West Bengal government seeks Army deployment in Darjeeling
February 9th, 2011 - 1:45 pm ICT by ANIJalpaiguri, Feb 9 (ANI): The West Bengal government has requested the Centre for deployment of the Army in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal after two people were killed when police opened fire to disperse a crowd of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) protesters who violated prohibitory orders.
The Defence Ministry, however, is yet to respond to the Sstate 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)
- Darjeeling violence: West Bengal CM Bhattacharjee appeals for peace - Feb 09, 2011
- GJM supporters go on rampage in Darjeeling (Lead) - Feb 09, 2011
- Shutdown in Siliguri, Dooars against Darjeeling accord - Jul 18, 2011
- Ghising returns to Darjeeling after three years - Apr 08, 2011
- GJM's support to Trinamool won't affect ties: BJP - Apr 08, 2011
- GJM's Gorkhaland movement a failure: Ghising - Apr 10, 2011
- Shutdown in Bengal's Terai, Dooars evokes mixed response - Apr 23, 2012
- Two GJM workers injured in police firing in Bengal - Feb 08, 2011
- Mamata clarifies on future of Terai, Dooars region - Oct 13, 2011
- Violent clashes, arson mark shutdown in Bengal's Terai, Dooars (Lead) - Apr 23, 2012
- Divide Darjeeling into two districts: GJM - Aug 03, 2011
- Features of tripartite agreement on Darjeeling - Jul 19, 2011
- Mamata blames centre for delay on Gorkha autonomy (Lead) - Feb 11, 2012
- GJM shutdown paralyses life in Darjeeling hills - Jan 18, 2011
- GJM calls indefinite shutdown in hills - Feb 09, 2011
Tags: army deployment, crpf, darjeeling hills, defence ministry, director general, gjm, home secretary, hunger strike, inspector general, jalpaiguri, midnapore district, pillai, police claim, police officials, protesters, teargas, terai, tranquility, west bengal government, woman constable