one of the mainstays of the livelihoods in the hills
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Nickol escape triggers Darjeeling tourist exodus*
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Darjeeling, Aug 22 (IBNS) The tourists are leaving the Darjeeling hills
after reports of the escape of Nickol Tamang, prime suspect in the murder
of Gorkha leader Madan Tamang, from the police custody near Siliguri reached
here on Sunday morning.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)'s central committee member Nickol Tamang, who
was arrested on Aug 16 on charges of murdering the rival All India Gorkha
League (AIGL)'s president Madan Tamang on May 21, fled from the CID custody
in Pintail village.
As the report of Nickol's escape arrived, the rival political parties'
activists in groups gathered on all important junctions forcing the shops to
close shutters.
The tourists on the streets rushed to hotels and booked transport for early
exit from the hills.
Tourism, one of the mainstays of the livelihoods in the hills, has been
badly hit for the past years over the renewed protest for a separate
Gorkhaland by the Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalese.
Reports said the activists of GJM have already fanned out to force the
closure of the shops and business establishments.
United Front and AIGL have demanded re-arrest of Nickol Tamang by tonight or
face indefinite Darjeeling shutdown from Monday.
AIGL leader S K Pradhan alleged on Sunday that Nickol Tamang's escape for
CID custody was a conspiracy between the West Bengal Government and the GJM
to pave the way for "interim set-up on the hills".
"If Nickol is not rearrested by tonight the AIGL would call indefinite bandh
in the hills from Monday," Pradhan said.Darjeeling/Siliguri, Aug 24 (IBNS) An indefinite bandh crippled life in West
Bengal's Darjeeling hills for third straight third day on Tuesday preventing
stranded tourists an exit point forcing the vehicles off the roads on
National Highway connecting neighbouring Sikkim.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called a shutdown in three
hill-sub-divisions, namely, Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, demanding
production of Nickol Tamang, the prime suspect of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha
League (ABGL) president Madan Tamang's murder, who escaped from the CID
custody on Sunday from Pintail village in Siliguri.
The women wing of the GJM gheraoed police stations at Darjeeling and
Kalimpong on Tuesday morning demanding the presence of Nickol Tamang 'dead
or alive.' The Nari Morcha or the women wing shouted slogans " Pharkao
haamro neta," (return of our leader).
GJM leader Binoy Tamang said on Tuesday that bandh would continue until the
production of Nickol Tamang "dead or alive." The GJM claimed that that
Nickol was murdered while he was in the custody.
The bandh was intensified today after Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League joined
the shut down of the hills demanding re-arrest of Nickol Tamang,christian louboutin mens, who is also
a GJM's central committee secretary.
ABGL's general secretary Laxman Pradan claimed that all the tea estates and
cinchona gardens responded to the bandh called for rearresting the fugitive,
saying the "jail escape" was a ploy on the part of the West Bengal
government to please the GJM.
The GJM claimed the bandh has been successful for its influence with the
people and the ABGL has nothing to do.
The Siliguri police filed a case with Pradhan Nagar Police station under 224
-IPC for fleeing of Nickol from CID custody,louboutin pumps. Nickol, who was arrested on
August 16 for May 21 murder case of of Madan Tamang, was on judicial remand
and subsequently on CID remand upto August 30 by an order of Darjeeling's
Chief Judicial Magistrate Court,louboutin boots.
Meanwhile, the visiting travellers in Sikkim and Darjeeling stranded and
having tough time to pass through due to spiralling prices of essentials and
vegetables.
Police on Monday escorted some 200 odd tourists to Siliguri from Darjeeling
but the bandh supporters today completely shut the roads. The tourists in
Sikkim also got stuck as the NH 31A, the line life of Sikkim,christian louboutin shoes, was out of
bound.
Special Superintendent of CID(North) Nishad Parvez today said they were
still looking for Nickol,louboutin outlet.
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