1 on One with Deepak Gurung

I. N. PRADHAN ARRESTED IN GHYABARI!

GJM TORCH RALLY CULMINATING AT THE CHOWRASTA

Darjeeling, Jan 25, 2008 [HB Exclusive] 7:02 pm IST: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, General Secretary thanked the Police for apprehending Gorkha National Liberation Front Leader I. N. Pradhan who had wounded two women GJM supporters. However, speaking to The Himalayan Beacon exclusively demanded that sterner action should be taken against I. N. Pradhan. “GNLF has become desperate by the day and have began to panic. I. N. Pradhan’s resorting to firing at unarmed protesters and that women shows the severely strained mental condition GNLF is in. The leaders and the cadres are themselves in complete isolation and have been detached from the Central Leadership. The police must now take stock of the situation and take sterner actions.” While there has been silence on the entire episode from the GNLF camp, I. N. Pradhan during his transfer to the Kurseong Prison speaking to the press in the way stated saying, “I do not own any unlicensed weapons. I have valid license for the weapons that have been seized from my house. I had retaliated because my house and my family had been repeatedly threatened. I had asked for police protection but it did not arrive. Whatever, I did I did it in self defence.” I. N. Pradhan also stated that he had surrendered willfully before the police and had not been arrested.Meanwhile, today at around 5:30 a torch rally was brought out by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha from the GDNS ground to the Chowrasta. While the programme for the said torch rally had been set to demand for the arrest of I. N. Pradhan, when asked by this reporter as to the objective behind the torch rally after the arrest of I. N. Pradhan, Roshan Giri, GS, GJM said GJM would now demand for sterner action against I. N. Pradhan. “If Chattrey Chettri has been languishing for so many years without trial, I. N. Pradhan must be booked for attempt to murder and brought under the book.”The torch rally was well attended with more than 1,500 people participating in it. The rally culminated at the Chowrasta where the members of the Central Committee of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha addressed the press and thanked the people for making the torch rally a success.

GJM Bandh ends peacefully

Darjeeling Combat Force patrolling main market section in Darjeeling during the 12 hour closure declared by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha [Photo: Barun Roy]

Complete Shut Down! [Photo: Barun Roy]

[The Telegraph] Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Jan. 24: The entire Darjeeling hills shut down today because of the dawn-to-dusk strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to demand the arrest of I.N. Pradhan, a GNLF leader from Kurseong.

Pradhan, who is accused of firing at Morcha supporters in Ghayabari on Tuesday night, is still missing. Police had found two unlicensed firearms in his house and arrested his wife, Deepa.

Morcha leaders said they would continue with their protests until the Kurseong branch committee president of the GNLF is brought to book, but steered clear of calling another bandh.