Madan Tamang: The Leader Who Stood Against Fear
Madan Tamang was not just a politician; he was a voice of reason in the turbulent hills of Darjeeling. A leader who believed in dialogue over violence, democracy over dictatorship, and integrity over political opportunism. As the president of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), he stood firm against the dominant forces of his time, challenging the politics of intimidation that had engulfed the Gorkhaland movement.
Born on June 1, 1948, in Meghma village of Darjeeling district, Tamang was drawn to politics from a young age. He rose to prominence in the 1970s, leading Tarun Gorkha, the youth wing of ABGL, and later became a fierce critic of leaders like Subhash Ghisingh and Bimal Gurung. Unlike them, Tamang envisioned a peaceful path for Gorkhaland, rejecting violent uprisings and political monopolies. He firmly believed that the demand for a separate state could be achieved through democratic discourse rather than fear and bloodshed.
Despite facing threats and resistance, Tamang remained unwavering in his convictions. His speeches resonated with those who sought an alternative to the politics of coercion. He often questioned the unchecked power of dominant political factions in the hills, advocating for a transparent leadership that prioritized the welfare of the people over personal gains.
The Day Before: May 20, 2010
On May 20, 2010, a day before the fateful incident, Madan Tamang and his party, the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), planned to hold a public meeting on May 21 in Darjeeling. The event was set to take place near Planters Club, a prominent location in the town. However, the political atmosphere was already tense. Tamang had been a vocal critic of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), led by Bimal Gurung, openly opposing their methods and dominance in the region. His stance against political intimidation and violence had made him a target, and his growing influence posed a direct challenge to the existing power structure.
The Day
On the morning of May 21, 2010, as the town of Darjeeling slowly came to life, ABGL workers began setting up the venue near Planters Club for the scheduled public meeting. Around 9:00 AM, Madan Tamang arrived at the spot, overseeing the preparations with his usual calm demeanor. Accompanied by only a few supporters and no significant security detail, he moved around the venue, ensuring that everything was in place. Despite the underlying political tensions, there were no immediate signs of the storm that was about to descend upon him.
Around 9:30 AM, chaos erupted near Planters Club as a mob of nearly 150 armed men stormed the venue, crossing through the famous Chowrasta on their way. Wielding traditional Nepali khukris, daggers, and iron rods, they launched a coordinated attack, indicating that the assault was pre-planned. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers systematically vandalized the stage, chairs, and banners of the ABGL event, tearing apart the setup within minutes. Madan Tamang was not on stage at the time; he was still near the venue, monitoring the final arrangements. However, as the situation escalated, he tried to confront the attackers—a decision that would cost him his life.
The Attack on Madan Tamang
As chaos erupted, Madan Tamang stepped forward, attempting to confront the attackers, reportedly shouting at them to stop. However, before he could react further, he was swiftly surrounded by the armed mob. In a brutal and merciless assault, the attackers slashed him multiple times with khukris, targeting his head, neck, and torso. The attack was swift and savage—within moments, he collapsed to the ground, bleeding profusely. His supporters, caught off guard and outnumbered, could do nothing to save him as the assailants continued their ruthless onslaught, ensuring that their target would not survive.
The Aftermath: The Town in Shock
As soon as they were certain that Madan Tamang was dead, the attackers fled the scene, leaving behind a horrifying spectacle of blood and chaos. Around 9:45 AM, locals and his supporters rushed him to the Darjeeling District Hospital, desperately hoping to save him. However, doctors declared him brought dead, confirming the worst fears of those who had witnessed the brutal attack. News of his public assassination spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves across Darjeeling. Panic gripped the town, and in a show of grief and outrage, shops shut down spontaneously, with businesses and daily activities coming to a standstill. The hill town, accustomed to political tensions, had never witnessed such a brazen and chilling act of violence in broad daylight.
& The Investigation
The investigation into Madan Tamang’s assassination has been fraught with challenges. Initially, the West Bengal CID took charge, but progress was sluggish. A significant setback occurred when Nicole Tamang, a key accused and leader of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), was arrested but mysteriously escaped from CID custody in 2010. Due to such impediments, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which filed a chargesheet in 2015, naming 48 individuals, including GJM leader Bimal Gurung. Despite these efforts, prolonged legal battles ensued, and many accused individuals were not convicted. In 2024, the Calcutta High Court reinstated Bimal Gurung as an accused, rekindling hopes for justice.
In a recent development, on February 6, 2025, the CBI arrested Puran Bahadur Rai, an absconding accused in the case, from Bommasandra, Maruthi Nagar, Bengaluru Rural, Karnataka. Rai had been evading the law since 2017 by relocating from Darjeeling to Bengaluru. Following sustained efforts and technical surveillance, the CBI apprehended him, marking a significant breakthrough in the prolonged investigation
In this country, Gandhis are praised, yet so often, they are silenced. And here, Gandhi is not just a metaphor—he is a symbol of resistance, a voice of dissent, and a force that challenges oppression. But time and again, those who walk his path, who dare to stand for truth and justice, meet the same fate—erased, not by history, but by violence. That day, I am not sure if the Queen of Hills was proud or mourning. It remains a question for the people of Darjeeling—was it a moment of reckoning, or a wound that still bleeds in silence? Or was Madan Tamang about to reveal a big truth that day?Was his voice about to expose a reality that someone feared?Was his murder just an assassination, or an attempt to bury a deeper secret?