West Bengal: Kalimpong town under lockdown following grenade attack on police station

According to reports, setting up nakas at several points, police are checking vehicles and quizzing locals and outsiders as well.

Earlier on Saturday, two blasts were reported at Kalimpong Police Station between 10:30 pm. and 11:45 pm.

Police officials said that at least on civic volunteer, Rakesh Routh (31), was killed and several other security personnel, including a home guard, a state police constable and a jawan of Central paramilitary force, were injured due to the first explosion while no casualty was reported in the second blast.

"Some unidentified miscreants threw hand grenades aiming at the police station yesterday midnight and escaped the scene after the attack," a police official told IBNS. "One civic volunteer was killed and several others were hurt in the first grenade attack."

Following the incident, a heavy police force along with Central paramilitary force rushed to the scene and locked down the area.

According to sources, a suspect has been detained in connection with the case and is being interrogated.

After primary investigation, a senior official of West Bengal Police told IBNS, "Country-made hand grenades were used in the operation and they had set a timer of seven seconds in those grenades."

"Prima facie indicates that attackers were well-trained and there is a possible involvement of terrorist groups behind the sudden strike," the official added.

Meanwhile, police have booked at least five top leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), including Bimal Gurung, Prakash Gurung, Pravin Subba, Barud Thapa and Dawa Lepcha, in connection with the case and charged them under several IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosives Act sections.

Earlier on Friday midnight, another high intensity IED explosion was reported from Chowk Bazar area in Kalimpong's neighbouring Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

None was hurt in the incident as the area was empty when the blast took place.

A small hole on the road was created due to the explosion while iron-shutters and glass-made windows of more than 20 nearby shops were damaged.

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).

However, GJM chief Bimal Gurung denied his party's involvement in both incidents.

A senior official of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told IBNS that their officials are monitoring the matter.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)