Gorkha Janmukti Morcha workers try to block district magistrate's office; four detained

DARJEELING: Four Gorkha Janmukti Morcha ( GJM) workers were today detained when they tried to block the entrance of the district magistrate's office here on the third day of the indefinite bandh in the hills to demand a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Police intervened when a group of GJM workers tried to block the main gate of the district magistrate's office at about 9.30 AM. Four of them were detained, police said.

Sixteen persons were arrested last night for setting afire the Takdah forest bunglow last week, police said. With this, the total number of those arrested has risen to 19 in connection with the incident.

The bandh continued to paralyse life in Darjeeling hill areas with shops, markets, offices, schools and colleges remaining closed. Vehicles also did not ply, official sources said.