NEW DELHI: Following a request from the West Bengal Government, the Union Home Ministry on Monday allowed continued deployment of eight companies (800 personnel) of the Central paramilitary forces in Darjeeling to maintain law and order in the hill district of the State.
The move comes a day after Centre decided to withdraw 10 out the 15 companies of the Central paramilitary forces deployed in Darjeeling. However, the West Bengal Government protested the move and sent a letter to the Ministry urging it not to withdraw the forces from the hill district that has seen violent protests following shutdown calls by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in the last few months.
The Centre wanted to withdraw 10 companies from Darjeeling/Kalimpong for deployment in other States in the wake of the festival season, a Home Ministry official said.
Following a request from the State Government, a fresh assessment was done and a decision has been taken to withdraw only seven companies and the remaining eight companies will continue to be attached with the State police for law and order duties in Darjeeling, the official said.
The Central paramilitary forces are there in the aid of the State and the local police should take over as soon as the law and order situation improves on the ground, the official said.
The situation in Darjeeling has improved in the recent weeks and other commitments have to be met in view of the festive season and the impending elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the official added.