Sikkim violence: Bhaichung Bhutia starts sit-in protest in Singtam PS, calls for support to gherao PS

By Prakash Adhikari

Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) President, Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday started a sit-in protest inside the Singtam Police Station alleging police inaction and police refusing to file an FIR regarding the attack on Joint Action Council (JAC) rally earlier this morning.

In the meanwhile, Gangtok SP Tenzing Loden Lepcha has said that three people who were involved in the assault of Keshav Sapkota, General Secretary JAC, have been arrested and the hunt is on for the others.

Footballer-turned politician, Bhutia has also appealed for support to gherao the police station.

In a video message released by Hamro Sikkim Party President, he alleged, “PS Golay goons attacked JAC members as well as other organisations when we came to fight for Sikkim’s identity.”

Meanwhile, Hamro Sikkim Party has suspended the Sikkimey Ekta Yatra launched on April 6 to fight for the soul, the “Aatma”, of Sikkim.

The JAC rally held this morning in Singtam, Sikkim, turned ugly when the rally came under attack and general secretary of the JAC, Keshav Sapkota, was chased and brutally kicked, punched, and beaten up by unidentified men.

Ex-MLA and SDF leader Mechung Bhutia, who was part of the rally, was also injured in the attack.
Sapkota sustained severe injuries to his head and face and was seen bleeding profusely. He was rushed to the district hospital in Singtam, and the rally has been halted.

The situation turned tense as fistfights and full-fledged clashes erupted, even as armed security personnel tried to intervene and stop the clashes.

Section 144 has been clamped down to avoid any further flare-ups in the law and order situation.

Also Read: Sikkim: JAC rally in Singtam attacked; general secy Keshav Sapkota beaten up