Sherpa. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Aug. 6: Former GNLF leader Tshering Sherpa and his family were forced to leave their home in Kafer and move to an unknown destination following an ultimatum issued by the local unit of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

While the former DGHC councillor from the Gitdubling-Singi constituency has not been seen in the area since Monday, his wife and two sons left their residence last night.

Sherpa also has another son who studies in Delhi and a married daughter.

On Sunday, Morcha supporters had ransacked Sherpa’s house and a hotel owned by him. The next day, they had pasted posters in the area asking him to leave Kafer, a tourist spot about 60km from here, within 36 hours. Fresh posters appeared yesterday, giving him a further 12 hours.

This morning, Morcha supporters sealed the hotel and the house — both deserted. Later, C.B. Gurung, a Morcha leader, told a gathering of about 1,500 people that the public would be allowed to use the properties for various purposes.

Sherpa could not be reached for his comments on the latest development as his phone was switched off. However, the former GNLF leader had earlier sought to make light of Sunday’s ransacking.

“The incident will not break my commitment to the cause of Gorkhaland. I will continue supporting the Morcha movement for the creation of a separate state for the Gorkhas,” Sherpa had said on Monday.

The sealing of the former councillor’s house, however, has thrown up a problem for people living in and around Kafer since the Sherpas used to run a ration shop from the building. Villagers from places like Samali, Mulpala and Upper Kankebong used to shop there.

“We are aware of the problem and plan to take up the matter with FCI authorities,” said Gurung.

Observers are surprised at the treatment meted out to Sherpa, who had resigned from the GNLF in the wake of the Morcha’s rise to power. His claims of joining the Congress had been denied by the Darjeeling unit of the party.