Mamata writes letter to PM and HM over withdrawal of Central forces

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 16 (ANI): Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she had written a strong letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the withdrawal of Central forces from Darjeeling.

She further accused Bharatiya Janata Party of creating disturbance in Darjeeling.

"BJP is repeatedly trying to disturb the situation in Darjeeling. One BJP minister is directly involved" Mamata Banerjee said here.

The West bengal Chief Minister also requested Prime Minister Modi and Rajnath Singh to not see the situation of Darjeeling from narrow political mind.

"We'll do whatever is required to maintain peace and normalcy in Darjeeling," she said, adding, "No party in Darjeeling wants that there would be violence in the hills. Everbody wants peace, epmloyement and normalcy."

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday had informed that the Centre will be withdrawing seven companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) that are deployed in Darjeeling and Kalimpong from October 16.

However, a notification from the MHA said that the remaining five companies of the CRPF will continue in the Hills to aid the police force till October 20.

Since the unrest that began in June 12, companies of CRPF and the SSB were called in by the state government.

Although, earlier on Sunday, expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang had requested for Centre's intervention in Darjeeling hills during his meeting with West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata.

"The issues related to the series of bomb blast and the recently recovered arms and ammunitions in the Darjeeling Valley have been appraised in meeting. We have requested the Governor to appraise the Centre about the same", said Tamang in a press conference after the meeting.

The former GJM leader said, "We want to talk to the Centre regarding the matter and want their intervention in the area as it is sensitive area."

"We want the central government to talk about all pending issues as well as the Gorkhaland issue," added Tamang.

In the last few months, Darjeeling has been witnessing indefinite shutdown over separate Gorkhaland by various hill parties which have been spearheading the agitation, including the GJM activists. (ANI)