Pintail recce relief for Ghisingh

Siliguri, Feb. 19: When slogans like “Subash Ghisingh go back” rent the air at Pintail Village this morning, the apparently unperturbed GNLF chief was walking back towards his bungalow. He had stepped out for a few minutes for a recce of the plots owned by the DGHC.

Ghisingh’s stay in Pintail, according to his party supporters, was nothing unusual. GNLF leaders said their chief was resting after his trip from Delhi, where he had camped for nine days to garner support so that the Sixth Schedule bill is passed smoothly in Parliament. He had for company party leaders like I.N. Pradhan and senior police officials.

Pradhan, who is the Kurseong branch president of the GNLF, said: “Ghisingh spent the day taking leisurely walks on the campus, holding informal discussions and resting.”

Around 10.40am, there was a bustle of activity among the police force posted outside Ghisingh’s bungalow. The Siliguri additional superintendent of police, Rajesh Yadav, stood addressing his men.

Soon, Ghisingh, accompanied by security guards, Pradhan and some other leaders, approached the campus gate.

“No reporter or photographer will be allowed to walk with him,” said a GNLF leader as Ghisingh reached the gate. He came out cordoned by security men, who asked The Telegraph team not to follow him. “He had talked to you yesterday and will not say anything now,” a party member said.

But as if on second thoughts and within earshot of the reporters, the GNLF chief said: “I will inspect the plots (owned by DGHC, close to the Pintail campus) to see if any development work can be undertaken.”

Team Ghisingh then marched along the Pintail premises. After around 15-20 minutes of recce, he came back as faint sounds of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters shouting slogans could be heard in the distance. The protesters were approaching Dagapur, a stone’s throw from Ghisingh’s bungalow.

Although there were no party meetings, Ghisingh had a closed-door discussion with R.J.S. Nalwa, the inspector-general of police (north Bengal), and Rahul Srivastava, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling.

Pradhan said the GNLF chief has in a repetition of yesterday’s message asked all party workers to remain calm and not to give in to Morcha provocation.

About a hundred policemen stood guard at Pintail, cross-checking the identity of all visitors and denying entry to almost everyone except for the staff members and GNLF workers.