Centre rushes more forces to Darjeeling, seeks report

Venkatesan R Updated - January 12, 2018 at 02:22 PM.

The Centre on Tuesday rushed 600 additional paramilitary personnel to Darjeeling to assist the administration in restoring normalcy and sought a detailed report on the prevailing situation in the hill district from the West Bengal government.

A Home Ministry spokesperson said as many as 600 paramilitary personnel, including 200 women, were sent to Darjeeling. Around 400 personnel, already stationed in West Bengal, have also been deployed in Darjeeling along with the additional forces.

The Home Ministry also sought a detailed report on the prevailing situation in Darjeeling, which has witnessed violence over the past few days.

As an indefinite shutdown entered its second day today, protesters demanding a separate State of Gorkhaland pelted the police with stones at various parts of Darjeeling as they were stopped from enforcing their shutdown in many government offices.

Yesterday too, Gorkhaland supporters vandalised government offices in Darjeeling as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-sponsored indefinite shutdown forced tourists out of the picturesque hill station due to threat of violence.

The GJM leadership has, however, accused the police of resorting to unprovoked lathi charge on its procession.

Published on June 13, 2017 16:27