Three day bandh demanding Gorkhaland begins in Darjeeling

Over ten GJM supporters were arrested when they burnt a motorcycle and a car at Rambi on the National Highway as a three-day bandh demanding Gorkhaland began in the hills on Monday.

The motorcycle and the car were burnt by Gorkha Janmukti supporters at Rambi on the National Highway 31 where they were picketing in the early morning when the shutdown began, police said.

The police intervened and arrested 12 GJM supporters, while the remaining fled from the picketing spot on the arterial highway which connects West Bengal with Sikkim. Darjeeling town wore a deserted look with traffic off the roads and markets and offices closed. There is a Supreme Court directive that the highway has to be kept free during bandhs and blockades in the hills.

Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said that stringent action would be taken for destruction of government property and that the police would ensure that the NH 31, Sikkim’s lifeline, remained open.

District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan also said that strong steps would be taken in case of breakdown of law and order.

The bandh is to demand Gorkhaland, which is a 107-year-old demand, the GJM said.

A thousand GJM supporters were picketing at Chowkbazar with party flags, while large gatherings of party supporters were also reported from Jorbungalow, Mirik, Sukhiapokhri, 9th Mile and 26th mile.

Roads were also barricaded by the GJM supporters in the Kalimpong and Kurseong subdivisions.

Some foreign tourists still remained in the hills, while around 2,000 domestic tourists left on Sunday, police said.