Ban on meetings and rallies in Darjeeling hills

Siliguri, Dec 25 (UNI) Darjeeling district administration has imposed ban on meetings and rallies by the political parties in all three hill sub-divisions till January one following sporadic violent clashes among the rival parties in recent time.

Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) RJS Nalwa today said the ban and restrictions on meeting and rallies in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong effecting today would continue till New Year day.

The decision to this effect was taken yesterday at a high level meeting of the political parties and local civil and police administration presided by Darjeeling district Magistrate Rajesh Pandey.

Mr Nalwa, who also attedned the meeting, said the DGHC ruling Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and some other parties of the hills had participated in the talk.

He said the meeting also decided that after the New Year day, the political parties are required to take permission from the district authorities on holding rallies and meetings. But in no circumstances, the rally and meeting would not not be allowed after 1500 hours in the hills, he added.

Mr Nalwa said this prohibitory decision was taken after reports of sporadic violent clashes among the rival political parties in the hills for some weeks.

Police also arrested 12 people from Sukna yesterday for arson and rioting in the area the day before.

Both the GNLF and its arch rival newly formed Gorkha Janamukti Morcha are recently involved in clashes that already harmed the tourist flow in the Queen of the Hills.

UNI