Morcha no to strike

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, May 6: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said it would not call an indefinite strike in response to yesterday’s clash with the GNLF, citing the need for peace in the hills during the chief minister’s visit here next week as well as prompt police action in the case.

The Morcha served the strike ultimatum to Darjeeling police yesterday demanding the arrest of GNLF supporters allegedly involved in the clash and the transfer of Mirik officer in-charge Sourav Sen by 6pm today.

Morcha leader Roshan Giri had said if the police failed to take these steps, the party would call an indefinite shutdown in the hills.

The police have arrested 32 people since yesterday.

Eight are from the GNLF, the rest are Morcha supporters.

Both the Morcha and the GNLF supporters have been charged under IPC sections of rioting, causing grievous injury, criminal intimidation and wrongful restraint.

Giri today said the force had also started an inquiry into their allegation against Sen.

Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said this evening: “Since police have arrested eight GNLF supporters and have also started an inquiry on our demand for the transfer of Mirik OC, we are of the opinion that the police have taken prompt action. Moreover, the chief minister is also scheduled to visit Darjeeling soon and we want to keep the hills peaceful during her visit. Keeping in mind these factors we have decided not to go in for any strike.”

The chief minister is scheduled to arrive in Darjeeling on May 14.

The clash broke out yesterday when GNLF supporters from the Terai were on their way to a newly opened party office in Soureni.

The GNLF supporters alleged that the Morcha activists attacked them.

The Morcha has claimed that Sen was present at Soureni in Mirik during an alleged lathicharge.

The hill party said Sen was targeting Morcha supporters.

Darjeeling SP Kunal Aggarwal said later yesterday that there was no lathicharge.

The Morcha today said chief minister Mamata Banerjee had called party chief Bimal Gurung and asked about yesterday’s clash.

Binay Tamang, the assistant general secretary of the Morcha, said: “She (Mamata) had a talk with our party president during the day and requested for peace in the hills. She has also decided to form a committee to look into police atrocities in yesterday’s incident. Our Kurseong MLA also met the home minister and the chief minister in Calcutta today to apprise them of yesterday’s incident.”

Superintendent of police Aggarwal said today that the police had asked Nima Norbu Bhutia, the subdivisional police officer of Kurseong, to start an inquiry into the Morcha’s allegation against Sen. “The officer has been asked to submit the facts of the incident within four days,” Aggarwal said.

“Two platoons of the special forces were deployed in Soureni and Garidhura last night and two more platoons of the force would be arriving in the hills by late this evening,” Aggarwal said.

The special forces comprise personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB).

The police have also requested the state government not to withdraw one company of the CRPF that is currently stationed in Kalimpong.

“We have arrested 24 Morcha supporters and eight GNLF activists,” Aggarwal said.

The GNLF supporters were picked up from Garidhura in Kurseong and Mirik and the Morcha supporters were arrested from Darjeeling, apart from Garidhura and Mirik.

“Two Morcha supporters were arrested from Darjeeling for trying to set on fire the house of a GNLF leader,” Aggarwal said.