GREATER COOCH BEHAR

'Greater Cooch Behar' supremo Bangshi Badan came out on bail

After a long legal deliberation the once supremo of 'Greater Cooch
Behar' movement Mr Bangshi Badan Barman came out from behind the iron
bars on bail on Friday afternoon.
A large number of 'Greater Cooch Behar' activists, family members and
well wishers thronged in front of the Cooch Behar District
Correctional Home (CDCH) this noon to receive him. After coming out
from the jail Mr Barman rushed to the age-old Hiranyagarvo Shivmandir
on the west bank of Sagardighi and prayed blessings from Lord Shiva.
From there he left for his home at Jarabari in Dinhata.
Mr Barman was the general secretary of the undivided Greater Cooch
Behar Peoples' Association. During their movement for a separate
Greater Cooch Behar state a violent clash occurred on 20 September,
2005. On that day five persons including three policemen and two
'Greater' supporters got killed. At first Mr Barman evaded arrest. On
25 May 2006 he surrendered to the court of the Chief Judicial
Magistrate in Cooch Behar. On 31 May 2006 he and his associates earned
'political prisoner' status from the court. Since then he was in the
CDCH. Two cases in connection with murder of an additional SP and
murder of two constables were pending against him.
After change of power in the political scenario of the state on 20
July 2011 the release of 43 Greater Cooch Behar activists was expected
following the new state government's policy on release of prisoners.
On 12 August of this year a bail petition was moved at the High Court
and on 12 December the court sanctioned his bail prayer. Today, after
examining the relevant documents he was granted to come out from the
jail, said his lawyer Mr Shibendra Nath Roy. Mr Roy said the other
undertrial 'Greater Cooch Behar' supporters are also expected to come
out on bail very soon.