Gorkha Janmukti Morcha pays tribute to Shilda martyrs

Kolkata, Mar 15 (ANI): The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists on Monday held a candle light vigil to pay tributes to the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) personnel, who were killed by Maoists in West Bengal's Shilda last month.

On February 15, the Maoists attacked the EFR camp at Shilda in West Midnapore District and killed 24 personnel.

Over 100 Maoists fired indiscriminately, threw grenades and torched the camp in one of their worst strikes against security forces. Of the 24 killed personnel, 13 were from the Darjeeling hills.

The GJM activist Asha Gurung, said the 13 slain soldiers were very much Indian and sacrificed their lives for the country.

"The main purpose of this candlelight vigil is that our soldiers, who were killed in Shilda were are all citizens of this nation and sacrificed their lives for the country. Yes, it is true that they were Gorkhas but were Indians first," said Gurung.

Gurung also expressed hope that the tripartite talks between GJM representatives and the Union Government, scheduled for March 18 New Delhi, would work in their favour.(ANI)