Darjeeling stir intensifies, government retaliates

KOLKATA: On the second day of indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the agitation spread to the adjacent areas of Darjeeling. The tea gardens in the hills have also gone into a protest mode. The tea gardens had been holding dharnas in some areas. However, today the joint forum of tea workers has called a general strike and it has spread to the Terai and Dooars region in north Bengal. The general strike forced the shops to pull their shutters down while the transport is also affected.

Meanwhile, protestors continued pelting stones and bricks at the security forces. However, the security forces retaliated and resorted to lathi charge in some areas. This is the first time in last three decades when the Gorkhaland protestors faced retaliation from the state government.

Apart from several forces of the state government including STRACO, CIF (Counter Insurgency Force, specially raised to battle Maoists), seven companies of CRPF and six columns of army have also been deployed in the area to maintain law and order situation.

Meanwhile, the Morcha today called for an all party meeting in which its rival GNLF and CPRM and ally BJP also joined. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said that the meeting was held to discuss and decided the future course of action in Darjeeling.