GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP declares indefinite strike plan

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 8: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) decided to go for an indefinite strike in Cooch Behar district from 23 December. Giving this ultimatum the GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said they would wait till 21 December to see what the administration and police do to draw and end of harassment to GCDP leaders and activists.

 

The GCDP organised a large gathering at Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar today. They took out a long slogan shouting procession around Sagar Dighi condemning recent police raid at the house of GCDP president Mr Barma. Later, a five-member delegation led by GCDP secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Barman submitted a memorandum to the additional superintendent of police Mr Ashesh Biswas protesting the police raid without any prior notice. They also submitted a copy of the memorandum to the Cooch Behar ADM. A large contingent of armed police force was deployed today to maintain peace.

 

The GCDP president said a team of policemen raided his residence at Kesaribari in Sitai block on 2 December in absence of him and searched rooms. When his wife protested they left the place. Mr Barma said he learnt that the police went to his residence in connection with three cases fabricated in 2006. As the policemen entered into the residence without any notice there was a fear of implantation of illegal arms or other objectionable items with a plan to hatch a new case against him, Mr Barma suspected.

 

Standing near the police office in Cooch Behar Mr Barma alleged that the GCDP have been organising movement for a long to get a separate state and so the police are hatching false cases to harass them. "We will no longer tolerate such undemocratic act because we have every right to demand a separate state within the framework of Indian Constitution", he said. He also said that their umbrella organisation – Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) – too expressed its eagerness to extend support to the non-stop movement that is to begin on and from 23 December. []

 

PHOTO : GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma announces indefinite strike plan in Cooch Behar district to start from 23 December. At Shahid Baag in Cooch Behar on Monday.