‘Won’t tolerate bid for unrest in Hills’

Kolkata: State director general of police (DGP) Surajit Kar Purkayastha claimed on Wednesday that last week’s hunt to catch Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, which led to an ambush between Mr Gurung’s armed followers and the police personnel, leaving sub inspector Amitava Malik dead, was successful.

Praising Malik’s role, he asserted that the slain SI and other police personnel displayed courage during the operation at Singla forest. 

He also made it clear that attempts of creating unrest in the Hills would not be tolerated. 

The DGP was talking to the media after taking stock of the situation in Darjeeling for the last two days in wake of the encounter which claimed the cop’s life. 

He also met injured cop Kumar Tamang, who has been undergoing treatment at a nursing home in Siliguri. 

Mr Purkayastha said, “The operation was a success. Malik and other police personnel conducted the operation bravely. A cache of arms and ammunitions was recovered.”

He elaborated, “The operation proved the initial findings that those who have been operating the movement in the hills have links with the militant outfits of the Northeast. Some external forces have been active. Its clear now. Peace has returned to the hills now. People are in favour of peace. All are cooperating. Still some people are trying to create disturbances in the hills.”

Mr Purkayastha added, “Those who are trying to do it are being identified. Action will be taken against them. We will not allow any unrest in the Hills.” 

Close on the heels of the killing of Malik by the GJM chief’s aides, the BJP and the Congress blamed the Mamata Banerjee government for the loss of life and questioned the lack of protection of the cops.