Siliguri trader arrested for funding GJM

TT, Siliguri, Oct. 9: Darjeeling police today arrested Siliguri-based businessman Bimal Dalmia from Bagdogra this evening for allegedly supplying food grains meant for mid-day meal in schools to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha during the 44-day statehood agitation in the hills.

Police sources said Dalmia, a resident of Siliguri, is an agent of food grains supplied to Darjeeling and Kurseong subdivisions under the mid-day meal scheme.

“Around one-and-a-half months back, the state food department learnt about irregularities in supplying food grains allocated for students to the Morcha during the strike. State food minister Jyotipriya Mullick had instructed his department to conduct an inquiry in this regard,” said a source.

As the mid-day meal scheme is under the GTA in the hills, the inquiry report was forwarded to the autonomous body and the police had registered cases against Bimal Dalmia for irregularities.

“Dalmia was missing for few days to evade arrest. He was picked up this evening,” a police officer said.

Recently, B.M. Garg, a Darjeeling-based businessman, was arrested. Police had slapped an arson case related to the burning down of a Takdah forest bungalow on August 2. But police sources had said during the time of arrest that he was perceived to be a “financier” of the Morcha.

Darjeeling police are looking for Sushil Masani, from Siliguri, who supplies food grains to the hills meant for government schemes. Masani has similar charges as Dalmia’s against him. Police have raided his house.