After 15 years, the court has finally started the formal hearing process in the murder case of Madan Tamang, then president of All India Gurkha League (Avagoli) and Gurkha leader of Darjeeling.

On May 21, 2010, Tamang, who was giving a speech at a clubside area in Darjeeling, was hacked to death by an unidentified group with sharp weapons.

In that incident, a case was filed in court against 47 leaders-activists, with the then president of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GOZMUMO) Bimal Gurung as the main accused. Among them are Gurung's wife Asha, Roshan Gurung, Vinay Tamang, Hark Bahadur Chhetri and others.

In particular, the CBI filed a case in the court by making 53 people accused and 97 people witnesses. Among them, Nicole Tamang and Kanila (Dinesh) are missing. Four accused have died. Nickel Tamang, one of those involved in the Khukuri attack, was arrested by the CID from bordering Ilam and detained for investigation. However, the CID claims that he disappeared from custody. Although both the accused, Nickel and Kanila, are said to be missing, the leadership of the front suspects that they may have had an 'encounter'.

After going through long investigations, legal entanglements and court proceedings, this case has now entered the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Wardhaman in West Bengal. The formal hearing process (trial) has started in the court from Tuesday.

Madan Tamang's family and supporters have long been demanding a serious investigation into the murder case. In 2020, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the case to Vardhaman for a fair trial. Since then, the case, which has been adjourned time and time again, has finally entered the hearing process.

The court has directed everyone, including the main accused, to appear in court and submit evidence. At the time of the incident, Tamang was organizing a public meeting in Darjeeling. In the middle of the program, a sharp weapon was shot at him.

Bharti Tamang, president of All India Gorkha League and Tamang's wife, said that the start of the trial was a positive aspect, even though it was delayed. "The fight for justice is still pending," she said, "The government has done something to raise the hope of justice, even if it is late." 2015: Case against 23 people including Gurung