The resurgence of the Gorkhaland movement seems to have confused the state administration thoroughly.
Buddha announces army deployment, home secy denies it
KOLKATA: The resurgence of the Gorkhaland movement seems to have confused the state administration thoroughly.
Violent clashes during a bandh called by anti-Gorkhaland outfits in Siliguri town and the adjacent Dooars, where prohibitory orders were clamped, saw a flip-flop by an administration already on its tenterhooks now.
All of Thursday was marked by contradictory statements over deployment of the army.
In the morning, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that considering the tense situation in the hills, the state government had decided to deploy the army in Siliguri and adjacent areas. “I have instructed them to be alert and they will be deployed any time,” Bhattacharjee said.
However, in the afternoon, state home secretary Ashoke Mohan Chakrabarty did a complete volte face. He told reporters that there will not be any deployment of the army for now and it has only been asked to stay alert.
Inspector general (law & order) Raj Kanojia echoed him: “Although we had some discussions with top army officials over the situation in Siliguri, there has been no decision on army deployment.” He added that 15 persons had been arrested for violence in Siliguri on Thursday.
The two-day bandh has been called against the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s (GJM) demand for Gorkhaland by little-known outfits called ‘Amra Bangali’, ‘Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee’, ‘Janajagaran Manch’ and ‘Jana Chetna Manch’.
Police fired teargas shells to disperse violent pro- and anti-Gorkhaland outfits which pelted stones at each other.
GJM leader Roshan Giri said from Darjeeling that Thursday morning’s violence started after their supporters were beaten up by CPI(M) activists. “The CPI(M) is trying to suppress our democratic movement and we are appealing to the Union government to take appropriate action,” he said.
Para-military forces have been deployed in the town.
Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi has expressed deep concern over the situation in Darjeeling. An all-party meeting has been called on June 17 by the CM to find a solution to the issue.
Meanwhile, the political violence in neighbouring Darjeeling district is taking a heavy economic toll on Sikkim as the state was forced to ration the distribution of essential items like LPG and fuel due to being cut off for the past two days.
The LPG stock of Sikkim will last only up to Saturday, officials said here signaling an impending crisis for the strategic Himalayan state.
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
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