The unfortunate incident that took place at Sipchu, Dooars on 8th February killing three Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters in a firing during a clash between the CRPF and police personnel on one side and the Morcha supporters on the other has been vigorously condemned by the political parties and associations of Sikkim. Commenting on this incident Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president Mr. Nar Bahadur Bhandari has strongly opposed the west Bengal Government’s policy along with the unethical activity of the police at Dooars.

Mr. Bhandari added that in a democracy the police do not possess the right to shoot the innocent citizens anywhere in the nation and there is no such provision in the Constitution of India where the police are authorized to shoot the innocent. Furthermore there is also a seer violation of human rights seen in this incident. Adding further he informed that earlier three separate states have been formed like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal where no innocent citizens were killed by the police during the formation of these states and he put a question that why the Government of West Bengal is brutally killing the Gorkhas demanding for a separate state in a democratic and peaceful way?

Furthermore the president of Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) Mr. Biraj Adhikari also strongly condemned the incident and stated that in a democracy the government is not authorized for killing the citizens. Mr. Adhikari has strongly opposed the idea of the West Bengal Government of deploying army in the state and said that army is for the security of the nation and not for suppressing the demand of the citizens. It is a matter of law and order and police should be able to do it. Adding further he informed that the way Government of India views north eastern part of India is very sad and unacceptable.

Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) convener Mr. Tseten Tashi Bhutia also condemned the incident strongly and stated that Bengal and Sikkim are Border States and the central government must ascertain peace in this region for the well being of the entire nation.

Mr. Bhutia informed that the demand of separate state “Gorkhaland” is under process in the central government offices but the brutal killing by police that took place on the 8th of February is not at all in accordance with principles of the universally recognized right to self- determination. Further Mr. Bhutia requested the central government to take necessary steps in compliance with peace and security in this part of the nation as the issue of Gorkhaland is becoming very sensitive.

The president of All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association Mr. Nawin Kiran Pradhan has also spoken on the same lines regarding this incident that took place in Dooars and stated that the incident shows total police autocracy and further shows that the West Bengal administration as a total failure. Mr. Pradhan appealed to the citizens of Darjeeling and Dooars to maintain peace.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail

 

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