GNLF leader arrested over road blockades

TT, 25 March 2019, Siliguri: GNLF leader Jeet Bahadur Tamang was arrested twice in the past 24 hours for his alleged involvement in road blockades and demonstrations last year, prompting the party to point finger at Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang.

Jeet is the working president of the Himalayan Plantation Workers' Union, which is allegiant to the GNLF.

Sources said Jeet had been picked up by a police team from his house on the Pusimbeng Tea Estate in the Darjeeling subdivision around 2.30am on Sunday.

He had organised a blockade on NH31C at Hatighisa under Naxalbari police station on August 7 in connection w- Jeet Bahadur Tamang outside the court in Siliguri on Sunday. (Passang Yolmo) ith demands by tea plantation workers, police sources said.

Later on Sunday, he was produced in the additional chief judicial magistrate's court here. A number of GNLF supporters and tea garden workers from the Terai had been to the court premises to express solidarity with the arrested leader.

Susanta Neogi, the additional public prosecutor in Siliguri, said charges under the IPC and the National Highway Act had been slapped on Jeet.

"He was involved in a road blockade on the highway. Also, there are charges that he was involved in a scuffle. That is why he was arrested. The court heard the case and granted him bail," said Neogi.

Soon, Jeet was arrested by Mirik police in connection with another road blockade on the tea workers' issue. Sources said he would be produced in court in Kurseong on Monday.

"Arrest warrants were pending against him. That is why he has been arrested in two cases," said Amarnath K, the Darjeeling SP.