Morcha supporters vandalise GNLF activists' residence

DARJEELING, 16 APRIL: The former executive councilor of DGHC, Mr Bhanu Lama today alleged that the GJMM activists had vandalised his residence in Darjeeling today. He also lodged an FIR at the Darjeeling police station against three GJMM supporters, one of them being a prominent councillor of Darjeeling Municipality, Mr Tilak Chhetri.

Mr Lama in his FIR alleged that Mr Chhetri was seen leading a gang of around twelve persons and seen heading towards his residence. “Later a group of around 25-30 persons, both men and woman, barged into my house and vandalised it,” he said.

However, Mr Chhetri rejected the allegation, terming it as concocted.

The other names mentioned in the FIR are Mr Deepak Thapa and Ms Pema Pradhan, both GJMM supporters.

Mr Lama further maintained that he is presently not associated with any political party. “But I kept on receiving threats from the GJMM continuously. This is, however, not the first time that my house has been ransacked. My house at Peshok was ransacked by the GJMM men when the party-led movement was at its peak. I had to move down to Siliguri in apprehension of more attacks. Darjeeling is not safe either. I

employed a watchman to guard my house there. The GJMM men asked him to leave as they were planning to take it over so as to make it a party office,” he said.

He further said some GJMM women wing activists had threatened him around a year back.

He said the state government should not relent under the GJMM pressure and withdraw the Central forces from the Hills. “I think more such forces should be deployed to instill confidence in the common people who are at the receiving end of the GJMM-sponsored hooliganism,” he added.

statesman news service