Darjeeling crisis: GJM leader Niraj Pradhan arrested, tense situation prevails

 | 

GANGTOK, August 21: GJM leader Niraj Pradhan has been arrested for various charges amid prevailing tense situation across Darjeeling hills even as the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (GMCC) sought the NIA to probe into the grenade attack at Kalimpong police station.

Mainstream oppositions – CPI(M) and Congress – demanded immediate convention of a tripartite meeting along with the Union government to resolve unrest in Darjeeling.

Former Ward no 8 councillor and GJM leader Niraj Pradhan has been arrested from Kurseong last night for various charges, including damaging police vans and assaulting government employees during the ongoing movement for statehood for Gorkhas. However, after two successive blasts on Friday and Saturday in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, Sunday was relatively peaceful with the indefinite shut down entering 69 days.

The overall situation, though peaceful but highly tense across the hills.

ALSO READ: DARJEELING CRISIS: BOMB BLAST IN DARJEELING, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED

The GMCC held a meeting at Kalimpong yesterday and demanded the NIA (National Investigation Agency) probe into grenade attack at Kalimpong police station on Saturday night in which a Civic Volunteer was killed and two others sustained wounds.The GMCC also demanded that the CCTV cameras at Kalimpong police station be opened for public who ever wanted to see the attackers, who must be punished.

"No one should be arrested on conjecture or mere suspicion on the grenade episode," the GMCC demanded.

GMCC convenor Kalyan Dewan alleged that some vested interest parties were behind the blasts to frustrate the peaceful negotiation on Gorkhaland issue.

(Agencies)

Featured image(courtesy): PTI photo