Trinamul attack slur on Gurung

Roshan Tamang in Darjeeling district hospital. Picture by Suman Tamang

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 1: Trinamul (hill) Congress today alleged that its supporters had been attacked by GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung and people in his convoy at Patlabas near here.

The ruling party said in a police complaint that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters had fired at a Trinamul member but the bullet had missed him. Gurung and five Morcha supporters are named in the FIR.

"Three of us were travelling uphill to the town in a vehicle owned by Suk Tshering Lepcha around 11.30 am today. At Patlabas, we came face to face with Bimal Gurung's convoy," said Roshan Tamang, a Trinamul supporter.

Roshan said they had stopped the vehicle to allow Gurung's convoy to pass. "There were four to five vehicles in the convoy. Suddenly, the convoy stopped and we were attacked. They also fired a shot but the bullet missed me," said Roshan.

Roshan, Suk and Bhushan Tamang were admitted to the Darjeeling district hospital with injuries. Another Trinamul supporter Harka Singh Tamang was also with them.

Rajen Tamang, vice-president, TMC (hills) district committee, said: "The vehicle was totally damaged and pushed down the hill. The main people involved in the attack were Bimal Gurung and Devendra Sharma (Morcha central committee member). They have attacked our supporters as people are joining our party in the Tukvar area."

Gurung denied the charges. "Local people might have clashed with the Trinamul supporters as Tukvar tea garden has been closed because of Trinamul," said Gurung.

Amit P. Javalgi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said: "We found that a vehicle in which four people were travelling had fallen off the road. Three of them have sustained head injuries. We have also received a complaint from the injured and have started an investigation to find out the truth."