Trinamool accuses GJM of injuring party workers

Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and the GJM are seemingly heading towards confrontation with a state minister Saturday alleging involvement of the Gorkha outfit behind the stone pelting incident on party workers in Darjeeling district.

North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said four of his party workers were injured after stones were pelted on their vehicles.

"Three vehicles have been destroyed and four of our party workers have been injured. We have complained to the police and the Election Commission against this vandalism. They are intentionally resorting to such things because the land beneath (GJM chief) Bimal Gurung is fast slipping away," he said.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri though rubbished Deb's claims.

"Morcha is not involved, the allegations are being made intentionally to discredit us and to create police pressure on us. Anti-socials may be involved in this but GJM is not involved," said Giri.

After cosying up to the Mamata Banerjee government briefly, the GJM, which holds sway in the north Bengal hills, in a sudden move, entered into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), snubbing Trinamool fielded Bhaichung Bhutia from Darjeeling.

Following the development, three GJM activists including central committee member Bimal Dorjee, were arrested in pursuance of the pending warrants against them.

Around 1,000 GJM activists, including a few of their top leaders, were arrested last year during a crackdown by the Trinamool government on the hill outfit after it intensified its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Following a series of placatory moves by Gurung, GJM's relations with Trinamool improved.