Demonstrators on the Jalpaiguri district court campus on Monday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, March 26: More than 500 people from the hills and the Terai converged on Jalpaiguri town today, demanding a speedy trial and bail for Chattrey Subba, accused of masterminding an assassination bid on GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh on February 10, 2001.

Under the banners of the CPRM-affiliated Ganatantrik Krantikari Nari Morcha and Ganatantrik Krantikari Yuva Morcha, the protesters demonstrated at the district court and the collectorate against the delay in the trial, in which five of Subba’s associates are also involved. Bandi Mukti Committee and CPI-ML (Liberation) joined the rally as well.

A scuffle broke out when police tried to prevent the protesters from staging a demonstration in front of the court. The leaders, however, calmed their members and all of them headed for the district collectorate. “It is surprising that citing flimsy reasons, Ghisingh is not appearing in court to submit his statements as a prime witness,” said Nari Morcha leader Bindia Dukpa.

A file picture of Subba

“Chattrey and five others have been languishing behind bars over the past five years. This can no longer be tolerated, especially, since the prosecution witnesses stay away from court on their hearing dates,” said Rabindra Chattri, a member of the CPRM secretariat from Darjeeling. “We want the government to declare them political prisoners, grant them bail immediately and expedite the trial. In case they (Chattrey and others) are found guilty, they should be punished accordingly, but the delay in the name of justice is unacceptable.”

The five other accused are Saran Dewan, Gunje Lama, Kumar Chettri, Bijoy Chettri and Shyam Bahadur Karki.

After a protest of more than an hour at the collectorate, a team met N.G. Heera, an additional district magistrate, to submit a memorandum.