The Hindu

Kolkata: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subhash Ghising has been shifted from his residence in Darjeeling to Siliguri on security grounds, after a spurt in violence in the ongoing struggle for ‘Gorkhaland’ mounted by the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM).

West Bengal Home Secretary Ashoke Mohan Chakraborty told reporters on Saturday at the State Secretariat that the situation in Darjeeling was tense and Mr. Ghising had been brought to Siliguri. “He has been brought to Siliguri for security reasons.”

GJMM leader Bimal Gurung said that although they had not opposed the GNLF leader’s return earlier they could now no longer take responsibility for his security and he has to leave.

“We have been trying to lead a democratic and non-violent movement, but we now see efforts to sabotage it and turn it into a violent one,” he said.

Mr Ghising told journalists in Siliguri that he came to the town on his own accord. “I want peace to prevail,” he said during an interaction.

The hills witnessed turbulence yet again on Friday after a woman, stated to be a GJMM activist, was shot at. She later died of injuries.

The house of a senior GNLF leader, who was suspected to have been involved in the incident, was torched. He is also a close aide of Mr. Ghising.

Violence then spread all over the hill station and its adjoining areas such as Kurseong and Kalimpong were subsequently torched. Mr. Chakraborty said additional policemen were being deployed in the affected areas.