Organisations condole demise of Pro-Sikkim editor

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Several organisations here have condoled the passing away of Pro-Sikkim editor, Tenzing Bhutia, in a road accident near Adampool yesterday.
Press Club of Sikkim has conveyed, “The Club feels that his demise is a great loss to the press and media fraternity in Sikkim. The Club also expresses its condolence to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace”.
Meanwhile, condoling the sudden demise, National Sikkimese Bhutia Organization [NASBO] has stated that Sikkim “has lost one of its faithful sons leaving an irreparable vacuum”.
A NASBO release expresses that Late Mr Bhutia was “always concerned about the ever diluting distinct identity and right of Sikkim and the Sikkimese people. This was reflected in his earlier writings and work in the weekly ‘Sikkimese’ and was reaffirmed when he launched Pro Sikkim only a week ago.”
“His other engagements and associations like the Denjong Lho-men Chog-du lend much to preserve the distinct feature of the Sikkimese,” the release adds.
The All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association [ASESEUA] has also condoled the demise of the editor.
An ASESEUA release states, “We had worked together many times and today we are feeling his absence” and adds that his demise is a great loss to the land of Sikkim and the Sikkimese people.
“We are with the bereaved family of Late Mr Bhutia in offering prayers for the departed soul”, the release further expresses.

Pro-Sikkim Editor killed in road mishap

GANGTOK, 05 Dec: Editor-publisher of the recently launched English weekly, “Pro- Sikkim”, Tenzing Bhutia, was killed in a road mishap here this afternoon when the Bolero vehicle being driven by him veered off the road at Rawtey on the Ranipool-Rumtek highway at around 4 p.m. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Confirming the accident, personnel at the Ranipool Police Station further informed that the vehicle crashed around 500 to 600 feet down the cliff side. Eye witness accounts add that the vehicle came to rest further down from even the alternative highway excavation about 500 feet below the spot from where the vehicle flew off the road. The vehicle went off the road at a sharp turning at the spot.
Since the mishap occurred early enough in the day, the crash of the vehicle alerted several people and a rescue effort was mounted immediately. Personnel from the Ranipool Police Station assisted by residents of the area extracted Mr. Bhutia from the ill-fated vehicle. Sources inform that Mr. Bhutia was still conscious when the rescuers reached him, but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. His body was carried across the Rani Khola to the highway from where it was escorted to the STNM Hospital for autopsy, it is informed.
Clearer details on what could have caused the accident will be available once the police investigation is completed, officials add. Mr. Bhutia’s newspaper has its office in Rangpo and he used to live in Rumtek, it is learnt.
Mr. Bhutia was formerly with the State Bank of India and had launched “Pro- Sikkim” on 29 November here at the Press Club of Sikkim.

English weekly ‘Pro-Sikkim’ launched

GANGTOK, 29 Nov: A new weekly newspaper, Pro- Sikkim, with the tagline ‘the Thinking News Weekly’ was launched by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president Nar Bahadur Bhandari, here at Press Club of Sikkim today.
The four-page tabloid is published and edited by Tenzing Bhutia and will come out every Sunday. The publisher also has plans to start an online version of the newspaper in the near future.
Addressing media persons today, Mr Bhutia mentioned that apart from issues related to Sikkim and the Sikkimese people, the newspaper will also carry analytical reports on different incidents and news covered during the week. “There is a need for such newspapers as Sikkim has failed to preserve its identity for which political leaders and the civil society are equally responsible,” he said.
Mr Bhutia mentioned that the merger of Sikkim, Article 371F and where Sikkim is headed are important issues and added that people have to move forward by looking into Sikkim’s history.
Extending his congratulations on the launch, Mr Bhandari said that it is a historic day as such a newspaper is the need of the hour for the Sikkimese people. Appreciating the initiative of Mr Bhutia, he stated that although the newspaper might have problems surviving in such times, they should continue with the good work. He further assured all possible support from his side.
Stating that “I am not anti-India but I am pro-Sikkim,” Mr Bhandari opined that Article 371 F has eroded in the hands of the present government. The SPCC president also informed that he will soon be starting Street Corner meetings all over the state.