GJM team to meet CM, bandh relaxation continues

Darjeeling, Jun 23 (UNI) A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation, led by its assistant general secretary Raju Pradhan, will leave for Kolkata tomorrow to discuss the prevailing situation in the Hill areas with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, even as the 60-hour bandh relaxation continued today.

GJM publicity secretary Benoy Tamang said the delegation will urge the Chief Minister to withdraw the CRPF forces still patrolling the Terai and Dooars region as the situation was peaceful now and no fresh violence was reported from anywhere.

''The GJM will also question the Chief Minister why Section 144 CrPC is being imposed and our supporters not allowed to sit on hunger strike or other peaceful democratic movements,'' Mr Tamang said.

The issue of the alleged attacks and atrocities on the GJM supporters by the Jan Jagran and Amra Bangali activists will also be raised in the meeting, he added.

Incidentally, the GJM had earlier rejected the Chief Minister's fresh offer for talks and decided to raise its own ''peace-keeping force'' in the hills.

''We have heard the Chief Minister's latest offer. But the fact is we will not attend any bipartite meeting on Darjeeling issue,'' Mr Tamang had said.

MORE UNI XC DPM RL KP1208