GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP's indefinite hunger begins 5 June

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 2: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) is going to start an indefinite hunger strike from 5 June. The hunger strike plan was adopted to draw the attention of the government about their demand of unconditional release of the fifty-six undertrial prisoners including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman who was the supremo of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) till its breaking into factions.

 

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma announced today that their activists would start the fast-unto-death programme at Shahid Baag near the offices of the DM and SP demanding unconditional release of the fifty-six persons and withdrawal of all cases brought against them. They already conveyed their decision to the district magistrate and the superintendent of police, he said. They also sought permission to the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality for using the Shahid Baag premises for the programme.

 

Just before the commencement of the hunger strike at 11 a.m. the Hindu supporters will organise Subachani Puja and the Muslims will pray to the almighty Allah for blessings, Mr Barma said. At first phase 101 supporters will sit for the hunger strike and later the number will gradually increase, he disclosed.

 

Mr Barma said they sent memorandums stating their demands to the President, the Prime Minister and the chairman of National Human Rights Commission.

 

Earlier, demanding release of the 56 men and withdrawal of all cases against them the GCDP had organised a 12-hour token hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar on 25 March.

 

The GCDP leader alleged that armed CPI-M supporters had attacked GCDP supporters at Uttar Nababganj Balasi village of Dewanhat prior to the panchayat elections. In that incident Md Ruhul Mian, a local GCDP leader, received severe head injury. Demanding arrest of the persons involved with the crime the GCDP had decided launching of an indefinite hunger strike. Later, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha took an initiative and among the eight persons named in the FIR three were arrested. It made the GCDP leadership to roll back from their hunger strike plan.

 

It may be recalled that the situation turned violent three years ago on 20 September when a large number of GCPA supporters had tried to enter into Cooch Behar town to sit for a fast-unto-death programme at the office premises of the district magistrate. In connection with that incident fifty-eight persons were arrested. Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and a few others had surrendered. Later, two of the undertrials died in custody.

 

Recalling the violence of 20 September 2005 that claimed lives of three policemen and two GCPA supporters, Mr Barma said the proponents of the Greater Cooch Behar were not responsible for that violence. A CBI probe may reveal the truth behind the incident, he claimed. He made it clear that the GCDP will intensify its movement to get the arrested fifty-six persons released after withdrawing all the charges brought against them.

 

The district administration is thinking over the GCDP fresh hunger plan to combat any situation that is feared to turn into a rerun of the incident that was occurred on 20 September 2005. []