Sikkim: CAP demands ‘more serious investigation’ into Padam Gurung’s death

CAP said that the people of the state predicts foul play into the case

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

Unhappy with the high-level one-man judicial commission’s ruling that Sikkim student leader Padam Gurung’s death was an accident, the Citizen Action Party (CAP) has said that justice has not been served to late Padam Gurung and that the people of the state, along with the party, demand ‘more serious investigation’ into the case.

The one-man commission led by Justice Narendra Kumar Jain, former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, said that it has evaluated 102 witnesses and 167 exhibits before arriving at the conclusion that Gurung who was a Student Representative Council (SRC) member at Sikkim Government College, Kamrang in Namchi was an accidental death.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, Spokesperson of CAP, Albert Gurung, today said that despite the fact that the committee took a long time investigating into the matter, its findings are quite unexpected.

He said that the judicial commission’s report raises an array of doubts because, if Gurung’s death was an accident, then why 3 police officers investigating the case have been served notices of suspension?

“The findings of the report is very unsatisfactory, and we (CAP) with the people of the state, demand more serious investigation into this. We have been demanding a CBI investigation into the case, but nothing such happened. Justice has not been served to late Gurung by the administration. The way the government has handled this case is very unsatisfactory. The commission report report says Gurung’s death was an accidental death, but at the same time the government has suspened 3 police officers investigation the case. Things can not be that simple. There has to be something wrong, if the police personnel have been suspended. Government has to make things clear to the public,” said Albert Gurung.

He also said that the people of the state, predict foul play into the case. Public has provided so many evidence against the culprits behind the death of Padam Gurung. Perhaps, the government has not taken them seriously. It seems like the government is protecting someone.

Yesterday, based on the recommendation of the high level probe commission, the then SP of Namchi District, Manish Kumar Verma has been issued show cause notice for failure of supervisory duty and the then-SHO of Namchi Police Station, Dawa Lhamu Pahkrin, and Sub-Inspector Sidharth Subba have been suspended.

Moreover, police has been asked to initiate action against Keshav Thatal, owner of Hotel Crossroads where Gurung was seen before he disappeared, for serving alcohol to minors.

Padam Gurung was untraceable since June 27, 2023 night after he was reportedly washed away following heavy rainfall. His body was recovered from a drain the next day in the Kazitar area of Namchi, Sikkim.
Many people thought that Gurung was murdered and protests were held seeking justice for the deceased student leader.
Sikkim government set up the high level judicial inquiry into the death of Gurung and the probe started on June 26.

Also Read: Sikkim student leader Padam Gurung’s death was accidental: Probe report

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