Arson after youth's death, Army deployed in West Bengal hills

Cops near the torched railway station in Darjeeling; (inset) a police outpost was also set on fire. Pics/AFP

The Army was on Saturday redeployed in Darjeeling hills after fresh violence broke out at Sonada where Gorkhaland supporters torched a police outpost and a toy train station after a youth was killed in alleged police firing on Friday night.

Activists of the Gorkha Janmukti Mo­rcha and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) also clashed with cops at Sonada and Chawkbazar in Darjeeling as the indefinite shutdown in the hills entered its 24th day.

"Two columns of the Army comprising around 100 personnel were deployed in Sonada and Darjeeling in the wake of fresh violence," defence sources said.

CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday appealed for restoration of peace in Darjeeling and said the state was open to dialogue.

Meanwhile, a person was killed when supporters of two political parties - TMCâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088and BJP - clashed in North Dinajpur district, police said.

BJP meets Bengal Guv, demands Prez Rule
Kolkata: The BJP on Saturday met West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi and demanded that the Centre should immediat­e­ly impose President's rule as the law and order situation in the state has "completely broken down". BJP's demand follows the communal clashes in North 24 Parganas districts and the turmoil in Darjeeling. They also demanded that riot victims be compensated.