Gorkha Soldiers show concern!

A chetak helicopter leaves after ferrying a general on his visit to the Siachen Glacier

Dear Barun,

I hope you are doing well. I have been eagerly going through your blog. There is great concern amongst us about the conditions developing in the hills and plains. While we are here guarding the borders of the nation, our people are being hassled and pushed around, it hurts so much …when I think of all these things. I can’t write much….Take care…am sending you some photos of our lads in the Siachen Glacier. Maybe everyone will get a better perspective on everything.

Take Care

Your friend in Siachen

Gorkhas being hassled and threatened by DYFI cadres in Siliguri

Gorkha Women from Darjeeling Hills being hassled by DYFI cadres in Siliguri

GJM Hunger Strikers in Darjeeling

“Beware of Bengal’s Trap” warns GJM President Bimal Gurung

Asok adds fuel to fire

SILIGURI/KOLKATA, May 2: A group of DYFI activists today allegedly beat up supporters of the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha, who were heading to the Siliguri Court campus to stage a hunger-strike demanding administrative clearance for a party rally in Siliguri in favour of the Gorkhaland demand. The incident occurred at Hospital More around 12 noon.  The Morcha activists shouted slogans against state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya for his anti-Gorkhaland stand and alleged inflammatory remarks.  The GJMM president, Mr Bimal Gurung, has urged the people of Darjeeling to maintain peace in view of the clash between GJMM and DYFI supporters in Siliguri today. Police detained about 100 GJMM supporters, mostly women, for violating Section 144 CrPC at the court. The ongoing agitation over Gorkhaland has taken a turn for the worse since there are attempts to destabilise relations between Nepalis and Bengalis and the violence witnessed in the Hills during the unrest in the eighties is now engulfing the plains as well, said Mr Bhattacharya today.

Darjeeling Detour

Carving out a separate state of Gorkhaland would be to everyone’s — (except the parochial Bengali’s — benefit. Never mind the vociferous complaints from illegal migrants from Bangladesh who now pose as patriots and defenders of India’s territorial integrity Jaideep Mazumdar

Serene Hills

Darjeeling presents a picture of tranquility; there’s no way one can make out that the long-suffering people of the picturesque hills are involved in a desperate but totally non-violent agitation for a separate state. There are many tourists–as is usual at this time of the year–who’ve escaped to this cool ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ from the searing heat in the plains and hotels, curio shops, taxi operators, restaurateurs and stalls selling woolen garments are doing brisk business. The inflow of money is spawning smiles, but one can’t really miss the sadness in the eyes of the hills people. Sadness caused by years of neglect, discrimination and step-motherly treatment they’ve been subjected to by those who rule over them from Writers’ Building in Kolkata.

This abject neglect of the Darjeeling hills is evident from the one moment one starts the climb up to the hills. The roads are a mess and it’s evident they’ve seen no repair works for many years. People living in small hamlets by the roadside cook and wash with water flowing through small streams, many don’t have electricity and the rate of unemployment is very high, much more than that of the rest of Bengal. But the smiles never leave the faces of the people; much like their small, neat cottages that present a happy picture with begonias and pansies in joyful blossom on the widow sills and balconies. Darjeeling town has been allowed to become a concrete jungle, with acute water shortage, unplanned constructions, potholed roads and a general air of official apathy that hangs heavy over the still-beautiful town, much like the mist and fog.

Disastrous Reign

The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland (within the framework of the Indian Constitution, a point that’s missed or conveniently ignored by many) is nothing new. It first began in the 1980s and was led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front with the quixotic, but popular, Subhas Ghising at its helm. The GNLF, after a few years of spirited and, at times, violent agitation–which, to its immense credit, was totally non-communal and did not result in plains people residing in the hills being targeted even covertly–settled for regional autonomy and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was formed in 1988 with Ghising as its Chairman. Ghising (an impulsive, impractical and mercurial person with too many idiosyncrasies even at the best of times), lorded over the hills uninterruptedly for nearly two decades but failed his simple, down-to-earth and impressionable people.

The Marxist government of Bengal found in Ghising a convenient tool to rule the hills by proxy and continue with its official policy of gross neglect, lack of concern and discrimination against the hill people. The rulers in Kolkata winked at the massive corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and wastage of funds by the DGHC under Ghising. It seemed the CPI(M) was happy that Ghising was doing exactly as it had always wanted: to take the hill people for a ride. But unforeseen developments saw a disgraceful end to Ghising’s rule. It was because of Kolkata’s acquiescence to, or suspected complicity with, Ghising’s misrule that the people of the hills are once again demanding a separate state. Had Kolkata cared for the people of the hills, it would have removed Ghising a long time ago and ensured that the DGHC functions properly to meet their aspirations.

Gandhian Protests

A unique and glorious feature of the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, and of the current one as well, is that it was (and is) non-violent and non-sectarian. There were no attacks on people from the plains and, in fact, many became torch-bearers of the agitation. Like my friend Sandip Jain of Kalimpong, who headed the GNLF’s youth wing in the turbulent 1980s and is now the Editor of Himalayan Times.

Contrary to general belief in the plains, no non-Nepali was ever attacked or discriminated against in any manner during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation. Even now, when the agitation is again gaining momentum, visitors from the rest of Bengal and the world are perhaps safer in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong or any other corner of the hills than many other parts of the country, including Kolkata. Yes, during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, many non-Nepali speaking people who had been residing in the hills for many decades sold their properties and shifted, but they did so not because they were driven out. They shifted because they could not put up with the climate of unrest and uncertainty that the agitation brought. Today, many of them (and I know quite a few) regret having left the hills. They still look at Darjeeling, or Ghoom, or Kurseong (or wherever) their hometown and return every year to reconnect with their roots.]

Faster road repair on cards

Kalimpong, May 2: The repair of NH31A during monsoon is expected to be completed expeditiously this year with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) relocating 87 Road Construction Company (RCC) from Kalimpong to Melli, located on Bengal’s border with Sikkim. The BRO is raising another RCC also to lessen the burden on the 87 RCC.

The 87 RCC, which was earlier attached to the Thimpu-headquartered Project Dantak, is now part of 764 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) based here. The force, which is under Gangtok-headquartered Project Swastik, was earlier engaged in Afghanistan.

From now on, maintenance of the NH31A’s Sevoke-Ranipool section in Sikkim will be the main task of the 87 RCC. Earlier, the company had been assigned the repair of many other roads in the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim.

A major responsibility the 87 RCC had in the past, Damdim-Algarah-Rishi road, the alternative to the road between Siliguri and Kalimpong, will be looked after by 130 RCC being set up at Rangli in Sikkim under the 764 BRTF.

Kalimpong is 16km from NH31A, while Melli is along the national highway.

Hills and fresh air for slim wallets

Looking at the huge ads in newspapers, one would think India is abounding with people with lakhs of rupees to spend on overseas holidays. While the fortunate few might escape to Switzerland or Paris, getaways at cheaper rates are not exactly easy at home.

There are places galore, but summertime rushes in well-known hill stations can drain out your energies or wallets – or both. Unless cooped-up hotels and milling city crowds is what you are looking for in a summer vacation. We went looking for mountain holidays that would cost no more than Rs. 50,000 for a family of two adults and two kids for say, a week’s getaway. That would mean about Rs. 7,000 per head per day. In many places, the kids can stay free, or the extra beds come cheap.

But holidays also involve to and fro travel to the spots, charges for sightseeing, eating out etc. We settled for adventure holidays, because they often involve rustic surroundings at lower costs and offer children some things they can connect with. Or we recommend offbeat mountain retreats, if you are in a mood for unwinding from the hustle and bustle of the city. As we see it, the best options are those away from the known hill stations, but some not far away from brand-name towns could give a nice touch.

Why, you could even take a ride if you find your spot boring or limited, and hence enjoy some solace. “The Caravan,” a Delhi-based vacation boutique founded by a travel-loving couple, says it offers packages at Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 per day per person in hotels across the country. We recommend for Delhi-ites Shogi, a relatively unspoilt spot 18 km ahead of Simla, where a couple can stay in a Bamboo Hut for Rs. 6,777 for a two-night-three-day stay. That would include complimentary activities like climbing a rope ladder or crossing a valley. For extra charges, you can do rock-climbing.

Basu says tourists should avoid Darjeeling

Kolkata, May 2: Echoing the view of the West Bengal government, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today said that the situation in Darjeeling was not conducive for tourists following the agitation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

“The situation in Darjeeling is bad. How will the tourists go?,” he told newsmen on the sidelines of the CPI(M) state secretariat meeting when asked to comment on the state government’s recent advice to tourists to avoid Darjeeling.

Stating that the GJM was trying to foment trouble in the Darjeeling hills, he said, it was also trying to create trouble in Siliguri.

Recalling that a number of people had died in the GNLF’s agitation for Gorkhaland during his chief ministership, Basu said that the situation in Darjeeling was not so bad upto now.

Chief Minister Buddhdadeb Bhattacharjee was looking into the situation, Basu said.

Gorkha body promises tourist safety in Darjeeling

After West Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharya asked tourists not to visit Darjeeling this summer, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders Friday assured that tourists would be ‘completely safe’.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said all tourists visiting Darjeeling this summer would be completely safe and would not be affected by the ongoing agitation being held by their party in the hills.

‘It is an irresponsible comment of a minister who also hails from the hills. We have never harassed any tourist in Darjeeling. They don’t get affected by any political activities of GJM,’ Giri told IANS on phone from Darjeeling Friday.

He said Bhattacharya had no right to ask people not to visit Darjeeling and tourists were always welcome to the queen of hills.

Giri said: ‘The whole economy of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong – three sub-divisions of the district – are dependent on tourism. How could he make such an irresponsible statement being a member of the state cabinet? He should be immediately sacked.’

Bhattacharya Wednesday said it is possible that the communication between the hills and the plains in Darjeeling district would suffer as the GJM supporters have decided to stop paying all taxes, electricity and telephone bills.

Man plans air ascent by ponytail

Mr Roy wanted to pull the train for more than 300 metres (Photos: Sanjay Sah)

A man in eastern India says he is going to take to the air by hanging from a helicopter suspended by his ponytail.

Earlier this week Shailendra Roy drew large crowds when he pulled the famous Darjeeling toy train with his ponytail.

One end of an iron chain was tied to his foot-long ponytail, and the other to the train engine and three coaches, weighing some 35 tonnes.

He says he keeps the hair strong by rubbing it with mustard oil and pulling cars and other heavy objects.

“I am planning to dangle myself from a helicopter,” Mr Roy said after pulling the train 10 metres the town of Siliguri where the track is flat.

GJMM-DYFI clash sparks tension in Hills

SILIGURI, May 2: Tension erupted at Hospital More area in Siliguri today after a group of DYFI activists allegedly beat up supporters of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha. The GJMM supporters were heading to the Siliguri Court campus to stage a hunger strike, demanding administrative clearance for a party rally in Siliguri in favour of the Gorkhaland demand. The incident took place at 12 noon.

The GJMM activists, mostly women, had arrived at the Hashmi Chowk area in the town in small groups and were attempting to storm the Siliguri Court campus for the hunger strike in violation of Section 144.
The Morcha activists were shouting slogans against the state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya, for his anti-Gorkhaland stand.  Angered by the situation, a group of DYFI activists allegedly attacked the GJMM supporters at Hospital More area. The police came and dispersed the crowd before it could cause further damage. The police detained 100 GJMM supporters, for violating Section 144 at the court. The detainees were later transported to Darjeeling More area in the town under police protection.
The news of the DYFI-GJMM skirmish spread in the town as traders between the Hashmi Chowk and the Air View More stretch on Hill Cart Road pulled down their shutters apprehending violence.

Sikkim CM revises labour wage rates

GANGTOK, May 2: Chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling announced the revision of daily labour wages from Rs 85 to Rs 100-Rs 150 in various categories in Sikkim on Wednesday. Mr Chamling said labourers in Sikkim receive high wages in comparison to other parts of the country. Discussing the 95 per cent local recruitment policy of the state government, Mr Chamling also announced revisions to the salary of home guards and staff at the ICDS centres. “The maternity leave allowance has been modified and paternity leave for husbands will follow suit,” he said. The CM directed industrial units employing more than 200 labourers to recruit a doctor for their health care and those with less than 200 workers to engage a visiting doctor for monthly medical check ups [The Statesman]

Morcha chief urges restraint after clash with DYFI

DARJEELING, May 2: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president Mr Bimal Gurung has urged the people of Darjeeling to maintain peace in view of the clash between GJMM and DYFI supporters in Siliguri today. “We will not give up our democratic agitation no matter how much they try to provoke us,” said Mr Gurung, speaking at a programme to felicitate supporters who had marched up to the Sankosh river in demand for Gorkhaland. Describing today’s incident as CPI-M leader and state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya’s strategy to defame the Gorkhas, he cautioned the public not to retaliate. “The 9 April violence on the ex-servicemen and today’s incident are tricks to incite us. We should not give the government a chance to blame us,” Mr Gurung said.

He, however, urged the people against paying taxes, electricity and phone bills as part of the ongoing democratic movement. “If we do not pay taxes it would be the government’s loss. If they sever power supply in the Hills we shall stop work at the hydro-electricity plants that supply electricity to Siliguri,” Mr Gurung said.

The GJMM leadership also encouraged the youth to come forward and register themselves with the Gorkhaland police, a voluntary law and order organisation under the GJMM. “It is our way of defying the government. In the near future we will have our own police force and vehicles within the Gorkhaland territory would sport number plates bearing the initials GL denoting Gorkhaland,” he said.
He also cautioned the members of the Central committee, the town committee and the Nari Morcha to conduct themselves properly. “These are trying times. Just because our people are being lathi-charged in Siliguri, we should not victimise the other communities living in Darjeeling,” Mr Gurung said. [The Statesman]

Warning on explosive pilferage

Gangtok, May 2: Sikkim police have warned companies engaged in hydel power and road projects to keep a watch on their stocks of explosives so that they do not fall in unauthorised hands.

The companies use the explosives for blasting hills.

The police warning comes after dynamites, gelatin sticks and detonators were seized from different parts of the state recently.

“The companies engaged in heavy construction work like hydel and road projects should maintain a proper record of their explosive substances so that it does not fall in unauthorised hands,” said Akshay Sachdeva, the deputy inspector-general of police (range), today.

A police patrol had found six gelatin sticks and two detonators along with electric cables on the bank of the Rangit on Wednesday. A gang of unidentified persons who were reportedly using the explosives for fishing in the river, however, managed to escape leaving them behind.

Four dynamites and five detonators had also been found in an unclaimed bag at Chisopani in South Sikkim’s Jorethang on April 15.

“It is because of the negligence on the part of the engineers and contractors of the projects that such pilferage is taking place,” said Sachdeva.

The official also warned the companies of police action if any negligence was found on their part.

Gati Infrastructure, which is developing three hydel projects in Sikkim, has ruled out the possibility of pilferage.

“There is very little chance of theft from private companies. We ensure that such pilferage does not take place as we strictly enforce the rules related to the use of explosives,” said B.K. Khabrani, the general manager of the company. [The Telegraph]

Wage to rise with altitude

Gangtok, May 2: The Sikkim government has raised the minimum wage for labourers in proportion to the altitude they work in.

Workers constructing road in Nathu-la and its adjoining areas above 14,000 feet will now be entitled to a 70 per cent hike in their daily wages. Porters engaged in trekking expeditions above 16,000 feet will be paid double the present rate. Those working between 8,001-12,000 feet will get a 50 per cent hike.

The present rate of minimum wage for labourers is Rs 100.

The government’s recent notification — announced on May Day — also defines unskilled, semi-skilled and highly-skilled workers. These are applicable for 25 industries in the state. The minimum daily wage for an unskilled worker has been increased from Rs 80 to Rs 100. The rate goes up to Rs 150 a day for highly-skilled worker, labour department sources said.

A. K. Singh, an official of the Border Roads Organisation, welcomed the government move. “We already pay incentives to those working in high altitudes,” he said. [The Telegraph]

Ramesh hope for closed tea estates

Alipurduar, May 2: The Union minister of state for commerce and industries, Jairam Ramesh, told tea garden workers in the Dooars on May Day that Kanthalguri and Ramjhora were expected to reopen in three or four months. [Inset: Ramesh puts a garland around the statue of Santal leader Birsa Munda in Satali on Wednesday. Picture by Anirban Choudhury]

Both gardens have been closed since 2002 and numerous attempts to reopen them have failed. However, Ramesh sounded bullish about the prospects, buoyed by the fact that another closed estate, Bharnobari, restarted operations earlier this week.

“During my last visit here, I had promised the workers of Bharnobari that I would be at the garden the day it reopened. However, because the model code of conduct has been enforced in Bengal I could not be there when Bharnobari started functioning again. Today, I have come here to keep my word,” Ramesh told an audience of nearly 1,000 workers, including many from Bharnobari, at the Birsa Munda Ground at Kalchini’s Satali yesterday.

The minister said of the 14 closed gardens in the region, two have reopened and the Jalpaiguri district magistrate has cancelled the lease of the others — the first step to bringing in a new owner.

“For Kanthalguri, a new buyer has come forward and it will reopen within a short time ,” said Ramesh. “For Ramjhora, we have got two buyers and talks are on with the state government. It is expected that within three-four months both will open.”

Ramesh said the Centre had issued letters to the original buyers, but none of them had replied.

To another question, the minister said: “Not a single kg of Bengal tea is exported, except Darjeeling Tea, although the state produces around 250 million kg of tea each year. We plan to export tea to Egypt, Iran and Pakistan. On May 19, I am going to Egypt to talk to the government there so that we can export good quantity of Bengal tea there.”

Industry stakeholders, however, said a large amount of CTC tea from north Bengal is exported. “India sends around 150-200 million kg of CTC tea to West Asia, Egypt and Russia, of which north Bengal and Assam combine to contribute 50 per cent,” said N.K. Basu, the Bengal convener of the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations. [The Telegraph]

Promise of hassle-free tours

Darjeeling, May 2: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has stepped up efforts to woo visitors to the hills following Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya’s “request” to tourists to give Darjeeling a miss during this holiday season.

“We are taking full responsibility of all the tourists who come here. We do not have any intention of calling strikes and are working together with the hotel industry, tour operators and transporters. So there is no need to panic,” Morcha president Bimal Gurung said.

Morcha leaders reiterated that even if a strike became a political necessity, steps would be taken to ensure that tourists were not harassed.

Palden Lama, a central committee member of the Morcha, said top leaders of the party would be nominated in the three subdivisional towns of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong to look after tourists. “These nominated leaders will issue slips to tourists that would allow them to move around in their vehicles without any problems.”

Pradeep Lama, the secretary of the Darjeeling Association of Travel Agents, said: “We are also looking at the possibility of opening helplines for tourists.”

On Thursday, the urban development minister had said in Calcutta: “I earnestly request tourists not to go to Darjeeling this summer. The situation in the hills is complicated. Police are every now and then having to rescue tourists stuck in the hills because of the (Gorkha Janmukti) Morcha’s demonstrations…”

The Morcha, which has been demanding a new state, had shut down all government offices in the hills from April 14-28. Although tourist facilities were exempted, the toy train rarely ran.

Tenzing Khambachey, a municipal commissioner in Darjeeling, said a fitting way to respond to Bhattacharya’s comments would be to make the town cleaner and greener. “We have already asked hotels and shops to be careful with garbage disposal,” he said.

Dinesh Gurung, the vice-chairman of the municipality, said most lease-holders of hotels in Darjeeling were people from Calcutta or Siliguri. “We have no problems with this (people from the plains owning the hotels) and have asked travel agents to keep their commission at a minimum,” Gurung said.

Shyamal Paul of Calcutta who has leased a hotel here, said hotel-owners were ready to go to the chief minister to complain about Bhattacharya’s remarks. “Even in Kashmir where there is militancy, ministers have not come up with such statements,” said G. Sundas, the president of the hotel-owners’ association. [The Telegraph]

Blockade hits traffic

Kalimpong, May 2: Traffic on NH31A that connects Siliguri to Kalimpong and Gangtok was brought to a halt for over one-and-a-half hours today as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha staged a road blockade to protest against the assault on its supporters in Siliguri earlier in the day. [Inset: Vehicles stranded on the Teesta Bridge on National Highway 31A on Friday because of the blockade set up by Morcha supporters. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha]

Morcha supporters put up blockades at Rambi and on the Teesta Bridge around 1.30pm. Even two-wheelers were not spared.

However, army vehicles and those carrying sick people were allowed to pass.

About 70 vehicles, including those bound for Sikkim and tourist taxis, were seen lined up on either side of the bridge.

“We are stuck here for more than an hour. Will this blockade continue for long?” asked Mahesh Chovatia, a tourist from Ahmedabad heading towards Gangtok.

About 3.10pm, acting on instruction from the party higher-ups, the supporters lifted the blockade of all vehicles. The Morcha publicity secretary, Binay Tamang, had earlier said the vehicles carrying tourists would not be held up for long.

“I will return to Kalimpong since there is no point in proceeding towards Darjeeling,” said a local trader who had to abandon his short business trip because of the blockade.

Bimal warns supporters of ‘CPM trap’

Darjeeling, May 2: The president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bimal Gurung, today called upon the hill people to show restraint and not fall into the trap laid by the CPM to “destabilise” the movement for a separate state. [Inset: Gurung at Darjeeling’s Chowrastha. (Suman Tamang)]

“The DYFI (the CPM’s youth wing) cadres have attacked our members …in Siliguri. We must not get excited. We must not act as we did in 1986 (Gorkhaland agitation). We must win this round by using our brains,” Gurung said.

“When I heard about the incident, I, too, was boiling with anger. But I have controlled it. Asok Bhattacharya and his CPM and DYFI people are trying to destabilise our movement but we will not fall into their trap.”

However, the Morcha leader said his party would continue with its economic blockade and other programmes to needle the Bengal government.

Protests choke Siliguri streets

Siliguri, May 2: Normal life was thrown out of gear for at least four hours as tension in the Court More area spilled onto Hill Cart Road.

In the morning, only the court premises had been cordoned off. However, after 10am no-entry signs were set up on Hill Cart Road as reports of stray incidents of violence trickled in from the Hashmi Chowk end.

While all public buses coming from outside the town were made to turn around from Air View More to Sevoke Road through Church Road, autorickshaws were allowed only till Darjeeling More. Commuters had to take detours and students had to walk long distances to get back home after school.

“I had to walk almost 2km,” a student of Siliguri College and a resident of Bagdogra said. “I had my political science (BA Part II) paper today and wanted to reach home early to prepare for tomorrow’s exam (Paper V). But because no transport was available from Court More, I had to walk a lot, which has not only taken time but has left me exhausted.”

Additional superintendent of police Rajesh Yadav said a check had to be put on vehicular traffic after there was a small flare-up in the Hashmi Chowk area. “Later traffic was allowed to resume normally within and outside the town,” he added.

Basu stands by Asok advice to tourists – Visitor flow pressure on Morcha

Calcutta, May 2: Jyoti Basu today endorsed the hill affairs minister’s advice to tourists not to visit the Darjeeling hills this summer. [Inset: Morcha members on a fast in front of the district magistrate’s office in Darjeeling on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang]

“How can they (tourists) go there? It’s becoming an increasingly difficult situation (in the hills). They (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters) are creating trouble, staging hunger strikes and trying to change the number plates of cars,’’ Basu said after the CPM state secretariat meeting today.

The Morcha has been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Recalling the days of the Gorkhaland movement of the 1980s led by Subash Ghisingh, Basu said: “Around a hundred people had died. The situation has not become so grim yet.”

Observers said Basu’s approval of Asok Bhattacharya’s comments indicates the party’s eagerness to act tough with the Morcha.

Morcha protesters caught in mob fury

Siliguri, May 2: Around 10 people were injured in separate incidents after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters raised anti-CPM slogans, sparking mob violence in different parts of the town. [Inset: Police check documents of a visitor on the court campus. A Telegraph picture]

Near Hospital More, a crowd, which included some CPM supporters, beat up four Morcha members, two of them women. Policemen, who came to the rescue, shepherded them to a public toilet and later whisked them away. Three women were beaten up near the PWD bungalow.

A Morcha supporter was dragged to the ground and punched near the booking office of the Northeast Frontier Railway. Back at Hospital More, another man was beaten up, 10 minutes after the incident of the first assault. A couple were rescued by the police near Venus More and kept inside the traffic signal kiosk but only after they had been slapped around. They were later taken away in a police jeep.

The administration has denied incidents of assault. “No complaint has been lodged,” said Paritosh Roy, the additional district magistrate of Siliguri. Trouble had erupted around 11.30 in the morning. More than 60 Morcha supporters tried to enter the Siliguri Court campus for the indefinite hunger strike in front of the subdivisional office while shouting “CPM murdabad” and “Asok Bhattacharya murdabad”. Bhattacharya is the CPM MLA from Siliguri and the Bengal minister of hills affairs.