Tourists leave Darjeeling as GJM wing strike enters third day

SILIGURI: The relay hunger strike in Darjeeling by the student wing of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha entered its second day today prompting tourists - both domestic and foreign to vacate the hills in apprehension.

The Gorkha Jana Vidyarthi Morcha (GJVM) is demanding that All India Gorkha League (AIGL) chief Madan Tamang quit the Darjeeling hills and the entry of Inspector General of Police (north Bengal) K L Tamta be restricted.

GJVM president Kismat Chhetri told PTI that the strike would continue till the second round of the tripartite talks on the Gorkhaland statehood issue among GJM, the West Bengal government and the Centre scheduled later this month.

Students in groups of 14 are fasting for 48 hours before being replaced by a fresh batch.

Chhetri said Tamang had no moral right to stay in Darjeeling as he had "proved himself to be a liar by failing to prove his defamatory allegation against GJM and its chief Bimal Gurung."

The GJVM will not allow Tamta to enter the hills as he had provided "huge" security to Tamang and stood by him, he said.

A large number of tourists were seen coming down from the hills by cars to Siliguri by curtailing their programmes and cancelling their hotel bookings.