West Bengal: Explosions rock Kalimpong, 1 killed

According to sources, the first explosion was reported at around 10:35 pm. in front of the police station and the second blast was heard at 11:40 pm. near the main entrance of the police station.

The hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are roiled by an ongoing violent agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland for the Gorkhas who are ethnic Nepalese. 

A local police official told IBNS that one jawan of Central paramilitary force, a state police constable, one home guard and a civic volunteer were rushed to Kalimpong Sub-Divisional Hospital. The civic volunteer was pronounced dead in hospital.

"The first high intensity explosion, which took place at Kalimpong Police Station at around 10:35 pm, shook the entire area and it reportedly left at least on civic volunteer dead," the police official said.

A source said that the dead civic volunteer has been identified as Rakesh Routh (31).

A senior official of Kalimpong district police said that a heavy police force along with Central paramilitary forces have been deployed at the scene.

Earlier on Friday midnight, another high intensity IED explosion was reported from Chowk Bazar area in Darjeeling district.

After beginning probe into the matter, Darjeeling district police have booked three top Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders, including Bimal Gurung, Pravin Subba and Prakash Gurung, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

GJM chief Bimal Gurung, however, denied his party's involvement in the incident and demanded NIA investigation into the matter.

More details awaited.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)