Journalists attacked: Darjeeling leaders point finger at BGPM supporters

DARJEELING,:  Political leaders here today condemned the attack on two journalists, alleging that the supporters of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatnatrik Morcha were behind it.

In a disturbing video which became viral, Umesh Darjee of Kalimpong TV and Manoj Bogati of Khabar Magazine, who were at Geil Khola to cover flash flood, are seen heckled and slapped by some people.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung expressed his dismay, emphasizing the importance of press freedom. “We condemn the incident that took place at Geil khola. Two journalists who had gone there to cover a news report after some locals had called them were attacked by people from the BGPM party. This type of attack on reporters is undemocratic,” he said appealing police to take strict action. “I also appeal Anit Thapa that this type of incident should not be repeated. They (BGPM) say that they have brought peace here but this incident shows otherwise.”

GTA Sabhasad Binay Tamang criticized the BGPM party, linking the attack to earlier threats. “I strongly condemn the incident that took place at Geil Khola as it is a very reprehensible act. This incident happened shortly after BGPM leader Barood Thapa in Kalimpong issued a symbolic threat through a press statement. It can be understood from the layers of today’s events that it will definitely happen in Kalimpong in a day or two.”

Tamang demanded an apology, highlighting the gravity of attacking the “mirrors of our society.”

In the press release, he also mentioned how Bogati had been mistreated by Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista a few months back.

“Though he is not from Darjeeling hills but today our own are openly attacking the mirrors of our society in this way. Threatening and beating them while saying that the government and administration will do nothing is nothing but tyranny,” said Tamang while claiming that three people’s representatives were also seen in the video of the incident today but did nothing to stop the assault.

Tamang demanded that the BGPM should apologise for today’s “shameful incident”

Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, condemning the incident, accused ruling party goons and decried the violence against journalists as an assault on democracy’s fourth pillar.

“The attack on the two journalists was done by goons affiliated with the ruling party of the hills and is a direct attack on the fourth pillar of our democracy. This is not the political culture of our hills; this cancer of violence against journalists is the modus operandi of the toxic culture championed by the ruling party in the plains, which seeks to strangulate all voices questioning their lack of accountability and corrupt practices,” he wrote on Facebook.

He criticized GTA chief Anit Thapa for inaction. “What is most tragic and saddening is that the whole attack happened in the presence of the Chief of the GTA, who did nothing to leash in his goons,” alleged Bista. “Response to any criticism cannot and should never be physical violence and instead should be seeking intervention from the legal system if they felt some report was wrong.”

CPIM leader Saman Pathak echoed the condemnation, demanding immediate arrests of the BGPM cadres involved.