AIGL petitions against five arrested GJM leaders

Jitendra Sharma

Kurseong Feb 24: The All India Gorkha League (AIGL) has filed a petition against the superintendent of Darjeeling correctional home and Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) at the Supreme Court and with the Bengal Chief Minister for suddenly hospitalizing the five arrested Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders (former and present) in connection with the Madan Tamang murder case.

Madan Tamang was the president of AIGL who was brutally murdered in broad daylight in Darjeeling on May, 2010. Five GJM leaders were arrested on February 15 from near a local taxi stand in Darjeeling by CBI officials and were produced at the CJM court. The five were sent to judicial custody the same day although the CBI wanted remand.

The arrested leaders however were suddenly admitted to Darjeeling District hospital on February 17 after they complained of illness. The sudden illness and the arrested being admitted to the hospital has sent shocking waves to the hill opposition party that has been thriving to find justice ever since the murder took place on May 2010.

“We are really surprised that all the five arrested have fallen ill at the same time and hospitalized. We have filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking enquiry into the matter. A complaint letter has also been sent to the Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee,” said Pratap Khati, the AIGL secretary today.

Adding sarcastically, Khati further said, “The arrested ones might not have been able to digest the foods from the jail and that must only be one reason why all of them fell ill at the same time. The facilities at the hospital for the prisoners are better and more soothing. We feel the arrested ones are trying to fool the administration in a bid to take advantage of better facilities in the hospital”.

Sources from the Jail said that they were diagnosed ill and they were arrested following the norms according to the law. The five arrested were Alok Kantamani Thulung, Dinesh Gurung, Keshav Raj Pokhrel, Puran Thami and Kismat Chettri. All however are leader from the GJM’s youth and students front. All the arrested is expected to be produced in the court on February 28 for the next hearing.