Snatched police arms recovered in Teesta Valley

MP | 30 Jun 2017 | Darjeeling: Police on Friday recovered two weapons that had been allegedly snatched from a police patrolling party in the Teesta Valley tea estate on Thursday evening. Akhilesh Chaturvedi, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling stated: "On Thursday, a police patrol was returning through Teesta Valley Tea Estate when they were ambushed. Two arms were snatched from the police. Four policemen were injured in the attack. However, the arms were recovered on Friday. We have initiated cases against the local GJM leaders who were involved."

Teesta Valley Tea Estate under the Rungli Rungliot police station is around 33 km from Darjeeling town. Police sources stated that the police party had gone for regular raids following the incident of torching of the Tukdah BDO a few days ago. On the way back, the police party was surrounded and attacked. An SLR and a pistol were snatched and two vehicles were also vandalised.

GJM leader Norbu G Lama, refuting allegations claimed that the police were conduction house-to-house raids in the tea garden. "When the police misbehaved with a woman who was all alone in her house, she raised an alarm. Villagers arrived and a scuffle took place. The police ran away leaving behind two firearms. The manager of the tea estate found the weapons and handed over to the police on Friday morning.

If the intention of the protestors were to snatch the weapons, the arms would not have been recovered. It is a democratic agitation and we do not want to take law in our own hands," claimed Lama. Incidents of arson continued. The Gairigaon Panchayat Office located at Tung was torched. The house of M K Zimba, TMC leader and vice-chairman Mirik Municipality was torched.

Petrol bombs were hurled at around 12.15 am. While trying to escape the fire, Zimba suffered burn injuries. His wife and son were also in the house during the incident. Zimba was rushed to Siliguri where he is undergoing treatment. The Construction Cell office, GTA at Mirik was also torched. J B Tamang, president of the Hill unit of the TMC trade union along with Ramesh Kadadia, General Secretary of the TMC Youth wing of the Hills tendered their resignation from the TMC party.

( Source & Courtesy: http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/kolkata-250062 )