Amid the ensuing unrest and sporadic violence in the north Bengal hills, a delegation of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha lawmakers yesterday met West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi to brief him on the situation.
“Three of our MLAs - Amar Singh Rai, Sarita Rai and Rohit Sharma - met the governor yesterday to inform him about the present situation in the hills and the demands of the local people,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said.
“The governor should be made aware of people’s suffering in the hills and the state government’s extreme measures to curb any form of movement in the region,” he said.
After Thursday’s massive clash between police and the GJM activists following a raid at the party chief Bimal Gurung’s house, the Darjeeling hills continued to be tense yesterday with rallies and counter rallies, both by the Morcha activists and the state ruling party.
Early yesterday morning, GJM supporters torched a panchayat office at Mirik, a hydro-electric supply office at Lodhama in Darjeeling and a health centre in Rimbik-Lodhama.
Accusing police of high handedness and oppression, the women’s wing of GJM took out a rally in Darjeeling town in the afternoon.
The activists carrying Indian national flag were seen shouting slogans in demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland. However, they were stopped mid-way by police and central forces.
Countering the GJM rally, the Trinamool Congress members took out a protest rally in Darjeeling district’s Mirik sub-division, a party stronghold after its victory in the recent municipal elections.
Blaming the GJM for continuous violence and arson in the hills, the rally participants demanded the Gurung’s removal.
Slogans like “Bimal Gurung Dur Haato” (Bimal Gurung Go away) were raised at the rally.
Most hotels remained shut throughout the day.
Stranded tourists wait for transportation during a strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in Darjeeling yesterday.
