Police officer killed, three injured in Darjeeling clash

In a sudden escalation of violence in West Bengal's northern hills, a police sub-inspector was killed and three others were injured in an exchange of fire between security forces and the Bimal Gurung faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha here on Friday, police said.

SI Amit Malik was fatally shot close to Gurung's residence at Patlebas, when the forces were marching towards his operational headquarters.

"The GJM workers, who were armed, started firing. While Malik died of bullet injuries, three other policemen were also injured," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Anuj Sharma told IANS.

The security forces were moving towards Patlebas after receiving specific inputs that Gurung was camping in the area.

The clashes went on for hours. Later, police recovered six AK 47 rifles, a pistol, and 500 rounds of cartridges and explosives, he said.

As the day wore on, the GJM activists torched a police vehicle.

Sharma said that during the clashes, Gurung and his close associates fled to the neighbouring state of Sikkim.

--IANS

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