Sikkim - The Purbottar

23 Aug

Launching a statewide assault on illicit online gambling, Sikkim describes it as “no different from drugs”

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim authorities have launched a major crackdown on illegal online gaming networks after uncovering over 900 fraudulent websites targeting residents across the state and beyond. One frozen bank account alone contained ₹32 crore in suspected gambling proceeds, highlighting the scale of the problem.A joint operation by the Sikkim Police and the Directorate of State Lotteries revealed that these networks were preying on vulnerable users via sophisticated online platforms. The investigation began following a complaint filed in July by Principal Director of Lotteries Pawan Awasthy, leading to Case No. 3 of 2025 registered under organised crime, cheating, and IT Act provisions.…

21 Aug

Posthumously, Sikkim will honor Dil Kumari Bhandari and Nar Bahadur Bhandari with “Nepali Birasad Sangrakshan Upadi”

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced that former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari and former Member of Parliament Dil Kumari Bhandari will be posthumously conferred the prestigious “Nepali Birasad Sangrakshan Upadi” in recognition of their lifelong contributions to the promotion and preservation of the Nepali language. The award, set to be officially bestowed on August 20, 2026, acknowledges the leaders’ tireless dedication to the cultural and linguistic identity of the Nepali-speaking community in Sikkim and across India. Chief Minister Tamang described Nar Bahadur Bhandari as a visionary leader whose courage and efforts gave Sikkim and the Gorkha community a…

20 Aug

A Sikkim University student who made disparaging statements about the Nepali language was detained

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

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)…

19 Aug

“The right procedure was used”: Sikkim CM on the admission of tribal status for 12+1 communities

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

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…

18 Aug

Sikkim steps its efforts to eradicate rabies by implementing widespread vaccination and sterilization campaigns

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

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…

16 Aug

Sikkim CM wishes peace and harmony on Krishna Janmashtami

Banasree SarkarSikkim

On the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state. In his message, the Chief Minister highlighted that Janmashtami is not only a festival of devotion but also a reminder of the eternal values of righteousness, truth, and compassion taught by Lord Krishna. “Janmashtami reminds us of the eternal values of righteousness (dharma), devotion (bhakti), and compassion that Lord Krishna exemplified throughout His life. His teachings of truth, love, and harmony remain a timeless guide for humanity,” Tamang said. He urged citizens to draw inspiration…

14 Aug

The distant heartlands of North Sikkim are once again connected via the Sanklang bridge

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

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…

13 Aug

The chief minister of Sikkim promises to strongly encourage sports at the inaugural Inter-School Badminton Championship

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

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…

12 Aug

CAP faces major setback as Yuvraj Dahal and Bizal Rai quit

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Citizen Action Party (CAP) in Sikkim suffered a significant setback on Monday as two prominent leaders, Yuvraj Dahal and Bizal Rai, resigned from the party with immediate effect. Yuvraj Dahal, a resident of Lungzick in the 03-Maneybong Dentam Constituency, submitted his resignation to the Party President. Having served as Treasurer and later Secretary to the Party President, Dahal described his time with CAP as a “valuable and memorable chapter” and expressed gratitude for the opportunities he received during his tenure. Similarly, Bizal Rai, who was the President of the Digital Communication Council and State Social Media In-charge, resigned from…

11 Aug

Aama Samman Diwas Scheme, worth Rs 128 crore, is launched in Sikkim, with 32,000 mothers receiving Rs 40,000 apiece

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday unveiled a landmark ₹128-crore welfare initiative during the state’s first-ever Aama Samman Diwas, pledging financial assistance of ₹40,000 each to nearly 32,000 mothers across the state. The launch event, held at Rangpo Playground, drew thousands of attendees. The aid will be disbursed in two instalments of ₹20,000, alongside the distribution of hot water bottles to recipients. Linking the occasion to Jan Unmukti Diwas — the day marking his release from what he described as “unjust imprisonment” — Tamang spoke emotionally about the support he received from mothers during his incarceration.“When I was…