All India Gorkha League president and a strong advocate of Gorkhaland, Madan Tamang, was today killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in Darjeeling town.

Darjeeling District Magistrate Surindra Gupta said he was attacked with kukris and swords near the Planters' Club when he was supervising arrangements for a meeting scheduled for later in the day. He has died, Gupta said.

There was a clash between AIGL supporters and activists of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) who were opposed to the meeting following which police fired five rounds.

Gupta said no one was injured in the firing.

However, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI that a few of his supporters were injured in the clash and one suffered bullet injuries.

Tamang was opposed to the GJM's stand on an interim set-up for Darjeeling hills pending setting up of a separate state and demanded Gorkhaland instead.

Inspector-General of Police (North Bengal) K L Tamta said AIGL had initially decided to hold the meeting at Darjeeling Chowrasta, but later shifted the venue due to opposition from GJM.

Immediately after the attack on Tamang, shops and markets closed down, the police said. Police has also intensified patrolling in Darjeeling town.

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Govt orders probe into Tamang killing

The West Bengal government today ordered an inquiry into the killing of All India Gorkha League president Madan Tamang in Darjeeling.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held an urgent meeting with state Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen, Home Secretary Samar Ghosh, DGP Bhupinder Singh and Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya and reviewed the situation in the hills.

Tamang was killed by unidentified assailants in Darjeeling town.

Condemning the attack, Bhattacharjee directed the hill administration and the police to take immediate action against the assailants.He also called for stepping up security in the entire hill areas, official sources said.

The state's urban development minister also condemned the incident and said the assailants should be immediately arrested.

Trinamool Congress condemned Tamang's killing in broad daylight in and alleged that there was no security of life of common people in the state and sought Central intervention.

"Mamata Banerjee is shocked along with all sections of Trinamool Congress workers at Tamang's murder and expressed the view that her party is always against politics of violence," party general secretary Partha Chatterjee said in a release.

"Law and order has collapsed in the state and it is time the Centre intervened to ensure security of life and property of people," the release said.