GNLF chased & attacked

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, June 30: Alleged Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters today chased GNLF members at Kharakhola in Kurseong subdivision and attacked them with sharp weapons, injuring three.

The attack on the GNLF activists came a day after Subash Ghisingh’s supporters organised an indoor meeting at the Gorkha library in Kurseong, the first gathering by the GNLF there since 2007. Today, about 20km from Kurseong town, the GNLF had organised another indoor meeting but that could not be held.

The alleged attack on the GNLF workers happened when they were returning to Kurseong after failing to hold the meeting.

The GNLF has been trying to rebuild its base in Mirik and Kurseong, which has not missed the Morcha’s notice.

Sangay Rumba, a GNLF leader and two party supporters, Mahesh Singh and Bimal Tamang, were injured today. They were admitted to Kurseong subdivisional hospital and their condition is said to be stable.

Speaking from the hospital bed, Rumba said: “Our party had decided to organise an indoor meeting at Gorabari today. But before the meeting could start, Morcha activists gathered at Gorabari. The police intervened and dispersed supporters of both the parties.”

The GNLF leader said while he and six other party supporters were returning to Kurseong around 2pm, Morcha supporters had started chasing their vehicle at Kharakhola, midway from Gorabari to Kurseong.

“The Morcha activists chased us in vehicles. One of the vehicles overtook us at Kharakhola (about 10km from Kurseong) forcing us to stop. They then started assaulting us with sharp weapons and also pelted us with stones,” Rumba said. He couldn’t say how many vehicles of the Morcha activists had.

A senior officer at the Kurseong police station has said the injured were brought to Kurseong hospital by the law enforcers.

“Rumba has filed an FIR at the Kurseong police station naming Anush Thapa (GTA Sabha member of Tung-St Mary’s constituency) and other Morcha supporters in the FIR,” said the officer.

Anush Thapa could not be contacted.

After the attack, the police started patrolling Kurseong town and nearby areas. “We have launched a search in Singell tea garden and other areas where we believe the attackers are holed up. The situation is under control and there is no panic among the general people now.”

Anit Thapa, a senior Morcha leader and a GTA Sabha member from Kurseong, said: “I along with most of the Morcha leaders are in Jaigoan with our party president. I don’t think the GNLF supporters were attacked. A skirmish might have taken place.”

Laadup Ghisingh, the GNLF spokesman from Mirik, said the party had also decided to mark the Gorkhaland martyr’s day in Mirik on July 27, the first remembrance by the party since 2007.