KLO catch in Siliguri

Dipak Roy in Siliguri on Wednesday. (Kundan Yolmo)

TT, Jan.1: A 24-year-old KLO militant, allegedly involved in extorting money from businessmen in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, was arrested here last night.

“We have managed to arrest Dipak Roy, a resident of Mantadari in Belakoba area of Rajganj block in Jalpaiguri district. His name was spilled by some KLO linkmen who were arrested from different parts of Jalpaiguri district earlier last month,” said Jag Mohan, the commissioner of Siliguri metropolitan police.

“During preliminary investigation, we learnt that he is actively involved in extorting money from the business community and was issuing threats to them,” he added.

Dipak is the first active KLO militant to be arrested after a bomb blast in Jalpaiguri, which killed six people and the firing on a private bus in Malda, which injured four people. Both these incidents are suspected to be handiwork of the militant outfit that is striving for a separate Kamtapur state.

Six KPP leaders and a former KLO leader have been arrested last month.

According to Jag Mohan, Narayan Roy alias Tarun Thapa and Pradip Roy alias Iqbal Siddiqui are the aides of KLO leader Tom Adhikary and have direct contact with Dipak.

“We have found proof of his connection with the duo,” the commissioner said.

Dipak was produced at the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court here today, and was sent to police custody for 14 days. Dipak had joined the KLO two years back.

A joint team of 10 police officers from Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts, has been formed to investigate the KLO’s activities.

Police officers in Jalpaiguri today also expressed doubts on the authenticity of letters and press releases issued by the outfit.

“There are anomalies in the letter head, reference number and some other details which have left us with serious doubts. We are not taking these lightly but are simultaneously trying to verify the authenticity of these letters,” a police source said.