GCDP to intensify movement

 

COOCH BEHAR, March 28: Demanding unconditional release of the fifty-six persons and withdrawal of all cases brought against them the activists of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) may start a fast-unto-death programme in the last week of April in Cooch Behar.

 

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

 

It may be recalled that the situation turned violent three years ago on that day when a large number of supporters of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) 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.

 

Demanding release and withdrawal of cases the GCDP had organised a 12-hour token hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar on last Tuesday. As a precautionary measure a large contingent of police force was deployed in the town to maintain peace.

 

During the hunger strike the president of the GCDP Mr Ashutosh Barma had declared that they might start a fast-unto-death stir if the government fails to release the fifty-six 'Greater Cooch Behar' activists including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman within one month. He said they sent memorandums stating their demands to the President, the Prime Minister and the chairman of National Human Rights Commission.

 

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. []