Ethnic tension grips Darjeeling and Siliguri

NI Wire

Kolkata

Thu, 12 Jun 2008: 

Ethnic unrest in parts of West Bengal and the bandh (strike) called by various interest groups has apparently pined away the life in regions like Darjeeling and Siliguri. The Wednesday bandh called by Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha has taken a violent turn as a result of which, the administration has called on army to keean eye on any superfluous incident.

On Wednesday, an indefinite strike was called on by the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland followed by violence by the supporters. Allegedly a number of tourists were forced to stay away from the tourist heart-land Darjeeling.

As per reports, separate Gorkhaland sympathisers attacked vehicles and destroyed public properties on Wednesday evening at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district. The authority soon has to post security personnel by imposing Section 144 banning activity for a specific period in public interest.

Attack on tourist and majority Bengali by Gorkhas, the ethnic Nepalis on the hills, incited other groups including Amra Bangali, Banglabhasha Bachao Samiti and Jana Jagaran Morcha against separate Gorkhaland state. Those organisations have called for a 48-hour shutdown in Siliguri and other parts of North Bengal.

Customary life has completely come to standstill and the bandh effect can be assessed with the close of educational institutions and business organisations at large. On Thursday, the bandh was relaxed so that the tourists who were stranded could leave the hill station.

Meanwhile, West Bengal government has called for an all-party meeting on June 17 to discuss the Darjeeling situation emerging out of the demand for separate Gorkhaland state.

The Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has urged the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha leaders to withdraw their indefinite strike in Darjeeling hills. He however ruled out separate statehood for Darjeeling.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi also urged the agitators to come and be seated for a talk with the government.