With situation in strife-torn Darjeeling remaining tense after fresh clashes erupted on July 8, an additional column of the Army was deployed in Kalimpong on Monday. This is in addition to the two columns that were deployed at Sonada and Darjeeling, to aid the district administration in maintaining law and order in the hills.
The fresh deployment came after fresh violence at Sonada on July 8 over the death of Tashi Bhutia a day before, allegedly in firing by security forces. Two pro-Gorkhaland supporters — Suraj Bhusal and Samir Gurung — died in the clashes.
While there were no reports of violence since July 9, processions and rallies were taken out in the hills as the indefinite strike entered its 26th day.
CBI probe sought
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung has sought a CBI probe into the violence and the deaths.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the Centre is yet to provide more paramilitary forces. She said the Centre wanted her government to deploy two companies of central forces currently stationed at Jhragram in South Bengal, once a hotbed of left-wing extremism .
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the all-party meeting scheduled on Tuesday at Mirik. While it was decided that the meeting will be held on July 18, it was advanced considering the situation in the hills.
The Gorkhaland Movement Co-ordination Committee comprising of representatives of all political parties has already met four times on the issue of creation of a separate State.
