NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has restrained the West Bengal government from arresting the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha chief, Bimal Gurung over growing unrest in Darjeeling. It said that no coercive action shall be taken against him and issued notices to the state and central government, asking them to hand over the probe to either the CBI or NIA. It will hear the case once again in two weeks. Gurun has been named in 31 FIRs as voices grow louder for an independent Gorkhaland.
The central committee of his party suspended him for six months, last week. His wife and GJM Mahila Morcha chief Asha, his close aide and party general secretary Roshan Giri, and seven others also faced the same fate. Gurung has been absconding since August after the state government lodged cases against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in hills in Darjeeling. The incident happened during a three-month-long shutdown for a separate state. The protest was called off on September 27. Gurung as also been replaced by Binay Tamang as the party's new president.
