Bandh again in Darjeeling

Darjeeling, Jan 18 (PTI) Tourists who had flocked toDarjeeling to witness snowfall left a disappointed lot as aseven-day bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha begantoday, the second shutdown this month, to press for a separatestate of Gorkhaland.

All tourists had left yesterday after having to shellout thrice the normal fares for taxis to Siliguri in theplains.

There was no traffic on the roads, with offices,banks, shops, markets and business establishments closed,official sources said.

Tea gardens and cinchona plantations, and schools andcolleges exempted from the purview of the bandh, were openin Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong subdivisions, thesources said.

Bazars were thronged with shoppers till late hoursyesterday to stock up on food and essential supplies.

The week-long bandh was preceded by a four-day onefrom January 12 to 15 on the same demand of carving out aseparate state from West Bengal.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung alongwith 90 supporters will goon a padayatra from Garubathan in Kalimpong subdivision toSankosh in the Dooars in the plains during the day to createpublic awareness on the demand for Gorkhaland.