Top Gorkha leader Madan Tamang, who recently fell out with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) over the issue of Gorkhaland, was on Friday stabbed to death by unidentified men during clashes by rival Gorkha groups in the hill town of Darjeeling.
West Bengal Urban Development minister and CPI-M leader Asok Bhattacharya accused GJM of being responsible for the brutal attack on the All India Gorkha League(AIGL) president while a top GJM leader Roshan Giri denied the allegation that activists of his group were involved.
Tension gripped Darjeeling after the attack and shops and markets were closed down. Security reinforcements were also being rushed to the tourist town.
Tamang, who is in his late 50s, was overseeing arrangements for a meeting of his party when he was attacked with kukris and swords near the Planter's club in the morning, Darjeeling district magistrate Surindra Gupta said. Kukri is a long knife used by Nepalis.
The killing in the northern town of West Bengal--40 km from Siliguiri--in full public view occurred around 9.30 AM during violent clashes between AIGL supporters and activists of the GJM opposed to the meeting. The police fired five rounds to disperse the clashing groups.
The West Bengal government has ordered an inquiry into the killing and directed the hill administration that the assailants be arrested quickly.
Inspector-General of Police (North Bengal) K L Tamta said 11 people had been arrested in connection with the killing.
Bhattacharya, who is also the MLA from Siliguiri said, "Madan Tamang was killed by the hooligans of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. He is the first martyr for the struggle for democracy."
Giri, the second-in-command in GJM and its general secretary, rejected allegations that his group was involved.
"This is not the handiwork of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. It is a baseless allegation that GJM is involved in the attack and murder of Madan Tamang. The allegation is absolutely false," Giri said. Giri told PTI that a few of his supporters were injured in the clashes and one suffered bullet injuries.
Chief Minister Budhadeb Bhattacharhee held an emergency meeting with state Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen, Home Secretary Samar Ghosh, DGP Bhupinder Singh and Asok Bhattacharya at the state secretariat and reviewed the situation in the hills.
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.
Tamta said two companies of Indian Reserve Battallion and one company of RAF are being sent to maintain law and order in the Darjeeling town. He said he was also rushing to the place after orders from the chief minister.
Tamta said AIGL initially decided to hold the meeting at Darjeeling Chowrasta, but later shifted the venue due to opposition from GJM. PTI
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