Hunt on for persons involved in attack on police station

EOI, DARJEELING, 20 Aug 2017: A massive manhunt was today launched to track those behind the grenade blast in Kalimpong police station that left a civic police volunteer dead and two others injured even as the police is suspecting the hand of the GJM behind the attack. 

A hand grenade was hurled at Kalimpong police station last night at around 11 pm, police said. A high intensity blast had also taken place in Darjeeling town in the early hours of yesterday. The hurling of the grenade in the Kalimpong police station and the high intensity blast in Darjeeling town yesterday were the first such incidents since the indefinite shutdown to press for separate Gorkhaland state began over two months ago. 

"We have launched a manhunt for the miscreants. We suspect the hand of the GJM behind this grenade blast. We are checking each and every entry and exit points. A forensic team will visit the police station," a senior police officer said. 

The civic police volunteer was killed on the spot while the two other police personnel were admitted to a nearby hospital with grievous injuries. The situation in Darjeeling remained tensed as the indefinite shutdown in the hills entered its 67th day today. 

As the police conducted area domination march today, none of the political parties conducted any rallies since this morning. Barring medicine shops, all other commercial establishments, schools and colleges remained shut in the Darjeeling hills. 

Earlier, GJM chief Bimal Gurung has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a grenade blast at the Kalimpong police station and an explosion in Darjeeling town, the police said today.  

Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Anuj Sharma said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Gurung and others had been booked under the UAPA in connection with the two blasts. 

"We have also slapped charges under the Explosive Substances Act, the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, section 302, IPC (punishment for murder) and other sections against Gurung and others," he added. 

Meanwhile, a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) office was set on fire allegedly by Gorkhaland supporters at Kalimpong last night. The situation in Darjeeling remained tensed as the indefinite strike called by the GJM, demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, entered its 67th day today. 

The grenade attack on the Kalimpong police station and the blast in Darjeeling town were the first such incidents since the indefinite strike began over two months ago. 

"We are monitoring each and every entry and exit point. A forensic team will visit the police station," a senior police officer said. 

The GJM leadership, however, condemned the attack on the police station. "We condemn the grenade blast at the police station. It is the handiwork of those who do not want Gorkhaland to be formed," a senior leader of the party said.