Thousands of people joined Tamang´s funeral procession. Tamang was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight in Darjeeling Friday. [break]
The flower-bedecked hearse meandered through the streets of the hill tourist resort as the number of mourners swelled every minute amidst tight security arrangements made by police.
"Madan Tamang Amar Rahe" shouted the mourners who comprised not only his followers but also men and women cutting across political, social, economic and age barriers.
Angry men and women pulled down posters and banners of the GJM put up on the streets of the town as Darjeeling witnessed one of the largest funeral processions in its history.
Anticipating public fury against it, the GJM on Sunday called for a 12-hour business shutdown in Darjeeling Monday to assuage people´s feelings.
The body, brought out from Tamang´s sprawling house on Gandhi Road in the morning, was first taken to the ABGL office near the club side where hundreds of party workers paid their last respects.
The body was then taken to Tamang´s ancestral house at Tangludanda, Meghma, in Jogmai VDC-3 in Ilam in Nepal for the last rites according to Buddhist customs.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has ordered a probe by the state police´s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the veteran leader´s murder, said Special Inspector General of Police (Darjeeling Range) N Ramesh Babu.
The police have filed first information reports (FIRs) against 13 GJM leaders and activists, including party chief Bimal Gurung, his wife Asha Gurung and general secretary Roshan Giri, in connection with Tamang´s murder, but the party has vehemently denied its involvement.
Police in West Bengal had said that 45 people have been arrested in connection with the killing of Tamang even as a search is on to trace GJM youth leader Dinesh Gurung, who is the alleged mastermind of the murder.
Leaders quit GJM
A day after GJM advisory council member Anmol Prasad resigned from the Morcha over allegations of its involvement in Tamang´s murder, five prominent central committee members -- CR Rai, Bhoujit Tamang, Palden Lama, Narayan Thapa and CK Subba -- also quit the party Monday.
Three others who were members of the GJM think tank -- Tilak Dewan, LB Parihar and Amar Rai -- also severed links with the party.
In a setback to GJM, its press secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri also resigned from the party over the Tamang´s killing. "The suspicion for the killing points to the GJM. Therefore I am resigning," Chhetri told PTI.
Incidentally, Chhetri has also been charged with Tamang´s killing.
GJM demands CBI probe
GJM has meanwhile sought CBI enquiry to lift the curtain from the real culprit.
GJM Chief Bimal Gurung demanded proper investigation of the murder accusing the state government that always wants Gorkhas to be deviated from their mission.
In a defending tone, Gurung said the allegation that GJM is behind the great leader´s murder is false.
Related story
From Switzerland to Nepal on foot: A man’s journey for a cause
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
