Sonakshi Sarkar

The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has hit back at the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) over its recent remarks on women’s safety, asserting that respect for women remains one of the party’s “core values.” The SKM’s response followed SDF leader Komal Chamling’s statement that “women’s safety must come before politics,” made after her party met the State Women’s Commission and senior police officials to raise concerns about alleged cyber harassment targeting women leaders. In a sharp rebuttal, SKM leaders accused the SDF of politicizing sensitive social issues for electoral gain. “A woman is like Lakshmi — a symbol of…

Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) leader Komal Chamling, daughter of former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, has urged the state government to prioritise women’s safety over political differences amid rising cases of online harassment targeting women leaders. “Women’s safety must come before politics,” she asserted during a press briefing in Gangtok on Monday. Expressing concern over the growing menace of cyberbullying and sexual harassment on social media, Komal said that the trend is especially alarming for women leaders belonging to opposition parties. On October 27, an SDF delegation met the State Women’s Commission, the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Home…

Marking a historic milestone, Sikkim is set to host its first-ever international football match on Wednesday — a senior women’s friendly clash between India and Nepal at the iconic Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. The event comes as Sikkim celebrates 50 years of statehood, symbolizing a proud moment for the state’s sporting fraternity. “For the first time in the history of Sikkimese football, an international friendly match between India’s and Nepal’s senior women’s teams will be held at Paljor Stadium,” said Menla Ethenpa, president of the Sikkim Football Association (SFA). Paljor Stadium, named after Crown Prince Kunzang Choley Namgyal, son of…

A prompt and coordinated response by personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at the remote Border Out Post (BOP) Yambung in North Sikkim helped save the life of a foreign tourist who suffered from high-altitude sickness on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at the Yambung post, situated at an altitude of 12,246 feet, when a group of eight trekkers — including three foreign tourists, a local guide, two cooks, two helpers, and a yak rider — reached the area. Shortly after their arrival, Ms. Nicole Horner, one of the female tourists, began experiencing breathing difficulties, showing symptoms of acute…

Nature enthusiasts and conservationists in Sikkim celebrated a rare sighting of the Spotless Baron butterfly (Euthalia recta) in Dzongu, North Sikkim, on October 19, 2025, marking its return after a six-year absence. The elusive butterfly, known for its distinctive lack of white spots found in closely related species, was photographed by conservationist Sonam Wangchuk Lepcha, highlighting the ecological richness of the region. The first recorded sighting of the Spotless Baron in Sikkim occurred on October 29, 2019, also in Dzongu. Experts say such sightings are crucial for lepidopterists and conservationists, emphasizing the importance of preserving habitats in this biodiversity hotspot…