GJM's student wing starts relay hunger-strike

Darjeeling, Jun 26 (UNI) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) student wing today launched relay hunger strikes and rallies in several areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong subdivisions to demand Gorkhaland state.

GJM students wing president Kismat Chettri said relay hunger strikes were started this morning in front of the Darjeeling District Magistrate's office, Kurseong and Kalimpong Sub-Divisional Offices, Mirik block under Kurseong subdivision, Dalgaon area in Dooars under Jalpaiguri district, as well as several other blocks in the Hill areas, including Sukhiyapukuri and Bijanbari.

He said a group of seven students from each school would sit in hunger strike for 24 hours and on the following day they would be replaced by an another group of the same number.

The rallies and hunger strikes would continue till July 5.

However, the agitations could not be launched at the Terai region and Siliguri district due to imposition of Section 144 CrPC.

GJM Publicity Secretary Benoy Tamang said the outfit's student wing would start relay hunger strike at Terai and Siliguri from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, North Bengal Inspector General of Police (IGP) K L Tamta said a high-level meeting, presided over by the IGP, and attended by Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastava and senior police officials, was held yesterday to assess the overall security situation in the Hill areas.

The situation was peaceful so far with no reports of violence, the IGP added.

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

The relaxation period was to expire yesterday morning.

However, GJM president Bimal Gurung, on Tuesday, announced relaxation of the bandh period until July 5.

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