CRPF deploys women battalion in Siliguri to stop GJM protest

Siliguri, Feb 6 (ANI): Authorities deployed a battalion of women Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in West Bengal's Siliguri town to stop a protest rally held by activists of the regional Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists.

The battalion was posted in the Darjeeling Hills and adjacent areas, besides the highways to prevent any untoward incident.

GJM President Sankar Adhikari said that we condemn the action of the Centre and the West Bengal Government for not allowing us to take out a rally.

"The relay hunger strike, which we have started on behalf of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), began from January 29. Today is the eighth day and in the entire region of Gorkha land we are doing the same in the form of relay hunger strike. We are doing it peacefully, we believe in non-violence," Adhikari told reporters on Saturday.

"The President of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bimal Gurung, who wanted to take out a rally was not given permission by the Centre and State Governments, we condemn this and urge them through hunger strike to permit the rally," he added.

GJM activists expressed their displeasure over the arrival of the CRPF battalion and criticised the state government of trying to suppress their legitimate and democratic movement.

Adhikari added that the campaign is not against the country, and they want peace as they are following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi by being non-violent.

"The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and we have been saying all the time that we will not go for a violent campaign. We will not go for a campaign that will be against the interest of the country. We organise campaigns taking into view all laws of the land but they have sent CRPF to stop it," said Adhikari.

"If you see, there is peace at hills, there is nothing wrong what is happening on the hills. We are doing the campaign peacefully and why are they stopping it and I really have no idea about it. CRPF has come here unnecessarily and state government is deliberately trying to create problems for the people," he added.

Adhikari further said the CRPF personnel should have been rather deployed in Maoist infested areas of the state. (ANI)