Darjeeling unrest: CID issues warrant against GJM chief

The West Bengal CID has issued arrest warrants against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supremo Bimal Gurung, his wife and five other party leaders for their reported involvement in a violent protest rally in Darjeeling on June 8.

CID officers said the warrants have been issued against Bimal, his wife Asha Gurung, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri and party leaders Amrit Ranjan, Ashok Chhetri, D K Pradhan and Tilak Roker.

“Cases were already lodged against them in the Darjeeling Sadar police station after the incidents of violence and arson on June 8. The CID was investigating the case and has now issued arrest warrants against the accused,” a senior CID officer said.

On June 8, GJM supporters had demonstrated outside the Raj Bhavan in Darjeeling in demand of Gorkhaland when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was presiding over a cabinet meeting, attended by several ministers and senior state bureaucrats.

The protests took a violent turn after GJM supporters resorted to stone-pelting and torched eight government vehicles. Several police officers were injured. The police lodged a case against GJM leaders on June 9.

On September 1, the police had issued a lookout notice against Bimal for his involvement in a bomb blast in Darjeeling and a grenade attack on the Kalimpong station.