Mirik today witnessed scenes of anger and demonstrations following news of the arrest of 16 Gorkhaland Personnel in Gorubathan.
When the GLP cadres members were being
taken to Siliguri via Darjeeling, agitated GJM supporters gathered at
Mirik Bypass More and shouted slogans demanding their immediate release.
Slogans against the police and chief minister Mamata Banerjee also rent
the air.
Local GJM leaders alleged the state
government is inciting violence in the Hills by deploying armed forces
and arresting GLP cadres for no good reason. Mirik town wore a deserted
look on the fourth day of the indefinite strike called by the Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha.
Meanwhile, in an interesting unfolding,
children aged between three and 15 years took out rallies in Soureni and
Mirik Bazaar this afternoon in demand of Gorkhaland. GJM central
committee member Sandip Pradhan and divisional committee member Binod
Khaling were among those who led the rally in Soureni, while the Mirik
rally was spearheaded by the GJM women’s wing.
GLP cadre arrests, protests held in Kalimpong
Amid
the GJM intensifying its agitation for a separate state, the state
government has started arresting its leaders and activists in its bid to
contain the movement. The police on Monday arrested 16 women Gorkhaland
Personnel from a camp at Gorubathan under Kalimpong subdivision.
They were presented today before Siliguri court and sent to 14 days’ judicial custody. The police have withheld information about where the 16 were kept on Monday night.
GJM vice president Col (Retd) Ramesh Allay has termed the arrest a shameful act. He said the arrest of the unarmed volunteers, and that too women, was an oppression tactic of the state government.
In the meantime, GJM activists continued with their rallies, gheraos and streetcorners in Kalimpong today. Though there were no reports of violence, party cadres were seen excited and enraged by the news of the arrests. Fearing violence, the police arranged strong security across town.
Around 15,000 supporters pressing for Gorkhaland demonstrated in front of the Block Office for some time. By 11 in the morning, people had gathered by their thousands on the main road. They started a rally at Damber Chowk and passed through 10th Mile Fatak to finally reach the Block Office after circumambulating town. Back at Damber Chowk, the GJM supporters organised a street corner where speeches were delivered by women’s wing leaders Tara Lohar and Bandana Yonjon as well as Driver’s Association president Tshiring Dorjee Bhutia, among others.
They were presented today before Siliguri court and sent to 14 days’ judicial custody. The police have withheld information about where the 16 were kept on Monday night.
GJM vice president Col (Retd) Ramesh Allay has termed the arrest a shameful act. He said the arrest of the unarmed volunteers, and that too women, was an oppression tactic of the state government.
In the meantime, GJM activists continued with their rallies, gheraos and streetcorners in Kalimpong today. Though there were no reports of violence, party cadres were seen excited and enraged by the news of the arrests. Fearing violence, the police arranged strong security across town.
Around 15,000 supporters pressing for Gorkhaland demonstrated in front of the Block Office for some time. By 11 in the morning, people had gathered by their thousands on the main road. They started a rally at Damber Chowk and passed through 10th Mile Fatak to finally reach the Block Office after circumambulating town. Back at Damber Chowk, the GJM supporters organised a street corner where speeches were delivered by women’s wing leaders Tara Lohar and Bandana Yonjon as well as Driver’s Association president Tshiring Dorjee Bhutia, among others.
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