GJM bandh hits normal life in Darjeeling for third day

Darjeeling (WB), Feb 11 (PTI) Normal life was hit forthe third day in Darjeeling Hills today in response to theindefinite bandh called by the GJM to protest police firing atSipchu in Jalpaiguri district that left two persons dead.

Shops, business establishments and markets were closedwhile vehicles were off the roads. Attendance was thin ingovernment offices.

All the tea gardens in the Hills were closed in responseto the bandh.

The GJM has exempted the Census work and studentsappearing for examinations from the purview of the indefinitebandh which it called after two persons were killed in policefiring at Sipchu on Tuesday.

Official sources said the situation in the Hills was nowunder control and no major untoward incident has been reportedfrom anywhere since Wednesday.

The BSF had yesterday conducted flag marches inDarjeeling town and Kalimpong sub-division, they said.

Top GJM leaders, including GJM president Bimal Gurung,would hold a meeting in the evening to decide the futurecourse of action including whether the bandh would continue ornot, GJM sources said.

The last rites of the two persons killed in the policefiring was conducted yesterday.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri had yesterdayreiterated the demand for a CBI inquiry into the police firingat Sipchu and had stated that outfit would not return to thetalks table if Gorkhaland was not the issue of discussion. PTICOR RG