभावले सहयोग गर्न चाहेमा उनलाई उनको मोबाइल नम्बर 09207012872, 09207055221 मा सम्पर्क गर्न सक्नेछन् भनी देवानले अरू जनाए। कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै मुक्केवाज थापाले आफूलाई ओलम्पिक प्रतियोगितामा पदक जित्नका निमित्त सबैको आशीर्वाद चाहिन्छ भनी बताए तथा आफू यसरी विभिन्न खेलहरूमा अघि बढ़दा पाएको सफलतालाई सबैमा समर्पण गर्ने जनाए तथा अहिलेसम्मको यस क्षेत्रको अनुभव पनि बाँटे। स्मरणीय छ, शिव थापाले असममा सम्पन्न भएको राज्यस्तरीय मुक्केवाज प्रतियोगिता 2004देखि 2007 सम्म सब-जुनियर र जुनियर स्तर प्रतियोगितामा पॉंचवटा स्वर्ण पदक हत्याइसकेका छन् भने दुई चोटि श्रेष्ठ मुक्केवाजको उपाधि पनि हासिल गरिसकेका छन्। युवा खेलाड़ी थापाले भारतका विभिन्न शहरहरूमा सम्पन्न भएको मुक्केवाज प्रतियोगितामा भाग लिंदै अहिलेसम्म चार वटा स्वर्ण पदक र एउटा कॉंस्य पदक प्राप्त गर्नमा सफलता हासिल गरिसकेका छन् भने सिक्किममा आयोजित मुक्केवाज प्रतियोगितामा पनि जुनियर लेभलमा श्रेष्ठ मुक्केवाजको उपाधि प्राप्त गरिसकेका छन्। उल्लेखनीय रुपले उनले अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मुक्केवाज प्रतियोगितामा पनि भाग लिंदै एउटा स्वर्ण पदक र दुइवटा कॉंस्य पदक हत्याइसकेका छन्।अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय स्तरमा उनलाई स्वर्ण पदक सन् 2008 मा रसियाको अजरबेइजानमा प्राप्त भएको थियो भने कॉंस्य पदकहरू सन् 2008 मा रसियामा र2009 मा अर्मेनियामा प्राप्त भएको थियो। अहिले उनी 16वर्ष मात्र पुगेका छन् भने 16 वर्षको वसन्तमा पाइलो टेक्दा नटेक्दै यतिविघ्न सफलता हासिल गर्नु सक्षम हुने मुक्केवाज खेलाड़ी शिव थापा वास्तवमा नै भारतीय गोर्खाहरूका गौरव हुन् भने उनलाई समयमा नै चिनेर सबै गोर्खाहरूले सहयोग पुराउनु पर्ने ठूलो दायित्व रहेको कुरो पनि प्रेस क्लब अफ सिक्किमको बैठकमा मिडियाकर्मीहरूले चर्चा परिचर्चा गरेका छन् l SOURCE: HIMGIRI, SIKKIM

MAHATO IN POLICE CSTODY

IE, Kolkata, Sep 28:The Jhargram sub-divisional special court today remanded Chhattradhar Mahato, leader of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, to police custody till October 1.

Of the 22 cases registered against Mahato, the court heard three: the one where leaflets were recovered from his home claiming to bring former Andhra Pradesh chief minister (late) Y S R Reddy and Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to “justice in people’s court”; setting ablaze the Ramgarh police outpost; and planting explosives in Lalgarh.

Mahato was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case pertaining to the recovery of leaflets from his residence that call for judging Reddy and Bhattacharjee in Janata’s Adalat. Mahato is the second person to be booked under the UAPA in Bengal after Maoist spokesperson Gour Chakraborty was arrested earlier. The police have, meanwhile, sought permission from the state government to use UAPA in a number of other cases pending against him. Mahato also has cases against him in neighbouring Jharkhand. “In one case, we have booked him under the provisions of UAPA. We have sought permission from the state government to book him under UAPA in a number of other cases. It is confirmed that he is an important personality in CPI (Maoist). Immediately after his arrest yesterday, a landmine was triggered in Lalgarh,” said Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police, West Midnapore.

The police are, meanwhile, interrogating Mahato to procure vital information on various Maoist leaders like Koteshwar Rao alias Kishanji and Bikash, who reportedly masterminded the attacks in Lalgarh. According to police, Mahato was actively in touch with Maoists leaders Bikas, who many believe to be his brother Sashodhar Mahato, and Kishanji. “Mahato is wanted in at least two cases in Jharkhand, which are also probably under UAPA. We are also making attempts to arrest Kishanji and Bikas,” added Verma. Two of Mahato’s cellphones were, meanwhile, sent to the Forensic department to ascertain the names of those who featured on his regular contact list.

MAHATO ARRESTED IN A DRAMA

Even while the police were looking for them, Maoist leaders in Lalgarh and Chhatradhar Mahato, the head of the Maoist-backed tribal movement, People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, were easily accessible to the media. They held press conferences and gave soundbites to TV channels even when Lalgarh was burning. His obsession with the media became Mahato’s undoing on Saturday when West Bengal policemen posing as journalists arrested the face of the Lalgarh movement, who had been declared “most wanted” by the state government.

The operation was planned by the state police months ago. A police officer, disguised as a Bengal-based correspondent of an international TV channel, contacted Mahato around two months ago. He introduced himself as Anirban Roy. He also called him up several times and recorded his statement on issues relating to Lalgarh. Policemen posing as the channel’s journalists interviewed him twice.

“This was to gain his confidence. Fortunately for us, he did not check whether his interviews were aired. Our two-member team posed as reporters and cameraman of a fictitious Singapore-based news channel. For the past three months, we were monitoring the cellphone calls of local journalists who were in touch with Mahato,” said a senior police officer.

The media-savvy Mahato was contacted for a third interview by the undercover policemen. Mahato agreed and confirmed the date and time of the interview.

On Saturday afternoon, the two-member police team, disguised as a reporter and a cameraman, went to interview him. They met him near Birkar village in Kairasole jungles, about seven km from Lalgarh police station.

Mid-way through the interview, he was held at gun-point by the undercover policemen, who escorted him out of the jungle where security forces were waiting. He was taken to Lalgarh police station and interrogated for an hour. Later, he was whisked away to an undisclosed location.

The state government is considering slapping cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA on Mahato. Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti said: “There are no legal problems booking him under the provisions of UAPA. He will be produced before a court tomorrow.”

“This is a major boost for us. One of our prime tasks in the Lalgarh operations was to arrest those who were behind the mayhem in the area. There are around 50 cases against him, including that of murder,” said Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, who is leading the joint Central-state operations in Lalgarh.

Security in and around Lalgarh has been beefed up as police and district administration fear an escalation of violence. “After such arrests, there is a possibility of a backlash in the area. We have taken all precautions,” added Verma.

Mahato spearheaded the 11-month tribal agitation backed by Maoists. It was after the blast that targeted CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy in Salboni on November 2, 2008 that Mahato, backed by Maoists, formed the PCAPA. He led the agitation which paralysed the administration in the area.

ONE KILLED IN KANDHAMAL BLAST

IE, Phulbani,Orissa, 28 Sept: One person was killed and three others injured when a crude bomb being prepared at a rehabilitation centre in Kandhamal district exploded today.

The incident occurred this afternoon when the crude explosive went off when it was being prepared by a man at a tent located in the middle of the rehabilitation centre at Nandagiri, 54 km from here, Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said.

Rejecting any communal angle into the incident, he said initially it appeared as if a miscreant hurled the bomb at the rehabilitation centre but probe revealed that it exploded in the tent occupied by one Patrasen Mallick.

While Mallick and two others sustained injuries, another person whose identity was not yet known, died on the spot.

Mallick was hospitalised at G Udaygiri and the other two injured were discharged after administering first aid. Police, however, did not rule out possibility of Maoist involvement in the incident as the deceased did not belong to the rehabilitation centre.Police, however, did not rule out possibility of Maoist involvement in the incident as the deceased did not belong to the rehabilitation centre.

A subsequent search at the centre also led to seizure of four country-made guns, the SP said adding that police was investigating the matter.

The police have intensified patrolling in the place.

About 53 riot hit families who had lost their houses and refused to return to villages at Betikela due to fear, were provided land by the state government to set up a colony, official sources said.

Of the 53 families, 40 were staying at the place in temporary tents while preparing to construct houses, they said adding that land dispute could be a reason behind the incident.

‘GJMM will stick to Gorkhaland’ SNS, KURSEONG, 27 SEPT: The GJMM has iterated its stand that it would unilaterally declare Gorkhaland in the first half of the next year in case the tripartite dialogue slated in Darjeeling on 21 December fails to yield result as per the declaration of the party president, Mr Bimal Gurung a few days back. Commenting on the matter, the GJMM spokesperson, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri said that despite the submission of all the documents deemed relevant regarding their statehood demand the Central government had not made its stand clear on the tricky issue. “They are deferring decision on the pretext of the continuing dialogue. Our patience is wearing thin as this spell of dithering keeps dragging on. We want the Centre to spell out its stand unequivocally clear one and for all,” Dr Chettri said. Regarding the formation of Durga Malla Special Force, Dr Chettri said that as patriotic citizens they could not afford to remain idle when the land of the country was being surreptiously grabbed by the Chinese Army. “The special force would be formed under the guidance of the Centre,” he added. When asked whether his party has approached the Centre regarding the proposal the GJMM media secretary said that they had not submitted any paper in this respect. “We have forwarded our proposal through the instrumentality of the media and now we are awaiting the Centre's response,” he said. He also added that however with the help of media we have already informed the matter to the government and presently we are waiting for the government’s reaction on the matter. Christian pick on Congress poll list

CITHARA PAUL

The Telegraph, New Delhi, Sept. 27: For the first time, a major Christian body has asked a political party to give poll nominations to candidates from the community, and the party has obliged. The All India Christian Council, a conglomerate of all Christian denominations, wrote to Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago requesting tickets for Christians in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Congress has accepted two of the council’s nine nominees, both political lightweights. Janet D’Souza has been fielded from Ghatkopar — where she is up against a formidable opponent, the late Pramod Mahajan’s daughter Poonam — and an advocate, Gonsalves, from Vasai. Maharashtra has 18 lakh Christians, of whom 8 lakh live in Mumbai. “We had written to Sonia Gandhi early this month asking for deserving representation for Christians in the party’s candidate list, and we are extremely happy,” said Abraham Mathai, general secretary of the council, whose initials, AICC, are coincidentally the same as those of the All India Congress Committee. The Christian community has played crucial political roles in Kerala, Goa and some northeastern states, but it had never before engaged in poll politics so openly. Mathai said the council wrote the letter because it was “aware of the importance of integrating with the mainstream”. Asked why the council wrote only to the Congress, he said Christians were traditional supporters of the party. “Christians are considered fixed deposits for the Congress and not vote banks. Vote banks can shift their loyalty, but FDs never do that.” Council secretary John Dayal said Christians had always been under-represented even in the secular parties, including the Congress. “Christians have always been sidelined in the Congress because of the Christian background of its president. Scared that the RSS would link any Christian leader’s rise in the power hierarchy to that background, many Christian leaders have been deliberately kept low-key,’’ he said. The Congress does have powerful leaders from the community, such as defence minister A.K. Antony, though he has desisted from mixing his religion and politics. Cong fails to choose civic body leader - Three aspirants in race for post, party hopes for Pranab intervention TT, Sept. 27: The Congress is sharply divided over the choice of its party leader in Siliguri Municipal Corporation although only two days are left for the submission of documents concerning the selection of the mayor and the chairpersons of the civic body. The selection of the mayor and chairpersons has to be completed by September 30, which is the last date for the submission of the related papers to the SMC commissioner, as the new councillors will take oath on October 1. The faction-ridden Congress is finding it difficult to choose the leader of its councillors from among three aspirants — Gangotri Dutta, Gauri Dutta and Nantu Pal. According to Congress sources, of the 15 party councillors while seven want Gangotri Dutta to be the leader because of her “clean” image, five are for Gauri Dutta for her seniority. Another three are in favour of Nantu Pal as he had broken away from the CPM to join the party. “There is no denying that our party councillors are divided,” said a Congress leader from Siliguri. Faced with this imbroglio, Darjeeling district Congress president Shankar Malakar has sought the state leadership’s intervention. Party sources said Raiganj MP Deepa Das Munshi, who was in Siliguri yesterday, has also decided to take up the matter with Bengal Congress president Pranab Mukherjee, who is now holidaying at his ancestral home in Birbhum. “How can the Congress, which has failed to choose its leader, stake claim to the mayor’s post? Let them first decide who could be their leader in the corporation,” said Trinamul Congress MLA Partha Chatterjee, who is also the Opposition leader in the Assembly. State Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharya said he would talk to Mukherjee tomorrow on his return to Calcutta from Birbhum. “We shall be able to settle the matter before September 30,” he added. Malakar had a one-to-one with Trinamul’s leader in the civic body Gautam Deb in Siliguri today to decide on the mayor, chairpersons, deputy mayor and 11 other posts to be shared by the two allies. At the meeting that lasted for more than an hour, both parties staked claim to the mayor’s post. As a result, it ended inconclusively. “We could not arrive at a consensus on the mayor candidate at today’s meeting,” said Deb. “Against this backdrop, we have referred the matter to our state leadership in Calcutta and would act further only on the basis of its instructions.” Today’s meeting was a result of a decision taken at a discussion held with Partha Chatterjee on Friday. Malakar said he was keeping regular contact with the PCC leadership. “It is true that we need to negotiate and reach a consensus but I cannot take any decision without consulting my state leadership and Pranabda (Mukherjee),” he said. “Pranabda will announce who our leader will be in a day or two,” he told The Telegraphin Calcutta over the telephone late at night. The results of the SMC elections were announced on September 15 — more than 10 days ago — but so far the anti-Left alliance which has secured 29 seats and has the support of Independent Ranjan Sil Sharma, is yet to finalise the names for the mayor and other posts. 2 die as car falls in gorge TT, Siliguri, Sept. 27: Two persons were killed and nine others injured when a jeep fell into a 100-ft deep gorge along the Jorethang road in West Sikkim last night. Police said the vehicle was on its way to Sanbaria carrying 10 passengers, along with the driver and cleaner. The two who died are Pradip Chhetri, the driver, and Kamala Tamang, a passenger. The injured were taken to a local hospital. Three have been referred to Siliguri. Woman killed TT, Jaigaon: A woman was killed and two others, including her husband, were injured when a garden worker allegedly drunk attacked them. Poni Bhumij of Borodighi Tea Estate was stabbed in the abdomen by Moniram Mahali while on her way home in the Borodighi Tea Estate on Saturday night. When her husband Rupai came to her rescue along with another worker Amir Munda, they, too, were attacked.