GJM, JMM accused of torching TMC leader’s house in Bagrakote

EOIC, Jalpaiguri, 22 August 2013: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supporters have been accused of torched a Trinamool Congress leader’s house on Wednesday night at Lis River Tea Estate area under Bagrakote GP in Malbazar following which tension prevailed in the area. 

The incident is seen as the continuation of the violence witnessed earlier this month after the GJM-JMM coalition was allegedly prevented from constituting the Bagrakote GP board by the TMC. The TMC leader has reportedly lodged an FIR at the Malbazar police station against members of the alliance. 

Sources informed GJM-JMM supporters set fire to the kitchen of TMC leader Abdul Hossain at Lis River Tea Estate area on Wednesday night. But the locals extinguished the fire before it could spread to the entire house. 

In his FIR, Hossain said, “GJM-JMM supporters torched a room of my house. Somehow I and family members escaped from being burnt.” Five GJM supporters were arrested on August 14 following an FIR against 16 GJM and JMM supporters by the TMC on charges of vandalism and violence at Bagrakote. 

The GJM-JMM alliance had bagged 10 out of the 20 Panchayat seats of Bagrakote GP, while the TMC had won nine seats. The CPM, which had secured one seat, had agreed to support the alliance to form the board. But the TMC formed the Panchayat board instead on August 14 as the GJM-JMM candidates did not turn up at the time of board formation. 

Objecting to this, GJM and JMM leaders had accused the TMC of using police assistance to prevent their candidates from entering the Panchayat office at the time of board formation, saying this had enabled the TMC to constitute the board. 

Consequently, this has resulted in incidents of violence against TMC supporters, allegedly by disgruntled GJM and JMM cadres.

(Republished by KalimNews- Source & Courtesy: http://echoofindia.com/jalpaiguri-gjm-jmm-accused-torching-tmc-leader-s-house-bagrakote-36337)