Morcha president Bimal Gurung announces the relaxation at Chowrastha in Darjeeling on Tuesday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Siliguri, June 24: The Bengal government today ruled out the use of force for free movement of vehicles on NH31A, the lifeline to Sikkim, if it is closed again following the re-imposition of the bandh by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

“Army help will be taken as a last resort. Right now, we are banking on a solution to the problem through negotiations,” Bengal chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb said after a meeting with a high-level central team at the Sukna army cantonment near Siliguri.

About 60km of the highway from Sevoke to Rangpo had been brought under the bandh called by the Morcha.

The meeting was attended by Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta, defence secretary Vijay Singh, joint secretary (defence) S.K. Julka, additional secretary, ministry of petroleum, Sundaresan, Food Corporation of India’s chairman and managing director Aloke Singh, and the general officer commanding, 33 Corps, Lt Gen. Deepak Raj.

The director-general of Bengal police A.B. Vohra, Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey, inspector-generals of police Gaurav Dutt (intelligence bureau) and K.L. Tamta (north Bengal), district police chief Rahul Srivastava and other senior officials represented the state.

“One main message that the meeting conveyed was that both the Centre and the state are very concerned with the agitation in Darjeeling and its effect on Sikkim,,” Deb said. “Owing to the bandh, the national highway is closed and the people of that state are suffering as essential items are not reaching them.

“The meeting discussed ways to solve this and it was agreed that since the overall situation was dynamic and continuously evolving, special police arrangements were not required. Talks with the Morcha leaders would provide a solution,” the chief secretary said.

He said a special Darjeeling panel, comprising five members from the administration, police, central paramilitary forces and the army, will be formed to monitor the situation as it evolves.

“The panel will take note of the developments and recommend action to the state and Centre as and when required,” Deb said.

Asked if army help would be taken to ensure essential supplies reach Sikkim when the road is closed again, that can be done only if the Army Special Powers Act is invoked. “If the need at all arises, that may be done. But not right now,” he said.