Arrested Nepali national's family pleads innocence

SNS, Siliguri 8 August 2017: Family members of a Nepali national arrested in connection with violence over the Gorkhaland agitation have alleged that they are being harassed for no apparent reason.

The Siliguri Metropolitan Police yesterday arrested Uday Hang Phago,35, a resident of Islam district in Nepal for his alleged involvement to be in the violence that erupted at Sukna near Siliguri on 29 July.

Mr Phago, and another man from Sukna arrested along with him, has been booked for rioting, assaulting police and damaging public properly.

Family members, however, claimed that they were in Siliguri with Mr Phago for his mother's treatment.

'We are being harassed though we have no connection whatsoever with the Gorkhaland agitation and have no links with the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM),- the mother of the accused, Ganga Maya Phago, said.

A court in Siliguri today sent the duo arrested yesterday to 12 days in police custody.

"We  are visiting Siliguri for the very first time. We do not have any knowledge about this placer nor are we fluent with the language here. We are from Nepal and came for my treatment. We have nothing to do with the demand and we are unaware of the grounds under which my son has been arrested. I want my son released as soon as possible,' said Mrs Phago.

"He is innocent and he was only accompanying the family to Siliguri for my medical treatment," she claimed, bursting into tears.

Mr Phago's sister, Sadhna Phago, said (they are not at all aware of the ongoing agitation or Gorkhaland.

"We are Nepalese people from Nepal.We came here for our mother's treatment. We are being harassed for nothing and are helpless in a foreign land," she said.