Kolkata, June 10
On the first day of the indefinite strike in Darjeeling, activists of the Gorkha JanMukti Morcha (GJM) and the CPM involved in clashes at six places in the planes of Siliguri and the Duars in which over 150 persons were injured. Several GJM workers were also injured following police action to control the situation.
The indefinite bandh has been called by the GJM as a mark of protest against the government’s decision of disallowing them to hold meetings in Darjeeling district. GJM president Bimal Gurung alleged that they wanted to create public opinion by holding meetings and rallies peacefully in the planes in support of their demands.
Gurung said the holding of meetings and rallies was their constitutional right, which the “dictator” Chief Minister and his party had been denying.
He alleged that the GJM workers and supporters holding peaceful demonstrations at Birpara and the Duars were today attacked and beaten up by CPM activists and the police, which resulted in injuries to around 200 GJM workers, mostly women.
While talking to the mediapersons, hills area minister Ashok Bhatacharyya said he had talked to home minister Shivraj Patil and apprised him about the situation. The Chief Minister advised the GJM to call off its movement and restore peace and normalcy in the hills.
He made it clear that their demand for a separate Gorkhaland would not be met in any case. But he was ready to consider more financial and administrative powers to the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).
The GJM president, however, has turned down the CM’s offer. Gurung claimed that the people in the hills and the planes in general were in support their movement. He said their agitation would continue.
Though there was no untoward incident in the hills of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling town, the tourists stranded at several places had to face enormous problems following the non-availability of food, water and other essentials. There was also no adequate public transport for bringing the tourists down to the planes.
