User:Sailingsmooth5/2005 Khagrabari Riots

2005 Khagrabari Riots
The **2005 Khagrabari Riots** refers to a series of violent clashes and protests that took place in the Khagrabari area of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India, in September 2005. The events were closely linked to the demand for statehood in North Bengal and the complex socio-political landscape of the region.

Background
The region comprising Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts in North Bengal has long been a hotspot of ethnic sentiments, with various communities expressing their aspirations for separate states. The demand for statehood came from different ethnic groups, including the Nepalis (Gorkhas in Darjeeling hills), Kamtapuris in Dooars and Terai regions, and Koch-Rajbangshis of Cooch Behar [1].

The mainstream political parties of West Bengal opposed these demands, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed sympathy towards the calls for a separate Gorkhaland and a separate Kamtapur State [1].

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha's Statehood Campaign
The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) intensified its statehood campaign, expanding it to the Dooars and Terai areas of Jalpaiguri district. This move led to clashes between the Nepalis and tribal groups opposing the GJM's demand, escalating tensions in the region [1].

A section of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP) joined the protests, demanding greater autonomy for the tribal belt in North Bengal and calling for a poll boycott due to perceived government negligence in addressing their economic concerns [1].

Standoff and Violent Clashes
The protests resulted in a stubborn standoff, particularly in Bhetaguri, where thousands of people participated in an indefinite hunger strike under the banner of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association [2]. The district administration maintained a cautious approach, and security concerns led to clashes in Bhetaguri, resulting in casualties, including the additional superintendent of police, Mushtaq Ahmed, and two constables [2].

An eerie calm followed the violent clashes, with the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association continuing its hunger strike [2].

Legal and Political Developments
Bangshi Badan Barman, leader of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), was detained and faced various charges, including the murder of policemen during the 2005 demonstration in Khagrabari [3]. Barman's bail plea was rejected, and he remained in jail during the subsequent legal proceedings [3].

In June 2008, Barman announced new movement plans for the GCDP, emphasizing the party's demand for the implementation of the merger agreement and the transformation of Cooch Behar into a C-category state under Central rule [4].

Commemoration and Further Unrest
September 20th became a significant day of remembrance in Cooch Behar, observing the deaths of two Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association supporters in police firing in 2005 [8].

However, the region continued to witness unrest, with undertrials associated with the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party facing complications in jail, and allegations of a conspiracy to harm their supporters [7].

The death of Khiten Barman, a party member, in jail added fuel to the accusations, further straining the relationship between the political prisoners and the authorities [7].