TMC leaders attacked in Kalimpong

Deep Gazmer, TNN | Mar 7, 2013: DARJEELING: Trinamool Congress' initiative to start political activities in the Hills met with resistance from alleged Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) youth cadres on Wednesday, injuring two Trinamool supporters. While police managed to arrest four persons, raids are on to nab the others.

According to police, about 10-15 Trinamool leaders and supporters had assembled for a meeting in a Kalimpong hotel when they were assaulted. As the Trinamool leaders were about to brief media, some 20-30 alleged Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (GJYM) supporters, armed with sticks and iron rods, attacked them. An FIR has been filed against the three main accused and 30 others.

It seems that Kalimpong sub-division convenor of Trinamool, Chewang Bhutia and senior leader Bruno Lepcha were targeted by the assailants, said police. Though both the leaders had to be hospitalized, Bhutia's injuries were reported to be serious.

"On receiving information, we reached the spot but did not find any Trinamool supporter other than Bhutia and Lepcha. They were covered in blood and we rushed them to hospital," said Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal, adding that Bijoy Chhetri, Manoj Singh, Anit Chhetri and Dilip Paswan have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Gopal Chhetri, Trinamool in charge of Darjeeling sub-division, said: "There is no democracy in the Hills in the misrule of the GJM party. Our leaders and supporters are intimidated every other day and today they were even attacked. I will send a report of today's incident to our party high command for their directive," he said. The Trinamool leader also alleged four of their supporters were missing since the attack.

However, GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai rubbished the allegation and said their party supporters had nothing to do with the attack.

Recent attempts by Trinamool Congress to start political activities in the hills of Darjeeling met with the first resistance from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Wednesday as two Trinamool leaders were injured in an attack by alleged GJM youth cadres in Kalimpong town. They had to be hospitalized.

The attack took place when Trinamool was holding an indoor meeting in the town. According to police, about 10-15 Trinamool leaders and supporters had assembled for the meeting in a hotel in Kalimpong this morning. As the Trinamool leaders were about to brief media, some 20-30 Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) supporters armed with sticks and iron rods went on an attacking spree.

Kalimpong sub-division convenor of Trinamool Chewang Bhutia and senior leader Bruno Lepcha were the targets of the GJYM supporters. Bhutia was seriously injured. On receiving information the police reached the spot and found the two Trinamool leaders lying in a pool of blood. The duo was then taken to hospital.

"Police reached the spot on receiving information about the attack. We did not find other Trinamool supporters but Bhutia and Lepcha were taken to the hospital with grave injuries," Darjeeling police superintendent Kunal Agarwal said.

Four people were later arrested and raids are on to nab the others involved in the attack, the S.P. said. An FIR has been filed in the Kalimpong police station against three main accused and 30 others.

Gopal Chhetri, Trinamool in-charge of Darjeeling sub-division, condemned the attack on the party leaders and supporters and said a report would be communicated to the high command in Kolkata. "There is no democracy in the hills in the misrule of the GJM party. Our leaders and supporters are being intimidated every other day and today attacked also. I will send a report of today's incident to our party high command for their directive," he said. The Trinamool leader also alleged that besides the two seriously injured, four supporters were missing since the attack.

However, GJM leaders refuted the allegation and said that their party was not involved in today's attack on Trinamool leaders. "Our party and supporters have nothing to do with the attack. In fact, we are being made easy target for all things that go wrong in the hills," GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai said.

The GJM leader said that they had no objections if other political parties including Trinamool carried out their activities in the hills. "We have already said a couple of day back that we have no problems with other political parties holding their meetings in the hills. We believe in the Gandhian principle," Rai reiterated.

On Monday, GJM and Gorkha National Liberation Front) supporters were engaged in a clash in Sukna in the foothills. Apparently, GJM activists with the intention of disturbing a meeting of GNLF supporters had entered the venue which resulted in a clash that left six injured.