The West Bengal government has alleged that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leading a campaign for Gorhaland in Darjeeling had “links to Northeast-based militant groups”. The accusation is contained in a report it sent to the Union Home Ministry on the agitation.
The report was sent after the Union government held back additional Central armed police forces. The five-page report said the “situation was tense but under control”. It said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, headed by the GJM, is due for elections, suggesting the agitation could be linked to politics.
The GJM is an ally of the BJP government at the Centre and has been pushing for a separate State for the Nepali-speaking Gorkhas. The decades-old demand for a separate State revived recently when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that Bengali would be made compulsory in schools.
While the report gave details of all the policemen injured, it remained silent on the civilians — except for the June 17 incident when it said that a civilian “died” and five others were injured. It does not mention the cause of death.
Till June 13, 24 cases were registered against members of the GJM for fuelling the agitation, the report said.
“On June 5, the GJM organised an agitation and obstructed the State highway. On June 8, they took out three processions and converted it into a dharna. Around 3 p.m., the crowd got violent and pelted stones at police and explosion of bombs and explosive devices continued for almost two hours,” said the report.
The report did not mention the number of people arrested for spreading violence.
“We have received a report from the West Bengal government and around 100 Central forces were sent as requested by them,” said Ashok Prasad, spokesperson, Home Ministry.
