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KalimNews with inputs from Agencies | June 2025 : In a continuing crackdown on the Gorkha Seva Sena, the Sikkim Police on Saturday arrested Noel Sharma, a prominent member of the organization, in connection with allegations of serious offences against the state. Sharma’s arrest follows the detention of two other key leaders — Bikramadi Rai from Darjeeling and Subash Mani Singh from Kalimpong — the day before.
All three arrests stem from an FIR filed by the Sikkim Home Department, accusing the individuals of misusing government authority to promote a controversial political agenda. According to the FIR, Sharma, Rai, and Singh are implicated in a series of actions that allegedly threaten public order, disrupt social harmony, and tarnish the credibility of the state. The charges include the unauthorized use of the official emblem of Sikkim, which was meant to commemorate the state’s 50th anniversary, to promote a political event titled “Constitutional Legality of Darjeeling-Sikkim Unification.”
The government contends that the accused misrepresented an RTI hearing as a discussion with the Home Department to lend credibility to their cause. Furthermore, the trio is accused of using the official logo and theme of Sikkim’s Golden Jubilee celebrations to invite people to their event. This alleged misuse of state symbols has raised concerns that it could incite public disorder and provoke enmity between different groups in the state, potentially leading to instability.
The Home Department has strongly condemned these actions, calling them a deliberate attempt to create confusion and stir tensions on the sensitive issue of Darjeeling-Sikkim unification. The FIR specifies that the conduct of the accused constitutes a criminal conspiracy and a violation of various provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The state government has called for swift investigation and prosecution of the individuals involved.
In a statement to local media, Subash Mani Singh, one of the arrested leaders, claimed that the Gorkha Seva Sena was fighting a constitutional battle and that his arrest was linked to the organization’s legitimate demands. He denied the charges and argued that the group’s cause was centered on the constitutional rights of the Gorkha community.
The controversy also stems from the group’s stance on the unification of Darjeeling with Sikkim — an issue that remains contentious. While the Gorkha Seva Sena continues to advocate for the merger, the Sikkim government has made it clear that such a proposal is not only unrealistic but also divisive. A spokesperson for the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party, which currently governs the state, stated that the people of Sikkim have consistently supported the Gorkhaland movement but have never endorsed the idea of merging Darjeeling with Sikkim.
The SKM leadership, under Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, welcomed the FIR registration against the three Gorkha Seva Sena leaders, emphasizing that the government would go to great lengths to protect Sikkim’s cultural identity and constitutional integrity. Bikash Basnet, a spokesperson for the SKM, called the actions of the arrested individuals a “grave assault” on the state’s dignity and cultural heritage, stressing that the state would not tolerate any attempts to disrupt public tranquility or tarnish the reputation of Sikkim.
The arrests, which are part of an ongoing investigation, highlight the state’s commitment to maintaining law and order amid increasing political tensions over the future of Darjeeling and its relationship with Sikkim. As the investigation continues, further details are expected from the authorities.
