Koraput, 1 July: A district court today rejected the bail petition of Seashore Group Chief Managing Director Mr Prashant Dash in the chitfund scam for the second time.
The bail petition was rejected by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Koraput Ajit Patnaik.
“The court denied bail to Dash citing that investigation is under progress and a large number of investors are involved in the case,” said T N Murty, counsel of Mr Dash.
Mr Dash, who was accused of duping lakhs of gullible investors of about Rs 1,000 crore across the state, was arrested from Mumbai on June 19 in a case against him at Semiliguda police station in the district on June 6.
Mr Dash was produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate of Korpaut on June 23 and the court had rejected his bail plea on June 25.     pti

statesman news service
Balasore, 1 July
Since the mid-nineties, the media sector is witnessing  a vast change with the policy of globalisation  and privatisation.
As a result of this change, which has affected all sections of the country&’s population, scribes have also been facing a challenge in their profession, according to senior journalists.
This was the view of many who had assembled  to deliberate on the topic at a meeting here last evening.
The meeting ~ a lecture ~ was organised in the memory of late Chandra Kumar Mohanty on his third death anniversary which was presided by noted poet Mr Brajanath Rath.
Dr Subash Patra, professor of English and Mr Goutambudha Das, a scribe, also spoke on the occasion while Mr Prasanta Pattnaik and Mr Sampad Mohapatra were the guests of the evening.
Both of them shared their professional experiences, observing that they have found changes over a period of time due to various factors both in the print as well as electronic media.
They observed that journalists are facing a multi-pronged attack both from outside and inside. On one hand they are dealing with the pressure from politicians and bureaucrats, and on the other hand with the owner of the company or editor.
Despite working hard, most of the companies in the media sector are not looking after the basic requirements of their reporters. The successive state governments are mute to their problems  .
The journalists are also facing financial problems.
In the era of cut throat competition, media companies only weigh profits and losses.
At times, even truth is suppressed due to various factors.
Yet social media and web page media have emerged as a very powerful form of media, they observed.
 Mr Biraja Nayak, Ms Annapurna Nayak, Mr Ubachak Mohanty and Mr Utpal Mohanty  managed the programme.
A fruitful interactive
session was held after the meeting.

Statesman News Service
Bhubaneshwar, 1 July
Student unrest in Vani Vihar campus here led to unruly scenes in front of the Vice Chancellor&’s office today. A few glass panes and flower pots were damaged as students demanding withdrawal of the hostel fee hike turned violent.
The students threatened to boycott classes and launch an indefinite stir if the proposed hike was not withdrawn.
Senior officials of the varsity discussed with the students and announced that the fee hike has been put on hold.
The officials , however, maintained that the hike for different categories was in the range of Rs 5000 per month. It had been decided after due discussions in the PG Council meeting, claimed the officials. In view of the student protests we have decided to put the hike on hold , added officials of Vani Vihar.

traditional artists must turn back to old times
The word kalamkari is derived from the Persian words ~ kalam (pen) and kari (craftsmanship) ~ meaning drawing with a pen
The weaving style ~ ikat ~ can be found in the history of many civilisations in the world. Today varieties of ikat are found in Gujarat, Andhra Pardesh and Odisha in India.
press trust of india
Bhubaneswar, 1 July
Despite man’s quest for new designs in garments, fashion remains timeless as most of the designs adopted now are from traditional forms like Patola, Ikat and Bandhani, says a fashion expert in a new book.
“In today’s fast changing world of fashion, designers and manufacturers are faced with the challenge of providing new designs to suit the rapidly growing fashion consciousness in the market,” says Prof Swagat Kumar Rout Ray, principal of Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), Chhindwara.
Most designs even now are traditional textile designs from Kalamkari, Madhubani, Patola, Ikat and Bandhani, says Rout Ray in his book “Traditional Motifs of Indian Textiles,” released recently by Union Minister Kamalnath.
Designs from stone-works, frescoes, carpets, ceramics, jewellery and folk paintings are also being used liberally in textiles, says Ray, also head of Western Region Apparel Training & Design Centre’s (ATDC) SMART ToT Academy.
“In a certain way, fashion is timeless. This is the irony of fashion: always up-to-date, yet always dated. To be original in traditional design is to make the best use of the old vocabulary,” Ray said. In terms of the last few centuries of art, with their ever-higher estimate of the value of originality, this is a peculiar idea about invention, he says in the book.
Although reinvented several times, basic art forms are found to have retained their shape, he said adding like other art forms, traditional textile designs also link the past with present, says the author who is in the Panel of Designers at the National Centre for Textile Design (NCTD) in Union Ministry of Textiles. He says traditional Indian textile designs were accessed wherever they could be found and the same have been recreated taking the original work as the source of inspiration.
A few designs have also been created by modifying traditional symbols to new forms which also reflects the fusion of modern technology with traditional art, he says.

Miscreants hurl bomb at IMFL shop: Three motor-cycle-borne unidentified anti-socials hurled a country-made bomb at an IMFL shop in Korua, under Patkura police station jurisdiction.  Nobody was injured. Prelim-
inary investigations revealed that it was a extortion-related crime.      sns
Minor raped:  A 15-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped in Narendrapur village yesterday. A complaint lodged in this connection today has named a local youth as the accused. A case has been registered after the medical examination of the victim. The accused is absconding.     sns
Body found: The government railway police (GRP) have started a probe after seizing the body of an unidentified person from Gunupur-Puri passenger train. The GRP has registered a case of unnatural death. “Some passengers had first sighted the body. We have sent it for post mortem,” said GRP SI Mr Lalit Das.      sns

KOHLI SAYS DHONI WAS MISSED IN DIFFICULT SITUATION
agencies
Kingston, 1 July
India’s stand-in captain Virat Kohli conceded that the calming presence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had been missed during the One-Day Internationals tri-series match here last night against the West Indies, which the hosts won by a solitary wicket after a nail-biting chase.
Dhoni, who had suffered from cramps while batting, did not come out to field and it was Kohli who led the side, which saw the Caribbeans huff and puff to a modest 230-run target.
With nine points from two matches, the West Indies have a good chance of making the final. It was sweet revenge for the hosts, who had lost to India in the Champions Trophy tournament.
“There are times when you are under pressure and you miss him (Dhoni) because he remains calm under pressure,” a disappointed Kohli admitted after the game, claiming that there had been a marked change in the wicket’s behaviour when the West Indies batted.
“The way the wicket played in the second innings, the score wasn’t enough, but it had been completely different in the morning, it was damp, it became better for batting later on,” he said.
Kohli praised his bowlers for keeping the team in the game but said that they had been unlucky in that a few edges did not carry to the fielders. “We tried to take as many wickets as possible; one or two edges going to the fielders would have made all the difference, we were close to winning it.
There was a bit of spongy bounce in the morning and Sunil Narine was getting some turn. It was just a matter of one wicket. It was a great fight by us and good entertainment. The West Indies had a great game,” the young captain said.
The West Indies’ stand-in captain Kieron Pollard was not happy that the match had gone down to the wire.
“We find ways to get into these positions, but we won in the end. Teams of the past could have just fallen, that shows the belief of everyone in the team, victories such as these bring us together,” Pollard said.
Pollard said the main goal was to go to Trinidad with two wins and he was happy that the team had been able to achieve that.
“We wanted to go to Trinidad with two wins; it does not matter how we have done it, but we have. We should not be overconfident though, should win these games easily. (Dwayne) Bravo (sitting out) was precautionary, we have Pakistan coming up, he has five or six days to get ready, hopefully he should be taking the mantle in Trinidad,” he said.
Man-of-the-Match Johnson Charles, who had struck an attractive 97 off 100 balls, was happy that he could make amends after his struggle against Sri Lanka in the tournament’s opening match.
Charles smashed four sixes and eight fours as the West Indies overhauled India’s 229 for seven by scoring 230 for nine in 47.4 overs.
Darren Bravo too played a crucial innings of 55 runs, forging a 115-run stand with Charles for the fourth wicket after the West Indies had lost three early wickets.
Birthday boy Kemar Roach scored a match-winning 14 off 32 balls to steer the West Indies home.
The West Indies, though, did not have the best of starts with Chris Gayle (11) failing to make an impact in front of his home crowd. Devon Smith (0) and Marlon Samuels (1) too fell cheaply.
Kohli said he had been forced to persist with an attacking field as he needed wickets to defend India’s modest score.
Kohli heaped praise on Charles, saying: “He is someone who’s done well for (the West Indies). It’s a good thing for them."
The loss snapped India’s nine-match winning streak but Kohli took the defeat in his stride, saying it was not possible to win every day.
“You can’t be too disappointed with these kinds of games,” said Kohli, adding: “We won seven in a row in England (Champions Trophy, including the two warm-ups against Sri Lanka and Australia) and in cricket, you can’t win everything. The way the guys fought was very pleasing to see. Everyone was hungry to win.”

Headmaster blames lack of funds, management accuses head
sankha ghosh
sankha.ghosh9@gmail.com
Jatiakali, 1 July
Students of Fulbari High School, mostly belonging to the minority community classified under the BPL category, have remained deprived of their midday meal  for the past 11 months allegedly because of the obduracy of the government-aided institution&’s Headmaster, who insists on payment first, followed by the service.
The management on its part is fed up with the Headmaster, who is paying no heed to its constant prodding to resume the service at the earliest.
There are around 1,500 students, studying between Classes V and VIII at the institution. 
"My father is a mason and it is difficult for my parents to provide us with two square meals a day. I used to get my lunch at the school when the mid-day meal service was on. But now I feel hungry. I keep attending classes with hunger gnawing at my stomach," Mustafa Ali, a Class VII student, said.
Asrita Modak, a Class VII student, said she has made it a habit to drink water to douse the fire of hunger. “I have no other option," she said.
Other students, too, have recounted the same tale of hunger tormenting them and water providing the antidote. 
The headmaster, when contacted, made his point clear. The government should first send the fund required to buy the rations for the midday meal, he said.
"The grocers from whom we used to receive the rations kept pressing us for the payment. We had no other option but to wait for the funds to arrive. The process took time. This system of collecting the ration first and squaring the payment later is continuing in other schools across Jalpaiguri district. But I think it should be reversed ~ the government should first provide us with the funds," Mr Saha said. “Besides, the institution does not have a proper kitchen or a store,” he added.
“I wrote to the Rajganj Block Development Officer (BDO) about the problem. But I have received no reply till date. This aside, the rice that was supplied for the service was of bad quality,” he said.
The management, however, rubbished the headmaster’s reason, citing it as an "excuse" to keep the matter indefinitely pending. “There is a kitchen and also a store place. The infrastructure is rather in a good shape. Besides, extension of the school building is going on now,” assistant teacher of the institute, Mr Abhisek Roy, said.  
The School management committee president, Mr Abdul Bari, said the students have remained at the receiving end of the headmaster&’s obstinacy. 
"Most of the students are from economically under-privileged families. There is no denying the fact that they come to the school in the hope of getting a square meal. We have raised the issue with the headmaster time and again, but to no avail. But we cannot allow our students to remain unfed for an indefinite period. We will take the matter up with north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb," Mr Bari said.
The Jalpaiguri District Magistrate, Ms Smaraki Mahapatra, said she is aware of the matter. “Holding up mid-day meal service amounts to violation of the Supreme Court directive.  If the situation continues the administration would be compelled to take stern action against the Headmaster," she said.
The District administration sources said there is no fund crunch at the school.
"There is no reason why the school cannot buy rations from its own resources to keep the service continuing. We have not taken any action against the school because we fear the action would affect adversely the interests of the students," an official said.
Mr Gautam Deb ~ MLA from Dabgram, Fulbari constituency ~ said this is obnoxious. 
“The students cannot be made to suffer for an individual&’s whim. I was unaware of such a thing continuing. I would talk to the state&’s higher education department and stern action would be taken against whoever is responsible for the students being denied their due for such a long time," Mr Deb said.

agence france-presse
Rio de Janeiro, 1 July
Brazil destroyed world and European champions Spain 3-0 to win a third straight Confederations Cup title with a dazzling display of football which left the Maracana Stadium in raptures here.
The turbo-charged samba stars roared to victory yesterday with two goals from Fred and a stunning strike from Neymar, dominating a weary Spanish side whose strength was sapped after edging Italy on penalties in Thursday’s semi-final.
A miserable night for Spain also saw them miss a second half penalty when Sergio Ramos shot wide from the spot before Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for a professional foul on Neymar.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the result as the perfect fillip as he plots a course to an assault on next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.  “People know a much tougher event is coming up (next year),” said Scolari. But he noted: “We can set out on the journey with a little more confidence.”Spanish counterpart Vicente del Bosque meanwhile admitted his side had been outclassed on the night.  “There are no excuses. Brazil were better than us. We must congratulate them,” del Bosque said. The touchpaper for an electrifying evening at one of the most iconic venues in football was set during the pre-match ceremonies as Brazil’s fans sang a rendition of the national anthem.

Kolkata, 1 July: Mr Madan Mitra, state sports minister and president of Southern Samity ~ one of the oldest clubs of South Kolkata that is presently on the verge of closure ~ has sought financial assistance from corporate firms and private companies.
Mr Mitra today held a meeting with the club officials at the Writers’ Buildings.  Set up in 1945, Souther Samity has been involved in various cultural activities apart from sports.  Mr Mitra said that the club is presently going through an acute financial crunch. "We do not have enough resources to run the clubs and despite several attempts to rope in sponsors, we have failed," said Mr Mitra. We request private organisers and corporate firms to provide financial assistance so as to prevent it from closure, he added. It may be mentioned here that the government provided Rs two lakh each to 700 local clubs to upgrade infrastructure. sns

“We still have areas where we know we need to improve”
indo-asian news service
Rio de Janeiro, 1 July
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says his team are not yet the favourites to win next year’s football World Cup despite their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup final.
Victory in the World Cup warm-up tournament here on Sunday guarantees Brazil will rise sharply from their current position of No 22 when the next Fifa rankings are announced.
"The result gives us great confidence, because it shows we can match the best teams in the world. But we still have areas where we know we need to improve," Scolari said during his post-match Press conference at the Maracana.
"We have beaten France, Uruguay, Italy and Spain in the past month, all previous World Cup-winners. But there are other teams who we are yet to play like Germany and Argentina that are going to be very tough to be beat."
Scolari did not rule out the possible return of veterans Kaka and Ronaldinho at next year’s World Cup, despite the pair having been overlooked for the Confederations Cup.
"The door is always open for great players," the 64-year-old said. "We will look at all of our players in Europe and the rest of the world over the next year. They will be well received if and when we call on them. The team is open to all."
Golden ball
Neymar has been awarded the Golden Ball trophy for the best player in the  Confederations Cup.
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was named runner-up and Brazil’s Paulinho, third. Neymar becomes the fourth Brazilian to win the award after Denilson (1997), Ronaldinho (1999) and Kaka (2009).
The Golden Boot award went to Fernando Torres with five goals, including four in Spain’s 10-0 victory over Tahiti.
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar won the Golden Glove, having conceded just three goals from five matches.
Meanwhile, Vicente del Bosque called his team’s resounding 3-0 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final a "deserved defeat."Del Bosque sought to play down Sunday’s lop-sided match, saying the World Cup winners and two-time defending European champions might benefit from the loss in front of a partisan Brazilian crowd of 73,000 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium. The loss left Spain without the only major title it has failed to win in a five-year span in which it has dominated the game.
"Once in a while it is convenient to lose because we don’t think we are unbeatable," Del Bosque said.

statesman news service
Darjeeling, 1 July
With the joint efforts of the health department under the GTA and the state government, a slew of projects meant to provide better health facilities at affordable cost for the sick from the Darjeeling Hills were inaugurated today. A pay ward that would have ten cabins at the attached building of the Darjeeling District Hospital was also opened.
These ten cabins have a central oxygen system, an attached bathroom and a bed and the rent would be Rs 300 per day. Normally, in the private nursing homes located across Darjeeling, the same would range from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 and even more.
This aside, a new cell for the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) was inaugurated today. It would be operative from 7 July at the same building, it is learnt.
Again, a Sick New Born Stabilising Unit (SNSU) for Kurseong Sadar Hospital, Bijanbari Rural Hospital and Sukhiapokhari and Rambhi Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC) were inaugurated in the presence of the senior GTA and the administrative officials at the district hospital.
“The cabins will have all the facilities that are provided by the private nursing homes,” said Mr Don Bosco Lepcha, the GTA executive director of health department. “At the NCD programme, the treatment for those suffering diabetes, hyper tension, cancer and the like are being provided free of cost since April and a separate cell will become operative from 7 July onwards,” he added.
According to the officials, the cost for the launch of the cabin and an NCD cell for the district hospital has been pegged at Rs 42 lakhs and these are being funded jointly by the GTA and the state government.
Mr Lepcha further said that plans are on the cards to add a Critical Care Unit (CCU) to the district hospital.  “The infrastructure required is being built up. Four trained doctors and eight nurses have already been provided.
The CCU is expected to become operative later this month. Also a Sick New Born Care Unit will come up at the district hospital. A 200 KV generator has also been added to the hospital to overcome the power shortfall problem hitting medical service,” he said.
Worth mentioning, a fair price medicine shop came up at the Darjeeling District Hospital during the Chief Minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee&’s last Darjeeling visit.

statesman news service
Darjeeling, 1 July 
The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, who is in charge of the education department of the GTA, today met the state education minister Mr Bratya Basu and the secretary Mr Arnab Roy at Vikash Bhavan, in Kolkata. He said after the meeting was over that it was a follow-up on the memorandum served to the state government earlier.
“The main agenda of the meeting was the upgrade of the education system in the Hills,” he said.
“It was agreed that nine schools under 18 mouzas across the Siliguri sub-division would be transferred to the GTA. The state government will soon appoint one additional district inspector of schools for the Darjeeling Hills,” he added.
Mr Giri maintained that the GTA had earlier submitted a memorandum to the state education minister, demanding constitution of a School Service Commission (SSC) under GTA. “It is agreed that the SSC committee comprising members of both the sate administration and the GTA would be formed soon,” he said.
He said: “A central urban educational circle will be formed to look after the promotion of the fifty two schools in the urban area of Darjeeling. Under the state-sponsored multi-sectorial development programme, one school covering six blocks under the GTA ~ Gorubathan, Sukhia, Kurseong, Rangli-Rangliot, Kalimpong I and II ~ shall receive Rs 10 crore each for their upgrade. They will have to write to the state government, explaining the present condition of their schools. Further, the state government is conducting a survey at every school operating under the GTA and will grant Rs 20 lakhs to each to upgrade it and make the building earthquake-proof. The state would also provide Rs 2 lakhs to each of the Higher Secondary schools across the Hills to have a laboratory of their own.” 
It is also learnt that the Ramakrisha BT College will be upgraded to the district institute and education training centre.

statesman news service
Raiganj, 1 July
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the former state Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the authorities of Raiganj municipality of North Dinajpur district distributed spectacles among the poor residents free of cost today. 
On the issue of  the birth anniversary of the great personality, the municipality authorities in the afternoon today held an eye checkup camp for the residents too. Four hundred poor residents living in the jurisdiction of Raiganj municipality were given spectacles.   The Chairman of  Raiganj municipality, Mr Mohit Sengupta, said: "We distributed a total of 400 spectacles among the people of a total of 25 wards whose financial condition is very weak. The doctors of Raiganj district hospital Dr Kamal Sarkar and Dr Anjan Mukharjee had screened their eyes in the past month. Today they were given spectacles.

To Kiev: Morocco midfielder Younes Belhanda, of French club Montpellier, has signed a five-year contract with Dynamo Kiev, the Ukrainian side confirmed. Financial details of the deal were not given.
Jakarta Classic: The Asian Development Tour (ADT) will provide another new playing opportunity for emerging stars with the launch of the inaugural Jakarta Classic golf later in July this year.
IOC award: Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana was awarded the annual World Trophy for her work as president of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee on Monday, a top IOC award for women in sports.
Llorente’s move:  Spanish striker Fernando Llorente will arrive in Turin on Monday to join Juventus as a free agent. The 28-year-old Llorente scored 85 goals  from 262 Liga games over eight seasons.
Maher to join PSV: Adam Maher will join PSV Eindhoven from AZ Alkmaar for an undisclosed fee, both clubs have announced. The 19-year-old midfielder Maher will sign a five-year contract if he passes the medical.
Brooks, Delfino out: Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has tweeted that the club chose not to re-sign Carlos Delfino and Aaron Brooks for the next season. Delfino played an important part for Rockets.
Vacant slot: Kimi Raikkonen would be ‘a fool’ not to move from Lotus to Mark Webber’s vacant seat at Red Bull next season, Austrian F1 legend Niki Lauda told Monday’s edition of the Bild.

Amir decision: A five-member ICC sub-committee will in all likelihood review whether certain clauses in Mohammad Amir’s ban order for spot-fixing can be relaxed to let him use the PCB’s training facilities.
SAI plan: The Sports Authority of India’s decision to restrict Indian entries submitted to the 22nd Deaflympics owing to a lack of funds has hit many players who can’t represent the country in Bulgaria, from 22 July.
Triumph on TV: Star Sports on Monday announced a special week-long series, Champions ka Champion,  celebrating India’s victory at the Champions Trophy, with each episode focusing on Indian stars and their thoughts.
Kazan ready: Kazan is ready for the 27th Summer World University Games beginning next week, its mayor Ilsur Metshin has said. The Universiade Village, which can accommodate 14, 500 people, was officially opened on Saturday.
Selling athletics: Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad, new president of the Asian Athletics Association, emphasised that the federation’s   competition and programmes needed to be reviewed attract corporate sponsors.
British Open: Shiv Kapur will try for a berth in the British Open Championships when he tees up at regional qualifiers at Dunbar, though Jeev Milkha Singh failed in his attempt at Sunningdale.
Kumar’s comeback: Praveen Kumar has set his eyes on the 2013-4 domestic season to make a comeback to the Indian team. “I am fit. I have fully recovered from my tennis elbow,”he said.

statesman news service
Gangtok, 1 July
The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee has condemned the Kabi-Lungtsok beautification project involving the sacred place of Kabi-Lungtsok ~ a pilgrimage site located in North Sikkim.
Condemning the beautification drive at a sacred site, the SPCC said it would approach the Development of North-eastern Region (DONEAR) ministry as the planned project also puts the bio-diversity the state enjoys in jeopardy.
“Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee considers such act as an attempt to demean the very sanctity of the holy Kabi-Lungtsok spot which enjoys a special place in the life of Bhutia-Lepcha community of Sikkim,” the Press release issued from the SPCC stated.
The SPCC appealed to all Sikkimese people across the ethnic spectrum to
condemn and protest the ruling SDF government&’s Kabi-Lungtsok beautification project and attacked
the ruling party for emotionally blackmailing the Sikkimese people for the sake of beautification.

MANAS R BANERJEE
manas.bannerjee@gmail.com 
Siliguri, 1 July
In order to maintain transparency on the price of green tea leaves, producers associated with bought leaf factories have been asked to submit monthly returns, including the selling price of made tea to the Tea Board on regular basis, according to officials.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at Siliguri Mahukuma Parishad today after interacting with tea producers and small tea growers’ associations in the presence of Darjeeling District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan and Assistant Director Tea Board, Siliguri, Rakesh Kumar.
Notably, several small tea growers under different banners started agitating after the price of green tea leaves was dropped from the normal price of Rs 10 to 12 per kg last week. The bought leaf factory owners disagreed to pay more than Rs 6 to 7 per kg though they had faced acute crisis of green tea leaves a few months back while the rate was at Rs 23
per kg.
Mr Mohan said: “The tea producers have been asked to submit returns to the Tea Board on regular basis. In order to maintain transparency, the producers will have to display the present price of green leafs and selling price of made tea on the notice board outside of the factory premises so that small growers can calculate the present price of raw material.”
“It was also proposed that the Tea Board will setup a help line for small growers. Based on the return submitted by the producers, the Tea Board will also upload the latest information about the price of made tea and raw materials in its own website in the interest of small growers,” Mr Mohan said.  Mr Kumar said: “A monitoring committee will function to keep an eye on the price of made tea and green tea leaves to maintain ‘price sharing formula’ for green leaves in the interest of small growers.  The district magistrate, Darjeeling, will chair the committee meeting on regular basis.”
“The chairman of the Tea Board has issued a letter on 17 June to the Darjeeling district regarding formation of monitoring committee. The monitoring committee for maintaining transparency on the price of green leaves was formed in north Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts earlier. The chairman of the Board has decided to form the committee in all tea-producing districts in north Bengal,” Mr Kumar said.
One of the small tea growers’ leaders, Mr B G Chakraborty, said: “We will be happy if the resolution adopted at the meeting is being implemented properly.”
The Chairman of the North Bengal Tea Producers’ Association Prabir Seal was not available for comment despite several attempts.
The committee will be formed comprising members of small tea growers’ association and owners of the bought leaf factories. The Tea Board official will function as convenor of the steering committee.

statesman news service
Malda, 1 July
Two more persons ~ Somnath Mardi alias Viku (28) Sibu Tudu alias Tiger (22) ~ whom police claimed to be Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) militants, were arrested last night in connection with the killing of a BJP leader Nripen Mandal on 16 June and the explosion in Gazole on 25 June that claimed a life and injured many.
A member of Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP), Ajay Sarkar, was arrested too late in the night on 29 June  suspecting involvement in those cases. It has been learnt from sources that police have now been desperately trying to arrest Malkhan Singh alias Madhab Mandal, a ‘notorious’ KLO militant who, police believe, masterminded both the BJP leader&’s killing and Gazole explosion.
The Superintendent of Police (SP), Mr Kalyan Mukherjee, said: “Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Sibu last night from a deserted brick kiln at Bamangola and recovered counterfeited currencies amounting Rs 49,500 from him.”
“Somnath Mardi was arrested too with fake currencies of Rs 50,000 last night from Kadubari area in the Gazole police station area,” Mr Mukherjee informed.
Police suspect that KLO activists have recently got involved in dealing with fake currencies to arrange money for purchasing arms for militancy.
The duo was produced in court today and the magistrate ordered five-day police custody for them. It may be mentioned that police arrested Ajay from an abandoned house at Begunbari area in the Habibpur police station area on 29 June late night and got him in 15-day custody. Interrogating him, police have got a breakthrough in both the cases. Police claimed that Ajay used to transfer Malkhan from one place to another.
The SP, Mr Mukherjee, said: "Since Malkhan was released on bail in 2011, he started running an extortion racket at different areas of Old Malda, Habibpur, Bamangola and Gazole blocks."  “He tried to spread his organisation too in those areas. Police received several complaints against him and his henchmen. We started following and arresting him,” he added.
He said "Only six to seven persons were organising crimes at the behest of Malkhan. Two of them have already been arrested."
The Central and the state intelligence sources informed that along with Malkhan, some other KLO militants like Dhananjoy, Gopal, Nikhil were organising militant activities in different parts of North Bengal.