Police illegally entering houses, torturing supporters, claims GJM chief

Darjeeling: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung on Saturday claimed that the West Bengal Police are illegally entering their supporters' houses and torturing them and also accused them of killing two of his supporters.

He said that GJM would further strengthen their agitation.

"Nari Morcha was conducting a peaceful march from several places. The police illegally barred them and then charged baton on them, tear gas and bullets were also used. They were protesting against the state government and demanding separate Gorkhaland. The police are also illegally entering our supporters' houses and are torturing our supporters," he said.

"In today's incident, two of our supporters were killed by the police. We will continue with this agitation. We are now going to strengthen our movement," he added.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee teared into the GJM supporters, stating that they aren't listening to the court, even after it had passed an order citing the bandh was "illegal."

"The board members of the state have formed a committee assuring that peace will prevail in the hills as it will be their first priority to work on. Looking at the angry GJM supporters who went on rampage torching a railway station, a police outpost and vehicles after a police raid on party chief Bimal Gurung's house in Darjeeling shows that they aren't listening to the court, even after it had passed an order citing the bandh was illegal. I don't know where they are getting the support from," Mamata said at a press conference here.

"You (GJM) enjoyed for five years. Now when the elections are nearing, why are you starting the violence again? Is it because you have lost all your credentials? I am ready to talk to them on this matter as we cannot support violation of the Constitution," Mamata added.

Earlier in the day, Morcha protestors resorted to fresh violence after the police raided and allegedly vandalised the residence of Assistant General Secretary of Morcha Binay Tamang on Friday night.

The protestors left one policeman injured and torched a police vehicle as Darjeeling continued to boil under indefinite strike for the sixth day in a row now.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in West Bengal's Darjeeling by sending more troops to help restore normalcy as the state government has not yet submitted its report on the situation.

The GJM announced an indefinite strike from Monday encompassing Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the Dooars protesting against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to make Bengali language compulsory in state-run schools.

The strike was called even after the Chief Minister assured that the new rule would not be imposed in the hill districts.

The protestors are also asking for a separate Gorkhaland, a long pending demand of the people of the hills.