Darjeeling Police special force for security reasons

The Darjeeling district police have fashioned a special commando force to deploy during possible riots and to cope with unforeseen incidents in any part of the district.

“There is a general perception among the public that the police are not doing enough to ensure their security. That is why we created this special force. Their training is complete and they are ready for deployment as and when required,” SP Darjeeling, Mr Rahul Srivastava said.

A contingent of 15 personnel in each sub-division of the district was prepared in July and they were trained by the Army on mob control. The commandos would also act as plainclothes intelligence to prevent unsavory events.

“In total 120 cadres were selected and have been kitted out with special gear like helmet, shin guard and the lot,” the SP, said.

Asked if additional force would be called for he said: “We have not requisitioned any additional force and are making use of the limited resources at our disposal.”

On the recent development concerning the demonstrations against the AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang by the GJMM students’ wing, he described the political situation in the Hills as “dynamic.”
“The political atmosphere is very dynamic. We never know when the students may take out a rally without notice. Therefore, we convene a meeting of official heads every evening to re-orient the security arrangements,” the SP said.

So far, three DSP’s and three inspectors have been stationed near the AIGL president’s residence adjacent to the INA bypass and one DSP and an inspector in his office at Laden La Road.
In the past 12 months 159 political cases have been registered, of which 91 are under investigation, charge sheets have been submitted for 56 and the remaining 12 have ended in final reports. “These include all cases pertaining to the shooting episode in June in Darjeeling, vandalism, the implementation of GL plates and signboard defacement. Since the political tension began in the Hills, around 628 FIR’s have been lodged and 477 persons either surrendered or were arrested. The administration has been blamed for inaction but investigations are in progress,”