Sonakshi Sarkar

Tension erupted at Sikkim University a day before Nepali Bhasha Samman Diwas after a first-semester M.Com student was arrested for making derogatory remarks against the Nepali language and belittling Independence Day celebrations. The accused, identified as Raj Shekhar from Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly described Nepali as a “foreign language” in the official WhatsApp group of the Department of Commerce and suggested that users of the language should “go to Nepal.” His comments sparked outrage among students and faculty, particularly members of the Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA). Police have booked Shekhar under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)…

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday described the submission of final ethnographic reports by the State High-Level Committee (SSHLC) for the inclusion of 12 left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list as a historic milestone for the State. The reports were formally handed over during a valedictory function in the national capital. The four-volume reports, prepared after nine months of extensive fieldwork, recommend granting tribal recognition to Bhujel, Gurung, Jogi, Rai (Kirat Khambu), Kirat Dewan (Yakha), Khas (Chettri-Bahun), Mangar, Newar, Sanyasi, Sunuwar (Mukhia), Thami, and Majhi communities. Such recognition would provide constitutional protection, social justice, and equal…

The Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health (SARAH), in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) Department, has launched an extensive vaccination and sterilisation drive across the Chujachen constituency. The campaign, which combined Anti-Rabies Vaccination, Deworming, Animal Birth Control (ABC), and public awareness activities, covered a wide range of areas including Chujachen, Rongli Bazar, Lingtam, Agamlok, Phadamchen, Nimachen, Quekhola, Bakhutar, Maney-Sisney, Talkharka South Regu, Thokar, and Dokchin (North Regu). According to officials, a total of 432 dogs were vaccinated and dewormed, while 107 dogs underwent sterilisation procedures under the Animal Birth Control programme. These measures aim not only to…

North Sikkim regained a crucial transport lifeline on Wednesday with the reopening of the Sanklang Modular Bridge over the Teesta River, restoring long-awaited connectivity to remote high-altitude regions. The bridge, completed by the 107 Road Construction Company under the 758 Border Roads Task Force and Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), once again links Dzongu, Lachen, Lachung, and other interior areas that had been cut off due to earlier disruptions. The structure replaces a vital route rendered unusable by damage, severing the Mangan–Chungthang corridor and leaving residents dependent on slower, more treacherous alternatives. BRO engineers worked under extreme…

The inaugural Sikkim State Inter-School Badminton Championship 2025 concluded at Paljor Stadium on August 12, bringing together young players from across the state. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang praised the enthusiasm and talent of the participants and assured continued government support for sports development in Sikkim. Addressing the athletes, CM Tamang encouraged them to nurture their skills with hard work, discipline, and dedication. “Your talent is as good as any world champion, but success depends on how you develop and use it,” he said. The chief minister reiterated the government’s commitment to backing sportspersons across various disciplines. He highlighted the…