The Hindu : National : Army’s help sought in Darjeeling

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Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
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Army’s help sought in Darjeeling

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: A fresh spell of political uncertainty looms large over the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, where the authorities on Friday requisitioned the services of the Army in the wake of the violence that broke out there.

A senior leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) was seriously injured in clashes between supporters of his party and the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) earlier in the day.

There was tension in the area following the violence and fears of its spreading to other parts of the hills.

“We have requisitioned the services of the Army and are awaiting a response,” R.J.S. Nawla, Inspector General of Police, North Bengal, told The Hindu over phone in the evening.

The leadership of the GNLF – the principal party in the Darjeeling hills – called for an indefinite strike in the region from Saturday till those responsible for the attack on its leader, K.B. Gurung, were arrested.

Mr. Gurung is also a former councillor of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).

Prohibitory orders

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.PC were imposed in parts of the hill-town following the disturbances.

The indefinite strike call by the GNLF comes a day after the GJMM, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of the Darjeeling hills, called a 12-hour bandh in protest against the move to grant the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution status to the region.

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