Grenade blast in Kalimpong: Gurung, four others charged under UAPA

Kalimpong SP Ajit Singh Yadav said: “The bomb blast near Kalimpong police station has confirmed intelligence reports that explosives and bombs are being collected by agitators.” Mahindra Chettri, general secretary of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) that supports the statehood movement, said the Darjeeling and Kalimpong blasts could be the handiwork of outside agencies and forces to derail the peaceful and democratic Gorkhaland movement. The Morcha said the state government was trying to suppress the peaceful and democratic movement.

Some sources said they heard two explosions in Kalimpong, one at 10.30 pm and another at 11.30 pm, on Saturday night, but police spoke of one blast. The police have also refused to speak on the nature of the blast before getting forensic test reports. Confirming the death of the civic police guard, ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma said: “One person died while two have been injured in a bomb attack.”

According to police sources, on Saturday night, an explosive substance that seemed to be a grenade was thrown towards the police station in Kalimpong. Civic police guard Rakesh Raut died while two others suffered serious injuries. They were taken to Kalimpong hospital, where Raut was declared brought dead. The other two —- SSB jawan Manoj Deka (31) and a home guard Dhendup Bhutia (48) —- were sent to Siliguri for treatment.