GREATER COOCH BEHAR

'Greater' prisoners hope for release in new era

After swearing in of Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee the hope for release of political prisoners has been brightened.

In Cooch Behar there are forty-five under-trial prisoners who were associated with the movement for a separate state named 'Greater Cooch Behar'. The 'Greater' prisoners are now expecting of come out from behind the bars.

It was learnt that the new chief minister has decided to constitute a ten-member committee to consider the release of political prisoners. The committee is to inquire at different correctional homes in the state about the condition of the prisoners having connection with political movement. After circulation of the news in Cooch Behar The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) and others turned happy expecting release of their men.

President of the GCDP, Mr Ashutosh Barma said he heard the decision of the new state government from the media. "The police arrested our innocent men with false charges. They are now suffering as political prisoners. Also, we had to suffer largely during the regime of the Left Front. Now we expect that the situation may turn better under the state government led by chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee", he said.

GCPA leaders' too welcomed the new state government's initiative to set free the political prisoners suffering at different correctional homes in the state.

It may be mentioned here that during the GCPA's fast-unto-death programme five persons were killed on 20 September in 2005. Among the killed there was an additional superintendent of police, two policemen and two GCPA supporters. After that incident several cases were brought against the arrested and surrendered 'Greater' men including that organisation's the then supremo, Mr Bangshi Badan Barman.