Gurung aides' homes gutted.... Binay meets governor

UP in flames: One of the burnt houses with the Morcha office in the background

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling: Houses of two Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders believed to be close to Bimal Gurung were torched on Saturday night within metres of the party chief's home in Patlebas.

The homes of Morcha leaders Prawin Subba and Dinesh Theeng were situated 50 metres from the party office and 300 metres from Gurung's house. The homes of two local residents nearby were also burnt in the flames.

Apart from Subba's concrete house, all three were wooden.

It could not be immediately confirmed who were behind the attack. Local people said the fire broke out around 11.30pm.

"We were sleeping when we heard some noise and woke up. After coming out, we saw the houses on fire. Around that time, two police vehicles also came uphill but did not stop. Since the incident took place late at night, we don't know who were behind the incident," said a local resident.

Sources said none of the houses that were gutted had any occupant.

Additonal director-general (law and order) S.N. Gupta, who visited the spot along with senior officers Javed Shamim and Manoj Verma, said: "Once we received the information, the police and fire brigade rushed to the spot. A CID team of senior officers has also visited the spot for investigation. We have requested the forensic department to find out the cause of the fire."

Binay meets governor

Disgruntled Morcha leader Binay Tamang met Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhavan on Sunday.

"We informed the governor about the current situation in Darjeeling, the recovery of arms and the gradual restoration of peace. We told him that we are willing to talk to the Centre, which needs to intervene and call us for a dialogue on every issue, including Gorkhaland," Tamang said in Calcutta.