Darjeeling protests: Rajnath Singh appeals for peace

Darjeeling has been witnessing violence and protests in recent times.

Appealing for peace, the Union Minister tweeted:" I appeal to the people living in Darjeeling and nearby areas to remain calm and peaceful. Nobody should resort to violence."

He said violence cannot help in reaching any solution.

"In a democracy like India resorting to violence would never help in finding a solution. Every issue can be resolved through mutual dialogue," he said.

Singh further said: "All concerned parties and stakeholders should resolve their differences and misunderstandings through dialogue in amicable environment."

Even as shutdown continued in the conflict-torn Darjeeling on Sunday, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) carried out a protest rally on Sundaywith bodies of three of its supporters who were killed allegedly in police firing on Saturday, media reports said.

Party Chief Bimal Gurung had earlier asked his supporters to defy the curfew and assemble for Sunday’s protest.

Meanwhile, the strike by GJM entered its seventh day in Darjeeling on Sunday.

Normal life has been hit for the past six days and on Sunday too shops remained closed while vehicles were off the road.

A large contingent of the army, paramilitary and the police are deployed in the hill state which turned a violence zone since the last few days owing to GJM's protests over the demand for a separate state in Darjeeling.

GJM supporters on Saturday morning held four rallies in Darjeeling hills.

Strike supporters had engaged in a clash with police force at Singmari and Lebong areas.

GJM activists had even torched several police vehicles.

Several policeman and strikers were injured in the clash.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said police did not fire a single round.

Banerjee had stated that: "This is a terrorist movement. We have information that Darjeeling attackers have connections with NE terror groups. Few other countries are also influencing and indulging the insurgency. Police did not fired a single round bullet today."