Security beefed up in hills

Security has been beefed up in the hill towns of Darjeeling district — Darjeeling,Kurseong and Mirik — to check any relapse of violence following Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s rejection of the recommendation of the expert committee on inclusion of new areas in the proposed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Personnel of the Rapid Action Force,Indian Reserve Battalion and state police are patrolling the streets in the three areas,said Kunal Agarwal,Additional Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling. He said additional forces had arrived from Malda and Jalpaiguri districts to maintain peace in the hills during the peak tourist season.

The report which was made public on Saturday has recommended inclusion of only five mouzas of Dooars and Terai in the GTA. The GJM had been demanding inclusion of 396 mouzas.

Amid fears that the hills might again slip back to unrest,tourists have been leaving the hills.