People's Democracy

 KLO-Backed Separatists Run Riot In North Bengal: Kill Three

SEPARATIST elements, armed and viciously violent, ran riot in the north Bengal district of Coochbehar during the afternoon of September 20. They tried to organise a rampage in government offices in the township of Coochbehar. When asked by the police to disperse, the separatists who go by the name of the ‘workers’ of the so-called ‘greater Coochbehar people’s association,’ let loose with armed assaults. The attack took place near the area where chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would address rally later in the month.

The separatists gathered at four points bordering on the township and almost everywhere heavily outnumbered the police personnel initially. They took advantage of the situation by attacking the police barricades and stoning two police constables, Jogeshchandra Sarkar (47) and Gourchandra Dhar (45) to death before gouging their eyes out. 

The mob then went on to encircle and beat to death the additional police superintendent of Kalimpong, Mustque Ahmed who had earlier been deputed to come down to Coochbehar to tackle the separatist menace, severely injuring the police personnel who accompanied Ahmed.

Two women constables, Mumtaz Begum, and Tanushree Biswas suffered from serious injuries and are now battling for their lives at the North Bengal Medical College.  In all more than 20 policemen and policewomen were severely injured. 

The police found themselves at the receiving end of the mob attack and to prevent the pack from proceeding into Coochbehar Township, they were compelled to first lead a resort to lathicharge and when that proved ineffective, to open fire in which regrettably two people were killed.

Condemning the separatist attack, state secretary of the Bengal CPI(M), Anil Biswas pointed out that there was never any viable basis for the demand of a ‘greater Coochbehar.’  The principal aim of the riotous behaviour of the separatist elements, Anil Biswas had no doubt, was to create disruption and little else.  Anil Biswas commented to say that the separatist elements would be completely cut off from the people through big mass rallies and through democratic movement.

During the violent acts, a section of the mob was heard to chant praise in favour of the pre-independence maharajas of Coochbehar. They also declared that assembly elections could be held to Coochbehar where a ‘caretaker cabinet of ministers’ must first be set up. (B P)