Is Gorkhaland agitation turning into an armed underground movement?

A report stated that the West Bengal government fears that the ongoing Gorkhaland protest might turn into an "underground armed revolution".

Darjeeling, July 19: Ask any native of Darjeeling and its neighbouring areas what Gorkhaland means to him/her, the answer is simple--a homeland where the Gorkhas (inhabitants of the hills of North Bengal) can live freely and achieve growth and prosperity.

So, the supporters of Gorkhaland--a separate state carved out of West Bengal--feel that time is ripe to honour the demand of the people for the formation of a separate state.

The West Bengal government, on its part, since the Gorkhaland agitation started in the hills on June 8, alleged that the protest had the support of various "anti-social" elements--right from the Maoists of Nepal to various insurgent groups from the neighbouring northeastern states.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged involvement of "Chinese hand" in the ongoing turmoil, another indication that the movement in the hills is not just a result of the grievances of the locals.

Amid all these allegations against the protest, mostly led by the people of the hills on the streets of Darjeeling and its adjoining places, a report stated that the West Bengal government fears that the ongoing people's agitation might turn into an "underground armed revolution".

According to a report published by Huffpost India, the prolonged agitation in the hills may turn into an underground arms movement against the state, like the Maoist movement.

"The fears are not unfounded. There are reports that huge consignments of arms and ammunition have been smuggled into the area over several years. There is the border with Nepal, Northeast and a steady flow of arms from Bihar," police officials were quoted as saying by Huffpost India.

The leaders of the pro-Gorkhaland movement have strongly refuted allegations that the "protest of the people" have got any links with Maoists of Nepal and insurgent groups from the Northeast.

The supporters of the Gorkhaland stress that the Mamata Banerjee government should stop making false allegations against the people of the hills and end the repression against the protesters by security personnel.

On Wednesday, the indefinite bandh in the hills entered the 35th day. Violence was reported on Tuesday, as the pro-Gorkhaland agitators fought a pitched battle with the police, pelting stones and petrol bombs and setting on fire two police vehicles and an outpost in Darjeeling hills where normal life stayed crippled on the 34th day of the indefinite shutdown.

During a meeting hosted by the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee, a group comprising of all the pro-Gorkhaland parties, leaders of the agitation decided to continue with the ongoing strike. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled on August 1.

OneIndia News