Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts

प्रणय प्रधान को मृत्यु - गोर्खालीहरुलाई भारत भरी हेपेको कुरा

8:07 PM
गोर्खालीहरुलाई भारत भरी हेपेको कुरा कुनै नया कुरा होइन तेस्मा हामी गोर्खाली जाती डटेको नै छैनौ, "तेस्तो त भै रहन्छ" भनेर टाली दिन्छौ तर हिज आज यो हेपाइ ले रेखा पार गरेको के मलाइ अनि केही जागरुक जन्ताहरुलाई मात्र आभास भएको हो? आज प्रणय प्रधान को मृत्यु भयो अस्पताल मा जो हिजो अस्ति दिल्ली को गुण्डाहरु ले कुटेर मर्नु र बाच्नु हुने स्थिती मा फ्याकी दिएको थियो। 

एति मात्र कहाँ हो र निकै छ नि एस्ता हरु अनि यो सब घटना भै सकेर के गर्छौ र फेस्बुक मा दुई तीन वटा पोस्ट हालेर शोक मनाउछौ, आफू ले मात्र देख्ने बजार को भित्ता मा पोस्टर टाल्छौ अनि बाँस! काम टर्यो मैले गर्ने कर्तव्य निभाए भनेर ठूलो श्वास फेरेर आफ्नो परिवार सङ रमाउछौ तर त्यो मरौ परेको परिवार मा के हुँदै होला अनि त्यो मरौ कस्ले गर्दा परेको हो? हामी आफै ले गर्दा, हो! हामी ले गर्दा त्यो घर मा मरौ परेको हो अरु बेला अरु ले हेप्दा हामी दरो भएर डटेर युद्ध गरेको भए आज त्यो मरौ पर्थेन होला फेस्बुक र त्यो कोसै ले पत्तो न गर्ने भित्ता मा हावा हावा को पोस्टर न टालेर खास रण भुमी मा ओर्लेको भए आज त्यो मरौ पर्थेन।

खुकुरी उठाउनु भनेको होइन, लडाइ गर्नु भनेको होइन खुन खराबा गर्नु भनेको होइन, मानव्ता हराएको सन्सार मा यो हेपाइ खानु परेको स्थिती मा राज्निती ले अलिकती पनि काम गरेको छैन ईतिहास साक्षी छ अनि बर्तमन पनि। के फाइदा करोड करोड को बाटो बनाएर जब हेपाइ मा हिड्नु पर्यो भने, के फाइदा पावर र पोजिसन को जस्ले आफ्नै घाँटी मा बाध्धिएको लुगा सिलाउने धागो पनि चुट्टाउन सकेन भने?

नचिनिने भएछौ भन्ने कविता त भुतकाल मै लेख्नु भएको थियो तेति बेला त न चिनिने भएको थिएछ हाम्रो जाती अब झन के भै सक्यो सबैलाई थाहा छ। प्रणय प्रधान त सबै हेपाइ को एउटा एक्जाम्पल मात्र हो तेस्तो एक्जाम्पल त कति छ कति जो मर्न पनि सक्दैन बाच्न पनि सक्दैन। अनि हामी के गर्न सक्छौ? केइ न केइ, अह! एति गर्न सक्छै फेस्बुक मा एउटा पोस्ट हाल्नु अनि नेताहरु ले कसै ले पत्तो न गर्ने भित्ता मा पोस्टर टाल्नु।

स्कुल कलेज मा एन्टि रेग्गिङ सर्टिफिकेट बनाउनु लगाउछ एड्मिस्सन गरि सकेर रेग्गिङ्ग न होस भनेर, यदि भएको ख्ण्ड मा जस्ले गर्छ तेस्लाइ प्रसासन ले डन्ड दिन्छ हामी गोर्खा जाती पनि त स्कुल भित्रै छौ अनि स्कुल को नाउ हो भारत। किन हामीलाई मात्र छुट्टाउछ? किन हामी मात्र हेप्पिन्छौ?हामी मिलेर किन बस्न सक्दैनौ?हामी डटेर किन लड्न सक्दैनौ? के हामी न बिकि बस्न सक्दैनौ?

आदत भै सक्यो आदत निहुरेर हिड्ने हेपाइ खाने कस्ले जिम्मेवारी उठाउछ हामी हेपिएको? को जिम्मेदार छ हाम्रो हेपाइ को? के हेपिएरै जीवन बिताउने आज प्रणय प्रधान को मृत्यु भएको छ यदि हाम्रो जाती हेपाइ न खाने भए अरु जाती सम्मान भए कसैले आँखा उठाएर हेर्न सक्दैन थियो तर भयो होइन? भोलि हाम्रो जाती को पनि एसरी अस्पताल मा मृत्यु न होस जोगाएर राखौ, यो जन्ता ले याद राख्नु पर्छ नेता ले याद राख्नु पर्छ अनि सर्कार ले याद राख्नु पर्छ।

अनिकेश प्रधान

11-Year-Old Girl Child Molested in Kalimpong

12:03 PM

HORRIFIC: 11-Year-Old Girl Child Molested in Kalimpong

SPECIAL REPORT: Nisha V Chettri

After an incident of molestation to a minor that came to light through social networking sites, the accused allegedly identified as Govind Sarki has been absconding, while the little survivor admits that she was molested.

Sarki is known to be a driver (Driving white WagonR) by profession, living with a wife and daughter of two. According to the information received from the survivor’s family, the mother, who suffers from fluency disorder, used to walk her towards her school every day. On Friday, Sakri coincidently was around their locality and volunteered to drop the girl to her school, which he used to do once in a while.
11-Year-Old Girl Child Molested in Kalimpong
On the way to her school, he stopped the car in an isolated area, came out of the driver’s seat, got in the second seat, locked the door, removed her shirt and molested her. It was known that she was alone in the car.

She returned home later in the (Friday) evening and told her mother about the incident, her mother, on the other hand, was not (fully) believed by her family members because of her disorder.

On Sunday, when the family members prepared to give the girl a bath, they asked her about the incident and she said everything slowly. The family members later took her to Sarki’s house to identify him, he was not present. When his photo was shown, she started shivering with fear, informed the family members. They filed an FIR later in the evening on Sunday and admitted her at the District Hospital for her medicals.

‘He also bit her in sensitive parts of the body’ said the family source, while the survivor was nodding behind her at the District Hospital when asked her, ‘How old are you?’ she responded ‘I am turning 11 soon’

It was also known that he gave her 10 rupees before and after he abused her. Sarki, on the other hand, has been absconding ever since the incident

‘If the kid is lying or unsure, why would he abscond after the incident?’ questioned the family members.

However, as per the verbal order of Child Welfare Committee-Alipurduar, (In-Charge Kalimpong), she was sent to Bal Suraksha Abhiyan (An NGO) in the evening, for the temporary shelter.

The case is filed in the Women Police Station and the police sources said that they are investigating in the matter.

Via TheDC

Priyanka Lama murder case, family seeks justice

8:11 AM
Priyanka Lama Murdered -  Family and Friends Demand Justice

Special Report: Nand Poudel

Nagarkatta police have found a blood-drenched dead body of Priyanka Lama(24) on Saturday evening. She is the resident of Chadar Line near Hindi High School under Nagarkatta Block.

Priyanka's family has suspected her death as a murder and police has said it will be confirmed only after the post mortem of her dead body.
Priyanka Lama 

According to the report in the evening of the incident, Priyanka had just crossed the gate of her house talking over her phone when there was a sudden loud noise.

Her neighbour, a lady who came out hurriedly hearing the loud noise spotted her fallen on the ground drenched in a pool of blood. She informed Priyanka's mother about the incident who fainted seeing the condition of her daughter.

Priyanka was rushed to Sulkapada hospital by local people where she was declared dead.

Sources from her family said she died of a big wound over her head from a sharp weapon. Excess flow of blood from her ears is also spotted which is believed to claim her life. The reason behind the murder is unknown to the family and the police have resumed the investigation.

Police have assured the culprit to be brought to justice as soon as possible. After the brutal incident, local people in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity have demanded the police administration to bring the culprit to justice within 24 hours.

Priyanka Lama was the only daughter of late Chandre Lama a resident of Chadar Line, Nagarkatta. After her father's death 15 years ago she was brought up by her mother a widow, Aruna Lama who was bearing Priyanka's education.

Her mother's only future recourse Priyanka was working in a private bank in Kurseong branch after completing her graduation. She had come home on two day's leave and was supposed to join her duty the following Monday but met her mysterious fate on Sunday evening.

Her relatives and neighbours who are grieving her suspicious death are not ready to take it as a natural death. Her uncle Mr Ganesh Aley mourning her death has demanded a deeper investigation in the murder case.

शनिबार साँझ नगरकट्टा पुलिसले रक्तम्बे अवस्थामा एक युवतीको मृतदेह उद्धार गरेको छ । मृत युवतीको नाम प्रियंका लामा (२४) जो नगरकट्टा खण्ड अन्तर्गत हिन्दी हाई स्कुल छेउ चादर लाइनका स्थानीय वासीन्दा हुन । परिवारले प्रियंकालाई हत्या गरिएको आरोप लगाएको छ भने यता नगकरकट्टा पुलिसले मृत्युको कारण पोष्टमार्टम पछी जान्न सकिने बताएको छ । घटनालाई लिएर नगरकट्टामा शोकको लहर छाएको छ ।

घटनाको प्राप्त जानकारी अनुसार शनिबार साँझको समय प्रियंका मोबाइलमा बात गर्दै घरको फाटक मात्र पार गरेकी थिन । अचानक केही आहट सुनेपछी छिमेकी महिला वाहिर आउछीन र प्रियंकालाई रक्तम्बे अवस्थामा भूइमा लडी रहेको देखछिन । यस्तो दृष्य देखेर महिला चिचाउदै प्रियंकाको आमालाई बोलाउ छिन । केही क्षण अघि मात्र संघै बसेर कफी पिएको छोरीलाई रक्तम्बे अवस्थामा देखेपछी आमा अरुणा आले त्यहीनै मुर्छा परछिन । गाउलेहरुले तुरन्तै सुलकापाडा अस्पताल पुराएता पनि चिकित्सकले प्रियंकाको मृत्यु भई सकेको बताउछ ।

परिवार सूत्रले जनाए अनुसार प्रियंकाको मृत्यु कुनै धारिलो हतियार प्रहार गरेर भएको बतायो । कारण प्रियंकाका शिरमा गहिरो चोट रहेको छ र कानबाट धेरै खुन गएको पनि देखिएको बताएको छ । प्रियंकाको मृत्युको कारणबारे परिवार पनि अनभिज्ञनै रहेको छ । पुलिसले छानबीन शुरु गरेको छ । पुलिसले चाँडै दोषीलाई चिन्हित गरेर कानूनी सजाय दिने बताएको छ । तर यसरी एक जना युवतीको साँझपखनै हत्या भएकोले नगरकट्टावासीले असुरक्षित महशुस गरेका छन । र पुलिसले २४ घण्टा भित्र दोषीलाई प्रकाउ गर्न पर्ने माग गरेको छ ।

प्रियंका लामा नगरकट्टा चादरलाइन निवासी स्वः चन्द्रे लामाका एकलो छोरी हुन । चन्द्रे लामाको आज भन्दा १५ वर्ष अघिनै स्वरगारोहण भएको थियो । त्यपछी विद्यवी असाहय आमा अरुणा लामाले छोेरीको पालन पोषण अनि शिक्षा दान गराएका थिन । आमको एक मात्रा जीवनको साहारा छोरी प्रियंका थिन । जसले रा्रोसित शिक्षा आर्जन गरेर गत दिसम्बर महिनामा मात्र कुनै एक बेसरकारी व्यांकमा खारसाङ शाखामा नौकरी पाएकी थिन । दुई दिन छुट्टि हुँदा घर आएकी प्रियंका सोमबार काममा जानु थियो । तर आईतबार रातीनै प्रियंकाको रहस्मय मृत्यु भयो । प्रियंकाको परिवार आफन्ता लगायत छिमेकीहरुले यस घटनालाई कुनै पनि अवस्थामा मान लिन सकेको छैन । प्रियंकाका मामा गणेश आले भने, हामी धेरै मर्माहत छौं । यो हत्यो हो । पुलिसले गहराईमा गएर घटनाको छानबीन गर्नु पर्ने तिनले माग गरेका छन ।

Via thedarjeelingchronicle.com

Kalimpong Girl Murdered in Delhi

9:55 PM
Lakshmi Chettri, a 32 years old woman from 15th Mile Dalapchand Busty in Kalimpong, was found dead in her residence at 1 Desu Road, Mehrauli, New Delhi. The incident happened on 25th Oct.
Kalimpong Girl Murdered in Delhi

According the the Post Mortem reports, the case was that of Murder. The reason for the murder and the person/people behind it are still unknown.

Lakhsmi was survived by her farmer parents back at home, who stand devastated by the incident. The Darjeeling representatives at the North East Cell and in Delhi supported by other active members helped the family with Lakshmi's Cremation at Delhi itself.

The Team has further approached Higher Police officials in Delhi regarding the case, who have promised immediate and serious investigation in the matter.

Via The DC

Fake Momo Challenge messages creates panic

8:03 AM
Some people spreading fake messages to create panic, says CID All the numbers from where messages were sent to people in to play the Momo Challenge were based abroad, the CID said.

The West Bengal CID on Tuesday downplayed the growing Momo Challenge scare in the state, saying most of the messages received by people inviting them to play the alleged killer game appear to be fake, and that there is no reason to connect the recently reported suicide cases to it.
Fake Momo Challenge messages creates panic

No formal complaints regarding the game have been filed at any of the police stations in the state till date. All the numbers from where the messages were sent to people in the state to play the Momo Challenge were based abroad and an investigation has been initiated into this, the DIG (Operations), CID, Nishat Pervez said.

“Even I got the ‘Momo Challenge’ message on my cellphone but the sender is known to me. No Momo cases have been filed in any of the police stations, be it in the districts or the city, contrary to media reports. Instead, what is gaining prominence is a fake message that is being circulated through social media. The messages have no links that would take the recipient to the actual game. Even the preliminary investigation into the alleged suicidal deaths in north Bengal too did not reveal any clue relating to the ‘Momo Challenge’ having played a role in the deaths,” Pervez said.

“Fake messages can be created and that is what has happened,” he said.
Media and social media are abuzz with alleged Momo Challenge cases, and several complaints have been filed of people receiving messages asking them to play the game. But the CID said that this was nothing but mischief.

“Most of the cases investigated so far were found to be mischievous. What needs to be done is to carry out awareness campaigns and to make people, especially parents, aware. They should be extra vigilant,” said a senior CID officer.

“Should they notice any such message on their mobiles, they should immediately file complaints at the local police stations. We will probe the cases and try to identify the persons involved in it,” Pervez said.

Momo game allegedly claim it's first victim in Darjeeling hills

11:56 AM
Amitava Banerjee | MP |Darjeeling: Debate over whether the class 12 student was coerced by the "Momo" game to commit suicide raged in the Hills. 
Momo Game

On August 20, an 18-year-old student Manish Sarki went missing in his hometown —Kurseong. Sarki was a Class 12 commerce student. When Manish did not return home until 9 pm, his anxious parents and neighbours launched a search operation for him. Later, he was found hanging inside a pig sty located at St. Mary's Hill in Kurseong.

On the walls of the pig sty, there were symbols and words spray painted such as — 'Illuminati' 'Doped', 'Hanged Man' and the name of a girl. "My son is a victim of the 'Momo game.' He was an obedient boy and good in studies. He would stay indoors most of the time and used to spend a lot of time playing games on his cell phone. I have lost my son," stated Chandramaya Sarki, mother of the deceased. 
18-year-old student Manish Sarki momo game victim
18-year-old student Manish Sarki 

Arvin Ghatani, a friend of the deceased also feels the same. "Manish used to play a lot of internet games specially on social media sites. The symbols and the images found on the walls of the pig sty also appear on the Momo game app," stated Ghatani. 

"We did not recover any suicide note. The cell phone belonging to the deceased will be examined by cyber experts. Following this, it can be ascertained whether the death was prompted by the suicide game," stated Harikrishna Pai, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kurseong

Elderly Couple murdered in Kalimpong, bodies dumped in septic tank

4:44 PM
The Kalimpong district police on Friday evening recovered the bodies of an elderly couple from the septic tank of their house in Pedong that has led to panic among the residents of the small hamlet.
Sherpa Couple murdered in Pedong Kalimpong
Sherpa Couple murdered in Pedong Kalimpong

The bodies of Phurtemba Sherpa (69) and his wife Kusum (55) were recovered by police after neighbours informed them about their being missing. The two are residents of Dokyong I Sericulture, Sakyong GP of Pedong.

According to police, the couple’s elder son Sangden has called his neighbours from Malda to inquire about his parents, who did not take his calls. “The elder son called up the neighbours to inquire about his parents. The door of the house was locked and a phone and a torch light that belonged to Phurtemba were found outside,” said Atul Vishwanathan, Kalimpong additional superintendent of police in Saturday.

Sangden is employed in the police department and is presently posted in the correctional home in Malda. His younger brother is a teacher in a private school in Bihar. “I got worried and called my brother and also our neighbors in Pedong to inquire because my father and mother were not taking my calls. I has spoken with my mother just a day before and had promised them to call back again on Friday,” Sangden said.

The bodies of Phurtemba and Kusum were discovered from the septic tank in the rear of their house by police. “We found the bodies in decomposed condition. There are deep cut marks on the foreheads of the couple. When we broke open the door, we found the house ransacked. We have started a case and are looking at every possible angle,” the ASP
said.

The police official said it was difficult to say immediately when the murder may have taken place. “They (husband and wife) were last seen on August 16. We recovered the bodies on Friday evening. Now, whether the murder took place on Friday evening or Saturday morning, we are trying to ascertain,” Vishwanathan said.

Sniffer dogs have been called from Siliguri to help in the investigation. “We have got some clues and four to five names. Hopefully, the case will be detected very soon,” the ASP said.

The bodies have been sent for postmortem in the Kalimpong district hospital and report is awaited.

Via  (EOIC)

पेदोङमा सेर्पा दम्पतिको हत्या; हत्यारा चाँढै पक्रा पर्न सक्ने पुलिसले दियो सङ्केत

2:34 PM
गफसफ.com, कालेबुङ 18 अगस्त।
पेदोङमा भएको सेर्पा दम्पतिको हत्यालाई लिएर पुलिसले जाँच अभियान तिब्र बनाएको छ भने चाँडै नै हत्यारा पक्रा पर्न सक्ने कालेबुङ जिल्ला पुलिस उप-अधिक्षक अतुल विश्वनाथनले बताएका छन्। उनले आज घट्ना स्थलको भ्रमण गरेर जानकारी लिएपछि घट्ना सम्बन्धमा पुलिसले महत्वपूर्ण सुईँको फेला पार्न सकेको दाबी गरेका छन्।

‘हामीले घट्नाको हरेक कोणबाट जाँच गरिरहेका छौँ। जाँकको क्रममा केही महत्वपूर्ण क्लुहरू हामीले फेला पारेका छौँ’ जिल्ला पुलिस उपअधिक्षक विश्वनाथनले भने। यसक्रममा उनले सोही महत्वपूर्ण सुरागकै आधारमा हत्यारा चाँढै पक्रा पर्न सक्ने सम्भावना रहेको पनि बताएका छन्।
 स्व. फुर्तेम्बा सेर्पा (पति) अनि स्व. कुसुम सेर्पा (पत्नी)
 स्व. फुर्तेम्बा सेर्पा (पति) अनि स्व. कुसुम सेर्पा (पत्नी) 

उनले हत्यालाई पक्राउ गर्नका निम्ति पुलिसले जाँच कार्य गरिरहेको भन्दै स्निफर डग टोलि समेत बोलाइएको जानकारी दिएका छन्। उनले सेर्पा दम्पतिको शवलाई सेफ्टी ट्याङ्कीमा फ्याँकेको अवस्थामा फेला पारेको पुष्टि गर्दै उनीहरू दुवैको निधारमा गहिलो चोटको निशानी रहेको पनि बताएका छन्। हत्याराले कुन अभिष्टको निम्ति हत्या गरेको हो भन्न नसकिने बताउँदै घरभित्र तोडफोड गरिएको अवस्था रहेको कारण परिवार पक्षले आफ्ना घरभित्रको सामाग्रीहरू हराएको छ छैन त्यसबारे जानकारी दिएपछि मात्रै चोरीको घट्ना सँग जोड्न सकिने बताएका छन्। यसक्रममा उनले उक्त घट्नालाई लिएर कालेबुङ थानामा प्राथमिकी दर्ता गरिएर जाँच सुरु भएको पनि स्पष्ट पारेका छन्। 

स्मरण रहोस्, कालेबुङ जिल्लाको पेदोङ स्थित दाक्योङ सेरिकल्चर नजिक सेर्पा दम्पतिको हत्याले सनसनी छाएको छ। पति फुर्तेम्बा सेर्पा (69) अनि पत्नी कुसुम सेर्पाको हत्यापछि उनीहरूको शवलाई सेफ्टी ट्याङ्कमा फ्याँकेको अवस्थामा पुलिसले शुक्रबार बेलुकी भेटेपछि उक्त घट्ना सार्वजनिक भएको हो। घट्नापछि पुलिसले शवको उद्घार गरेर आज कालेबुङ जिल्ला अस्पतालमा पोस्टमार्टम गरि परिवार पक्षलाई सुम्पिएको छ।

उक्त हत्या गत 16 अगस्तको राती नै भएको अनुमान गरिएको छ भने हत्याबारे शुक्रबार मात्र थाह लाग्न सकेको हो। पुलिस विभागमा नै कार्यरत छोरा सोङदेन सेर्पाले शुक्रबार दिउँसो घरमा आमा-बाबालाई फोन गर्दा फोन नउठाएपछि घट्नाबारे पत्तो लाग्न सकेको हो। छोरा सोङदेन सेर्पाले घरमा गरेको फोन नउठाएपछि आफ्ना छिमेकीहरूलाई आफ्नो घरमा गएर हेरिदिने खबर गरेपछि गाउँका आफन्तहरू घरमा गएर हेर्दा घर बन्द अवस्थामा अनि वरिपरिको दृष्य सन्दिघ रहेको थाह पाएपछि उनीहरूल तत्कालै पुलिसलाई सूचित गरेको थियो। घट्नाको जानकारी पाउन साथ घट्ना स्थलमा पुलिस पुगेर जाँच गर्न थालेपछि नै दुई दम्पतिको शवलाई सेफ्टी ट्याङ्कीमा हत्या पछि फ्याँकिदिएको अवस्थामा फेला पारेको हो।
‘मैले अघिल्लो दिन घरमा आमालाई फोन गरेर बात गरेको थिएँ। सधैँ झैँ भोलिपल्ट पनि मैले आमालाई फोन गरे तर फोन उठाएनन्। त्यसरीनै मैले बाबालाई पनि फोन गर्दा फोन उठाएनन्। उनीहरू दुवैले फोन नउठाएपछि मलाई चिन्ता लागेर भाइलाई पनि भने अनि गाउँका आफन्तहरूलाई घरमा गएर हेरिदिने भनेको थिए। आफन्तहरू आएर घरमा हेर्दा नै घट्नाबारे थाह पाउन सकिएको हो’ छोरा सोङदेन सेर्पाले बताएका छन्।

उनले आफन्तहरू घरमा आएर हेर्दा घर बाहिरबाट ताला लगाइदिएको अनि बाबाको फोन र टर्च आँगनमा लडिरहेको अनि आमाको फोन भने भित्र नै रहेको देखेपछि उनीहरूले नै पुलिसलाई सूचित गरेर बोलाउने कार्य गरेपछि मात्र घट्नाबारे पत्तो लाग्न सकेको पनि बताएका छन्।

Via गफसफ.com

"Death to Child Rapists” - Parliament Passes Bill

8:55 PM
Parliament on Monday passed a stringent legislation prescribing death penalty to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years and making the law against such sexual offences harsher. The Bill replaces the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on April 21, following an outcry over the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and the rape of another woman at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.
Death to Child Rapists - Parliament Passes Bill

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on July 30, was approved by a voice vote in the Upper House.

While replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju assured the House that the concerns and issues raised by the members would be looked into by the government, even as he did not agree with the demand of several MPs to send the bill to a Select Committee for scrutiny.

Terming the bill as one of national importance, Rijiju said the law is aimed at providing safety to minor girls as he highlighted various aspects of the measure.

He said the government brought the bill, as in the last few months, several heart-rending incidents of rape of under- aged girls have taken place in the country.

Rijiju said four states had already brought a law in their respective assemblies for capital punishement those who commit rape gainst the girl child who are under the age of 12. The states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh.

"We have introduced certain changes in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Court Procedure, Evidence Act and there are consequential effects on prevention of atrocities against children," the minister said.

The bill stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12 years. Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years.

The minimum punishment in cases of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years.

According to the bill, in case of rape of a girl under 16 years, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life, which means jail term till the convict's "natural life".

Stringent punishment for rape of a girl under 12 years has been provided with the minimum jail term being 20 years which may go up to life in prison or death sentence. Gangrape of a girl under 12 years of age will invite punishment of jail term for the rest of life or death.

The measure also provides for speedy investigations and trial. The time limit for investigation of all cases of rape has been prescribed, which has to be mandatorily completed within two months.

The deadline for the completion of trial in all rape cases will be two months. A six-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed, the bill says, adding that there will also be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gangrape of a girl under 16 years.

Participating in the debate, several members made a case for sending the bill for scrutiny to Select Committee, saying there were several shortcomings in it.

Some members argued that the provision of death penalty could affect reporting of cases of sexual assault as in many cases the accused happened to be relatives or known persons.

There was also an opinion that the provision of death penalty could endanger the life of the victim.

Many members suggested that the government change the term 'woman' in the bill appropriately and make it gender- neutral as such crimes do happen with boys as well.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC) wondered why there are different punishment according to the age of the vicitm. He also expressed concern over the large pendency of cases in courts in the country.

Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) expressed concern that provision of death penalty may endanger victim's life, while Kahkashan Perween (JD-U) suggested that like in Bihar, there should be women police stations in all states.

Chhaya Verma (Cong) said punishment should be the same for those convicted for rape, irrespective of the gender of child victim.

Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) said the bill should be sent to a select commitee as it took care only of girls and not boys. Citing a survey, he added that the cases of sexual violence were more against boys. Rajeev Gowda (Congress) also aked the government refer it to a select committee.

Prof. Mahendra P Lama gets clean chit on sexual harassment case

8:53 PM
JNU sexual harassment case: Panel clears professors, warns complainants

The first complaint relates to an alleged incident in 2013, and the second to an incident last year — the complaints in both the cases were registered in January this year. The probe report, along with the ICC’s recommendations, in the first case was submitted on June 29, and in the second case on July 25.


Written by Aranya Shankar , Shradha Chettri
When contacted by The Indian Express, the ICC’s presiding officer, Vibha Tandon, declined comment. Kharat did not respond to requests seeking comment. The complainants could not be reached for comment.

The internal regulator of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has cleared two professors named together in two different complaints of sexual harassment — and instead, issued identical warnings to the complainants for “advertising” the issue.

In separate recommendations following probes in both the cases, JNU’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) concluded that “no case of sexual harassment” could be made out against Mahendra P Lama and Rajesh Kharat. Lama is a professor at the Centre for South Asian Studies, where Kharat was former chairperson. However, both sets of recommendations contain the same warning in identical paragraphs.

“It was observed during the proceedings that the complainant herself was advertising about her complaint on her Facebook and through other electronic media and informed the public at large. Hence, the complainant should be issued a warning to not indulge in such act in future because this kind of act by any of the complainants, defendants and witnesses damages the inquiry procedure and the affected parties. This kind of a public propaganda also damages the image of the institution,” it reads.

When contacted by The Indian Express, the ICC’s presiding officer, Vibha Tandon, declined comment. Kharat did not respond to requests seeking comment. The complainants could not be reached for comment.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Lama said: “It was a fake and frivolous case lodged by non-performing students in collaboration with non-performing teachers.”

The first complaint relates to an alleged incident in 2013, and the second to an incident last year — the complaints in both the cases were registered in January this year. The probe report, along with the ICC’s recommendations, in the first case was submitted on June 29, and in the second case on July 25.

In the 2013 complaint, the ICC concluded that “no case of sexual harassment is made out against Lama and Kharat”. In the 2017 complaint, too, the ICC found “no case of sexual harassment”.
In the second case, however, the ICC noted that there was an “administrative lapse” on the part of Lama for denying the complainant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for changing the supervisor. It noted a similar “lapse” on the part of Kharat for not discussing the complainant’s application for a change of supervisor in the faculty meeting.

In the 2013 complaint, the ICC concluded: “Professor Mahendra P Lama was a strict teacher who wanted his students to work hard and perform up to mark, which cannot be termed and/or understood as sexual harassment at all. The complainant could not complete her thesis on time and also it is clear from the deposition of the complainant that on the basis of some rumour she developed “Lama phobia”, which triggered the present complaint. It is also clear (Lama) gave NOC to the complainant without delay for the change of supervisor.”

On the same complaint, the ICC observed that “Kharat did not perform his duty of maintaining the records and files of the PhD students properly. But this act of Kharat cannot be termed as sexual harassment in terms of the Act”.

In the 2017 complaint, ICC recommended that Lama and Kharat be “censured”. Lama was censured for “creating uncertainty by not giving NOC to complainant as well as directing (the) complainant to de-register against her will”.

Via Indian Express

Darjeeling tea gardens have become a hotbed for trafficking

Tea gardens that once brewed the world-famous Darjeeling tea have now become a hotbed for trafficking, owing to the undermining of labour rights and rising deprivation.

The Dooars region of West Bengal is known for its alluvial soil and cool climatic conditions, making it a fertile ground for tea gardens. But as tea gardens shut owing to financial and operational constraints, they have in turn become a fertile ground for human trafficking. As production declines, exploitation and deprivation rise.

Pooja was trafficked from Chuapara Tea Estate, Alipurduar, in 2013, when she was 13 years old. She was taken to Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and sold to a ‘placement agency’ called City Service. Two more girls and two boys were also sold to the agency at the same time. Muskan Khatun, the main accused, insisted that she was actually 16 when she was trafficked and that she went with the agents despite Khatun’s warning her against it. Community Correspondent Harihar Nagbansi, reporting on the case, accessed her birth certificate which proved that she was 13 at the time she was trafficked.  Regardless of whether she was 13 or 16, she was still a minor who was illegally taken away and sold for domestic labour, quite possibly in highly exploitative conditions. For four years, the family could do nothing but wait.

Pooja was brought back home in April 2018, thanks to the local police that tagged team with the Jammu and Kashmir police. It was Harihar’s video, along with the efforts of NGOs like Kripa and Bachpan Bachao Andolan, that got the police to act with urgency. Harihar also credits Chandmuni, Pooja’s mother, for her determination. But the story does not end here, because what happened with Pooja was not an isolated case and not a problem unique to Chuapara alone.

Trafficking is an organised crime, across domestic and international borders. The numbers from the latest National Crime Records Bureau data, speak for themselves. 8,057 persons were reported to be trafficked in 2016. 44% of the cases were reported from West Bengal, of these, the largest proportion was of minor girls. And these are only the on-record figures. Police apathy, lack of awareness and stigma are known to be some of the reasons human trafficking is underreported.

While Pooja was fortunate to be brought back, the other children who were taken with her are still in Srinagar. On an average, 174 children go missing in India every day. Unlike Chandmuni, many parents do not even have a lead. Moreover, trafficked persons are often sold many times over, making it all the more difficult to trace them. In the worst cases, they are killed by those who keep them as bonded slaves.

Underlying causes
Poor economic conditions, lack of educational opportunities, social exclusion and isolation, make people vulnerable to trafficking. At the other end of this deal are rapid urbanisation and the consequent want for cheap labour in other parts of the country. Placement agencies that supply cheap labour to middle and upper-class households in metropolitan cities, to development projects, to brothels, and to villages in Punjab and Haryana as brides.
Minors are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Presented with the prospects of a glamorous city life, many children might choose to escape from their present living conditions. Khatun also said the same thing about Pooja, that she consented to go despite warnings. But the crucial difference here is that children, and even adults, might give consent but not informed consent. To a 13-year-old living in harsh poverty, the prospect of living in a city and having access to facilities, even at the cost of some labour, might sound appealing. In fact, sometimes, children who are brought back often get tricked into being trafficked once again.

Why tea gardens?
The tea industry is touted as the country’s second largest employer, but also an industry that undermines labour rights and deprives workers and their families deprived of the most basic needs. There’s widespread poverty and malnutrition, obvious factors underscoring the desire for a better life. The availability of basic facilities like healthcare and education is also poor. Wages are as low as ₹132 a day, says Harihar, especially in Dooars. And sometimes, even this wage is not paid on time, never mind the bonus.

As the tea shrubs age, production declines and many tea gardens and tea factories shut down temporarily or permanently without rehabilitating their workers. Political instability in the Darjeeling hills, which has spread to the foothills, has also taken a toll, especially on already-sick tea gardens. Of the 60 tea gardens in Alipurduar, 28 are sick or stressed and six entirely shut. To make ends meet, some take up stone-crushing, and others continue to work in the tea gardens but for independent contractors; both jobs pay even lower.

In the Dooars region, the majority of the workers are Adivasis whose families migrated to the foothills generations ago, mostly from what is present-day Jharkhand. In a state and an industry dominated by upper-caste and upper-class Bengalis and business communities, Adivasi lives are already valued less, isolating them socially and culturally. In such a situation, both migration and trafficking abound.
Dooars is also contiguous with the ‘chicken-neck’ area on the map of India, a narrow region neighbouring Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, all porous borders. Women and children are often trafficked from both sides of these borders, for manual and sexual labour.

What is being done to combat it?
When Harihar asks Chandmuni what she will do to ensure that her daughter is not taken away again, she says that she will engage her in some work and even educate her if she wants to study. The lack of rehabilitation facilities for those rescued coupled with stigma, especially for girls who are trafficked, make it difficult for children to adjust to life in their homes once again.
However, education, like Chandmuni points out, is an important step. Binay Narjenary, a representative of Kripa, says that awareness is crucial. “People must be made aware of the problems girls and women face, and then take steps to ensure their safety”, he says.

NGOs seem to be at the forefront of tackling the problem, as of now. But local NGOs have limitations in curbing a country-wide crime with networks and nodes that cannot be traced. They can provide support in individual cases, but putting an end to trafficking requires the active participation of the state.

To this end, the government introduced the Anti-Trafficking Bill which has recently been passed by the Lok Sabha. But the Bill, unfortunately, does more injustice than justice. To begin with, it continues to criminalise victims of trafficking by trying them for working without authorisation in case of domestic labour or soliciting in case of sexual labour. Moreover, it runs into the danger of conflating migration and trafficking; both phenomena might have similar underlying causes, but the former is voluntary and cannot be penalised. The Bill also recommends rehabilitation measures like state-run shelter homes, which have been rejected by bodies like the UN.

If passed, the Bill will be an insensitive piece of legislation, even on paper. While on the ground, no legislation is enough to change attitudes towards trafficking or to break the silence around it. Combined efforts by local communities, NGOs, individuals and state officials, like in Pooja’s case, are a beginning, but long-term solutions will come from regular awareness, sensitive laws, efficient implementation and socio-economic development and sustainable livelihoods.

Article by Alankrita Anand

Via YKA

मिनाक्षी थापा हत्या मामिलामा दोषीहरुलाई आजिवन कारावास

5:57 PM
मिनाक्षी थापा हत्या मामिलामा महत्त्वपूर्ण फसेला: दोषीहरुलाई आजिवन कारावास

बलिउडको दुनियाँमा अहिले देखा परेका सनसनीपूर्ण समाचारहरूमा मुख्य बनेको छ नेपाली युवती मिनाक्षी थापाको हत्याको मामला अनि त्यसमाथि न्यायालयको आदेश। मुम्बईका सम्पूर्ण पत्र-पत्रिका र च्यानलहरूमा विगत तीनचार दिनदेखि यही समाचार नै प्रमुख बनेर देखा परिरहेको छ।

यहाँको दक्षिण मुम्बईको एउटा सत्रह न्यायालयले गत शुक्रबारका दिन आफ्नो महत्त्वपूर्ण आदेश सुनाउँदै उत्तर प्रदेशनिवासी अमित जयसवाल (36) अनि उसकी प्रेमिका प्रीति सुरिन (26) –लाई हिन्दी चलचित्रकी सङ्घर्षशील अभिनेत्री मिनाक्षी थापा (27) -को अपहरण अनि हत्याको अपराधमा दोषी ठहर गर्दै आजीवन कारावासको आदेश सुनाएको छ। अतिरिक्त सत्रह न्यायाधीश एसजी सेट्ठेले यो फसेला यी दुइ अपराधीहरूबिरुद्ध भारतीय दण्ड संहिताका धारा 302 (हत्या) अनि 364-ए (फिरौतीका लागि अपहरण) -अन्तर्गत सुनाएका हुन्।

पृष्ठभूमि – देहरादुनको प्रख्यात दुन स्कुलकी पूर्व छात्रा रहेकी मिनाक्षी सन् 2011 –मा सिने जगतमा आफ्नो प्रतिभा उजागर गर्ने उद्देश्यले मुम्बई आएकी थिइन्। यहाँ आएर उनले 404 नामक रहस्यमय फिल्ममा पहिलो चोटि काम गरेकी थिइन्। 2012 -को मार्च महिनामा मिनाक्षी थापाले मधुर भन्डारकरको चर्चित फिल्म हिरोइनमा एक विशेष भूमिका निर्वाह गरिरहेकी थिइन्। देरहादुन निवासी थापा मुम्बईको फिल्मी जगतमा आफ्नो प्रतिभा उजागर गरेर यशार्जन गर्नका लागि आएकी नेपाली ठिटीले आफ्नो प्रतिभाको आधारमै दुइ महिनामै भन्डारकरजस्ता नामी सिनेनिर्माताको फिल्ममा मौका पाएकी थिइन्। तर उनीसँगै सुटिङ युनिटमा काम गर्ने जुनियर कलाकारहरूको युगल जोड़ी जयसवाल अनि सुरिनलाई भने धनको लालच थियो। यी दुइ जोड़ीले मिनाक्षी देहरादुनको निकै ठुलो खानदानी घरानासित सम्बन्धित युवती हुनसक्ने शङ्कामा उनलाई अपहरण गरेर परिवारबाट फिरौतीको माग गर्ने कुत्सित योजना बनाए। यसको लागि दुवै अपराधीहरूले मिनाक्षीसँग घनिष्टता बढ़ाएर उनको मन जिते अनि आफुहरू सिने उद्योगसित सम्बन्धित रहेको दाबी गर्दै भविष्यमा ठुलो बजेटको चलचित्रमा मौका मिलाइदिने प्रतिश्रुतिहरू दिनथाले। सिने संसारमा आफ्नो नाउँ राख्नलाई मुम्बई आएकी नेपाली ठिटी मिनाक्षी पनि युगलको वचनमाथि विश्वास गरेर उनीहरूसित धेरै नजिक हुनथालिन्।
यसैबिच गोरखपुरमा एउटा सुटीङ गर्नुपर्ने बहानामा यी दुइजना अपराधीहरूले 13 मार्च, 2012 -का दिन मिनाक्षीलाई अलाहबाद लिएर गए। बिच बाटामा उसको अपहरण गरेर दुवैले मिनाक्षीकै फोन प्रयोग गर्दै देहरादुनमा रहेकी उनकी आमालाई धम्कीसहित भारतीय रुपियाँ 15 लाखको माग गरेर मेसेज पठाए। आफ्नी छोरीको प्राण बचाउनका लागि आमाले पैसा जोगाड़ गर्नथाले पनि ३० हजारभन्दा बेसी जम्मा गर्न सकिनन् र त्यति नै उनले पठाइन्। जब यी दुवै अपराधीले थाहा पाए मिनाक्षी कुनै ठुलो घरानाकी छोरी थिइनन् अनि उनकी आमा पनि यति मोटो रकम जुटाउनमा असफल छिन् भन्ने तब उनीहरूले प्रतिभाशाली नेपाली ठिटीको हत्या गर्ने योजना बनाए। किनभने मिनाक्षीलाई जिउँदो छाड़्दा आफुहरू पक्रा पर्ने आशङ्का बढ़ेर गएको थियो। यसैले दुवैले मिनाक्षीको हत्या गरे। पहिला मिनाक्षीको टाउको काटेर अलग गरे अनि लाश अहालबादको एउटा मलखानाको ट्याङ्कीमा लुकाइदिए। त्यसपछि लखनउमा छुरी लुकाएपछि यी दुवै जौनपुर जाने राज्य सरकारको बसमा चढ़े। यसैबिच काटिएको टाउको चाहिँ अपराधीहरूले लखनउदेखि जौनपुर जाने बाटाबिच फालिदिए। यद्यपि यी दुइले मिनाक्षीको परिवारमा फोन गरेर पैसा मागिरहने काम भने २ अप्रेलसम्म जारी राखे। हत्यापछि यी दुइले मिनाक्षीको मोबाइल फोन र क्रेडिट कार्डहरू आफुसित राखेका थिए।
यस हत्याको मामिलामाथि उच्च स्तरीय जाँच सुरू भयो अनि अपराधीहरूको दुर्भाग्यवश मामिला स्पेसल पब्लिक प्रोसिक्युटर अथवा विशेष सरकारी उकिल उज्ज्वल निकमजस्ता व्यक्तिको हातमा पुग्यो। अर्कोतिर पुलिसी छानबिनका प्रभारी पनि मुम्बईको अपराध जगतका नामी पुलिस अधिकारी हिमांशु रोयको अधीनमा पर्नगयो। त्यतिखेर हिमांशु रोय मुम्बई पुलिसको अपराध शाखामा संयुक्त आयुक्त अथवा जोइन्ट कमिस्नरका रुपमा सनसनी मच्चाउने अधिकारीका रुपमा परिचित थिए। यद्यपि पुलिसलाई मिनाक्षीको शव अनि शिर उद्धार गर्न एक महिनाको समय लागेको थियो। आतङ्कवादी हमलाहरूको मामिला हातमा लिएर देशका शत्रुहरूलाई मृत्युदण्डको फसेला सुनाउन न्यायाधीशहरूलाई बाध्य बनाउने उज्ज्वल निकमजस्ता उकिलले मिनाक्षीको मुद्दामा पनि हत्याराहरूलाई फाँसीको सजाय सुनाउने माग गरेका थिए। निकमले यस मामिलामा जम्मा ३५ जना साक्षीहरूको बयान लिएका थिए जसमा मुख्य रुपमा मिनाक्षीको परिवारका सदस्यहरूको भूमिका अहम् थियो। यसरी नै अभियुक्त सुरिनका पिताको गवाहीले पनि मामिलामा महत्त्वपूर्ण मोड़ ल्याएको थियो जब उनले यी तीनैजनालाई गोरखपुरमा भेटेको सत्य कबुलेका थिए।
अर्कोतिर यस हत्या मामिलाको सुनवाइ प्रक्रियामा गत ६ सालदेखि रुची राखेर आदेश पर्खिरहेका सम्बन्धित सबैको अघि न्यायालयको आदेश त्यो दिन आएको छ जुन दिन हिमांशु रोयले दक्षिण मुम्बईस्थित आफ्नो वासस्थानमा सरकारी पिस्तोलले आफ्नो मुखमा गोली ठोकी आत्महत्या गरे।
यस मामलामा रुची लिएर पर्खने सबैमा आज न्यायालयको फसेलाले राहत दिए तापनि अर्कोतिर मिनाक्षी अनि उनको परिवारलाई यसरी न्याय प्रदान गर्नमा महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका निर्वाह गर्ने पुलिस कमिस्नरको आत्महत्याले सम्पूर्ण मुम्बईवासीहरूलाई जस्तै दुखित  तुल्याएको छ।

स्रोत: चरित्र प्रकाशन
हिमदर्पण

Sikkim girl sold and raped in Delhi

9:30 PM
Gangtok, May 4: A 19 year old girl was lured of job in Delhi was sold to three men by a woman named Monika Tamang.

The victim girl is a resident of Gelling Samsing in West Sikkim.

According to the police the woman had met the victim at Jorethang in January and had taken to Delhi in pretext of providing her job. The parents of the girl were not informed.

After reaching Delhi the girl was kept in a confinement in a place called Saket  where three persons namely Sameer, Anup  Gupta and Omkar Chettri repeatedly raped and physically tortured her saying she has been sold to them by Monika Tamang.

Chettri is a resident of Bhaktinagar in Siliguri.
Following Day while she was being transported to an unknown place she managed to escape and report to the police at Noida Sector 39.
A case has bee registered U/S 370 IPC, R/W SEC. 5 OF THE IMMORAL TRAFFIC (PREVENTION) ACT, 1956 at Jorethang Police Station.

MIRIK MURDER CASE, DEAD BODY REACHED MEDICAL COLLEGE

7:31 PM

MIRIK, 19th April: Family discussion resulted to a murder of younger brother at Mirik’s Jaman Singh Gaon under Thurbo Tea Garden.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night around 9 pm when younger brother trying to stop the fight of his two elder brothers was stabbed with sharp broken looking glass.

According to Mirik police Karan Dewan (25) and his Roshan Dewan were having discussion which turned into fight later when Nitesh Dewan alias Bhaichung (18) came and tried to stop them was stabbed by Karan.

Soon the relatives and villagers took blooded Nitesh to the hospital but died on the way.

Karan, Roshan and Nitesh are all cousin brothers and were gathered at aunt’s ‘antesty kria’ (13th day of traditional rites after death).

Mirik police have arrested Karan and booked a murder case while dead body of Nitesh was sent to North Bengal Medical & Hospital for post-mortem.

The reason of discussion and death has not been known so far but police is investigating into the matter.

NBE REPORTS

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma's Darjeeling visit

7:40 AM

Darjeeling: The sudden visit of the chairperson of the National Commission of Women, New Delhi, to Darjeeling to look into alleged atrocities committed against women during the Gorkhaland agitation in 2017, has sparked controversies.

Her arrival was met with protests, with the women's wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) claiming that there is a conspiracy to disturb the peace and normalcy of the Hills. On the other hand, the chairperson tweeted that the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police were avoiding a meeting with her. On Monday evening, the DM had a meeting with the chairperson.

Rekha Sharma, the chairperson, arrived at Darjeeling on Sunday and will be leaving for Delhi on April 18. On Sunday evening, Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha leaders met the chairperson and presented a memorandum while supporters protested outside.

Placards stated that a few people with vested interests were using the Women's Rights Commission to foment trouble and disturb peace in the Hills.

"Our question to the chairperson was, where was the commission when we required them when the 104-day-long bandh was clamped in 2017? We had approached many NGOs to get a Human Rights and Women's Rights Commission to the Hills, but no one came. They left us to our sorry plight. Now that there is peace and normalcy in the Hills, why try to create unrest? A group of people from outside Darjeeling are chaperoning the chairperson around and presenting false cases. They have vested political interests," alleged Prathibha Rai, Nari Morcha leader and chairperson, Darjeeling Municipality.

Bimal Gurung, who is on the run, sent an audio clip from an undisclosed location, welcoming the visit of the chairperson and criticised the protests against her visit.

5 Nari Morcha leaders, who had submitted a memorandum to the chairperson on Sunday, lodged a complaint with her through the DM on Monday, stating that one Puran Singh of Mirik, a supporter of Bimal Gurung, had outraged their modesty on a social networking site, using filthy language. They requested prompt action against him.

On Monday, the chairperson had tweeted that the DM and SP of Darjeeling were avoiding meeting her. "The administration is working overtime to stop victims and complainants from meeting me. I can imagine what must have happened in those 104 days," tweeted Sharma.

On Monday evening, Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate, Darjeeling, met Sharma. "The chairperson has referred some cases requiring medical assistance for children of those killed during the unrest," stated the DM. She even forwarded the complaint lodged by the Nari Morcha members. "The chairperson has stated that she would also look into this issue," stated the DM.

Darjeeling Man Robbed of Rs 35000, Mobile Phone in Delhi

6:36 AM
Writes: Bicky Sharma 

A 30 year old man from Dooars (Darjeeling) was beaten up and robbed of Rs. 35000 and his mobile phone by four men inside a cab in Delhi, just few hours after midnight.

Atit Limbu, who has been working in a bar in Sector 29 of Delhi, had boarded sharing a cab at IFFCO Chowk to Delhi's Ghittorni as usual at around 1 a.m. in the morning. After travelling a while, the taxi took an unusual U-turn, which raised suspicion into Atit's mind and when he asked the cab driver to stop, he accelerated the cab instead.

The culprits who had been acting like passengers, then suddenly started beating him. The duo sitting by his side covered his mouth to stop him from raising any alarm. They also tied his hands with his shoelaces, and later blindfolded him. They were carrying knives and pliers, as according to the victim, who also claims being hit on the face with the pliers.

The robbers snatched his debit card and withdrew 35000 from his account, after forcing him to reveal his PIN. They also took away his mobile phone.

After an hour, they dropped him in Sector 15, from where he took an auto to IFFCO Chowk. After reaching Ghitorni, he called the Police Control Room. An FIR has been registered at the Sector 29 Police station.

The Darjeeling Representatives of the Delhi Police for Northeast Region also went up to meet the SHO at Sector 29, who assured to find the accused as soon as possible.

Via TheDC

TMC Demands Expediting Madan Tamang Murder Case Trial

2:54 PM

The Trinmool Congress yesterday organized a rally and demanded that the ongoing trial relating to Madan Tamang murder case be expedited. In addition, the TMC pasted posters across Darjeeling towns and question the delay by CBI in concluding the investigation and the delay in trial.

Speaking to the Press, TMC leader Ms. Sharada Subba said, "even after so many years have passed, those who murdered Gorkha leader Madan Tamang are roaming free and justice is yet to be delivered... so even though the matter is sub-judice we have been forced to comment."

When asked to comment on the timing of the demand for arresting Madan Tamang murder case being raised as protest over Language issue is intensifying, TMC working President NB Khawas said, "these are two separate issues, we will protest the delay in justice for the family of Late. Madan Tamang and we will continue this protest as long as justice is not delivered."

Widow seeks justice over husband's murder

6:07 PM

Writes : Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong, 1 June :The widow of Chandan Pradhan whose dead body was found on 30th December at sevoke is asking for justice over the death of her husband.

Chandan Pradhan a contractor by profession was travelling with two of his friend Deepak Agarwal and Prem Puniya on the day of incident.

His body was recovered from a 300ft gorge near Coronation Bridge on NH31 in Kalimpong on 30th December.

He was returning back to home with his two friends but it was said they were engaged in some scuffle with some bikers but later police arrested both of his friend on suspicion.

Today the widow with Reeseka Chhetri , National Secretary of International Human Rights and crime control organization meet Kalimpong SP Ajeet Singh Yadav seeking justice.

After the meeting addressing a press meet widow Bijeta Chhetri Pradhan crying said “ My husband was brutally killed by Deepak Agarwal and Prem Puniya she alleged.

They were arrested but within a month they were out on bail and are roaming openly. From last five month we are seeking for justice.

We had only one male member who was hacked to death. My 10 years old daughter is always crying remembering her dad.

He said Prem Puniya called him on 28th December he stay at siliguri that night and on 29th December evening he said he was returning but he never returned.

She added that we being alone done not went to any political party as we had belief that we will get justice.

We visited Darjeeling SP who gave us a three month time but later Kalimpong being a district SP said it will be seen by new district.

Reseeka Chhetri National Secretary of International Human Rights and crime control organization said a case came yesterday at our office.

Bijeta informed about her case and seeking all the detail we today met SP Kalimpong who has assured us give justice in a month time. She said we will be moving to Kolkataa High court for cancelation of bail plea soon.

[Via : Kalimpong news Express]

SC to hear PIL on bias against Gorkha community

11:04 AM

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s decision to introduce sensitization programme in schools to prevent racial stereotyping, prejudices and hatred against certain minority communities such as the Sikhs seems to have opened the floodgates for others to move court against similar victimisation.

The latest to join the bandwagon are the Gorkhas or the Nepalis. A petition airing their grievance against stereotyping of the valiant community as hair-brained, brainless people, who are no good at anything except standing at people’s doorsteps came up for hearing in the top court.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and Justice D Y Chandrachud, directed that this petition mentioned by a law student, also be listed with those filed by the Sikh community against the racial slurs and innuendoes contained in the much-loved Sardar jokes. The court had in that case expressed its inability to crack down en masse on all such jokes but had said that it would try and deal with the problem posed by commercialisation of such jokes on social media.

The court had asked the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, the SGPC, to come up with some sort of sensitization programme, which would work on students and youngsters to eliminate the prejudices inherent in such cultural stereotyping.

“Nepalis or Gorkhas are projected as witless and brainless people who are fit to stand only on others’ doorsteps. Such actions grossly violate the basic right of the Nepalis to live with self-respect and dignity. Racism and stereotyping against the Gorkha community wouldn’t stop without the intervention of the highest court in the nation,” the petition said.

Via ET

Indian Gorkha Community Furious With Flipkart Ads - All you need to know

9:51 PM
Gorkha Youth and Students' Association of India (GYASA) filed Complaint against Flipkart Advertisement 

Complaint filed against Flipkart Advertisement which is defamatory, sacriligeous, communal, racist and hurting the sentiments of the Indian Gorkha community and insulting khukri emblem of the Indian Gorkha Brigade and Assam Rifles.

DETAILED COMPLAINT:-
To,
Shri Robin Hibu IPS,
Inspector General of Police (Delhi Police)
Nodal officer for Northeast
Sub: - Complaint against Flipkart Advertisment which is defamatory, sacriligeous, communal, racist and hurting the sentiments of the Indian Gorkha community and insulting the khukri emblems of the Indian Gorkha Brigade and Assam Rifles.

(Above) Flipkart advertisement dated 22 August 2016 front pages on national dailies such as Times of India, The Hindu and others.
1. In two advertisement posted online, for which we have shared the link below, as well as being shown in TV and print media,
https://youtu.be/sWWAamxP-mw
https://youtu.be/gUl00MwN9Oc

2. Description: We want to draw your attention to the racist advertisement currently being propagated by Flipkart. The ad carries a boy portrayed as a security guard wearing a belt prominently saying SECURITY along with a Nepali cap with a badge of khukris which denote that he is a Nepali\Gorkhali. Thus a security guard has been depicted as a professional icon of the Nepali community creating a stereo-type affecting all Indian Gorkhalis.

3. Their advertisement makes a mockery of the Gorkha community, and stereotypes us as being Chowkidars with overly exaggerated and highly offensive [which they may consider as being funny] Hindi accent. Stereotyping a community is the most basic forms of racism and by promoting their business using racist stereotyping; Flipkart has shown how insensitive they are and at the same time exposed the hypocrisy of our great nation. While we cry for blood when an Indian is ‘stereotyped and racially abused’ in foreign shores, we tend to silently accept stereotyping as an accepted form of comedy when it is done to the minorities in our own nation. Flipkart has insulted the Gorkhali/Nepali community of India by perpetuating across national media to 1.3 billion Indians that the Khukri bearers are a community representing mere security guards.

4. Sir, the Gorkha community holds esteemed status in the world as immortalized by the words of Late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, MC, Ex-Chief of Indian Army ‘If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or a Gorkha.’ The contributions made by Gorkhali community towards our nation building is unprecedented. In each and every sphere, the Gorkhas have always performed to the best of our abilities and contributed towards making India one of the greatest nations on earth. From Freedom Fighter Sahid Durga Malla whose statue adorns the Parliament grounds, to INA Capt. Ram Singh Thakuri who gave music to iconic INA songs like Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja and also to the current band version of our National Anthem, to Shri Damber Singh Gurung whose role as the member of Constituent Assembly in framing the Constitution of our great nation was highly praised by Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the Gorkhas have provided illustrious luminaries who have led from the front in helping get India Independence and ushering in democracy.

5. Following the promulgation of our constitution, Gorkhas have worked tirelessly in each and every sphere to make a name for themselves and our nation, as reflected in Gorkha icon Shri. Pawan Kumar Chamling the longest serving Chief Minister in India ever. Be it in the form of legendary football player Chandan Singh Rawat representing India in Olympics at the Helsinki (1952), or in the form of iconic Indian National Football Team Captain Shyam Thapa, to the current Indian National Team Captain Sunil Chettri, Olympian and this year’s Khel Ratna awardee Jitu Rai to Arjuna Award awardee Shiva Thapa, from former Indian National Hockey team Captain Bharat Chettri to Ms. Chung Chung Bhutia of the Indian National Women’s Football team,the Gorkhashave excelled in the field of sports. In the form of award winning scientists Dr. Sunita Pradhan and Dr. Sarala Khaling, to the internationally acclaimed Artist Ms. Hemlata Pradhan, to noted social worker recently felicitated by the Hon’ble President of India Ms. Rongu Souriya to Internationally acclaimed author Ms. Jyoti Thapa Mani,the Gorkhali women have made immense contribution towards our nation. In the world of arts and entertainment who doesn’t get mesmerized by the works of National Award winning actress Ms. Gitanjali Thapa, or by the works of India’s top cinematographer Mr. Binod Pradhan or Mr. Nima Namchu the Chief Creative Officer at Havas Worldwide, or by Mr. Danny Denzongpa one of the most illustrious Gorkhali sons in Bollywood. In terms of bravery and patriotism, there is no parallel to Gorkha contributions in keeping our nation safe. If we start listing the name of the Gorkha brave-hearts, it would take us at least 2 years to write them down, suffice it to say the Gorkha Regiment, has, as of today won 6 Theater Honors, 18 Battle Honors, 3 Param Vir Chakras, 5 Ashok Chakras, 28 Maha Vir Chakras, 75 Vir Chakras and numerous other honors and citations. India’s first Field Marshal Gen. Sam “Bahadur” Manekshaw was a Gorkha by creed, and so is India’s current Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag.

6. From academics to entertainment, from sports to defense of our nation, the Gorkhas despite our low numbers have contributed immensely towards nation building. Yet, Flipkart has chosen to show Gorkhas as Chowkidars with funny accent, thus sullying the image of our community.

7. Flipkart uses Gorkha religious and cultural artifact (Bhadgauley Topi/ Gorkha Hat) with Khukuri insignia as part of security personnel Uniform. The advertisement sends out a perception that the cultural Gorkha topi with Khukuri insignia is a part of the security uniform and everyone wearing it is chowkidar.

8. Much like what Pagdai and Kirpan mean to the Sikh community, the Gorkha topi and Khukuri are the biggest religious and cultural symbol for the Gorkhas, and every Gorkha, irrespective of theirstatus in the society - be it a watchman, teacher, sportsperson, or the army takes pride in wearing our topi. To use such articles of immense religious and cultural significance for derogatory advertisement and making a mockery of the accent in which Gorkhalis speak Hindi,is a deliberate act of stereotyping the entire community as only security guards and watchmen who cannot speak Hindi normally, thus establishing our community as either being uneducated or foreigners who cannot speak Hindi properly. Also This is a cheap exploitation of culture and customs for commercial gain and it is utterly offensive and unethical. Most of all, insulting the Khukri which is the sacred weapon of India’s seven Gorkha Regiments (the 1st GR, 3rd GR, 4th GR, 5th GR, 8th GR, 9th GR, 11th GR) as they are deployed in defence operations across the most hostile terrains and situations across India. Even the Chief of Indian Army General Dalbir Singh Suhag wears the khukri on his hat as he belonged to the 5th Gorkha Rifles.

9. We want to understand the intention of Flipkart in using thereligious and cultural symbol of a community to subtly depict the entire Gorkha people in a bad light. How did the ‘creative directors’ of the advertisement even think that the Gorkha Topi and Khukuri is a part of any security uniform? And that Gorkhas can only speak Hindi in a very offensive accent?

10. We have also found out that Flipkart has in an earlier advertisement depicted children with mongoloid features as being beauty parlor workers, while round eyed “Indian” [according to Flipkart norms] looking children as their rich patrons, thus stereotyping the entire NE women as being beauty parlour workers (https://youtu.be/-JpjpiC0ZpI)

11. Given the repeated instances of Racist portrayal of our Gorkha community, as well as racist portrayal of NE communities, we demand that a case of hurting Gorkha religious sentiments under Indian Penal Code section 153(A) and racial discrimination and promotion of racism under Indian Penal Codesection 295 (A) be immediately filed against Flipkart CEO Binny Bansal (Corporate Address - Flipkart Internet Private Limited, Vaishnavi Summit, Ground Floor, 7th Main, 80 Feet Road, 3rd Block, Koramangala Industrial Layout, Bangalore – 560034, Karnataka, India, Ph - 0124-6150000) (Email – ceo@flipkart.com and Virat Tandon CEO, of Mullen Lintasthe Ad agency which created these racist advertisements.

12. In addition, we demand an immediate public apology from Flipkart across various platforms - online, on TV and Print media for hurting the sentiments of over 12.5 million Indian Gorkhas and removal of these highly offensive advertisementsfrom all forms of communications immediately.

Sincerely,
Lt. Col (Retd) Sukul Pradhan
Jyoti Thapa Mani (Author – The Khukri Braves)
Rajen Pandey Chhetry – Gorkha Social Activist
General Secretary - Nepali Sammelan Delhi
President - Gorkha Youth and Students’ Association of India (GYASA)
Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC)
Hamro Swabhimaan Trust
All India Kirati Khambu Rai Association
All Manipur Gorkha Students’ Union (AMGSU)
President – All Manipur Gorkha Students’ Union, Delhi
ARNOVA
D.M College Gorkha Students Union, Manipur
Gorkha Foundation India

Copy To:-
1. Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Minister for Information & Broadcasting
2. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble MoS Development of North East Region, MoS PMO
3. Shri. SS Ahluwalia, Hon’ble MoS Parlimentary Affairs, MoS Farmers Welfare, Member of Parliament Darjeeling
4. Shri. Pawan Kumar Chamling, Hon’ble Chief Minister Govt of Sikkim
5. Shri. Bimal Gurung, Chief, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
6. General Dalbir Singh, Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
7. Shri. Justice H L Dattu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission
8. Shri Naseem Ahmed, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities
9. Shri. RP Sharmah, Member of Parliament, Tezpur
10. Shri. PD Rai, Member of Parliament (LS), Sikkim
11. Shri. Hishey Lachungpa, Member of Parliament (RS), Sikkim
12. Shri. Benoy Roychowdhury, Chairman (ASCI)
13. Lt. Gen Shakti Gurung (Retd) – Gorka Kalyan Board, Uttarakhand
14. President, Gorkha Janmukti Students Union, Darjeeling
15. President, All Assam Gorkha Students Union,
16. President, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)
17. President, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP)
18. President, All Manipur Gorkha Students Union
19. President, Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, Darjeeling

20. President, Gorkha National Students Front, Darjeeling

Why The Gorkha Community Is Furious With Two Flipkart Ads

Remember the last Gorkhali character you saw in a Hindi movie? Yes, the same one who played the watchman?

Isn't it problematic that the above sentences could be referring to any Gorkhali character in any Hindi film and would still be factually correct?

It is in common knowledge that mainstream Hindi films and advertisements tend to stereotype Gorkhali people as watchmen.

Indian Gorkha Community Furious With Flipkart Ads
Now, Flipkart has joined the list of offenders by endorsing the mothballed stereotype. The company recently launched 'Assured Flipkart', a campaign that seeks to apprise its customers of their extensive quality checks that "guarantee a superior shopping experience".

If you are familiar with the previous Flipkart ads, you know that they have a bunch of kids backed with adult voiceovers, making simplistic ads seem cute. The two new ads are of the same kind.

In both the ads, two watchmen try to warn the sahebji and the madamji from ordering online because one cannot trust these online portals. To this, the sahebji and the madamji say that with Assured Flipkart, there is ensured and fast delivery of the orders. Of the two watchmen, one is Gorkha and is seen wearing the traditional Bhadgauley Topi, a hat that the Gorkhas wear.

What Flipkart didn't foresee was that these ads would offend the Gorkha community. The portrayal of the watchman was not taken lightly by the community.

A complaint letter submitted to the Delhi Police by the Gorkha Youth and Students' Association of India (GYASA), said, "Their advertisement makes a mockery of the Gorkha community, and stereotypes us as being Chowkidars, with overly exaggerated and highly offensive [which they may consider as being funny] Hindi accent."

It added, "Stereotyping a community is the most basic forms of racism and by promoting their business using racist stereotyping; Flipkart has shown how insensitive they are and at the same time exposed the hypocrisy of our great nation. While we cry for blood when an Indian is 'stereotyped and racially abused' in foreign shores, we tend to silently accept stereotyping as an accepted form of comedy when it is done to the minorities of our own nation."

Speaking to HuffPost India, lawyer and Gorkha Rights Activist, Roshni Rai, said, "I stay in Mumbai and people here refer to watchmen as Gorkha. Many people from the community do not want to disclose their identity because of that. People don't know that there are Nepalis in India. They think if one is Nepali then they must be from Nepal. But we are Indians and proud to be. This kind of advertisements really hurt the sentiment of the community. So, people are filing complaints against Flipkart. We demand an apology from them."

The complaint by GYASA also mentions that the ad shows the kid-watchman wearing the Bhadgauley Topi or the Gorkha Hat with Khukuri insignia indicating that it is part of a security personnel's uniform.

Speaking to HuffPost India, Dinesh Sharma from GYASA said, "What I found personally very offensive is that a cultural artefact of my community has been used to portray that this is what watchmen's uniforms are. Like a Kirpan for the Sikh community, no one can depict the topi so derogatorily. It is very demeaning. Gorkhas have a history of defending he country. When you show that this hat in TV and pop culture as something that security guards wear, it is demeaning. This hat is our pride. We give this to dignitaries. It holds high value in my community. I would have laughed at a caricature of a Gorkha person because I don't object to the portrayal of members of my community wearing the security uniform. This is the premise of our protest."

The complaint letter also mentioned a previous ad by Flipkart that "depicted children with mongoloid features as being beauty parlor workers, while round eyed "Indian" [according to Flipkart norms] looking children as their rich patrons, thus stereotyping the entire NE women as being beauty parlour workers."


In addition to an apology, GYASA has filed a complaint against Flipkart with Delhi Police and the complaint has been handed over to the Nodal Officer for Northeast.

Why I Don't Agree with Flipkart Advertisement and will Protest?

By Dinesh Sharma

The recent advertisement by ‪#‎Flipkart‬ has drawn a new debate within the Gorkha community and the Northeast region at large. This is not the first time that Flipkart has indulged people with a subtly racist message in their advertisement. A previous ad by the same company has some NE lookalikes as massage and beauty parlor attendants. So, when I say I protest, it is not for this one ad, but the continuous trend of negative stereotype of the Gorkhas and the NE region portrayed in Indian popular media.

Many amongst my own circle of friend see nothing wrong with the ad. they question my progressiveness and broad mindedness when I say that such ads should not be encouraged. I am often accused of letting my emotions rule over practicality. That, I have no 'sense of humor' and I lack the basic progressiveness of the 21st century.

Okay, I accept and be it so. But, let me state my position clear.
A journalist friend asked me "Gorkhas have been depicted like this in popular media for a long time now. Why this protest now?"

Perhaps the very reason that we never complained about such negative stereotyping, today we see this trend of ridiculing and stereotyping culture and people. Nobody actually bothered to think about the deep repercussions such negative portrayal will bear on our today and future. Such popular media gimmick creates the impression that someone donning the ‘Bhadgaule’ hat or ‘khukri’ is a security guy, watchmen, or a domestic help.

This topi and Khukuri is something very important to my identity as a Gorkha and a cultural artifact which we proudly wear. Be it politicians, sportspersons, intellectuals, or a common man, we all take pride in wearing a Gorkha topi. It holds a cultural significance to us and we also gift the topi as a token of love and appreciation to guests in our villages, festivals, and social gatherings.

Now when these media start portraying that Topi and Khukuri are for security guys, it is a personal insult to me. This is clearly demeaning and the negative stereotyping is a wilful malice intentionally directed against us. Would these ads dare to use a 'Kirpan' or 'pagdee' as something for security? No, because their arse will burn and they know it.

When a world-class company shows this level of cultural illiteracy, it is pertinent to question their achievements and success level. They may be financial giants, but they seem to lack those basic human values of RESPECT and DIGNITY which are the pillars of any civilized world.

I protest this ad because if I don't do it today, I will lose the pride of wearing my Topi tomorrow or talking about the amazing Khukuri.

I understand that there are thousands of Gorkhas working a dignified life working as Security and domestic help around this country. I also know many more Gorkhas who are leading this nation in sports, academics, defence, art, and culture. Would you treat them as security guards when they wear their cultural artefact?

If I don’t protest, the kids will forget all our achievements and contributions to the nation saying we are all security guards and watchmen

If I don’t protest, my community stands at the risk of being labelled as security and the funnily accented Chinese momo and chowmein.

If I don't protest, they will trample all our achievements in military, Sports, art, and culture and bring it down to the level of heavily accented "Saabji, bolo Saabji"

If I don’t protest these popular media will trivialize my proud cultural heritage, and our history saying we are nothing but watchmen and guards.


Sources GYASA and huffingtonpost 


 
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