TMC accuses GJM of arson in Badamtam.... Man accuses GJMM of torching house, car for supporting TMC in LS polls

EOI, Darjeeling, 21 May: Tension between Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters and those of the Trinamool Congress in the hills seems to be mounting with each passing day. The TMC today alleged Morcha supporters on Tuesday torched the house of a party supporter named Dhan Bahadur Tamang at Katarey in Badamtam, about 18km from Darjeeling town.

The incident that occurred late in the night saw the two-storeyed wooden house of Tamang (57), a driver by profession, going up in flames along with his vehicle.

”It was around 9:45 last night when my house was set on fire by GJM supporters. I spotted two Morcha supporters scampering away from my house, but there could have been more of them. Neighbours tried to douse the flames but the fire was too strong and consequently my entire house along with my vehicle got reduced to ashes. The total loss I incurred was about Rs35-36 lakh,” said Tamang.

He said the vehicle was his only means of earning to support his family. Tamang was with his wife Maya Tamang (38) at home when the incident took place. The couple has a son who is studying in Kolkata. Tamang is the sole earning member of the family and now he has sustained burn injuries in his right hand.

“I used to lease my vehicle whenever the TMC held meetings in the area and GJM supporters had been threatening me ever since. This was why they have destroyed my house,” said Tamang, adding he has filed an FIR against two Morcha supporters, Sanjay Pradhan and Manoj Subba, in the Darjeeling police station.

When contacted, GJM leader Deo Prakash Pradhan, who is the GTA sabashad from the Lebong-Badamtam area, said, “The allegations are baseless as the Morcha had nothing to do with the incident. The TMC is only trying to defame us by making such allegations.”

Darjeeling SP Akilesh Chatturvedi said, “We have lodged a complaint and investigations are on into the incident.”

SNS, Darjeeling, 21 May 2014: One Dhan Bahadur Tamang of Katarey near Darjeeling town today alleged that Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) workers torched his house and car last night. 

According to Mr Tamang, the GJMM avenged his move to support the Trinamul Congress in the recent Lok Sabha elections. 

"At around 10 pm yesterday when I, along with my wife, was preparing to go to bed, we heard noises outside. When I looked out of the window I saw my house and vehicle had been set on fire, while I spotted two people running away. There may have been more people, but I saw the two and recognized them too. They are locals in my area and are affiliated to the GJMM," Mr Tamang said. He has named the two people in the FIR he lodged at the Darjeeling police station today. 

Though locals of the area, along with Mr Tamang, tried to douse the flames, they were not much successful. He and his wife suffered minor injuries in the incident. "GJMM supporters had been keeping an eye on me since a week due to my affiliation with the TMC. I had been receiving threats as I had supported the TMC during the election campaign," Mr Tamang said.

"The vehicle was the only source of income I had. In yesterday's inferno, I lost everything, including furniture and important documents. I have incurred a loss of around Rs 35-36 lakh," he added. 

Police, meanwhile, said they are investigating the matter. The GJMM said it had no hand whatsoever in the incident.