4 GNLF supporters held for gatecrashing govt building

Darjeeling: Four persons arrested in connection with illegally entering a government building were produced at a Darjeeling Court on

Thursday. One of the arrested has been remanded to police custody.

The GNLF, BJP and GJM (Bimal faction) leaders and supporters had entered the old party office of the GJM in Singamari on the Lebong Cart Road and put up party flags in the building on Wednesday afternoon.

In 2017, the district administration had taken over the building stating that it was government land that had been illegally occupied and converted into a party office.

The police initiated a suo moto case naming Niraj Zimba, the BJP candidate, Manoj Dewan, BJP president, BP Bajgai, GJM (Bimal) spokesperson and others for forcefully entering a government building, putting up flags and shouting slogans.

Four persons namely— Govind Rai and Anand Gurung of Happy Valley Tea Estate along with Kiran Thapa and Sunil Gurung of Pragati were arrested.

They have been charged under Sections 448, 186, 353, 379, 325, 189, 307 of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of the Arms Act.

"In the FIR it has been stated that four civic volunteers were roughed up as the accused persons made forceful entry.

One has sustained injury and is hospitalised. The police prayed for remand of the four for recovery of the arms.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Darjeeling has remanded Govind Rai to 3 days of police custody. The other three have been sent to judicial custody" stated Pankaj Prasad,

Assistant Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling.

With Assembly By-polls in Darjeeling the political environment has turned fluid in the Hills.

On Thursday Niraj Zimba the BJP candidate alleged that his vehicle was vandalized and he was attacked by GJM (Binoy faction) in Happy Valley Tea Estate while he was campaigning.

He lodged an FIR naming Radin Gurung and Anil Rai.

Radin Gurung in turn lodged a counter FIR stating that his bike was vandalized by the GNLF and BJP supporters.