News

Ethnic violence may erupt in Hills: Intelligence

Times of India
20 Nov 2008, 0302 hrs IST, Debashis Konar, TNN

KOLKATA: The Centre has asked the state government to find out if there were any chances of ethnic violence in the Hills post the second tripartite meeting due in November-end.

Sources said the ministry of home affairs has information that there could be large-scale violence in the Hills following the second tripartite meeting, which is likely to be held between November 26 and 28. The MHA fears that the meeting might fail and lead to intense clashes.

“The report must be filed on a priority basis, because the tripartite meeting is nearing,” said a senior official at Writers’ Buildings. The state home department, has, therefore, already started its investigations. Home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti is supposed to travel to Darjeeling next week, but the MHA wants the report within a couple of days.

The IB has informed its state counterpart that quite a few foreign hands are supporting those involved in the ongoing agitation in the Hills.

The Centre also wants another report on the Salboni blast. It has specified that the state home department should file a detailed report on whether any unknown extremist group had been responsible for the blast on chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy that was travelling back to Kolkata on November 2.

The home ministry wants the state to step up vigil on army installations located along National Highways 31A, 31 and 55 - specifically on Binaguri, Kalimpong and Sukna points and the Mountain Division in Sikkim. It fears that an outbreak of trouble in the Hills and the Dooars may affect the movement of security forces.

The Centre wants the state government to categorically mention the group who masterminded the Salboni blast, as the Centre is anxious about the Left-wing extremists.

Following the Centre’s instructions, the home secretary advanced his visit to West Midnapore by a day and visited the district on Wednesday so that he could meet officials before compiling his own report to the Union home ministry. Earlier, he was supposed to go to West Midnapore on Thursday.

© 2008 The Gorkhaland Chronicle.