Volunteers for Gorkhaland movement

BY BENUPRAJ BHATTARAI
DARJEELING (INDIA), July 3 - Hundreds of youths here are busy enrolling themselves in the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP), a contingent of volunteers representing Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) that has been struggling for separate statehood for Nepali speakers since the past eight months.
At the initial stage, GJM has decided to recruit around 2000 GLP from Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Siliguri and Dooars regions. GLP will be mobilized throughout the proposed Gorkhaland boundary to provide support to the ongoing Gorkhaland Movement.
Besides, the GLP will also be used to provide security to GJM leaders, undertake social reforms and assist the local administration. The tasks of GLP selection, training and management are being supervised by GJM's sister organization, Ex-Indian Gorkha Army Front.
"The proposed GLP will be different, of greater standard and more disciplined than the Indian Police Force," claimed the Front chairman Colonel Ramesh Ale.
According to GJM Publicity Secretary Binay Tamang, the recruitment process will be complete by mid-July and selected GLP will be mobilized after they undergo a seven-week long training session. "GLP will be unarmed and they will be mobilized peacefully as GJM volunteers, staying within the norms set by the Indian constitution," said Tamang. Aware that mobilization of GLP could mean GJM's unannounced challenge to the state's security, the West Bengal (WB) and the Indian federal government have already corresponded with GJM leadership for a fresh round of talks to discuss its demand.
GJM has also shown positive response to the talks invitation. Earlier, GJM had spurned the talks offer of WB state government. (Kantipur)