BENGAL: GJM cries foul in arrest of Padmashree Doctor in AMRI case
Posted by Barun Roy on February 1st, 2012
FROM ISIKKIM.COM AND SIKKIM MAIL
KALIMPONG: January 30, 2012: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and other Darjeeling Hills political parties have strongly condemned the arrest of 92 year old Dr Mani Kumar Chettri. Dr. Chettri was on the board of directors at AMRI, Dhakuria which got into flames on December 9 claiming 93 lives. Last Friday, the police arrested 92-year-old Dr. Chhetri and Dr. Pronab Dasgupta, another Director of the AMRI. They were produced at the CJM Court, Alipore court on Friday. Both were remanded to police custody till February 2.
S K Kapor counsel of Dr Chetri pleaded that he was a reputed doctor and though he was managing director of the AMRI, he administered only the medical side of the hospital. Dr Chetri was never involved with security and safety affair of the hospital.
Senior leaders of the GJM met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday and demanded immediate release of Dr. Chettri.
Senior GJM leader Harkabahadur Chhetri told after the meeting that the incident might spark unrest in the hills.
Another GJM Central Committee Kalyan Dewan said in a press conference held on Monday at GJM party office in Kalimpong, “Dr. Chettri is not a murderer in the AMRI case, why the police has been so cruel on him”. GJM expressed its sadness on the arrest of Dr. Chettri. He said that the arrest of the Dr. Chettri has led to a felling of insecurity which has been affecting the hills.
Secretary of Kalimpong sub-division Subha Pradhan said that Dr. Chettri has been supportive to the police department and the arrest was unwanted. He said that the main motive behind the arrest was that Dr. Chettri was the personal doctor of the former chief minister Jyoti Basu. Dr. Chettri has been targeted by the present government and if anything unwanted happens, the government will alone be responsibl, said Pradhan.
“Dr. Chettri was actively involved in social work and he is one of the precious gems of the Gorkha community, who has saved many lives” said president of GJM Kalimpong sub divisional Sarita Rai.
Born in Teesta Valley, Dr. Chettri has a home in Kalimpong. A 1956 FRCP degree holder from London, he became the Director of West Bengal Health Services in 1976 when Jyoti Basu came to power. He became the Managing Director, AMRI in 1997. Dr. Chettri had been offering concessional treatment to Hill patients for years.
For his contribution in the medical field he was conferred with Padmashree in the year 1974.