Five arrested for vandalising Sikkim newspaper office

Unidentified persons alleged to be ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) supporters vandalised the office of the local English daily Sikkim Now at Gairigaon in Tadong area here, police said on Thursday.

Miscreants pelted stones and damaged office furniture of the English daily at around 10.30pm on Wednesday night, they said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

Five persons, including SDF panchayat poll candidate Bibi Domo Tamang (25) and her supporters Pem Chuki Tamang (20), Tashi Bhutia (20), Gyatso Bhutia (30) and Palman Tamang (22) have been arrested in this connection.

Tamang had unsuccessfully contested the recently-concluded panchayat polls in the state.

At a press conference on Thursday, state DGP Jasbir Singh said those arrested would be booked under stringent Acts and the charge sheet will be filed within a month's time after the investigation is completed.

Meanwhile in a statement, Sikkim Federation of Working Journalists (SFWJ) general secretary Khagendramani Pradhan strongly condemned the attack on the newspaper office. The federation urged the state government to ensure safety and security of all media persons and houses of Sikkim.

Condemning the attack, Sikkim Press Club general secretary Joseph Lepcha urged the state government to ensure safety of journalists and newspaper houses.