Violence broke out in Singtam of Sikkim on Saturday ahead of a rally, prompting police to clamp prohibitory orders in the area and arrest seven persons so far.
On Saturday, Keshav Sapkota, the general secretary of the Joint Action Council (JAC), an apolitical body of the Himalayan state, was attacked in Singtam, in Gangtok district, by some goons. Sapkota, who suffered serious injuries, was later referred to the central referral hospital at Manipal in Gangtok.
The JAC has been leading a campaign against the definition of the “Sikkimese” in the Income Tax Act of 1961 following a judgment of the Supreme Court in January this year.
On Saturday, they planned to hold a rally in light of the recent Finance Act, 2023, which notified the amendment of the term.
At Singtam, members of different political parties and apolitical organisations turned up to back the rally. A police contingent was posted at Indreni bridge of the town to keep the situation under control.
However, reports suddenly came that some goons had attacked the car of Mechung Bhutia, a former MLA and a worker of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the main Opposition party in Sikkim, at Singtam.
As policemen posted in Indreni bridge area went there to check out the vandalism, a mob came near the bridge, opposing the rally, claiming that the JAC did not have permission to hold the event there.
In the ensuing commotion, Sapkota was attacked.
Also, Arjun Tamang, a member of the Singtam Taxi Drivers’ Association, who was in the opposing group, was reportedly attacked by JAC members.
Tamang also suffered injuries and had to be hospitalised.
Senior police officers reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
People were asked to leave the spot, following which the personnel of the state armed police and Indian Reserve Battalion were deployed across the town.
Later on Saturday, two complaints were filed with the police, one by the JAC, and another by a friend of Tamang, who accused the JAC of the attack.
However, administrative sources said that the JAC didn’t have permission for the rally.
“They were instructed to hold their rally in Gangtok but they insisted on holding it in Singtam,” said a source.
“Seven persons have been arrested so far. An investigation into the incident is in progress,” said a police source.
On Sunday, Pawan Chamling, the former Sikkim chief minister who also happens to be the SDF chief, met governor Lakshman Acharya in Gangtok and apprised him of the incident.
Also, on Saturday itself, Bhaichung Bhutia, who heads the Hamro Sikkim Party, staged a demonstration at Singtam police station, demanding that the police should accept a complaint from him.
The JAC too came up with a statement on the developments on Sunday.
It said that the police and the administration failed to control the goons who attacked those associated with it.
D.N. Nepal, the spokesperson of the JAC, said: “We cannot take our movement forward without the peoples’ support. After this incident, we will hold a general body meeting to take peoples’ opinions as to whether the JAC should continue.”
