United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (UGRF) and United Gorkha Revolutionary Army (UGRA) second in command Rudra Acharya surrendered at a court in Kalimpong in West Bengal on Saturday. He was wanted by the police for the past 6 years and declared an absconder.
The UGRF had been floated on November 2004 while the UGRA, the armed wing was raised on September 26, 2006 with the one point agenda of a separate state of Gorkhaland. Ajay Dahal former personnel of the Central Industries Security Force, in his early thirties then headed both the outfits with Acharya as the second in command.
Acharya who hails from the Dolapchand area of Kalimpong, has been charged under Sections 121 (waging war against the Government of India;) 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against Government;) 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war;) 124A (sedition;) 120B (criminal conspiracy; 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the IPC read with Section 25(1) of the Arms Act.
Acharya was remanded to 5 days of judicial custody. The next date of hearing has been fixed as April 26. "Armed revolution was a necessity at that time. Now we need to embark on an intellectual agitation for Gorkhaland. A vacuum has been created in the intellectual agitation scenario hence I have returned to fill up the empty space. Bourgeois brand of politics and agitation has spoilt everything. Only when small communities achieve statehood will India become strong. Exploitation of weaker communities by powerful communities has to stop immediately" retorted Acharya talking to the media.
A CRPF company was mobilised in September 2006 along with a Special Task Force of the Darjeeling Police, raiding the jungles of Pedong in Kalimpong, allegedly a hideout and training camp of the UGRA. There had been information of the UGRA running an improvised arms manufacturing unit in the jungles.
Continuous raids had resulted in a few encounters and arrests of some key UGRA activists along with illegal arms and discriminating documents in September and October 2006. However both Dahal and Acharya had managed to give the security forces a slip.
Dahal had been arrested in January 2010 by the Sikkim police along with illegal arms. At present he is out on bail and is engaged in politics.
Amitava Banerjee, Hindustan Times
Darjeeling, April 22, 2012
Darjeeling, April 22, 2012
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