By: Naresh Chhetri

The DIG [Range], N Sridhar Rao, while speaking to the media on the Singling incident informed that according to the FIR lodged by Indira Kumar Gurung, the driver of the Minister’s vehicle in the Soreng PS, he has named eight people from Singling and another five who are yet to be identified are from Teesta, West Bengal. The eight booked under section 147/148/149/323/427 of the IPC and under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage of Public Properties Act are Bikash Singh Tamang, Gauri Maya Tamang, Geeta Chettri, Priman Tamang, Dawa Tamang, Phurba Tamang, Suk Raj Subba and Pratap Tamang. “Of the above eight three are government employees the rest of them are being verified and further investigation is going on, and arrests will follow very shortly which according to the eye witness has few government officials also,” he added.

“Members opposed to the ruling party took out a procession and wanted to proceed to town the next day, but due to the timely intervention of the DC [West] and IGP [Law & Order] with deployment of a company, who were present at the spot, stopped them from doing so and asked them rather to form a small delegation and held a meet with them,” he said.

In a written complaint filed by Dhan Bahadur Tamang [father of Rajen Tamang] has asked the police to arrest the accused Jeevan Gurung and also examine the Minister RB Subba [also the area MLA] as part of the investigation.

The accused Jeevan Gurung, who was under medical treatment in the Central Referral Hospital [CRH] and was under arrest, today was released from Hospital and has been taken to Soreng PS, he is under four days of Police Remand, the DIG informed and added that the condition of the victim Rajen Tamang, who is admitted in a nursing home in Siliguri is said to be critical. He also stated that the two sisters of the victim [Deep Kala Tamang and Jai Kala Tamang] statements were being recorded in front of the Magistrate in Gyalshing as of today. As there are multiple versions to the stories as to what actually instigated the incident, so we are trying to ascertain all possible angles, he added.

When enquired about the Ministers involvement, he informed that the Minister will be examined in the course of the investigation according to law which states that any persons present at the crime scene can be undertaken for the examination to throw lights on the said event.

As of now the situation in Singling is stable and one platoon/company of Sikkim Armed Police has been stationed with regular patrolling by police personnel are being done in the area, the DIG further stated.

 

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