Situation in Darjeeling improves, two BSF companies moved

From U Nongsain Kolkata, Feb 9 The situation in violence-hit Darjeeling hills improved today with no untoward incident reported since last night even as two companies of BSF joined the five companies of CRPF personnel stationed there to maintain law and order. "There was a requisition for the army last night, but it was neither withdrawn nor followed up since the situation is improving,"ADG (law and order) S Karpurakayastha said here. He said one company of CRPF has been deployed in the adjoining Dooars region of Jalpaiguri district. The ADG said the death toll in police firing remained at two. The condition of one Gorkha Janmukti Morcha activist who has been admitted to hospital is, however, critical. Asked about any likely link of the Maoists in yesterday&aposs violence and arson in Darjeeling hills, he said,"Our first priority is to restore law and order and after that other issues will be looked into." The administration, he said, had taken all steps to evacuate the stranded tourists from the hills to the plains. Tracing the root cause of violence, he said the GJM workers tried to set up tents at Sipchu by violating 144 CrPC which the police did not allow. "The normal drill was followed during police firing and as in all cases of police firing, an executive inquiry will be held in this case too,"he said. "Police firing follows certain rules. During yesterday&aposs violence, the police first warned the agitators, then lathi charged, fired teargas shells and finally opened fire. "The police can open fire in self-defence and to save life and in this case both causes were there,"the ADG said. Asked about the withdrawal of bodyguards of GJM president Bimal Gurung and its general secretary Roshan Giri, he said,"This was a decision taken by the local administration. Whether the threat perception is there or not, will be decided by the local administration only.

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