GJM Unrest: Police raid secret meeting in Sikkim, arrest 9; Bimal Gurung manages to escape

Nine Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders were arrested after the police raided a GJM meeting in Sikkim. However, GJM chief Bimal Gurung managed to escape.

“We have issued lookout notice against Bimal Gurung, Roshan Giri and Prakash Gurung in connection with Bhanu Bhavan violence,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar, ADG (CID).

Interestingly, the Central Committee GJM meeting was to officially expel Binay Tamang, who on Thursday had announced a 12-day relief in the indefinite strike in the hills. Moments after Tamang’s statement, the GJM top brass condemned the decision, saying the agitation would continue.

On Friday, the strike was more intense. Makeshift shops had vanished on Friday, and no vehicles could be spotted.

Agitators in huge numbers took out a rally going past Darjeeling Police Station and meeting at Chowk Bazar. They chanted anti-government slogans and reaffirmed their support for Bimal Gurung.

GJM spokesperson Binita Roka, addressing the meeting at Chowk Bazar said that the bandh would continue till a tripartite meeting with the hill leaders, the state government and the Centre was convened. “Our party president is in the jungle but it is him who is in the driver’s seat. The crisis at the hills is getting worse and we request the Central government to conduct …read more