Darjeeling tense after killing of 3 GJM supporters

KOLKATA: The death toll in the clash between the women's wing of Gorkha Janmuktu Morcha and police in the Dooars on Tuesday morning increased to three with the death of another person on Wednesday.

Police had opened fire on GJM workers after they refused to adhere to prohibitory orders and attacked men and women in uniform. A female constable was attacked by a khukri, a traditional gorkha knife, sparking the retaliatory firing by police.

The situation in Darjeeling remains tense following Tuesday's firing incident that left the three GJM supporters dead. All shops in the Hills remained shut in response to GJM leader Bimal Gurung's call for an indefinite strike. Thousands of tourists were stranded in the area.

Darjeeling superintendent of police DP Singh said the situation remained volatile with GJM activists targeting forest properties across the hills sub-division. Several bungalows and offices were affected by the violence though GJM supremo Biman Gurung asked for an end to arson late on Tuesday.

The BJP MP from Darjeeling Jaswant Singh is to meet Union home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday and brief him about the situation.