Hamro Varta Television has officially announced the launch of Sikkim Idol Season 2, set to begin on April 2, 2025. After the resounding success of Season 1, the upcoming season promises a bigger platform for aspiring singers, with the themes of Sunaulo Sikkim and Samridh Sikkim integrated into the competition to reflect the state’s vision of progress and prosperity through music.

Season 2 will introduce two categories — Junior and Senior — with the first round of digital screenings scheduled from April 2 to April 16, 2025. Hamro Varta Television will soon release detailed information about the application process and form submissions.

Fans and music enthusiasts from Sikkim are eagerly awaiting the grand launch, which is expected to showcase remarkable local talent while highlighting Sikkim’s cultural and musical heritage.

IIT Dhanbad students visiting Sikkim as tourists met with an accident at Pekshap, Mangan in North Sikkim last night, leaving 10 injured.

A Mahindra Maxx carrying ten tourists, including six males and four females, plunged approximately 100 feet down the road near Pakshep, Forest Dara, Mangan, at around 9:30 PM last night. The tourists, students from Jharkhand, were traveling from Lachung to Gangtok when the vehicle lost control and veered off the road.

The driver and passengers sustained injuries, with three of the injured tourists transported to Gangtok Hospital for further treatment, while others received medical attention in Mangan.

A preparatory meeting for the International Youth Conclave on Tourism Development, set to be held in Yangang from April 12 to 14, 2025, was held at the Sikkim Legislative Assembly (SLA) Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa and attended by key government officials and representatives from the Yangang Tourism Development Committee (YTDC).

Among the attendees were Bikash Basnet, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister; Karma Subba, OSD to the Chief Minister; CL Gurung, former Zilla Adhyaksha; Phurba Wangdi Bhutia, MD of SBS; Sonam Denzongpa, Principal Director of Education; and BB Izam, Principal Director of Accounts. Officers from various departments representing the Rangang-Yangang constituency were also present.

The conclave will commemorate 50 years of Sikkim’s statehood by highlighting the state’s growth, challenges, and opportunities in the tourism sector. Organized by YTDC, the event aims to promote lesser-known tourist destinations in Sikkim, with a focus on Yangang, while encouraging global tourism, creating employment opportunities, and fostering community development.

Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and community participation in ensuring the success of the conclave. She noted that hosting such a high-profile event would significantly boost Yangang’s tourism industry and inspire local youth to engage in tourism entrepreneurship and event management.

The three-day conclave will feature forums, discussions, and experience-sharing sessions to strengthen Sikkim’s tourism sector. A key focus will be on adventure tourism, promotion of cultural heritage, and encouraging local entrepreneurship. The event will bring together 250 delegates from 28 Indian states and 3 Union Territories, along with participants from 10 countries.

A major decision taken during the meeting was to extend an invitation to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang to attend the event. Discussions also focused on strategies to enhance national and international participation, ensuring that the conclave becomes a global platform for tourism development.

Since its establishment in 2008, YTDC has played a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism and local economic growth. With support from the tourism department and the state government, the conclave is expected to strengthen Sikkim’s position as a leading tourism destination while showcasing its cultural and natural heritage to a global audience.

Two Sweet Shops in Singtam Bazar Ordered to Shut Down for Violating Food Safety Norms.

The Health & Family Welfare Department of Sikkim has issued closure notices to two sweet shops in Singtam Bazar for violating food safety regulations. The orders, dated March 13, 2025, were issued to “Fast Food/Sweets Shop” owned by Umesh Prasad and “Baba Sweets” owned by Shiwratri Giri.

During inspections conducted by the Food Safety Officer of Gangtok District, both establishments were found to be breaching Schedule 4 Guidelines under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its Rules and Regulations, 2011. The violations pertain to Good Manufacturing and Hygienic Practices. Consequently, the department has exercised its authority under Section 36, read with Food Safety & Standards Rules 2.1.2, to prohibit the manufacturing and sale of sweets and other prepared food items at these premises until further notice.

The action aims to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with food safety norms. Further inspections are expected to follow to enforce standards and regulations across the district.

The Phidang Bridge in North Sikkim, which was damaged due to an overloaded truck, has been successfully repaired, allowing the resumption of light vehicle traffic. The repair work has eased connectivity issues and provided relief to commuters affected by the disruption.

Officials confirmed that the damage resulted from an overloaded truck, which led to the temporary closure of the bridge. Following the incident, the Mangan Police Station registered an FIR on March 15, 2025, against the truck driver, Sandeep Limbu, under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The complaint was lodged by officials from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF).

Sikkim Chief Minister PS Golay met with the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, at Raj Bhawan, Assam, today. The meeting was marked by warm exchanges and reflections on Acharya’s tenure as the Governor of Sikkim.

Describing the meeting as a heartfelt reunion, CM Golay expressed deep admiration for Acharya’s wisdom, humility, and dedication to public service. He shared that reconnecting with Acharya felt like meeting a long-lost guardian, highlighting the Governor’s kindness and insightful guidance during the interaction.

“I am sincerely grateful for his time, thoughtful words, and encouragement,” CM Golay stated. He also extended his best wishes to Shri Acharya for continued health, happiness, and success in his future endeavors.

CM PS Tamang extended his heartfelt gratitude for the Governor’s time, thoughtful words, and encouragement. He also conveyed his best wishes for Acharya’s continued good health, happiness, and success in all his future endeavors.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary R Telang, DGP Akshay Sachdeva, Principal Secretary to CMO SD Dhakal, and Law & Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Suraj Chettri.

A 24-year-old man from West Bengal, currently residing in Bojoghari, Gangtok, has reportedly lost ₹2,60,776 in an online job fraud linked to a project named “75 Explore.”

According to a complaint filed by S.K. Nur Mohammad at Sadar Police Station, the incident occurred on March 11, 2025, between 9:47 AM and 7:30 PM. Mohammad alleged that unknown individuals contacted him with an online job offer and convinced him to transfer funds as part of the onboarding process. The scammers reportedly claimed that the payment was necessary to secure the job and complete certain project tasks.

After realizing that he had been duped, Mohammad approached the police, who have registered a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the IT Act, 2000. The investigation is currently underway to trace the fraudsters and recover the lost funds.

Police have issued a public advisory urging people to exercise caution while dealing with online job offers. “No genuine employer will ask for money upfront for a job. Avoid sharing personal or banking details with unknown sources,” a police spokesperson stated.

This case highlights the growing threat of online job scams targeting job seekers. The police have advised the public to report any suspicious activity immediately and to verify the authenticity of job offers before proceeding.

The bail petition for Samsong Tamang, also known as Shamsan Tamang, was unexpectedly withdrawn on the same day it was filed, raising questions over procedural integrity. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gangtok, marked the case as “disposed of” during the first hearing on March 12, 2025. However, the official court order is yet to be updated on the District and Sessions Court’s portal, raising concerns about transparency.

The bail plea, filed under case number 5/2025, was listed before the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Gangtok. Court records initially showed that Advocate Ranjit Prasad represented the petitioner while the State of Sikkim appeared as the respondent. However, sources later revealed that Prasad denied involvement in the case, claiming that another advocate had misused his ID and password to file the petition without his consent.

The case originated from an FIR filed against Samsong Tamang on February 3, 2025, over a controversial Facebook post dated January 1, 2025, on a page named “Patrukar.” The post allegedly contained derogatory remarks targeting the Khas community and their cultural practices, leading to widespread public outrage and demands for legal action. Tamang was subsequently charged under sections 299, 196(1), 352, and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The advocate responsible for the unauthorized filing reportedly apologized to Ranjit Prasad, and the matter was resolved internally within the Bar Association. The bail petition was formally withdrawn with an appraisal to the Judicial Magistrate regarding the misuse of credentials.

Legal experts have raised concerns over the misuse of professional identity in sensitive cases, warning that such lapses could undermine public trust in the legal process. “This incident highlights the urgent need for stricter monitoring and protection of legal credentials,” said one senior advocate.

Meanwhile, the Khas community, which had been at the center of the controversy, has not issued any official statement on the withdrawal of the case. Public and legal circles continue to speculate about the reasons behind the swift withdrawal, with calls for greater accountability and transparency in judicial proceedings.