Soreng: In fresh violence between party cadres of Sikkim Democratic Front and the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, as many as four gunshots were fired during a tussle in Soreng on Saturday.
Following the incident, Sikkim has been put on high alert to nab the assailants, who are still absconding. Extensive searches are being carried out in local taxis in West and South Sikkim.
As seen in the visuals widely shared on social media, senior SDF party worker Avinash Yakha is seen hiding his gun behind his satchel.
Yakha, seen getting out of a damaged SUV, is then chased by supposed SKM cadres in the video. Upon being chased, Yakha fires as many as three shots before going into hiding.
In the video, the person chasing with a camera is heard claiming, “Yakha has a gun.”
Sources in the police said the “situation is under control and no casualties have been reported. The assailant is yet to be arrested”.
The police source added that only one person was injured, which appears more due to altercation than due to the use of firearm.
“The police were already deployed there. We immediately responded when the altercation started. One of the accused was arrested and is currently in Soreng Police Station. The other accused, we are tracing him; we want to arrest him at the earliest,” the source said.
Avinash Yakha is one of the accused and the police are tracing his location. Police sources said they expect to arrest him by Saturday night. Yakha, who is still at large and probably armed, has been booked under the Arms Act.
The police added that bullet shells were found from the place of incident and the same have been seized.
“It started with a minor altercation, a scuffle over allowing the vehicle to pass. We have spoken with both the parties, inviting them to the police station. We have appealed to all of them to maintain peace; they have agreed to it,” the police source said.
Various places in West and South Sikkim have been put on alert after the incident. Sikkim Police is carrying out an extensive search operation to nab the assailants.
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