"Greater" case hearing

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 13: First phase of hearing of two cases against leaders and supporters of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) concluded today. Total 15 witnesses were examined in the court of District and Sessions judge, Ms Anindita Ray Saraswati during the hearing that started on 3 July. The special court was held inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home. The cases are running against fifty-six GCPA men including its chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman.

 

Initially the cases were lodged against fifty-eight persons but two of them already died under jail custody. GCPA's lawyer, Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said that in the first phase two cases were heard in the court. A case is related to the alleged bid to set fire a petrol pump at Khagrabari and another case is related to murder of two constables at Chakchaka. The next phase of hearing will be held from 3 September to 14 September.

 

Mr Roy said hearing of another case in connection with the murder of an additional superintendent of police would be held from 24 July to 31 July.

 

It may be recalled that a large number of GCPA supporters were approaching towards Cooch Behar town to sit for an indefinite hunger strike on 20 September 2005. They were demanding a 'Greater Cooch Behar' state following proper implementation of the merger agreement signed between the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and Union of India. Five persons including an ASP, two policemen and two GCPA supporters were killed on that day. Police arrested several GCPA men in connection with the violence done on that day. Later, Mr Bangshi Badan Barman surrendered before the court. Since then they were staying inside CDCH. Following court order they were granted with political prisoner status too. []

 

Hunger strike withdrawn

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 13: SUCI affiliated Sangrami Hawkers Union' withdrew its indefinite hunger strike. Twenty SHU members started the hunger strike at Power House Choupathi in Cooch Behar on Tuesday demanding rehabilitation for the evicted hawkers.

 

District SHU president Mr Purna Mandal said they withdrew the hunger strike following requests from senior citizens. But they will continue their movement till achieving any acceptable term against their demands, he declared.

 

Mr Mandal said they started the hunger strike in support of six-point charter of demands. Some of the demands were : The evicted footpath hawkers should be allowed to do their business at the places from where they were evicted, the hawker eviction drive should be stopped following national hawker policy, one-third space of footpaths should be allotted to the hawkers to conduct business, the hawkers should be provided with identity cards and licences, the seized goods and consumer items should be returned to the hawkers concerned and proper compensation should be extended to them. []