Gangtok, April 8: Joint Action Council (JAC) general secretary Keshav Sapkota Keshav Sapkota was allegedly attacked by the miscreants at Singtam ahead of the rally called by JAC.
According to reports, Sapkota was later rushed to the nearest Singtam District hospital with a busted nose and supposed head injury.
JAC has been protesting against the expansion of Sikkimese term to make way for Income Tax Exemption to the old settlers of Sikkim.
He was later referred to Central Referral Hospital in Gangtok.
Meanwhile, after the incident section 144 has been imposed in Singtam town with the protest called off and the crowd dispersed.
Similarly, the vehicle of former legislator Mechung Bhutia of Sikkim Democratic Front party was also attacked by miscreants in Singtam town.
Talking to reporters, Mechung Bhutia, former MLA, SDF said, “I was attacked at the back of my neck, I was attacked from behind. They ran away there after, but attacked my vehicle. They might have placed some weapons in my vehicle which I request the police to come and check. I couldn’t see who attacked but there were 3-4 individuals.”
“I was heading from Singtam town towards South Sikkim when I was attacked. I had parked my vehicle and it was not in movement. I was with a few other individuals whom I had dropped at the JAC rally and was on my way to park the vehicle,” be added.
JAC had been opposing the same expansion for the past months, with the recent Finance Bill, they had called for a protest rally uniting Sikkimese people against the expansion, demanding the Sikkimese term to be defined as per the old laws under Article 371F.
On the other hand, Hamro Sikkim Party president Bhaichung Bhutia has decided to stage a sit-in protest at Singtam police outpost until the arrests are made against the attack on JAC general secretary.
Speaking to media persons, Gangtok SP Tenzing Loden Lepcha said, “There was commotion that happened here. As per information we have received so far, we have taken the victim to the nearest hospital. We will investigate the incident as per relevant section.”
“An altercation started between two parties after a heated argument and resulted in violence injuring some person. We intervened between them and controlled the situation,” the SP stated.
