DARJEELING HILLS:Hills bandh starts today

FROM THE STATESMAN

KURSEONG, 12 JULY: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha (GJMM) is holding an indefinite bandh starting 12 noon on 13 July in Darjeeling Hills.

While talking to reporters in Darjeeling today, the GJMM chief, Mr Bimal Gurung, announced that other than the district magistrate, the superintendent of police and the SDOs, no other vehicles, including police vehicles, would be allowed into Darjeeling Hills during the bandh.

Mr Gurung also informed that the GLP, a volunteer force of the GJMM, would be deployed at several places in Darjeeling Hills, in order to maintain discipline and peace during the shutdown.

Meanwhile, a GJMM delegation would go to Delhi to discuss the Gorkhaland demand and other related issues, Mr Gurung informed.

Following the GJMM announcement of an indefinite bandh, on the 12 July there was an overwhelming rush seen in almost all the markets of Darjeeling Hills. People were seen in long queues collecting essential commodities and groceries.

In the meantime, protesting against the 10 July police lathicharge on party cadres at Panighatta near Siliguri, the GJMM organised a protest rally in Kurseong.

Later, demanding the immediate transfer of North Bengal IGP, Mr KL Tamata, Darjeeling additional SP, Mr AK Chaturvedi, and Kurseong SDPO, Mr Rakesh Singh, the GJMM supporters also submitted a deputation to the Kurseong SDO, Mr Dibyendu Das.