GNLF abuse charge on Gurung son

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, May 20: GNLF supporters have lodged a police complaint against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung's son, Avinash, 27, accusing him of tearing party flags and hurling abuses at women.

Deepak Chhetri, a GNLF candidate in the recent civic elections to the Darjeeling municipality, said Avinash, an actor, and some others had come to the area around 10 last night and "tore party flags and used obscene language at women".

Avinash has been booked for wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, insulting the modesty of a women and common intent.

Avinash's mother-in-law Sunita Tamang, to whose house he had gone last night, said the allegations were "false".

"The GNLF has been trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of our area since losing the civic elections. All of us know Deepak Chhetri. I even refrained from celebrating the Morcha's victory (in the ward) because we know him. But they (the GNLF) have not been able to accept their defeat," she said.

The GNLF had contested the civic polls in the hills in an alliance with the Trinamul Congress. The Morcha won the Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong municipalities while Trinamul bagged Mirik.

The Morcha's Sagar Tamang, who defeated Chhetri, said the GNLF was levelling false allegations and "politicising" an "issue between people in the neighbourhood".

Avinash had played the lead role in the 2014 Nepali film Biteka Pal (Past Moments). He had bagged awards for his performance.