DEMAND FOR A NEW STATE

'Kamtapur' bandh peaceful

The strike called by the Separate State Demand Committee (SSDC) has passed off peacefully in Cooch Behar district on Wednesday. The bandh received partial response. Police arrested 33 bandh supporters from Mathabhanga and Dinhata during the day.

The SSDC called the strike demanding formation of a separate state – Kamtapur or Greater Cooch Behar.

Passenger vehicles of private operators were off the roads but buses of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) were found plying with fewer passengers. Government offices were found opened but many schools were found closed. Branches of the banks however found closed due to another strike called by the employees.

President of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), Mr Ashutosh Barma claimed that the people of the region today came out spontaneously to make the bandh successful. It proved that the people wholeheartedly want a separate state – Kamtapur or Greater Cooch Behar, he said.
It may be recalled here that the SSDC was formed a few months ago at a meeting that was held at Bongaigaon in Assam. The proponents of the separate state want formation of the proposed state with fifteen districts of Assam and six North Bengal districts of West Bengal.

The SSDC was formed comprising of nine like-minded organisations - The Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA), Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), All Koch Rajbonshi Students' Union (AKRASU), Kamtapur Peoples' Party (KPP), All Kamtapur Students' Union (AKSU), All Koch Rajbonshi Sahitya Sabha (AKRSS), All Assam Koch Rajbonshi Sanmilani (AAKRS), Chilarai Sena and All Koch Rajbonshi Mahila Samiti (AKRMS).