The Hindu : National : Bandh supporters denied entry to Siliguri

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Bandh supporters denied entry to Siliguri

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Life in West Bengal’s Darjeeling Hills was severely affected for the second successive day on Thursday in view of the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM). The GJM is demanding “immediate” removal of Subhas Ghising from the post of administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). It is also advocating creation of a State of Gorkhaland comprising the hills and certain areas contiguous to it.

The stalemate arising from the bandh call took a new turn when GJM supporters tried to stage demonstrations, including a hunger strike, in Siliguri — the gateway to the hills. Local police stopped them and additional forces were rushed to the town.

By trying to force their way into Siliguri, the bandh supporters were attempting to “create a rift between the people of the hills and the plains,” the State government said . “Under no circumstances will they be allowed to demonstrate in Siliguri which is not within the purview of the DGHC and where some people from outside are trying to foment trouble,” Ashok Bhattacharya, the State’s Minister for Municipal Affairs, said here.

“We cannot permit them to enter the town and allow matters to become a Nepali-Bengali issue,” State’s Home Secretary P.R. Ray added.

Reiterates demand

The GJM leadership reiterated that the bandh would continue till Subhas Ghising is removed his post and the move to grant Sixth Schedule status to the region scrapped.

On being prevented entry to Siliguri, hundreds of GJM supporters demonstrated in the suburbs of the town, outside the place where Mr. Ghising has been put up since Monday. He had been advised against proceeding to Darjeeling in view of blocks set up by activists on all roads to the hill-town.

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