At least 20 people were injured when supporters of the Jana Jagaran Morcha, an organisation of non—Nepalese people opposed to Gorkhaland, and GJM supporters clashed at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district, police said today.
The clash took place when a motor-cycle rally of GJM supporters from Kalchini was intercepted by Jana Jagaran Morcha (JJM) supporters at Caltax More on Tuesday, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri, V. Soloman told reporters.
JJM President Apurba Das was seriously injured in the clash.
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The JJM supporters said the rallyists had no formal permission to hold the meeting at Kalimpong. This resulted in an exchange of words culminating in a clash in which both sides pelted stones.
Police took the GJM supporters to a police station for their safety but the agitated JJM supporters, joined by local people, attacked the police station. The police burst five tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
SSB jawans held a flag march in the area and in the evening, the rallists left for Kalimpong escorted by security guards.
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Publicity chief of GJM Harka Bahadur Chheri on Wednesday blamed the police for Tuesday’s incident as it had stopped a “peaceful rally under the pretext of absence of formal permission for the meeting.”