3 arrested in connection with SI Amitava Malik case

The police got a breakthrough in the Sub Inspector of Police Amitava Malik murder case with the arrest of 3 persons. The trio were remanded to 14 days of police custody by a Siliguri court on Wednesday.

On October 13, a police team had raided the jungles of Shirubari forest on the banks of Chota Rangeet river, 25 km from Darjeeling, in search of GJM President Bimal Gurung.

There was an alleged exchange of fire between the police and Gurung's supporters. SI Malik who was in hot pursuit fell prey to a bullet allegedly fired by Gurung's supporters.

A huge cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives were recovered by the police from the spot. Police filed a suo moto FIR at the Darjeeling police station naming Bimal Gurung, Prakash Gurung, Dipen Maley, Amrit Yonzon and 50 -60 others.

They were charged under different sections of the IPC read with Arms Act and Explosives Substances Act. The case was later handed over to the CID.

The police arrested 3 persons from the Bijanbari Bazar area while conducting surprise checks under the Pulbazar Police Station area in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The three include Shyam Kami (30 years) of New Lands Tea Garden, Kumargram, Alipurduar; Mahendra Kami (29) of Birpara Khas Bustee, Alipurduar and Dewaj Lepcha (30) of Daragaon, Bauxaduar, Kalchini, Alipurduar.

Police sources claim that all three belong to the controversial Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP.) GLP allegedly guard Gurung, who is on the run.

The police FIR states that the persons who were there with Gurung in the Sirubari Forest had been imparting arms training to organize attacks on the police (waging war against the State.)

In the past there have been allegations that 15 GLP along with others had undergone 14 days arms training in Nagaland in 2013 with the intention of launching an armed movement for separate state of Gorkhland, under the banner of Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA.)

The three persons arrested have been charged under Sections 353/120B/ 307/302 IPC read with sections 25/25 (I) (a) /27/35 of the Arms Act and Sections 3 and 4 of Explosive Substances Act.

The three were produced at the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Siliguri on Wednesday "They have been remanded to 14 days of police custody and will be produced on November 15" stated Sudip Rai Basunia, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Siliguri.

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