The West Bengal government arrested Binay Tamang, one of the top leaders of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and a member of its central committee, around midnight on Wednesday.

According to reports, Tamang was taken into custody in Sikkim along with five other GJM activists. He will be produced before a court in Kalimpong on Thursday.

Tamang’s arrest signals the state government’s resolve to stop the ongoing agitation in the Darjeeling Hills District.

State police said that over 500 GJM supporters and leaders have already been taken into custody since August 3 when the GJM started its indefinite shutdown in the hills. The shutdown is over, but the spate of arrest of GJM activists appears to be continuing.

The GJM stepped up its agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland after the Congress approved a resolution to create a new state of Telangana out of united Andhra Pradesh.

Image: Binay Tamang