GREATER COOCHBEHAR

SSDC leaders to meet Divisional Commissioner

Mr AK Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jalpaiguri Division, has agreed to meet a delegation of the Separate State Demand Committee on 2 January at Jalpaiguri. It is expected that the dialogue may break the stalemate that started on 12 December following an indefinite hunger strike programme.

Sub-divisional Officer of Dinhata Mr Chiranjib Ghosh told the PTI that the Divisional Commissioner has agreed to meet a delegation of the SSDC and accordingly it has been conveyed to the leaders on Thursday morning.

President of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (a major constituent organisation of the SSDC), Mr Ashutosh Barma told the PTI that they would send a group of senior leaders to meet the Divisional Commissioner on 2 January. "We will request the Divisional Commissioner to take an initiative for holding of tripartite talks over our long standing demand of formation of a separate state – Kamtapur or Greater Cooch Behar. If we feel satisfied with the dialogue with the DC we may lift the indefinite hunger strike that started on 12 December."

Mentionworthy, ten SSDC activists are on an indefinite hunger strike at Prantik Bazar of Dinhata since 12 December demanding tripartite talks over formation of a separate state comprising of six North Bengal districts of West Bengal and 15 districts of Assam.

The Special Inspector General of Police, North Bengal, Mr DT Lepcha, who is now on leave, said, the lifting of the hunger strike was needed for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the region.