GCPA members slapped with sedition charge

A day after the police crackdown that ended the rail blockade by Greater Cooch Behar Peoples association (GCPA), 13 of its arrested supporters were slapped with charges of sedition and waging war against the government and produced before a local court on Wednesday.

Cooch Behar Chief Judicial Magistrate Selim Ansari ordered that ten of them be sent to police remand for eight days and the rest to 14 days in judicial custody.

Among those sent to police custody are two GCPA central committee members Bhabesh Chandra Barman and Girija Sankar Roy.

All the 13 were charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code including Sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government of India), 122 (collecting arms to wage war agains the government), 123 (facilitate design to wage war) , 124(A) (sedition) and 147 (rioting), besides under UAPA, Explosive Substance Act, Maintenance of Public Order Act and sections of Indian Railway Act.

Twenty two others, who were also arrested from New Cooch Behar railway station, where the rail roko was on for four days before the police crackdown ended it, are under treatment at the MJN Hospital.

GCPA supremo Bangshi Badan Barman evaded arrest yesterday and is still at large, police said.