Image: Anju Bobby George (extreme left) with the winners.

Siliguri: DARJEELING Police Marathon today entered the fifth year with noted athlete Anju Bobby George flagging off the event from Sukhika Pokhri in the Queen of Hills at 7.30 in the morning.

The organiser, Darjeeling Police, dedicated this edition of the marathon for lasting peace and harmony between people of Hills and plains of the state against the backdrop of the massive unrest in Darjeeling last year.

The run was a Half Marathon covering a stretch of 21 km and traversed through Lapchey Jagat, Puboong Phatak, Ghoom Bhanjan, Ghoom Railway Station, Dali Fatak, Darjeeling Railway Station, Padmaja Naidu Zoological Garden, and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute before concluding at the Chowrasta.

Professional runners, as well as sports and fitness enthusiasts, participated in both male and female categories.  The top ranker was rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh; the first runner-up was given Rs 75,000, and the second runner-up got Rs 50,000.

The event was organised in association with the semi-autonomous body Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and direct-selling FMCG company Amway. Darjeeling Police felicitated 10 sports personalities from the hills, including former Indian Hockey team player Bharat Chhetri.