State forces shoot and kill striking women in Darjeeling

[red cat]

The number of dead has increased to three. More updates will be posted soon.


Richu Lama and Bimala Rai Dead, 4 critical! (2:02 pm IST)

UPDATE 3: Indefinite Strike called, Police vehicles burnt in Darjeeling, Excess of 10,000 commuters struck in the Highway

KHUMANI: Indefinite Strike has been called in Darjeeling Hills by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Speaking to the media, GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said, “The CRPF fired at a peaceful procession killing 2 people and critically injuring a number of people. We have called for an indefinite strike and have also called for Chakka Jam. We want justice. We condemn the black law of the state of West Bengal.”
In Darjeeling, police vehicle were set on fire by a mob! In an excess of 10,000 commuters and tourists meanwhile have been struck in various places in the region and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have refused to allow any vehicle to move.
UPDATE 2: 2 Killed, 10 GJM supporters and 20 CRPF Personnel injured (1.38 pm IST)

KHUMANI: The number of people injured in today morning skirmish between the GJM supporters and CRPF personnel have increased to 10. 20 CRPF personnel are also said to have been injured.
In Darjeeling, the GJM supporters have surrounded the Sadar Police Station and threatened indefinite strike. In Kalimpong, Sikkim Nationalized Transport and North Bengal State Transport Corporation buses are said to have been vandalized by angry mob of people. MORE UPDATES ARE AWAITED.
2 killed, many injured in clash between GJM and the CRPF

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

DARJEELING (http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/encyclopedia/tiki-index.php?page=DARJEELING): According to reports reaching Darjeeling (http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/encyclopedia/tiki-index.php?page=Darjeeling) from Kumani, 2 GJM supporters have been killed in Police firing. The police had resorted to firing after a 500 strong Nari Morcha volunteers alleged broke the police barrier at Kumani. Section 144 of the IPC had also been declared in the area earlier. The police first charged the GJM (http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/encyclopedia/tiki-index.php?page=GJM) supporters with batons and then opened fire. The identity of the individuals who died is yet to be ascertained. The injured have been rushed to Kalimpong (http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/encyclopedia/tiki-index.php?page=Kalimpong). Among the injured are also said to be some female CRPF personnel. No comments as yet are available from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/encyclopedia/tiki-index.php?page=Gorkha%20Janmukti%20Morcha) leaders and the administration.


Meanwhile, strike has been called in Darjeeling Hills. Traffic remains at standstill and all shops, offices, banks and commercial enterprises have closed.


http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/magazine/2011/02/

[red cat]

Buddha appeals for peace in Darjeeling hills

A day after Darjeeling was rocked by renewed violence and arson, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to sit for discussion and condemned the violent methods it was adopting in the hills.

"GJM's violent methods are not at all acceptable," Bhattacharjee said and asked it to cooperate with the administration to bring back peace in the hills.
"When efforts are on to evolve a political solution to the Darjeeling issue through tripartite meetings in Delhi, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has gone for violent methods which are not at all acceptable," Bhattacharjee said in a statement here.

Maoists today slammed the state government and the Centre for opening fire on agitators and killing two in the Darjeeling hills and lent its support to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's movement for a separate Gorkhaland.

"We condemn the way the police opened fire on innocent agitators at Sipchu yesterday that left two dead," CPI-Maoist said in a statement.

"Maoists are sympathetic to the GJM for its movement in the hills and support it," the statement said.

As a mark of solidarity with GJM's movement, the Maoists have called for a 24-hour bandh in its strongholds of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts on February 11.

"We will observe black day and organise rallies in Jangalmahal area tomorrow," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Dooars area of Jalpaiguri today remained tense even as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-sponsored indefinite bandh evoked a partial response in the district.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/buddha-appeals-for-peace-in-darjeeling-hills/748001/

[t.shonku]

Conspiracy theorist are saying that the whole shooting incident has been a government hatched conspiracy to divert attention from rising price rise by creating hostilities between Gurkhas and Bengalis and then using this incident as a political mileage ( simple theory of divide and rule)