Darjeeling (WB), Oct 13 (PTI) A sub-inspector was shotdead and four policemen were injured in clashes between thepolice and alleged supporters of Gorkha leader Bimal Gurungafter security forces raided a forest area near Darjeelingwhere he was suspected to be hiding.
The police said the raid was carrying on as it hadintelligence inputs that Gurung, against whom a lookout noticewas issued last month, was near Patlebas in the Darjeelinghills.
West Bengal police sub-inspector Amitabha Mullick wasshot dead and four police personnel were severely injuredafter supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morch (GJM) loyal toGurung opened fire to stop the advancing police party,Siddhinath Gupta, additional director general of police, said.
The GJM claimed three of its supporters were killed inpolice firing. The police, however, did not confirm this.
Six AK-47 rifles and one 9mm pistol have been recovered,the police said, adding that the clashes were continuing.
"We have cordoned off the entire area and the raidoperation is still on," Gupta told PTI.
A huge contingent of police personnel has been sent tothe spot as the forces believe Gurung is in Darjeeling andhiding in that area.
The GJM is an ally of the BJP-led National DemocraticAlliance (NDA).
Trouble started around 5 am when a police search partyraided a hideout inside the forest near Patlebas, a strongholdof Gurung, acting on information that he was hiding there.
When the police started its hunt for him, alleged GJMsupporters fired and threw stones at them, the policesaid.
Gurung has been in hiding since August after casesunder the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were registeredagainst him for his alleged involvement in several bomb blastsin Darjeeling and adjoining areas.
This is the first such incident of violence after the104-day long indefinite shutdown in the hills was called offon September 26 by Gurung following an appeal by Union homeminister Rajnath Singh. PTI PNT BDSANB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.