These areas are parts of Siliguri, the Dooars and the Terai regions apart from the three Hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
The indefinite bandh was prompted by Sunday’s incident near the Bagdogra airport in Siliguri where GJM supporters had put up a blockade. Local traders, mostly non-Nepalis, objected to this blockade, as most were not able to open shops, or conduct daily businesses. The matter came to a head when GJM supporters demanded it was their democratic right to protest and hold rallies. The police had to be called in to disperse the warring sides. The incident near the airport later fuelled more trouble in several localities where there was a mixed population of Nepalis and non-Nepalis. Incidents of assault, threats and intimidation were reported.
Initially, the GJM had announced a day’s bandh on Monday, but later added the ‘indefinite’ tag to protest the ‘high-handed’ behaviour of the administration in checking Sunday’s fracas near the Bagdogra airport. The morcha leadership has however assured it will not disturb tourists in Darjeeling, but has also urged them to leave for the plains as soon as possible.
The Morcha top brass has also warned that the state government’s writ was no longer acceptable in the Hills.
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, Minister for Urban Development Asok Bhattacharya — who is from Siliguri — said: “We have asked the administration to take necessary steps to maintain peace in the Hills. GJM chief Bimal Gurung is crossing all limits.” “Their demands are illegitimate. Why should they demonstrate in Bagdogra and Naxalbari unless they have ulterior motives? There are other forces involved in the recent developments here,” he added.
The state’s Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarty said the administration would take necessary steps to deal with the deadlock in the Hills. All tourists would be escorted out if they were stranded, he said.