By IANS,
Siliguri (West Bengal) : With the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) calling for an indefinite shutdown in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district from Monday noon, people have rushed to stock supplies while a steady stream of tourists has started down to the plains.
The Gorkha organisation has called the shutdown in the Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong sub-divisions in support of its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland in the northern part of West Bengal and transfer out of the area of Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) K.L. Tamta.
Alleging that Tamta was instigating people against the GJM, the outfit earlier shot off a letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, setting Monday noon as the deadline for the police officer’s removal.
It also accused Tamta and Darjeeling Additional Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Chaturvedi of ordering an “unprovoked” baton charge on its members at Panighatta, during a clash with activists of the rival Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).
“But our first demand is Gorkhaland. We don’t want to remain in West Bengal,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said in Darjeeling.
GJM assistant general secretary Benoy Tamang said the organisation’s supremo Bimal Gurung met the leaders of its youth front Yuva Morcha Sunday and gave the go-ahead for the shutdown.
However, the tourists and the students in Darjeeling schools will be given relaxation Monday to move out of the hills. “We won’t obstruct tourists and students Monday.”
Darjeeling is a famed tourist spot known internationally, while 5,000 students from India and abroad study in some of the famed schools located in the hills.
Long queues were seen at shops in Darjeeling district Sunday as people rushed to stock up essentials, to brace for a likely long period of turmoil.
Vehicles carrying tourists from various parts of the country and abroad were seen snaking their way to the plains in large numbers to escape shutdown horrors.
Tamang said the shutdown would be “total” from Tuesday, and all government offices, schools, colleges, shops and commercial establishments would remain shut.
He said only vehicles carrying the district magistrate, superintendent of police and sub-divisional development officer will be allowed to ply. “No other police vehicle will be allowed to move.”
GJM activists will also put up blockades on all the three National Highways passing through the hills – 31, 31A and 55, he added.
Darjeeling police superintendent Rahul Srivastava said: “We are keeping a close watch on the developments. We have informed our higher-ups. Elaborate police arrangements have been made.”
The GJM, spearheading the movement in the hills for a separate Gorkhaland, organised indefinite shutdowns twice in the hills last year as also in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls this year, severely hitting tea and tourism – the bread and butter of the region.
A round of tripartite talks held in New Delhi has failed to break the deadlock.