Dahal in Gangtok on Wednesday. (Prabin Khaling)

Gangtok, Feb. 10: A defiant Ajay Dahal, the President of the United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (UGRF), today vowed to fight for Gorkhaland and asked all those who lead the movement for the separate state to be sincere towards the cause.

Dahal, who had been arrested under provisions of the Arms Act here yesterday, made the comments while being escorted out of the court of the chief judicial magistrate (East and North). He was remanded in six days of police custody.

“I could not complete my mission and I really regret it. Whether inside or outside jail, I will continue my mission. I will return and I will live and die for Gorkhaland,” Dahal told reporters. “Those leading the Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling should be honest and sincere towards the cause.”

A former jawan of the Central Industrial Security Force, Dahal had been underground ever since the murder of a GNLF panchayat member at Lower Santuk near Kalimpong, on October 24, 2006. He had floated the UGRF in 2004 with a call for an armed struggle for Gorkhaland.

A country made revolver and three cartridges were recovered from Dahal when he was picked up by the Gangtok police. The police are interrogating the rebel to find out his motive for staying in Sikkim.