Reserve Battalion Officer Stabbed by GJM Supporters as Clashes Rock Hills

Kolkata: An officer of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) was critical after being stabbed with a traditional Nepali kukri on Saturday morning as the Hills witnessed fresh clashes between security personnel and protesters demanding a separate Gorkhaland.

The GJM said two of its supporters had died in police firing, but there was no immediate confirmation available.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Kiran Tamang, an IRB second battalion assistant commandant, was critical after being attacked by GJM supporters. She had earlier said the officer was killed, but after receiving updated information clarified that he was critical.

As the indefinite bandh called by the Morcha entered the sixth day, GJM supporters, their faces covered, wreaked havoc in Singamari area, setting a police outpost on fire. They clashed with paramilitary forces during which several policemen, GJM supporters and journalists were injured, forcing the Army to step in.

Army personnel were seen asking GJM supporters to maintain law and order. They cautioned the local residents to stay indoors.

The clashes erupted when GJM supporters, mainly women, were barred from marching towards the GJM’s Patlebas office, which was recently raided by the police.

Tensions were fuelled when GJM leader Vinay Tamang, a close aide of party chief Bimal Gurung, claimed that two Morcha supporters had died in police firing. Tamang demanded a “high-level judicial inquiry” into the deaths.

The clashes erupted on a day when Vikram Rai, GJM media manager and son of Darjeeling MLA Amar Rai, was arrested from his residence.

Police had also reportedly raided Tamang’s residence and seized some documents.

The ongoing agitation in the Hills has crippled tourism. According to a railway official, the toy-train services of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has been suspended in view of the strike for the safety of passengers and staffs.

The GJM announced an indefinite general strike from Monday in the Hills encompassing Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the Dooars (foothills of the Himalayas covering stretches of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar district) protesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to make Bengali language compulsory in state-run schools.

The strike was called even as the Chief Minister assured that the new rule would not be imposed in the hill districts.