Para-military forces step up patrolling across Darjeeling after GJM intensifies agitation

Fresh violence incident have been reported in Darjeeling hills amid GJM agitations for separate state of Gorkhaland.Para-military forces step up patrolling & state combat forces have taken position in sensitive pockets across Darjeeling. The security forces kept a strict vigil and Internet services remained suspended.

Intensifying their agitation for Gorkhaland, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists yesterday held demonstrations and burnt copies of the GTA accord in the hills. Supporters have reportedly targeted the house of the chairman of a development board in Kalimpong.

All the 45 elected members of GTA who belonged to GJM had resigned last week. The Centre, the state government and GJM had signed the GTA in 2011.

GTA had three hill subdivisions Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik and some areas of Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district



and the whole of Kalimpong district under its authority.

Meanwhile, GJM Yuva Morcha state president Prakash Gurung asked the Centre to initiate steps for creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland. 

The BJP has called for addressing the Darjeeling region's cultural and political concerns. However, the party has said it does not support Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's demand for a separate state.

BJP West-Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya yesterday blaming the state's Mamata Banerjee government for triggering a crisis by undermining the Gorkha Territorial Administration told reporters that his party does not support the demand of a separate state.

He said the cultural and political concerns of the people in the region needed to be addressed and demanded for empowering the GTA.