Binay picked up from Sikkim, Home unaware- Operation Tamang: Late Night Swoop over Gorkhaland

HM Bureau, Aug 22: GJM spokesperson Binay Tamang and his aides were picked up in a late-night swoop by a team of Sikkim police and West Bengal policemen from an undisclosed location between Rumtek and Ranka near Gangtok Wednesday night. 

Even as both Sikkim and Bengal police officials are in denial on the spot of arrests, sources told Himalayan Mirror that Tamang and others were arrested after a raid by some home guards from Gangtok’s Sadar Police station, another Havaldar from Rumtek outpost and a couple of plain clothed West Bengal policemen between 9.30 and 10.30 pm. 

The joint crackdown was conducted in the house of a Sikkim government employee who had hosted the Morcha leaders. ‘They were beaten and then taken to Ranipool police station in one Bolero car bearing number SK-01/2910 and kept there for around 30 minutes. 

‘Operation Tamang’, progressed around midnight when the arrested men were taken in two cars from Ranipool and crossed Sikkim side of Rangpo, and solely handed over to Bengal police. The operation, highly placed sources informed, was coordinated by some top cops including Superintendent of Police (East) Manoj Tiwari, who was reportedly passing minute-byminute updates to IGP (Law and Order) Akshay Sachdeva. 

Tiwari was however not present in the team but remotely monitoring the operation. Interestingly, both Sikkim Home Secretary MG Kiran and Police DG Jasbir Singh claimed ignorance about the late night arrests within their jurisdictions. 

In what may appear as a highly covert and planned police operation, the home secretary said, ‘It is not in my knowledge’. SP Manoj Tiwari and Sikkim Police DIG (Range)and Spokesperson Dr. MS Tuli also echoed similar stands, when asked on the issue. 

On the contrary, Himalayan Mirror has learnt that the swoop was more like abduction, without any search and arrested warrants produced during the crackdown. The house owner who hosted Binay Tamang and others had reportedly coordinated in the recently held rally for Gorkhaland at Gangtok with the backing of some ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) leaders. No transit remand or any such legal formalities concerning inter-state police operations have been found till now. 

With both police and bureaucratic ranks tightlipped, it is still unclear whether the state government was briefed about ‘Operation Tamang’ or not, and whether they would be accountable in such act concerning inter-state relations. 

Now questions being asked, is the Sikkim government backing Mamata’s crackdown on Gorkhaland movement despite an open support to the cause?

Republished - Source & Courtesy Himalayan Mirror- http://www.himalayanmirror.net/upload/13772419441.pdf