Maoists helping Gorkhas carry on agitation: Intelligence report

Maoists from neighbouring Nepal are extending support to the agitators in Darjeeling to continue the violence, a report prepared by a state intelligence agency stated on Thursday.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said support from "outside the country" was helping the agitators to carry out violence in the Hills.

Sources added that it has been clearly stated in a report prepared by a state intelligence agency that the Maoists from Nepal are working hand-in-glove with the agitators. The intelligence agency also suspects that senior police and administrative officers could be targeted so that the situation further aggravates.

This report of the intelligence agency comes at a time when only 11 companies of the Central forces are deployed in the Hills and the Centre is yet to give approval for the state's requisition to send more companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to tackle the situation. The deployment of additional force is yet to be made despite the intervention of the Calcutta high court. Following the court's order, Anuj Sharma, ADG (law and Order) had also held a meeting as representative from the state with the concerned officer of the Centre.

The state has also prepared a report on the total loss caused by the violence in 31 days since the inception of violence on June 8. The report, that has been prepared, revealed that the total loss stands at a staggering Rs 355 crore. The figure comes when the Hills are still under the grip of violence and damage of property is still continuing unabated.

The report stated that so far around 54 vehicles were damaged and torched in the Hills. At the same time, a total of 73 government offices and buildings were ransacked and many set on fire. It has also been mentioned in the report that a total of 113 government officials including policemen were injured during to the ongoing turmoil.

The economy of the region is witnessing a huge crisis not only because of the fact that the tourism industry has taken a hit in the Hills due to the agitation but also due to the closure of tea gardens resulting in major loss for the locals.

The report states that around 93 tea gardens have closed just due to the violence taking place in the Hills.

On Friday, there is a hearing at the Calcutta high court in connection with the Darjeeling incident and the state government would submit the report on the total loss incurred due to the violence.

Meanwhile, Partha Chatterjee, state Parliamentary Affairs minister on Thursday urged the agitating GJM supporters to give up violence and resume talks to resolve the impasse in the Hills.

Speaking on the birth anniversary of poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, he said the leaders should act sensibly and restore peace in Darjeeling. "Those who are leading the movement are doing harm to the people and are not their voice. They are organising movements to fulfill their own agenda," he alleged. He said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had over and again expressed her willingness to resolve the issue through dialogue. "Dialogue can start only after restoration of peace in the Hills. The educational institutions are closed, the government properties have been damaged and these need to stop for the welfare of the people."