Army deployed in Darjeeling after violence by GJM workers

TIL Desk/National/Darjeeling/ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has extended her stay in this hill town following the violence and arson by Gorkhaland activists, on Friday walked along Mall Road here to enquire about the welfare of thousands of stranded tourists and arrangements made for their transport.

Banerjee, the supremo of the Trinamool Congress party, termed the vandalism by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and its shutdown call as “hurting” the goddess of prosperity, as tourism is the mainstay of the hill areas. Thursday’s violence left 45,000 tourists stranded — 15,000 in Darjeeling town, and around 30,000 in the other parts of the hills.

“The tourists are Darjeeling’s Laxmi (Hindu Goddess of prosperity). By doing this vandalism they are driving away the Laxmi of Darjeeling. I do not understand what kind of movement they are indulging in,” Banerjee said.

The GJM has called a 12-hour shutdown in the North Bengal hills, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and the Mirik subdivision, in protest against “indiscriminate police action on our peaceful demonstration”. Meanwhile, the Army on Friday carried out flag marches in Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong. Initially, two Army columns were deployed in Darjeeling.