Bharati Tamang, widow of slain All-India Gorkha League (AIGL) leader Madan Tamang, on Sunday began an indefinite hunger strike to press for the arrest of those indicted in her husband's murder even as authorities urged her to revoke her decision, a police official said.
SP Darjeeling Amit Javalagi, who was present at Chowrasta, the venue of the hunger strike, was seen speaking to Bharati as her supporters milled around. He requested her to desist from the hunger strike as it could create law and order problems. Bharati resorted to fast unto death, demanding that the CBI immediately arrest 23 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders, including its president Bimal Gurung and his wife Asha, against whom the Calcutta HC had issued arrest warrants for the murder of her husband on May 21, 2010. Earlier in the day, the district administration refused permission to hold a public rally to the newly constituted united hill opposition group 'Democratic Front'.