Darjeeling Continues to Be Tense, Section 144 Imposed

As tension persists in Darjeeling four days after the killing of Gorkha leader Madan Tamang, administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the hill town, said media reports.

The president of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), Tamang was killed on Friday in the heart of the town by some unidentified assailantst.

Bharati Taman, his widow, called on the West Bengal Governor today, reports said.

Tamang, 62, wanted a negotiated settlement to the Gorkhaland dispute and was expressive of his dissent against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

GJM chief Bimal Gurung and other party leaders have been accused of a conspiracy in the FIR filed in connection with Tamang’s murder.

People have been hailing Tamang as a martyr and decrying Gurung, who was today stopped at Ghoon with number of people blocking the road to prevent his motorcade from entering the Darjeeling, said reports.

Heavy police force  has been deployed in Ghoon, reports said.

On Monday, thousands of people poured on to the streets in Darjeeling to join the silent funeral procession of Tamang, sending out a clear signal of rejection to the GJM.

Inspector General of Police (North Bengal), KL Tamta, who is now camping in Darjeeling, said that the people had spontaneously kept their shops and business establishments closed for the third day on Monday as a mark of grief.

The GJM too had called a four-hour bandh to pay respect to Tamang on Monday.

He said that the situation turned tense when some members of the funeral procession uprooted GJM party flags from roadside shops and houses.

(Based on internet reports)