Army withdrawn from the north Bengal hills

Kolkata June 28 (IANS) The Army has been withdrawn from the north Bengal hills with improvement in the situation an official said on Wednesday.

The Army had been deployed in the hills following large-scale violence unleashed by Gorkhaland protesters.

The six columns of army that was posted in hills have been de-requisitioned after the state government said that they do not need the army and would be able to handle the situation with their own resources said Wing Commander S.S. Birdi Chief Public Relations Officer of Defence ministry here.

One column of army comprises 43 personnel he said.

The officer said the proposal from the state was sent to the army command on June 24 and the de-requisition process was started over the weekend.

The army was called in after thousands of angry Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists demanding a separate Gorkhaland state indulged in arson and pelted stones at police injuring 15 while around 45 000 tourists were stranded in the northern West Bengal hills due to the violence.

--IANS
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