Hill City Darjeeling on fire: Unrest captured in pictures

The GJM supporters staged a dharna and raised slogans against the chief minister while for the first time that the chief minister was holding a cabinet meeting in Darjeeling

The hill city Darjeeling erupted in violence after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters indulged in violence and arson while attempting to march to the venue of a cabinet meeting presided by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday. The GJM supporters were protesting against alleged "imposition of Bengali language in the schools in the hills" on Thursday.

The troops were brought in after the protesters damaged police vehicles and set some of them ablaze, prompting the police to fire tear gas and lathicharge the violent GJM supporters. The GJM supporters staged a dharna and raised slogans against the chief minister while for the first time that the chief minister was holding a cabinet meeting in Darjeeling.

The GJM has accused the TMC government of trying to disrupt peace in Darjeeling by its "divide and rule policy" and called a 12-hour shutdown in the hills on Friday.

GJM supporters

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha upporters during their protest in Darjeeling on Thursday. PTI Photo

Security personnel patrol the street

CRPF troops patrol the streets a day after GJM (Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) supporters resorted to violence.

Security personnel injured

A An injured security personnel is being helped by his colleagues during Darjeeling protests.

Police Vehicles torched by GJM supporters

Police Vehicles in flames after being torched by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters in Darjeeling. PTI file photo

Tourists stranded in city due to bandh

Over 10,000 tourists were stranded in Darjeeling as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has called for 'bandh' till 6 pm in protest against lathicharge on its supporters.