Gurung warning on extortion threats

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 12: Bimal Gurung, the president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, today issued a warning to his party cadres telling them that they would be expelled if they were found involved in extortion cases and also made an appeal to the business community to speak out against such threats.

Gurung, while interacting with the media today at his Patlabas office, said: "I am hearing that some anti-socials are extorting money in the name of the party, mainly in Kalimpong. Such people are trying to defame the party and if any of our cadres are found involved in extortion, we will take strong action and will immediately expel them from the party. I also urge the business community to speak out about such threats. They should inform the police immediately."

Gurung said: "In the hills, Gorkhas, Marwaris, Biharis, Bengalis, Tibetans are all living in complete harmony. Such incidents will disturb the harmony that exists in the hills and we will not tolerate any such move."

The Morcha president said: "I am hearing that some people in Kalimpong and also in Darjeeling are interfering in deals related to private properties and are trying to influence the deals by using the Morcha's name. Such interference will not be tolerated by the party."

Narendra Somani, president of Kalimpong Chamber of Commerce, who along with members of the Janmukti Minority Forum today met Gurung, said: "We too have only heard about such extortions. However, Bimal Gurung has given a very positive assurance on the matter. I would also appeal to the businessmen not to take such threats lying down and to immediately report the matter."

In the Darjeeling hills, the businessmen, most of who are from the hindi-speaking trading community, are not known to report such incidents to the police. However, Siliguri metropolitan police had made a couple of arrests last year after the business community filed a complaint over alleged extortion threats.

On April 3, 2014, Siliguri police had arrested Saroj Chhetri, a resident of Kakjhora in Darjeeling after a Matigara businessman lodged an FIR stating that a caller who had introduced himself as Bimal Gurung had demanded Rs 20 lakh for an election campaign.

Siliguri metropolitan police had also arrested Dipak Modak, a resident of Cooch Behar, after he allegedly had made extortion calls to businessmen in Siliguri asking for money in the name of Gurung.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, had requested the Siliguri police to take necessary action following which Modak was arrested from 10th Mile in Kalimpong.