Gorkhaland Liberation Army claims responsibility for series of blasts

Darjeeling: The Gorkhaland Liberation Army (GLA) has claimed responsibility for the series of blasts that has been occurring in the Hills recently.

A GJM team departed for Delhi on Thursday to meet the Union Home Minister and urge him to call for tripartite talks to resolve the ongoing impasse.

A poster appeared in Mirik claiming responsibility for the blasts and threatening future blasts in the residences of leaders who dare to compromise on the Gorkhaland issue.

The handwritten poster in black on a pink poster paper stated: "The GLA can go to any extent for Gorkhaland and the Gorkhas. If required we can kill and are ready to die also. The state government should take note of this."

The posters declared that no political party whether GJM, GNLF, JAP, TMC or leader compromising the Gorkhaland issue will be tolerated. "Let GLA not have to explode bombs in the houses of

such leaders. Whatever explosion is occurring in the Hills is being done by the GLA," stated the poster.

The posters asked the general public not to be afraid. "The GLA is not connected with any political party. The GLA's organisation is active in the Gorkhaland area. The GLA comprises people who have come out for the Gorkhas and Gorkhaland. GLA is not anti-national," claimed the poster.

The police have started an investigation. "We are investigating and keeping a close watch," stated Arindam Adhikari, Sub Divisional Police Officer.

Though not much is known about the GLA, in the past also the name has surfaced time and again in posters.

A police report on the onset of the ongoing agitation had mentioned that the GLA is planning to launch an armed movement.

On November 8, 2014, along with some incriminating documents and cash of Rs 10,000, the Assam Police had recovered an M-16 rifle, two Beretta pistols, three .32 pistols, 300 rounds of 9 mm pistol, 80 rounds of AK series assault rifles, 198 rounds ammunitions of M-16 and 60 rounds of .32 pistol from a vehicle bearing West Bengal registration Number (WB74A 4788) traveling from Dimapur in Nagaland to West Bengal.

One Ganesh Chettri (53), resident of Baksa district of Assam along with Umesh Kami (29) of Lankapara, Alipurduar District of West Bengal were arrested from the vehicle.

During interrogation, the two had revealed that 15 Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP, a voluntary force affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) along with others had undergone 14 days arms training in Nagaland in 2013 with the intention of launching an armed movement for separate state of Gorkhland, under the banner of Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA.)

Meanwhile Gurung in a telephonic conversation with a media person from his hideout demanded that stringent action to be taken against persons or outfit involved in the blasts.

He stated that as the CM Mamata Banerjee has declared that Gorkhaland is not within her jurisdiction, tripartite talks would have to be initiated by the Centre.