Tribals’ anger simmers in ‘calm’ Dooars

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tribals--anger-simmers-in--calm--Dooars/474103/

Tribals’ anger simmers in ‘calm’ Dooars

Kolkata:

A tenuous normalcy returned to the Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday, after Monday’s clashes between the police and supporters of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) that left four tribals injured in the police firing.

Twelve police personnel, including the deputy superintendent of police, Alipurduar, and officer-in-charge of Hashimara police outpost, were injured when protesters resorted to pelting stones and shooting bows and arrows.

Trouble flared in Hashimara when ABAVP supporters gheraoed the Hashimara police outpost during a bandh called by them over alleged police inaction in a rape and murder case.

According to ABAVP leaders, an FIR was filed on April 1 against a local resident Ranjit Mochari for allegedly molesting a tribal woman, and for killing another tribal Sukra Oraon who had protested against the rape. FIRs had also been filed against the pradhan and an office-bearer of Kalchini Block Panchayat Samiti for trying to hush up the case. Based on the complaint, Mochari was arrested.