Political tensions flared in Sikkim after a reported violent incident near Gangtok’s Sadar Police Station on the night of July 17, involving members of the Citizen Action Party (CAP). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down hard on the Sikkim Police, accusing them of negligence and demanding full disclosure, including CCTV footage from the site. The incident, which reportedly took place within or near the premises of Sadar Police Station, has reignited debate over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. BJP spokesperson Passang Gyali Sherpa, addressing the media in Gangtok, condemned the alleged attack and questioned the role of the police. “It is very unfortunate. This is not the first time something like this has happened in Sikkim,” he said. “What makes it even worse is that it occurred in the heart of the capital, in an area that should be the safest.”
Sherpa alleged that despite the seriousness of the incident, no arrests had been made even 24 hours later. “We spoke to the police. They have no answers. Instead of investigating the attackers, they are pointing fingers at CAP workers who had gone to the Vigilance Department,” he said, adding, “The Sikkim Police has failed in its responsibility to maintain law and order.”A key point of contention is the exact location of the incident. While opposition leaders and eyewitnesses maintain that the assault took place inside or right outside the police station, officials have maintained that the event happened outside police jurisdiction. Sherpa, joined by eyewitnesses at the scene, challenged this version. “If the police are being honest, they should release the CCTV footage between 10:15 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on July 17. Let the public see the truth. Unless the footage is shown, it looks like they’re trying to hide something.”
Adding further weight to the allegations, CAP karyakarta Tikaram Sharma, who was detained during the incident, narrated the sequence of events. According to Sharma, the CAP team had visited the Vigilance Department as part of a scheduled party program announced by CAP president on January 26 this year. “It was part of our regular campaign. We simply asked government employees, who are overstaying or underperforming, to make way for young and capable professionals,” he said.Sharma said that senior CAP leader Diwas Gurung and 11 others peacefully surrendered at the police station. “Everything was calm until two more people joined us. Suddenly, there was confusion and then chaos. It felt like a planned move to disrupt our peaceful protest,” he recalled.He also accused the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) of emboldening such acts through its attitude. “Just two days ago, the Chief Minister said this is their government and they will do what they want. This is a dangerous mindset. It encourages lawlessness and suppresses opposition voices,” Sharma added. When asked about the police’s justification for their detention, Sharma said, “They had no concrete explanation. It seemed like an attempt to intimidate us. But we are not going to be scared off that easily.”