Kalimpong Hunger Strikers given medical treatment

SNS, 8 August 2017, Siliguri: As the health condition of the three fast participants deteriorated in Kalimpong on the 19th day today, a medical team sprang into action and administered them liquids intravenously; while also keeping Ajit Roka on oxygen support after he almost lost consciousness. The medical team also made preparations to shift the trio to hospital, but the participants refused the offer.

In Darjeeling, fast participants demanded assurances from the Central Government in black and white after they were told that the Centre had sent 'verbal assurances' saying that it was working to solve the Hill impasse. 

Family members of the three youths, meanwhile, rushed to the site at Damber Chowk, making the scene there all the more emotion Family members of the three youths, meanwhile, rushed to the site at Damber Chowk, making the scene there all the more emotional.

Ajit was taken to an ambulance nearby and given oxygen and saline water, while Raju Biswakarma and Sagar Diyali were given `life- saving measures' at the venue itself.

However, respecting the decision taken by the hunger strikers, the medical team did not feed them anything and did not give them oral medication. Even as their health worsened in the morning, the three men strictly asked the others around them to not feed them anything.

Meanwhile, a group of people from the nearby state of Sikkim arrived at Thana Dara and shouted slogans like, Gorkhay timi nadarau, Sikkim Timro saath cha' (Gorkhas, don't be afraid, Sikkim is with you). They were members of an organisation called 'Gorkhaland Jan Sahayog Samiti' (GJSS) and had been there to meet the fast-unto-death participants.

"Wherever we stay, our hearts cry if anything happens to Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Here, we want to encourage each and every one, from the participants of the fast to the leaders," said Bhavanii Pradhan, the advisor of the GJSS, adding that they are here to support the Gorkhaland agitation.

Later, people marched towards the DM office as usual, where Mr Pradhan said:'Prime Minister Modi is such a person whose heart cries on seeing a cow being slaughtered, but he pays no heed when Gorkhas die fighting for justice.'

The District Magistrate later visited the fast participants and again urged them to go to hospital for proper treatment."I am here from the administration's side to request you all on humanitarian grounds; please go to the hospital,' Dr Viswanath told the men.

The DM also had a word with the family members of the fast participants and requested them to take them to the hospital. However, the family members said that they will not go against the fasting men's wishes.

'The condition of the fast participants worsened today, specially Ajit's, and they refused to take medicines and go to hospital. We salute the participants'will power," the general secretary of the youth wing of the GJMM, Bal Krishna, said.

In Kurseong, medical sources said the condition of Anosh Thapa, Shreya Rai and Noel Khawas has also worsened. According to party workers, the three men have not urinated in the past four days, while their blood pressure and pulse are ever fluctuating. Administration officials and police officers have been visiting the three participants and urging them to go for medical help.

In Darjeeling too the health condition of the three last participants worsened today, while they did not allow doctors to have themselves checked, While Rakesh Chhetri, 34, has a bad internal fever, Amir Subba,34, and Norden Wangdi Dukpa, 30, have not been able to pass urine For the past two days.

Anything might happen if they are not immediately sifted to a hospital,' a doctor said. While sources said that the Central government has sent "verbal assurances," the fast participants said they want anything that comes from the Centre in writing. Sources added that the Centre had requested the fast participants to call off the protest, saying that it is working to solve the problems in the Hills.