DARJEELING,: Former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Prakash Gurung, who had been arrested by police in connection with the murder of police officer, was granted bail today by the Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court in Jalpaiguri.
Gurung, presently a leader of the Indian Gorkha Janashakti Front, had been arrested on March 9 with a warrant pending against him in the murder case. Though he was granted bail, Gurung will not be released for now with other cases pending against him.
“We had filed a bail petition on 19th March in the High Court for him as when he was arrested there was a stay on his proclamation order by the High Court. This gave us a good ground on which we could appeal directly to the High Court for a bail appeal,” said defence lawyer Yogesh Diyali.
“Since the Circuit Bench was closed that day we filed the appeal in the Principal Bench with the first hearing held on 26th March with the Judge then maintaining that it was a matter of the Circuit Bench due to which the case was transferred to it on 1st April. Finally, the matter was placed in the Circuit Bench on 7th April with him being granted bail,” added Diyali, while maintaining that with some more cases pending against Gurung, he would not be released at present.
Diyali further shared that they would file bail pleas for other cases as well.
The case dates back to October 13, 2017 when tensions escalated over the Gorkhaland movement under Morcha leader Bimal Gurung's leadership. On that day, there was an exchange of fire between a police team in pursuit of Bimal Gurung and his men in the Shirubari forest area on the banks of Chota Rangeet River, around 25 kms from Darjeeling. SI Amitava Malik died on the spot allegedly from bullet injuries fired by Gurung’s associates. A suo-moto FIR was lodged by the police at the Darjeeling Sadar Police Station naming different Morcha leaders and cadres.
Recently, on February 15, one Ayush Rai was also arrested with warrants pending against him for the case. On the other hand, Bimal Gurung who also has a warrant against him had filed an anticipatory bail plea on November 6, 2024 and he received bail on February 13 this year after he surrendered here in the CJM Court.