Forces camp in Bimal backyard

A police team near Patlebas in Darjeeling last week

TT, Calcutta, Aug. 14: Darjeeling police today set up a camp in a school in Bimal Gurung's backyard along with central forces, prompting the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief to say "the Bengal government is trying to make me kneel on my knees".

A senior police officer with knowledge of the topography said the setting up of the camp at Kanchanjunga Public School in Malidhura, considered to be a pet project of Gurung, was akin to taking complete control of the Tukvar area, the nerve centre of the Morcha.

"This is nothing but closing in on the Morcha chief," said the officer, who has had a long stint in the region.

Police access to Tukvar had been limited for most part of the indefinite strike until a week ago. It was only a few days back that the security forces started patrolling the area, giving the indication that the administration had no plans to backtrack.

The police's move to set up the camp coincided with Gurung's decision to call off an indefinite hunger strike by Yuva Morcha activists. The Morcha chief also said he was willing to talk to the Bengal government, but only on Gorkhaland.

Today, a team led by Darjeeling SP Akhilesh Chaturvedi reached the school and stationed a company of the Sashastra Seema Bal and a few policemen in the hostel.

About a week ago, the police had registered cases against Gurung's son and daughter for setting up the school allegedly with forged land documents.

"It is believed that the land belongs to Vah-Tukvar Tea Estate. The fact that the administration acted on it meant that the Morcha chief was the target," said a political analyst.

That Gurung was "the target' was today compounded by the decision to set up the camp in the area. Sources said Gurung's area of control virtually starts from Singamari, where the Morcha has a party office, and extends upto his home in Patlebas and beyond.

"Malidhura is 3km further downhill. Paramilitary forces are already stationed in Singamari and there is a police outpost as well.... Setting up a camp at Malidhura means that the topmost and the bottom areas of Tukvar are now fully under the police's control. This will virtually hole him (Gurung) up," said a police officer.

Sources said the police had information that Gurung had been carrying out political activities almost unhindered because of the absence of forces beyond Singamari.Darjeeling district magistrate Joyoshi Das Gupta issued an order to the manager of the Vah-Tukvar Tea Estate yesterday and to the "present occupants, if any, of area settled Kanchanjunga School", asking them for "use of government lease land for emergency law and order situation".

The order stated: "In view of incidents of arson and armed attacks on general public and government officials and the violent situation due to 'bandh' being enforced by local political parties, please facilitate the use of the land mentioned above along with buildings etc, thereon including government property built out of funds of MPLAD and NHPC, by security forces."

There have been allegations that the school, despite being a private one, has been receiving funds from MPLADs.

Gurung, while speaking to The Telegraph over phone, said: "They are forcibly taking over a school which is for education of the poor. This act of the Bengal government is not good. The Bengal government is trying to make me kneel on my knees for the sake of Gorkhaland."

"If I have to die, I will die for it (statehood). We all have to fight (for Gorkhaland) till the end," he added.