In Melli Two JAC members attacked by rally amid Immigrants row
Melli: Members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) were attacked by unidentified assailants on Sunday during a rally against “immigrants” in Melli, south Sikkim, the group claimed.
JAC is a group of citizens who are opposing the immigrant label recently given to the Sikkimese Nepalis by the Supreme Court of India. The committee has said that they are free from political affiliations. However, some JAC members claimed that they were wrongly identified as belonging to a political party.
The JAC addressed the attack on Sunday’s rally.
“I was there when this incident happened at the Melli. At first two people came and questioned us about the rally. Later a group of people came and started beating one of our members. We realized later. He happened to be a member of the JAC,” said Duk Nath Nepal of the JAC.
The ongoing violence in Sikkim was compounded by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party attacking each other as well as burning effigies of Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay and former Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.
Kala Roy, in-charge of JAC Nari and member of SKM party as well as a councilor under Gangtok Municipal Corporation spoke against the incident at the fair. “We want an investigation and whoever is responsible for this act, be it from SKM, SDF, or any other party, Sikkim Police should be taken into custody,” he said.
According to the JAC, two members were injured during the incident, which took place during a JAC rally at Melli under Namchi district.
In Namchi, incidents of violence were reported where suspected SKM members were seen attacking houses and offices belonging to the Sikkim Democratic Front SDF party.
The reaction came after members of the SDF party burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay on Friday. In response, SKM activists also burnt an effigy of SDF leader Pawan Kumar Chamling on Saturday. Both the incidents took place in the state capital Gangtok.
The attack followed CM Golay’s impassioned speech during SKM’s 11th foundation day on Saturday, where he asked his party members to “be ready for retaliation”.
