Tirkey surrounded by agitated supporters of the rebel leaders in the hall. Picture by Biplab Basak

Jan. 29: Rebel members of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today prevented its state president from filling up posts left vacant by expulsions at a meeting but an ad-hoc committee was formed later in the day.

Skirmishes broke out when the rebels gatecrashed into the meeting called by Parishad state president Birsa Tirkey at the Adivasi Sanskritik Charcha Kendra in Nagrakata.

Tirkey left the meeting under police escort but remained firm on the expulsions. Later in Malbazar, he formed an ad-hoc Dooars-Terai committee of the Parishad and made Babulal Kujur president and Rajesh Lakra the secretary for six months.

The posts had been left vacant after the rebels were either suspended or told to resign from their posts. The state committee had not approved the agreement they had signed with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to bring the Dooars and the Terai under the administrative arrangement for the hills.

Around 1pm, more than 250 supporters owing allegiance to the rebel lobby headed by John Barla entered the hall. Some of them took hold of the microphones on the stage. “Tirkey has wrongly expelled John Barla and we also do not agree with the ouster of trade union leader Sukra Munda from his post,” a rebel leader shouted.

“The state committee has taken a harsh decision against some of our front-ranking leaders in the Dooars without realising we are working towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people. All the expelled leaders should be brought back and reinstated to their posts,” Binod Tigga said as Tirkey was forced to sit in the audience.

At this point, a group of 200 supporters of Tirkey tried to wrest control of the dais and scuffles broke out. Police separated the warring groups.

The rebels warned Tirkey that elections would have to be held and “no unilateral decision” would be accepted.

Rebel leader Sukra Munda denied that either he or Barla had anything to do with today’s fracas.