High Court grants interim stay to Royal Plaza, IT probe delayed

Himalayan Guardian, Jan 26, 2011

Gangtok, Jan 25: Two private companies have got a stay order from the High Court of Sikkim directing the Income Tax Department to desist from any further proceedings against them until further orders, officials said.

Teesta Rangit Pvt Ltd and Envision Pvt Ltd secured the interim stay order from the court yesterday on a writ petition filed by them, PTI reported.

The IT office had reportedly carried out a 35-hour survey at the offices of the two companies on December 23 in the absence of the owners of the companies.

While Teesta Rangit runs the Royal Plaza-cum-Casino Sikkim, Envision deals with sale of computers in the capital.

The two companies are linked to former lottery baron and former Assam MP Mani Kumar Subba who is facing CBI probe on his identity and business dealings.

Mystery of the missing soldier at Nathula

Tashi Pradhan

Indian Army personnel regularly worship the shrine of martyr soldier Harbhajan Singh at a temple in the Indo-China border in Nathula in East Sikkim.

Harbhajan Singh was an Indian army soldier who died at Nathula Pass while crossing a stream in 1968.

Indian Army soldiers built a shrine in his honour and it is believed that Harbhajan Singh, renamed as Baba, resides at the temple complex.

Residents of the region believe that Baba Harbhajan Singh has defeated death and is still doing his duty even after his death four decades ago.

The Indian Army regularly maintains his bed, uniform and keep his boots ready everyday.

Miracles such as his ironed uniform getting crumpled in the morning is a regular affair at this temple. His regiment promoted him as Honorary Captain and pays his salary and grants him annual leave and issues the railway warrant.

"Soldiers who have lived here told us that if they kept food for him they did not find it back and even if they find, then only in half quantity. His bed found wrinkled and they serve him tea like they use to do before and that also they find it in half quantity," said Sepoy Harish Kumar, a soldier.

"So, people feel Baba through all these things otherwise no one has seen him," he added.

The tourists visiting Sikkim during their trip to Nathula Pass have also shown immense interest in visiting this martyr soldier's temple.

Throughout the year every Sunday and Tuesday prayers are performed at Baba's temple and food is distributed to the devotees (ANI).

NE writers meet in Delhi on peace & culture

  P. Ghosh

Guwahati, Jan 25: Writers and poets from India’s northeast region will hold a two-day seminar on peace and culture in New Delhi this week-end.

The seminar is expected to explore if culture can play a proactive role in ushering peace in the trouble-torn region, according to Preeti Gill, editor of Subaan, a leading Delhi-based publishing house.

The two-day seminar, being organized by Zubaan in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and India Habitat Centre, will feature photo exhibition and musical concert highlighting the rich cultural diversity of the region.

Prominent among the speakers are Mamang Dai (Arunachal Pradesh), Sanjoy Hazarika (Assam), Pradip Phanjoubam (Manipur), and Subhir Bhaumik (Tripura).