In first instance of violence in quite a few years, alleged pro-Gorkhaland activists on Friday torched a number of police outposts, literally burnt to a crisp a forest bungalow of the colonial era, set ablaze vehicles and set on fire a home guard besides injuring some of his colleagues even as the Bengal Government blamed the Centre for fomenting trouble in Darjeeling.
Alleged GJM activists burnt down a police outpost at Sukia Pokriyabong and set home guard afire when he tried to resist them, police said, adding another three persons including some more home guards were injured in the clash. The policemen have been admitted to the hospital. Soon after the incident that took place barely hours before the indefinite Darjeeling bandh was to start on Saturday, the State Government and GJM leaders charged each other for “behaving recklessly.”
Elsewhere at Takdah, a club-cum-forest bungalow of the colonial era was burnt down by unknown miscreants late on Thursday night, district police chief K Agarwal said. Takdah Club — established in 2011 — which was converted into a forest bungalow and inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2012 where she even stayed during her trip to Darjeeling was “burnt by more than 70 per cent and nothing is intact inside,” a local forest ranger said. Even as the police arrested a GJM activist for the arsons, party president Bimal Gurung accused the State Government of “trying to frame our partymen so that they can use CRPF against us. But we also want to remind them that such mischievous activities will only invigorate the people.”
He warned, “We are not afraid of dying but before dying we will teach Mamata Banerjee a lesson.” Gurung’s warning came in tandem with the Government rushing in five companies of CRPF, two companies of IRB, five battalions of anti-riot police and seven battalions of RAF. Even as North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb warned “strong action would be taken against those who would try to break peace”, the GJM activists set ablaze vehicles and police booths at Ranglirangliyat and Rangamancha. A truck was set on fire at Mongpo.
“The Government will not compromise on incidents of violence. There will be no talk with any side unless they shun violence and call off the bandh,” Deb said, adding all those who were creating trouble would be arrested. Discounting the Minister’s warning, senior GJM leader Roshan Giri who on Friday left for Delhi with a six-member delegation said, “Gorkhaland does not belong to Bengal. We want a separate State. If they can give Telangana which is a newer movement then why can’t we get Gorkhaland a demand for which is older than IndependenceIJ” He added “no amount of repression can stop the people of the Hills from getting Gorkhaland.”
Meanwhile, senior Trinamool leader and former Union Minister Mukul Roy on Friday charged the Centre with fomenting trouble in Darjeeling to gain political mileage. “We have definite information that the Centre is inciting the locals for political purpose but Bengal Government will not allow this. We will ensure peace at any cost,” he said, adding “Darjeeling has been and will continue to remain a part and parcel of Bengal and no one can take it away from us.”