NEW DELHI: Kalimpong municipality councillor Barun Bhujel on Wednesday passed away at a hospital in Kolkata, where he was undergoing treatment for a pancreas infection.Bhujel, who had been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a hill-top tourist lodge, was in police custody when he fell ill.He was treated at North Bengal medical college, and later shifted to SSKM Hospital , where he died.His death has led to protests and shutdowns in Kalimpong.Image credit: MohanGorkha Janmukti Morcha ( GJM ) supporters protested with black flags at Dambar Chowk, even as the organisation's chief Bimal Gurung asked the people to take to the roads and use social media to protest.In an audio message, Gurung alleged that Bhujel's death was the result of torture and a clear case of human rights violations.BJP state president Dilip Ghosh , too, accused the state of ill-treating Bhujel and not allowing his family to meet him.The grieving family may approach the Association For Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) for help.

Source: Times of India October 25, 2017 07:41 UTC