KALINMPONG|TOI: Heavy security cover was put in place in the Hills town on Monday after a clash broke out between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM), a break-away faction of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).
GRNM leaders alleged that their supporters were beaten up by GJM cadres when they were assembling at Dambar Chowk for their foundation-day programme. "We were gathering peacefully at Dambar Chowk around 3.30pm to attend our party's second foundation day programme when GJM cadres started pelting stones and beat our supporters with iron rods," alleged GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin. He added that the GJM mob was led by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) members Nima Tamang and Dawa Lepcha.
The GRNM was formed a year back to take up the cause of a separate Gorkhaland state. Pakhrin used to be the GNLF Kalimpong branch president but had left the party over political differences.
Pakhrin also alleged that five to seven GRNM supporters had sustained injuries due to the clash. An FIR has been lodged against Tamang and Lepcha and other GJM supporters in the Kalimpong police station. "Is this the democracy that the GJM leaders are boasting about? Today's incident proves that the GJM's policy is to spread terror to silence criticism and opposition," said Pakhrin.
Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal confirmed that two cases had been initiated following the incident. "We have started two cases - one for holding a public meeting without any permission and the other one on the attack," he said. Pakhrin, however, countered the allegation saying that his party had obtained necessary permission to hold the meeting.
Even GJM general secretary Roshan Giri refuted the allegation that his party members were involved in the scuffle. "It was a conspiracy to defame the party and its leaders. These people are worried that the GTA is now functioning well and doing a lot of work for the people. The whole idea is to create disturbances in the region," he alleged.
GRNM leaders alleged that their supporters were beaten up by GJM cadres when they were assembling at Dambar Chowk for their foundation-day programme. "We were gathering peacefully at Dambar Chowk around 3.30pm to attend our party's second foundation day programme when GJM cadres started pelting stones and beat our supporters with iron rods," alleged GRNM president Dawa Pakhrin. He added that the GJM mob was led by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) members Nima Tamang and Dawa Lepcha.
The GRNM was formed a year back to take up the cause of a separate Gorkhaland state. Pakhrin used to be the GNLF Kalimpong branch president but had left the party over political differences.
Pakhrin also alleged that five to seven GRNM supporters had sustained injuries due to the clash. An FIR has been lodged against Tamang and Lepcha and other GJM supporters in the Kalimpong police station. "Is this the democracy that the GJM leaders are boasting about? Today's incident proves that the GJM's policy is to spread terror to silence criticism and opposition," said Pakhrin.
Darjeeling SP Kunal Agarwal confirmed that two cases had been initiated following the incident. "We have started two cases - one for holding a public meeting without any permission and the other one on the attack," he said. Pakhrin, however, countered the allegation saying that his party had obtained necessary permission to hold the meeting.
Even GJM general secretary Roshan Giri refuted the allegation that his party members were involved in the scuffle. "It was a conspiracy to defame the party and its leaders. These people are worried that the GTA is now functioning well and doing a lot of work for the people. The whole idea is to create disturbances in the region," he alleged.
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