Home-guard set on fire, GJM TU leader killed in Darjeeling

A home-guard was set on fire and a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha trade union leader was found murdered in Darjeeling today amidst incidents of arson on the eve of the indefinite bandh called in the hills to demand Gorkhaland on the lines of Telangana.
The home-guard was set on fire at Prakriyathong by 'miscreants' and was hospitalised, police sources said.
Suraj Tamang, a GJM trade union leader was found murdered at Hebong, about 8 km from here.
Police sources today said the body of Tamang had many wounds and he was probably killed last night.
The exact cause of death would be ascertained at the postmortem examination, the sources said.

The GJM leadership claimed that he was killed by the Trinamool Congress.

A forest bungalow at Takdha, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had put up during a visit to Darjeeling on January 9 this year was burnt down last night, the sources said.
A truck and an SUV were torched at Mongpo, while disused police booths at Ranglirangliyat and Rangamancha were set ablaze last night, the sources said.
GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri, who left for Delhi at the head of a six-member team, told reporters before his departure that the GJM was not responsible for the incidents of arson and put the blame on opposition parties in the hills.

He said that the indefinite bandh could be relaxed for a day or two for which GJM President Bimal Gurung would be consulted.