Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 26 Jan 2018) – One of the prominent leaders of Gorkhaland Movement in India has been abducted from his relative’s residence in Kathmandu.
A group of unidentified persons on Tuesday (23 Jan) abducted Sanjaya Thulung, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Board Member and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) youth organisation central member from the home of his uncle-in-law at Basundhara.
The whereabouts of Thulung who disappeared since Tuesday is still unknown, The Kathmandu Post reports. He had been living in Nepal in his relatives since three months after Mamata Banarjee led West Bengal Government launched massive warrant operation against pro Gorkhaland leaders.
According to Thulung’s Kathmandu-based relatives, the unidentified persons had called Thulung’s aunt-in-law, Sabita Rai Mukhiya, on the pretext of handing over some items sent from Qatar by her brother. However, upon reaching the rendezvous site the perpetrators took hold of Sabita and demanded that she call Sanjay. Sabita denied calling Sanjaya until the cause for looking him is known. After 5 hours of hostage from 12 noon to 4.30 afternoon, She was forced to call the Snajay.
Sanjay then went to Shree Tole in the area, from where the armed group abducted him. Meanwhile, the police have said that a complaint has been registered about Thulung’s missing.
However, according to a source, Thulung might have been abducted by Indian Police personnel with the help of Nepal Police. According to Sabita, the kidnapers have identified themselves of being security persons and said they were only searching for Sanjaya. They were armed with portable guns.
The Indian authorities had been searching for Thulung following the arrest of two individuals along with a cache of weapons from Dimapur (border of West Bengal and Nagaland in India) on November 18, 2014, who had given a statement that the weapons belonged to Thulung.
The Indian Police have accused Thulung of trying to launch an armed revolt in Gorkhaland. and the weapons were brought for the same purpose, adding that Thulung had sent 15 persons for arms training with Assam’s armed outfit, TKP reports.