2nd self-immolation bid in Darjeeling, govt warns protesters

PTI,  Darjeeling, August 09, 2013: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporter attempted self-immolation in Darjeeling as the indefinite bandh by the GJM for a separate Gorkhaland entered the sixth day today, even as the West Bengal government said it would follow court orders strictly to maintain normalcy. 

The GJM supporter, Phurba Sherpa, a 32-year-old physically challenged person, who was in a procession set himself alight near Chowk Bazar, police sources said. The other GJM supporters hastily put out the flames and rushed Sherpa to the Darjeeling Sadar Hospital. Sherpa sustained 55% burns, the sources said. 

Earlier, a 45-year-old GJM supporter, Mangal Singh Rajput, had set himself alight at the Dambarchowk in Kalimpong town on July 30 and died of his burns at a hospital in Siliguri on August 3. 

A group of children with their wrists and ankles chained and women members of the GJM with shaved heads took out a silent procession near the district magistrate's office. 

Slogan-shouting GJM supporters blocked roads in all the three hill subdivision of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. 

Three student leaders Amrit Yonjan, Priyadarshan Rai, Anil Rai besides two others were detained last night, police sources said. 

Amrit, Priyadarshan and Anil were later released, while the other two were arrested, they said. The total number of arrests rose to 145 with the two arrests. 

Citing the high court order, chief secretary Sanjay Mitra told reporters in Kolkata that the government would take strong steps against arson, vandalism, violence, stopping willing government employees going to work, closure of schools and colleges and stalling of transport.


Deep Gazmer, TNN | Aug 9, 2013, DARJEELING: On the sixth day of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) sponsored indefinite bandh in the Hills, a supporter attempted to set himself ablaze, while members of the Nari Morcha tonsured their heads in a symbolic protest against the state government's 'highhandedness' to quell the separate statehood movement. 
Meanwhile, the GJM agitation received a shot in the arm with the leaders of Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) rendering their support for a separate state. GJM workers at Chowk Bazar were taken by surprise on Thursday when the CPRM youths joined them in the rally shouting, 'we want Gorkhaland and don't want GTA'. 
GJM supporter Phurba Sherpa (32), with physical disabilities, set himself on fire in front of the district magistrate's office, while picketing. Though Sherpa was rescued in time by other GJM cadres, he received injuries on his right hand and was admitted to the district hospital. "I will do anything it takes to achieve our demand. The state government cannot deny us our right," said Sherpa from his hospital bed. 
At Chowk Bazaar, meanwhile, eight women supporters tonsured their heads as a mark of protest against the state government. "For any woman, her hair is an ornament. But we have decided to cut it off in protest to show our dissent against the state's attitude," said Rachana Tamang, who had her hair cut in front of a massive crowd. 
Youth leader Nagendra Limbu (29) went a step further and had his back engraved with the slogan "No more worry Gorkha, I am here" with a blade. "In Telangana, there was a youth group and the government considered their demand. But the case here is not the same even as our youths are setting themselves on fire and agitating for a separate state. We are following democratic means but in order to achieve our demand we can go to any length," said Sherpa. 
While talking to TOI, CPRM central committee member Sekhar Chhetri said, "We want a unified struggle for Gorkhaland, but those in power (read GJM) must take the initiative. Today it was a coincident that we too had our programme. Nonetheless, we have no problem to work together for the sake of a common goal of a separate state." 
While supporters from both the parties hoisted their flags and gave each other encouragement, 40 GJM youth supporters rolled on their back from Kakjhora to the town covering a 1-km route. GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang addressing a massive gathering hailed CPRM's participation and asked other political groups to come to a common platform. 
Tamang also asked the party workers not to get cowed down the by the state suppression. On Wednesday night, police arrested Amrit Yonzon, the Yuwa Morcha organisational secretary and one more activist. The youth leader was produced in the Siliguri court and sent to the correctional home after his bail was rejected. Police were tight-lipped about the arrest but it was learnt that Yonzon was arrested for blocking a police official's vehicle during the strike on July 28.