After weeks of relative peace in the Darjeeling hills, pro-Gorkhaland supporters clashed with police on the 45th day of the shutdown today, during which, the GJM claimed, one of its supporters suffered a bullet injury.The GJM claimed that Ajay Chhetri was injured in police firing, a charge denied by the ADG who termed it as "completely baseless".
The present shutdown, which began on June 15, is the longest till date on the statehood issue. The picturesque hill station had witnessed a 40-day bandh in 1988 by the Gorkha National liberation Front and a 44-day shutdown in 2013 by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM).According to Darjeeling district administration, pro- Gorkhaland supporters armed with knives, swords and traditional kukri (Gorkha knife) tried to forcibly enter Siliguri, demanding that it be included in the Gorkhaland state being demanded by them.Police which had put up roadblocks near Sukna road crossing asked them to return but the agitators broke the first two barricades and threw stones at them.