Stepping up the movement for separate Gorkhaland State, at least three personalities from the Darjeeling hills on Thursday returned awards conferred on them by the West Bengal government at a public gathering.
Writer and translator Krishna Singh Moktan, musician Karma Younzon and Kurseong College Principal Prakash Pradhan returned their awards at an event at Darjeeling's Chowrasta to mark the birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, being observed as Gorkha Exta Dibas.
“I am a musician but above all, I am supporter of Gorkhaland. We need Gorkhaland. We do not need any awards from this Bengal government. I am sure I would get many such awards from Gorkhaland when the separate state is formed,” said Mr Younzon, awarded the "Sangeet Samman" award in 2016. On July 8, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) had called on awardees to return their honours given by the State government.
Widespread arson
Meanwhile, incidents of arson and attacks on public property were reported from different places in the hills as the indefinite shutdown entered its 29th day on Thursday.
A forest office and residence of forest guards were set on fire in the Teesta area in the hills. A Tourist Resource Centre in Darjeeling and the Gayabari Railway Station of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was also set on fire in overnight incidents reported on Thursday. The house of the Chairman of the Tamang Development Board at Kalimpong was also attacked.
The day also saw deployment of three columns of the Army in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sonada. Para-military and police forces patrolled the streets and kept a strict vigil as hundreds of agitators, carrying placards demanding Gorkhaland, joined rallies to mark the birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya.
West Bengal Tourism Minister Gautam Deb faced massive protests on his way to Panighata near Siliguri, to participate in the celebrations.
“A police vehicle has been attacked by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters. This is no movement but vandalism and no civilised society will accept it,” Mr Deb, who is also president of Darjeeling district Trinamool Congress, said.
Hydel plant shut
On Wednesday, the Nation Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) decided to shut down the hydel power plant at Ramdi in Darjeeling after protests erupted outside the plant site.
GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the party had no role in the violence, insisting that they were carrying on a democratic movement. Mr Giri repeated that the only solution to the problem was the creation of a separate State of Gorkhaland.
(With inputs from PTI)