Supporters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha shout slogans as they pay tribute to Mangal Singh Rajput, who died after self-immolation in support of the demand for creation of a new state to be called Gorkhaland.
Darjeeling: On the second day of the GJM-sponsored indefinite shutdown in West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills, life remained paralysed yesterday with police arresting a few demonstrators.
Shops, markets, educational institutions and offices remained shut in the wake of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) calling for creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.
GJM supporters took out rallies and held protest marches across the region.
Police arrested six supporters, including three women, for picketing and putting up road blocks.
The supporters laid siege to the Darjeeling Sadar Police Station, where those arrested were taken.
GJM activists also torched a vehicle in Kalimpong sub-division.
Meanwhile, state Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee yesterday dubbed GJM’s demand for a separate Gorkhaland as “stubbornness”.
“The chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) has ruled out division of the state. Moreover, we don’t think people of the state are in favour of such a division. The decision is purely stubbornness of the GJM and I hope better sense will prevail,” said Mukherjee.
The hills have been on the boil since GJM intensified the movement for Gorkhaland — to be carved from Darjeeling and neighbouring districts — after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the Congress Working Committee endorsed statehood for Telangana on Tuesday.
IANS
