Cops slap cases on GTA members

SNS, Kurseong, 15 October: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) member Yogendra Rai today condemned the police cases filed against him and others over the 9 October agitation that led to the blockade of National Highway-55 in Kurseong. The unrest was sparked by the death of a student in a road accident.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Rai said family members, school staff and the general public had staged the road blockade in Kurseong and that he and his associates were present there as public representatives, and not to stage road blockades.

“Does not anyone have the right to protest in a democracy? The way the police have filed the cases is indicative of the mindset of the state government towards us,” he said.

He said that the state government, with the help of the police administration, still wants to suppress them.

“We condemn and protest such dictatorial behaviour of the state government and the state police,” he said.

Mr Rai further claimed that arrest warrants have been issued against them in the same case.

However, Kurseong police IC, Moloy Majumdar, said that only a case has been registered against them, while no arrest warrants have been issued.

According to Mr Rai, some non-bailable sections have also been slapped on eight members of the Vidhyarthi Morcha and two GTA members.

Kurseong SDPO, CB Subba, confirmed the cases. He said several persons were inconvenienced by the road blockade and forceful downing of shutters and the call for a bandh. “If it was a protest, they could have done so for some time, but to cause the blockade for more than five hours by inconveniencing one and all is not the right thing to do,” he said, adding that the police had requested the protesters to call off the agitation, but in vain.

Police said a deputation under the banner of the Gorkha Jan Vidhyarthi Morcha had met the police and that an ultimatum was also served regarding the bandh. “This bandh and ultimatum was the brainchild of the Vidhyarthi Morcha led by the GTA members. Hence, the cases have been accordingly filed against them,” Mr Subba said.