Darjeeling, Oct. 16: In a repetition of yesterday’s “stray” incident, the face of a woman was blackened with paint this morning for defying the dress code imposed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in the hills.
Although the Morcha said it had nothing to do with either of the smear drives, questions have been raised about the party’s control over its cadre.
The woman, who is in her mid-twenties and works as a maid, was accosted by a group of local people in Kalijhora, 3km from here around 8am. Eyewitnesses said the youths, three of them women, are Morcha supporters.
“The lady who belongs to one of the minority communities was first asked why she was not wearing her traditional dress. Then there was a heated exchange after which they smeared her face with black paint. The group dispersed soon after the incident that took place just below Queens Hill school,” one of the witnesses said. He said the girl was in a salwar kameez.
Although the Morcha said it had nothing to do with either of the smear drives, questions have been raised about the party’s control over its cadre.
The woman, who is in her mid-twenties and works as a maid, was accosted by a group of local people in Kalijhora, 3km from here around 8am. Eyewitnesses said the youths, three of them women, are Morcha supporters.
“The lady who belongs to one of the minority communities was first asked why she was not wearing her traditional dress. Then there was a heated exchange after which they smeared her face with black paint. The group dispersed soon after the incident that took place just below Queens Hill school,” one of the witnesses said. He said the girl was in a salwar kameez.
The president of the ABGL, Madan Tamang, has condemned the smear campaign. “People should have the right to choose what they want to wear. The mindset of Subash Ghisingh’s party can be seen in this outfit,” said Tamang. In an advice to Morcha president Bimal Gurung to control his party cadres, Tamang said: “Violence and fear psychosis lead to nowhere.”
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