Gangtok, Aug 7: Sikkim police resorted to a lati-charge and fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the agitated protesters of Padam Gurung justice rally called by All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association at Namchi town in Sikkim on Monday.

According to reports, many members of the rally and police personnel sustained minor injuries during the exchange of stones and lathis at Kazitar, few meters ahead of the restaurant-cum-residence of Padam Gurung, who was last seen before his mysterious death.

Few of the protestors were also detained by police and later released.

According to reports, Padam Gurung, president of Students’ Representative Council, Namchi Government College was found dead in a Kazitar drain on June 28, 2023, morning.

Namchi Police have registered an unnatural death case, and after a series of developments, the case is being probed by a one-man judicial enquiry commission.

Monday’s rally was a display of public outrage, especially those from Padam Gurung’s village of Chuba Perbing, over the delayed justice and conclusion of the death case.

Representatives of various political parties also took part in the rally, but as they insisted, their participation was as a Sikkimese and in solidarity with late Gurung’s family.

Shouts of ‘justice for Padam Gurung’ and unprintable slogans against Sikkim Police resounded during the round on the Namchi town streets.

However, tussle between the police and protestors over the route of the rally and permission saw some stone pelting, and the situation gradually went out of control between the crowd and police.

At around 1:50 pm, police fired tear gas shells and lathi-charged the crowd, dispersing the mob and clearing the inflammable spot.

The Namchi district administration also issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in Central Park for “maintenance of peace and tranquility”.

“The clash was not done by the people, we witnessed an unacceptable behaviour from the police. They should have maintained peace by well coordinating with the people, they should have briefed us on the status of investigation so far. Instead of that, they were only provoking us by challenging us to fights,” Passang Sherpa, a social and political activist, said.

Bhaichung Bhutia from the Hamro Sikkim party, Tshering Wangdi Lepcha from the SDF party, among others took part in the rally.

Also read: to restore a sense of confidence in the rule of law’: SC proposes 3-member committee to probe Manipur violence

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