| Army ‘kills’ disabled boy |
Sonari, Jan 2009: A few hours after a botched encounter, “frustrated and angry” soldiers, still hunting for the group of fleeing Ulfa militants, allegedly gunned down a physically challenged teenager at Tingalibam tea estate near Sonari in Assam’s Sivasagar district. While villagers claimed 18-year-old Bishnu Tanti was innocent, the army claimed “the physically handicapped Bishnu was an Ulfa militant who died in an encounter after which a pistol was also recovered from the encounter site”. Sources said Bishnu was shot dead from close range. The incident occurred after two policemen were killed by Ulfa militants at Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk village around 2.30pm yesterday. Around an hour before the ambush, the same group of militants had an encounter with a combined force of police and the army at No. 2 Puroni Jaboka village, 1km from Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk. But the rebels escaped. Immediately after the failed encounter, the soldiers fanned out in search of the fleeing militants and chanced upon Bishnu, who was collecting firewood in a forested area not too far from his home at No. 7 labour lines in the tea estate. Sources in the garden said the “frustrated and angry” soldiers gave vent to their emotions on Bishnu who had a deformity in both his legs since birth. The incident recalls the death of a farmer, Ajit Mahanta, in Kakopathar in February 2006 while in army custody. The killing had sparked one of the biggest and prolonged mass movements against the army in Assam. The first signs of trouble came today with the powerful All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association and the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam jointly calling a 12-hour district bandh tomorrow from 6am demanding “exemplary punishment to the killers of Bishnu Tanti and an “unconditional apology” from the army’s 318 Field Regiment whose troops gunned down the boy. They also demanded a government job for a member of Bishnu’s family. “Bishnu was physically handicapped from birth and it took a great deal of effort for him to just walk, leave alone run,” a neighbour of the Tantis said. Bishnu’s father, Rajguru, is a permanent labourer of the garden while his mother Renuka is a housewife. Bishnu was the eldest of four children — three sons and one daughter — of the Tantis. “Why didn’t they catch him then? Why did they kill my son like this?” Bishnu’s mother asked. The body was handed over to the police last night. |
Boys after ball - hurt in bush blast
Two brothers, aged eight and six, were injured seriously after a bomb went off in a bush where the siblings had gone chasing a cricket ball.
The elder brother, Rabi Oraon, has lost his left hand below the wrist. The incident, coming as it does before Republic Day, has spread panic here, 19km from Alipurduar town. The blast spot is a stone’s throw from a police camp manned by four constables.
The police claimed that the blast was from an improvised bomb and ruled out the involvement of any militant outfit.
Rabi and his brother Goutam were playing cricket in a field, when the ball bounced off into the nearby bush. The brothers ran after it and tried to draw it out with a stick. The stick touched a plastic container, which immediately exploded with a loud sound.
Witnesses said they saw the brothers run around aimlessly in the field, bleeding all over. “We stopped an auto-rickshaw and took them to the local health centre,” said Pratap Raha, who has a roadside stall. The boys were later shifted to Cooch Behar MJN Hospital in critical condition. Goutam has suffered injuries on the left eye and leg.
S.R. Misra, the additional superintendent of police of Alipurduar, said there were three improvised bombs in the bush.
“One went off and we have seized the other two. They were inside a container of Hajmola, which was wrapped in plastic. We suspect that some criminals had hidden the bombs in the bush. We don’t see the involvement of any outfit in the blast. If necessary we will increase the strength of the camp,” he said.
Adivasis withdraw bandh in Dooars
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is determined to make its Dooars Chalo Abhiyan a success, its chief Bimal Gurung announced in Gorubathan today, hinting that a large number of supporters were expected in Malbazar tomorrow flouting Section 144 that was in place in the subdivision.
On the other hand, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad said it would fight tooth and nail to stop the Morcha from entering the Dooars.
“We are ready with sufficient force to prevent their entry,” said Rajesh Lakra, the secretary of the Terai-Dooars Committee of the Parishad, which withdrew its bandh this evening.
Manoj Verma, the superintendent of police of Jalpaiguri, said a huge force would be posted in Malbazar. “We are bringing forces from other districts and we will not allow the two groups to clash under any circumstance,” he added.
In neighbouring Darjeeling district, a company of CRPF is expected to arrive late in the evening. Rahul Srivastava, the superintendent of police, said in Siliguri. “We have come to know that we will get four companies of the CRPF shortly. But they will remain on standby because we have not received any instruction on their deployment,” he said.
The Morcha president, who addressed a public meeting in Gorubathan, 30km from Kalimpong, said: “We will hold a meeting in Malbazar tomorrow as part of the Dooars Abhiyan. Many of our supporters will be there.” The general secretary of the party, Roshan Giri, said in Darjeeling that a similar meeting would be held in Nagrakata on Tuesday to protest against the CPM-Adivasi pact against the Morcha.
In Kalimpong, the appearance of two posters advocating violence to achieve Gorkhaland created ripples in the hills.
The posters, plastered on the walls of two buildings near Damber Chowk, were signed by the Gorkha Liberation Army, an outfit unheard off till today. As news of the poster spread, members of the Morcha reached the spot and tore off both the posters.
Kumar Chamling, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha’s Kalimpong unit, said the posters were pasted by mischief mongers to malign the image of the outfit. “The party will take action against those found guilty of such stupid act.”
One of the posters (translated from Nepali) reads: “The atrocities against the Gorkhas have exceeded its limits. In the 21st century, the Gorkha Liberation Army has embarked on the task of liberating our imprisoned mother with automatic weapons and not khukuri.” It ends by seeking public support.
The second poster said the GLA would create Gorkhaland by piercing the heart of Bengal with bullets. Similar posters were plastered in Kurseong also.
In 2006, the United Gorkha Revolutionary Army, headed by one Ajay Dahal, had announced its formation by pasting posters at Damber Chowk. It had also advocated an armed struggle to achieve Gorkhaland. However, after some of its members were arrested for killing a GNLF supporter, the outfit was heard no more.
The police said they were aware of the posters and investigation was on.
Trafficking in women on the rise
JALPAIGURI: The growing menace of women trafficking in Jalpaiguri district has turned into a major concern for the district police.
According to SP Jalpaiguri Mr Manoj Varma, several women trafficking rackets are operating in the Dooars, targeting women of needy families. “Fifteen to 20 cases of women trafficking are registered with the different police stations of the district every month. A close study of these cases reveals that the goons are targeting girls of poor families. They lure the girls and their families with well paid job proposals and trap them. The parents, mostly poor agree to send their daughters hoping a better future but most of them end up in the fleshpots.” The SP said. “Earlier, too trafficking in women was a known fact, but it is now a growing phenomenon as many cases are registered with police. But the problem is parents and relatives fail to provide us with adequate information and approach us after things take a nasty turn,” Mr Verma, said.
Girls from Bhutan and Nepal are fast becoming victims of this trade. Places like Shamuktala, Alipurduar, Binnaguri, Malbazaar, Kalchini, Birpara have become centres of the trade and the traffickers also target the tea plantations too. Police have already arrested several in connection to this and low level operators but the real culprits still manage to stay out of reach,” the SP said.
Commenting on the matter, the Jalpaiguri MP and president, district Mahila Samity Mrs Minati Sen said that the traffickers were taking advantage of the districts geographical location. “As the district is located close to the border, the traffickers can easily do the bunk. It is impossible to root out the problem without improving the financial condition of the people,” she said.
Acknowledging the problem, the general secretary of West Bengal Pradesh Mahila Congress Mrs Sanchita Barik invited the women's organisations of the region to work together on the issue. “An awareness campaign should be held to educate the people about this issue” she said.
Drinking water in new wards by Jan: Mayor
SILIGURI: The supply of purified drinking water in the 17 added wards of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) would begin in January next year, the new Siliguri mayor Mr Munshi Nur-ul Islam told the Press today.
The SMC has already failed two deadlines in this regard with the latest one getting expired in the current month. “Trial run for the water supplies to the new wards would be initiated very shortly and the actual service would begin within January without any fail,” Mr Islam said making his first public promise on resuming charge as the new Siliguri mayor this afternoon.
The SMC mayor post turned vacant on 25 November when the sitting incumbent Bikash Ghosh died suddenly. Until now the deputy mayor, Mr Islam was formally announced and sworn in as the new mayor through a special board meeting of the SMC this afternoon, where the Darjeeling DM Mr Sourendra Gupta was also present.
Later addressing a citizens’ felicitation at the Dinabandhu Mancha, the new mayor said that developing the backward areas of Siliguri in a nonpartisan manner would be his priority. “I urge the support of the Opposition and the people from different walks of life for this and assure them that I would be only at a call’s distance in their need,” the 48-year old CPI-M 28 number ward councillor said.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by the state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya, the Darjeeling DM, SP Mr Rahul Srivastava, Siliguri SDO Mr Sharad Dwiedi, Siliguri sabhadhipati Ms Moni Thapa, the SMC commissioner Mr Paritosh Roy and the SMC councillors.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that he has no doubt in Mr Islam's success as mayor and the progress of Siliguri under his stewardship. “But the important thing is that the SMC employees need to be more disciplined and accountable. They must come to office on time and deliver the designated duties without unnecessary delay,” Mr Bhattacharya said.
ABGL mulls panel aid to fight Morcha
The ABGL has threatened to write to the Election Commission to cancel the registration of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which announced yesterday that it would not allow other outfits to hold public meetings in the hills.
“When a party is registered, it has to take an oath saying it would uphold democratic values. We will write to the commission on Tuesday after holding a meeting with my lawyers tomorrow,” said ABGL president Madan Tamang.
The Morcha, which alleged that other parties were confusing the common man on statehood, had made the announcement in Chowk Bazar. “We will not allow public meetings to take place in Kurseong and we make an appeal to residents of other places to do the same,” Pradeep Pradhan, the vice-president of the Morcha central committee, had said.
The Morcha “request” was in retaliation to Tamang’s allegation at a public meeting on Friday that party’s dealings with the Centre were not transparent enough. The ABGL president was supposed to address another meeting in Kurseong today.
The ABGL has also threatened to highlight the state government’s role in the letter to the commission. “The government is encouraging the Morcha to get away with all these so that it can get the Sixth Schedule bill passed soon,” alleged Tamang.
His party has decided to file an appeal under the Right to Information Act for the details of the Rs 30 crore that is allegedly being paid by the DGHC to it contractors on October 3. “We will then find out who has got what from the council,” Tamang said. He said it was time the call details of the cellphone of Morcha leaders were checked to find out who all are working hand in gloves with the government.
The CPRM, too, has come down heavily on the Morcha.
"Is this the Gandhism that is being talked about. It looks more like Godseism (after Nathuram Godse who killed Gandhi)?” said R.B. Rai, the general secretary of the CPRM who had in the past supported the Morcha's non-violent movement.
L.M. Lama, a CPRM leader and convener of the Jansanskriti Manch, said his organisation’s proposed awareness campaign on Gorkhaland in Bijanbari, 30km from here, today was derailed by the Morcha. “The Morcha youth front decided to call a transport bandh, apparently to protest against bad road conditions. The actual aim was to derail our programme,” said Lama.
Binay Tamang, the media and publicity secretary of the Morcha, refused comment.
Women in Siliguri donate blood for a cause
It was blood donation with a purpose. A large number of women from various localities gathered at the Iskcon Mandir premises in Siliguri yesterday to encourage women in other parts of West Bengal to come forward and donate blood and help mitigate blood crisis during the forthcoming festive season.
As many as 35 persons - 10 men and 25 women donated blood - at the camp, which was held from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. The collected blood was sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital blood bank in Sushrutanagar near Siliguri.
The Mahila Kalyan Seva Samiti (MKSS), in collaboration with the Siliguri Voluntary Blood Donors Forum, organised the daylong camp.
Mrs Nilu Sharma, secretary, MKSS, said that the camp was organised to help NBMCH to meet the enhanced demand for blood because of accidents or mishaps during the festive season as well as generate awareness among the women in the state about the need to donate blood and break the myth that women are scared of donating blood. “Women in our state need more blood than men as a large number of them suffer from anemia. It is, therefore, necessary for us to donate blood for the well being of our mothers, sisters and daughters across the state,” she stressed
Fresh row over transfer of dumping ground
SILIGURI: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation seems to be in a fix over shifting the dumping ground from the Eastern Bypass to Putimari, which is in the added area of the SMC but in Jalpaiguri district. The resistance being put up by the people in both the areas is landing the Corporation in indecisiveness and the shifting work is getting delayed.
Mr Bikash Ghosh, the Mayor, SMC, said that 22 acres of land has been acquired near Putimari for setting up a new dumping ground. “It has become necessary to shift the dump yard from its present area in the vicinity of the Eastern Bypass because of public resistance. The people residing near it have been putting pressure upon us for some time to have the dump yard shifted to a new place and in deference to the public demand we have agreed to do it,” he said.
Mr Mukul Sengupta, mayor in council in-charge of conservancy, however said that the work of setting up a new dump yard near Putimari was yet to start, as the people residing nearby were not positively disposed to the project. “We have acquired land and the detailed planning of the project is complete. Yet, we cannot start our work because of the resistance,” he said.
Expressing anguish over continuing public resistance towards the idea of a dumping ground Mr Sengupta said that it had to be somewhere. “A modern city like ours cannot do without a scientifically operated dump yard. People's cooperation is required,” Mr Sengupta commented. n SNS
RAIGANJ: To rescue six minor girls who went missing from both Deepnagar and Pahan para villages in Raiganj of North Dianjpur district a few months back the residents of Deepnagar and Pahanpara under Depnagar Sangrami Ganamancha today organised a rally in Raiganj and started an agitation in Raiganj police station.Later they submitted a memorandum to I C Raiganj police station Mr Pradip Chakraborty to take immediate action.
One of the members of Deepnagar Sangrami Gana Mancha Mr Dulal Rajbanshi said, "The six minor girls went missing from villages around six months before. They have been reportedly trafficked to other states. Their parents met police several times but nothing has been done yet. Today we submitted a memorandum to I C Raiganj police station and gave him a 7 days ultimatum. If police fail to rescue the minor girls by a week we will start a movement against them.”
I C Raiganj police station Mr Pradip Chakraborty said, "An attempt has been initiated to arrest the king pin of the racket." n SNS
SMC allots funds for road repair
SILIGURI: Mr Nurul Islam, the deputy mayor, Siliguri Municipal Corporation, said today that SMC had undertaken emergency road repair work in view of the incessant rains for the last four days and sanctioned Rs 7 crores and 26 lakhs for the purpose.
“Every step is being taken to repair the city roads damaged by the torrential rains and the Corporation workers are working round the clock to keep road conditions normal,” he said. Giving details, Mr Islam said that temporary pumps had been pressed into service to clear off the waterlogged roads and sand bags had been put to keep the damaged roads in working condition. “Bitumen is being used to fill up the potholes and a close watch is being kept on all the important roads of the city,” Mr Islam added. “We have sanctioned Rs 7 crores and 26 lakhs for immediate repair of the damaged roads. Additional Rs 4 crores have been sanctioned for development of city slums.
More funds would be provided for if need arises,” the deputy mayor said. Meanwhile, SFI, the students’ wing of the CPI-M, today served a deputation to the assistant engineer, PWD, Siliguri, demanding immediate repair of the roads under the PWD charge.
Mr Sourav Das, the secretary, Siliguri zonal committee, SFI, alleged that no repair work was being undertaken by the PWD for a long time. “The condition of the roads under PWD charge is pitiable. Torrential rains for the past few days have further aggravated the condition. But the PWD authority has remained lackadaisical as ever,” he alleged.
Gorkhaland movement inspires agitators to fight for Telangana
SILIGURI: Traits of the ongoing Gorkhaland movement in the Darjeeling Hills seem to be influencing the Telangana statehood agitation in Andhra Pradesh.
Imitating the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha's (GJMM) recent act of replacing the vehicle number plates to ‘GL’ (indicative of Gorkhaland) in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, the Nava Telangana Praja Party headed by the former Andhra home minister Mr Devender Goud has called for a similar drive in the Telangana region from 1 November. “It is one way of expressing our anger...Wherever Andhra Pradesh is there, we will replace it with Telangana,” Mr Goud said in a television programme aired this afternoon. “It is very encouraging and would certainly boost our morale. Both the Gorkhaland and Telangana statehoods are valid demands and a similar kind of agitation programme would be mutually beneficial,” said the GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri. With help from the Telengana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), a GJMM delegation had in fact carried out a signature campaign in favour of Gorkhaland in the Telangana region last month.
The demanded Telangana state, includes Andhra Pradesh's northwestern interior districts of Warangal, Adilabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak and the state capital Hyderabad. n SNS
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