The Hindu : National : Bandh called in Darjeeling

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Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008
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Bandh called in Darjeeling

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: The leadership of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has called an indefinite bandh in the region from Wednesday in support of its demand for the immediate removal of Subash Ghisingh from the post of administrator of the Darjeelling Gorkha Hill Council.

The GJM is behind the agitation for a separate State comprising West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills and certain areas contiguous to it.

Mr. Ghisingh, who was unable to proceed to Darjeeling on Monday because of blockades set up by GJM supporters on all roads leading to the hills, stayed on in Siliguri amid tight security.

A large number of GJM activists demonstrated on Tuesday outside the place where he is staying and vowed to prevent him from moving on to Darjeeling.

The GJM leadership has called for the scrapping of the move to grant Sixth Schedule status to the region. It said the agitation would continue till its demands were met. An indefinite hunger strike in support of the demands by some activists in Darjeeling and the sub-divisional towns of Kurseong and Kalimpong entered the third day. Work in all State and Central government offices was hit.

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