6th Mile police camp blast: CID arrests five, probes others

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 30 Aug 2018 : Charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, they were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court, Darjeeling and remanded to 14-day of police custody. Incidentally, during the agitation period that had gripped Darjeeling and Kalimpong in 2017, on September 2, a blast had occurred at the 6th Mile police camp under Rungli Rungliot police station in Darjeeling. 

Though no person was injured in the blast it was suspected that the blast was carried out with the intention to create terror and to kill. 

The case was handed over to the CID. 

The arrested persons are — John Rai (37) of Maneydanra Bustee, Runglee Rungliot; Asbin Gurung (48) of Mahendragaon, Mirik; Nawraj Thakuri (36) of Takdah Dokandanra; Arun Kami @ Ramudamu (43) of Takdah Tea Estate and Dewraj Dewan (41) also from Takdah Tea Estate. 

The CID suspect that the blast was carried out in collusion with Bimal Gurung; Prakash Gurung of Rimbik; Praveen Subba of Darjeeling; Samir Subba of Mahaldiram Tea Estate and Asbin Gurung of Takdah Tea Estate. They are all absconding. 

"In order to facilitate arrest of other co-accused and for the purpose of recovery of firearms and explosives, the CID has prayed for 14 days of police remand. The Chief Judicial Magistrate has granted the mentioned remand to all the accused. They will be produced again before the court on September 12," stated Pankaj Prasad, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling. 

The CID claims that along with this, IED blasts were also carried out Darjeeling Motor Stand, Lodhama, Sukhia Pokhari Police outpost and other places. Interrogations of the 5 arrested revealed that explosives and firearms have been concealed in different places. 

The CID sources claim that investigations have revealed that an armed group of GJM activists looted around 325 kg of explosive substances after breaking and entering the store of the NTPC Hydel Project at Bijanbari. 

It was further revealed that the looted explosives were allegedly delivered to Bimal Gurung at Patleybash near Darjeeling (considered to be Gurung's stronghold.) 

A core team of GJM managed to make IEDs using the looted explosives and carried out blasts at Kalimpong police station on August, killing one civic volunteer and injuring two police personnel who were on duty. 

The CID claims that along with this IED blasts were also carried out Darjeeling Motor Stand, Lodhama, Sukhia Pokhari Police outposts and other places. Interrogations of the 5 arrested revealed that explosives and firearms have been concealed at different locations.