Five injured in GJM-GNLF clash in Darjeeling

Five persons were injured when rival supporters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) clashed at Kalimpong near here, police said today.
     
IGP (North Bengal) KL Tamta said the clashes occurred at Dambar Chawk in Kalimpong yesterday.
     
"Three persons sustained cuts with two of them belonging to the rival groups, while two others received minor injuries," he said.
     
The trouble started when GJM activists protested after members of the GNLF student-wing pasted posters demanding special status for Darjeeling hills under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the officer said.
     
One supporter from each side was arrested and police reinforcements have been deployed in the area to restore order, he said.
     
GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri alleged that GNLF and CPRM (Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists) had joined hands to provoke party supporters and foil the tripartite talks expected this month.
     
Meanwhile, eight parties including CPRM, All India Gorkha League, GNLF(C), Gorkha Rashtriya Congress, Sikkim National Front, Sikim-Darjeeling Ekikaran Manch, BJP and Trinamool Congress yesterday formed a common platform to restore peace in Darjeeling hills.