The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it was sending four more companies of Central Reserve Police Force personnel to West Bengal to help maintain law and order in the Darjeeling hills, as the unrest in the state entered its 29th day. Eleven CRPF companies had already been sent earlier, Attorney General KK Venugopal told he court, The Indian Express reported.

A bench of justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and MM Shantanagoudar was hearing a plea filed by Lok Sabha MP PD Rai, Rajya Sabha member Hissey Lachungpa and Sikkim Chief Secretary AK Srivastav.

In their petition, they wanted the top court to direct the central and West Bengal governments to ensure the safety of vehicles on NH10. They brought to the bench’s attention that around 20 trucks carrying supplies to Sikkim has been vandalised and their drivers attacked by protestors demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland.

“...The citizens of these areas must understand that sustenance of law and order and living in peace is the hallmark of progressive civilisation, and therefore, they shall also see that free flow of life is not in anyway disturbed or affected,” the bench observed.

The attorney general also mentioned the Calcutta High Court’s order from earlier on Friday, asking the Centre to send four more companies of CRPF troops to volatile regions.