Both Gorkha Janmmukti Morcha and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hardened their respective stances even as life came to standstill in Darjeeling on the first day of the indefinite strike called by the Hill pressure group amid reports of stray violence coming from various areas.
While the Chief Minister contended that “strong actions have been taken in Darjeeling” and “the SP and the DM have been given instructions regarding this” a defiant GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the situation had reached a point when “there can be no talks with the State Government.”
He said, “When the Centre has given Telangana then why should we be left outIJ” adding “There can be talk of a separate Gorkhaland only with the Centre and not the State because in case of Telangana the Centre did not consult with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.”
Earlier, the violence that started on Friday with the burning down of a forest bungalow and a police outpost continued on Saturday with a panchayat office being torched by alleged GJM supporters at Bijanbari. “The panchayat office has been set on fire by the miscreants,” DM’s Mohan said, adding reinforcements had been sent to the area.
“The State Government took “strong measures” in the morning by deploying five companies of CRPF and three companies of State armed police particularly at Government installations,” Home Ministry sources said, adding they would not allow the peace in Darjeeling to be hijacked by stray developments.
With indefinite strike and sloganeering beginning in Darjeeling and other towns of Kurseong and Kalimpong, life came to a standstill even as shops, markets schools and colleges remained closed. Hotels were shut down and there was no tourist activity in the Hills, police said. GJM supports blockaded roads at various points from Darjeeling till Rangpo and beyond checking vehicles and even ambulances, sources said.
Meanwhile, eight persons including two Trinamool Congress were arrested on Saturday on charges of murdering a GJM trade union leader, police said. The GJM activist was bumped off on Friday.
In Siliguri North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb said there would be no compromise on peace and development. “All steps would be taken to ensure peace in Darjeeling,” he said.