GTA member gets bail

Rajeev Ravidas, TT, Kalimpong, Jan. 3: A GTA Sabha executive member was granted bail by the Darjeeling session’s court yesterday and released from the Siliguri jail around 10.30pm last night.

With the release of Nima Tamang, the number of GTA Sabha members freed from jail has reached four.

Nima Tamang, the GTA member of Homes-Bhalukhop constituency in Kalimpong, returned home past midnight.

“I am happy that I have finally been released but there is a feeling of sadness as well, since many of my colleagues are still in jail,” he said.

Ten GTA members had been arrested during the July-September phase of the Morcha’s agitation for Gorkhaland. Six are still in jail.

The other three GTA members who were released are Prabha Chhetri, the Nari Morcha leader from Kurseong, Morcha vice-president Kalyan Dewan and Morcha assistant secretary Binay Tamang.

Nima Tamang is a leader of the Morcha’s youth wing.

He was granted bail yesterday in the last of the 10 charges slapped on him relating to an attack on Singamari police outpost on July 30.

“He was released from the Siliguri jail around 10.30pm yesterday and arrived here past midnight,” said a Yuva Morcha member.

Today, 150 Morcha supporters marched around town along with Nima Tamang to celebrate his release.