ABGL seeks judicial probe

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, June 18: The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League today told Mamata Banerjee that a judicial investigation should be conducted to find out lapses of the previous government and the district administration that could have led to the murder of the party's chief Madan Tamang in 2010.
Party general secretary Pratap Khati said: "We have told the chief minister that Bimal Gurung cannot be trusted. Following the chargesheet even God cannot save Bimal Gurung."<
He said: "We requested the chief minister for a judicial inquiry. The role of the then government and the district administration has to be looked into as there were many lapses. We have learnt that the instruction given by then IG of north Bengal, K.L. Tamta, on issues regarding security arrangements at the public meeting which was to be addressed by Madan Tamang was not followed by the district police superintendent."
He said the escape of Nickole Tamang, one of the accused, from CID custody should also be probed.
"As per norms he should have been kept at a police lock-up for an overnight stay and should not have been with the CID. Also, we do not know why the CID's investigating officer, K.S. Paharia, was not brought to book. We have requested for a judicial inquiry so that the real facts and the involvement of the government can come to light," Khati said.
Khati was part of an ABGL delegation which met Mamata Banerjee at Richmond Hill here around 1.30pm today and submitted a memorandum.
The ABGL also raised the issue of the recent arms case in Darjeeling.
"We have told the chief minister that one of the elected GTA Sabha members, whose name had figured in a case related to seizure of arms in Assam is untraceable. There were reports of the involvement of NSCN (Khaplang) in the case. These groups were involved in the recent ambush in Manipur. We have told the chief minister that Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri used to frequently visit the north-eastern states and they cannot be trusted," said Khati.
"Nothing happens in the Morcha without Bimal Gurung's knowledge," he said.
Told about the bonhomie shown by Mamata and Gurung yesterday, Khati said: "There can always be political compulsions."
Khati today also claimed that the chief minister had instructed her officials to send a bouquet and good wishes message to Bharati Tamang, the widow of Madan Tamang.
"The chief minister gave us a patient hearing today and also promised to meet us when she returns to the hills in September this year," said Khati.