GJM relaunches bandh in three hill sub-divisions

Siliguri, Jun 16 (UNI) The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM)-sponsored indefinite bandh restarted in the three hill sub-divisions of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling from 1800 hrs today for a separate Gorkhaland state.

However, tea estates, schools and colleges had been exempted from the purview of the bandh.

The Morcha had relaxed its indefinite 'Darjeeling bandh' for 60 hours from 1800 hours on June 11.

In the meantime, Morcha president Bimal Gurung had asked the people to store food for 45 days.

Asked if the bandh would continue for 45 days as hinted by Mr Gurung, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the indefinite bandh might even continue for three months.

'' We will continue our bandh till our demands for Gorkhaland and arrest of those involved in violence in Siliguri last week are conceded, '' he said.

Mr Giri said indefinite hunger strike would start in Terai and Dooars, including Siliguri, but the district administration had posed problems by clamping Section 144 Cr PC. '' But we will still try to carry on with our programme, ''he added.

Siliguri Sub-Divisional Officer Smita Pandey said the areas where Section 144 Cr PC had been promulgated, there would be no hunger strike.

However, in Siliguri prohibitory orders would be imposed in the daytime also.

SDPO Malbazar Debarshi Dutta said from tomorrow there would be fresh imposition of 144 Cr PC so that there is no violence or law and order problem. A company of CRPF was still patrolling the area.

North Bengal Inspector General of Police K L Tamta said all arrangements had been made to avert any problem during the hunger strike. '' But, we have no instruction to deploy CRPF in the hills.

also no police action will be taken there. However, CRPF and other forces are there in the plains, '' he added S P Darjeeling Rahul Srivastav said all arrangements had been completed in the district to prevent any problem in the hill district. Four companies of CRPF were still there in Siliguri. The forces had been patrolling the area since imposition of bandh last time.

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