Accused sent to correctional home

EOI, Darjeeling, 4 Apr 2014:The Darjeeling police today produced Dawa Lepcha, accused of using a firearm to intimidate Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung on Thursday, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court.

The police first detained Lepcha for questioning on the basis of a complaint filed by Gurung's personal security officer and he was arrested late Thursday night.

CJM judge Biplab Kumar Roy today sent Lepcha to the correctional home under judicial custody saying no lawyer wanted to represent him. The judge has directed Lepcha be produced before court on April 7 and has also reportedly directed the legal aid service authority to provide Lepcha a lawyer," said Additional Public Prosecutor Pankaj Prasad.

Lepcha, allegedly a Trinamool Congress supporter, is accused of accosting the GJM president near Birch Hill in Darjeeling on Thursday morning. Gurung was on his way to attend a public meeting in Kalimpong while Lepcha was returning to his home in Singamari when their vehicles did not get passage of way due to the narrowness of the road. According to Gurung's PSO Lakpa Sherpa, Lepcha was found carrying a country-made revolver when searched at the time of the incident.

According to the APP, the accused has been arrested under Section 25 (1) A of the Indian Penal Code amounting to possessing arms. It must be noted that hill TMC leaders have denied Lepcha being a party member.