Dooars-based GJMM leaders go underground to evade arrest

SNS, Siliguri, 21 August : The Dooars-based GJMM leaders have virtually gone underground to evade police, seemingly out to stamp out any hint of statehood ferment in the ethnically volatile Dooars. 

Immediately after the arrest of GJMM’s central committee member, Mr Ashok Lama, from the Dooars, other party leaders had decided to carry out processions, demonstrations and other programmes, including candle rally, while extending support to the demand for a separate statehood. 

But finally they backed down with police threatening to crack down. Dooars-based senior GJMM activists alleged that police are shadowing them to pre-empt them from moving freely. 

“This is despite the fact the GJMM in alliance with the JMM has won many seats in the three-tier panchayat polls in the core of the Dooars,” said one of them. They also alleged that police are preventing them from going to panchayat offices in a bid to stop them from forming the rural boards. 

The Jalpaiguri SP, Mr Amit P Javalgi, said police are acting within its purview to maintain peace, law and order in the region. 

The GJMM central committee leader, Mr Binod Ghatani, said: “We have decided tactically to keep low to evade arrests. Police may arrest us in connection with the pending cases if we carry on with our political programmes at the behest of the ruling party.” 

The JMM leadership is also feeling the heat and senior leaders, including John Barla, are lying low. The Trinamul Jalpaiguri district president, Mr Chandan Bhowmik, claimed the administration and police are doing their duties.

(Source & Courtesy: http://www.thestatesman.net/news/11328-dooars-based-gjmm-leaders-go-underground-to-evade-arrest.html)