Clashes break out between Gorkhaland supporters & cops ... Ultimatum to centre till 8 August

MP, 29 July 2017, Darjeeling: While the Hill agitation was brought down to the plains with a standoff between security forces and Gorkhaland supporters at Sukna, in Darjeeling the GJM on Saturday issued an ultimatum to the Central government. 

Gorkhaland supporters from Tindharia, Rongtong, Mahanadi, and Garidhura took out a rally on Saturday brandishing Khukuris. They were scheduled to march to Darjeeling More on the outskirts of Siliguri. 

At around 11.40 am, the rally was stopped at the Rongtong bridge by a huge police contingent. They were asked to return from there. Not paying heed, the protestors pushed through the police barricade. Police vehicles were vandalised and there were incidents of stone pelting. The protestors burnt tyres on the road.

Police officers including Assistant Commissioner of Police Pranab Sikdar and Sanjay Ghosh, Officer in-Charge, Pradhannagar police station were injured along with other police personnel.

Police resorted to bursting tear gas shells and firing rubber bullets. 

30-year-old Ajay Chettri, an agitator from Garidhura, received injuries allegedly from a tear gas shell burst. The injured police personnel along with Chettri were rushed to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital at Matigarah near Siliguri. 

Arrests were also made. At around 3.30 pm, the protestors made another attempt to march towards Siliguri. The Situation turned volatile once again. Police claimed that petrol bombs were hurled at them. Water cannons were used to disperse the crowd along with tear gas shells and rubber bullets. 

As the Siliguri Metropolitan Police led by Commissioner Neeraj Kumar Singh faced jurisdiction issues, another police contingent was brought down from Darjeeling led by ADG Siddhinath Gupta and IG Jawed Shamim rushed to the spot from Darjeeling. 

By evening, the protestors dispersed. 

Meanwhile, in Darjeeling, GJM president Bimal Gurung held a meeting with the central committee, frontal organisations, GJM MLAs and Municipal Commissioners at Patleybash. 

"Despite 45 days of bandh; Gorkhaland supporters being shot dead by security forces; many supporters being injured; the food blockade by the state government and the Internet ban, the Centre has preferred to remain silent. If the Central government fails to speak up on Gorkhaland by 6 pm on August 8, we will intensify our agitation from August 9. It is the final battle for Gorkhaland," Stated Binay Tamang, assistant secretary, GJM. 

Agitation programmes for the intensified agitation were not announced by the GJM but Gurung asked the Gorkhaland supporters to act as instructed.

(Source & Courtesy: http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/clashes-break-out-between-gorkhaland-supporters-cops-255025)