GJM taking ‘Maoist help’ for armed movement

Darjeeling (WB), July 23

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) is preparing for a prolonged underground armed movement for a separate state and has hired Maoists from neighbouring countries as mercenaries to train its cadres, senior West Bengal government officials have said.

“We have intelligence inputs that Maoists from neighbouring countries have been hired by the GJM. And it may target government properties and senior police and administrative officials to further aggravate the situation,” ADG (Law and order) Anuj Sharma said.

The GJM leadership has, however, refuted as “completely baseless” the allegations that it was taking help from Maoists. “These are completely baseless statements. These statements are being made to malign us and derail the democratic movement,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. A senior official said the GJM had hired 25-30 Maoists mercenaries to train its cadres.

“The GJM has a huge cache of arms and ammunition. They have stockpiled arms for the last few years. And we have intelligence reports that they are preparing for underground armed movement in the hills,” said the official. Another senior official said the government is “prepared for any situation and steps are being taken to tackle any sort of armed struggle”. In the last 38 days of the indefinite shutdown, Arms and ammunition were also looted, a trademark of Maoists movement. — PTI