Singtam Violence: Bhaichung Bhutia blames Sikkim CM PS Tamang, JAC calls for Janta Curfew tomorrow

REPORTED BY PRAKASH ADHIKARI

Footballer turned politician Bhaichung Bhutia has come out all guns blazing against Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) flaying his role regarding the sudden outbreak of violence in Singtam yesterday.

Replying to a query by Northeast Live asking him as to who he thinks to be the mastermind behind the Singtam violence, Bhaichung Bhutia straightaway trained his guns on CM Tamang. Bhutia said,”Obviously the responsibility has to go to PS Golay, who is the Chief Minister of Sikkim. Why has he not condemned anything? What is DGP saying? Why is DGP silent? Why is Home Secretary silent? Why are they not condemning? Why are they not asking for arrests? and reaching out to people and explaining the situtaion. It has directly come from CM’s office. Mr PS Golay is responsible, because he is the CM of Sikkim.”

Besides, Bhaichung Bhutia also launched a scathing a attack on the Sikkim Police alleging that they failed to contain the situation when the JAC rally was attacked and its general secretary Kesab Sapkota beaten up.

Bhutia when asked if the Sikkim Police was not working properly, said,”This was an organized crime,it was a politcal terrorism which was preplanned to have this violence and the Sikkim Police, when the violence started they were not seen.

After he has been attacked, beaten up severely there are 7-8 police men were protecting him, but despite that protection, there are goons coming and hitting him. We can see that in the video. What is the police doing?

You know that a rally is there, so if it is illegal, police should have taken control. There was notice given day before the rally that all the police forces would be there to control of anything goes wrong. We didn’t see that when the violence happened. They led that violence happen, they got JAC people beaten up. After eveything happened, then SP comes and declares Section 144 and then police force comes and protects after everything is done.”

In fact, Bhaichung Bhutia alleged that few police personnel were acting as SKM party members rather than performing as efficient police officers. Bhutia said,”They have completely failed and it is unfair to say about entire Sikkim Police, but there are couple of officers, there are couple of policepersons who is only acting as SKM party members rather than the police. I would request the Sikkim police people to behave on the law, on the Constitution and act like a police person. Dont act like a party worker for any political people.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Council has called for a 1-day Janta Curfew or Ek Din Ghor Bhitro (1-Day Inside The House) as a mark of protest against the attack on the JAC rally and its general secretary Kesab Sapkota.

Speaking to Northeast Live, JAC vice president Passang Sherpa, said,”We have tried to do our movement in a peaceful manner, through rallies, through protests, but when the police and administration is facilitating the goons to attack the normal common citizens, now it has become very dangerous towards the safety of the Sikkimese people. The law and order is absent. There is complete lawlessness in Sikkim. That is why we thought taking in consideration of the safety of our people, we have called for a 1-day Janta Curfew or Ek Din Ghor Bhitro. We request entire people of Sikkim, govt employees all the employees in different sector, the farmers, daily labourers, students and everyone else to remain inside their houses as a protest.”

Speaking about the JAC’s core demands, Passang Sherpa said,”We want the rejection of the Finance Bill 2023 as far as the Clauses with Sikkim is concerned
& We want justice for Kesab Sapkota.”