Ahead of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s scheduled public meeting in Cooch Behar on December 9, a video message from elusive Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) leader Jiban Singh has triggered fresh political tension in North Bengal.
In the message, circulated from an undisclosed location, Jiban appealed to the Rajbangshi community to boycott Mamata’s rally.
Accusing the Chief Minister of opposing the demand for a separate Kamtapur state, he said, “Mamata Banerjee is against the creation of Kamtapur. Therefore, no one from the Rajbangshi community should attend her meeting.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, brushed aside the threat. Party spokesperson Partha Pratim Roy dismissed Jiban’s remarks as insignificant. “His comments have no importance. People are enthusiastic about Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Cooch Behar. The massive turnout will make that clear,” he said.
Jiban Singh has long advocated for Kamtapur autonomy and has remained underground for years. Despite a major setback for the organisation during military operations in the Bhutan jungles — where many associates surrendered — Jiban has continued to evade security forces. His sudden reappearance through the video message has stirred unease among locals and observers alike.
Responding to the warning, Roy emphasised that Jiban is “isolated from the people” and holds no real influence among the Rajbangshi community. He pointed to various initiatives taken by the Chief Minister to support the region, including recognition of Rajbangshi and Kamtapuri languages, recruitment of surrendered KLO cadres into the Home Guard, establishment of a language academy, and setting up a university named after Panchanan Burman.
Formed in 1995, the KLO once operated as an armed group pushing for a separate Kamtapur state. Over the years, internal divisions and security crackdowns reduced it to a fractured outfit. Yet, the latest video message from its leader has once again stirred political conversation in North Bengal.
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