32 held over statehood row

Cooch Behar, April 29: Thirty-two supporters of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association were arrested near the district magistrate’s office here today when they brought out a bicycle rally to demand the scrapping of the “illegal” panchayat polls.
In an unannounced programme, the protesters appeared at the gate of the office around 1.30pm and started shouting slogans demanding a separate state of Greater Cooch Behar and scrapping of the polls. Police seized 31 bicycles from them.
The district administration had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC at Chhotokeshbari village in Mathabhanga since midnight last night in view of the association’s proposed cultural programme and a rally in the area to demand a separate state.
A large contingent led by additional police superintendent James Kujur was deployed in the area. The association, however, did not hold any programmes there.
“We do not want any untoward incident in connection with the association’s programmes before the polls and that is why the prohibitory orders were put in force,” said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the district magistrate.
“Under the treaty of accession, Cooch Behar is a state where elections by the Bengal government are illegal,” said association leader Nirmal Roy.
Two association members had been killed when the police fired on a rally on September 20, 2005. Three policemen, including an officer, were also lynched. (The Telegraph)