In a major development the security forces on Friday unearthed a workshop where improvised explosive devices were manufactured near Patlebas in Darjeeling.
“Huge amount of crude required for manufacturing IED and bombs were recovered from inside a workshop at langpo village not far from Patlebas,” a senior police officer said. Patlebas is the official residence of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung who is currently at large following cases slapped against him under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
The workshop was run inside a wooden structure with a sign plate reading “Government of West Bengal,” sources said adding two persons were detained for questioning.
“It seems that IED blasts that rocked Kalimpong, Mirik and Darjeeling in recent past were supplied from this workshop,” officials guessed.
Meanwhile in a new development the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on Friday clashed with the police a day before rebel Morcha leader Benay Tamang was to hold a rally at Darjeeling.
The police resorted to lathi-charge after GJM supporters resorted to brickbatting from a procession.
Several policemen and Morcha supporters were injured in the clash
sources said.
The Friday’s development came a day after a relatively new outfit Gorkhaland liberation Army claimed through posters all over the Hills the responsibility for the IED blasts.
It also warned all and sundry against deviating from the struggle for separate Gorkhaland State.