Coochbehar (West Bengal), July 24 (ANI): Activists of the Greater Coochbehar Peoples Association (GCPA) began a fast unto death here on Sunday over the demand for a separate state.
After remaining silent over the issue for more than five years, nearly 10,000 members of GCPA began an indefinite hunger strike for a separate greater Coochbehar state with a functional government.
The greater Coochbehar was a separate state before January 1, 1950.
In 1949, the greater Coochbehar was included among the Indian states. The different districts of North-Bengal like South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Coochbehar and Goyalpara of Assam state was under the jurisdiction of the greater Coochbehar state.
"As per India's separate statehood act, we want a caretaker administration and we will carry on our hunger strike till the central government assures us that they will provide us a separate state. We are also ready to give up our lives for this separate statehood movement. Since the last 60 years, we have been deprived of our rights," said Bimal Barman, an activist from Coochbehar.
The members have urged the government to grant them permission for the formation of a separate state.
"We want the restoration of India's separate statehood act. We want a separate state. Before 1950, we had a separate state; we also want to get permission for the formation of caretaker administration with the members of GCPA. More than hundreds of GCPA supporters have been admitted to various hospitals," said Nomita Barman, General Secretary of Greater Coochbehar People's Association.
The members demanded that the administration would assume the role of a caretaker government.
Meanwhile, the police forces have been deployed to maintain law and order in Coochbehar district.
Hundreds of supporters have already been admitted to hospitals, due to their tussle with police forces. (ANI)
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