Centre's interlocutor to hold talks with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha leaders

As tension prevailed in the hills, the Centre's interlocutor for the Darjeeling peace process Bijay Madan reached nearby Siliguri and will come here this evening for talks with the leadership of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) which is spearheading the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland.

Before coming to Darjeeling town, Madan will hold a meeting on the law and order situation in the hills with district magistrate Mohan Gandhi and superintendent of police Debendra Pratap Singh, official sources said.

He would have discussions with GJM leaders before returning to New Delhi, sources said.

The Centre decided to send the government-appointed interlocutor to Darjeeling to help normalise the situation in the hills, which is witnessing violence and shutdown since police firing on a rally by GJM supporters in Sipchu in Jalpaiguri killed two persons.

An indefinite strike was being observed in the Darjeeling Hills on a call from GJM which had yesterday said that nothing short of Gorkhaland is now acceptable and there will be no discussion on an interim set-up anymore.