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It’s indefinite bandh, says Gorkha Janamukti Morcha

Kolkata: A fresh spell of unrest is likely in the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) extending indefinitely the 24-hour bandh it called in the region on Monday. Tourists have been asked to leave the hills.

“The bandh has been extended to highlight our demand for a separate state comprising Darjeeling hills and areas contiguous to it,” GJM president Bimal Gurung told The Hindu from Darjeeling.

“Tourists in the hills should leave by tonight. In case they cannot, we shall provide them a helpline to do so by Tuesday,” he said.

The bandh would be observed in the Terai and Dooars regions of north Bengal from Tuesday.

“Monday’s total bandh was in protest against the attack on GJM supporters by those belonging to organisations backed by the Communist Party of India(Marxist) in the Bagdogra area near Siliguri,” Mr Gurung said.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee earlier told the GJM leadership that a solution to end the stalemate in the region should be found through negotiations within the framework of the State.

Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said the organisations referred to by Mr. Gurung comprised locals who were forced to react to six days of attempts by GJM activists to disrupt normal life in the area on the ground that the party be allowed to address a public meeting in Naxalbari. Permission had been denied as that could precipitate a breakdown in law and order.

“Certain forces were out to foment trouble in the region like in Assam and the northeast. This is unfortunate,” Mr. Bhattacharya, said referring to the renewed agitation that threatens to spill over into the foothills. He hails from Darjeeling district.

Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Charavarty said here that the administration would arrange for the return of the stranded tourists to the plains.

On the Gorkhaland plea, Mr. Gurung said West Bengal “should consult the Centre and work towards granting the people of Darjeeling the separate State they are demanding.”

“The GJM had served an ultimatum to the State Government on May 27 to wind up the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council that has become useless,” Roshan Giri, GJM secretary, said from Siliguri. “This had not been done so far and we are reiterating our demand to repeal the DGHC Act.”

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