After a lull of more than half a decade, violence returned to Darjeeling hills on Thursday as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters clashed with the police and set several vehicles on fire. Thousands of GJM supporters went on the rampage just a few hundred metres away from the Governor’s house in Darjeeling where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was holding a Cabinet meeting.
The GJM, which has raised strong objection to making Bengali compulsory in all schools of the State, has given a call for the protest during the day when Ms. Banerjee holds Cabinet meeting in the hills. According to the State government, the Cabinet meeting was held in Darjeeling after 44 years.
The clashes between the GJM supporters who had descended on the streets and the police started about 3 p.m. Within minutes, there was massive stone pelting and several police personnel sustained injuries. Certain areas at the heart of Darjeeling town like Bhanu Bhavan, Darjeeling Mall and Gymkhana Club turned into war zones. Initially, police tried to control the situation by resorting to baton charge and firing tear gas shells but in vain. Several government vehicles were ransacked, some were consigned to flames.
Barricades broken
According to preliminary estimates, about 50 policemen sustained injuries. Barricades put up by the police were raged to ground and bricks and stones lay scattered on the streets.
By the evening, the State government sought help from the Army to tackle the situation. Two Army columns based in Darjeeling were moved to the hills, an Army spokesperson said. Each column had about 80 men. By the evening, the situation improved.
Of the 31 Ministers who were present at the Cabinet meeting, 28 were directed by the Chief Minister to return to Kolkata. The Chief Minister, however, decided not to return and she, along with senior officials, was monitoring the situation.
“This is not the way that they will not allow us to hold a Cabinet meeting here. They should welcome it, instead,” Ms. Banerjee said.
Asked whether the decision to make Bengali compulsory had anything to do with the violent protests, the Chief Minister replied in the negative. “They have no political issue to protest,” Ms. Banerjee said.
Gurung’s challenge
GJM president Bimal Gurung, who led the protest during the day, threw an open challenge to the Chief Minister. “If she is the Chief Minister of Bengal I am also elected representative here, I am also Chief Minister here. If she can force her way I can also do that,” Mr. Gurung said.
Bandh call
Meanwhile, the GJM has called for a 12- hour bandh starting 6 a.m. on Friday. The GJM leadership asked tourists not to try to leave the hills during the bandh period. According to tour operators, thousands of tourists are in Darjeeling hills as it is peak season.
The State administration has promised that despite the bandh call, tourist movement would not be hit. Many tourists complained that they missed trains and flights on Thursday.
