Morcha cadres, police clash

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Sept. 15: A day after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung called for intensification of the bandh, violence erupted in Kalimpong with his supporters clashing with security personnel over two rounds today.

The first clash started around 11.30am when a group of over 100 Morcha supporters stopped police vehicles carrying some arrested picketers and policemen at Motor Stand here.

The arrested Morcha supporters were allegedly picketing at the 11 Mile area of the town and were being taken to the Kalimpong police station, which is a furlong away from the Motor Stand.

When the vehicles reached Motor Stand, the mob stopped a police van carrying the arrested picketers, forcing policemen to resort to mild lathi-charge.

This resulted in a full-fledged clash in and round the area. The police were forced to use teargas shells as stones rained on them from all corners.

A female journalist covering the clash was also hit with a baton by a police officer.

Later, Morcha supporters set tyres on fire in front of Damber Chowk and Motor stand. They also broke bottles on Ongden Road to prevent free movement of vehicles.

The second clash started at 4pm after three or four youths are alleged to have thrown stones at an army truck on Ongden Road and the security personnel posted in front of the Kalimpong police station.

The police had again to fire teargas cells and rubber bullets at Morcha supporters in and around Damber Chowk.

There was, however, no confirmation of any injury on either side in both the clashes.

Earlier in the morning, bandh enforcers also pelted a vehicle belonging to St Augustine's School with stones.

Today's incidents were the second clash between the bandh supporters and the police in Kalimpong town since commencement of the ongoing agitation. The first clash had taken place on July 5.

The clashes come a day after Gurung asked his supporters to intensify picketing after GTA offices in Darjeeling recorded over 70 per cent attendance yesterday.

"Gurung's supporters were out in full strength to enforce the bandh from very early in the morning. The next few days will be crucial as they try to assert themselves out on the streets to thwart government's attempts to restore a semblance of normalcy in the hills," said an observer.