Dead parades in Darjeeling amid unrest

Hundreds of protesters on Sunday paraded with coffins containing the bodies of two men they claimed were killed in clashes with Indian security forces in Darjeeling, as the hill resort reels from separatist unrest. Nearly 50 people, mostly police, have been injured in riots and arson attacks that have rattled the picturesque hill station for more than a week and caused thousands of mostly Indian tourists to pack their bags and flee. As the violence escalated sharply on Saturday, police said one man died and 35 policemen were hurt as protesters torched cars and set upon security forces with knives, who responded with tear gas and baton charges. West Bengal director general of police, Anuj Sharma, said the dead man appeared to have been shot but the circumstances were still unclear. Police have denied using live ammunition. But supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), a separatist movement that has long called for a separate state for ethnic Gorkhas in West Bengal, dispute this, saying three of their comrades were shot dead by police in the clashes. Hundreds of mourners on Sunday silently escorted the coffins of two men through the streets of Darjeeling, waving India’s tricolour flag and posters calling for peace. State police strongly denied the charge that live rounds were used.‘Deep-rooted conspiracy’The troubles have dealt a major blow to the crucial tourism industry, leaving the normally busy destination deserted as shops, schools and banks closed. Authorities on Sunday appeared to have blocked mobile internet services in riot-affected areas. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed for calm, urging protesters to engage in dialogue with the state government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the unrest as a “deep-rooted conspiracy”. The hills are famous for Darjeeling tea whose production is jealously guarded. It is also famed for its “toy train”, a 78km uphill ride from New Jalpaiguri. Tension has been mounting in the region since the government announced it was making Bengali mandatory in state schools, angering the state’s Gorkha population, who speak Nepali. Gorkhas have been agitating for decades for a new state of “Gorkhaland” within West Bengal, claiming Bengali-speaking outsiders have exploited their resources and imposed their culture and language. A similar uprising in 2007 saw Gorkhas granted some administrative powers.