Two more blasts rock Darjeeling

The Darjeeling hills were shaken by two blasts on Thursday amid the indefinite shutdown spearheaded by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) demanding a separate of Gorkhaland.

The first incident happened outside Sukhiapokhri Police station, damaging several shops and vehicles, the police said.

The second blast took place in the Lebong area, where several vehicles were badly damaged.

"There have been no reports of any casualty or injuries in the two blasts. Preliminary investigation indicates that IEDs and grenades were used for the blasts. Forensic teams have reached the spots and a detailed probe is on," said ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma.

The police said suspected Gorkhaland supporters also set a godown on fire in the hills later in the day.

The blasts came barely five days after an IED blast in the heart of Darjeeling and a grenade attack on Kalimpong Police station, killing one civic volunteer and seriously injuring two cops.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting of all hill parties on August 29 at the state secretariat in an effort to bring back peace and normalcy in the Darjeeling hills. Both the GNLF and GJM had written to the chief minister urging her to convene the meeting.