Bengal Government Fears Darjeeling Agitation May Turn Into An Underground Armed Movement

(From Huffington Post)

Darjeeling : Bengal Government Fears Darjeeling Agitation May Turn Into An Underground Armed Movement

Senior police officers currently involved in controlling the law and order situation in Darjeeling have expressed fear of armed attack on them by the agitators. Several senior IPS officers have been sent to handle the situation in the hills. The officers have reported this to the top brass of the state administration leading to fears that the prolonged agitation may turn into an underground arms movement against the state, like the Maoist movement.

The fears are not unfounded. There are reports that huge consignments of arms and ammunition have been smuggled into the area over several years, say police. There is the border with Nepal, Northeast and a steady flow of arms from Bihar, said police sources who asked not to be identified.

Now, with information on presence of arms in Darjeeling and the nature of attacks becoming braver and bolder, the fear of what may happen in future is very real. GJM chief Bimal Gurung has now issued threats that the real fight would begin soon, and what was happening so far was only a trailer.