Tensions grew today in the heart of
Gangtok when Hissey Lachungpa, the Gangtok unit in-charge of the Sikkim
Democratic Front, along with a large group of party supporters, tried to
hold a flag rally on the MG Road.
The ruling front had planned the march
in the capital as a show of strength, just two days after the Sikkim
Krantikari Morcha staged a similar march under PS Golay’s
leadership.
Things got worse when SDF supporters
were denied permission to enter the ‘prohibited’ zone with party flags.
They slammed the SDF for trying to hold a flag rally at the otherwise
prohibited stretch. This led to a heated discussion between the police,
SDF and SKM supporters.
Sensing the volatility of the situation,
the police disperse SDF supporters from the area by enforcing Section
144 along the stretch. The state legislative assembly was in session
when supporters of the two parties nearly clashed over the issue of
hoisting their respective flags atop shops and houses along the stretch.
However, no untoward incident came to pass.
East District Superintendent of Police
Manoj Tiwari said a unit of the Indian Reserve Battalion was deployed
along MG Marg and adjoining areas to maintain law and order. Besides,
the existing prohibitive order enforced within a 200m radius of the SLA
under CrPC Section 144 was extended to 500m for a few hours during the
day.(EOIC)