3 GJM leaders arrested on charge of torching Birsa Munda statue

Prashant Acharya, EOIC, Siliguri, 5 October 2013: Three Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders were arrested on Friday night on the charge of torching the statue of Advasi leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda in Simulbari.

Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal said the three GJM leaders will be produced before Kurseong Court on Sunday. The arrested individuals are Advashi Mukti Morcha general secretary Paresh Toppo, GJM Kurseong Mahakuma samiti member Suresh Toppo and GJM Simulbari block secretary Bikram Darjee.

Tension was high in Simulbari area since morning when area residents came to know about the incident. Advashi community members staged demonstrations in front of the statue demanding necessary action be taken against the culprits.

A resident not wishing to be named said he saw the statue burning around 1:30 am when he had stepped outside to answer nature’s call.

The same Birsa Munda statue had been set ablaze put a few months ago following which angry residents had blocked the road in Simulbari.

Dismissing the charge, the GJM has accused the Trinamool Congress-led state government of trying to create a rift between the Gorkha and Adivashi communities.

GJM spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri alleged the state government is secretly planning to set up separate boards for the Tamang and Bhutia communities akin to the Lepcha council in order to separate them from the mainstream Gorkha community. He added the Simulbari incident is the TMC government’s ploy to pitch the Advasia against the Gorkhas.