Look-out notice issued against Bimal Gurung

Kolkata: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has issued a look-out notice against absconding Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, secretary general Roshan Giri and youth leader Kanchan Gurung.

Meanwhile, in another development, Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa have been suspended from the party. It has also been learnt that a GJM delegation will be attending the September 12 all-party meet called by the state government at Uttar Kanya.

With the look-out notice being issued, all three of them would be arrested if they attempt to "flee" the country.

This comes after the GJM chief managed to avert his arrest when CID officers raided a hideout near Sikkim where he had called a secret meeting.

According to CID sources, Gurung had called the meeting and 13 senior members of the party were present. Around 11 were arrested and booked on charges of conspiring against the state. Sources said Prakash, president of Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, was also supposed to attend it.

The look-out notice has landed Bimal Gurung in more trouble as he had been facing a rebellion in his party with a faction supporting the withdrawal of the bandh in the Hills to ensure restoration of peace. The intelligence agencies have been informed about the issuance of the look-out notice. All airports in the country have also been alerted. The GJM chief was last seen when he came to Darjeeling on August 15.

Unconfirmed reports state that the CID picked up 11 GJM leaders including former nominated GTA member Sabitri Rai; Namita Gautam; Shanker Adhikari and Hemant Gautam. However, Bimal Gurung and Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha president Prakash Gurung managed to give the police a slip.

As the police and CID have preferred to remain tight-lipped about the incident, it is unclear whether these persons have been arrested or detained.

One Suraj Bagdas, assistant secretary of the GJM's Kalimpong unit was also arrested in connection with torching the house of Tamang Development Board Chairman Sonjoy Moktan. He was produced at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kalimpong.

Despite GJM leader Binay Tamang announcing the lifting of the bandh after a GJM Central Committee meeting in Kurseong on Thursday, the Hills remained closed on Friday.