Sikkim : Violence at JAC rally, several injured in Singtam

PRAKASH ADHIKAR, DICHEN ONGMU, EOI, GANGTOK, APRIL 8, 2023 : The Joint Action Council (JAC)’s rally held this morning in Singtam, Sikkim, turned ugly when the rally came under attack and general secretary of the JAC, Keshav Sapkota was chased and brutally kicked, punched and beaten up by unidentified men. Ex-MLA and SDF leader Mechung Bhutia, who was part of the rally, was also injured in the attack.

Sapkota sustained severe injuries in his head and face and was seen bleeding profusely. He was rushed to the District hospital in Singtam and the rally has been halted. 

Situation turned tense as fist-fights and full-fledged clashes erupted even as armed security personnel tried to intervene and stop the clashes. Section 144 has been clamped to avoid any further flare up in the law and order situation. 

The JAC which is supported by civil society organisations and NGOs opposing the altering of the Sikkimese term in the Finance Act, 2023 and opposition political parties including the Hamro Sikkim Party and Sikkim Democatic Front, organised the rally to voice concerns over expansion of the definition of the term ‘Sikkimese’ in the Finance Act, 2023.

The rally was to put pressure on the government to ensure that the historical and Constitutional definition of the term ‘Sikkimese ’is not altered and is upheld during the special Assembly session proposed on April 10. 

It may be mentioned here that the police and the administration had not given permission to the JAC to hold the rally in Singtam. 

Permission was granted to hold the rally in Gangtok which the JAC declined and decided to go ahead with the rally in Singtam because of its strategic geographical location.