WB Police detains 18 people in connection with Gorkha leader's murder

Darjeeling, May 21 (ANI): West Bengal Police on Friday said they had arrested 18 people in connection with the killing of All India Gorkha League, (AIGL) leader Madan Tamang.

Tamang was stabbed to death on Friday morning by unknown miscreants during a rally in Darjeeling

"Whatever has happened it was very unfortunate and unthinkable. Now the first thing is to restore the confidence of people and at the same time if there is any backlash among the party or the people it has to be stopped," said Kundan Lal Tamta, Inspector General of Police of Siliguri region.

"So we have moved two companies of the force to Darjeeling. So far we have arrested 18 people, " he added.

Armed supporters of the Gurkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) are being suspected for the assassination of Tamang.

Police said that Tamang was seriously injured when he was assaulted with sharp weapons.

He was taken to the Siliguri Hospital for further treatment where he succumbed to injuries.

Tension prevailed in Darjeeling and surrounding hill regions following the attack as shops and markets were closed down.

Though Tamang also voiced for a separate state, but was opposed to the GJM's stand on setting up an interim council for Darjeeling hills.

Tamang was a vocal opponent of GJM chief Bimal Gurung and had leveled corruption charges against him.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal is around one million out of the states 80 million people. An overwhelming majority is concentrated in Darjeeling.

At least 1,200 people died in the first Gorkhaland campaign in the 1980s, but protests ended a few years later, after Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy.(ANI)