KLO chief ‘free to move’, says Kamtapur council, TMC wary
Times of India | 1 January 2026
Jalpaiguri: Kamtapur State Demand Council (KSDC) said in a press release on Wednesday that Centre had assured the banned Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) that its chairperson Jiban Singha Koch and other KLO members would be "free from confinement" and be allowed to move "without any restriction" following a meeting of the Centre with the council's nine-member delegation.
The announcement drew a sharp response from Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, who said that while the party was analysing the outcome of the two-day peace talks in New Delhi, "any attempt by BJP to fan separatism in Bengal with an eye on elections would be thwarted."
On KLO's demand for a separate Kamtapur or Greater Kochbihar state, KSDC's release said, "The team observed that the Govt of India has approached the talks with an open mind to resolve the long-standing demands of KLO and expressed hope that the process would move in a positive direction."
Ghosh said this was a sensitive issue and party seniors are examining the situation. He added, however, that "BJP should stop playing with fire."
The Trinamool spokesperson added, "Bengal remains united and any attempt to attack its geopolitical unity will have consequences. CM Mamata Banerjee is firm on people's development and the Bengal govt has reached every home with its scheme. Bengal remains one and every inch of its geography is integral and important to Bengal. Any conspiracy against it would be fought by the people."
The KSDC release further said that Centre's negotiators had not commented on their demand for ST status for Koch-Rajbangshi people of Assam, Bihar and north Bengal. On its demand to make Kamtapuri (Rajbangshi) language in the Eighth Schedule, they said the Centre was considering it along with some other languages.
Any attempt by BJP to fan separatism in Bengal with an eye on elections will be thwarted. Bengal remains one. Every inch of its geography is integral to Bengal. Any conspiracy against it would be fought by the people