Tourists leave Darjeeling as four-day GJM bandh begins

Darjeeling, Jan 12 (PTI) Around 400 tourists have leftthis hill station as a four-day bandh called by the GorkhaJanmukti Morcha (GJM) began today on its renewed demand forGorkhaland carved out of West Bengal.

Police said all tourists, including a few foreigners,left the town yesterday and also some local residents to avoidthe shutdown, which has been compounded by the sub-zerotemperatures.

Vehicles were off the roads and all establishments,shops also remained closed.

Out of the 80 tea gardens, nearly 60 recorded noattendance, while there was hardly any work at the others,sources said.

A minor clash was reported between GJM and theCommunist Party of Revolutionary Marxist at Bijon Bari in theplains, which left one injured, Additional SP Kunal Agarwalsaid.

Police are using surveillance cameras to keep a watchon the NH-31, the sole lifeline of Sikkim, against blockadesby the GJM.

One company of CRPF would also be deployed along thehighway to ensure smooth traffic movement and uninterruptedsupply of essential commodities.

The Darjeeling Police has requested the stategovernment to dispatch five companies of security forces, butthere has been no response so far, Darjeeling SP D P Singhsaid.