Five companies of Central Paramilitary Forces and armed police staged flag marches and patrolled trouble spots to ensure the prohibitory orders promulgated on Saturday were in place.

In Siliguri, sub-division of Darjeeling district, officials were considering imposing prohibitory orders when rumours ran rife of assembly by mobs of both communities. Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastav said after verification, they found that the rumours were unfounded. “We decided not to impose the orders. Black flag marches were staged by the GJM in the Hills and parts of the plains,” Srivastav said.

Jalpaiguri Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma, who is now back on duty after receiving treatment for injuries suffered during the Gorkha-tribal clashes on January 16, said the situation was tense but no incidents of violence had been reported on Sunday.

According to the police, fear psychosis brought about by yesterday’s clashes kept most people indoors, while minorities in each pocket had expressed their fears about possible retaliations. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in nine police station areas including Nagrakata, Birpada, Malbazar, Bandhaghat, Kalchini and Hamiltonganj areas.

The family of Sunil Mondal (28), who was killed in Chamurchi by GJM bandh enforcers, meanwhile, conducted the last rites on Sunday. The last rites of Akbar Lama (45), the other victim, will be performed on Monday.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said yesterday’s clashes were due to “unprovoked attacks by the tribals”. “Police camps have been set up at various places to reassure residents and discourage miscreants,” said Verma.

On Saturday, Chamurchi witnessed the worst violence, during which, bandh supporters set the CPM office on fire. In retaliation, tribals attacked Nepali tea garden workers, setting some houses ablaze. In Odlabari and Birpara, tribals also clashed with the police.