GNLF targeted two days in a row...ABAVP calls strike

TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 24: The houses of two former GNLF leaders were vandalised at Haridashatta by unidentified people this afternoon, a day after three leaders of the party were attacked in Mirik.

“I do not know why and who vandalised my house. About 30 tolas of gold and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash are missing,” said K.B. Hingmang, the former general secretary of the Primary Teachers’ Organisation — a body, which was affiliated to the GNLF before the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha came into existence.

Komal Chandra Rai’s house located 15 metres away was also attacked. Rai, who was known to be close to GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh, is visiting relatives in Kathmandu. The window-panes of the locked ground flat have been broken.

The first and second floors of the building were also attacked. The two floors, however, belong to Rai’s son-in law, Ajay Thapa, a member of the Morcha’s Education Monitoring Cell. “I do not know who attacked but this should not have happened,” said Thapa.

Four members of Hingmang’s family were hospitalised after they hurt themselves while fleeing the attackers. “My brother Sundar Kumar and his wife Munna along with my nephew Namrata Pariyar were injured on the head. Pursuram, another of my brothers, was hurt on the leg,” said Hingmang.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: “I have not heard about the incident.”

Yesterday at the Okayati tea garden in Mirik, former GNLF leaders A.B. Thapa and N.B. Pradhan were attacked along with Rajen Mukhia. The Morcha has denied any involvement in that incident as well.

Siege plan to protest assault

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 24: The GNLF has decided to lay siege to the police outpost at Panighata to protest against the attack on party leaders yesterday, allegedly by the supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. “We have decided to gherao the local police outpost that comes under Mirik police station, protesting the attack and demanding immediate arrest of the Morcha supporters involved in the incident,” said Rajen Mukhia, the convener of the Terai committee of the GNLF, this evening. “If police do not take any step, we will be on the streets, protesting Morcha atrocities.” Dawa Pakhrin, a central committee member of the GNLF and Kalimpong branch president, criticised the Morcha leaders for allegedly ransacking the houses of two former party leaders in Darjeeling today and branded the attackers “inferior to animals”. Pakhrin said at a media conference in Siliguri: “We want to remind the state government that the situation in the hills today is not same as it was in 2008 (after the emergence of the Morcha). It is better not to underestimate the GNLF and we insist that the government take steps against the Morcha supporters who were involved in the attack.” A police complaint has been filed against four local Morcha leaders for yesterday’s attack. However, no one has been arrested. Denying the allegations, Morcha media and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri said: “They are trying to malign our image.” ABAVP calls strike KalimNews:ABAVP has called a three days strike in Dooars and Terai from 27th to 29th January. John Barla, President of Dooars Terai Regional Committee of ABAVP has said that this bundh is called in protest against the Tea festival to be held in Malbazar from 28th. It has a 6 point demand that includes inclusion of Dooars in 6th Schedule, distribution of patta to the tea garden inhabitants, construction of an alternative bridge in sevoke,    establishment of Hindi Schools and College, wage hike to Rs 250 per day to the tea garden workers, withdrawal of cases against its leaders and supporters.  As per the programme there will be relaxation for essential services and schools and tea garden on 27th, Offices will remain closed on 28th and total strike on 29th.