Councillors stay away from office

Darjeeling: After trying to stage a political coup in the Darjeeling Municipality, the group of councillors led by Noman Rai have stopped attending office. They have gone into hiding.

On May 29, a group of councillors along with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Bimal faction) had marched to the Municipality and submitted a memorandum to Prativa Rai Tamang, chairperson.

They had asked her to call a special meeting and prove her majority in the floor of the house. The memorandum was signed by 18 councillors out of the 30. Sagar Tamang, the vice chairman, alleged that many of the signatures were forged while others were made to sign under duress.

An FIR was lodged by Lakpa Lama Sherpa, councillor, Ward 28 claiming that councillors Noman Rai, Ambika Sharma, Anup Hang Subba and Mahima Rana had visited his house and had made him sign on a blank paper which was then used to script the memorandum.

The Prativa Rai Tamang also lodged an FIR stating that she has been manhandled and is in hospital.

Some arrests made based on the FIRs.

Following this, the 17 councillors have gone into hiding. On Friday, residents of Ward 6 Nimkidanra arrived at the Darjeeling Sadar police station and lodged an FIR stating that two vehicle full of masked miscreants had arrived at Nimkidanra looking for Noman Rai.

"At 1:30 pm they arrived. They were all armed. They started enquiring about Noman Rai's house. They threatened us with arms and even chased some of local youths," alleged Leela Gurung local resident.

The police confirmed that an FIR to this effect has been received.

Meanwhile, a video clip of Noman Rai surfaced on the social media in which he claimed that he is safe and is in Darjeeling.