400 GJM workers detained in Jalpaiguri

Darjeeling/Jalpaiguri, Dec 13 (PTI) Around 400 GorkhaJanmukti Morcha workers, who were holding a road blockade onthe second day of their 96-hour bandh to press for Gorkhaland,were detained in Jalpaiguri district today.

The GJM workers, who blocked roads since 6 AM atNagrakata, were taken to the Jalpaiguri Kotwali policestation, police said.

Among those detained were GJM central committeemembers Rajen Lohar and Santosh Rai.

The effect of the bandh was felt at Kalchini,Malbazar, Nagrakata, Banarhat and other areas where theGorkhas are in a majority with shops, establishments, schoolsand colleges closed.

In Darjeeling town, GJM workers were picketing at theChowk Bazar.The offices of the District Magistrate andSuperintendent of Police, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council,DGHC headquarters at Lalkothi, Food and Supply and DrugControl offices at Chowk Bazar were closed, SP D P Singh said.

Picketing by GJM activists was also reported fromSukhiapokhri and Sukna.

The SP said that the National Highway 31A, animportant link to Sikkim, was clear of blockades with 250personnel of the India Reserve Battalion deployed on thestretch from Sevok to Rangli near the Himalayan state''sborders.

Ten mobile vans were also on patrol, while videocameras had been installed at strategic locations to pinpointand identify GJM supporters and workers if they tried to blockroads, Singh said.

Yesterday, GNLF leader Deepak Subba was stabbed byGJM activists at Bijonbari when he tried to stop them fromremoving a GNLF flag, police sources said.

Subba was rushed to hospital, where his condition wasstated to be serious.