Speaking to The Indian Express from Garubathan, where the Morcha leadership has been camping since mid-January, its general secretary Roshan Giri said the outfit has asked its 22 supporters to call off the hunger-strike they were observing outside the Garubathan police station since January 29.

“One of our main demands was permission for holding rallies in the Dooars. During a meeting on Friday, we decided not to insist on holding rallies at the moment. However, we will remain camped in Garubathan,” Giri said.

He added that government offices in Darjeeling district will be allowed to reopen on Monday, which are closed by Morcha’s diktat since January 7. “The tax and revenue collection departments will, however, remain closed,” Giri added.

The move is a climbdown from the stance the Morcha has adopted since its return from the second round of tripartite talks from Delhi in late December.

Two rounds of violence claimed two lives and injured over 100 people in the Dooars after the Morcha persisted with their demand to hold rallies in the foothills.

During this period three meetings were held between the GJM leaders and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the last on Thursday. Morcha leaders described the latest meeting as “successful” after staging a walkout from the second one due to “the CM’s adamant attitude”.

The state government had refused to grant permission for GJM rallies in the Dooars, where prohibitory orders have been promulgated twice since January 15.

In a letter to Morcha president Bimal Gurung, the home secretary appealed to the GJM to call off the hunger- strike. The letter assured that the government will look into the demands raised at Thursday’s meeting with Bhattacharjee.

The demands included withdrawal of false cases against GJM supporters, compensation for those whose houses were damaged in recent clashes, protection of life and property of supporters in Dooars and Terai region.

The GJM has also demanded steps for reopening of closed tea gardens and enhancement of relief package for workers in these gardens. Chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti said the GJM had wanted a written assurance at yesterday’s meeting.

“We have faxed him (Gurung) the letter. We hope the GJM will withdraw the hunger-strike immediately,” Chakrabarti said earlier today. Sen said improvement of facilities at tea gardens and financial assistance to unemployed workers would be considered under existing norms.