GREATER COOCHBEHAR

GCDP to observe 1 January as Black day

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 22: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) will observe the first day of the New Year as Black day. They however lifted their proposed indefinite strike today that is scheduled to start from tomorrow in Cooch Behar district.

 

It may be mentioned here that on 8 December the GCDP had announced an indefinite strike to start 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 leaders and supporters.

 

Today, a large number of GCDP supporters gathered near the office of the district magistrate in Cooch Behar on the west bank of Sagardighi. A 5-member delegation of GCDP leaders met the district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha and reiterated their demands. The DM heard their points and assured of looking into those. He made an appeal to the GCDP leaders to lift the proposed indefinite strike in the interest of the common people. The DM also assured them that he would hold talks with the superintendent of police about the demands raised by the GCDP.

 

When asked, Mr Sinha said the GCDP leaders told him of a case of 2006 in connection which a police team recently raided the house of the GCDP president at Sitai. He said he would look into the matter and steps would be taken after that. "At first we will have to see what case was that and then we must take action against persons if found guilty", he said.

 

Expressing their satisfaction by the assurance given by the DM, GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma announced lifting of the indefinite strike that was to start from tomorrow. He declared that they would wait till 1 January to see what the administration and police do to solve their grievances. After that they may resume their stir.

 

Mr Barma also declared that they would observe 1 January as Black Day because on that day in 1950 the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar was merged with India as a district only. The then chief minister of West Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Roy had chalked out the plan to include Cooch Behar as a mere district, he alleged. "We are not ready to consider Cooch Behar as a district only and so we will stage protest against that act. Transforming of a State into a mere district was nothing but an act of treachery to the people of Cooch Behar" Mr Barma fumed. []

 

PHOTO : GCDP supporters agitate at the gate of the District Collectorate Office in Cooch Behar on Monday.