It’s Gorkhas vs Gorkhas in Darjeeling

Madhuparna Das, ET| Jun 22, 2017, DARJEELING: A fortnight's orgy of violence in Darjeeling hills has not only left a trail of stories depicting passion and valour but has also displayed Gorkha loyalty and anger.

On either side of the divide are Gorkhas, a race, which stands at the crossroads of hope and despair. While three Gorkha youths have died fighting the police, several of the 22 security personnel admitted in hospitals are Gorkhas too.

The most critical among them is Kiran Tamang, the assistant commandant of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB). His spine and lungs were hit with a khukri.

"That Kiran Tamang is alive is only because he is a Gorkha and has an unbelievable stamina," said a top security official on conditions of anonymity.

Kiran is still battling for his life in a Siliguri nursing home. Kiran had spotted one woman security official being cornered by agitators near GJM chief Bimal Gurung's den. While Kiran tried rescuing the official, a Gorkha activist armed with a khukri attacked him. His injury was so grievous that Kiran's colleagues took him to be dead.. His wife Rajni Tamang tells ET how Gorkhaland state is dear to her despite Kiran fighting for his life.

"It is one thing to be loyal to one's duty and another to cherish the dream of a homeland. I do not see a clash between the two. But I of course want to appeal to all Gorkhas not to resort to such violence means in which you kill your own brother," said Rajni.

She only knows that her father fell down while performing his duty and got a little injured. The story is no different for Aniket Chhetri, a truck driver.

Chhetri was taking supplies in his truck from Siliguri to Sikkim via Sevak Road that connects Siliguri with Gangtok. But Chhetri did not even have the time to jump off as Gorkhaland supporters hurled petrol bombs at his truck. He somehow managed to escape the burning truck with one side of his body catching fire. He is now battling for life with 70% burn injury.

There are Bimal Sashankar, Sunil Rai and Mahesh Gurung of GJM, who according to the party, were killed in police firing while there are others like Mamata Tamang, Lapka Tamanag, Sudesh Gurung of the security forces, who sustained critical injuries due to the violence.

(Source & Courtesy: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/59275756.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst