Nicol Tamang flees from CID custody, indefinite hill strike

Five days after his arrest, Nicol Tamang, prime accused in the murder of All India Gorkha League (AIGL) president Madan Tamang, today escaped from CID custody in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.

Superintendent of police, Darjeeling, Debendra Pratap Singh said Tamang, who was kept in CID custody after his arrest on August 16, gave the slip on the plea of going to the toilet.

Tamang was kept in CID custody at Pintal village, near Siliguri, after he was produced in the Darjeeling district court on August 17.

Singh said search operation was going on to nab the fugitive and borders with Nepal at Panitanki and Pashupatinath had been sealed to prevent his fleeing to the Himalayan country.

After the news of Nicol Tamang's escape spread, AIGL supporters encircled the Darjeeling district police station demanding his re-arrest, the police said.

Suspecting foul play in his "disappearance", GJM general secretary Roshan Giri called an indefinite hill strike from today till Nicol, a member of the GJM central committee, returned unscathed and was produced in a court of law.

Addressing a press conference here, he said if Nicol was not produced within 12 hours, starting from one PM, his party would go for a 'greater movement'.

He suspected the hand of West Bengal government in the incident, a charge denied by the police.

Madan Tamang was hacked to death on May 21 near the Planters' Club in Darjeeling town while he was overseeing preparations for a public meeting.

A cellphone had been recovered from the spot belonging to Nicol Tamang.