FROM THE HINDU

Senior leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Monday met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the arrest of Managing Director of the AMRI hospital Mani Chhetri, a nonagenarian doctor, once considered a luminary in his field.

They said his arrest in connection with the fire at the AMRI hospital had hurt the sentiments of the hill people since they considered him one of their own. Senior GJM leader Harkabahadur Chhetri told journalists after the meeting that he was apprehensive that the incident might spark unrest in the hills as some organisations were planning to take out a procession on this issue.

This was conveyed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a meeting that Mr. Harkabahadur Chhetri and another GJM leader Tilok Dewan had. They also met Home Secretary G.D. Gautama.

Mr. Harkabahadur Chhetri said Dr. Mani Chhetri was a revered person in the hills and the State government was requested to handle his case with care and caution, with due respect to his advanced age and his contribution to the field of medicine.  Read the rest of this entry »

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KOLKATA: Kalimpong MLA and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri called on the chief minister on Monday and expressed his party’s fear that the arrest of nonagenarian Mani Chhetri, the MD of AMRI Hospitals, could spark tension in the hills.

Chhetri and Pranab Dasgupta, member of AMRI board, were arrested last week in connection with the fire at the hospital that had killed more than 90 people.

Keeping the hills peaceful had been a tough challenge for the state government and it appears that tension is always simmering inside.

According to the GJM spokesperson, Chhetri is an icon of Darjeeling. “He is the intellectual representative of the people of the hills and the people there have been immensely hurt at his arrest,” he said.

“There are many organizations that want to organize protest rallies and we are afraid that this could spark tension in the hills,” Harka Bahadur said after the meeting, adding that he had informed about this to the state home secretary GD Gautama.

Harka, along with Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan, told the CM and home secretary Gautama that the doctor had considered Kolkata to be his second home and though he could have stayed in the hills, he had chosen to be in the city and treat patients. “All these should have been taken into consideration. Moreover, at his age, the decision to arrest him was not correct,” he said.  Read the rest of this entry »

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

New Delhi: Goalkeeper Bharat Chetri has been named the captain of the Indian hockey team for the crucial Olympic qualifiers to be held at the Dhyan Chand Sports Complex here from February 18.

Chetri, who hails from Kalimpong, was also the captain of the side during the tour of Australia last October. Ace midfielder Sardara Singh has been named the vice-captain.

Former captain Rajpal Singh failed to find a place in the team, who, according to sources, is still not match-fit after undergoing an appendix surgery. During the last series against South Africa, chief coach Michael Nobbs expressed doubts about the fitness of Rajpal.

However, Rajpal has questioned Hockey India’s decision to rule him ‘unfit’ for the Olympic qualifiers without even conducting his fitness test.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (captain), P.R. Sreejesh; Defenders: Sandeep Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Rupinderpal Singh; Midfielders: Sardara Singh (vice captain), Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Ignace Tirkey, Kothajit Singh; Forwards: SV Sunil, Sarvanjit Singh, Shivendra Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Tushar Khandke r, Danish Mujtaba, Yuvraj Walmiki, SK Uthappa.  Read the rest of this entry »