Darjeeling, Oct. 5: The Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) from now on will oversee the security of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung. An elaborate plan is being worked out by the ex-servicemen, who are members of the voluntary squad, for his protection.

The decision follows an attempt made on Gurung’s life in Kalimpong on Saturday but GLP members claimed that the plan was already on the anvil. For over a year, two armed policemen have been deployed by the government for Gurung’s protection.

Col. (retd) Ramesh Allay, the chief of GLP, said: “At the moment, around 30 to 40 GLP personnel, including women, will provide security to the party president.

“We have started reviewing the overall security of our party president. We have come up with an elaborate plan that will include two tiers of security — internal and external.”

On Friday evening, a resident of Kalimpong who was allegedly inebriated, had tried to climb the dais at the Mela Ground where Gurung was delivering a speech. The man was not allowed to go up to the stage by organisers, who had found a bangfok (chopper) in his possession. Reacting to the incident, some people allegedly owing allegiance to the Morcha attacked the houses of ABGL and former GNLF leaders in Kalimpong the next day.

Allay said the Friday-attack had been blown out of proportion by the media.

“The media had over-reacted to the incident. I was present at the venue that day and we don’t think there was a larger conspiracy to attack anyone. That is why I maintain that the decision to look after the security of our party president has nothing to do with the incident,” said Allay.

Morcha leaders from Kalimpong had immediately lodged an FIR with the Kalimpong police station alleging an attempt on Gurung’s life. “We are also thinking of providing security to the very important members of the central committee,” said Allay.

The GLP members are trained in martial arts, but do not use any firearms.