17 injured in a political clash in North Bengal

Siliguri, Jun (UNI) At least 17 people were injured today, two of them critically, when the activists of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Jana Chetna were engaged in a violent clash at Bagdogra in North Bengal.

IGP (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamte told UNI that the situation was tense but under control now.

The clash cropped up when the GJM activists blocked the National Highway, demanding a separate Gorkhaland. The workers of the Jana Chetna, an apolitical organisation and opposed to the statehood demand, gathered there to lift the blockade resulting in a violent clash in which 17 people sustained injuries.

The situation reached such an alarming pass that police had to lob teargas shells to disperse the warring groups, he stated.

The injured has been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, where the condition of two was stated to be critical.

A posse of police force had been posted there to ease the prevailing tension.

UNI XC SJC RN1954