Nisha Chettri
Kalimpong August 25, 2014: 

Opposing the destruction of Jangabir Sapkota’s statue of 9th mile, the Biswakarma Samaj of Kalimpong submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Officer, District Magistrate, (Darjeeling) Additional Superintendent of police, Kalimpong and the I.C Kalimpong Thana in the presence of the President Kiran Singh, Vice Precident Anita Rasaily, Cultural Secretary Dasharat Lohar and the Advisior Narayan Gazmer of Kalimpong Biswakarma Samaj. They said that the anti-national incident is unappreciated and unapproved in the country. “Jangabir Sapkota is not only the freedom fighter of Kalimpong and Darjeeling but he fought for the country, he too suffered in the freedom movement and demolishing his statue sparks the sentiment of many communities at a time when our region is praying for the restoration of peace and harmony” said the advisor of Kalimpong Biswakarma Samaj, Narayan Gazmer. The people gathered also said that the incident might not look as a crime in the preview of the law but it is unlawful and should be taken immediate action to avoid further miscreants in Kalimpong.“We had put our efforts in building the statue of Jangabir Sapkota few years ago and now the destruction of his statue not only hurts our sentiments but also remarks as an insult to the freedom fighters of India” Added Gazmer. In the absence of the SDO the memorandum was handed over to the Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector Pritam Limbu who said “I will put this matter in the knowledge of the SDO and will cooperate to avoid the future demolitions of the heritage of Kalimpong; I will also talk to the police and assure the safety of the statues”