Sikkim Year-Ender: Events that made headlines in 2020

GANGTOK:

By Nitesh R Pradhan

Sikkim witnessed a turbulent turn of events this year despite the COVID-19 induced lockdown.

Here is the list of important happenings in the Himalayan state:

1. Girl from Sikkim elected as Prime Minister of NIPC

Premkit Lepcha, a tribal girl from remote Dzongu in North Sikkim, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of National Inclusive Parliament of Children (NIPC) on February 3. She was given the additional charge as Minister of Industry, innovation and infrastructure, one of the Sustainable development goals.

2. Three dead after boulder hits vehicle in Sikkim

Three persons died on the spot after an SUV carrying tourists fell in a river after being hit by a boulder, leaving seven others injured in East Sikkim district on March 10. The incident took place when the vehicle was hit by a rolling boulder from the hillside in the Rongli police station area.

3. Sikkim’s Manila Pradhan wins MTV Supermodel of the Year 2020

24-year-old Manila Pradhan from Namchi, South Sikkim was crowned the winner of the popular show the MTV Supermodel of the Year 2020 (Part IV) which was announced on March 15.

4. Sikkim last state in NE to detect COVID-19 case

Sikkim insulated itself from the first few months of COVID induced lockdown. However, the state could not sustain the momentum and later, the state witnessed a surge in cases of Coronavirus, leading to a health emergency in the Himalayan state.

Sikkim reported its first COVID-19 case on May 23 after a 25-year-old, who had arrived in Sikkim on May 17, was tested positive for the virus.

5. Fake picture of Sikkim minister & victims of fire incident goes viral

Ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party took strong exception to a fake picture of the Health Minister, MK Sharma and the victims of the Singtam fire tragedy, uploaded on social media platforms in June this year.

The original picture reportedly showed an image of the victims of the recent fire tragedy at Singtam Bazar holding a cheque which was handed over to them by the government as a relief.

6. 20-yr-old girl stabbed to death by an unknown miscreant at Geyzing area

A 20-year-old girl was stabbed to death by an unknown miscreant at Tikjek in Geyzing, West Sikkim on August 10. According to sources, the young lady had gone to Geyzing Bazar to apply for admission to a college and on her way back home, she was attacked by the miscreant.

7. Three siblings washed away by a strong current in Sikkim

Three siblings were washed away by the strong current of the Bakcha Khola river at Dikchu, in Sikkim on August 29. The siblings include Purna Rai (29), Chandra Rai (28), and Erika Rai (22).

8. Sikkim: SKM shares power with BJP

Ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party on September 19 inducted many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, including state President DB Chauhan into the state government with various plum positions in state administration.

BJP President DB Chauhan said that the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance has become stronger after Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang included the State BJP in the government.

9. SPYF protests against government decisions to raise taxi fares

A protest led by members of the Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SPYF) against the government’s decision to raise taxi fares took an ugly turn when protestors clashed with taxi driver associations in Gangtok leading to some tense moments on October 24.

They demand to remove restrictions in transportation, allowing pillion riders in two-wheelers and, permission to run the state’s SNT buses without increasing the rates. The protest was diffused when the two warring parties compromised after the intervention of the district administration.

10. Sikkim bags fourth best-governed state in India

The Northeastern State of Sikkim was ranked fourth place in Best Governed State on the Public Affairs Index 2020 (PAI 2020). The fifth consecutive annual edition of PAI 2020 was launched on October 30 in a virtual event.

11. Two killed, three injured as the drunk driver runs over people

Two persons were killed and three others injured after they were hit by a speeding vehicle near Ranipool Bazar in East Sikkim on November 1. The speeding vehicle first hit three persons near 6th Mile before fatally knocking down two more persons near Ranipool Bazar. The driver of the utility vehicle was arrested and booked on charges of rash driving.

12. Veteran leader Sanchaman Limboo dies at 73

Former Sikkim Chief Minister Sanchaman Limboo passed away on November 8 after a prolonged illness at Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital in Gangtok. He was 73. Limboo was the fourth Chief Minister of Sikkim.

He was Chief Minister in Sikkim for 179 Days (June 17, 1994, to December 12, 1994) in the fourth assembly when he formed a Congress Government in the state which lasted for six months.

13. STNM successfully conducts neurosurgery for the first time in Sikkim

Neurosurgery was successfully performed for the first time at Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital in Sikkim’s capital city of Gangtok on November 29.

14. Sikkim’s Pakyong among 10 best-performing police stations in the country

Pakyong Police Station in Sikkim’s East District ranked seventh among the top ten best-performing police stations in the country according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, which was released on December 3.

The survey graded the police stations according to their performance and the feedback from the citizens.

15. Sikkim awarded best performing small state in two categories

Sikkim was adjudged the best performing small state in two categories - “cleanliness” and “most improved small state in governance” in the India Today e-State of the States Conclave 2020, which was held virtually on December 5.

16. Sikkim Sub-inspector caught selling drugs

Sikkim police on December 18, busted a drug consignment worth ₹14 lakh, from Samdong in East Sikkim. Police sources informed that a sub-inspector was one of the key facilitators in bringing drugs to the state, along with four other peddlers.

17. Three Army personnel among four killed in road mishap

Four persons, including three Army personnel, were killed on December 20 in a road accident near the Sino-India border at Nathula. Three soldiers and the son of an Army man died on the spot and, another soldier suffered injuries in the incident, the officer said.

(Edited by Laxmi Chyrmang)

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