ACT seeks bail for its underage members Also to lodge a FIR against Himagri company against violation of old laws

GANGTOK, Feb 12: Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) today
submitted bail applications for the three of its underage members in
the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate here at Gangtok.
Three underage students had been arrested by North district police
along with 40 other members of ACT in the recent Lingzya incident. The
underage members had been forwarded to Juvenile Home while other
members have been sent to judicial custody at Rongyek Jail.
In a press statement, ACT said that all the arrested innocent Lepchas
of Dzongu do not want to seek bail but demand unconditional release.
However, in view of the fact that many innocent under aged students
have been arrested and as the future of these student are of top most
importance in our agenda, said ACT while moving for bail today.
ACT also stood by its stand that the Panan power project developers
were engaging in illegal activities at Dzongu. It said that Sikkim
Power Development Corporation (SPDC) had initiated the land
acquisition in Dzongu on behalf of Himagiri company for the Panan
power project as per a government notification dated 1-6-2007.
"However, according to another notification dated 24-6-2008, the above
notification had lapsed on 1-6-2008 and as such the proper process of
land acquisition has not been completed by the District Collector and
so the physical occupation of landed property in Dzongu by Himagri
Hydro Energy Pvt ltd is violating the law under section 447 of IPC and
also violating the provisions of the notification No-3069 dated
24-3-1958 and 665/PS dated 27-9-1954", said ACT.
ACT will also file an FIR in Mangan police station in this regard to
take action against the general manager of the Himagiri Hydro Energy
Ltd and other companies working in Dzongu 'for the violation of the
above old laws'.
The body added that the State government through power department and
ACT had started the dialogue process after the withdrawal of
indefinite hunger strike and scarping of four mega power projects in
Dzongu last year.
"However, after the first meeting, the State government never bothered
to call for talks nor reported to the organization about the decision
of the Govt on the discussion held in that meeting", said ACT. This is
neglecting the voices of the indigenous aborigines of the State, it
said.
"ACT therefore believes that the government of Sikkim is not
interested in the welfare of people nor upholds the democratic values
of the country", the release issued by ACT chief coordinator Tseten
Lepcha states.