Three held from Hills in SI Amitava Malik murder case

Darjeeling: Three persons were arrested in the SI Amitava Malik murder case. They were remanded to 14 days of police custody by a Siliguri court on Wednesday.

On October 13, a police team had raided the jungles of Shirubari forests in search of GJM President Bimal Gurung. There was a reported exchange of fire between the police and Gurung's supporters in which SI Amitava Malik had lost his life.

A huge cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives were recovered by the police from the spot. The case was later handed over to the CID.

The police arrested three persons from the Bijanbari area of Darjeeling in connection with the murder. The three include Shyam Kami (30), Mahendra Kami (29) and Dewaj Lepcha (30). All three are residents of Alipurduar district.

They have been charged under Sections 353/120B/ 307/302 IPC read with sections of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The three were produced at a Siliguri Court on Wednesday and have been remanded to 14 days of police custody.

In another incident, the GJM party office at Singamari on the outskirts of Darjeeling town was sealed on Wednesday by the District Administration.

"The building has been built on government land. It was a tea garden godown initially and had been forcefully taken over. We have sealed the party office occupying four floors of the building. The government has taken possession of the building," stated Avik Chatterjee, Sub Divisional Officer, Darjeeling Sadar.

The building is fraudulently registered in the name of Avinash Gurung, son of Bimal Gurung, claimed an official.

The party office is located on the Lebong Cart Road at Singamari. The SDO was accompanied by a police contingent.

A notice claiming that the government has taken possession of the building was pasted on the building.