Amra Bangali's sponsored Darjeeling bandh flops

Darjeeling, Dec 11 (UNI) The 24-hour Darjeeling called by Amra Bangali to protest the 6th Schedule status for Darjeeling hills, evoked negligible response in some pockets of Siliguri sub-division today.

However, life was normal all three hill sub-divisions - Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalingpong, official sources here said.

The bandh called Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao committee, a wing of Amra Bangali, had affected little in some pockets in Siliguri town where educational institutions remained closed.

Passeger vehicles plied as usual and markets remained open usually.

Amra Bangali's local president M Mazumdar alleged that Gorkha National Liberation Front supreme Subash Ghisingh was conspiring to divide Bengal in the name of 6th Schedule status for Darjeeling hills.

He said there was large influx of foreign nationals from neighbouring Nepal and local polupation was gradually outnumbered.

He claimed successful bandh till mid-day today.

UNI XC PC RN1423