Kalimpong gives Bhujel a tearfull send-off

SNS, KALIMPONG, 27 OCTOBER 2017: Kalimpong town today bid a tearful farewell to local leader Barun Bhujel, who died in a Kolkata hospital while in custody on Wednesday.

Bhujel's body was brought to the town at 11 am, while his supporters shouted slogans like 'may Barun Bhujel be immortal.' As the funeral procession began, Bhujel's younger brother Biren announced that the family will be filing an FIR against Kalimpong SP Ajeet Singh Yadav over the GJMM leader's death.

Thebody was taken to the GJMM party office around 1.30 for the final respects where people offered Khadas and garlands.

Biren Bhujel addressed the crowd at the party office and said that the people should now 'wake up as the leader of Kalimpong is dead for the sake of the soil.'

The family has alleged that the police tortured Bhujel who was arrested in June in connection with the violence and arson during the recent Gorkhaland agitation.

"We will launch an FIR against the SP in a while,at the police station.I request every one to not disturb peace in the town, but we will go to the police station, file the letter, while it is upto him to accept it or reject it:, Mr Bhujel said, while also demanding a CBI probe into Barun's death.

Morcha supporters, meanwhile, quickly replaced the party flag with party chief Bimal Gurung's picture on it. The other faction of the GJMM had removed Mr Gurung's poster and flags from the party office during the Morcha's 10th foundation day. After filing the FIR at the police station, Bhujel's wife Sabita, who cried inconsolably, said that she has applied for a CBI probe too. She said that the SP has assured to help them in further investigations. A family source later said that the SP himself accepted the FIR and signed it. However, SP Yadav said that the family had not filed an FIR, but a "memorandum addressed to many important persons" like the Prime Minister, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Chief Minister, DGP West Bengal." "It was rather a petition for inquiry into the custodial death of Barun and the circumstances that led to his death, and not an FIR," Mr Yadav said.

Barun was buried in the East main Road area. A thanks giving ceremony will beheld on 4 November at his residence at 11 am, family members said.

(Source & Courtesy: The Statesman, 28 October 2017) Shared by Kalimpong News