Police officials stand with Gorkha leader Madan Tamang's body, after he was attacked by a khukhri allegedly by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha supporters in Darjeeling.
West Bengal Police arrested the alleged killer of Madan Tamang, president All India Gorkha League, on Sunday night.
Nickol Tamang (46), a central committee member of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) which is spearheading the movement for a separate state in the Bengal hills, was picked
up from his ancestral home in Kainjaley, 47 km from Darjeeling town.
Nickol has been taken into judicial custody till August 30 by chief judicial magistrate U K Nandi. The criminal investigation department issued arrest warrants against 10 other persons on July 13.
Madan Tamang was killed on Upper Clubside Stand, one of the prominent streets of Darjeeling, when he was minutes away from addressing a public meeting.
Nickol's had been absconding since the killing and police had recovered his mobile from the spot. Nickol Tamang was booked for two other cases of vandalising and theft.
Darjeeling district police chief D P Singh said, "There were two ladies with him (Nickol) at the time of his arrest. The police are verifying as to who they are."
Nickol was part of the four-member GJM delegation — led by GJM chief Bimal Gurung — that met Home Minister P Chidambaram, on April 9 before the sixth round of tripartite talks held on May 14.
Nickol is believed to be a close confidant of Bimal Gurung.