Darjeeling, 10 December : The GJM today renewed its demand for carving out a separate Gorkhaland state from West Bengal and moved Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and BJP president Nitin Gadkari to press for it."We have written to the prime minister, Sonia Gandhi and Nitin Gadkari renewing our demand for Gorkhaland," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roman Giri told reporters. The demand for Gorkhaland has been revived as no date has been announced for the tripartite talks on GJM's demand for an authority to replace the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, he said.
The GJM has already called a 48 hour bandh from 20 December in the Darjeeling hills if the interim council was not set up by that date. န File Photos
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Tiger tranquilised after entering village in "Sunderbans"
Kolkata, 10 December : A Royal Bengal Tiger was tranquilised today after it wandered into a village in the Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas district.
The tiger swam across the Olion canal and entered a school playground and thereafter went to a paddy field at Kishorimohanpur village in Kultali area, DFO S Bandopadhyay said. Forest personnel encircled the field and shot five tranquiliser darts at the tiger which was taken to a camp after it fell unconscious, he said. The tiger would be released back in the forests tomorrow.
Kolkata, 10 December : A Royal Bengal Tiger was tranquilised today after it wandered into a village in the Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas district.
The tiger swam across the Olion canal and entered a school playground and thereafter went to a paddy field at Kishorimohanpur village in Kultali area, DFO S Bandopadhyay said. Forest personnel encircled the field and shot five tranquiliser darts at the tiger which was taken to a camp after it fell unconscious, he said. The tiger would be released back in the forests tomorrow.
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Four Garo militants killed, five held in East Garo Hills dist
Shillong, 10 December : Four Garo militants were killed and five others arrested in an encounter with the police in Meghalaya's militancy-infested East Garo Hills district today.
A special police team from Rongjeng and Mendipathar police station arrested six Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadre on a tip off from Gajingpara forests this morning, Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger said.
Shillong, 10 December : Four Garo militants were killed and five others arrested in an encounter with the police in Meghalaya's militancy-infested East Garo Hills district today.
A special police team from Rongjeng and Mendipathar police station arrested six Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadre on a tip off from Gajingpara forests this morning, Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger said.
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Conquerors of BD-Nepal Himalayan Peak return expedition 
UNB, Dhaka, 10 December : The flag in ceremony for the conquerors of a Himalayan peak, now known as Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak, was held on Friday where the mountaineers of both countries returned the expedition-flag that was given to them before the expedition.UNB Chairman Amanullah Khan, Councilor and Deputy Chief of Mission of Nepalese Embassy Krishna Chandra Aryal, reputed author Syed Manzoorul Islam and members of the Bangladesh-Nepal joint mountaineering team were present at the function held at Cosmos Centre in the city. MA Mohit and Pemba Dorje Sherpa, team leader of Bangladesh and Nepal respectively, handed over the expedition-flag to the guests. The victorious mountaineers were members of Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).
Greeting the brave mountaineers, Krishna Chandra Aryal said: “This is a victory for both Bangladesh and Nepal. We’ll stay beside you in future to bring even bigger success.” He encouraged newcomers for joining the team and urged all mountaineers to be aware of climate change for making each step successful. န Photo : UNB
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Relaxations sought may not require, says Asim DasguptaKolkata, 10 December : A day after the West Bengal government sought relaxation in borrowings and repayment terms with the RBI, State Finance Minister Dr Asim Dasgupta today said it might not be required if tax collection improved and Central dues were received in time.
Briefing a meeting of the state government with the bankers, Dasgupta told reporters that the bankers have been asked to increase their credit disbursement target to the Self Help Groups (SHGs), Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) and in agriculture sector. There could be an addition of another one lakh SHGs with the existing 11.46 lakh at present who should be extended all loan facilities, Dasgupta said.
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Air India told to take back sacked 'overweight' air hostess
IANS, Kolkata, 10 December : The Calcutta High Court Friday ordered the Indian Airlines, now Air India, to take back air hostess Nipa Dhar, who was sacked in 2001 for being overweight.‘The division bench comprising Justice Pratap Kumar Roy and Justice M.K.Sinha directed Air India to reinstate Dhar in service within two months. It has also directed the airlines to set up a medical board to ascertain her medical condition and give her ground duties according to the recommendation of the board,’ said Dhar’s counsel Madhumita Roy. The bench has also asked the Air India authorities to pay within three months all her dues pending since 2001, she said. All smiles after the judgment, Dhar said: ‘I am very happy, relaxed and relieved.’
Hailing the judgment, counsel Roy said: ‘It’s a historic judgment with a new dimension and without any orthodox view.’ In 2001, Dhar was warned by the airlines authorities that she was 15 kg overweight. Dhar then requested a ground job instead of flying. But she was later served a termination notice by the authorities without referring her to medical treatment or providing any alternative work like ground duty.
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Govt. to build cultural zone centreing Race Course Maidan
BSS, Dhaka, 10 December : Bangladesh Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad today said the government has taken plan to build a cultural zone centreing the Race Course Maidan(Suhrawardy Udyan).
He was addressing the cover unveiling function of Jagaroner Gan-2 album of gonosangramer gan sangkalan at Independent Monument at Suharawardy Udyan here.
He was addressing the cover unveiling function of Jagaroner Gan-2 album of gonosangramer gan sangkalan at Independent Monument at Suharawardy Udyan here.
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Andaman’s carnival, Island Tourism festival from 5 January
Port Blair, 10 December : The Andaman and NicobarAdministration is all set to organise Island Tourism Festival, the only carnival of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from 5 to 15 January, 2011 in Port Blair.The 14-day long event is usually organised in December every year but since last two years the event is being organized in January. Only in 2004 the administration could not organised the ITF because of tsunami disaster but from 2005 the ITF was back.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Sports, Art and Culture, A&N administration is all set to provide cultural inputs to the long awaited festival. Apart from the daily cultural event, the contingents comprising visiting and local artistes would perform at various remote scattered islands like Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Neil, Havelock, Car Nicobar and Hut Bay. (With Andaman Sheekha inputs)
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Bijoy rally marking historic "Mymensingh free day" held
BSS, Mymensingh, 10 December : Today is the historic Mymensingh free day. This day Mymensingh was freed from the occupation of the Pakistan army in 1971.
Different political parties, Muktijoddha Sangsad and socio- cultural organisations organized discussions and cultural functions marking the day. District Muktijoddha Sangsad brought out a Bijoy rally in the town. The rally starting from Mukta Mancha at Chotabarar area this morning paraded the main thoroughfares 8and ended at Muktijoddha memorial.
Different political parties, Muktijoddha Sangsad and socio- cultural organisations organized discussions and cultural functions marking the day. District Muktijoddha Sangsad brought out a Bijoy rally in the town. The rally starting from Mukta Mancha at Chotabarar area this morning paraded the main thoroughfares 8and ended at Muktijoddha memorial.
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Justice Sen says impeachment motion in RS has defects
PTI, Kolkata, New Delhi, 10 December : Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court, who has been indicted by a judicial committee, today claimed that the impeachment motion against him has defects and Parliament cannot discuss the role of a receiver.
"The motion has two defects," Subhas Bhattacharyya, lawyer for Justice Sen, said on the reply given by the Judge to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.
PTI, Kolkata, New Delhi, 10 December : Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court, who has been indicted by a judicial committee, today claimed that the impeachment motion against him has defects and Parliament cannot discuss the role of a receiver.
"The motion has two defects," Subhas Bhattacharyya, lawyer for Justice Sen, said on the reply given by the Judge to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.
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Justice Soumitra Sen files reply to RS, counters charges
PTI, New Delhi, 10 December : Justice Soumitra Sen of Calcutta High Court, who has been indicted by a judicial committee on an impeachment motion, has filed his reply to the Rajya Sabha, countering the charges against him.
In his reply submitted yesterday, Justice Sen is understood to have contended that he had done no wrong and there was no basis for the charges against him on the basis of which he was found guilty by the committee set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, sources said.
PTI, New Delhi, 10 December : Justice Soumitra Sen of Calcutta High Court, who has been indicted by a judicial committee on an impeachment motion, has filed his reply to the Rajya Sabha, countering the charges against him.
In his reply submitted yesterday, Justice Sen is understood to have contended that he had done no wrong and there was no basis for the charges against him on the basis of which he was found guilty by the committee set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, sources said.
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Facebook offer Rs 38 Lakh job to an IIT-Kharagpur student
Kolkata, 10 December : In a new round of placement, the social networking giant Facebook has offered a package of 38-lakh per annum to a IIT-Kharagpur student. The offer which is a record in IIT Kharagpur's history, was made on the first day of placement to a student who gives his name as DKS, who does not want his full name to be revealed.He revealed that he has received a 'join-us' post from the website. He is to graduate from the school of computer science and engineering at IIT-Kharagpur in 2011. The offer is three times higher than last year's top offer from Barclays. This was made for an offshore placement, mostly in the U.S.
Officials revealed that Facebook's offer letter includes a starting salary of $90,000, a relocation bonus of $10,000 and a one-time signing amount of $25,000, although many suggested that the entire offer translates to about Rs 1.7 crore.
This high offer has created a buzz on the IIT campuses and the IIT students hope that this year's placement will be better than the previous two years which were affected by the global economic downturn. Interviews are being held in the IIT campuses across India. Facebook has already shortlisted 10 students from IIT-Madras. Close to 30 students were placed from IIT-B on Friday. Many companies like Transocean, Tower Research, Goldman Sachs, Bank of American, Deutsche Bank, Citibank and Capital One have made some important placements from the IIT campuses offering hefty pay packages. (With SiliconIndia inputs)
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BJP to fight in all constituencies in Assam's Assembly poll
Guwahati, 10 December : After its alliance with the AGP in the 2009 parliamentary elections failed to yield desired results, the BJP today said it will contest in all the 126 constituencies in Assam in the ensuing Assembly elections scheduled next year.
State unit president Ranjit Dutta told reporters here that the party will fight it out in all the constituencies.
Guwahati, 10 December : After its alliance with the AGP in the 2009 parliamentary elections failed to yield desired results, the BJP today said it will contest in all the 126 constituencies in Assam in the ensuing Assembly elections scheduled next year.
State unit president Ranjit Dutta told reporters here that the party will fight it out in all the constituencies.
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