Police move court for warrant on Gorkha leader

The Darjeeling police have approached the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate,Kurseong,for a warrant to arrest the Gorkha Janamukti Morchas Kurseong area president Pradip Pradhan...

The Darjeeling police have approached the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate,Kurseong,for a warrant to arrest the Gorkha Janamukti Morchas (GJM) Kurseong area president Pradip Pradhan,who is wanted for arson in Rohini after the murder of Morcha leader Subodh Pradhan allegedly by locals on January 1.

A few days after the incidents of arson,in which around 20 houses and a government rest house were set ablaze allegedly by Morcha supporters,the police had attempted to arrest Pradhan from Bagdogra airport while he was waiting with GJM president Bimal Gurung to board a Delhi-bound flight. They were,however,allegedly stopped by their superiors after Gurung threatened the government with widespread agitation in the Hills.

Police say Pradhan led the mob that ran riot in Rohini after the murder of Subodh at the DGHC rest house,but they could not arrest him as they were advised restraint.

Story continues below this ad

Darjeeling SP Rahul Srivastav said the police had applied for the warrant on Monday,but were yet to receive the order from the court.

Meanwhile,five persons have been arrested for the assault outside the Kurseong court on the accused in the Subodh murder case. The attack by Morcha supporters left four of them seriously injured. The fifth accused,Nirmal Diyali,managed to escape in the melee and is absconding.

The ongoing shutdown of the Hills,enforced by the Morcha since January 7,has kept government offices closed ever since,Darjeeling District Magistrate Surendra Gupta said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram