GJM activists force closure of liquor shops in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Nov. 8 (ANI): In a bid to push forward their demand for a separate state within India, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Saturday forced all liquor shops and bars in Darjeeling to close down.

"This is just the beginning. Liquor is just symbolic, you wait and watch what we will do in future. Government gets direct tax from liquor, so we are blocking it," said P.V. Singh, GJM Sub-Divisional Secretary of Kurseong division.

The Gorkhas or the ethnic Nepalis have been demanding their "Gorkhaland", which they want carved out of West Bengal to protect their heritage.

At least 1,200 people died in the first Gorkhaland campaign in the 1980s, but protests ended after Gorkha leaders accepted limited autonomy.

New protests erupted in 2008, but both the State government and the Union government rejected the demand for a separate state. (ANI)