CRPF deployed in Kalimpong,Students adversely affected

The coming of CRPF in Kalimpong has caused stir amid the people here. Already nervous with the series of raids by the Police following the attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, couple of days ago, the deployment of CRPF has created fear in the people’s minds. 

Most affected are the students who are undergoing the board examinations. Keeping this in mind the Kalimpong College Principal along with Principals of different schools of the Sub Division, today met with the Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), LN Sherpa and submitted a memorandum. Along with it, they also insisted that the administration should focus on the situation and handle the series of raids being conducted, carefully. Reciprocating to their concerns, the SDO assured that he will keep forward the matter to the higher officials.NR Pradhan, principal of SUMI speaking to the reporters after the meeting said that the present situation is affecting the students at large. He said that a similar memorandum will be submitted to the ASP. They have also decided to ask the GJM not to conduct any party programs at the moment as it will adversely affect the lives of the students. Pradhan said that the decision whether to deploy the Para military forces or not does not lie in their hands however the sudden targeted raids being conducted at present is not right. This may also force the innocent students to quit their studies and flee from here he opined.Dr. RP Dhakal, Kalimpong College Principal has advised the students to always carry their identity cards along with them. He has also requested the parents and guardians to keep a close check on the current situation.Likewise, eight members of the Vidyarthi Morcha under the leadership of Samir Sundas, Vidyarthi Morcha Sub Divisional Secretary and Roshan Chettri, Kalimpong College Union Secretary met with the SDO and submitted a memorandum. They demanded that the Para Military Forces should be removed from the hills. The Vidyarthi Morcha said that there is no need for the Para Military Forces in the hills. They have alleged the state government of trying to build fear in the minds of the students here. They also condemned the allegations leveled against the Morcha of attacking the TMC leaders. Lastly, they said that the WB state CM is conspiring to suppress the demand for separate state.

CRPF deployed in Kalimpong, public disgruntled

After 2 ½ years the Para-military forces have been deployed in the hills. Under the same 80 jawans of BRAVO 50 Company of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion have been deployed at Regulated Market, 11 Mile, today. The battalion reached Kalimpong today early morning at around 5 from Lalgarh, Midnapore, West Bengal.Later in the evening, 20 CRPF jawans along with their officers reached Kalimpong Thana, after which the Kalimpong Police officials along with them carried out a Route March amid a populated Kalimpong main market.The setting up of these forces now seems to contradict ‘The hills are smiling’ statement of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, said the people of Kalimpong, who were tensed to see the forces in their home town. The people are also disgruntled with the fact that the forces are being deployed in the hills at the time when the board examinations are being conducted, as they believe that it will create fear in the minds of the students. Apart from the CRPF, the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have already been deployed. The state government and the Police administration are saying that the forces had to be deployed in order to put a halt to the increasing crime rates in the hills. However, on the other hand, the Kalimpong MLA, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri displeased with the coming of the forces said that the CRPF are in the hills for their summer holidays on the government expenses. Dr Chettri has appealed the public not to panic over the same.The locals are now complaining that deployment of IRB and RAF was justifiable up to some extent, but the involvement of the CRPF was unnecessary as no such insurgent situation has been reported.“The hills are far more peaceful as compared to Lalgarh, which is regarded as one of the areas most affected by the Maoists”, said a local.The Darjeeling Police SP, Kunal Agarwal few days ago had informed that the decision in deploying the Para-military forces is taken by the Union Home Ministry, but on the other hand the state government is being blamed for the same.

Mukesh Sharma