All police stations in the northern West Bengal hills have been put on “high alert” and counter-insurgency strategies are being followed after two major blasts in the past 24 hours in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, police said on Sunday. “All police stations have been put on high alert. The strategy that is followed by security forces in the insurgency affected areas is being followed here,” Kalimpong superintendent of police Ajit Singh Yadav said. Both the blasts took place on the 69th day of the indefinite shutdown called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which wants a separate Gorkhaland to be carved out of the north Bengal hills. Police said the blast in Darjeeling was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device and the impact was felt in a wide area.

Source: Hindustan Times August 20, 2017 08:48 UTC