Tag: Sikkim

IAF rescues 13 Army personnel in Sikkim

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New Delhi: IAF helicopters on Wednesday rescued 13 Army personnel from a mountainous area in North Sikkim after they were injured in a road accident.
The IAF deployed the helicopters to rescue the Army personnel after it received information about the accident, officials said.
In a tweet, the IAF said the Army personnel were rescued from the area that is on an altitude of 14,000 feet.

“On 19 Apr 23, amidst the harsh terrain & inclement weather of North Sikkim, IAF helicopters successfully rescued 13 Army personnel injured in a road accident from an altitude of 14,000 ft,” it said.
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#IAF #rescues #Army #personnel #Sikkim
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
Sikkim Assembly seeks clarification on Sikkimese definition in Finance Act from Centre

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Gangtok: The Sikkim Assembly on Monday passed a resolution seeking clarification from the Centre on the expansion of the definition of Sikkimese in the recently passed Finance Act, 2023.
The House adopted the resolution by a voice vote during a day-long session convened to discuss the matter.
As soon as House assembled, Education Minister Lunga Nima Lepcha tabled the resolution with permission from Speaker Arun Upreti.

Dramatic scenes were witnessed as Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) supremo and former chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling was marshalled out of the House for disrupting Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s reply.
Chamling, who was the CM for 25 years, charged his successor of “misleading” the House on the impact of the Finance Act on Article 371F, which grants special rights to Sikkimese people.
The SDF president wanted to raise a point of order while the CM was speaking but the Speaker disallowed him from doing so, and chastised the former chief minister for disrupting the House, before ordering him to be marshalled out.
Consequently, 73-year-old Chamling was escorted out of the House, where in a brief media interaction, he insisted that the provisions of Article 371F applicable exclusively to Sikkim stood diluted after the enactment of the Finance Bill, 2023 by expanding the definition of Sikkimese people by including the old settlers and their descendants.
“Over the next few years, the doors have been opened for more outsiders to come to Sikkim and enjoy the exclusive rights,” he said.

Later, addressing a press conference, the CM asserted that the rights of the Sikkimese people have not been compromised in any way and that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has clarified that the expansion of the Sikkimese definition was only for Income Tax exemption.
“What are we supposed to lose if the old settlers and their descendants get exemption from Income Tax?” he said.
Article 371F has remained untouched in Finance Act, which is an amendment to the Income Tax Act, 1961.
On his predecessor being marshalled out from the House, Tamang said he has nothing to say on the matter as it was the decision of the Speaker.
Tamang said he has suggested that the Speaker establish an all-party delegation, which will meet representatives of the Centre to seek clarification on the expansion of the definition of Sikkimese.
He said 14 people have been arrested so far for their involvement in recent violence in Singtam, in which a Joint Action Council office-bearer was injured in an attack while he was mobilising people to bring out a protest rally against the Finance Act.
Meanwhile, two BJP leaders — S B Karki and Laten Sherpa resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest against the alleged dilution of Article 371F following the enactment of the Finance Act.
Sherpa had contested the lone Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim in 2019 on a BJP ticket, while Karki was the vice-president of the party’s state unit.
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#Sikkim #Assembly #seeks #clarification #Sikkimese #definition #Finance #Act #Centre
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 11, 2023
Sikkim: No tourist left under snow, search operations called off, says officials

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Gangtok: A Sikkim government official Wednesday said it is now “almost certain” that no one is left strapped under the snow at 15th Mile, the site of the devastating avalanche and search operations by the Army and the Border Road teams have been called off.
But helpline numbers will remain active for the time being to help tourists get information about their kin, Gangtok district collector Tushar Nikhare told reporters here.
“We are almost certain that no more tourists are trapped under the snow near 15th Mile,” Nikhare said.

The Army, NDRF, ITBP, GREF, Sikkim Police and two personnel from Tiranga Mountain Rescue Team equipped with radars searched all possible areas near 15th Mile to find out any tourist lodged under the snow. But nobody was found there during the rescue and search operations that were carried out from 8AM to 3PM before being halted, the Gangtok DC said.
The rescue teams used digging and trenching machines and other modern equipment to find people trapped under the debris at the place, which is a few km short of Nathu La, but none was found, he said.
The road between Nathu La and Gangtok is open but no tourist vehicle will be allowed to ply till permission is granted after taking note of the weather conditions, he said.
The avalanche that took place near the high Himalayan pass between Tibet and India on Tuesday has claimed seven lives and trapped under it an estimated 25-30 people, besides six vehicles, officials said.
Nikhare said that the incident was not an avalanche but a ‘snow slide’ and it has been clarified by top authorities.
A snow slide is an avalanche of snow, while an avalanche is a large mass of snow, ice, earth, rock or other material down a mountainside or over a precipice.

Describing a snow slide as a “once in a life time incident”, he asserted that Sikkim is otherwise is a safe place for tourists and other visitors.
Lessons have been learnt from the ‘snow slide’ and precautionary measures like signages indicating dangerous areas, no parking zones and instruction about not crossing the limits of visiting areas will be put up at 15th Mile and surrounding areas, the official said.
Meanwhile, the post mortem of all seven retrieved bodies were carried out at the STNM here and five of them been handed over to their next of kin. The bodies of the remaining two persons will be taken by the relatives tomorrow, officials said.
The state government will provide all assistance to the kin of the victims and the injured will be provided treatment free of cost, they added.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#Sikkim #tourist #left #snow #search #operations #called #officials
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 5, 2023
EAM Jaishankar expresses grief over loss of lives in Sikkim avalanche

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim.
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, “The news of deaths and injuries due to catastrophic avalanche in Sikkim is deeply distressing. Condolences to the bereaved families. Wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Sikkim.

Shah took to Twitter to condole the loss of lives and assured that the teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will reach the affected area soon.
The minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
“My sincerest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim. We are closely monitoring the situation and the teams of NDRF will reach the affected area soon. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Shah said in a tweet.
At least seven tourists were killed and many are feared trapped after an avalanche struck the Gangtok-Nathu La road in Sikkim on Tuesday afternoon, the Army said.
The deceased have been identified as Shiva Psd Lamichaney, Ashika Dhakal, Rebya Singh, Bal Singh, Sourav Roy Chaudhary, Pritam Matiy and Muna Shah Shrestra, officials said.

“Among the 7 deceased we have identified three as Nepal nationals, and two each were from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Bengal victims will be taken in an ambulance, 2 from Uttar Pradesh will be flown while those from Nepal will be taken by road for which the State Social Welfare department is looking into the logistics of taking mortal remains,” Gangtok District Collector said.
An estimated 20-30 tourists were feared to be trapped under the snow along with five-six vehicles, the Army added.
“By 3 pm, 14 persons were rescued and taken to a nearby Army medical facility. However, seven persons succumbed. The other seven persons were administered first aid and returned to Gangtok, the Army said in a statement.
The search and rescue operation was halted on Tuesday at 6:00 pm due to inclement weather, the DC notice stated.
Further, the search and rescue operation for the avalanche will again start at 8:00 hours on April 5, 2023, to account for missing tourists, the statement reads.
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#EAM #Jaishankar #expresses #grief #loss #lives #Sikkim #avalanche
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 5, 2023
Army rescues 400 tourists stranded in Sikkim after heavy snowfall

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Gangtok: Army personnel rescued around 400 tourists stranded in Sikkim following heavy snowfall and later provided emergency assistance, including medical care and food, to them, defence officials said on Sunday.
Defence spokesman Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said that around 400 tourists, including 142 women and 50 children travelling approximately in 100 vehicles got stranded on Saturday afternoon while returning from Natu La and Tsomgo (Changgu) Lake and soldiers of Trishakti Corps, in collaboration with police and civil administration, swung into action and launched rescue mission “Operation Himrahat”.
“The relief and rescue operations continued through late on Saturday night. The tourists were moved to safe areas and provided shelter, warm clothing, medical aid and hot meals. The troops arranged accommodation for the stay of all the tourists,” Lt. Col Rawat said.
He said that on Sunday morning, the road opening was taken up with assistance of the Army’s General Reserve Engineering Force bulldozers and by 9 a.m, the road was cleared to enable movement of the vehicles to Gangtok.
The quick reaction by the troops provided relief and comfort to the stranded tourists under inclement weather conditions and ensured early clearance of road to enable movement of vehicles to Gangtok. The stranded tourists and civil administration expressed their deep gratitude for the immediate relief provided by the Army.
Indian Army, while guarding the border in super high-altitude areas of the Himalayas, are always proactive in providing assistance to tourists and local population, the defence spokesman said.
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#Army #rescues #tourists #stranded #Sikkim #heavy #snowfall

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 12, 2023
Sikkim happy as SC removes ‘people of foreign origin’ reference from order

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Gangtok: Citizens of Sikkim including Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and other political leaders on Wednesday expressed jubilation after the Supreme Court ordered the removal of reference to the Sikkimese-Nepalese as “people of foreign origin” from its January 13 verdict.
The remark made by the apex court had sparked protests in the small northeastern state, with the formation of a Joint Action Council (JAC) by people from all sections of the society to carry out demonstrations seeking removal of the tag from the verdict on tax exemption in Sikkim.
Tamang, who is also the chief of the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), state BJP president DR Thapa, opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the JAC said they are happy with the development and thanked the Supreme Court.
A bench of justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna earlier in the day modified the verdict while hearing the Centre’s plea along with petitions filed by Sikkim and private parties seeking modification of the remark.
The chief minister in a social media post said that he wanted to express gratitude to the Supreme Court for its understanding of the sentiment of the people of Sikkim and for resolving the matter.
“The government of Sikkim has taken up the matter with all due seriousness from day one. We believe in working silently without hullabaloo. Being a responsible government, we never joined the race for one-upmanship for scoring brownie points and earning political mileage on this sensitive issue,” he said.
State BJP president DR Thapa said that the entire credit for the removal of the “foreigner” tag in the Supreme Court goes to the people of Sikkim as “they have dealt with the issue in a civilised and intellectual way even when it had hurt them very hard”.
In a statement, the SDF said it is grateful to the Supreme Court for the justice provided to the people of Sikkim.

“This positive result is a victory of the unity and strength of the Sikkimese people. The SDF party is also grateful to all those who have worked towards achieving this fruitful result,” it said.
The JAC, which was spearheading protests against the issue for the past few days in the small Himalayan state, expressed happiness at the top court’s order of Wednesday.
The JAC also called a 12-hour bandh in the state during the day.
The SC bench said that the error has crept in because the original writ petitioners have made more than 25 amendments to the petition but this fact was not brought to the notice of the court.
On January 13, the top court had ruled that the exclusion of a Sikkimese woman from exemption allowed under the Income Tax Act merely because she has married a non-Sikkimese man after April 1, 2008, is “discriminatory and unconstitutional”.
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#Sikkim #happy #removes #people #foreign #origin #reference #order
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 8, 2023
Sikkim to file petition in SC on mention of Sikkimese Nepali community as foreigners

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Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday said his government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court with a prayer for rectification of its “inadvertent mention of the Sikkimese Nepali community as foreigners” in an order two weeks ago.
“Let me reiterate and reassure that no injustice will be meted out to anyone with regard to the inadvertent mention of Sikkimese Nepali Community as foreigners in the observation part and not in the judgment part of the verdict of Hon’ble Apex Court in the matter of income tax exemption for the old settlers of Sikkim,” he said in a social media post.
“I express my solidarity not only with Sikkimese Nepali Community but with all the communities of our dear state. We all are one, and will always remain united,” Tamang said.
The state government has already initiated steps for filing the review petition for addressing the concerns of the Sikkimese Nepali community, the chief minister said.
Tamang said he has already spoken to Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and the latter has assured that the Government of India will support the review petition of the Government of Sikkim, and if required will file a review petition itself as well on similar lines.
Tamang appealed to all people to be patient and keep faith in the judiciary. It is just a matter of time that this issue will be addressed for the good of one and all, he said.
The Supreme Court in its order dated January 13, 2023, had directed the Centre to amend the definition of ‘Sikkimese’ in Section 10 (26AAA) of Income Tax Act 1961 for including income tax exemption to all Indian citizens domiciled in Sikkim on or before the merger date of April 26, 1975.
“The Union of India shall make an amendment to Explanation to Section 10 (26AAA) of IT Act, 1961, so as to suitably include a clause to extend the exemption from payment of income tax to all Indian citizens domiciled in Sikkim on or before 26th April, 1975.

“The reason for such a direction is to save explanation from unconstitutionality and to ensure parity in the facts and circumstances of the case,” said the apex court while disposing of two writ petitions filed by Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) and others with a prayer for grant of income tax exemption at par with the Sikkimese people as given under Section 10 (26AAA) of IT Act following an amendment in 2008 by the Parliament.
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#Sikkim #file #petition #mention #Sikkimese #Nepali #community #foreigners
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 30, 2023