Prime accused in Madan Tamang's murder case flees CID custody in Darjeeling

Darjeeling (West Bengal), Aug.22 (ANI): Prime accused in the murder of All India Gorkha League (AIGL) President Madan Tamang, Nicole Tamang managed to escape on Sunday from the Criminal Investigation Department custody in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.

Nicole Tamang, leader of regional Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was in the custody of CID for 12 days for further interrogation in the murder case.

He was arrested five days ago and kept under CID custody at Pintal village, near here, after being produced in the Darjeeling district court on August 17.

Sleuths of West Bengal Police had arrested him along with two ladies from an old ancestral home in Kaijaley near Bijonbari of Darjeeling district on August 16.

According to Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, Debendra Pratap Singh, Tamang, who was in CID custody after his arrest on August 16, escaped on the plea of going to toilet.

"There has been a loophole and the inquiry is going on about that. Our priority is to find him. The senior officers of CID will also reach the spot. They will work at their level and we will also work accordingly. And stringent actions will be taken against the people who are responsible for this," Debendra Pratap Singh, Superintendent of Police Darjeeling.

Nicole has been booked in three cases, the main being the Madan Tamang murder case with non-bailable sections including murder and criminal conspiracy.

Soon after Nicole's escape, a red alert was sounded with the police keeping a round-the-clock vigil on the vehicles passing along the highway.

Borders with Nepal at Panitanki and Pashupatinath had been sealed to prevent his escape to the Himalayan country, the SP informed.

Police said after learning about the news of Nicol Tamang's escape, the AIGL supporters stormed the district police station demanding his re-arrest, the police said.

On May 21, Madan Tamang was killed near Planters' Club in Darjeeling town. Police had recovered a cell phone from the spot that belonged to Nicol Tamang (ANI)