Darjeelng bandh relaxation until July 5

Darjeeling, Jun 24 (UNI) Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today announced further relaxation of bandh period until July five.

The GJM on Sunday evening had relaxed 60 hours of its indefinite strike, that began on June 16 demanding a separate state for Gorkhas in Darjeeling.

The relaxation period was to expire on Wednesday morning.

Mr Gurung in a public meeting at Chowk Bazar today announced the extension of relaxation period till July five.

GJM spokesman Binoy Tamang while confirming this said why the relaxation period extended was not known to him immediately.

Political sources said pressure from Centre forced the GJM to change its course of movement as the Sikkim government and its West Bengal counterpart have been pressing for keeping open the the NH 31-A, the main artery of strategic Sikkim state.

UNI XC PC DB1612