Mob blocks Gorkha chief's convoy in Darjeeling

Darjeeling/Siliguri: The convoy of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung was today stopped by a mob at Ghum, 10 kms from Darjeeling, where anti-GJM sentiment is running high after the brutal killing of Gorkha leader Madan Tamang.

Gurung was proceeding to Darjeeling town from Kalimpong to address a rally when he was mobbed by local people.

However, no untoward incident happened as police came to his rescue, Inspector General of Police, (North Bengal) K L Tamta said in Siliguri.

The convoy resumed its journey with police escort.

Gurung in a brief address at Ghum said the GJM would continue its agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland and accused the West Bengal government of hatching a conspiracy to discredit the organisation for Tamang's killing.

Tamang, who recently fell out with GJM over Gorkhaland issue, was stabbed to death by unidentified men during clashes by rival Gorkha groups in Darjeeling on May 21.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, however, denied the convoy was blocked by a mob, claiming that enthusiastic GJM supporters had converged on it.

Meanwhile, Bharati Tamang, wife of the slain All Indian Gorkha League president, met Governor M K Narayanan at the Raj Bhawan in Darjeeling where he is on retreat, and demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of her husband.

Tamta said in view of the tension prevailing since the Friday's assassination of Tamang, prohibitory orders have been clamped in Darjeeling town.

The town wore almost a shuttered look, as shops, markets and offices which reopened after five days, closed within hours as tension prevailed in the region.

Personnel of the India Reserve Battalion, Darjeeling Police and West Bengal Police were deployed in strength at the Chowrasta, Motor Stand and the railway station, police said.

The police chased away a procession of youths near the railway station with batons, they said.

Yesterday, there was a huge turnout for the slain 61-year-old leader's funeral, with a 15,000 strong procession marching from Darjeeling town to his ancestral home at Megma, 100 km away on West Bengal's border with Nepal. Mourners raised anti-GJM slogans and tore GJM posters and banners.