Darjeeling violence: West Bengal CM Bhattacharjee appeals for peace

KOLKATA/JALPAIGURI - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee reacting to the renewed violence in Darjeeling on Wednesday made an appeal to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to sit for discussion.

“GJM’s violent methods are not at all acceptable,” said Bhattacharjee and condemned the violent methods it was adopting in the hills.

“When efforts are on to evolve a political solution to the Darjeeling issue through tripartite meetings in Delhi, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has gone for violent methods which are not at all acceptable,” he added.

The death toll in the clash between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and police in the Dooars on Tuesday morning increased to three with the death of another person today.

The West Bengal government has requested the Centre for deployment of the Army in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.

The Defence Ministry, however, is yet to respond to the State Government’s request.

The police claim that they opened fire after supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, who had blocked roads, stabbed a woman constable. They had earlier tried to disperse the crowd with a lathicharge and teargas but had failed.

Surajit Kar Purpurkayastha, Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police said the police officials are trying to control the situation in the region.

“Right now, the police have been deployed there, senior officers are there and we also have four companies of CRPF including one lady company apart from State and Central forces have been deployed in the area to take control of the situation,” said Purpurkayastha.

On Tuesday, Home Secretary G. K. Pillai has said that forces are available and they have asked the State government to deploy additional forces if it is required.

“We have asked them to move any additional forces they require. We already have three companies and one women company there. Any further additional forces, they can take from the West Midnapore district, the forces are available,” said Pillai.

Close to 3000 GJM supporters were on a relay hunger strike since January 29 at Sipchu at the border between Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to demand the inclusion of parts of Jalpaiguri in their proposed Gorkhaland state.

The objective of conducting the march was to maintain peace, tranquility and harmony among the people of Terai and Darjeeling hills including Dooars.

The Gorkha population in West Bengal estimated to be around a million has been demanding a separate state. (ANI)