Janjivan Bureau / New Delhi: On Saturday Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) protesters pelted stones at security personnel who retaliated by firing teargas shells. At least one person was killed during the firing. According to ADG Law and Order, GJM supporters started firing at police, set police vehicles on fire and 1 GJM supporter died due to firing by GJM supporters. The indefinite strike entered its sixth day Today.
The agitation in Darjeeling began after the West Bengal government announced making Bengali a mandatory language in schools. Meanwhile, people from GJM’s Nari Morcha clashed with police on the streets of Singmari. Singmari is one of the GJM’s headquarters and close to GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s home in Patleybas.
Amidst the crackdown on protesters, Vikram Rai, son of Darjeeling MLA Amar Rai and media manager of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), was arrested on Friday night. Also, the residence of the Assistant General Secretary (GJM), Binay Tamang, was allegedly raided and vandalised by the police. Earlier on Friday, GJM chief Bimal Gurung had also lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for raiding his office. “The administration unlawfully attacked my house and our party office on instructions from Mamata Banerjee. Such attack is dangerous for democracy. Our party members and opposition parties will reply to that atrocity,” said Gurung .
