MP Raju Bista seeks free and fair probe into Kalyan Rai’s murder in Sikkim

Raju Bista, Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged murder of 36-year-old Kalyan Rai, a resident of Katwali Bazar in Lebong, Darjeeling.

The incident occurred in Gangtok, and the Gangtok Sadar Police Station has already registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 100/2025) dated July 22, 2025. The accused, a 76-year-old man, has been charged under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — the section that deals with homicide.

While the accused has reportedly claimed that he acted in self-defense, the details emerging from the case suggest a much graver situation. Bista said that media reports have mentioned 10 to 11 stab wounds found on the body of the deceased. The injuries were reportedly located on sensitive parts of the body including the chest, hands and neck. These injuries, he said, raise serious doubts over the claim of self-defense made by the accused.

"The nature and number of wounds reported in the media point towards the possibility of a brutal and violent assault, and not a simple act of self-defense,” Bista said. “This raises an important question: can such multiple injuries be justified in the name of protecting oneself, especially when inflicted by a man in his seventies?”

Bista urged the Sikkim Government to ensure a thorough and unbiased inquiry. “Justice must not only be done but also seen to be done,” he added. He also appealed for prompt legal procedures so that the family of the deceased can receive the justice they deserve without unnecessary delays.

Bista has expressed hope that the government and the investigating authorities will rise to the occasion and uphold the principles of justice and fairness. "A swift and transparent investigation will not only help bring justice to the victim’s family but also help restore people’s faith in the judicial system," he said.

The body of Kalyan Rai was reportedly sent for post-mortem, and the report is awaited. It is expected to play a key role in verifying the nature of the injuries and whether they align with a possible case of self-defense or suggest a more premeditated act of violence.

Meanwhile, more details have come to light about the murder. The accused has been identified as Pema Gyalpo Ladingpa, a former employee of the Forest Department. He was living alone in the Krishi Bhawan area of Gangtok. According to the police, the incident is believed to have happened sometime around 11 PM.

At approximately 12:30 AM, Ladingpa went to the Tadong Police Outpost and informed the officers there that he had killed a man near his home. This information was first received through a phone call made by a man named Lakpa Sherpa, who alerted the police about the confession.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Gangtok, Mahendra Subba, confirmed these details in a press briefing. “Our team rushed to the location after receiving the call. We found a man’s body lying unconscious inside a chicken shed next to the accused’s house,” SP Subba said.