All India Gorkha League President Madan Tamang Killed in Attack

Chief of All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and a strong advocate of Gorkhaland Madan Tamang has been killed by unidentified assailants in Darjeeling town, said media reports.

According to Darjeeling District Magistrate Surindra Gupta, Tamang was supervising arrangements for a meeting scheduled later for the day near the Planters’ Club when he was attacked with kukris and swords, reports said

Reports said that AIGL supporters and activists of the GJM, opposed to the meeting, clashed causing police to fire five rounds, said reports.

Gupta said that no one was injured in the firing, reports said.

Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary, however, said that some of his supporters were wounded in the clash and one suffered bullet injuries, said reports.

Tamang was opposed to the GJM’s stand on an interim set-up for Darjeeling hills pending setting up of a separate state and demanded Gorkhaland instead.

Inspector-General of Police (North Bengal) K L Tamta said that AIGL had initially decided to hold the meeting at Darjeeling Chowrasta, but later shifted the venue due to opposition from GJM, reports said.

Police said that immediately after the attack on Tamang, shops and markets closed down, said reports.

Patrolling in Darjeeling town has been intensified.

(Based on internet reports)