Hundreds protest against Gurung, burn effigies

Hundreds of youth and students on Sunday took out protest rallies at various places in Siliguri protesting against the demand of creating Gorkhaland by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

They also burnt effigies of GJM chief Bimal Gurung. Protest rally was called as a peaceful demonstration but it created chaos after some people started pelting stones during which others received injuries. The rally started from Baghajatin Park of Siliguri and passed through Venus More, Sevak More before reaching Air View More while the police put up a barricade. The agitators pelted stones on a car carrying a number plate of Sikkim. The car was damaged and the driver was injured in the incident. This triggered tension near Air View More. The protesters tried to break the barricade when a scuffle broke out between them and the police personnel.

Senior police officers changed the direction of the rally from the Air View More. Some remained stationed at Air View More raising slogans against the GJM and its demands of a separate state. A huge contingent of police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.