Bhutia en route to the hospital after the attack.

Kalimpong March 6: A day after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) assistant general secretary Binay Tamang claimed not having any problems with Trinamool Congress holding meetings in the hills, Chewang Bhutia, a TMC leader in the hills was stabbed and injured seriously along with another leader Bruno Lepcha around 1:20 p.m on Wednesday. While Bhutia has been referred to Siliguri, Lepcha was released after first aid at the Kalimpong Sub-divisional hospital.  

Ironically, the incident occurred just after Bhutia held a press conference with journalists in Kalimpong. Straight after the conference when the journalist left after attending the conference in a local hotel, a group of young people attacked the Trinamool supporters injuring Bhutia and Lepcha. The Trinamool Congress in a direct attack has alleged the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) hand behind the attack. 

 “We were sitting and talking amongst each other after the conference when members of the GJM youth wing lead by Binay Ghisingh entered the hotel we were in and used filthy languages. They abused us initially and later enquired us as to what meeting was being held. Soon the group attacked Bhutia with sharp weapons along with Lepcha,” said Mahendra Gazmer, a Trinamool leader told journalist after the incident. The Kalimpong additional superintendent of police Saumit Lepcha rushed to the spot and Bhutia wrapped all over in blood were immediately shifted to Kalimpong Sub divisional Hospital. 

“Where does Gandhigiri exist in the hills?” quipped Gazmer out of anger. Yesterday Binay Tamang, assistant secretary of the Morcha had told journalists in Kurseong that the party has no problems with TMC or any other party holding meetings in the hills. “In a democracy everyone has the right to hold their political programme. The mass is with us and we have not worries,” he had said. The Morcha allegedly had also clashed with the GNLF at Garidhura in the Kurseong subdivision in which several members of the GNLF was injured.

 Defending itself, the GJM in Kalimpong denied its hand behind the attack. “That the GJM has a hand behind the attack as alleged by the TMC leaders is baseless. Since all the frontal organizations of the party were attending a meeting with the sub divisional committee, there is no question of GJM youth wing members attacking the leader,” said Kumar Chamling, the secretary of the party in Kalimpong. The TMC has filed an FIR naming Binay Ghisingh and others at Kalimpong Police station. No arrest has been made so far.