In a symbolic protest against the alleged high-handedness of Bengal government in the northern West Bengal hills, eminent personalities of the Gorkha community on Thursday returned their awards from the state government at a public gathering in Darjeeling's Chowrasta.
Stepping up their demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, three eminent personalities of the community gave up their awards on the birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, as decided during the second Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) meeting on July 11.
"Nepali writer and translator Krishna Singh Moktan, musician Karma Younzon and Kurseong College Principal Prakash Pradhan gave up their awards today (Thursday), conveying their complete support towards our movement for Gorkhaland," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) General Secretary Roshan Giri told IANS.
"I am supporting the Gorkhaland movement. I am returning these decorative awards as a mark of protest against the government of West Bengal," Moktan, also a former Inspector General of Police of the district, said.
"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," Younzon, who was given the "Sangeet Samman" award in 2016 by the present state government, said.
Meanwhile, on the 29th day of the indefinite shutdown in the north Bengal hills, fresh incidents of violence were reported from the region as the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Tourist Information office at Chowrasta was set ablaze by a mob on Wednesday night.
The residence of Chairman of Tamang Development Board and the Revenue Inspector's office in Darjeeling's Sukna were also set on fire allegedly by pro-Gorkhaland activists, police said.
On Thursday morning, a convoy of state Tourism Minister Gautam Deb was allegedly stopped and attacked on the way to Darjeeling's Panighatta to attend a programme on the occasion of poet Bhanubhakta Acharya's birth anniversary.
"A mob tried to stop us from entering Panighatta by barricading the road and pelted stones at our cars. They also attacked and vandalised a police vehicle on our way back. These people were gathered by the GJM. They are indulging in vandalism in the name of the movement," Deb alleged.
The GJM leadership, however, refuted the charges and said their supporters were being framed by the minister.
"I am sure no one from the Morcha was involved in the arson. They are trying to frame us in false cases. The GJM believes in democratic movements," Roshan Giri said.
Bengaluru cafe blast: Terrorists planned to target IT parks, say sources
The probe in the Rameshwaram cafe blast case has revealed that the initial plan of the terrorists was to explode a bomb on the premises of an IT park in the tech corridor of Bengaluru city, sources said on Tuesday.
India is our strategic partner, world's largest democracy: US
Replying to a question raising concern on alleged "democratic backsliding in India" on Monday, he said, "India is the world's largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States, and I expect that to remain true."
Firing at Salman Khan's home: Mumbai Police nab 2 shooters from Gujarat's Bhuj
In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Police have arrested two persons allegedly involved in the firing incident outside the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan from Gujarat, early on Tuesday, official sources said.
Biden reiterates US commitment to Israel's security
These were Biden's first public remarks since Iran launched a large-scale retaliatory attack against Israel on Saturday, in which most of the missiles and drones used were intercepted -- mainly by Israeli and US forces, Xinhua news agency reported.
DMK & Congress kept people of Tamil Nadu in the dark over Katchatheevu island issue: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the DMK in Tamil Nadu connived with the Congress and handed over the Katchatheevu island to a foreign nation, adding both parties kept the people of the state in the dark for several decades over the issue.
Australia in shock as another stabbing incident reported from Sydney
In yet another shocking incident, a bishop and a few other worshippers were stabbed by a man during a church service that was being broadcast online in Sydney on Monday evening (local time).
PM Modi slams CPI-M for 'robbing the poor' in Kerala, warns of action
For the second time on the same day at different venues in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for "robbing the poor", saying "action would be taken against the corrupt".
IANS Interview: INDIA bloc's victory in Tripura certain if polling is free & fair, says ex-CM Manik Sarkar
Veteran CPI-M politburo member and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi can speculate on the number of seats his party or the NDA would get in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, "we cannot do this but the INDIA bloc's victory is certain".