No special treatment for GLP cadres in police recruitment sparks row

IE, Kolkata, March 23 2013:The Trinamool Congress government's decision to recruit 6,500 police personnel in Darjeeling district has sparked a controversy in the area as the government has not mentioned any special criteria for the Gorkhland Police (GLP) cadres — a volunteer force raised by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) during the days of agitation. 

Significantly, according to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement, the GLP cadres are supposed to be absorbed in the state police force and central para military force with some "modified eligibility criteria". 

However, the district administration has announced that the recruitment drive is free for all and anybody can apply for the job, which is subject to physical tests and the candidates have to qualify the eligibility criteria. 

Superintendent of Police (Darjeeling) Kunal Agarwal announced recruitment of 6,500 police personnel in 14 police stations of Darjeeling district. Out of the 14 police stations, 12 fall in the GTA area. 

According to the sources, the recruitment process will be carried out across the state and Darjeeling is the first district where the process has been announced. 

Agarwal said, "An eligibility criteria has been fixed. It is free for all and anybody who meets the criteria is eligible for the job. 

The minimum qualification is Madhyamik and the candidates should fall within the 20-30 year age bracket. 

He confirmed that no special criteria has been fixed for the GLP cadres. 

The application forms will be made available in all the 14 police stations from next week. Candidates will have to submit their filled-up forms by April 10. 

Aggarwal said: "The 14 police stations in the district have around 3,000 personnel at present, and the recruitment would help in doubling the strength." 

GJM leaders termed the step taken as an attempt by the government to put the party in trouble and a breach in the GTA agreement. Significantly, the GTA has does not have a role to play in the hiring drive. 

"The government is violating the every clause of the agreement. The recruitment of GLP cadres in government jobs was one area on which our party chief Bimal Gurung had always stressed on and held meetings with state and central government to solve it. But the state government is not keeping its promise. This a final damage that can be done to the relation between the ruling party and GJM.

It will worsen the situation," said GJM leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri. 

The GLP force was raised by GJM to control mob during its Gorkhaland movement in 2008. 

The force at present has 5,000 cadres who live in camps in remote areas, including jungles of the Darjeeling hills. Some of the 35 camps are housed in government guest houses, health centres and tourism bungalows that had been forcibly captured by GJM. 

While being sworn in as GTA chief executive in August last year, Gurung had urged both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to accommodate the Gorkhaland Personnel cadres in the police, paramilitary forces or other services. He pleaded for special changes in the eligibility criteria for the armed forces of the state and the Centre to absorb them. Senior GJM leaders agree the force is now a "burning problem". 

Interestingly, in February, the GJM took a decision to appoint the cadres of GLP in several departments without the state government's approval. The state government asked for clarification from the GTA on the recruitment and later put it on hold. The GTA had appointed around 40 cadres of the GLP in some departments and in hospitals in the Hills as security guards and drivers.