Darjeeling Unrest: Rajnath Appeals for Calm

Author

19 June, 2017

He asserted the struggle for a separate Gorkhaland state would be intensified and if the police tries to stop them, it would only create more trouble.

West Bengal's Darjeeling district has been on the boil over a separate state demand and witnessed widespread clashes between Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activists and the police.

The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal had asked the Centre for four additional paramilitary companies to be sent to Darjeeling on Thursday afternoon. He claimed that the police firing triggered his resignation.

The statement comes a day after the GJM claimed that two of their supporters were shot dead by the police in Singmari, a locality in Darjeeling, the hotbed of the statehood protests.

Saturday saw fresh clashes in Darjeeling, with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) protesters pelting stones and throwing bottles at security personnel, who retaliated by firing teargas shells. "It was the GJM supporters who had started violence and attacked police with stones and petrol bombs", he told DNA.

However, the state administration rejected GJM's claim, and stated that the police never opened fire on any of their supporters.

The person arrested was Vikram Rai, son of GJM media cell head and MLA Amar Rai. The party has called a 12-hour bandh against police atrocities and included Dooars to extend its outreach to the Terai and Dooars regions.

The police further said that as many as 36 security personnel were injured in the clashed, DNA reported.

The GJM on Sunday slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for ignoring the Gorkhaland crisis and also questioned BJP MP SS Ahluwalia's absence, who has not visited the hill station even once since the protest began.

BJP state women's wing president Roopa Ganguly also raised her pitch against the Trinamool government saying the unrest in the hills was due to Banerjee. "It suddenly made no sense to drag the monster vehicle - so effective in the plains - here in the hills", an officer said.To counter the terrain challenge and establish area domination, the force needed brute numb.

Morcha leader Binoy Tamang has said the party is eager to hold talks with only the Centre. It is not a political fight but a fight for our identity.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata that India Rerserve Battalion's Assistant Commandant Kiran Tamang was critically injured in the violence.

"All concerned parties and stakeholders should resolve their differences and misunderstandings through dialogue in amicable environment", Rajnath said. "Every issue can be resolved through mutual dialogue", Singh later tweeted.

Banerjee said she is ready for talks but not under the current situation.

Army contingents were deployed to control the situation and they staged flag marches in several areas of the violence-hit hill district, including Darjeeling and Kurseong, where the indefinite shutdown to press for a separate Gorkhaland entered the third day.


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