Arrests continue against GJM

Jaideep Mazumdar, TNN, Aug 11, 2013, DARJEELING: The state government is tightening its grip around the GJM, with police arresting leader Narayan Pradhan - the secretary of the party's Darjeeling Town Committee - on Friday night. Two cases are pending against him.

Three GJM activists were also arrested on Friday evening. According to district administration sources, cases against other GJM leaders are also being re-opened and more GJM leaders are like to be picked up over the next few days.

The district administration has also been asked to investigate Intelligence Bureau (IB) reports about arms training being reportedly imparted to GJM cadres at a camp run somewhere in the Kurseong subdivision, the sources added.

The IB has also reportedly said that funds from other countries are flowing in through Nepal to fund the GJM's movement. The IB has also said that GJM leaders are frequenting some locations in Nepal.

The Morcha has denied all allegations. "These are framed reports and have no basis. The IB report is an attempt to malign our movement, which is being funded through public donations. The government is welcome to scrutinize our accounts," GJM chief Gurung told TOI.

On the streets of Darjeeling, too, Gurung's rejection of the 72-hour ultimatum found popular endorsement. "These verbal threats won't work and will make matters worse. A chief minister should not speak in that language. If she uses force to break the strike, there'll be trouble," warned B P Pradhan, secretary of the Darjeeling Senior Citizens' Forum, which held a rally of senior citizens in support of Gorkhaland on Saturday morning.

Other Hills parties, too, have criticized the CM's ultimatum and her threat of "strong administrative action" to foil the bandh. "All people of the Hills, irrespective of community, ethnicity, religion, caste and class, support the demand for Gorkhaland and are participating in the ongoing agitation wholeheartedly. This is something Mamata Banerjee cannot fathom and she would be committing a blunder if she tries to crush the agitation with her police and security forces," said Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM) leader S Rai.

The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) has also warned against any attempt to crush the Gorkhaland stir, as have the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang and the Gorkhaland Task Force.