Heavily armed India´s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been mobilized to enforce “law and order” in light of the announced political march that may trigger violence in the region.[break]
While the state administration has clamped a prohibitory orders against holding political gatherings, rallies, and march, the local tribesmen, under the banner of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, have joined hands with the state by calling a general strike during the march.
The GJM has been launching a non-violent mass movement for a separate state, under the Indian federation, for Nepali speakers residing in Darjeeling and surrounding areas. But the state authorities have been riding roughshod over the party´s "legitimate demand" and responding with severe crackdown on the peaceful movement.
The GJM, led by Bimal Gurung, has stated that the party would field over 40,000 people for the march that is expected to cover over 100 km in North Bengal.The long march, the GJM has stated, would be helpful in galvanizing public support for separate statehood for ethnic Nepalis.
Gurung has been staying in Kumani for the last one month to make preparations for the campaign.
“I would not participate in the march, but the party will field one hundred thousand people from Dooars [plain areas adjoining Darjeeling] region in case the authorities attempt to break up the march,” said Gurung.
The GJM has been demanding a separate state for Nepali speakers and wants the inclusion of the pockets of Dooars region dominated by Nepali speakers in the new state.
The agitating party was scheduled to begin the political campaign last Wednesday, but the program was postponed till Thursday following the killings of three Nepali speakers by the Indian paramilitary force. Two youths died on the spot while another breathed his last after four days when the police opened shots at GJM cadres in Sibchu, Dooars.
Darjeeling is still under the general strike called by the GJM demanding CBI investigation into the police firing.
Normal life has been severely affected due to the strike, while educational institutions, factories, government offices, tea states, transportations, and major thoroughfares have been completely shut.
Meanwhile, the GJM cadres have continued giving voluntary arrests to the police protesting the latter´s atrocities on Nepali speakers. According to local journalist Bimal Rai, the number of people giving voluntary arrests has gone down. The political unrest is likely to affect the state election in West Bengal.
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