After clash, Hill leaders call for restraint- appealed to the cadres to maintain peace in an all-party meeting called by the Darjeeling police

SNS, DARJEELING, 20 APRIL 21 : Following yesterday's incident where two camps of the Gorkha Jan Mutki Morcha clashed at Sonada near Kurseong, leaders of both the factions, along with other parties, today appealed to the cadres to maintain peace.

There were allegations and counter allegations front the two party camps and they blamed each other for provoking the clash that left two people injured.

After an all-party meeting called by the Darjeeling police in their office, the Morcha's (Bimal Gurung camp) general secretary, Roshan Giri, said, "I appeal to everyone in the Hills, along with our cadres, to maintain peace. The elections were peaceful and it should remain so."

Sitting just next to him, the Morcha's (Binoy Tamang camp) central committee leader, *Anit Thapa*, said, "In politics. things keeps on changing, but in the end we are brothers, even though parties also change. Our relationships remain the same even though there are ups and downs in the party. I appeal to all to maintain peace."

Late in the evening yesterday, the Gurung faction alleged that Mr Gurung was attacked by members of the other camp when he was returning from Ringtong below Sonada. However, the Tamang camp alleged that it was Gurung himself who had attacked their leader from Sonada, Mahendra Pradhan.

Also present in the meeting today was the Darjeeling sub-division president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Ajoy Edwards. "I appeal to all our cadres to maintain peace in the Hills. Politics is in one place, but we are not enemies, so let us not indulge in violence. The leaders sitting here together and cadres fighting against each other is stupidity," Mr Edwards said.

A BJP leader, along with one leader from the Trinamul Congress (Hills), who attended the meeting, also appealed for peace.

Throughout the day, different units of the two camps were seen condemning each other by issuing press statements, with senior leaders of different political parties also appealing for peace.

The Morcha (Tamang camp) general secretary, Anit Thapa, said in a video clip, "The police will conduct investigations into the matter and arrest the culprits. I appeal to all to not react to what happened violently, but they can react to it in a disciplined way like putting up posters. I appeal all to maintain peace."

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, in a press release, later said, "Political violence does not serve any purpose, other than to cause widespread fear and tension in the region, causing the business and economy to suffer I therefore request all the political parties, politicians and their supporters to refrain from indulging in violence and request political leaders to speak out against all such acts."

(KN Corrigendum: *Alok Kanta Mani Thulung*)