GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP may lift indefinite strike plan

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 18: In the event of any assurance received from the district administration over their grievances the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) may withdraw their proposed indefinite strike. The strike is scheduled to start from Tuesday in Cooch Behar district.

 

President of the GCDP, Mr Ashutosh Barma said today that they would meet the district magistrate of Cooch Behar on Monday to reiterate their demands. He hoped that the DM would consider the matter with a realistic approach. If they receive concrete assurance of reviewing of the demands from the DM they may lift the indefinite strike plan, Mr Barma said.

 

It may be mentioned here that recently the GCDP had announced an indefinite strike in Cooch Behar district from 23 December. The demands they raised are – lifting of all 'false cases' brought against GCDP activists and leaders, an end to the 'police harassment' on their supporters and punitive measures against policemen involved in harassing of their supporters.

 

When contacted, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said he was ready to meet the GCDP leadership on Monday. He made it clear that he will make an appeal to the GCDP leaders to lift their scheduled indefinite strike in the interest of the common people. The DM said he would hold talks with the superintendent of police about the demands raised by the GCDP.

 

On the otherhand, the activists of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) staged a roadblock at Ambari along Sahebganj Road in Dinhata today as they did there yesterday. They were demanding reinstallation of the roadside hoardings that were removed by the police recently. Earlier, they put the hoardings depicting map of the proposed Greater Cooch Behar State. Today, senior officials including Dinhata SDO appeared at the place with a large contingent of police and the roadblock was lifted after their intervention. []