Formation of separate States may renew unrest in Darjeeling

GANGTOK, June 6, 2013

The Sikkim government yesterday told the Union Government that ‘formation of separate States may renew unrest’ in the hill State’s immediate neighbouring region, Darjeeling.

Urban Development minister DB Thapa communicated such apprehensions of the Sikkim government during the Chief Minister’s Conference on Internal Security chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh yesterday in New Delhi.

According to a release from the office of Principal Resident Commissioner Sikkim House, Thapa said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is ‘keeping close watch on formation of separate States and its formation may lead agitation for such demands in the hills’. Its adverse effect will also be experienced in Sikkim which has its distinct identity and cultural heritage, he said.

A major part of NH 31 A, Sikkim’s sole lifeline, passes through Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district dominated by the GJM. In past, Sikkim remained cut-off regularly from rest of India with the NH 31A closed down during the Morcha’s agitation.

The Sikkim government had also passed a resolution in 2011 in the Assembly legitimizing the Gorkhaland demand of the Darjeeling people.

In his address during the internal security conference, Thapa said the necessity to implement the provision for exclusive investigating wing in the Sikkim Police Act 2008 has not been felt so far due to low volume of crime. He requested the Union government to provide liberal financial assistance to the State government for modernization of police force.

Thapa said community policing programme has been launched in Sikkim to educate the general masses about procedure of FIR registration, rights and duties of citizens, community participation in preventing crimes and others.

In order to weaning the youths away from drug addiction, alcoholism and gambling, the Sikkim Police has launched ‘Peer to Peer Programme’ to channelize their energy in a productive manner.

Regional Forensic Science Laboratory is operational in Sikkim from March 1 and so far, the laboratory has received 148 cases out of which reports for 110 cases have been delivered, Thapa said. A new building with a total cost of Rs. 2.15 crore would be constructed for the forensic laboratory, he said.

The Urban Development minister further informed that a cyber crime investigation team has been constituted in the State CID for coordination and handling cyber crimes in Sikkim. An anti-human trafficking unit has also been set up in the CID branch for pursuing cases relating to missing persons particularly women and children.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Express)