Kalimpong: United Gorkha Revolutionary Army leader Suk Bahadur Subba, suspected of being involved in the murder of GNLF activist Yonsingh Lepcha on October 24, has been remanded in 10 days of police custody by a local court.
November 2006
Monthly Archive
30 Nov 2006 11:28 pm IST
UGRA remand
30 Nov 2006 04:06 am IST
Police catch UGRA leader
www.telegraphindia.com
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kalimpong, Nov. 29: Delivering a massive blow to the United Gorkha Revolutionary Army (UGRA), police today caught the rebel outfit’s second most important member, Suk Bahadur Subba, in an ambush laid in the dense forests of the Lava-Algarah belt.
Five improvised firearms were recovered from Subba, who will be produced in the local court tomorrow.
Both Subba and Ajay Dahal, the leader of the outfit, are believed to have been involved in the murder of GNLF activist Yonsingh Lepcha, who was gunned down by UGRA militants in his house at Santuk on October 24. Subba himself hails from Santuk, and reportedly had a running feud with Lepcha.
After the murder, the GNLF had threatened to take matters into their own hand if the police did not catch the culprits within November 15, a deadline that the party later extended.
According to the police, Subba is an even bigger catch than Dahal. “More than Dahal, it was he (Subba) who used to recruit people, collect firearms and funds for the group,†said Darjeeling superintendent of police (SP) Rajesh Subarna.
The SP reiterated that it was only a matter of time before the police got their hands on Dahal as well. He said Subba’s arrest made him happy not only because the rebel was an alleged murderer, but also because the development may put an end to UGRA’s armed struggle for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
Little is known about Subba’s antecedent, but sources said he has a criminal history. He is also known be an expert in making improvised firearms.
The UGRA is the armed wing of the United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (UGRF) headed by Dahal. Its existence came to light in early September after posters announcing the launch of an armed struggle for Gorkhaland appeared in Kalimpong town. Since then, the police have arrested about half-a-dozen UGRA militants from the jungles in the Lava and Algarah region.
27 Nov 2006 10:46 pm IST
UGRF man released on bail for MA exam
www.telegraphindia.com
Darjeeling, Nov. 27: The court of the district and sessions judge, Darjeeling, today granted bail to Binod Chandra Bhujel, who had been arrested for allegedly having links with the United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (UGRF), which has recently floated an armed wing in Kalimpong.
Bhujel was picked up from the Kalimpong subdivision in September this year.
The judge, B.C. Paul, granted him bail after Bhujel’s lawyers pleaded that the accused is a student who has been studying MA in history through a correspondence course and will appear for the exams soon. (more…)
23 Nov 2006 12:03 am IST
Living his dream in South Pole for 16 days- Ice bound
|
www.telegraphindia.com
|
||
| RAJEEV RAVIDAS | ||
Kalimpong, Nov. 22: Roopesh Ojha is the first Indian to have wintered over in the South Pole. That was in 1999 when the boy from Darjeeling took part in the expedition as a member of an American team of scientists, including Jerri Nielsen, the author of best-seller Ice Bound. Currently on a holiday in the hills, the astronomer talked to The Telegraph about the days he spent in Darjeeling, where he studied in St Joseph’s School, North Point, and later Darjeeling Government College and his subsequent rise to eminence. “I had always wanted to be an astronomer. When I won a full scholarship for PhD in the US, I opted for Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, because the faculty there had two of the most important astronomers of that time — John F.C. Wardle and David H. Roberts,†said Ojha. He used the technique of “very long baseline polarimetry†to study the physics of extragalactic sources for his dissertation. Ojha did his masters from Poona University, where he specialised in astrophysics. A topper of his batch (1989-90), he won the Chandrasekhar Prize of Indian Physics Association for the best all-round MSc. student. Though Ojha was all praise for the quality of education at North Point, he regretted the fact that the hills still did not have institutes for higher education. “That (higher education) was the stage when many of my very talented friends had to settle for much less,†said Ojha who works at United States Naval Observatory in Washington. Stressing on the importance of education, the astronomer said it was the only way to emancipate the people of our country and cited the example of South Korea. “They put all their resources in education and see, where they stand now,†he said. Stating that educating girls was his “silver bulletâ€, he said it benefits the entire family. “I owe a lot to my mother. She never tried to push me into anything. She was a huge help, especially since she was very good in maths,†Ojha said. About his 16-month stay in South Pole, Ojha said he always wanted to visit the frozen plateau ever since he was a kid. He was inspired by Roald Amundsen, who led the first successful expedition to the South Pole in 1911. Amundsen apparently planned the trip lying in his room at his Norwegian home, staring out of the windows. “As a kid, I wanted to try that out… since my bedroom did not have windows, I offered to sleep in the dining room, which had windows, but my father wouldn’t listen to it,†he said. Eventually he got to live his dream when he spent those 16 months in the freezing cold of South Pole, where temperature dips to below 100 degrees Farenheit. “I am writing a book on South Pole,†he said, without disclosing much on its contents. |
22 Nov 2006 03:12 pm IST
AIRCEL presents DARJEELING CARNIVAL 2006
Darjeeling. 20 November 2006 — The Darjeeling hills will once again come alive from December 8-17, 2006 with the Fourth Annual Darjeeling Carnival presented by AIRCEL. This year Carnival festivities will also be enjoyed in Mirik on December 8-10 and in Kurseong on December 12-14. Over two lakh people are expected to attend the events.
The Carnival organizers are proud to announce that AIRCEL has come on board as the Presenting Sponsor. AIRCEL is committed to improving the communities where they have service and want to build a lasting partnership with the people of Darjeeling. Commenting on the association, Mr. Rohit Chandra, CEO North and East Zone, Aircel, said “It gives us great pleasure to be associated with such an important cultural event for the people of Darjeeling. We at Aircel are always looking to delight our customers and what better way to delight them than to be associated with the biggest cultural festival of Darjeeling. An alliance of this nature with such a localized event further re-instates our belief in the spirit of active participation in activities which involve the society and generates community of Interestâ€.
The Carnival will host musical talents from Kolkata, Kathmandu, Shillong and our very own local talents. Along with local ethnic communities, renowned cultural dance troupes from all over India will showcase their traditions daily. The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre has generously provided these incredible troupes and included the Carnival on its calendar of important cultural events.
This year’s event will feature some valuable new elements. A Carnival Idol competition will be held from December 8-16 to promote our local talents. The final will be held on December 16 to crown Carnival Idol 2006. A motor bike rally for peace and prosperity will be held on December 10. Thousands of people from all over the District will ride together peacefully to Bagdogra and demand for the long standing promise of an international airport which will lead to greater prosperity in the entire area. (more…)
20 Nov 2006 07:59 pm IST
Tibetan protest
| www.telegraphindia.cm |
|
Kalimpong, Nov. 20: The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Kalimpong, has condemned the Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to India. Yesterday, the members of the organisation had taken out a rally through the town in protest. They have also accused Jintao of killing thousands of Tibetans when he was the head of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in 1989. “We firmly believe that the Government of India will not take any measure that may go against the historical truth and aspirations of six million Tibetans living in and out of Tibet,†said Chungdak, the president of the organisation. He added that around 3,000 Tibetans are forced to flee their homeland every year to escape Chinese repression. Cautioning New Delhi against arriving at any agreement with China at the cost of the Tibetans, Chungdak said: “We certainly do not propose a confrontational approach towards China, but a bold policy that will recognise an independent Tibet.†|
20 Nov 2006 01:09 pm IST
Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG)
Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG) is a non-profit organisation registered in New Delhi under the Indian Society Registration Act of 1860; its office is located in the NCR (National Capital Region) region.
MARG’s main aim is to ignite smiles by supporting children from rural India (especially the girl child) who are deprived of education, health because of poverty. MARG would also like to help villagers with livelihood generation by training and creating opportunities on sericulture (rearing of silk worm). MARG’s objective is to create opportunity for every village child to go to school, train the rural villagers on livelihood generation using local resources, and generate awareness and conduct health camps, make them sustainable, and help mankind by running a 24 x 7 ambulance service in the hills of North Bengal.
Project 1: Child education
Presently MARG is working in the hills of Kalimpong, North Bengal (Pedong, Kange and Maria Busty) where due to poverty children have not been able to go to schools and finally they land up helping their parents in the fields. These villages are not accessible by roads. The only katcha road to these villages can be used in winter season only as it becomes very slippery and dangerous other time of the year. Electricity has not reached the houses there though one or two houses have been able to install solar lamps. With local help MARG has identified a few children and have helped them financially for their tuition and hostel fee for the academic year 2006 in St George’s H.S School, Pedong and St Mary’s primary School, Maria Busty, Kalimpong. (more…)
20 Nov 2006 12:04 am IST
Hero’s farewell to hill martyr – Rifleman killed fighting Kashmir militant
| www.telegraphindia.com | ||
Kalimpong, Nov. 19: Rifleman Roshan Rai of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, who had died fighting militants in Kashmir on November 15, was given a hero’s farewell at his hometown today. When the army band sounded the last post at 12.45 pm, over 5,000 residents of the town gathered at the Chinedara graveyard above East Main Road here. They watched as people placed wreaths, khadas (traditional scarves) and flowers before Roshan’s photograph at the foot of the coffin and the band played Auld Lang Syne. The body was brought to the graveyard after taken around the town. Draped in the national flag, the coffin was put in an army truck with wreaths and khadas tied to it. Roshan’s father, Mani Raj Rai — who had also served in the army — and his younger son bowed their heads in homage to Roshan, leaving everyone present at the funeral with moist eyes. “I have cried a lot over the past 24 hours, but not in front of my wife. She has fallen ill and will be shattered if I break down before her,†Rai senior later told The Telegraph. “He (Roshan) was a very obedient kid.†The kid, of course, died a man, taking on Kashmiri militants in the Gulgam forest of the Kumwara sector. “We were proceeding to secure a front after an exchange of fire with militants. It was pitch dark and suddenly the place lit up. We saw Roshan and a militant, just five yards away from him, fire at each other and later found both of them lying dead,†said Rakesh Blown, Rai’s mate from the same unit. Subdivisional officer Shakil Ahmed and additional superintendent of police of Kalimpong Debashish Baral were, however, were absent at the funeral, though both were issued invites by the local army authorities. “Post-Kargil, there is a central instruction, asking the presence of civil dignitaries at funerals of those who die in action,†said an officer. Ahmed, however, said he would have attended the funeral if he was well. |
19 Nov 2006 02:22 am IST
Soldier dies fighting for country
Statesman News Service
BAGDOGRA, Nov. 18- He lived a short life of 22 years, but for others.
Roshan Rai of 11 Gorkha Rifles turned out to be a true disciple of his father and died battling for the country. The 22- year-old sepoy died during a counter-insurgency operation in Gulgam forest in Kupwara (Kashmir) on 15 November.
His body was flown from Delhi to his hometown Kalimpong via Bagdogra airport in IC 7891 at 4 this afternoon. Rai, son of an ex-Gorkha soldier, Mr Mani Raj Rai was a resident of Eastman Road in Kalimpong.
He was scheduled to come home in the month of January to tie the nuptial knot, said his uncle, Mr Chandra Kumar Rai.
“Our child made us proud. He is no more today, but he would be remembered by the people of Kalimpong forever,†the bereaved uncle, said. Mr Rajiv Rai, the fallen soldier’s brother remembered the day when Roshan joined the Army and his father gave him the mantra to dedicate his life for the nation. “Dada kept his promise,†was the brother’s observation.
Col Surinder Singh of Station Cell, Bengdubi who was present at the airport, where the jawans of his cell presented guard of honour to the tricolor-wrapped body of Rai, informed that Rai would receive a military funeral by the Gorkha Rifles station headquarters at Kalimpong tomorrow morning.
17 Nov 2006 05:40 pm IST
GNLF breather for police
www.telegraphindia.com
Kalimpong, Nov. 17: The Kalimpong unit of the GNLF has decided to give police some more time to arrest the killers of its party activist Yonsingh Lepcha.
Lepcha, suspected to be a police informer, was shot dead by militants belonging to United Gorkha Revolutionary Army (Ugra) at Lower Santuk on the night of October 24. The GNLF had threatened to take matters into its own hand if the police failed to catch the culprits by November 15. No arrests have been made yet.
“The SP (superintendent of police Rajesh Subarna) has sought some more time and we have agreed, though I am not happy with the progress of the investigation,†said Dawa Pakhrin, Kalimpong unit president of the GNLF.
The police suspect that Ugra leader Ajay Dahal personally took part in the killing of Lepcha. Dahal is believed to be hiding in the dense jungles of the Lava-Algarah region.
16 Nov 2006 06:56 pm IST
Jawan death
www.telegraphindia.com
Kalimpong: Roshan Rai, a jawan with the Gorkha Rifles and a resident of East Main Road here, died in an encounter with militants in Kashmir on Tuesday. The body is expected to be handed over to Roshan’s family within the two days, before he is “cremated with full military honourâ€, army sources said.
15 Nov 2006 12:36 am IST
UGRF claims responsibility for murder of GNLF leader
www.thestatesman.net
SILIGURI, Nov. 14:
United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (UGRF), an extremist outfit of Darjeeling Hills, has finally claimed responsibility for the recent murder of Yonsing Lepcha, a GNLF leader. Lepcha, it may be recalled, was killed by unidentified persons on 24 October at his residence at Lower Santuk in Kalimpong’s Algarah gram panchayat area.
The UGRF has issued a Press release, claiming responsibility for the murder. They alleged that Lepcha was against their movement and helped the police to arrest their cadres. The Press release, signed by the UGRF’s spokesperson, Mr Rudra Acharya, stated that Lepcha used to give secret information about their camps to the police and had also been telling the locals not to support the UGRF activists. The UGRF has threatened that anyone who opposes their movement for the creation of a separate state in the Hills would have to face similar consequences.
The release stated that Lepcha was killed at his residence on 24 October around 11.50 pm by their “Army†under the leadership of commander Sangram. The murder of the GNLF leader had triggered panic in the region. The GNLF had also observed 24-hour bandh in Kalimpong sub-division on 25 October to protest against Lepcha’s murder. The party had demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the murder. The GNLF had threatened that they would be compelled to take law on their own hands if the culprits were not arrested within 15 days from the date of murder. However, 20 days have passed but the police are yet to arrest the assassins.
Nearly three months back, the UGRF had announced an armed struggle in the Hills for the separate state of Gorkhaland. In September, the UGRF had claimed that its armed wing, United Gorkha Revolutionary Army, has been running nine training camps in the Kalimpong sub-division. According to an intelligence report nearly 60 to 70 armed men are still hiding in the jungles of Kalimpong under the leadership of Ajay Dahal, former employee of Central Industrial Security Force.
