Kalimpong bandh condemning molestation incident peaceful

KALIMPONG

29 Sep 2013

The 12-hour bandh called today by the Vidhyarthi Morcha across the Darjeeling hills to condemn Saturday’s molestation incident was fully effective in Kalimpong.

All shops were all closed as also transportation, with only ambulances and security vehicles seen plying the roads. The townsfolk also chose to remain indoors giving the streets a desolate look.

Paramilitary and police forces were present in town in large numbers following the torching of a state government transport bus at the motor stand last night. Security personnel were deployed at several points in town to prevent untoward incidents. However, national highway 31A was not affected by the bandh.

Kalimpong police have arrested five people in connection to the bus torching incident. The suspects in custody are Kiran Das from Bagdhara, Chandra Tamang from Primtam Road, Kushal Tamang and David Lepcha from Lower Primtam and Kumar Sharma from 10th Mile. The five were picked up last night.

They have been charged under IPC Section 435/34 and under charges of destroying public property under IPC Section 6. They were presented before court today after a medical check at the Municipal Hospital.

The Kalimpong chairman of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, Sekhar Khati said higher authorities have been informed about the incident. Talking to journalists, he said some people had set the bus on fire angered by the rape attempt on the minor. He added the torching of the bus has cost a loss of around Rs15 lakh to the corporation and efforts are on to get a new bus for public convenience.