Siliguri erupts in anger over 'insult' to Indian Idol winner

Sep 28, 2007, 15:32 GMT

Kolkata/Siliguri, Sep 28 (IANS) Violence erupted in Siliguri town in West Bengal's Darjeeling district Friday leaving several injured and forcing the army to be called out over alleged disparaging remarks by a Delhi-based FM channel about Indian Idol winner Prashant Tamang.

The army and Border Security Force (BSF) have been called out to maintain law and order in the north Bengal town, 570 km from Kolkata, and prohibitory orders clamped.

The incident occurred around noon when two groups took out a procession to submit a memorandum to Siliguri sub-divisional officer in protest against the 'derogatory' remarks by a radio jockey (RJ) about Tamang, who hails from Darjeeling hills.

A comment made by one of the members of a group triggered an altercation which resulted brick batting and arson.

'Several people were injured in the brick batting. The protesters also burnt an effigy of the RJ and damaged several vehicles near the Court More area. Some motorcycles were set on fire,' inspector general (north Bengal) R.J.S. Nalwa told IANS.

Police had to fire six rounds of tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

Nalwa said several people were injured including some cops who tried to control the situation.

'Prohibitory orders were clamped in Siliguri after some groups claiming to be supporters of Prashant Tamang resorted to violence and damaged several vehicles. The situation is under control now,' state inspector general of police (law and order) Raj Kanojia told IANS.

'The state government has started a case against the FM channel for inciting the sentiments of the hill people. A team from the state police will leave for Delhi to take suitable action against the channel. We will also interrogate the radio jockey and may arrest him,' he added.

'The situation is now under control. Some people incited the trouble and spread rumours leading to the violence,' said West Bengal Urban Development Minister and Siliguri strongman Ashok Bhattacharya.

'The army and BSF have been called out to control the situation. We are appealing to everybody not to heed any rumours,' he said.

The RJ's allegedly derogatory words on Red FM 93.5 channel on Sep 24 night, a day after Prashant was crowned Indian Idol, had led to mass protests in Darjeeling, his hometown, earlier this week. People burnt an effigy of the RJ while Bimal Gurung, a local councillor, led a group of protesters with black flags to the district magistrate's office.

Darjeeling had voted en masse to ensure Prashant's success at the reality show. Many people had even contributed money to buy hundreds of cash cards for people to send their SMSs free.

Meanwhile, Prasant, speaking on Zee Bangla channel, appealed to people to maintain calm. 'I also felt very bad when I heard the comment (by the RJ). I appeal to everyone to maintain calm.'

The radio channel, Red FM 93.5, has apologised for the comments.

According to a news television channel, the RJ had apparently referred to Prashant as a 'Gurkha'.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service