Darjeeling violence: 72 chargesheeted

The accused were booked under IPC sections including 307 (attempt to murder),147-149 (rioting with arms and unlawful assembly), 153-153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 323-326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 332-353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 436 (mischief by fire and explosive substance), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Sections of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act (WBMPO) and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP) were also invoked.

Sources said seven people including the now GTA chairman Binay Tamang, Mandip Sharma, Amod Mukhia, Jyoti Kumar Rai, Dewraj Dewan and John Rai have been discharged owing to “lack of evidence”.

On June 8, GJM supporters had clashed with police and several vehicles were set on fire when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was holding a Cabinet meeting in Bhanu Bhawan. On June 9, the police had filed a suo motu case and the investigation was handed over to the CID.

Later, a lookout notice was issued against the accused named in the FIR and a court had issued an arrest warrant against them. Bimal Gurung, Asha Gurung, Roshan Giri and others failed to appear on the designated date. On March 28, the CID had prayed that the absconders be declared as offenders and their movable and immovable properties be attached. The court then issued an order of attachment of Gurung’s house. It was attached on August 2. Following this, the properties of other leaders including Prakash Gurung were also attached as per the court order. Prior to this, in June, Gurung and Giri’s names were struck off the electoral rolls in Darjeeling.

The CID had earlier filed a chargesheet in connection with the murder of Sub-Inspector Amitava Malik, who was killed in a gunfight in Darjeeling when a police team had reached Sirubari area in search of the absconding Gurung and came under sudden fire in the forest. The Darjeeling police had filed a suo motu FIR in connection with the clash and around 20 people including Gurung were named in the FIR. Four people were chargesheeted.