Poster question in hills

TT, Darjeeling, April 15: Posters of an hitherto unknown outfit called Bharatiya Gorkha Janhit Morcha were found plastered in the India-Nepal border areas here on Saturday.

The posters of the party whose leaders are not yet known were seen in the Mirik-Sukhiapokhri area along the border and in Jorebunglow, Teesta Valley and Peshok areas.

While Mirik is 35km from here, Jorebunglow is 10km from Darjeeling.

The posters do not carry the printers’ name and any political message. They say “Gorkha salaam (salute)” to all the Gorkhas scattered across India. Unlike most political parties in the hills who end their messages with “Jai Gorkha, Jai Gorkhaland”, the new outfit has used “Jai Gorkha, Jai Bharat.”

K.B. Wattar, a CPM district committee member, said: “Police have to take strong note of this development as we believe that the manner in which the party has announced its existence is similar to the ways the Maoists work. ”

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: “We are not unduly worried over the posters. Let us wait and watch.” Kunal Aggarwal, Darjeeling police superintendent, said: “We are keeping a close eye.”