Namchi, February 5, 2023: A riot broke out at Namchi when a mob formed in front of SDF party office situated at Damthang Road, in morning hours today. The mass attack was wild in mentioning, and as per initial ground reports and eye witness accounts, the attackers were seem to have been aiming for the whole building with petrol and fire, lighting up Damthang Road with fire and smoke.
The shops that were closed from yesterday and other properties belonging to some of the members of SDF party too, were vandalised in the process, indicating a reaction to SDF’s calls for Sikkim Bandh on 5-6 February.
After Namchi Police reached the spot of the riot to control the mass, but much damage had already been dealt. The police have said that such incidents taking place without being traced are harder to prevent, since such an event takes place in multiple areas at the same time.
According to the police source, in the riot that occurred at Namchi today, one case has been registered in Namchi PS with the complainant maintaining their anonymity and another case has been registered by police personnel, and the further information was enclosed within it.
“The complainant have maintained anonymity,” -Manish Kumar Verma, SP, Namchi.
Manish Kr Verma, SP Namchi gave his statement on the rioting and vandalism that went on at Namchi on Sunday morning, Feb 5.
The rioting was seen at SDF party office at Damthang road Namchi where items and effigies were burnt, stones were pelted at the party office, and people chanted anti SDF and anti Chamling slogans.
Verma said that more police force has been requested to be deployed in Namchi District, he said that the police can speak only on the actions taken and not on the actions to be taken.
SP Verma stated that there were two cases made and both of them have been registered. Verma also mentioned that the complainant maintained anonymity in one case and the other was filed by the police personnel themselves.
One case (No 10/2023) has been registered under sections 341/427/323 and 341 of the IPC and the other (No 11/2023) has been registered under sections 147/149 and 427 of the IPC.
Report by Sushil Rai, SC Correspondent, Namchi District