State run Library set on fire...... Tourist lodge attacked by petrol bomb in Mirik

Prashant Acharya, EOI, MIRIK, 14 Jul 2017: The state run library was reduced to ashes and Gokul Lodge at Dudhia  run by GTA tourism department under Mirik block was attempted to set ablaze by throwing petrol bombs by some miscreants last night.

Prem Chand Memorial Rural Library situated at Mirik’s Krishna Nagar was established in 1970 and has been helping a lot for the poor students to pass in their examinations by providing books and other study materials.

Sovan Ghishing, librarian in-charge said, “This is very wrong whosoever have done they have not even thought for the future of the students. Vital documents including books, news papers and other necessary items were all burnt. Burning our own properties will definitely harm us.”

Various literate people from surrounding areas also condemned the burning of library which is a vital source of education for the students, “Some of the important books collected since 70’s are difficult to collect now”, said a teacher in anonymity.

In an another incident miscreants tried to ablaze state run Gokul Lodge near Dudhia some 15 kilometers from Siliguri by throwing petrol bombs at its lobby. 

The petrol bomb that was thrown in the dark first hit the railing and the fire went straight to the dining table which caught fire and the chair and tables were burnt but could not make any serious damage.

Santosh Kumar Lama, Block president of Morcha from Dudhia said, “The incident condemnable as our party does not believe in such movement by burning our own properties and Gorkhaland supporters have not indulged in the incident.”