Gorkha activists parade Darjeeling town with corpse of Asoke Tamang, shutdown enters 31st day Limbu Board office vandalised

UNI, Darjeeling, Jul 12, 2017: The pro-Gorkhaland supporters today held a massive protest march with the corpse of Ashoke Tamang, demanding CBI probe into the killing of all seven activists since June 17 as the indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling Hills entered the 31st day with no sign of any immediate political or administrative dialogue to end the stalemate in sight.

However, the Army and para-military forces continued route marching the hills to thwart any untoward incident.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Assistant Secretary Vinay Tamang today claimed that 36-year-old Asoke Tamang, who sustained wounds during 'police lathicharge' on June 17 near Patlebas, succumbed at the Manipal hospital at Tadong near Gangtok yesterday.

He said both Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC), an apex body of all pro-Gorkhaland political parties, GJM and GNLF demanded the CBI probe into death of seven youth in the hills.

He alleged that all fell prey to the security forces' firing and lathicharge.

Meanwhile, the GMCC in a meeting yesterday decided to intensity the agitation with fast unto death by its leaders from July 15. 

The GMCC, a 30-member apex body of some 18 political parties formedon June 29, would spearhead the statehood movement for Indian Gorkhas in northern districts of West Bengal. 

'' Strike to continue.Leadership from all political parties to sit for indefinite hunger strike at Chowrasta, Darjeeling, from July 15, " a GMCC statement said. 

The meeting also demanded CBI probe into the violence in which some six youth died since June 17 in the Hills. 

The Gorkha activists also decided to gherao government offices across the hills from July 14. 

The meeting also decided to observe July 13 marking '' Bhanu Jayanti ''as Gorkha Jaati Ekta Diwas. '' 

All awards received from the West Bengal Government will be returned on July 13, '' the meeting said adding, '' All the heads of the ethnic development boards, which have been formed at the initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have been asked to quit with immediate effect and join the statehood movement.

(Source & Courtesy: UNI and webindia)

KalimNews: Meanwhile, Office of WB Limbu cultural development board was vandalised by unidentified miscreants. Miscreants sneaked into the office room of the Board located on top floor of Palladium at Damber Chowk, Kalimpong by breaking the lock. They smashed some of the office furniture and equipment.