Apart from 11 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force already deployed, four more are being sent to ensure the safety of the citizens
The Centre informed the top court that it is sending additional troops to maintain law and order in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal, which have seen agitations for a separate Gorkhaland.
“11 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force have already been deployed and we are sending in four more companies to ensure the safety of citizens and to maintain law and order,” said Attorney General KK Venugopal in a report submitted before a bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar, and MM Shantanagouder.
Venugopal informed the bench that the move was taken in pursuance of an order passed by the Kolkata High Court.
The bench, however, made it clear that the additional paramilitary forces deployed would be used for the sole purpose of maintaining law and order in the two districts. It also directed West Bengal to keep National Highway 10 free for vehicular traffic. It further directed the Director General of Police to ensure safe passage of people travelling in vehicles on National Highway 10, the sole road linking West Bengal’s Siliguri to Sikkim.
“Needless to say, the citizens of these areas must understand that sustenance of law and order and living in peace is the hallmark of progressive civilizations and therefore, they shall also see that free flow of life is not in anyway disturbed or affected,” Justice Dipak Misra said.
The apex court’s order came in the lieu of a petition filed by Sikkim for a direction to ensure the safety of the vehicles plying on NH 10, the lifeline of the hilly state, which connects it with the rest of the country.
THE NEED FOR MORE
- Additional troops will be send to Kalimpong and Darjeeling which have seen agitations for a separate Gorkhaland.
- Additional forces deployed would be used for the sole purpose of maintaining law and order in the two districts.
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