Total of 5 police complaints reported in connection with Sikkim Bandh

GANGTOK: The 48-hour bandh called by the Sikkim Democratic Front for 04 and 05 April, although relatively peacefully, still recorded stray incidents of violence and intimidation. A total of five police complaints were recorded in respect to incidents reported over the two days of the bandh.
A case was registered in the Ranipool PS on 05 April, the second day of the bandh, under sections dealing with causing damage to a vehicle and assault. A private Mahindra Scorpio, hired by an army Captain going towards Siliguri was stopped by 15 to 20 unknown persons at 6th Mile, Tadong. The mob damaged the vehicle [a broken rear-view mirror and deflated tyres] and roughed up the Captain and the driver of the vehicle, the police complaint records. Both of them sustained minor injuries, it is learnt.

In another incident, reported the same day from Mangan in North Sikkim, a case on a written complaint filed by the Senior General Manager [Coastal Projects] was registered at the Mangan Police Station. The Senior GM in his complaint stated that around 9.30 a.m., some unknown persons entered the office at Singhik. They then broke open the office, ransacked it and broke furniture, they have complained. The Senior GM has further stated that he along with other officials present in the office were also assaulted.
Meanwhile, three other incidents one at Melli, one at Rangpo and one at Lumsey in East Sikkim were reported on day one of the bandh.
Manoj Kumar Gupta filed a complaint against Nuk Tshering Bhutia at the Melli PS stating that he had used abusive language against four lady supporters of the SDF, while a counter complaint filed by Nuk Tshering Bhutia against Nar Bir Tamang alleged that they had pelted stones on his house, broken window panes and had also threatened him.
The Manager [HR] at Cipla, a pharma-company, filed a written complaint at the Rangpo PS stating that unknown persons entered the factory premises and beat up two security officers [Vinod Vasu and Samsher Rai] on duty there.
The fifth incident, reported from Lumsey at 5th Mile, Tadong, although it transpired on day-One of the bandh has not yet been linked to the enforcement of the bandh. In this case, a parked vehicle was set on fire leading to partial damage, police records reveal.
The DIG [Range], N Sridhar Rao, informed that adequate manpower had been deployed to maintain peace and order in the State and to ensure that no obstruction was caused to essential vehicles. “We also attempted to evacuate stranded tourists who needed to return and also made checks so that undue harassment to people was not being caused,” he added.