GJM supremo Bimal Gurung said morcha activists would observe fast in three hill sub-divisions and in protest against the arrest of fellow members and to press for statehood demand.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) today announced a 48-hour fast from February 9 on the statehood issue, even as police arrested 220 GJM members for violating prohibitory orders at Birpara in the plain.
GJM supremo Bimal Gurung said morcha activists would observe fast in three hill sub-divisions and here in protest against the arrest of fellow members and to press for statehood demand.
In Dooars of Jalpaiguri district, a 12-hour bandh was called by Adivasi Vikash Parishad in protest against the GJM's move to launch fast in the area to press for inclusion of some Dooars areas in the proposed state.
Inspector general of police (North Bengal) KL Tamta told PTI, 220 GJM activists were arrested for coming to the Birpara Nepali Higher Secondary School ground to hold the meeting forcefully defying the section 144 CrPC in force.
Police had to act as there was every possibility of a clash between the GJM and activists who had been opposing holding of a Morcha meeting at the ground where a huge police force was present. Parishad leader Rajesh Lakra said under no circumstances they would allow the meeting at Birpara or in any part of Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district, where adivasis have a stronghold.
Alleging that the West Bengal government once again showed its 'undemocratic side' to the Gorkhas, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI that it has decided to observe martyr's day in memory of one Akbar Lama who was killed in February, 2007 at Birpara in violence allegedly perpetrated by adivasi activists.
"We are not being allowed to hold any meeting and even to pay homage to our martyrs. Is it a civic government," Giri asked.
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