Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Councillor, In Police Custody, Dies In Hospital

Kolkata: Barun Bhujel, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's civic councillor from Kalimpong town adjoining Darjeeling, died in a Kolkata hospital today while in police custody. Arrested on June 14 for arson, Mr Bhujel, 40, was suffering from an illness, police sources say, and moved from a jail in Siliguri to a hospital in Kolkata for treatment.

But opposition parties are claiming Mr Bhujel's death in police custody was a result of torture and have demanded a probe.

While Mr Bhujel is believed to be a loyalist of Bimal Gurung, the Morcha chief now on the run from the police, even Binay Tamang who is now pro-Mamata Banerjee and Darjeeling boss has demanded a judicial probe.

Bimal Gurung, from an undisclosed location, was first to condemn Mr Bhujel's death and blamed it on police torture.

His call for a flash strike, however, fell flat in Darjeeling. In Kalimpong, shops shut down, though traffic was normal. Mr Bhujel's body will be taken to Kalimpong for funeral tomorrow.

Binay Tamang said shops in Kalimpong should remain closed tomorrow during the funeral. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has condemned the police for Mr Bhujel's death. His relatives were never allowed to meet him while he was in custody, Mr Ghosh said.