Roshan Giri distributes relief in Rohini on Tuesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Rohini, Jan. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today distributed relief to 15 families whose houses had been torched on New Year’s Day, by people owing allegiance to the party, following the alleged lynching of its leader Subodh Pradhan the night before.

Each of the families received a blanket, mattress, 50kg of rice, 5 litres of cooking oil, a packet of dal and sugar and potatoes. Before distributing the material, Binay Tamang, the Morcha media and publicity secretary, apologised for what had happened and described it as a retaliation for their leader’s murder. “It was the public who had gone on the rampage. We know some innocent people have also been affected. But we will not help the Diyalis. We will distribute the material to 15 families, the ones we feel were the most affected,” Tamang said.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri handed over the material to the beneficiaries. Giri, however, promised more relief. “Our party is preparing a report on the number of burnt houses. After the final report is ready, party president Bimal Gurung will come to Rohini to give funds for reconstruction or repair. The amounts, however, will depend on the report,” said Giri. Sumitra Rai, a member of one of the affected families, said she would be able to feed her two daughters for a few days with what she got today. “To an extent, the relief will be of help for some days. But in the long run, it will be tough because I have lost my entire house,” she said.

Sumitra, a widow, and her daughters are currently residing with a relative here.

Devika Gurung, too, has lost her house. “It is half burnt and I have been forced to stay with my relatives. The relief I hope will last a month. I have a son in the primary school and it is difficult for me to stay with my relatives,” said Devika, a widow.

Subodh was lynched in a DGHC rest house here by a mob when he and his six companions entered forcibly by breaking open the locks. A few hours after the incident, Morcha supporters from Kurseong, 45km from here, had swooped down and set fire to around 20 houses and the DGHC guest house. The incident had left 19 families homeless.

Five persons, three from the Diyali family, were arrested on charges of murdering Subodh. When the five were taken to court the next day, they were beaten up by Morcha supporters. While four of the undertrials had to be hospitalised, Nirmal Diyali fled the spot. The Morcha has refused to help the Diyalis, alleging that they had masterminded the attack.