Tamang, known for his non-violent agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, was overseeing arrangements for observing the 67th foundation day of ABGL, when a group of masked men attacked him with swords and kukris (long knifes used by Nepalis) around 9:30 am.
Before the police guarding Tamang could realise what the assailants were up to, he fell on the road, with blood spilling out from several gashes in his stomach and neck. In a knee-jerk reaction, they fired in the air while the miscreants quickly escaped.
A profusely bleeding Tamang was first rushed to the Darjeeling district hospital, but his supporters decided to shift him to Siliguri. As his condition deteriorated on the way, they decided to take him back to Darjeeling. Tamang succumbed to his injuries on the way back.
The ghastly murder in full public view triggered an instant shutdown in the hill town. Immediately after the attack, supporters of the rival parties clashed, forcing the police to open fire. “There is a lot of tension and panic in the hills. Anything may happen any time,” a police officer said.
Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the killing, IG (North Bengal) K L Tamta said. Security forces have been rushed to the area and patrolling at sensitive areas has been intensified.
According to ABGL general secretary, Laxman Pradhan, a 40-strong mob of GJM activists attacked Tamang while he was giving finishing touches to the meeting venue. “Our foundation day was on May 15. But authorities had refused us permission on that day fearing trouble. After a lot or pleas, we were allowed to hold the meeting on Friday. But they killed him in front of the police,” Pradhan said.
In fact, GJM had reportedly exerted pressure on the police to deny permission to ABGL to hold the meeting at that venue. Even though GJM spokesperson Roshan Giri denied the involvement of his outfit in the killing, police suspect the murder was a well-planned move by GJM to neutralise all opposition against it. Tamang was opposed to GNM’s stand on an interim set-up for the hills.
