GTA members plan to pass resolution for release of arrested colleagues

SNS, Siliguri, 3 September 2013: While the Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today stressed on the GJMM electing a new chief executive for the GTA at tomorrow’s scheduled meeting, the GJMM president Mr Bimal Gurung said in Darjeeling that the GTA members who are not behind the bars would participate in the meeting called by the GTA principal secretary, but would not elect the chief.

“They would instead pass a resolution, demanding immediate release of the GTA members and other activists of the party who are now behind bars,” he said, adding that no election would be allowed till the arrested party men are released. 

There is however, no possibility of the 11 GTA members, including four executive members, being released in the near future. They are now lodged in jails being kept under judicial/ jail custody, according to the administrative officials. 

It is learnt that the Jalpaiguri correctional home authorities have not yet received any order from the court to release two GTA members, Mr Binay Tamang and Mr KK Dewan. now lodged there. 

The inspector general of police, north Bengal, Mr Shashikant Pujari, said: “We have not yet received any communication from state authorities for releasing the GTA members now in jail.”

“The matter is now resting with the court. We would follow the court order,” he added. 

Notably, over 800 GJMM supporters, including 11 GTA members, were arrested in connection with the old pending cases after the statehood stir was renewed in July end. 

The GTA principal secretary, Mr Ramdas Meena, said: “We have served notices to all the GTA members, including those who are now in jail custody.”

When asked about the agenda of the meeting, he said: “The meeting has been called on a single agenda ~ to elect a new GTA chief.” 

When told about what Mr Gurung said, Mr Meena said the GTA members cannot adopt any resolution on subjects other than the agenda set for the meeting. “If they do such a thing I would inform the state government,” Mr Meena added.