Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader arrested, bandh in Darjeeling enters ninth day

DARJEELING: Kalimpong GJM core committee member Shekhar Sharma has been arrested in connection with old cases registered against him as the indefinite shut down in Darjeeling hills entered ninth day today.

Police said Sharma, who was absconding, was arrested last night following a tip off and with his arrest the number of those taken into custody has risen to 168.

Life in the hills was paralysed for the ninth day today amidst the 72 hour deadline set by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to withdraw the bandh.

There were reports of poor people walking long distances to reach Darjeeling in search of provisions.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which has called the bandh, has put up small tents in Darjeeling from where it is distributing small rations to BPL people.

All shops and other commercial establishments have been closed since the beginning of indefinite bandh.

Vehicular traffic on NH-31A, the lifeline of Sikkim, was also nil, the sources said.

GJM leaders and supporters gathered at the main areas in Darjeeling town and shouted slogans in support of Gorkhaland and against the government's deadline.

Meanwhile, cable TV operators have resumed services after being ordered to stop yesterday.
Four more GJM youth leaders were arrested by police and CRPF today from Kurseong, taking the number of those in police custody to 172, police said.

The four have been identified as Sumit Deep, Suman Lama, Abhishek Gurung, Lawang Gurung.

They allegedly had set fire to government property, picket on highways and were threatening people, police said.