GJM stir: Centre discusses Darjeeling situation with WB govt

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday discussed with the West Bengal Police and central paramilitary forces the prevailing situation in Darjeeling, where protests led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for a separate state turned violent on Saturday.

At a meeting, senior officials of the Home Ministry, West Bengal police and central paramilitary forces reviewed the steps taken to restore normalcy there.

The ministry officials stressed the need for "rationalisation" of forces through proper deployment of security personnel at sensitive places, sources said.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry Rina Mitra, West Bengal additional director general of police Anuj Sharma among others.

The officials also discussed plans for making optimum use of the central forces to ensure that peace is restored in Darjeeling, sources said.

The present crisis was sparked by fears of Bengali being imposed in schools in the GJM-administered areas where a majority of the people are Nepali-speaking Gorkhas.

The scenic hills erupted in fresh violence on Saturday as supporters of the GJM clashed with the police and set fire to a toy station and a police post.

The GJM leadership had claimed four of its supporters were killed in police firing.

Today's meeting also discussed the prevailing situation in North 24 Parganas district where communal violence erupted last week over a controversial Facebook post.

Peace is gradually returning to the riot-hit areas.