Scribes manhandled in Darjeeling on World Press Freedom Day

Amitava Banerjee, HT, 4 May 2016, DARJEELING: While‘ World Press Freedom Day’ was being observed all over on Tuesday, media persons were abused and thrown out of the premises of a public office while trying to report on a deputation by Jan Andolan Party (JAP) to the principal secretary, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

The guards and persons manning the reception at Lal Kothi, the GTA secretariat, said that there were clear instructions from the principal secretary that media persons should not be allowed inside. JAP has decided to write to the Hills affairs ministry.

In another incident, drivers of two vehicles carrying JAP supporters were beaten up and a vehicle vandalised near the GJM Singamari party office in Darjeeling. The party lodged an FIR at the Darjeeling Sadar police station alleging that the attack was at the behest of Bimal Gurung, GJM chief, who was holding a meeting at the party office. The six assailants had emerged from the party office, according to the FIR.

Representatives of JAP, CPI(M), All- India Gorkha League and Gorkha Rashtriya Congress along with their supporters had converged at the district collectorate to present a memorandum to the district magistrate, demanding early panchayat elections in the Hills. Panchayat elections have not been held since 2000 in Darjeeling. Pravin Adhikari (35) and Syangdo Lepcha (21) were beaten up. “I am a driver and my vehicle was hired by JAP. I fail to understand why we were beaten up and my vehicle vandalized,” said Lepcha who hails from remote Yangmakung area of Kalimpong.

“We have lodged an FIR. The attack was carried out on the behest of Bimal Gurung. We will not cow down to their terror tactics and will continue with our political activities,” said Harka Bahadur Chettri, president, JAP.

“We have registered a case and investigations are on,” said Puran Rai, circle inspector, Darjeeling. In another incident, all party representatives and their supporters arrived at the gates of Lal Kothi to give a deputation to the principal secretary, GTA. While 5 of the party leaders were allowed inside to meet the principal secretary, the supporters waited in the premises for the return of the leaders. “Suddenly the guards and people manning the reception started foul mouthing us and pushing us out of the gates. Similar was the fate of the media persons who had arrived to cover the incident. They too were abused and pushed out. The voice of the public does not reach Lal Kothi, that is why we need change. In a public office all should be allowed entry irrespective of their background and political affinity,” said Amir Basnet, a JAP supporter who had been roughed up.

“This is a public office and not Bimal Gurung’s personal property. We will write to the Hills affairs ministry against such ill treatment,” said Chettri.

The guards made it clear that there was clear instruction from the principal secretary not to allow media persons. After the incident, principal secretary Ravi Inder Singh, did not meet journalists nor did he receive calls.