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2 GJM supporters dead in Kolkata police clash
Subhro Niyogi, TNN, Feb 8, 2011; Times of India
JALPAIGURI: Two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, including a woman, were killed and scores injured as police and central paramilitary forces opened fire at protesters from the Darjeeling Hills who were trying to defy prohibitory orders and force their way into Doors on Tuesday morning. The incident occured at Sibchu tea garden in the Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district.
Several policemen were also injured as Morcha supporters rained brickbats at police. Police alleged that a female home guard — Karuna Tigga — had been critically injured after being attacked by a khukri.
The incident immediately spurred Morcha supporters to set a district judge's car on fire in Darjeeling and set ablaze two NBSTC buses in Kalimpong. Road blockades were reported in Birpara and Nimchu, both known GJM strongholds. School and colleges remained closed.
The district administration were quick to declare a curfew in the hills. The state director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee said the situation was volatile.
Nordem Lama, GJM central committee member, alleged police had resorted to unprovoked fire and lathicharge. "Our relay hunger strike was going on peacefully. There was no violation of any prohibitory order. We will not budge from here. Let police do what they want."
SP Jalpaiguri Anand Kumar said police had initially tried to disperse the protesters. "The mob attacked police in a planned way. They had brutally attacked a female home guard," said Kumar. The SP also alleged that a few gunshots were fired at the police. It was only then, he said, police had to resort to firing.
The violence was a result of the simmering tension brewing over the GJM's avowed stance to set foot in Doors and the district administration's reluctance to let them do so. The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad had threatened to stop GJM from setting foot in Doors. The administration, sources said, had clamped down the prohibitory orders sensing the proposed agitation.
For the past week, several hundred Morcha supporters, mostly comprising members of their women's wing (Nari Morcha), have been camping in Kumai, seven kilometers from Sibchu and along Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border, staging a relay hunger strike.
GJM president Bimal Gurung had also frequented the place. For the past few days, supporters had making steady progress towards Jaigaon in a bid to enter the Doors. A few days ago, Joigaon had witnessed a bloody retaliation against GJM supporters by various splinter opposition groups forcing GJM to beat a retreat.
On Monday, based on reports that GJM supporters have already set base in Sibchu tea garden, police and CRPF forces reached the spot. Citing the prohibitory orders, police had given the Morcha supporters half-an-hour to disperse from their makeshift base. When protesters paid no heed, police resorted to lathicharge and forcibly dismantled around 25 tents. This led to an impromptu blockade by Nari Morcha supporters trying to stop police from returning.
This morning, the same place witnessed an influx of nearly 1,200 GJM supporters. Roads leading to Sibchu were dug up to prevent police and CRPF vehicles from entering. Trees were felled and lay strewn across the road. As police entered the area, they were surrounded by GJM supporters from all sides. When police tried to break free, they were attacked. It was in this melee that nearly 20 policemen, including the female officer, were injured. After a deputy magistrate from Malbazar, who was accompanying the police party, failed to reign in the protestors, police resorted to firing.
Read more: 2 GJM supporters dead in Kolkata police clash - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...e-clash/articleshow/7452538.cms#ixzz1DNeUxzn0
Subhro Niyogi, TNN, Feb 8, 2011; Times of India
JALPAIGURI: Two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, including a woman, were killed and scores injured as police and central paramilitary forces opened fire at protesters from the Darjeeling Hills who were trying to defy prohibitory orders and force their way into Doors on Tuesday morning. The incident occured at Sibchu tea garden in the Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district.
Several policemen were also injured as Morcha supporters rained brickbats at police. Police alleged that a female home guard — Karuna Tigga — had been critically injured after being attacked by a khukri.
The incident immediately spurred Morcha supporters to set a district judge's car on fire in Darjeeling and set ablaze two NBSTC buses in Kalimpong. Road blockades were reported in Birpara and Nimchu, both known GJM strongholds. School and colleges remained closed.
The district administration were quick to declare a curfew in the hills. The state director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee said the situation was volatile.
Nordem Lama, GJM central committee member, alleged police had resorted to unprovoked fire and lathicharge. "Our relay hunger strike was going on peacefully. There was no violation of any prohibitory order. We will not budge from here. Let police do what they want."
SP Jalpaiguri Anand Kumar said police had initially tried to disperse the protesters. "The mob attacked police in a planned way. They had brutally attacked a female home guard," said Kumar. The SP also alleged that a few gunshots were fired at the police. It was only then, he said, police had to resort to firing.
The violence was a result of the simmering tension brewing over the GJM's avowed stance to set foot in Doors and the district administration's reluctance to let them do so. The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad had threatened to stop GJM from setting foot in Doors. The administration, sources said, had clamped down the prohibitory orders sensing the proposed agitation.
For the past week, several hundred Morcha supporters, mostly comprising members of their women's wing (Nari Morcha), have been camping in Kumai, seven kilometers from Sibchu and along Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri border, staging a relay hunger strike.
GJM president Bimal Gurung had also frequented the place. For the past few days, supporters had making steady progress towards Jaigaon in a bid to enter the Doors. A few days ago, Joigaon had witnessed a bloody retaliation against GJM supporters by various splinter opposition groups forcing GJM to beat a retreat.
On Monday, based on reports that GJM supporters have already set base in Sibchu tea garden, police and CRPF forces reached the spot. Citing the prohibitory orders, police had given the Morcha supporters half-an-hour to disperse from their makeshift base. When protesters paid no heed, police resorted to lathicharge and forcibly dismantled around 25 tents. This led to an impromptu blockade by Nari Morcha supporters trying to stop police from returning.
This morning, the same place witnessed an influx of nearly 1,200 GJM supporters. Roads leading to Sibchu were dug up to prevent police and CRPF vehicles from entering. Trees were felled and lay strewn across the road. As police entered the area, they were surrounded by GJM supporters from all sides. When police tried to break free, they were attacked. It was in this melee that nearly 20 policemen, including the female officer, were injured. After a deputy magistrate from Malbazar, who was accompanying the police party, failed to reign in the protestors, police resorted to firing.
Read more: 2 GJM supporters dead in Kolkata police clash - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...e-clash/articleshow/7452538.cms#ixzz1DNeUxzn0
