Cops evict faith-healers from Tashiding HEP tunnel site

FIRST ARRESTS IN RATHONG CHU HYDEL PROTEST
GYALSHING, 12 Dec: West District police on Sunday made the first set of arrests in connection with the protest against hydel projects on the Rathong Chu. Seven faith-healers – jhankris and matas – were picked up and placed under custody last evening on charges of creating public nuisance and disrupting work on the Tashiding hydroelectric project site. All seven were released on bail today, sources inform.

Confirming the arrests, SP [West],DB Giri, informed that seven persons – 4 matas and 3 jhankris – have been placed under arrest and booked under Section 169 of the Sikkim Police Act. The arrests were made from near Gaythang village [below Tashiding] where the project developer, Shiga Energy Pvt Ltd, is engaged in tunnelling works.
The seven taken into custody are: Tika Ram Chettri, a resident of Darap, West Sikkim, Deo Kr. Chettri, Raj Kr. Chettri, Kaushila Chettri, Maya Gurung and two minors Tara Katuwal and Purnima Chettri.
This group of seven faith healers were camped at the site for the past three days performing prayers and rituals there, disrupting work at the site. Their presence has to be seen against the backdrop of the protest mounted by the residents of Gaythang against the project, especially the tunnelling work there, which, they inform, is damaging a sacred spot dedicated to “Shinga Devi”, the spirit of the forests, located there and where the people have been offering prayers for generations.
The SP informs that following their arrival at the spot and the disruption it was causing, he had personally sent word to the seven not to disturb project-related work at the site. When this direction went unheeded for three days, and following a confrontational stance the seven reportedly adopted yesterday, the police moved in, placed them under custody and evicted them from the spot. This was at around 5:30 p.m.
They are currently under Police custody at Gyalshing Thana, the SP informs.
When asked what brought the seven to the site, the SP, while stressing that the investigation was still in its preliminary stages, informed that the police have learned that the group was brought to the spot by the area Panchayat who is alleged to have directed them to perform the prayers.

It may be mentioned here that, while protesting the upcoming hydel power project at Rathongchu River in West Sikkim earlier also a religious puja was conducted at the same place stating that here stays Shinga Devi, the Goddess of Jungle and the forefathers were performing same kind of rituals here. It was also alleged that the upcoming hydel power project undertaken by Shiga Energy Private Limited is not only creating disastrous future but was also destroying the religious sentiments of the locals. In other hand, numbers of Buddhist Association are also opposing the power project in Rathong Chu River which according to them has a religious value and is sacred for them. DC West Santa Pradhan in conversation with this correspondent earlier said that, the situation was under control and everyone has their right to raise their voice but should remain inside the boundary of law. The locals also formed a committee named ‘Save Sikkim’ to oppose the entire Rathong Chu Power Project.
The arrest of 7 indigenous healers today from the same spot of which the Hindu community was claiming as sacred place for them is now the first arrest made in this entire process of protest. They were arrested for creating public nuisance even after the warning issued from the office of SP West, beside that everything is normal and under control, informed SP West Mr. Giri.