Police refute allegations in custodial death of Barun

 Anuj Sharma, ADGP

SNS, SILIGURI. 25 OCTOBER 2017: Police have denied torturing Gurkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader and Ward commissioner of the Kalimpong Municipality, Barun Bhujel,who died of pancreatitis in a hospital in Kolkata early today.

Bhujel had been arrested by the Kalimpong police on 16 June in connection with violence and arson in the town during the Gorkhaland agitation. He had been lodged at the Siliguri Special Correctional Home and taken to Kolkata after he fell ill and after he failed to respond to treatment in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Family members and GJMM chief Bimal Gurung alleged torture in custody which they said led to Bhujel catching the illness and subsequently dying.

Additional Director General of police (Law and Orders), Anuj Sharma, however, said Mr Gurung was misleading the people to create further problems in the Hills.

Talking to The Statesmen over the phone from Kolkata, Mr Sharma said: "Bimal Gurung's allegation is totally false. The deceased was admitted to the SSKM for proper treatment and he was undergoing proper medical treatment there.There is no question of torture and medical negligence:

Sources at the NBMCH, meanwhile, said Bhujel was under treatment for jaundice, while water had accumutated in his chest and belly. He was refereed to Kolkata for better treatment and to see if there were complications in the pancreas," the sources said. Officials at the correctional home said five cases were slapped on Bhujel. He was admitted for at least two times in the NBMCH. He was referred to other big hospitals by NBMCH doctors on 21 October," they said.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed Bhujel was denied proper treatments while in custody.Though he was ill, family members were also not allowed to see him," he said.

General secretary of the Gorkha National Liberation Front Mahendra Chhetri said that since the GJMM leader died in custody, a high-level inquiry is a must.

Separately, asked to comment on Mr Gurung's decision to appear in public on 30 October ADC Mr. Sharma said, "Police will do their job properly. We need to wait and watch."