GJM approaches NHRC

Rajesh Sharma, KalimNews, New Delhi, 10 August 2013: The government of West Bengal is harassing the people of Darjeeling hills and the government is forcefully trying to stop the voice of the people. Alleging and blaming the government of such complaints the Delhi unit of GJMM has filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi against the State Government. 

It approached the NHRC and submitted a memorandum complaining against the dictatorial approach of the state towards the innocent citizens which is a mockery of the democratic process, it alleged. 

Ranjan Sharma, General secretary of Delhi GJMM in a press release stated that in the Memorandum crucial facts based on the ongoing instances in Darjeeling hills such as deliberate approach of the state to overlook the statehood demand by using every possible illegal means, in a desperate attempt to suppress the ongoing movement have been discussed. 

The state administration has completely by-passed the principles of democracy and interfered with the fundamental rights of the citizens living in the region. By deploying CRPF and Police personnel without any specific cause many innocent youth, women, under age children, including democratically elected members of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration have been arrested without any evidence whatsoever. 

Even they have been remanded to 14 days judicial custody merely for the sake of harassment and intimidation. The para-military forces have taken law into their hands by openly assaulting, intimidating people in the streets thereby subjecting the citizens to immense mental trauma, harassment and difficulty. 

Ranjan says that another example of on-going dictatorial approach adopted by the District administration in collusion with the State Government is infringement of the basic right to information of the citizens of Darjeeling. 

The office of Executive Magistrate -Darjeeling Sadar, have unilaterally issued notices to two satellite cable network, thereby stopping/disconnecting local cable broadcast in Darjeeling. People have been deprived of the basic information like local information, news, events, updates of the ongoing movement and informative program. It is interesting to note the Notices are handwritten, issued at 21.05 hours at night, without any official stamp/seal of the Executive Magistrate. Further, even land line telephone, broadband connection have been disconnected without any prior information/intimation in the region. 

The situation in Darjeeling is getting sensitive; people have come out to the streets speaking in one voice. The movement is gradually gaining momentum, regular updates, photographs and videos are being uploaded on the internet including social networking site like Facebook. The electronic as well as the print media have been covering the issue extensively. 

Hence, it says that the NHRC is requested to interfere and take appropriate action against the State administration so that the voice of people are heard peacefully and human rights of the citizens do not get effected. The team of Delhi GJM consisted of Manoj Shankar President, Ranjan Sharma General Secretary, Lopsang Lama Deputy General Secretary and Rustam Chettry Vice President.