West Bengal top cop says Maoist from neighbouring countries behind violent clashes in Darjeeling

Darjeeling: In the wake of ongoing unrest in the hill town of West Bengal, the state police on Friday said that Maoists from neighbouring countries have managed to enter Darjeeling and are extending support to Gorkhas to continue violence for separate statehood. 

ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma said this while submitting an affidavit on the ongoing Darjeeling unrest in the Calcutta High Court. 

He further added that there are inputs from intel agencies that Maoists may target government properties and senior police and administrative officials so as to further aggravate the situation. 

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier asserted that Maoist from other countries is helping the agitators to carry out violence in the hills. 

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court earlier today directed the Centre to send four more companies of paramilitary force to Darjeeling within 48 hours. 

On Thursday, the government deployed army in north West Bengal's hills after three persons died and a policeman sustained injuries in a sudden escalation of violence with pro-Gorkhaland activists engaging in widespread arson and vandalism targeting a railway station, police outposts and government offices.

As the situation continued to deteriorate through the day, the government decided to call in the army - the second time in exactly a month after Darjeeling turned restive.

"Two army columns have been deployed - one in Darjeeling, one in Sonada, where one railway station was set afire," a Defence Ministry spokesman said in Kolkata. One army column comprises 43 personnel.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace and said she was open to holding a dialogue with protestors in the next 10-15 days if they eschewed violence and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh if he so desired.

More updates awaited.