GJM supporter makes self immolation bid

A 30-year-old GJM supporter tried to immolate himself in Kalimpong on Tuesday in support of the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. Mangal Singh Rajput,a known GJM activist who is unemployed,had attended a party meeting before he set himself on fire around 1.25 pm at Damber Chowk on the second day of the three-day bandh called by the organisation. He was rescued by the police and admitted to a hospital with 40 to 50 per cent burns.

“Even though Mangal is not a Gorkha,his family has been living in Kalimpong for generations. Mangal and his father,who works as a labourer,never considered themselves different from the Gorkhas,” said local GJM MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri.

“This is the passion and the emotion,we are fighting for. We have faxed the details of the incident to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Home Ministry office,” added the MLA.

Story continues below this ad

The central committee of GJM will hold a meeting on Wednesday,the last of day of the 72-hour strike,to decide on the future of Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the party has not yet made up its mind on the Union Territory status,which is being talked about in the Congress party.