Darjeeling: 3 youth arrested for killing SI; all 3 members of Bimal Gurung's armed militia, police sources claim

Shyam Kami, Mahendra Kami and Dewaj Lepcha were handed over to the CID, and a local court sent them to police remand for 14 days.

Arindam De  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
November 3, 2017 | UPDATED 00:34 IST
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Highlights

  • 1
    The three youth were reportedly trying to sneak into Sikkim
  • 2
    They reportedly came into contact with the GJM leadership at a meeting close to the Bhutan border
  • 3
    They moved to the hills after June and accompanied the GJM chief most of the time: Reports

Three youth were arrested in connection with the murder of Amitabha Malik, a police sub-inspector (SI). All three are members of the armed militia headed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung, police sources claim.

Shyam Kami, Mahendra Kami and Dewaj Lepcha were reportedly trying to sneak into Sikkim through a trail in Darjeeling's Bijonbari.

The youth were handed over to the CID, and a local court sent them to police remand for 14 days.

Shyam Kami was a resident of Newland tea garden, Kumargram. Mahendra Kami lived in Birpara's Khawasbasti area, and Lepcha was from Buxa, Alipurduar. According to reports, they moved to the hills after June and accompanied the GJM chief most of the time.

Police had earlier nabbed Morcha activist Suraj Pradhan, who is still in hospital.

Police sleuths believe most of Gurung's hardcore supporters have slipped away.  

CID sources say that for the past few years, Morcha leaders, including Gurung, used to travel widely in the hills and the Dooars areas.

The Morcha has held meetings and camps in areas close to the Bhutan border too, in places like Jaigaon and Kalchini.

Shyam Kami, Mahendra Kami and Dewaj Lepcha reportedly came into contact with the GJM leadership during one such meeting.

They reportedly have links with some secessionist factions of the North East. They were reportedly regulars at the now sealed Singamari bhawan, which along with adjacent Patlebas was the epicentre of the GJM's and Gurung's activities.

The CID is trying to determine if they received arms training.

ALSO WATCH | From June 2017 | GJM supporters clash with police in Darjeeling