Fierce Kamtapur movement to come alive again on recent GTA formation

SILIGURI: Government had suppressed the fierce movement of Kamtapur Peoples Party and its militant friend Kamtapur Liberation Organization for separate Kamtapur state comprising northern Plains of West Bengal.

But recent formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as per demand of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, demanding separate statehood for Darjeeling hills has given new life to KPP's movement.

The dark cloud has started getting thicker once again. The movement for separate Kamtapur statehood seems to have started taking new consolidation in northern part of West Bengal.

The movement, apparently suppressed a decade back, still holds enough potential to shatter civil life of north Bengal that is already crippled with many separatist movements and political uncertainties.

The developing unrest is over demand of separate Kamtapur statehood comprising of plains of Darjeeling District, Jalpaiguri and a part of Coochbehar of north Bengal.

Inspired by the soft outlook of West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee towards Gorkha Janamukti Morcha( GJM) that is demanding separate statehood for Darjeeling hills, Kamtapur Peoples Party is all set to relaunch its movement.

Recent formation of autonomous body Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, as per demand of GJM, has given additional impetus to KPP's new initiative.

"If the CM can be so friendly to GJM, why not to KPP that is fighting for its demand since long?" asked Mr. Atul Roy, president of KPP. Giving clear indication towards relaunch of a fierce movement, Tom Adhikary, who used to lead the militant wing Kamtapur Liberation Organization, said, "If needed, we will take up arms once again."

KPP, the organization mainly backed by the ethnic sentiment of near 1 crore aborigine Rajbangshi community people of North Bengal, had its upraise during 1998. With massive rural level supportbase, it became concern for Government by 2002.

But strict administrative as well as political pressure shattered the consolidation of KPP. On the other side, a massive military assault by Bhutan under Indian support on the hidden KLO camps inside Bhutan territory smashed KLO.

But KPP and KLO both remained alive as the ethnic sentiment and wrath of Rajbangshi community' against Government and its unfriendly attitude towards KPP and KLO.

"The sentiment is bound to erupt out once again. To avoid this, the CM should not get too tough or too friendly to any particular organization on her own short term political interest," said political observers.