RPF office, police outpost, library set afire in Darjeeling

DARJEELING (WB): A Railway Protection Force (RPF) office, a police outpost and a state-run library were set on fire in the Darjeeling hills as the indefinite strike demanding a separate state entered its 30th day today, police said.

As unrest simmered, internet services remained suspended for the 27th day.

The RPF office in Kurseong and a police outpost in Sukhiapokhri were set afire in the early hours of the morning while the state-run library in Mirik sub-division was reduced to ashes by pro-Gorkhaland supporters last night, a police official said.

The Army continues to be deployed in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sonada.

The Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee ( GMCC) decided to postpone its fast-unto-death programme from July 15 due to the upcoming presidential elections.

"We have decided to postpone the programme of fast-unto- death as presidential elections are nearby. We'll take a call on it at our next all-party meeting on July 18," a GMCC member told.

The 30-member GMCC represents all hill based parties, including the GJM, the GNLF and the JAP.