Passing Out Parade of India Reserve Battalion held in Gangtok

GANGTOK: 24th June: Passing out parade of recruit constables of 2nd, 3rd IRBn and Civil Police 2011 oath taking programme was held today here at Paljor stadium. During the occasion 302 constables took oath and among them 24 2nd IRB drivers and 16 constables have been appointed on compassionate ground. The Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling Graced as Chief Guest on the Passing Out Parade of Recruit Constable for India Reserve Battalion (IRB). The new recruits Battalion presented the Guard of Honour and the general salute to the Chief Minister by the Parade commander Mr. Sonam Gyastso Bhutia. The battalion also presented various skills and techniques which have been learn during the training at the Yangyang Training Center, South Sikkim and Pangthang Training Camp of East Sikkim. Chief Minister also witnesses the various physical exercises
presented by the trainees including the pipe band and Bass Band show of Sikkim Police.The Chief Minister presented the cash prizes and a token to the best performer during their training Session. The awardees are Parade Commander who won cash prize of? Rupees 15,000(Fifteen Thousand)only and a token and cash prize of Rs. 11,000(Eleven Thousand) for 2nd in charge. Rupees 15,000 (Fifteen Thousand) each was awarded for All Round performer from Both Police Training Centers.The best performer recruit constable were awarded with prize amount of Rupees 10,000 (Ten Thousand) each.The best performer from the Yangyang Training Center are
Mr. Santosh Gajmer for best outdoor performance, Mr. Norgay P Bhutia for best Indoor performer, Mr.Topgay Lepcha for best Firing performer, Mr. Ladangpa Bhutia for best cross country performer and Mr. Rizinal Chhetri for all round performance. Similarly, from Pangthang Police Training Centre Mr. Kamal Kr. Sharma for best outdoor performance, Mr. Manoj Kr. Chhettri for best indoor performance Mr. Lakpa Pempa Bhutia for best firing performance, Mr. Tika Ram Chhettri for best cross country performance, and Mr. Kiran Rai for best all round performance.

While addressing the function the Chief Minister congratulated the new recruit personal and advised to do their duties as honest police personal. He also advised them to serve for the country and the state with  dedication and responsibility leaving some foot print behind for others to emulate. He informed them that they are getting a handsome salary from the state government as compared to other part of the country. The Chief Minister also informed about the programmes and schemes including women Empowerment, Compassionate Ground Service,
Fifty-Fifty percent in the Ground of Promotion and new recruitments, Health service, Education, Tourism, Food and Rural based programmes of the government which are directly beneficial to the poor people of Sikkim. He urged the people of Sikkim to buildup a healthy, peaceful and economically sound state and convert it to a paradise in the future. He also advised to fight against corruption that is present
everywhere in the society in a multi dimensional form.
Earlier, Director General of Sikkim Police Mr. Jasbir Singh presented a brief introduction, development and functions and the duties of the Police Force and also delivered the welcome speech. The new recruit personals also display their physical exercise and technique with and without Arms and Khukari dance during the function.
The function was also attended by the Speaker SLA, Mr. K.T Gyltsen, Mr. S.M Limboo Dy Chairman, State Planing Commission, Cabinet Ministers,Advisors, MLAs, Mayor and Dy. Mayor GMC, Chairman, Chief Secretary, Secretaries and HODs, Government Officials, Parents and the families of Police Personals and the employees and officers of Police Department.

(sikkimmail)

9 Sikkim IPS Officers yet to file immovable property returns

Chennai, Jun 21 (PTI) Only 1,628 of the total 3,243 Indian Police Service officers in the country have filed details of their immovable property returns (IPR), as per the Home Ministry website.
Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 324 defaulters. The state has 335 of which only 11 officers have filed the immovable property returns (IPR) details, according to the website. Tamil Nadu is next with 195 defaulters (of the total 203 officers).
The third spot is occupied by Madhya Pradesh with 185 defaulters (of the total 214 officers). In Jharkhand, Kamal Nayan Chobey is the only officer of the total 98 officers to file the IPR.
On the positive side, Andhra Pradesh tops the list of the maximum number of officers to have filed the IPR. Of the total 185 officers, 180 officers have filed their returns.
The number of defaulters in the other states are Assam - 33 , Bihar - 145 , Chhattisgarh -10, Gujarat- 22, Haryana - 85, Himachal Pradesh - 16, Jammu and Kashmir - 29 (109), Karnataka - 45, Kerala -86, Maharashtra - 120, Manipur - 42, Nagaland -6, Orissa - 36, Punjab - 11, Rajasthan - 16, Sikkim - 9, Uttarakhand - 53 and West Bengal - 22.
The joint cadre of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AMGU cadre) has 37 defaulters.
According to the website, Tamil Nadu cadre has 203 officers and only eight have filed details of their immovable property returns.
The Home Ministry in a circular to all Chief Secretaries on May 5 had set a deadline of May 15 for the IPS officers to file details of their immovable property returns for the year 2010.
It had stated that it would "deny vigilance clearance and will not consider these officers for promotion," if they fail to submit their returns.

Sikkim Police file Case Against Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC)

GANGTOK, 21 June: A case under section 304 A [causing death by negligence] was registered on 19 June at Namchi Police Station against the In-Charge of a crusher plant of the Hindustan Construction Company Limited engaged at Teesta Stage VI hydel project site, situated at Mamring, South Sikkim on a written report from SN Roy [Personal Manager] of the same company.
The report stated that at around 1 PM, workers were cleaning hoppers of the crusher plant near Adit II, when one part of the crusher plant [machine] called ‘fidding hopper’ detached from its welding and crushed one of the workers, Kumar Sheikh [24 years], son of Daulat Sheikh, a resident of Palashipur, Nadia, West Bengal, killing him on the spot.

It was later learnt that the fidding hopper was overloaded due to a blockage and Kumar was trying to unclog it from underneath when the accident happened.
During the course of investigation, the complainant and co-workers were examined and their statements recorded. The crusher machine was seized by the police and the In-Charge of the crusher plant, Tushar Mazumdar [Mechanical Engineer] was arrested and later released on bail.
In another incident, the dead body of an unidentified male [aged 25-30 years] was recovered from the Rangpo Khola near Bering Hydro Project. The body was then sent to Singtam District Hospital for post mortem, where it will be kept for 72 hours and information of the dead body has been forwarded to all police stations and out posts for any missing persons report.
A case under section 174 Criminal Procedure has been registered at the Pakyong Police Station.

Gangtok gets first woman SDPO

GANGTOK, September 23: Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ongmu Bhutia has become the first woman Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Gangtok, as per a recent transfer order.
Speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, the lady officer said that it was an honour for her to become the first woman SDPO.
Earlier she was serving as DSP, Indian Reserve Battalion.
Meanwhile, RK Sundas, SDPO Gangtok has been transferred as SDPO, Rangpo.

Sikkim Snap Shock

Via VOICEOFSIKKIM

The Vehicle of IPR Minister Miss Neeru Sewa and Minister of Road and Bridge Mrs Tilu Gurung at Dengzong Cinema Hall- Pic by Citizen Reporter/VoS

Investigations still on SBS fraud attempt, says Crime officials

GANGTOK, November 23: Overruling the speculations of high hand involvement in the recent case of multi-crore scam, the Criminal Investigation Division wing of Sikkim Police today gave a clean chit to State Bank of Sikkim for not having any idea on the whole economic ordeal.
Addressing a press conference here at Police Head quarter on Friday, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch ST Bhutia said, although the investigation is still on, there has been no substantiation of any bank employees or any other high profile people of Sikkim involved in the case.
It may be recalled here that the CID wing of Sikkim police had arrested three persons including one local in an attempt to fraud State Bank of Sikkim amounting to rupees Rs. 80 crores.
After a thorough investigation, the CID team has found that one of the alleged arrested in the money laundering case, Gautam Das is still wanted at Birpara Police station for the similar charge. The documents confiscated by the CID team from one of the hotels in the Capital where the culprits were staying reveal that a similar proposal had been put at Central Bank of India, Birpara Branch and also at Punjab Sindh Bank, Asansol amounting to Rs 100 crores and Rs. 97 crores respectively in the name of Godraise International Ltd.
The team has also found three fake stamps of the forged company from the hotel room.
The CID super informed the master mind behind the whole economic offence Gautam Das had opened an account with the fake name Amit Das in the said banks.
After the investigation it was learnt that the money launders were able to withdraw Rs 7 lakhs from Punjab Sindh Bank but could not make any transactions from CBI, Birpara.
The fled money launders then made SBS a soft target using the same modus operandi. Four persons Sunil Rai, Subroto Banerjee, Gautam Das and Sudip Malik have been arrested under sections 420/423, 120 B and 5(1) 34 of the Indian Penal Code for fraud and submission of forged documents.
“We are still interrogating the arrested four persons and are hopeful that they will spill more beans on the case,” Mr. Bhutia told reporters.

Vehicle missing along with 3 persons in Teesta

Fourth body recovered at Tarkhola

RANGPO, November 20: One person was killed and three were feared dead as they were swept away by river Teesta when a taxi vehicle slipped down the Rangpo-Rhenock road in East Sikkim on the late hours of November 17.
According to police, the vehicle (SK04-8561) was coming from Siliguri to Rhenock when the mishap took place near Rangpo. The vehicle slipped some 150 feet down the road and crashed into the Teesta river along with the four occupants.
The mishap went unnoticed until the next morning as anxious family members started enquiries when the vehicle did not reached its destination in Rhenock. The police and family members after a frantic search managed to confirm that the accident took place but so far apart from one body, neither the vehicle nor the other three persons have been traced out.
The body of the vehicle owner, Mahendra Saha (55) was spotted the river banks at Tarkhola, few kms down the river in the West Bengal side which was recovered by Namchi police of South Sikkim today. The body was released to the family members after post mortem formalities in Singtam district.
Meanwhile, rafting teams have been deployed to trace the other three missing persons and the vehicle that were swept away by the river. The missing persons are Deepak Saha (18), Pradeep Rai (24) and Samidullah (16). All of them are from Rhenock.

Titan Gangtok showroom looted

GANGTOK, November 10: The Capital today woke up to a ‘tactful’ theft incident that occurred at Titan showroom located here at Tenzing and Tenzing, National Highway 31A.
A number of branded Titan watches worth lakhs of rupees were found missing in the showroom this morning when one of the salespersons opened the showroom for business.
A FIR has been lodged against the unknown culprit and the Police are on with the investigations.
“The thieves have stolen the watches which cost above Rs 6, 000,” one of the salesmen said.

Tiff over sari claims 7-yr-old Kid

Gangtok, Nov. 5: An argument between two women over a sari has allegedly claimed a seven-year-old boy. The bludgeoned body of Arpit Sharma was recovered from a Sikkim jungle today.

Arpit had gone missing from Rangpo Junior High School on Monday. He used to live with his grandparents in Rangpo’s Lower Bazar, while his parents were in Bihar. Police said the family was engaged in the carpentry and masonry.

Investigations revealed that the school authorities had told Arpit’s grandparents that a woman posing as his mother had taken away the boy from the institution to the Singtam hospital around 10.30am on Monday on the pretext of visiting a doctor.

The next day the boy’s guardians filed a missing person’s diary.

Asked whether the family suspected anyone, Arpit’s aunt told the police an incident involving a neighbour, Bina Devi Sharma, 24, whom the boy had seen stealing a sari from their home.

“The boy’s aunt embroiders saris and one such item strung out in the balcony of the house was stolen during Diwali. Arpit had seen Bina Devi wearing the sari a few days later. This led to an argument between the boy’s aunt and the accused woman,” an officer of the Rangpo police station said.

The investigations zeroed in on Bina Devi as a prime suspect and she was interrogated today by the Rangpo police. “Even though she did not admit the crime initially, she gave us some clues that led us to search the Sawney jungle (near Singtam, about 35km from here) and we found the bludgeoned body,” the officer said. “The woman later confessed the crime saying that she had kidnapped and killed the boy to take revenge.”

The police also recovered the school shirt and the bag of the boy near a stream. The body was handed over to the boy’s guardians after a post-mortem.

Rangpo’s kidnapped child brutally murdered

photo:VoS
05 Nov, Rangpo: A case has been registered against a women who allegedly killed a child after kidnapping. The child named Arpit Sharma aged 07 years doing his schooling at Rangpo Government School was missing since Monday 10:00 am on his way to school, a search operation was conducted by Sikkim Police after a missing report was filed at Rangpo PS. Today Rangpo police conducted a interrogation with a suspect women who is a neighbour of said child’s family. A partial decompoed body of a child was recovered from Sawney Busty, Singtam some few kilometers from Rangpo.
A women Bina Devi Sharma finally confessed that she killed a child because few months earlier there was a domestic dispute between herself and the family of child. She confessed that she killed a child in verge to pacify her anger. Sikkim Police has filed a charge against the said women under IPC. Further information is awaited on this report.

Sikkim DGP to attend Interpol meet in Singapore

Sikkim director general of police C M Ravindran will take part in a five-day
Interpol meeting scheduled to be held from October 11 in Singapore.

A total of 148 police officers from across the world have been invited to take part in the police officers meet in which issues being faced by the police in various countries are expected to be discussed, official sources said here today.

Besides Raut, two other police officers from India Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director, Ashwini Kumar and Madhya Pradesh director general of police (DGP) SK Raut have also been invited, they said.

Absconding West Sikkim pedophile arrested

GANGTOK, October 5: Chewang Sherpa who has been absconding after allegedly raping two girls at Sombaria was arrested by West Sikkim police today.
Mr. Sherpa (30) has been accused of raping the two minor girls on the night of October 1 at Hattaran busty, Sombaria. The victims had gone to a relative's house at Hattaran busty on the occasion of Dasain where the accused had allegedly raped them taking advantage of the darkness.
The heinousness of the crime can be judged from the fact that one victim is 12 years old and the other is 13 years old. The accused promptly took to his heels after committing the ghastly crime.
An FIR was lodged at Sombaria police station leading to a manhunt for the accused.
The victims have been handed over to their parents after medical examination at Namchi hospital, it is informed.
A case under section 376/457 of IPC has been registered against the accused who will be produced before the court tomorrow for remand.

Sikkim girl rescued from Delhi to be back Friday

Namchi,Sep19: By joint effort of Delhi Police and Indian Reserve Battalion, Delhi, one girl of South Sikkim was saved and rescued from Delhi before any wrong being done to her.
South Sikkim Superintendent of Police, GK Verma while briefing the media Wednesday here at Namchi informed that the girl Sunita Rai (13) daughter of Ragunath Rai, resident of Daragaon, Jorethang, was rescued from Kamala Market area near GB road, Delhi, which is one of the Red Light areas of Delhi.
According to SP, the girl is school drop out. She was staying with her family at Jorethang. Her parents are laborers by occupation and theirs is a poor family. On 9th September 2009 the girl went to Delhi with one lady Chandra Maya Gurung. She told the parents that the future of Sunita will be bright and secure if they allow her to take the child to Delhi and also assured to take care of the girl there.
Based on the assurances the parents allowed her to take Sunita to Delhi and they left for Delhi on the night of 9th September. They reached Delhi on 10th September and stayed at Munirka area, Delhi.
Contrary to the assurances the girl was engaged there as a domestic helper and given heavy work. When the parents contacted Gurung she assured that the child was with her and was in a good state. SP clarified that the child was harassed with heavy domestic work but not sexually.
On 14th September Gurung assured the girl that she will bring her dad and left for Sikkim. In the meantime parents of the girl somehow managed to contact their child at Delhi when Sunita told the whole story. The same day afternoon when nobody was at home Sunita escaped from there and started her journey back but lost her way to Delhi station. Delhi Police noticed the girl roaming with the bags in her shoulder near the red light area of Delhi. Eventually the girl was rescued and Sikkim House was informed.
The Commanding Officer of IRBn, AK Chand took the responsibility of the child on behalf of Sikkim Government. The girl will be leaving for Sikkim Thursday and reach here Friday, SP informed.
The police has registered a case against Gurung under section 23 of Juvenile Justice Child Protection and Care Act 2000.

ASESE&UA Congratulates Sikkim Police

Gangtok,September18: All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association (ASESE&UA) has lauded the effort of Sikkim police of rescuing Sikkemese girls. In a release issued by ASESE&UA congratulated the Sikkim Police, who recently busted the human trafficking racket and rescued girls. Full credit goes to Sikkim Police, especially the team for whose alertness many girls future could be saved. We have seen a sudden rise in girls trafficking racket in Sikkim. The reason for this trafficking is many for e.g. lack of education, unemployment and also some times the rise in standard of living where young people trends to incline.
ASESE&UA demanded to take the matter seriously by state government and should fill the loop holes. Association suggested moral education at schools, all over Sikkim will help to build good soceity.
The association also highlighted on child labour problem in the state. They said," it has been almost three years since child labor has been banded all over India. But in Sikkim, it seems this law has not been properly implemented. We see lots of children below 14 years as domestic help and also doing school duty in different parts of Sikkim. Hence, we urge the Government to implement the child labor law in real sense and also come up with plan to look after and educated these under privileged children as they are also the future of our nation."

Five more girls rescued by Sikkim Police

Sikkim Police on the look out for another suspect

GANGTOK, September 15: Sikkim Police have rescued two more girls from one of the hotels in Siliguri in and three girls from Ranipool in connection with the human trafficking racket.
Police sources at Sadar Police Station informed that the girls were rescued after they made a call to Vidur Rai, who was arrested yesterday on charges of immoral traffic.
It may be recalled here that on a tip off, Sadar Police had rescued seven girls from the Capital on the night of September 14. The girls were allegedly lured by Vidur Rai and others with ‘lucrative’ job offers in five star hotels in Mumbai and Goa.
Meanwhile, Puran Bardewa from Adampool, another suspect in the case has also been taken under police custody. Police is interrogating him, sources informed.
Till the time of filing this report, the Police team was on the look out for one Raj Gurung, yet another suspect in the case

Sikkim Police crackdown on human trafficking racket in Gangtok

Seven girls rescued from Tadong

GANGTOK, September 14: A police team led by Superintendent of Police Dr. MS Tuli, ASP KD Shangderpa, PI Sadar Thana Tshering Sherpa, SI Sudha Basnet and SI Renu Chettri rescued seven girls from Tadong and Syari at around 9:30 this evening.
The Police team was accompanied by Doma T Bhutia, legal consultant, Human Rights Law Network, Sikkim.

According to the rescued girls, one Vidur Rai had lured them with promises of giving exorbitant salaries ranging between Rs 50-60000 in five star hotels in Goa and Mumbai. The girls were also asked by Rai to pay Rs 5000 per head for flight tickets. They were strictly asked by Rai not to carry salwar suits but to carry lot of cosmetics and pants.

Reliable sources, on the other hand informed that a total of 12 girls were supposed to leave for Goa and Mumbai tomorrow morning.

Interestingly, the racket took a different turn when one of the girls doubted Rai’s tactics and suspecting a big racket, contacted the police immediately. On the pretext of paying Rs 5000 for the flight ticket, this girl called Rai at MG Marg in the Capital today. And as planned, the Police team nabbed Rai this afternoon.

Speaking with journalists, the legal consultant of Human Rights Law Network said this was entirely a case of human trafficking. “Gauging by the promise of giving exorbitant salaries of Rs 50-60000 in five star hotels to those girls who neither can speak good English or Hindi is downright false promise,” she said.

Police have registered a case of immoral traffic against Vidur Rai and others. The Police team have also assured to rescue rest of the girls within 24 hours. The other five girls are suspected to be in and around Gangtok.

High Court directsto constitute special juvenile police units in Sikkim

GANGTOK, September 10: The High Court of Sikkim has directed the State Government to constitute special juvenile police unit in all the police stations in Sikkim within the period of four months and also to take necessary steps for proper and adequate implementation of all other relevant provision of the Juvenile Justice (care and protection) Act 2006 without further delay.
The judgment copy also dictates to provide juvenile and children in the state of Sikkim proper care and protection by catering to their development needs and by adopting a child friendly approach in the adjudication and disposition of matters in the best interest of children and for their ultimate rehabilitation as envisaged in the preamble of the act itself.
This landmark judgment came in the public interest litigation filed by Sonam Palden, an advocate at Sikkim High Court in the year 2007.
The petition has been filed to implement the juvenile justice care and protection of children Act 2006 and also to comply the guideline of the Supreme Court given in the case of Sheela Barsey vs. Union of India.
The petitioner also mentions to constitute a proper Juvenile Justice Board with full time Magistrate and two social workers one of whom at least a woman who have an experience in working with the children.
JB Pradhan, the Additional Advocate General representing the State Government has submitted that the state lacks sufficient cases of Juvenile in comparison to other states of India and that working in the four districts with the full time Magistrate would not be justified. “As and when the work load would increase the appointment of full time Magistrate with the regular working days will be considered,” he said.
Dr. Doma T. Bhutia, an advocate for the petitioner while speaking to media said, this is one of the landmark judgments passed by the High Court of Sikkim in the interest of children and the judgment is welcomed by all the Human Rights lawyers across the country. She added that the judgment has been referring as a precedent in the other states.
“If all the provisions of Justice Juvenile Act are implemented in the State thoroughly, Sikkim will be a frontal runner in this matter,” Dr. Bhutia said.

Assam Health Minister Dr. Hemant Biswa Sharma satisfied with SMIT situation

Gangtok, September 9: Assam Health Minister Dr. Hemant Biswa Sharma has expressed his satisfaction over the SMIT clash between the two groups student were found normalcy after the local administration has enterfered into the matter on September 8.
Dr. Sharma reached Sikkim this evening for personally assesses the situation and has taken stock of the situation prevailed from last Monday over the clash between the two groups of students with in the college premises.
He said that the situation is under control and satisfactory over the situation that panic the parents of North-eastern states especially from Assam where large number of students are studying in SMIT adding that the state administration effort to resort the situation normalcy was appreciated.
Dr. Sharma has first met the senior police officials and district administration at Rangpo Tourist Guest House where SP East M S Tuli along with District Collector D. Anandan, SDM Gangtok AB Karki and SDPO Rangpo H P Tewari has briefed on the situation.
The district administration further briefed the condition of injured students that they are admitted in Central Manipal Referral Hospital yesterday.
Later on, Assam minister has visited the engineering college and has discussed with the college administration on the situation.
It is informed that health minister Dr. Sharma has also discussed on the law and order situation and security measures with the CM Ravindran, Director General of Police (DGP) and other top brass for further security measures

PHOTOS : SIKKIM MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CLASH

Manipal shuts down after clash for 10 days

Gangtok, Sept. 8: The Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology has been shut down till further orders after a series of clashes between boarders and day scholars since Sunday culminated into a raging brick battle this morning, forcing police to burst tear-gas shells and conduct a lathi-charge on the campus.

Eight students were injured. All of them were released from Singtam District Hospital after first aid.

The police stormed a boys’ hostel this morning after a constable was injured by a brick missile hurled from one of them, sources said. The SMIT authorities said arrangements would be made for those wanting to leave the hostels. Those unwilling can stay back.

Throughout the day a 300-strong mob blocked the roads leading out of the campus, making it impossible to shift the boarders — 4,000 of them — from the two boys’ and one girls’ hostel, the police said. They said if needed the transfer of the boarders would be done with the help of the army. However, the army has not been called yet. Personnel of the Sikkim police, Sikkim Armed Police and the Indian Reserve Battalion have been deployed.

Some of the injured students at the Singtam district hospital.

A fourth year BTech student of mechanical engineering and a resident of Calcutta’s Lake Gardens, not wanting to be named, said: “We have been told that we will be escorted to Siliguri at 4.30am tomorrow by the army. I have been in touch with my parents and I will return to Calcutta either by flight or take a train. We had examinations till September 24, but now as the institute is shut for the next few days we will return only after Durga Puja.” The student said around 30 per cent of the boarders is from Bengal.

Bengal home secretary Ardhendu Sen said if the SMIT authorities want the Bengal government’s help to evacuate students from the state, it would be extended.

“However, we have not received any such proposal till now from them. If students from Bengal face any problems, we are there to help them,” Sen told The Telegraph in Calcutta.

Senior police officers and S.S. Pabla, the vice-chancellor of Sikkim Manipal University to which the SMIT is affiliated, were busy negotiating with the students to restore normality on the campus, 44km from here at Mazitar near the Bengal-Sikkim border town of Rangpo.

According to senior students of the SMIT, trouble first broke out on Sunday afternoon over a volleyball match being held as part Swasmitnam, an inter-departmental festival. The fight started with a squabble between a boarder and a day scholar over a foul committed in the match.

“It was a trivial issue, but soon snowballed. Three students, Ujjwal Kumar, Jitender and Gautam Jha, were beaten up by day scholars (on Sunday) who had brought in outsiders. The police instead of taking the three boys to the hospital for treatment, took them to Rangpo police station,” a fourth year student of the electrical and electronics department alleged.

He blamed hostel superintendent Kamal Thakur, and chief warden A.C. Mishra for not taking care of the injured students. “We are being targeted by outsiders and the authorities are blind to this,” the student said.

There was violence last night as well when a mob stormed the campus and another clash broke out.

The police had claimed the situation was under control, but there was another brick battle at 8am today.

A senior officer of the state armed police said last night a battalion of 115 policemen was posted on the campus and more forces were deployed after the morning’s violence.

A constable who was injured in the brick battle

“At present we are negotiating with the students and we do not want to use force on them. The institute will be shut till further orders. The trouble started with an altercation between a local boy (day scholar) and a boarder over a friendly volleyball match,” said N. Sridhar Rao, the deputy inspector-general (range) who is camping on the campus. The superintendent of police of East Sikkim, M.S. Tuli, is also there.

An officer said the local boys have been demanding that 20 of the boarders involved in the clash be identified and rusticated. “Eight students from both sides have been injured,” the officer said.

Sikkim human resource development secretary R. Telang said the situation was being monitored. “We will intervene only if the SMIT authorities fail to restore normality,” Telang said.

Vice-chancellor Pabla said the institute would be shut till further orders. “But it is likely to open within 10 days. An inquiry will be conducted against all involved in the incident.”