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Gangtok, Jan. 10: A Kalimpong-based Lepcha organisation has alleged that its members were pelted with stones yesterday by supporters of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) while on a pilgrimage to Dzongu, 60km from here.

Dzongu in North Sikkim is a Lepcha reserve.

The two vehicles that they were travelling in were damaged as well, the members claimed. All this happened, they alleged, in the presence of senior police officials.

The Lepcha Youth Organisation or the Rong Ong Prongzom from Kalimpong has been supporting Affected Citizens of Teesta, an organisation which is spearheading the protest against hydel power projects in Dzongu.

At B.L. House here today, the president of the Prongzom, Dorjee T. Lepcha, said: “Suddenly, a senior police official told us yesterday that our permits have been cancelled and we would have to leave Dzongu. They had even made arrangements for vehicles to take us back to Gangtok.”

Forty-two members of Prongzom had been issued the permits — non-residents need special permission to enter Dzongu — for the period covering January 7 to 14. The permits were cancelled at the end of two days.

On the way back to Gangtok yesterday, a large group of SDF supporters in seven vehicles were waiting for the Prongzom members at 4th Mile. “They started pelting us with stones, hurled verbal abuses and also manhandled us in the presence of the police personnel,” a Prongzom member said.

However, no one was injured.

Lepcha also alleged that the Mangan police station had refused to take down their FIR.

The district collector of North Sikkim, T.N. Kazi, said the permits were cancelled because there were complaints from the panchayat and the local people that the peace of the area was being disturbed. “They were in Dzongu as tourists but they were shouting slogans,” Kazi said.

The senior superintendent of police, Sonam. T. Bhutia, said: “There was only one instance of stone throwing, which is being investigated.”