Army called as violence flares up in Darjeeling

Kolkata: Violence and anarchy erupted in the Darjeeling Hills on Thursday with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters involved in violent clashes with the police. A number of police vehicles were torched and several police officials injured as GJM supporters allegedly hurled bombs and threw stones. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and over two dozen of her ministers were only half a km away from the spot where the violence erupted as she held the first state Cabinet meeting in the Hills after a 45-year gap.

“Two Army columns based in Darjeeling were pressed into service after receiving a requisition from the state government,” a senior Army official said. Clashes erupted soon after Ms Banerjee left Raj Bhavan in Darjeeling, where she chaired the Cabinet meeting. The agitators held a dharna, raised slogans against the CM, tried to damage the barricades and hurled brickbats.