Darjeeling
29 Sep 2013
Taking stock of Saturday’s clash,
Darjeeling Special IG Jawed Shamim today said, “We have always
maintained good relations and want to be in the best of terms with the
public. But things went out of hand yesterday because of rumours spread
by elements who do not want to see the bonhomie continuing. We are
presently trying to identify these elements whose intentions appear to
be diabolical.”
Darjeeling town was engulfed in violence
on Saturday in the wake of reports of a Rapid Action Force jawan
molesting a minor near Ghoom-Bhanjyang. The police had to resort to
lathicharge and fire eight rounds in the air in the Chowk Bazaar area to
disperse the agitators.
In retaliation, the angry crowd set
ablaze a state transport bus and tried to attack a police outpost near
Singamari with petrol bombs. About 100 people have been arrested from
Darjeeling as well as from Kalimpong sub-division, where angry protests
were also witnessed. Another state transport bus was set on fire by the
mob in Kalimpong.
“There hasn’t been any incident of such
magnitude in the past couple of months in spite of the heavy presence of
security forces. Saturday’s incident was a one-off case,” the special
IG said.
He also pointed out public sentiment, based on wrong information, was another factor that led to the outburst.
“Rumours were spread about the RAF
constable raping the girl, but this was not true at all. Whenever a man
of uniform is linked to such cases, emotions get the better of reason,”
noted Shamim, adding whatever necessary action that was needed to be
taken against the accused has been carried out.
The accused, Arun Pramanik, a constable
of the 2nd Battalion from Barrackpore, was today produced before
Darjeeling court. Since no bail plea was moved, the court sent the RAF
constable to judicial custody till the next hearing on October 5.
Meanwhile, the police are questioning
and seeking explanations from school heads as several students in
uniform were seen among the agitators.
“We are getting in touch with school
heads to ask them why students were allowed to participate in the gherao
of the police station. The heads cannot shrug off responsibility as
many students have been seen in uniform,” said the Special IG.
“Not only was the future of the students
put in danger yesterday, but their lives were also at risk. If students
get arrested, will they be able get government jobs in future?” asked
Shamim.
Reacting to the charge, a school head on
condition of anonymity said, “We called off classes when news of the
molestation attempt spread and were waiting for parents of junior
students to come and take them away. We had asked the seniors to go
home, but it appears some picketers approached and took along some
senior students. Under such a circumstance, we cannot be put at fault”.
In another development during the day,
the chief judicial magistrate court granted interim bail to Jyoti Kumar
Rai and Anjali Subba. The duo had been arrested yesterday along with 21
others.
Rai, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
assistant secretary and an elected member of the Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration, and the others were arrested on charges of arson and
criminal conspiracy under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property
Act. They will all have to appear before the court on October 5.
The bandh called today in the three
sub-divisions by the Gorkha Janmukti Vidhyarthi Morcha to condemn
Saturday’s molestation incident was fully successful with no untoward
incidents reported.
GJM leaders refused to make any comments
on the incident even as students have said they will hold rallies on
Monday. Eleven CRPF companies along with state security forces have been
put on patrol and stationed at strategic places of town.
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