GANGTOK, 23 Jan: With the Assembly elections fast
approaching incidents of political violence were expected and the first such
clash this year has been reported from the South and West districts on
Wednesday.
According to reports, on 22 January a group of Sikkim
Krantikari Morcha [SKM] supporters interrupted a constituency level meeting
being organized by the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] at Bermiok Secondary
School in West Sikkim. The SKM supporters allegedly blocked the roads, used
abusive language and pelted stones at the SDF gathering. No severe injuries were
reported. The identified SKM supporters have been booked for rioting and
causing hurt.
One Topzang Bhutia has been arrested while the police are on
the lookout for other accused namely Roshan Pradhan of Ranipool; Phurden Lepcha
of Nandugaon and Tika Hang Subba of Sombaria all of whom are reportedly absconding.
Meanwhile, a ruling party press release details another
attack by SKM supporters the same day. The release states that its supporters
were attacked by SKM supporters at Papong under Temi-Namphing constituency of
South Sikkim on the evening of the same day. SDF supporters were returning from
the meeting held at Bermiok.
It is stated that the West district party organization
secretary of the party was injured in the attack and is admitted in the Central
Referral hospital, Tadong. Former Minister SB Subedi narrowly escaped the
attack, it is added.
SDF has alleged that the same group of SKM supporters had earlier
disturbed the SDF meeting at Bermiok. SKM has once again revealed its true nature
by indulging in violence, the release alleges further demanding that the police
arrest all involved in the attack.
The ruling party has also urged its workers to keep calm and
not to take law into their own hands or disturb the law and order situation in
the state.
