Sikkim: Late Padam Gurung’s family dissatisfied with Judicial probe report

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

After the Citizen Action Party (CAP), now the family members of late Sikkim student leader Padam Gurung and Gurung association have expressed their dissatisfaction with the report of the high-level one-man judicial commission that said Gurung’s death was an accidental death.

They have demanded termination of the 3 police officers–former
SP of Namchi district, Manish Kumar Verma, the then-SHO of Namchi Police Station, Dawa Lhamu Pahkrin, and Sub-Inspector Sidharth Subba.

It may be noted that Dawa Pakhrin and Siddharth Subba are already under suspension, while Manish Verma has been served a show cause notice on the basis of recommendation of the one-man commission led by Justice Narendra Kumar Jain, former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.

They have also served a 7-day ultimatum for termination of services of the cops and making public the proof that Gurung’s death was accidental.

They have threatened to call a statewide shutdown and ‘Chakka Jam’ in the state if their demands are not met.

On Friday, CAP 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.

Former Sikkim Chief Minister and the president Sikkim Democratic Front, Pawan Chamling has also expressed dissatisfaction with the findings of the one-man judicial commission and highlighted several questions surrounding the investigation.

The former Chief Minister criticized the government’s approach to the investigation, emphasizing the multiple transitions of responsibility, from the police to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and finally to the Jain Committee. He also demanded transparency regarding the findings of the police investigation and the SIT.

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: Former Sikkim CM criticizes Jain committee’s findings in Padam Gurung’s death case