Kolkata, June 12
The Army was on stand-by in the wake of violent incidents between two “communal groups” over the Gorkhaland issue in the plains of Darjeeling at Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Duars today.
The Union home ministry today sent nearly 1,000 central paramilitary force personnel to West Bengal to deal with the situation.
“We have dispatched 10 companies (about 1,000 personnel) of the BSF, the CRPF and the SSB to West Bengal,” a senior home ministry official said. While the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which had launched an indefinite strike in the hills on Monday, relaxed the bandh today for the convenience of the stranded tourists, the CPM-backed Janajagaran Monch and Janachetna Group started a 48-hour bandh against the GJM’s demand.
CPM activists and “anti-social elements” were out on the streets in the Nepalese-dominated areas of Siliguri and Duars, demonstrating against the Gorkhaland movement. The two groups clashed and indulged in violence at several places in Champasari, Pradhannagar, Naxalbari, Malbazar, Mahananda and other areas. They allegedly used firearms, bombs, swords, kukhris, lathis and other lethal weapons freely.
There were frequent incidents of arson and looting. The police was also attacked and that prompted it to fire at least five rounds of bullets and burst some 50 rounds of teargas shells for controlling the violence. At least 200 persons, including the additional SP and 70 other policemen, were injured during the clashes and police action. Over 500 persons were also arrested, but many of them were later released.
Anxious Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the Army had been alerted in the vulnerable areas of Darjeeling. Prohibitory orders under Section 144, CrPC, were also issued. The Chief Minister appealed to all political parties to help the district administration and the police maintain peace.
Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi expressed deep concern over violence and rioting in Darjeeling. He asked the Chief Minister to resolve the crisis. He also appealed to the GJM leaders and other political parties to come forward and cooperate with the administration in restoring peace.
Bhattacharjee today called an all-party meeting at the Writers Buildings on June 17 in which GJM leader Bimal Gurung, state Congress president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had been specially
invited.
