Link to GLP claim in case

TT, Nov. 11: Interrogation of Umesh Kami, who was arrested along with another person with the Bengal-bound arms consignment in Assam's Chirang district on Saturday, has revealed that he is a volunteer of Gorkhaland Personnel, a youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said attempts were being made to malign the party, referring to the raid on the residence of GTA Sabha member Sanjay Thulung in connection with the arms haul. According to a central intelligence source, Kami had even attended training sessions of Gorkhaland Personnel at Fagu valley near Garubathan in Darjeeling, the source told The Telegraph in Guwahati.

"He got acquainted with Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha leader Sanjay Thulung during a Morcha meeting in Darjeeling in 2012. According to Kami, Sanjay had asked him to bring the arms consignment from Dimapur in Nagaland to Darjeeling," the source said.

"Kami, however, claims he doesn't know for what purpose Sanjay would have used these arms and ammunition," the source added.

The intelligence agencies suspect that some elements in the Morcha and its frontal organisations could be preparing to launch an arms movement in the Darjeeling hills and further investigation will be required to know more about it.

Roshan Giri said the party was feeling that attempts were being made to suppress the Gorkhaland demand and malign the hill outfit.

He said in Darjeeling that the party would be holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue.

"The party will sit for a meeting tomorrow. It will also try and investigate the matter on its own. We are feeling that attempts are being made to suppress the Gorkhaland demand and malign the image of the party," said Giri. This is the first time that Giri, one of the top Morcha leaders, was commenting on the arms haul.

Ganesh Chhetri, who is a member of a militant outfit called the United Gorkha People's Organisation, is the second person held with the arms.

Sources in Assam police had claimed that Chhetri had said he was taking the consignment for "a political leader of Darjeeling."

The source had, however, refused to disclose the name of the political leader.

On Sunday night, Darjeeling police had raided the home of GTA elected member Thulung, who is the vice-president of the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha. Thulung is untraceable.

Giri's comment comes at a time the Morcha is mobilising hundreds of supporters for a three-day dharna in Delhi to press for Gorkhaland starting December 18.

The party has decided to organise the dharna at Jantar Mantar on December 18 and 19 followed by a public meeting at Talkatora Stadium the next day.

Gurung has already directed the 630 primary school teachers and 269 secondary teachers who got their appointment after the GTA was formed to compulsory attend the Delhi event.

Meanwhile, Gautam Deb, north Bengal development department minister, who was in Darjeeling, said the incident was "serious". "I do not want to comment as I am on an official visit to Darjeeling. However, the public is taking note of all the developments. The issue is serious as the region is vulnerable and is surrounded by international borders."

Deb was in Darjeeling to attend a meeting of the Rogi Kalyan Samity in Darjeeling. He also visited various sites in Kurseong to set up a branch office of the north Bengal development department.

Deb said they were hoping to start the office on a temporary basis by November before a fully-fledged office is set up within the next four to five months.