Prime accused of Gorkha leader Tamang’s murder arrested

The West Bengal criminal investigation department (CID) made a significant breakthrough late on Sunday night by arresting Nicole Tamang, the prime accused in the murder of All India Gorkha League president Madan Tamang.

Nicole is a central committee member of Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which is leading the struggle for a separate Gorkhaland state. Gurung is one of 23 people against whom FIRs have been registered.

CID sources said the involvement of Nicole had been proved on the day of the murder as his mobile phone had been found on the site of the crime. “However, Nicole went into hiding. Our officers arrested him from his ancestral home at Kaijalay, Darjeeling, after receiving specific information,” a CID officer said.

Sources said tracking call details of Nicole’s mobile revealed his direct involvement in the murder. His calls to hired killer Kayla strengthened CID’s belief. Kayla, the sources said, stabbed Madan with patang, a local weapon, while he was addressing a rally in Darjeeling on May 21.  So far, 11 people, including Nicole, have been arrested in the case.

Nicole was Bimal Gurung’s driver, but quickly rose through the ranks and became a member of GJM’s central committee. Till Madan’s murder, Nicole used to accompany Gurung to important meetings.