Spate of arrests continues in Hills

Amitava Banerjee, MP,30 May 2019, Darjeeling: On the heels of the arrest of B P Bajgain, spokesperson, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Bimal faction), Trilok Chand Roka was also arrested. 

One Binod Rasaily was arrested from Jorebungalow on Thursday morning. Roka, who is a lawyer and a GJM (Bimal) leader, was produced at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Darjeeling, along with Bajgain. 

While Bajgain has been remanded to two days police custody, Roka was sent to a day of judicial custody. Roka will be produced in court again on Friday. 

BJP Bajgain was arrested in connection with a case registered during the Assembly by-elections. The Sadar police station case is related to the forceful entry into government property on May 1. 

Incidentally on that day, the GNLF, BJP and GJM (Bimal faction) leaders and supporters had entered the old party office of GJM in Singamari on the Lebong Cart Road and put up party flags in the building. The building has been taken over by the government, stating that it had been illegally occupied. A police camp has been housed in the building. 

The police had initiated a suo moto case naming Niraj Zimba- the BJP candidate, Manoj Dewan- BJP president, B P Bajgain- GJM (Bimal) spokesperson and others in it. 4 persons had been arrested earlier. 

"The FIR had stated that 4 civic volunteers had been injured when the accused had forcefully entered the building. Out of the 4 injured, one Anmol Rai was critically injured. We had prayed for 5 days of police remand for the recovery of arms. The court has granted two days of police remand. He will be produced again on June 1," stated Pankaj Prasad, assistant public prosecutor, Darjeeling. 

Bajgain has been charged under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, while Roka has been arrested in connection with the case registered in the Sadar police station, Darjeeling, lodged by Darjeeling Municipality chairperson Prativa Rai Tamang.