Darjeeling
26 Sep 2013
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)
court of Darjeeling today granted bail to a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
leader, but rejected the applications of three others, including that of
Binay Tamang, the GJM assistant secretary.
Satish Pokhrel, the Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration elected member from Relling in Kalimpong, had
been arrested along with Tamang from the Darjeeling-Sikkim border last
month on the charge of torching a forest guest house in Takdah.
“Four arrested GTA members had applied
for bail today. However, the court granted bail only to Pokhrel on merit
basis as no incriminating evidence was found against him. All four had
applied for bail citing tomorrow’s GTA meeting,” informed Pankaj Prasad,
the assistant public prosecutor.
The other two bail applicants were
Mahendra Pradhan, GTA member from the Sonada-Pachyang constituency, and
Kalyan Dewan from the Gidabling-Nimbong constituency.
However, only Tamang and Dewan appeared
in person before the CJM court, while bail papers were produced by
defence lawyers for Pokhrel and Pradhan.
Apart from the above four, other GTA
members presently under detention are Prabha Chettri from the
Mahanadi-Tindharia constituency, Anush Thapa from Tung-St Mary’s,
Yogendra Rai from Kurseong Town Deorali 1, Anit Kumar Thapa from
Kurseong-Giddeypahar and Neema Tamang from the Homes-Bhalukhop
constituency. GTA member Ramesh Lama from Takling-Peshok constituency is
out on bail.
Meanwhile, Pokhrel’s bail approval has
given rise to speculation that the GJM could be attending Friday’s
meeting to choose a new GTA chief executive. GJM president Bimal Gurung
has declared all those arrested including GJM leaders should be released
unconditionally if the sabhasads are to participate in the GTA meeting.
When asked for comments, GJM assistant
secretary Jyoti Kumar Rai said, “All decisions pertaining to
participation in the GTA meeting will be taken on Friday morning. On
Pokhrel getting bail, we have nothing to say as it is a legal matter.”
Sources have also said the GJM leadership could have a change of heart and attend Friday’s meeting.
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