Gurung ‘attacker’ fails to engage a lawyer

Dawa Lepcha in CJM Court Darjeeling

THT, DARJEELING: Dawa Lepcha, arrested under the Arms Act, was produced in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Darjeeling. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung had pressed assault charges against him. Lepcha failed to engage a lawyer for himself in Darjeeling.

Gurung had alleged that a Trinamool supporter had tried to assault him with an improvised gun in Darjeeling on Thursday. The assault bid was foiled by Gurung’s bodyguards. Gurung had lodged an FIR naming three persons including Lepcha (as the attacker), Trinamool Darjeeling convener Rajen Tamang and spokesperson Binny Sharma as conspirators.

An improvised gun was allegedly recovered and handed over to the police by Lakpa Sherpa, personal security officer of Gurung. Lepcha is a resident of Singla near the Sikkim-Darjeeling border. Charged under Section 25 (1) (a) of the Arms Act, Lepcha was produced at the CJM court in Darjeeling. He was not represented by any lawyer, hence his bail petition was not moved.

“The CJM ordered that Lepcha be provided by a defence by the legal aid services. The next date of hearing has been fixed as April 7. Lepcha has been sent to judicial custody,” said Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor.

Incidentally, Gurung claimed that the incident had occurred on his way to Kalimpong from Darjeeling to address a GJM-BJP rally. “A TMC supporter had tried to assault me with a gun. However my boys overpowered him and seized the gun which was later handed over to the police,” Gurung had claimed. Lepcha has, however, claimed that he was beaten up by Gurung’s men, his vehicle damaged and the gun planted in his bag.

The Trinamool has washed their hands of the incident. “It could be a case of GJM infighting. We have photographs showing Lepcha with Bimal Gurung with the GJM flag on January 3. Lepcha is a GJM supporter. It is badly-staged drama. Will anyone buy the story that a lone TMC supporter carrying a TMC flag attacking Gurung’s cavalcade that too in Darjeeling near his party office?” questioned Deb.