Bangshi Badan Barman Explained

Bangshi Badan Barman is an Indian politician. A leading figure in the 'Greater Cooch Behar' movement, Barman is currently jailed after a 2005 riot.

Barman finished a Bengali Honours degree at Dinhata College in 1992. During his student days he was a members of the Students Federation of India.[1]

In 1998 the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), an organisation striving to create a separate 'Greater Cooch Behar' state out of areas presently part of the state of West Bengal, was formed.[1] Barman became the General Secretary of GCPA.[2] [3]

Barman was arrested following riots in Cooch Behar on 20 September 2005. Five people, three policemen (including an additional superintendent of police) and two pro-Greater Cooch Behar supporters, were killed in the clashes on that day. GCPA was holding protests in the city, erecting barricades.[4] [5]

When the GCPA was split in 2006, Barman sided with the break-away Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party.[2]

In June 2008, the GCBDP organised a fast-unto-death hunger strike, demanding the release of Bangshibadan Barman and 55 other followers of the party (who had been arrested at a 2005 GCPA meeting). The fast was, however, called off by the party on 9 June 2008, after talks with senior administration officials.[6]

In April 2009, a bail pray for Barman was rejected by the Calcutta High Court.[4]

In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the GCBDP launched Bangshibadan Barman as its candidate in the Cooch Behar constituency. Barman became the first undertrial prisoner to file his nomination papers for a parliamentary election in West Bengal.[7] He filed his candidature as an independent. In the end, Barman obtained 37,226 votes (3.3% of the votes in the constituency).[8]

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20061231041941/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050922/asp/siliguri/story_5269001.asp Quiet but sudden shot at ?fame?
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20080704141351/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080506/jsp/siliguri/story_9231881.jsp Bangshi's old outfit back with 'state' map - For the police chief: name the spot
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20060409132350/http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/27/stories/2005092703701300.htm We will abide by statute, says Cooch Behar leader
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20110526071119/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090425/jsp/siliguri/story_10872328.jsp Bangshi bail plea
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20060514052734/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050922/asp/bengal/story_5269733.asp Stubborn standoff in war zone
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20080613143039/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080610/jsp/siliguri/story_9387966.jsp Cooch Behar fast off
  7. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/First-undertrial-prisoner-in-West-Bengal-files-nomination/articleshow/4371044.cms First undertrial prisoner in West Bengal files nomination
  8. Web site: Election Commission of India-General Elections 2009 . 2009-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090517000258/http://www.eciresults.nic.in/frmPCWiseResult.aspx . 2009-05-17 . dead .