Fresh incidents of violence rock Darjeeling

Fresh incidents of violence rocked Darjeeling hills on Sunday, as the ongoing shutdown by the GJM for a separate state of Gorkhaland entered its 102nd day.A vehicle on way to Lebong area was set ablaze by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists and the driver was brutally beaten up for violating the shutdown in the hills. 

Police and security personnel have made special security arrangements in the hills to maintain a tight vigil to avoid any untoward incident.Several shops and markets in the hills remained open on Sunday braving threats and intimidation by



the GJM activists. However, several shops, which opened in Mirik and Kurseong, remained closed fearing backlash from the GJM supporters.

Police said that peace rallies were taken out by residents at Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik, while the GJM supporters took out rallies in support of a separate Gorkhaland state and the ongoing shutdown in sections of Darjeeling, Sonada and Kalimpong.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the agitators in Darjeeling to withdraw their strike and restore normalcy.