GJM sets new condition as govt fixes date for talks

This comes on day when GJM was officially informed that the second round of tripartite talks with the Centre and the state government would be held on December 29.

Speaking to The Indian Express, GJM secretary Roshan Giri said Morcha activists would impose a 72-hour bandh in Darjeeling and Dooars in Jalpaiguri district from December 23, if the deadline was not met. Over 30 people, including 10 policemen, were injured in the clash between GJM supporters and anti-Gorkhaland locals.

“We have begun picketing and demonstrating hunger-strikes at all police stations in the Hills to protest against the police inaction over the Hamiltonganj incident. This will continue till December 22,” Giri said.

“If no action is taken, the agitation would be launched in all the parts after the bandh, and we may have to rethink about participating in the talks. We have also approached the Human Rights Commission as most of those injured in Hamiltonganj were Nepali women and children,” he added.

Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma, meanwhile, told The Indian Express that raids have begun in the Kalchini-Hamiltonganj area of Jalpaiguri to apprehend those involved in the clash.

“Since the incident on Wednesday, the police are busy quelling chances of further unrest. The arrests will be made irrespective of which side the culprits were on. Picketing has been increased in marketplaces, and mobile patrols are monitoring the area. We are monitoring the situation as the clash is still fresh in memory, and small incidents could translate into something bigger,” Verma said.

The district police chief added that nine cases had been registered so far at the Kalchini police station. Cases have been registered by locals whose houses were damaged, including the wife of local MP Joachim Baxla. “There are three cases of property damage, two of vehicle damage and the rest are rioting cases by the BDO and SDO. There has been no picketing by GJM activists outside the police stations here,” Verma added.

The increase in pre-talk activism by the GJM comes at a time when the hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district are reeling under the effects of an indefinite shutdown of all government offices. Developmental works and progress of the ongoing power projects have been severely affected since December 8 when Morcha announced a fresh diktat. Darjeeling District Magistrate Surendra Gupta has confirmed that hunger-strikes have begun outside police stations, BDO and SDO offices.

“I have written to the GJM about the talk dates, which was delivered today. At the moment, all offices are shut. I have the option of working from my official residence, but that would only extend to important administrative work. Only election-related work is going on. Revenue has been almost non-existent since July. The government’s functioning has been hit,” Gupta said.