Govt letter reaches Morcha

Darjeeling, March 19: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said it had today received the letter sent by Bengal chief secretary Sanjay Mitra, addressed to GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung seeking the hill council’s co-operation.

The Morcha leadership said the letter was a “positive” development.

Morcha leader Roshan Giri said: “The letter is definitely a positive one even though we got it late. Since the letter is addressed to our party president, Bimal Gurung, I have sent it to him. He is in Kalimpong today and he is likely to take a call on our response.”

He said: “The letter was sent from the district magistrate’s office at 5.45pm today. The envelope was addressed to me but the letter is addressed to our leader Bimal Gurung. It is surprising that the letter, which had been written on February 27 was delivered to us only today from the district magistrate’s office.”

Saumitra Mohan, the district magistrate, admitted his office had sent the letter today.

“After reading a report that was published in The Telegraph today, I informed my higher-ups about the story. Under the instruction of the higher officials (in Calcutta), I immediately dispatched the letter,” Mohan said.