Violence in Darjeeling, Ghising shifts to Siliguri

Ghising shifted to Siliguri from Darjeeling Hills
The Hindu

Kolkata-Siliguri (PTI): Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subhash Ghising was on Saturday shifted to Siliguri from Darjeeling for 'security reasons', after the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha held him responsible for the gunning down of one of its woman members.

"Ghising wanted to be shifted to Siliguri, so he was escorted out from the Darjeeling hills for his security," West Bengal Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told reporters in Kolkata.

Asked how long Ghising would stay in Siliguri, Chakraborty replied "as long as he wants."

GJM chief Bimal Gurung earlier demanded that the GNLF supremo immediately leave Darjeeling hills as his party and CPI(M) leaders were repotedly involved in a 'conspiracy' to destabilise peace which had led to the death of GJM women's wing member Pramila Sharma.

"Ghising has to leave Darjeeling immediately. We will not take responsibility for his security we have told the administration," Gurung told PTI.

He alleged that Siliguri-based CPI(M) leaders were in league with the GNLF to sabotage the GJM's movement and disturb peace. "They don't want peace in Darjeeling and our democratic movement to continue.

"We did not oppose Ghising's return to Darjeeling earlier, but he has to leave now and the West Bengal government has to act," he said.

The situation in the hills continued to be tense with additional police deployed and all business establishments closed since Friday.

---

Violence after Darjeeling leader's house attacked
NDTV.com
NDTV Correspondent
Saturday, July 26, 2008 (Darjeeling)

Violence erupted in Darjeeling on Saturday after Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha supporters, spearheading the demand for a separate Gorkhaland, set Deepak Gurung's house on fire, who is the President of the Gorkha National Liberation Front's Darjeeling Branch.

The incident took place after Morcha supporters got news of a meeting of GNLF members in the residence of ousted GNLF leader, Subhash Ghising and surrounded his residence.

The Morcha supporters allege there was firing from Gurung's residence injuring a woman Morcha supporter after which trouble broke out.

The authorities have said that Subhash Ghishing is safe and is being provided with enough security protection.

---

Violence in Darjeeling, Ghising shifts to Siliguri
Thaindian News

Kolkata/Siliguri, July 26 (IANS) Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supremo Subash Ghising was shifted Saturday evening from his hill residence to Siliguri town of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district after the rival Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) set a 15-day deadline for him to leave, an official said. Violence continued in the hills for the second day as GJM supporters staged a demonstration against GNLF leaders and torched the houses of two leaders of the party, which had led the movement for the creation of a Gorkhaland state in the Darjeeling hills for almost three decades.

“If Subash Ghising does not leave the hills within 15 days we will drive him away,” GJM president Bimal Gurung told reporters at a press conference in Darjeeling town Saturday.

Following the threat, the state government decided to relocate Ghising to the plains of Siliguri.

“Ghising has been shifted to a guest house in Siliguri for safety reasons. He was initially reluctant to shift base, but in face of the agitation he agreed to leave the hills,” Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti said at the state secretariat here.

Agitated supporters of GJM, now spearheading the Gorkhaland movement, attacked Ghising’s house in Darjeeling Friday and staged an angry demonstration.

Violence was sparked off Friday after a few GNLF leaders gathered at Ghising’s house to chalk out plans for the Martyrs’ Day of Gorkhaland movement, observed by GNLF supporters for the past two decades.

Police sources said GJM activists threw bricks and stones at the GNLF supremo’s house demanding he leave Darjeeling immediately.

Another GNLF leader Dipak Gurung’s residence was also set afire, following which a bullet fired from inside the residence killed GJM women’s wing leader Pramila Chhetri Friday.

GJM activists alleged that Gurung himself had fired, and he has been taken into judicial custody Saturday, said Kundanlal Tamta, police inspector general (North Bengal).

The GJM supporters continued their demonstration Saturday and set fire to houses of GNLF leaders Dawa Pukrin and Mouri Kalikutey.

With the GJM twice giving calls for indefinite shutdowns, Darjeeling Hills, Siliguri and the Dooars were on the boil since June. Tea and tourism - the bread and butter of the region - has been severely hit.

The GJM is also opposed to the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling district that ensures greater autonomy to the hill governing body Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council.

---

Darjeeling hills on fire over wresting control

Darjeeling is on fire again and this time it is the fledgling hill party that has gone for the jugular of the older party in the hills. The GJM has taken on the GNLF, which originally raised the demand for Gorkhaland, now hijacked by the Morcha.

MeriNews

A WOMAN activist of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was shot dead after a mob went berserk attacking the houses of Subhas Ghising and five other Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leaders in the picturesque hill station of Darjeeling on Friday.

In another dramatic turnaround, GNLF supremo Subhas Ghising was forced to flee Darjeeling and reports say that he has been stranded in the foothills of Sukna. To add to his woes no hotel or guest house was willing to provide him accommodation fearing reprisal from his opponents. Despite best efforts of the police, Ghising could not find refuge till reports last came in.

The GJM has taken on the GNLF, the party, which originally raised the demand for a separate state of Gorkhlaland, now hijacked by the Morcha, born just over 10 months ago.

Pramila Sharma (36) died when she took a bullet in the abdomen outside the house of GNLF president of the Darjeeling unit, Deepak Gurung on Zakir Hussain Road. Morcha spokesman Binay Tamang alleged to the media that the shot was fired from inside Gurung’s house while Morcha workers were demonstrating against the GNLF leader. It was being speculated that the firing followed panic in Gurung’s house.

The shooting and the death let loose riotous scenes. Angry Mocha workers and supporters set Gurung’s six-storey house on fire. Even as red tongues of flames leapt out of the windows of the house and the bleeding woman was being carried away, the Darjeeling police rushed in and rescued the GNLF leader and his supporters. Gurung was arrested after the Morcha lodged an FIR against him and 14 others.

After GNLF supremo Subhas Ghising was prevented from entering Darjeeling a few months ago on the demand that he step down as the caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), this is the first clash between the two parties - one which relinquished the demand for a separate state and settled for a hill council and the other fledgling party which has revived the demand after more that two decades.

The demonstrations and the subsequent attack on GNLF leaders occurred following reports about Ghising trying to resuscitate his flagging organisation. The GNLF has been reduced to a shadow of what it was after the Morcha forced Ghising to resign as caretaker administrator of the DGHC on March 10.

The clash, which was coming, following the GNLF being sidelined in the hills after Ghising and his party lorded it over the hills for over two decades, created panic. The trouble began around 1.40 pm when a clutch of Morcha supporters, into their daily demonstration, laid siege to Ghising’s house on Zakir Hussain Road.

Anti-Ghising slogans rent the air as the demonstrators got more and more belligerent. Then they hurled stones at his three-storey house. The once enigmatic Ghising cowered inside. Having given Ghising a rough time the Morcha activists marched to the house of GNLF secretary of the Kurseong unit, NB Khawas, close to Ghising’s home. He, however was able to convince the protesters he was no longer into politics. Houses of two more GNLF leaders — AR Dewan and Tilak Dewan were also targetted.

Morcha supporters also set ablaze the car belonging to the son of a contractor who had benefitted during Ghising’s tenure in the DGHC.

Two more cars and a motorcycle were torched. Then they ransacked a famous restaurant, near the Mall, whose owner was also said to be close to Ghising. The attacks indicated that the Morcha was singling out people they feel are close to the one time hill supremo. Shops and establishments downed their shutters soon after as roads were blocked for a number of hours. A huge police contingent was deployed with policemen posted near HNLF leaders’ homes. In Kalimpong, Morcha activists attacked the house of former GNLF councillor Roshan Rai. There was palpable tension till late in the evening.

Alarm bells began ringing in Writers Buildings’ the state secretariat as news of the conflagration filtered in.

---

Darjeeling tense after killing of GJM supporter
IBN Live

Darjeeling: Darjeeling is tense after the murder of a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's women's wing - Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha (GJNM) - supporter on Friday.

Urmila Sharma of the GJNM was shot dead and three women injured when activists of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) allegedly fire at them outside GNLF leader Dipak Gurung’s house.

Gurung is a leader of the Subhas Ghising-led GNLF, which is opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Though the police arrested the suspects, GJM supporters retaliated by ransacking Gurung's house and setting it on fire.

Reinforcements had been deployed to restore the situation, which was very tense but under control.

Altogether six activists belonging to both GJM and GNLF were arrested, while Gurung had been taken to police station for security, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, R Issak said.

Gorkhas living in the north Bengal hills have been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland carved out of West Bengal.