25 policemen injured in clashes, GJM calls for 24-hour bandh

Siliguri, Apr 09 (UNI) At least 25 police personnel, including Siliguri District Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar Dutta, were injured in clashes between Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) supporters and police at the Darjeeling More in the district today.

Official sources said a group of ex-Army personnel had taken out a rally in support of the GJM. However, they did not obtain the necessary permission for the procession.

When the police tried to stop them, the agitators broke through the barricades and attacked the policemen, injuring 25 of them. 15 of the injured were shifted to Siliguri hospital.

Police also resorted to lathicharge to control the situation.

However, GJM sources alleged that 11 of the ex-Army personnel were injured and two of them had to be shifted to the Army hospital.

Meanwhile, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the Morcha had called for a 24-hour bandh throughout Darjeeling district tomorow to protest the incident.

UNI XC DPM KK DB1705