Siliguri, Feb. 17: Members of the Jana Chetana demonstrated at Hashmi Chowk here today, demanding the immediate arrest of those who killed Sunil Mondal during the clashes between pro and anti-Gorkhaland supporters in Banarhat nearly 15 days ago.

The apolitical forum, which is opposed to Gorkhaland, has also demanded compensation for Mondal’s family.

“On February 7, Sunil was hacked to death at Banarhat. He was innocent and hiding behind a truck during police action. We have information that he was dragged out and hacked repeatedly with khukuris in front of the police,” said Chetana president D.P. Kar. “We want an investigation to identify and arrest the culprits. Also, the state government should adequately compensate his mother.”

At Hashmi Chowk, Ajit Mondal pleaded his brother’s innocence. “He was the sole earning member of our family. Never had he participated in any demonstration. On that, he was there by chance,” he said. Apart from accusing the state government of being lackadaisical in arresting the culprits, Jana Chetana leaders also trained guns at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

“Tapan Baidya fractured his skull when some Morcha supporters hit him with iron rods on January 16,” Mridul Chakraborty, the forum’s general secretary, said. “He was taken to NBMCH where doctors refused to provide him consistent treatment…Our members will not sit idle and watch common people being beaten up by the Morcha and the government doing nothing.”