Dilip Ghosh & Co. heckled in Darjeeling

Darjeeling: Dilip Ghosh, BJP state president of Bengal along with other BJP leaders were heckled in Darjeeling on Thursday. The BJP leader has lodged an FIR at the Darjeeling police station naming GJM rebel leader Binay Tamang and others.

Ghosh arrived at Darjeeling and was welcomed by supporters of the Bimal Gurung faction of the GJM.

He even addressed a street corner at the Darjeeling Chowk Bazaar following which Ghosh departed for Roy Villa where Sister Nivedita had breathed her last.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Binay Tamang faction of the GJM had gathered at the Chowrasta carrying black flags. They were scheduled to protest in front of the hotel where Ghosh was scheduled to put up.

With Ghosh having failed to arrive at Chowrasta, the protestors left from GDNS at around 2.20 pm.

At around 3.00 pm, Dilip Ghosh along with Jayprakash Mazumdar, state vice-president of BJP along with other BJP leaders arrived at the GDNS.

Protests broke out with agitators shouting slogans and waving black flags. Ghosh tried to pacify the crowd but was not successful.

He then decided to cancel the meeting and walked out. On the Hill Cart Road, as the BJP group started walking towards the Chowk Bazar, they were roughed up by the protestors.

The group arrived at the Darjeeling police station where an FIR was lodged.

"The whole incident was controlled from Kolkata. It was done by some goons who were hired by the state government. They shouted Binay Tamang zindabad. They were drunk. There was not a single policeman. If the police want, they can arrest the attackers as there are ample video footages," stated Ghosh.

When questioned, Akhilesh Chaturvedi, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling stated: "We were intimated that Dilip Ghosh would be staying at the Circuit House and would be attending a meeting at the GDNS Hall. Though permission was not granted for the meeting at the GDNS, adequate police arrangement was made at GDNS and Circuit House. We have received a complaint that they were heckled on the road. Necessary action will be taken against the miscreants," stated the SP.

"The incident is a fallout of inciting statements given by Dilip Ghosh. People are annoyed with the BJP," claimed Gautam Deb, state minister in charge of Tourism.

Ghosh is on a two-day tour of the Hills. He had met with protests in Kalimpong also on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Partha Chatterjee, Trinamool Congress secretary general said: "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sincere efforts with a human face had helped to restore peace in

Darjeeling. Life in the Hills has become normal. These people (Dilip Ghosh and Joyprakash Mazumdar) had gone there to disturb peace." He maintained that some BJP leaders are indulging in violence.

"They are found to be moving with anti-socials. You will move around with anti-socials and when in trouble, you will bring allegations against police saying that they could not provide adequate security."