CRPF arrives in Siliguri to control violence over separate Gorkhaland
Siliguri:The Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) arrived at Siliguri to control the violent atmosphere prevailing in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Terai regions for
the past few months over the demand for a separate Gorkhaland. The activists of
regional Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the Vidyarthi Morcha (Students'
Front),
have continued their agitation and in the process burnt up many police booths,
observed strikes and destroyed houses of innocent people residing in hills and
Terai regions. The central government has sent three companies of paramilitary
forces to be deployed in these regions. The paramilitary forces will begin their
work from today specifically on NH 31, the road linked to Sikkim that has been
disrupted by the GJM supporters on various occasions in spite of the Supreme
Court's
order on not to block any national highway. "The three companies of paramilitary
forces have arrived. One of them has been deployed in Siliguri. We haven't decided
about the deployment of the other two companies but they will most probably be
deployed on NH31." confirmed Debendra Pratap Singh, Superintendent of Police,
Darjeeling District, West Bengal . Gorkhas have been demanding a separate state,
to be carved out of West Bengal , to protect their culture and heritage. The Gorkha
population in West Bengal is estimated to be around a million.
