Centre, West Bengal representatives to hold talks with GJM leaders on June 19

Shiv Sahay Singh, TH, DARJEELING, JUNE 15, 2017: In the wake of the crisis engulfing the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal on Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said talks among representatives of the State and Central governments and Gorkha leaders will be held in New Delhi on June 19.

Violence was reported across the hills on Thursday and a media vehicle was set on fire after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called for a complete shutdown in the hills following a raid on its president Bimal Gurung’s residence in Patlebas and ''seizure'' of arms, bows and arrows, baseball bats, sharp weapons, knives and crackers.

The State government has demanded 400 additional Central forces to tackle the Gorkha agitation in the hills. The Centre had sent 1100 central forces.

Lat week, the GJM called for an indefinite shutdown from Monday. The trouble began after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Bengali would be made complusary for all students across the State.

Violence across hills

On Thursday, police personnel retreated from Patlebas following incidents of pelting of stones and clashes between the protesters and security forces.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI, “The State government is indulging in witch-hunting. The government is provoking us to call an indefinite strike in the hills. We will inform the Centre about the atrocities of the State government.”

The raid on Mr. Gurung's residence came on the fourth day of the GJM-sponsored strike in the government and GTA offices in the hills.

The raid

Early in the morning, police broke open the main gate of Mr. Gurung's house. He was not present at that time.

Women supporters shout pro-Gorkhaland slogans outside Bimal Gurung's residence.

Sources in the GJM said the ''weapons'' seized were actually their traditional equipment. "We are tribals, about to hold our traditional archery competition... they showed our traditional equipment as weapons. This is why we need Gorkhaland, our rights, our culture, our heritage, our traditions are not respected".

GJM activists arrested in Singmari, Patlebas

Police said some GJM activists were arrested in raids at Singmari and Patlebas.

A senior police official told PTI on condition of anonymity, “Some of the premises of Gurung and other GJM activists were raided. We conducted the raids on the basis of concrete information. The raids are still on. We have arrested a few GJM activists.”

SP justifies police action Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Chaturvedi justifed the police action, saying: "We had information that the GJM was gathering arms, and accordingly the raid [in Mr. Gurung's house] was conducted. We recovered bows, arrows, three or four firearms and a large amount of cash. We are exploring all legal options. [We] don't think any peace-minded person will store such arms," he said, adding that two persons have been detained.

Locals being stopped from coming near GJM chief Bimal Gurung's house in Darjeeling.   | Photo Credit: Shiv Sahan Singh

On Wednesday, schools, colleges and markets remained open in the hills but the sight of a few burnt cars in the narrow lanes of Darjeeling town bore witness to the violence that the hills had seen on June 8 over the demand for Gorkhaland.

(With inputs from PTI) : 

KalimNews: The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that a tripartite talk between West Bengal Government, Union Government of India and Gorkha leaders of Darjeeling Hills will be be held in New Delhi on June 19. Roshan Giri the GJM General Secretary accompanied by SS Ahluwalia MP Darjeeling today met Rajnath Singh the Union Home Minister and sought Center's intervention in the ongoing tension in Darjeeling hills. He detailed him about police atrocities and the intervention of Bengal Government in the school language subject issue.