GJM chief Bimal Gurung summoned by West Bengal body for 'repeated gross violation of child rights'

Kolkata: The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has summoned Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung for “repeated gross violation of child rights”, the statutory body’s chief said on Saturday. The Commission took suo motu cognisance of an incident telecast live on a TV channel wherein GJM supporters in Darjeeling were seen “ransacking” a car ferrying school children on 15 September. “This is a repeat offence by the GJM. We had sent them a letter earlier as well but they did not respond. We have summoned them on 23 October for a hearing,” WBCPCR chairperson Ananya Chakraborti told IANS. [caption id=“attachment_4143007” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of GJM chief Bimal Gurung. Getty images[/caption] The summons issued on 10 October says: “You have been repeatedly committing the offence which is unacceptable and is violating the rights of the children.” The summons said that Gurung was earlier also asked to present himself before the commission over the “GJM’s political rallies using children during school hours” on 29 June and 3 July. Life came to a standstill for 104 days in Darjeeling and its neighbouring hills district Kalimpong after the GJM called an indefinite shutdown on 12 June to press for its demand for Gorkhaland. The shutdown was lifted on 27 September, hours after Union home minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the GJM to call off the over three-month-long strike and invited them for talks to find an amicable solution to the issue.