GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP lifts hunger strike on fifth day

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 9: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) lifted its indefinite hunger strike on the fifth day, today. Declaring the end of the hunger strike programme the GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma made it clear that they may start fresh movement and fast-unto-death programme if the government fails to meet their demands.

 

The GCDP started the hunger strike at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar from Thursday demanding unconditional release of the fifty-six undertrial prisoners including Mr Bangshi Badan Barman who are staying inside the Cooch Behar District Correctional Home since 2005. 21 hunger strikers turned ill and were shifted to hospital till Monday noon. Initially 101 supporters started fasting but the number rose to 308 till Monday morning, GCDP sources claimed.

 

Today, on behalf of the district magistrate an executive magistrate Mr NC Biswas met the GCDP leaders and requested them to withdraw the stir. Following talks with him a GCDP team led by its general secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Roy met the district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha. They demanded the DM to take initiative for unconditional release of the 56 undertrials and draw an end to regular police harassment suffered by GCDP supporters.

 

After a brief executive committee meeting, GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said that the DM expressed his inability in releasing the undertrials but assured of taking personal initiative for speedy completion of the cases. The DM also agreed to handover them copies of letters sent to the higher authorities over the demands of the GCDP, Mr Barma said.

 

When asked, the DM, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that he talked with the GCDP leaders who demanded release of the 56 undertrials. He conveyed them about his inability in taking any measures in the matter and assured them that he will bring the demand to the notice of the higher authorities. Mr Sinha admitted that he agreed to handover copies of letters sent to the government as proof of his initiative.

 

The GCDP president said he believes that speedy running of the cases may end in honourable acquittal of Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and others, as the charges brought against them are not true. Very soon they will declare their next plan of movement, he said. []

 

PHOTO : The GCDP leaders talk with the district magistrate over their demands. In Cooch Behar on Monday. – DEBASHIS BHAUMIK.