#Darjeeling unrest : 3 deaths

As the indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) enters its seventh day in Darjeeling Hills, protests over the demand for a separate state are set to intensify with party chief Bimal Gurung asking his supporters to defy curfew and assemble at Chowk Bazaar on Sunday morning.

On Saturday, at least three activists of the GJM were killed and several persons injured as protesters clashed with police in Darjeeling Hills. A senior police officer was also injured and is said to be in a critical condition. While the GJM claimed their three of their cadre were killed in police firing, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee denied the allegations. Army troops have also been deployed in the region.

The current unrest in Darjeeling began after the West Bengal government announced making Bengali a mandatory language in the schools of the region.