TMC office set on fire in Darjeeling

Outlookindia, Darjeeling, July 05 : Some unidentified persons torched an office of Trinamool Congress Party and a ticket counter of North Bengal State Transport Cooperation Ticket on Wednesday.

The firefighters have extinguished the fire and police and security personnel are camping at the spot.

Darjeeling is witnessing unrest since June 12 when Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced indefinite strike to protest the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to make Bengali compulsory for all schools in the state.

Except for medicine outlets, all shops, schools and colleges are closed, and transport services are disrupted.

Wion: Protests in the Darjeeling hills turned violent today as Trinamool Congress (TMC) office and a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter in Kalimpong were set on fire. 

Rebublic TV: Today in Kalimpong GJM protestors torched TMC party Office and NBSTC office. Police had to resort to plastic bullet firing which led to injury of three supporters. 

Police had to chase the protestors while they pelted stones to the police force which also resulted to injury of 5.

eenaduindia.com, Darjeeling: GJM supporters hurled petrol bombs at a Trinamool Congress party office in Kalimpong as the indefinite shutdown sponsored by the outfit continued on Wednesday.

Though no one was injured, a shop on the ground floor was completely damaged, police said. Kalimpong is about 55 km from Darjeeling. 

In Darjeeling, Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha supporters took out a rally in Chowkbazar area with traditional 'khukri' shouting slogans in support of a separate state of Gorkhaland. While Internet service remained suspended for the 18th consecutive day, police and security forces patrolled the streets of the hills and kept a tight vigil at the entry and exit routes.Except pharmacy, all the other shops, restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed. 

 Boarding schools had extended their vacation due to the ongoing unrest in the hills.The GJM has plans to take out rallies in various parts of the hills today.GJM supremo Bimal Gurung had on Tuesday said the indefinite shutdown in the hills will continue as the final battle for Gorkhaland has begun.