With the situation in strife-torn Darjeeling remaining tense after fresh clashes erupted over the weekend, an additional Army column was deployed in the hills at Kalimpong on Monday.
Taking into account the fresh deployment, there are three columns of Army aiding the district administration in maintaining law and order in Darjeeling hills. The two others have been deployed at Sonada and Darjeeling.
The fresh deployment of Army came about on Saturday when violence erupted at Sonada over the death of Tashi Bhutia late on Friday allegedly in firing by security forces. In the violence on Saturday two pro-Gorkhaland supporters, Suraj Bhusal and Samir Gurung, died.
While there has been no reports of violence since Sunday, there were processions and rallies in the hills as the indefinite strike entered its 26th day. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ( GJM) president Bimal Gurung has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the violence and deaths.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the Central was yet to provide more paramilitary forces. Ms. Banerjee said the Centre wants her government to deploy the two companies of central security forces which are posted in Jhragram in South Bengal, once a hot bed of left wing extremism .
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the all-party meeting in the hills scheduled for Tuesday at Mirik.
While it was decided that the all-party meeting will be held on July 18, the meeting was advanced considering the tense situation in the hills.
The Gorkhaland Movement Co-ordination Committee, comprising representatives of all political parties, has met four times on the issue of creation of a separate State. This will be the fifth meeting within the span of a month.
