Madan Tamang murder: CBI seeks arrest warrant against GJM chief Bimal Gurung, 21 others

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday an arrest warrant against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung, his wife Asha and 20 others before a city court in connection with the Madan Tamang murder case.

The CBI counsel prayed before the chief judge of City Sessions Court Kundan Kumar Kumai that the arrest warrant be issued against the 22 accused, who were absent at the hearing in the case.

Out of the 48 accused in the case against whom CBI has prayed for framing of charges for the murder of All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang in the heart of Darjeeling in 2011, 26 accused were present.

The appeal from CBI came on a day when the Director General of Police and other senior police officers are expected to visit Darjeeling to assess the law and order situation in the hills as the GJM-sponsored indefinite shutdown entered its 40th day.

The situation in Darjeeling still remains tense tense but no incidents of violence or arson has been reported since last night, police said.

West Bengal DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha, along with ADGP (law and order) Anuj Sharma and other senior police officers are scheduled to visit Darjeeling today.

They will hold meetings with district police officers and administrative officials.

Police and security forces patrolled the streets of the hills and kept a tight vigil at every entry and exit routes.

Except medicine shops, all the other shops, restaurants,, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed.

The GJM has plans to hold rallies in various parts of the hills in demand of separate state of Gorkhaland.

In the morning, some political party activists, dressed in traditional Nepali attire, took out rallies.

They were heard shouting slogans in support of Gorkhaland.

With food supply severely hit due to the ongoing shutdown, GJM activists and NGOs of the hills were seen distributing food to the locals.

With PTI inputs