The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Tuesday announced a fast unto death starting July 15, as the unrest in the Darjeeling hills continued into its fourth week, reported PTI. The Gorkha Movement Coordination Committee, which is spearheading the movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland, also said that entry into offices of state officials in Siliguri and Darjeeling would be restricted.
The decisions were taken during a four-hour long meeting of the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee on Tuesday. Besides, the leaders have also planned an award-wapsi programme on July 13, reported the Hindustan Times. Those who were given different awards by the West Bengal government have decided to return them in protest against the current situation in the state.
On July 8, the GJM had alleged that a youth had been killed in police firing in Darjeeling. While the group and other parties had claimed that Tashi Bhutia had been shot dead by the police early on Saturday morning, the police denied receiving reports of any firing.
“We are looking into the incident,” an officer said, after GJM claimed that the incident had taken place when Bhutia was on his way back home in Sonada around 12.30 am.
IANS on Tuesday reported that an activist, who was allegedly injured during a clash with the police on Saturday, died at a hospital in Sikkim on Tuesday. Ashok Tamang, a resident of Darjeeling, was severely injured after he was allegedly baton-charged in Darjeeling on July 8.
On June 27, thousands of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activists had held demonstrations in Darjeeling and burnt copies of the Gorkha Territorial Administration accord. All GJM members had resigned from the GTA on June 23.
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