Hill murder accused killed - Govt shielding fugitives in Madan case: ABGL

Darjeeling, Dec. 29: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha member wanted in connection with Madan Tamang’s assassination was murdered in his native village last night.

The ABGL has said the fugitive’s murder over a purported personal enmity in his village shows that the state government is shielding those who are on the run in the Madan murder case from the CBI.

The body of Dil Kumar Rai was found with injuries caused by sharp weapons along a road at Goradhura in Singla tea garden. Rai alias Dillu, 36, is one of the 30 people whose names figure in the chargesheet filed by the CID in the former ABGL chief’s murder case.

Police said Rai had probably been murdered over a personal issue. He was from Sirubari in Singla tea garden, 30km from Darjeeling.

“We have found nothing to suggest that it was a political murder. We think personal enmity led to the murder,” said Lobsang T. Bhutia, the inspector-in-charge of Darjeeling Sadar police station.

The deceased’s brother Dil Chandra Rai has filed an FIR at Darjeeling Sadar police station, alleging that Bhim Khush Subba and his two sons, Nitpo and Nishchal, were behind the murder. The name of another man, Deven Subba, was also mentioned in the complaint.

“A number of cut marks on his face suggest that Rai was attacked with sharp weapons. We have also been told that Rai was fired at from an improvised gun. This can be confirmed only after post-mortem,” said Bhutia.

Soon after the murder, a mob burnt down the house of Bhim. The police said he and his sons were absconding.

Pratap Khati, the general secretary of the ABGL, today said: “The murder only proves that the state government is shielding the accused and the CBI (which is presently handling the case) is not being assisted by the district police. Otherwise, how could Rai remain untraceable in the eyes of the police when he was in his own village.”

Madan Tamang was hacked to death by a khukhuri-wielding mob in Darjeeling on May 21 last year. Of the 30 accused, only eight have been arrested till date.

Khati said the ABGL had already apprised the prime minister’s office of the state’s lack of interest in cracking the case.

“Morcha leaders like Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri haven’t been questioned even once. When we met PMO officials a couple of weeks ago, they assured us that the CBI would be asked to use central forces to arrest the absconding persons if required.”

Kunal Agarwal, the additional superintendent of police of Darjeeling, denied the charge that the police were not doing anything to arrest the accused. “We have been conducting raids in the area but Dil Kumar Rai was never found.”