Darjeeling unrest: Indefinite strike from Monday as Mamata-GJM on collision course

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)-called indefinite bandh will start from Monday in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal. GJM leaders have targeted to keep all the state government offices shut. The state, on the other hand will keep no stone unturned to foil the strike called by GJM.

The number of tourists in Darjeeling has dipped considerably and the tourist hotspot Mall Road bore a near-deserted look on Sunday. Few of the visitors who remained are mostly those who haven’t been able to leave the hills so far and are trying desperate to do so by Sunday night.

In what is being perceived as a veiled threat to the state government, GJM president Bimal Gurung had said on Sunday that they intend to keep the protest non-violent, provided the police do not use force on them. “We will protest in a democratic manner but if police use force to stop us we will definitely resist and we should not be held responsible for what happens after that. Our only demand is that for a separate Gorkhaland for ourselves. We will shut the state government offices at the hills and adjoining areas,” Gurung said.

He said that a team would be sent …read more