GREATER COOCHBEHAR

SSDC leaders meet DC, lift hunger strike

Satisfied with today's dialogue held between them and the Divisional Commissioner of Jalpaiguri Division, Mr AK Singh, the SSDC (Separate State Demand Committee) decided to lift their fast-unto-death programme that started on 12 December at Prantik Bazar of Dinhata in Cooch Behar.

President of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (a major constituent organisation of the SSDC), Mr Ashutosh Barma told the PTI that the dialogue was held in an amicable mood at Jalpaiguri today. "We have requested 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. The DC heard our demands patiently and agreed to arrange a secretary-level meeting between us and highly placed officials of the state government within seven days", Mr Barma said. "Satisfied with his assurance we have decided to lift the hunger strike", the GCDP leader said.

The GCDP president also said that they would decide their further programme very soon.

Mentionworthy, ten SSDC activists started a fast-unto-death programme at Prantik Bazar of Dinhata on 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.