Sikkim ASI alleges manhandling at CAP event in Ranipool, FIR filed
Synopsis
A Sikkim police officer deployed on duty at a Citizen Action Party event alleges he was grabbed by the collar, pushed, and pressured into joining the party — a charge the opposition party flatly denies, saying he attended voluntarily under a false name. With an FIR now registered and detentions made, the episode has put both law enforcement and Sikkim's opposition politics under scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
ASI Lakpa Tshering Bhutia of Sikkim Police's Special Branch alleged he was manhandled at a CAP membership programme in Ranipool on 4 September .
He claimed he was pulled by his collar, pushed, prevented from leaving, and pressured to enrol as a party member while on official duty.
Ranipool Police Station registered an FIR under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) covering assault on a public servant, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly.
Suspects were detained for questioning and medically examined; notices served under Section 35(3) of the BNSS .
CAP spokesperson Albert Gurung denied coercion, claiming the officer attended voluntarily after giving a false name.
The Sikkim Police said the investigation is a priority and will be conducted in a fair, evidence-based manner.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Lakpa Tshering Bhutia of the Sikkim Police's Special Branch has filed a complaint alleging he was obstructed, physically manhandled, and coerced into joining a political party while on official duty at a Citizen Action Party (CAP) membership programme in Ranipool, Marchak on Friday, 4 September. The Ranipool Police Station has registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What the ASI Alleged
According to the Gangtok district police, ASI Bhutia had been deployed at the venue to assess the gathering from a security and law-and-order perspective. He alleged that once his identity as a police official became known to those present, he was surrounded, pulled by his collar, pushed, and prevented from leaving the venue.
The ASI further claimed that attempts were made to pressure him into enrolling as a member of the CAP while he was carrying out his official responsibilities — a charge that the party has categorically denied.
FIR and Legal Provisions
On the basis of ASI Bhutia's written complaint, the Ranipool Police Station registered a case covering charges related to assault or criminal force against a public servant, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The individuals allegedly involved were detained for questioning and subjected to medical examination. Statutory notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were also served. Investigators are currently recording statements and collecting evidence to establish each person's role in the incident.
CAP's Rebuttal
CAP spokesperson Albert Gurung rejected the allegations outright. Gurung claimed that the police officer had initially provided a false name before voluntarily joining the membership programme. He questioned why the officer did not raise an objection at the time if he had genuinely been coerced, and asserted that the process was entirely non-coercive.
Gurung also noted that media personnel were present at the programme when the alleged incident took place, suggesting the proceedings were not conducted in secrecy.
Police Response and Investigation
The Gangtok Senior Superintendent of Police said in a statement that the Sikkim Police takes seriously any allegation involving obstruction, intimidation, or force against personnel performing lawful duties. The investigation is being conducted on priority, and further action will depend on evidence gathered during the probe.
Authorities have stated the inquiry will be carried out in a fair, impartial, and evidence-based manner, without disclosing specific details of what has been collected so far. The outcome of this case is likely to have political ramifications in Sikkim, where the CAP functions as a key opposition force.
Point of View
If true, raise serious questions — one about political intimidation of law enforcement, the other about the ethics of plainclothes surveillance at opposition gatherings. What is notable is that Sikkim's ruling establishment and its opposition have long operated in a charged atmosphere, and incidents like this tend to harden factional lines rather than resolve cleanly. The presence of media at the event, as cited by the CAP, could prove decisive — or contested. Either way, the Sikkim Police's credibility in conducting an impartial probe of one of its own officers' complaints against an opposition party will itself be watched closely.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the CAP event in Ranipool, Sikkim?
A Sikkim Police ASI deployed on duty at a Citizen Action Party membership programme in Ranipool on 4 September alleged he was surrounded, pulled by his collar, pushed, and pressured into enrolling as a party member. The Ranipool Police Station subsequently registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
What charges have been filed in the Sikkim ASI manhandling case?
The FIR includes provisions relating to assault or criminal force against a public servant, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Statutory notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were also served on those detained.
What is the Citizen Action Party's response to the allegations?
CAP spokesperson Albert Gurung denied all charges of coercion, claiming the officer initially gave a false name and joined the programme voluntarily. Gurung questioned why the officer did not object at the time, and noted that media were present throughout the event.
Who is the police officer at the centre of the Sikkim controversy?
The officer is ASI Lakpa Tshering Bhutia of the Sikkim Police's Special Branch, who had been officially deployed at the CAP event in Marchak's Ranipool area to monitor the gathering for security and law-and-order purposes.
What happens next in the Sikkim police-CAP case?
The Sikkim Police has said the investigation is being conducted on priority, with statements being recorded and evidence collected to establish individual roles. Further action will depend on findings from the probe, which authorities say will be fair and impartial.
