CAP Sikkim warns street protests if arrests are not made within 24 hours

GANGTOK, :  Ashish Rai, the drivers’ front leader of Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim, sustained severe injuries when unidentified persons wearing face masks attacked him with hammers and other weapons on Monday morning here.

The alleged attack took place at the rented room where Ashish was staying in a Gangtok locality.

CAP Sikkim said Ashish has suffered severe injuries on his head and body, and is presently admitted in STNM Hospital.

“This attack is not just on a simple taxi driver, it is an attack on the voice of people, the right to speak and an assault on democracy. Ashish Rai was a common citizen and used to drive a taxi for his livelihood while also speaking on the issues faced by the people, the drivers and conditions of the roads,” said the CAP Sikkim in a press statement.

CAP Sikkim president Ganesh Rai later in the day led a party delegation to file an FIR at Gangtok Sadar police station.

Speaking to the media, the CAP Sikkim president said Ashish was attacked in his room by around eight persons who were wearing face masks and armed with sharp weapons and hammers.

“We have lodged an FIR at Gangtok Sadar Thana against this murderous attack and demanded arrests be made within 24 hours or we will come out on the streets to protest. The incident happened in broad daylight at around 9 am to 9:30 am in the capital town of Gangtok. It is an attack on democracy and the society of Sikkim,” said Rai.

The CAP Sikkim president alleged that the ruling party was involved in the attack as Ashish was strongly raising the issues faced by the drivers and unemployed people of Sikkim.

Rai contended that anti-social elements from outside the State have been brought to Gangtok to launch attacks on those who are criticizing the SKM government. “I had informed the police about this…A SUV is roaming around with its number plates covered. Who is doing this and under whose protection? The government must be accountable and fulfil its duty to protect the lives of the people,” he said.

Rai said the CAP Sikkim has already sent its complaint to the Home ministry regarding the incident.

Later in the afternoon, the CAP Sikkim president and his team tried to get an appointment with Governor Om Prakash Mathur at Raj Bhavan. The team was assured that the appointment would be fixed on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“We wanted to inform the Governor about the heinous attack on a citizen. The Governor has special powers under Article 371F to protect peace and security in Sikkim. We could not get an appointment today and have been assured that we will get to meet him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The ruling party is oppressing its critics and we urge the Governor to use his special powers to protect the people,” said Rai.

Rebuttal & Condemnations

However, the ruling SKM swiftly dismissed the allegations and countered that opposition parties SDF and CAP Sikkim are attacking their own party members to raise question marks on the SKM government.

The SKM strongly condemns the activities of the so-called opposition parties who are engaging in violent activities to disrupt Sikkim’s peaceful image, said party spokesperson Krishna Lepcha in a media statement.

Lepcha maintained that SKM and its leadership believe in politics of non-violence. He shared that the SKM government is presently actively engaged and preparing for the historic 50^th Statehood Day celebrations to be attended by the Prime Minister, Union Home minister, and Chief Ministers of various States. It is unfortunate that the opposition are trying to malign the State government and disrupt the Statehood Golden Jubilee celebrations, he said.

Meanwhile, the SDF has strongly condemned the attack on CAP Sikkim functionary Ashish Rai. The SDF contended that rule of law has died in Sikkim as the State administration is oblivious to the rise in such criminal activities. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the attack, said the SDF.

Similarly, the Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SPYF) has strongly condemned violence against voices of dissent.

“A democracy cannot survive where muscle power replaces meaningful debate and dialogue. Today, what we are witnessing in Sikkim is deeply disturbing. People who dare to speak up against the government’s troubling policies are being physically attacked. These incidents are not isolated, they have been happening repeatedly over the past month or more,” said the SPYF in a press statement.

“Such brutal acts of violence against individuals exercising their democratic right to express disagreement are not just alarming, they are shameful. Even more concerning is the continued failure of the police department to take action against those responsible. Time and again, the attackers walk free, while the victims suffer. This failure to arrest and prosecute the culprits shows a serious breakdown in law and order,” said the forum.

The SPYF asserted that democracy cannot and must not be silenced by fear and violence. If the government and its agencies fail to protect citizens who speak out, they are complicit in the erosion of our democratic values, said the forum.

“We strongly condemn this violence and demand that the Police department act immediately. Those responsible must be identified, arrested, and punished as per the law.We call upon all democracy-loving citizens to rise and stand united against this growing brutality. Silence now will only invite more violence, if we don’t speak out today, tomorrow it could be us who fall victim,” said the SPYF.