“Every three months, dead bodies go to the crematorium from this EFR residential complex. Why the state government gives a step-motherly treatment to EFR personnel? Is it because all EFR personnel belong to Gorkhas and Nepalis? We never wanted to split from this state and never supported the cause of Gorkhaland as we used to think that this is our state. But now we want the Gorkhaland for us, as we have realised that the state does not own us,” said Sujit Thapa, a relative of Madhukar Subba, an EFR personnel killed in the Monday’s attack.

For several hours, angry family members shouted slogans against both Maoist leader Kishenji and CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

“We do not see any difference between Kishenji and Buddhadeb. Both are murders. However, their operation styles are different. Kishenji’s arms kill people and Buddhadeb’s policies kill people,” said 17-year-old Sunita Bahadur Rai.

“Yesterday, we staged demonstration demanding apology from the chief minister. But instead he sent five ministers, instead. This is wrong when such a big tragedy has struck the force. We vow to bring him here,” shouted an angry mourner.

Meanwhile, speaking from Darjeeling, Roshan Giri, spokesperson for Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which is demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, said: “This is the reason why we want a separate land for us. Bengal government has always treated Gorkhas as stepsons. This injustice on the EFR personnel have been proved time and again. The government is so insensitive that it has sent the bodies of the slain policemen in trains instead of sending the bodies by air. We have taken up the issue and we will fight for the cause of EFR,” Giri said.

In Kolkata, Sri Kumar Mukherjee, Minister for Civil Defense who was a part of the five-member delegation that went to meet the bereaved families said, “Some vested groups were trying to give the tragic happening a political twist.”

‘Slain personnel’s children keen to fight Maoists’
The ministers, who visited Salua residential quarters of the EFR personnel and had to face an angry crowd, were taken aback to hear children demanding arms to fight Naxals.