Monday, January 19, 2009

Indefinite Darjeeling bandh from today

Indefinite Darjeeling bandh from today
CORRESPONDENT DOOARS, Jan 18 – An indefinite Darjeeling bandh has been called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) from tomorrow in protest of Malbazaar, Dooars incident today where several of its supporters were injured during a clash with groups opposed to the Gorkhaland demand.Vehicles leaving Sikkim were stranded at Rangpo and Melli border towns. Around 150 vehicles were stopped at the check posts before they were finally allowed to leave after 5 pm.Trouble began at Malbazaar when GJM took out a rally to press its demand that Terai and Dooars be included in the proposed Gorkhaland territory. In protest, the Adivasi Bikash Parishad put up road blockades at important points across Malbazar resulting in a clash when GJM supporters tried to cross one of these blockades at Malbazar College More.At least 25 people including two senior police officials were injured in the clash. However, unconfirmed reports stated that over 110 people were injured, majority of whom were GJM supporters.The police had to carry out a baton charge and fire 11 rounds of teargas shells to control the situation. “We have called the para-military force to help us maintain law and order here”, stated North Bengal IGP. As soon as the news of the clash came, the entire Darjeeling hill region shut down in a flash strike. The bandh was total in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong division and vehicular movement was paralyzed along NH 31 A, Sikkim’s lifeline.Strongly condemning the assault on GJM supporters at Malbazaar, the party president Bimal Gurung announced an indefinite Darjeeling bandh. He said that the incident was a conspiracy of the local administration and West Bengal Government. He warned of an intensified movement if the culprits who were armed with bows and arrows, sticks and stones were not arrested by police within the next 48 hours. GJM had today launched a Dooars Chalo movement to garner public support from these areas for Gorkhaland movement. A massive public meeting had been organized at Nagarkhatta in Dooars for this campaign. GJM had also started an Adivashi-Gorkha cultural festival at Gorubatan to promote friendship between the tribals and the hill people from January 14. Adivashi Vikash Parishad had today called a bandh to derail the campaign of GJM prompting the local administration and police to slap section under section 144 CrPC in the area for maintaining law and order. source: assam tribune

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